Interview questions

[Ombligo]

By the time I got to the interview stage, I already had a pretty firm grasp on their abilities. At that point I cared more about personality - would they fit in with the staff? So it became a conversation that free flowed to just about anything. Often we would get into anecdotes about job experiences and situations they had faced. It was relaxed and disarming, but their answers to questions that didn't even seem like a question told me more than any formal interview ever could. I also found getting out of the office helped a great deal - wander around, go for coffee or a bite to eat.

[ka jowct]

Ombligo wrote:
By the time I got to the interview stage, I already had a pretty firm grasp on their abilities. At that point I cared more about personality - would they fit in with the staff? So it became a conversation that free flowed to just about anything. Often we would get into anecdotes about job experiences and situations they had faced. It was relaxed and disarming, but their answers to questions that didn't even seem like a question told me more than any formal interview ever could. I also found getting out of the office helped a great deal - wander around, go for coffee or a bite to eat.

People probably have rehearsed answers to a lot of the questions mentioned, and many of them seem likely to elicit careful BS. When I interviewed people for work, which was seldom, it was clear pretty quickly whether someone would be capable and good to have around. In one case, which I still feel bad about, the person felt comfortable enough with me to tell me something about herself personally that made me reluctant to hire her. It was a trait that I shared, and we could not have two bad cops.

When I interviewed potential pet adopters for our rescue group, the key was to talk with people long enough. We had an extra safeguard, which is that we deliver pets to the adopter’s home. And of course there is an application. But getting people comfortable and talking freely was vital. People who want something from you can be pretty deceptive.

[tenders]

I tell my group we should be aiming to make 5% of the candidates cry during the interview process, and if we miss that target then none of us are really doing our jobs.

It’s mostly a joke.

[TheTominator]

Do these pants make me look fat?

[Speedy]

"While there are a number of key factors to focus on as you prepare for an interview, from a well-polished resume to an impeccable outfit and talking points about your past accomplishments and why you’re the perfect candidate for the job, one area that often gets overlooked is the value of "small talk."

The truth is, small talk is actually an essential component of the interview process. Often, our very first and last impression, before and after the nuts and bolts of an interview takes place, is made over small talk. Think of the walk from the reception area, the few initial moments of "settling in" to the room where the interview takes place, and the final goodbyes over a firm and confident handshake — these are all opportunities to make a positive and memorable impact.

Let’s review some effective strategies for making sure you put your best foot forward when making small talk in a job interview: Stay positive.

You may have had a terrible morning on your way to the interview where everything went hilariously wrong — your alarm didn’t go off, you knocked over a steaming hot cup of coffee, and you nearly burnt a hole in your shirt while ironing it and eating breakfast at the same time. But do you want this to be the first impression your interviewer has of you? Whining about the challenges you overcame to get to the interview on time is not a good idea.

Starting or ending an interview with negative small talk will surely work against you when they’re making a hiring decision.

Instead, smile, project confidence and a positive outlook, and try to turn your small talk into an opportunity to be complimentary. Talk about how nice the office is or the pleasant weather or commute over, drop a comment about a nice plant or piece of artwork that your interviewer has. The goal is to make the interviewer think that you’d be a pleasant person to have around if hired.

Avoid controversy.

You definitely want to leave the impression that you’ll be a great fit within a company’s workplace culture. However, if an interview takes the tone of a casual conversation, this doesn’t mean that all conversation topics are okay to bring up. Do your best to avoid such hot-button areas as politics and religion, and try to refrain from getting too personal, which may make an interviewer uncomfortable or think that you have boundary issues.

Use context clues.

Whenever you’re first getting to know someone new, that’s typically when you’re most open and receptive to context clues about how best to proceed in a conversation. An interview is no different. Look for clues to help build your small-talk game.

Is your interviewer’s office filled with dog photos and he or she drops a casual dog reference into the conversation? Try to inject a mention about your own love of dogs, and if you have a dog yourself, even better!

The best way to bond with someone is to discover the things you have in common.

Context clues can also help you determine what conversation items to avoid. Does the interviewer wince or look uncomfortable when you make mention of something? Pay attention to this, and change the subject, fast.

Are you ready for small talk?

Whether or not you like small talk, you need to be prepared to handle it when you’re going on interviews. You can’t rely on your resume to "speak for itself" — remember, most interviewers are looking to get a sense of what sort of person you are and what it would be like to work with you, in addition to gauging your professional abilities. Be sure to treat each interview as an opportunity to get to know someone new and make a positive connection, and you’ll be sure to make a great impression!

Eric Titner has been an editor and content creator for more than a decade. His primary professional focus has been on education- and career-related topics. He currently lives in New York City."

[NewtonMP2100]

....you wanna' get you some of this.....???