What You Need to Know About What They Want to Hear

Although the job market and the economy are always changing, one thing about looking for a job that will never change is THE INTERVIEW. For some people, an interview is their worst nightmare. For others, it's their ultimate time to shine. No matter which type of person you are, following these tips will turn all of your interviews into a dream and when you wake up, you might just have a job!

The Questions No One Wants to Answer.

1. The number of college graduates is on the rise, but if you haven't finished college, you can still get a great job. When the question, "Why didn’t you finish college?" comes your way, do not lie. Repeat, do not lie. Keep your answers positive, and keep in mind that your ultimate goal is to get the job.

   So, to reach your goal, use your answer to keep the interview rolling. For example, you could say, "I went to college for a few semesters, but it was just moving too slow for me. I felt that in the four years it takes to finish college, I could have been out in the business world, making a real difference. I feel that is what I have done, too. In fact, at my last job, I was consistently a top performer, often exceeding monthly sales goals."

   Or, try this one: "I went to college for a few semesters, and I finished coursework in A, B, and C. After these classes, I realized there are some things that you just can’t learn in college. That’s why I went ahead and started working in the real world. I felt like I needed hands-on experience to become more successful and valuable as an employee. With my gained experience, I was able to develop systems that consistently helped me achieve my quarterly goals."

   What you have effectively done is divert the attention away from the fact that you didn't finish college and towards the fact that you have been a total success in your past positions. Cater your answers to what suits your and the employer's needs.
    

2. If you are sitting face to face with an interviewer, you must be leaving an old job, or at least looking for a new one. You can expect the question, "So, why are you looking for a new job?" Since you are human, you may be tempted to say, "I am looking because my boss is a giant jerk, and I am not getting paid enough to pay my bills." Please do not do this. Even if you feel an instant rapport with the interviewer, and you feel like you could say this to him or her, don't. Instead, try this: "I love the field I am in, and I feel like I have a lot of potential to be beneficial in this field. X Company gave me the opportunity to work in [field of choice], but I did not feel challenged. I also felt like there was only so much that I could do for X Company. I feel your company would really give me the opportunity to shine."

   There are other reasons you might be leaving your job. Many companies are downsizing or restructuring these days. If this is the case, you could answer this way: "The company I last worked for was restructuring. I could have kept a position in the company, but it would not have been my original position. I saw this as an opportunity to branch out with an entirely new company like yours."
    

3. The purpose of an interview is to find things out about you that a potential employer cannot tell from your resume or cover letter, so make sure to include these things in you answers. For example, your resume may say that you are efficient, organized and flexible. But, how? How did you show these attributes? This all leads to another popular interview question, "What are your strengths?" Use this as an opportunity to brag on yourself based on what you think your strengths are. Then, think about what past employers would say about you. Try to incorporate the two!

   You could say, "I think my greatest strength is my ability to be flexible. While I was hired at Company X to work in sales, I also helped marketing define their target market and work towards reaching it. I am capable of seeing that all parts of a corporation are vital to the success of the business." If you are going to mention a specific attribute, make sure to explain how that attribute was beneficial to the company.
    

4. Along those same lines, a potential employer will also want to know what exactly it was you did at your last job. The catch is, they will not just ask what you did. They might just ask, "What is the toughest assignment you have ever completed?" Tough one, right? The trick here is to think of an assignment that was tough for you, but that you also enjoyed. These two components are what makes a task a challenge!

   Try this: "I am glad you asked this question because I had one particular assignment that seemed daunting at first, but once I dove into it, I really learned that I had chosen the right profession for me. My boss asked me to do [A, B and C] and to develop a strategy to [X, Y and Z.] At the end of the project, I was asked to give a presentation on my findings. My work helped my company move forward and become more competitive. Through this project I learned how important [1, 2 and 3] are." What you have done here is to explain what the project entailed, who gave you the assignment, what the result was and how you helped your company, but most importantly, you showed what you learned. Good for you!
    

5. While you may hope a job comes out of an interview, an employer hopes that an excited and focused new employee comes out of the interview. The main thing an employer wants to know is that the interviewee and interviewer are on the same wavelength. To ensure this, an employer might ask, "What are you looking for, or what do you hope to gain out of this job?" By the time you get to the interview, you should know what you want. It aggravates an employer to think that you might come into their company not knowing what you want to do.

   Even more importantly, they want to make sure that the position is one you want to fill so that you will not be a short-term employee. To give a good answer, you are going to have to do a little research. Read over the company’s mission statement, so you know if you agree with the company's ideas and standards. If the company is B2B (business to business), mention your desire to work for a B2B corporation.

   You could say this, "There are many things I want out of this job. I am interested in working for a B2B company because I like working with individuals, as well as large corporations. I hope to find a job that challenges me where I can use my marketing experience on a daily basis. I am excited about learning new business strategies, and I am hoping to work for a company that rests its pride on customer satisfaction and reliability." With this answer you have efficiently incorporated what you want with what the company wants. Sounds like a perfect match!
    

6. Some questions are easier to answer than others. This may be your toughest, if it applies to you. "Exactly how long have you been unemployed?" You may be red-faced by this point, hoping for a way out any second. Don’t be embarrassed. The fact that you are looking for a job shows initiative. In fact, experts say that if you don’t have a job at all, treat your job search like a full-time job. If you are still employed, but looking, treat your search like a part-time job.

   For those of you that are on the job search, you know how time-consuming it is and virtually impossible while still employed! You could say, "Well I left my last job last December, but since then I have treated my job hunt as a full time job. I feel that looking for a job is hard work. When I get a job, I want it to last, and I want to be ready to give my all to the job." What you have just done is deflect attention away from how long you have been jobless. Also, mentioning the month you left the job sounds like a lot less than saying, "I have been unemployed for 11 months."

   You have also shown that you are willing to devote yourself fully to finding a job, so that must mean you are also willing to work hard once you get the job! You can also mention other things you have been doing such as volunteering for non-profits, helping at church or raising your children. Show that you are capable of devotion!

Now that you have the questions down, try to remember a few more things about the interview. Even though you probably have already sent a resume to get the interview, always take a copy with you to the interview. In large corporations especially, they will appreciate you being able to hand them your resume so they don't have to thumb through tons of papers to get to yours! Also, remember to dress the part. Always dress professionally. Even if you know for sure that the company dress code is casual, wear a suit. They will be impressed that you put in effort to look professional. Give yourself enough time to find the interview site and arrive around 30 minutes early. This will give you time to go over your answers in your head and freshen up after the car ride to the interview. If you follow these tips, you are on the right road to success. Think positive, and your dream job can be yours everyday when you wake up!

Kerry Spivey, author of What You Need to Know About What They Want to Hear, with http://www.e-resume.net, a national resume writing company. http://www.e-resume.net combines personalized attention with the speed of the Internet to deliver quality resumes and cover letters and other documents essential to clients throughout their job search. .