Interviewing is difficult for every single job-seeker going through the process- it can make even the most confident candidate feel nervous and stressed.  Part of my job as a recruiter is to ensure candidates are completely prepared for their interview, in order to eliminate some of those negative feelings associated with the process.  Part of our coaching at The Execu|Search Group includes going through the toughest interview questions and the best way to go about answering them.  I think two questions that pop up really tend to cause the most trouble, but they are actually the easiest to prepare for!
 
The first is not really a question, but more of a request- “Tell me about yourself.”  It’s so open-ended that it often leads to candidates providing the wrong information or giving long-winded answers.  It’s actually a pretty simple thing to handle if you take some time to prepare.  The interviewer is not looking for information regarding wherre you grew up, what your hobbies are, etc.- they want information regarding to you as a candidate for this job.  They also want to see how well you communicate.  Job-seekers should prepare a two-minute synopsis of their educational and professional background.  Basically, it’s an oral summary of your resume that allows you to explain your experiences more thoroughly, while demonstrating your personality and communication abilitities. You can use the opportunity to highlight occasions where you really excelled or when you overcame a challenge, solved a conflict, etc.  Just remember to stay on-track and be yourself while answering.   A little bit of practice with a friend beforehand could really help!

 

The second question that seems to stump candidates is “What is your biggest weakness?”   Interviewers do not want to hear the usual answers of “I’m such a hard-worker, I border on being a workaholic” or “I tend to take on too much work and struggle with saying no.”  These are not true weaknesses and may sound contrived.  They also do not need to know that you procrastinate, tend to run late or have a messy desk.  These are actual weaknesses that can put you out of the running very quickly.  The answer to this question should be based on something that is obvious from your resume.  The interviewer has already seen your resume and has probably already decided what your weakness is relative to other candidates.  So you should use this opportunity to turn your relative weakness into a strength.  Don’t have a Master’s degree in a profession where it’s pretty common-place?  Tell the interviewer about your quick climb up the ladder due to your natural ability, dedication and experience.  Jumped around a lot from job to job?  Use this opportunity to acknowledge that and explain the reasons why you did move around and emphasize how you are looking for a company where you can stay for years to come.

 
Interviewing can be intimidating, but there is nothing that you can’t prepare for!  Take the time to plan out and think about your answers and practice them out loud, and you will be ready to nail any interview!



  Katie Niekrash
  Director- Healthcare