Questions that an Interviewer may ask and Questions that you may ask to the interviewer ?

TYPICAL QUESTIONS THAT AN INTERVIEWER WOULD ASK

1.Tell me about yourself

 
The most often asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

2. Why did you leave your last job?
Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers, or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special, or other forward-looking reasons.

3. Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the job. Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers. However, structure them to suit your requirements.

• I have good co-ordination skills
• Good analytical skills
• I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work done
• My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
• Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
• I have good entrepreneurial skills
• I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
• Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
• I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see them grow
• I am a good team player
• I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
• I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give appropriate details and examples) 

4. Have You Applied to Any Other Company?

This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously, you must have applied to other companies if you are looking for a job. Therefore, do not lie that you have not. However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

5. What Is Your Job Profile In the Current Job?

The interviewer is trying to find out if your experience can help the company – if you have the relevant skills or not! While answering this type of a question, give all details about your job profile, and also mention any special skills that you imparted to the job.

6. What Salary Are You Drawing?

Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

7. What Salary Are You Expecting?

 
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

SALARY EXPECTATIONS:

1. How much do you expect?

If you have done your homework, you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid. Quote the range upfront.

2. How much do you think you are worth?

Work out how much you should be paid, given the market value of the job and your skills. If you can bring some extra skills to the table, do not hesitate to ask for more than the market value.

3. What kind of a culture are you comfortable with?

It is better to be frank about your preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear idea about your expectations.

6. Which is more important to you-salary, perks or growth opportunities?

This one will reveal the real you. So be sure what you are going to say. Above all, be true to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation move, then say clearly that you will never sell yourself short.

7. What do you know about our company?

Do not give your opinions about the company. Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from newspapers and so on. Talk about the product portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of the company.

8. Why should we choose you over someone else?

Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your current workplace and highlight the quality required. For instance, say how by putting systems or buffers in place, you were able to deal with infrastructural problems and reduce inventory pile-up by 40 per cent.

9. Your qualifications are excellent, but you may be overqualified for the position we have to offer?

Point out that more experience can never be a drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people. It needs people within different departments to work together. Also emphasise that the company's future growth will be an exponential function of your experience.



QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK:

Interviewers usually round off by giving you an opportunity to ask questions. Treat it like a welcome opportunity.

You could ask questions like.
 
a) Tell me about your company.
b) Now that I have outlined my career goals, do you think you can offer me the opportunities I need?
c) What kind of training and learning can I expect in your company?
d) Describe the work culture and the management style of your company?
e) What is the long-term vision of your company?