• Pause before you speak. Not before every question, of
course, but do pause to collect your thoughts if unexpected or
if the answer is complicated. The more quickly you answer, the
more likely you are to make a mistake.
• Ask for clarification. Some questions aren’t clear
enough to be answered well. Rather than jump in with the wrong
information, say: "Can you rephrase the question please?
I’m not sure I understand."
• Answer the real question. If the interviewer asks, "Do
you have a car?" what he or she really wants to know is can
you get to work on time, or is your car reliable enough for this
job. If you know in advance that driving is part of the job, your
answer should be, "Yes, I own a car, and it is very reliable
and a very good model for the type of work I’d be doing."
If the question is really about your ability to get to work on
time and you don’t have a car, your answer should be, "I
know how important reliability is in this position, and I have
very good transportation lined up. I’m a very punctual person,
and I will be here on time every day to open the store."
• Have an end in mind. Many can take such a request as "Tell
me about yourself" too literally. They start out with details
their high school years, mosey through their first three jobs
and ramble haltingly to a lame conclusion such as "and so
I thought I’d try my luck here. Is that what you wanted to
know." Whoa! It’s much better to focus on a few facts
that show off your skills and then end firmly and positively.
• Answer potentially damaging questions briefly. When the
interviewer says, "It looks like you’ve had several
short-term jobs in three years," don’t go into vivid
detail how awful each job was. Instead, say simple and positive:
"It’s taken me a while to find my focus, but I’m
glad now to be ready for a job with more permanence." Then
be quiet.
• Answer potentially beneficial questions fully. Don’t
just nod your head when employer asks if you can operate a computer.
Toot your horn! "Yes, in fact, I not only taught myself how
to use the system at my last job, I taught several other co-workers
as well. I am also a good troubleshooter. I can usually find out
what’s not working when a document won’t print."
• Relate your answers to the job at hand. Interviewer. "I
see you’ve had some experience supervising people."
You: "Yes, I have had teams of five in one job, and a crew
of 30 in another. One of the things that excites me about this
position is the opportunity to supervise volunteers." Although
you could go on about your past supervising experience, it’s
better to tie your experience to the job at hand. The more your
interviewer can picture you in the in job, the better your chances
of becoming coworkers.
• Don’t forget the basics. Whatever else you do to
prepare, don’t forget the obvious. Get a good night’s
sleep and relax. Remember: People hire people they like, and it’s
easier to like someone who’s not panicking about every question.
