5 DO verses 5 DON'T in a Job Interview

When you are applying to a job opening, you have to prepare yourself for the “ride” of your life. Imagine the company you are applying at is like a rollercoaster: it has its ups and downs, it can be exciting, it can scare you, but altogether it is an experience worth fighting for.
That’s right, “fighting for”. Because you are not the only one who wishes to experience this adventure, there are also other “adventurers” out there who seek the thrill offered by that particular job opening. So you have to be prepared. Not with sticks and guns, but with courage, a good self-esteem, a motivational speech. You must be able to sell your image as being the one the company searches for. You want to make the employer say “Jackpot!” after interviewing you, because you are the best they can get.

So just preparing a great, structured and well-informed resume isn’t enough, nor is writing a motivational brilliant cover letter. Those are a huge plus, but the final blow for both parties is the Interview: you can either knock them down with your skills or they can knock you down. It works both ways. There are many DO versus DON’T in an Interview process, but there are 5 questions which will surely decide if you are worthy for the job.

1. I’m sure everyone has heard the most famous Interview question of them all: “Where do you see yourself in 5 years, professionally speaking?”. This question may sound common, but it actually has a significant contribution to the hiring decision. Here follows the DO and DON’T.
Do: Answer them in a manner that will show your concern for your professional future. E.g. I believe in 5 years time I can advance from an entry-level position to a senior-level. I see myself more experienced in my field of expertise. I believe that the experience gained in a company such as this one can help me become a true professional.
DON’T: Do not, under any circumstances, behave and reply as a person who has no concern whatsoever about their future. E.g. I have no idea what I will do next week, how am I supposed to know what to do in 5 years? or In 5 years time I see myself working behind a desk.

2. Another important question is the one where you as a job candidate are asked why should they hire you.
DO: Try to answer in a positive manner. For example, tell them how you believe their company is an ideal environment for professional development, how you believe that both the company and you can benefit from this experience, how you see yourself working there. How much you enjoy a healthy work place, where you can be efficient and deliver results.
DON’T: Don’t try to be arrogant. It is ok to sell yourself in a positive light, but don’t overdo it. The employer doesn’t wish to hear how perfect you are and how it is only natural for them to hire you, because you are the center of the Earth.

3. “What do you know/ can you tell us about our company?”
DO: Try making them believe you are well-informed about their company and their projects, and recent successes. For example, if the support social causes, tell them how wonderful news it was for you to find out and that you would love to hear more about the campaign from an inside person. Also, tell them you searched the web for information, seen ads or it was recommended by a friend or teacher.
DON’T: Don’t tell them you have no idea what they do, that you were desperate to get hired and you only came there for the money. The interview will quickly be over.

4. “Have you ever worked in a team? Do you enjoy working in a team? What strong points and weak points have you noticed in your team?
DO: Be honest, but not that honest. Don’t gossip about some team member. Instead, remain impartial and talk about the team experience, projects, how you worked your problems out, how decisions were made, about your contribution to the team, team building moments. If they ask you this, most likely you’ll be working in a team, so remain positive.
DON’T: Don’t say you hate working with a team or list specific details about a bad team organization. You want to appear to be the glue the kept it all together. And never say there were no problems at all, everything was fine. Nothing is perfect. Keep in mind, every team is imperfect, but also perfectible.

5. “What is your biggest failure and what have you learned from that experience?”
DO: Here, you can be honest, but not that open. Tell them that everyone has failures from time to time and you are no exception. Tell them how much you have learned from this experience and that every one step back is just two steps forward. Do make every failure a teachable moment towards yourself.
DON’T: Don’t tell your employer that you have never experienced a failure. That would be a lie, we all know it. And under no circumstances should you tell them you haven’t learned anything from a failure. Or that only weak people have occasional failures. This is just arrogance, not confidence.

These are 5 questions you might meet in an Interview. Their design can vary, but the purpose of these questions remains the same. Remember: You should try to be honest, but not too honest. You must sell your image, but not in an egotistical manner. Instead, try to make it look natural. Nothing is perfect, but everything is perfectible. And don’t try to win over their pity. Instead, earn their respect!