Job Interview In Two Days -- Tips?

[Xantar]

What is your greatest weakness?

Any counselor will tell you never to answer this question honestly. I actually have done just fine by saying up front that I'm very blunt. But if you want a good compromise answer, try something like, "I know from prior experience that (insert menial task like filing or answering the phone) is not my favorite part of the day. I understand it's an important part of the job and I will do it, but I can't tell you in all honesty that I'll greatly enjoy it."

Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten Years?

You're only in your 20s, right? Then the correct answer is, "At this stage in my life, anything could happen." Of course, every interviewer already knows this, and the point of the question is to find out if you have ambition and where you are likely to direct it. A pretty reasonable answer would probably be, "In five years, I could be in graduate school looking to go further in this field." Or, "I see myself in a position of responsibility supervising some other employees."

What do you consider your two or three greatest accomplishments?

Sorry. Can't answer that for you. It's completely individual and personal to you. The best advice I can give is that at this point in the interview, you have probably been asked, "What is your greatest strength?" So pick some accomplishment that reinforces that.

My last tip is to be candid and be yourself. That doesn't mean you have to spill all your shameful secrets, and it doesn't mean you shouldn't try to present the best side of yourself. But at the end of the day, you're not going to deceive them outright about anything, and you shouldn't really try. Interviewers usually appreciate it if they get the sense that you're being honest and straightforward with them. And if they don't, maybe you wouldn't have fit in so well with that company anyway.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by Xantar

You're only in your 20s, right? Then the correct answer is, "At this stage in my life, anything could happen."

I disagree with this, too. Anyone who tells me they want to leave to go back to school or they want to be a teacher is basically shooting themselves in the foot. We want people who are going to be committed to working here; it takes too long to train people. We actually had a girl tell us she wanted to be a teacher but wasn't able to get a job in that field. Of course we aren't going to hire her, because she's just going to bolt when when she finds what she really wants.