Frequently Asked Interview Questions - Part 2

We began in my last post, looking at some of the common types of questions you may be faced with answering. I'd like to pick up where I left off and look at some more questions asked during a job interview. Hopefully these will help stir up your thoughts about the types of things you should and should not say in response to these types of questions.

Define success, and how successful have you been so far? - What does success mean to you? What are your goals and what would it take for you to consider yourself successful? This type of question can be somewhat relative, and so you have to give it some thought and decide how you would define success and look at the steps you have taken so far in your career. Maybe in your career, being successful would mean being the head manager of a utilities crew, or some other high ranking position in your field. Maybe you have set a certain goal, or many smaller goals, and are achieving success along the way. Lay out the steps you have in your "success" plan, and how much progress you have made, and your expectations for the near future. Of course, be sure to mention how receiving the position you are currently interviewing for is a part and step in that plan.

Why do you desire to leave your current employer? - This type of question can tie into the above question on success. Maybe you are moving on in order to acquire another step in your ladder of success. Is this new position offering better advancement opportunities? Better challenges and career growth? Additional money and benefits? Discuss some of the positive benefits you see in moving from one employer to the next. Avoid negetive comments about your current/former employer, and frame all things in a positive manner.

What features about your current employer do you like and dislike? - This helps them to get a feel about how you feel about your employer and possibly employment in general. If you start railing against all the bad things you had to endure there, that can show your complaining personality trait, which you do not want to do. Again, always focus on the positives, the achievements, the successes, the challenges and the skills acquired. If you give any type of negative, make it as much a positive as possible. For example, "I greatly enjoyed my current position, and have acquired many skills, but seek additional growth and look forward to facing new challenges and more responsibility."

Hopefully these give you a bit to chew on until next time, when we will look at even more questions to consider when preparing for your job interview. If you have any comments you'd like to share, please do so below.

Jeff McCormack resides in Virginia Beach, VA. where he works as a web designer by day. In his off time he is a husband, father, mail order book store manager, and musician. Aside from being a freelance writer for this Utilities Jobsite blog, he also seeks to assist in career choices and information by contributing to other Nexxt blog sites.