Responding to frequently asked interview questions

By Polycarp Ngoje

One does not have to be a performer to make an impression at a job interview.

Careful preparation and confidence can set one apart from the rest. Making a good impression in an interview is very important, but some people are not comfortable about selling themselves. They just want to be themselves and hope they will get the job on the basis of their merits.

It is difficult to be natural in a pressured situation where one is constantly worried about whether they are saying or doing the right thing.

In this day and age, securing a job interview, let alone a job offer, is difficult and any serious applicant cannot afford to leave the outcome to chance.

The intention in an interview should be to improve chances of progressing to the next stage of interviews and eventually to secure the job. Every question should present an opportunity for one to make a case to the employer why he/she is the best person for the position.

The intention should be to highlight positive qualities and avoid reasons that may result in elimination.

The secret to this is response strategies. In every question, the interviewee must strive to steer the interview their way.

Team player

For example, if the interviewer asks if you prefer to work alone or on a team, he may be trying to get you to say you are one way or the other.

But you don’t have to play this game. The reality is that most jobs require one to work independently and in teams.

Your response to this question should show that you have been successful in both situations.

Try to give accomplishment stories for each quality you present in your CV and be prepared to describe a situation where you demonstrated that quality.

Basically, you should always back up any claims in a resume or during the interview. Each story should communicate that you are a person who identifies problems, takes action and gets results.

Each accomplishment story follows the same formula — Problem, Action, Results (PAR); the problem or challenge you noticed, the actions you took to solve the problem and the quantifiable results that you achieved.

These acronyms remind you to include the important parts of your story in a chronological sequence.

Consider them a template when scripting your stories. Every story has the beginning (why you did it), the middle (how you did it) and the end (what was the outcome or result).

Whenever you are asked for an illustration of your past work, such as, "Tell me about a time when..." or "Can you give me an example...," think of it as your cue to tell a story, using an acronym.

You must relax

While the stories are not magic, they start the process of making you feel at ease. The secret is to be prepared with a short story about each success at each job experience mentioned in the CV.

One thing that can make or break an interview is the way you respond to the questions you are asked, which is why accomplishment stories work so well. Then you need to relax to have a much better chance to demonstrate that you are fit for the job.

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