Looking to do an internship for next year and I have some job interviews scheduled. I have already been to a few interviews and no one has accepted me =( I dont think I do particularly bad in the interview, but there are so many other outstanding students to compete with. Alot of these interviews are "behavioral" type, so I would just like to hear your guys' comments and what are good answers to: Describe yourself. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What is your role in a team environment? Give an example of a difficult situation and how you solved it? How do you resolve a conflict. etc... Any tips would be appreciated! How should I make myself stand out?
STAR is exactly the right thing to do. I just had a few interviews myself. One, i didn't get of course, because it requires being an artsy, something im not lol anyways Describe yourself. Emphasize your highlight characteristics. What are your good work ethics, and how are you a motivated individual. Answer things like that. Use an example (a story or previous experience) to support your claims. What are your strengths? Emphasize on matters that are most relevant to the position. What are you good at? How can you apply this to your position? Use an example (a story or previous experience) to support your claims. What are your weaknesses? Emphasize on things that have NOTHING TO DO WITH THE POSITION. Something that is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT. Provide a solution has to how you will improve those areas. What is your role in a team environment? This question is basically a hidden way of asking "Are you a leader?" or "Are you a grunt?". You have to know your position in the team. As team leader, will you lead your team in an efficient manner to get the job done? As a team member, are you going to listen to your orders and just follow them blindly, or will you participate in providing new ideas of problem solving and solutions? Give an example of a difficult situation and how you solved it? Tell an example of a time where you were faced with a problem, and found an original solution to your problem. Use the following flow path to solve problems: Data Acquisition (find requirements, criteria, product specification) REVIEW THE DATA (with your team members, your boss, your clients[optional]) Data Analysis (functional requirements) REVIEW THE DATA (with your team members, your boss, your clients[optional]) Provide Solution REVIEW THE DATA (with your team members, your boss, your clients[optional]) Execute plan TESTING (using the requirements from Data Acquisition as a checklist, test to see your solution is up to specs) <- this step is often missed by people because the time constraints. but to succeed and make your client happy, it is required. The reason for the review after each step is because you want your data to be as accurate as possible. If your data is flawed, and you still use it, you will have wasted time, resources, energy, and most importantly, money. How do you resolve a conflict. For example, if you are in disagreement with another team member on the approach to solve a problem, how do you go about making them aware of your view? Apply the problem solving process above. Acquire data as to why they believe it is so. Analyze their view point. Provide evidence as to your solution. Explain to them. How? You listen to them. You understand their point of view. You agree with things that are mutually agreeable. You then proceed to explain to them your point of view, explaining them with evidence as to why you believe your point of view is correct. You DO NOT anger them, as anger will not make them listen to you. You do not embarrass them in front of other team members. You have to pull them on the side, and talk one on one.
OH!!! and the BIGGEST thing of all to remember for job interviews!!! check your e-mail!!! especially your SPAM box
@ DANN .. the review data thing is way too much for me or any direct supervisor unless it's different in the IT sector .. I or any superior only want to see the final product. Even though we are working in a team setting, everyone has his or her own work to do; of course, we have to constantly keep in communication with our progress but we are not gonna sit at a meeting for hours to just go over your work. This is just my practice so I dunno. @OP .. I think it's best to stick to the basic, BE YOURSELF. You don't need to stand out with exaggerated stories and boasted abilities. I have seen so many resume that claimed to have excellent communication skill but can't even answer in complete sentences with correct grammar at the interview. I also read resumes that said to have strong writing skill and attached a fabulous writing sample only later learned that they write like a kid .. using baby language; not professional one in the field. Believe it or not, a lot and I mean A LOT of people can't write properly; not just young ones but older execs too. Of course, the consequence is to let them go at the end of probation or earlier pending on the seriousness. You can get away at the interview but you can't hide your true ability to do the job once you're hired. Even though hiring is a lot more tedious than firing someone; doesn't mean your boss won't do it. I personally will do it in a heartbeat if one of my staffs is not a contributor but a burden to the team despite an excellent background.
Urgh... I hate interviews ><" But ummm.. depends where u goin for and what kinda people they are lookin for e.g I work in retail so i have to be megaaa friendly etc... So kinda let that shine through ^^ But obviously dun fake it... Just let ur natural personality come out ^^ Ummm... Yeaa Likeee friendshit said its good to use examples And with weaknesses umm... Say something that is good LOL Likee... I'm TOOOO hardworkin (?) or somethin XD Kekeke ^^ Team environment? Say stuff like ur a good team leader? But also equally able to work as a team etc... Use examples?
lol, well my old man is in executive management in product research and development, and that's what he tells me he looks for. I guess each employer is different.. anyways, i think the point of the review is to ask when you don't know something.. not to guess and make assumptions
i don't believe in weaknesses... weaknesses are just unappreciated strengths... unless ur dann and forget to check ur spam box...
i also want to mention .. do not and i do mean "DO NOT" use language like the one above ^ to exchange email with our potential employer. i remember way back where a few asian candidates actually send me thank you email after the interview with a smiley face and stuffs .. cute but their resumes when straight to the shredder. you can use it here on the forum and all cuz no one care and we're here to write whatever; not have edit what we said or say make sense .. lol .. at least i don't. i just type whatever comes to mind in responding to a particular thread.
Lol. Well done. Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Every once in a while something important gets kicked into spam. When an email provider like gmail sees multiple emails being sent to different accounts on their service from the same source, they'll automatically kick it to spam. You're an amateur.
