| Top job interview questions you might be | | | | was asked something as simple as "So |
| asked during an interview range from why | | | | tell me about yourself", I goofed. What |
| do you want this job to what is your | | | | the heck did she want to know? My |
| greatest weakness. So quickly now, tell | | | | hobbies? My age? My experience? My |
| me just what is your greatest weakness? | | | | current job? How long I'd lived in the |
| And tell me in the next 20 seconds. I'm | | | | city?" So tell me about yourself" is |
| staring at you, tapping my fingers on my | | | | quite general among job interview |
| desk and waiting for your reply.Gotcha, | | | | questions (and a popular one).Needless |
| didn't I!While I don't know what your | | | | to say that upon leaving that second |
| greatest weakness in your last job or in | | | | interview with that lady executive (who |
| life is, I do know your greatest | | | | was required to approve the final hire), |
| weakness in relation to your job | | | | I KNEW I killed all my chances at |
| interview.Questions asked by the | | | | getting that job. And so did the |
| interviewer?No, it's your "answers". At | | | | original interviewer, the fundraiser |
| least partly. There's more to it...Your | | | | consultant who I'd really be working |
| greatest weakness when it comes to | | | | with and under anyway (and whose facial |
| blowing job interviews may be your lack | | | | expressions--yes he was |
| of preparation. Let me give you an | | | | eavesdropping--said he knew I blew it |
| example from my own life.Years ago I | | | | too).Notice I said that "I" blew it. |
| worked in fundraising for a nonprofit. I | | | | Sure, the second interviewer was a |
| liked the fundraising field. Anyone who | | | | cold-hearted...well, you get the idea. |
| has worked in it will tell you there is | | | | And surely I was better off not working |
| never a dull moment. It's a fast-paced | | | | for her or for a "struggling" nonprofit |
| work environment, always with one more | | | | on the rebound. But the job still seemed |
| thing to do. And you're usually doing it | | | | so exciting and I wanted it. And I BLEW |
| for a good cause. However, I wanted to | | | | the job interview. Questions I should |
| do even more with my career in the same | | | | have been able to answer, I couldn't and |
| field but for a different employer. So | | | | didn't. I could do the actual job had |
| my job search began.My resumes probably | | | | it been given to me. I just couldn't ace |
| resulted in 90 percent success with | | | | the job interview.Do you know WHY I blew |
| getting called for a job interview. It's | | | | that job interview? I do.I'm A LOT |
| been that way just about forever for me. | | | | smarter and more savvy with job searches |
| I mastered resume writing a long time | | | | now so I know the answer. And quite |
| ago, perhaps because I'm also a | | | | frankly, I knew the answer to why I |
| professional writer. I've even written | | | | didn't get that job I so badly wanted |
| resumes for friends who weren't getting | | | | right after I blew the question about |
| interviews. And then they did get those | | | | "so tell me about yourself".And the |
| job interview calls immediately. And if | | | | answer was and is...I did not prepare |
| you're wondering, these were honest | | | | for the job interview."Preparation" |
| resumes. I've never exaggerated on a | | | | might possibly be the most important job |
| resume---mine or others.So this day my | | | | interview tip you ever hear.What was I |
| resume writing skills got me a call for | | | | thinking? I never passed a test in high |
| a job interview I REALLY wanted.I'd be | | | | school or college by NOT studying. As a |
| working for another nonprofit in a | | | | fundraiser, I never asked a donor to |
| position where I'd be learning from an | | | | give me a gift by NOT preparing a |
| established fundraiser in a fast-paced | | | | proposal or preparing for the ask. Yet I |
| manner too. Back then I craved an | | | | walked into a job interview with NO |
| experienced mentor like this in the | | | | preparation. And it showed.Dumb!If you |
| fundraising field. And I wanted to be on | | | | want to get your dream job---because |
| a "fast-track" like this job offered. | | | | ONLY ONE person will get called for that |
| But here's what happened next...I | | | | job out of all the interviewees---then |
| interviewed with a gentlemen who was | | | | you must prepare for the job interview. |
| hired on a contract consultant basis to | | | | Preparation means everything from |
| handle this nonprofit's fundraising | | | | preparing what you'll wear to how you'll |
| campaign. It would be long-term, perhaps | | | | greet the interviewer to how you'll |
| a year or two or more for this campaign. | | | | follow up with the interviewer. Job |
| I was enthusiastic during the job | | | | interview preparation is knowing |
| interview, projected experience and | | | | beforehand exactly (or nearly exact) |
| knowledge about fund-raising (mostly | | | | what you'll say to "So tell me about |
| self-taught), and visibly eager to get | | | | yourself" and "What is your greatest |
| started. During the job interview, I | | | | weakness" and any of dozens of questions |
| aced every question. The interviewer and | | | | you might be asked during a job |
| I clicked. He was a fundraiser. I was a | | | | interview.It IS true that the most |
| fundraiser (though to a lesser | | | | experienced or most qualified person |
| knowledgeable extent). And we understood | | | | will not always get the job. The person |
| each other. When I finished that | | | | who aces the interview, even if they |
| interview I KNEW I was in his top picks | | | | only have half your smarts and |
| if not the top pick. I was a smart and | | | | experience, WILL get the job. That's |
| "hungry" fundraiser willing to work for | | | | life for you!So what did I do before my |
| the right price and follow his lead. And | | | | next job interview?I went to the store |
| that's what he wanted. But then......I | | | | and bought a book to help me prepare for |
| had to go through round two of the job | | | | answering job interview questions. The |
| interview process. I was to return on a | | | | book was called Knock 'Em Dead, The |
| separate day and interview for the job | | | | Ultimate Job-Seeker's Handbook by Martin |
| with a top executive of this small | | | | Yate. It's a popular book with many |
| nonprofit. I did. She was clearly not a | | | | since updated editions. In particular, |
| fundraiser (though it is important, | | | | when I read Yate's section on handling |
| perhaps vital, for a top executive to | | | | tough job interview questions---and |
| understand and play their role correctly | | | | practiced my responses at home, I never |
| in fundraising, especially for a | | | | goofed at another job interview again. |
| nonprofit like this one which was on the | | | | Never! I didn't always get the job, but |
| decline in funding and needed a fast | | | | I sure came close most times. And |
| rebound) . But this lady executive was | | | | eventually I did get the job I wanted. |
| cold. I did not get a warm vibe from | | | | Also I was never again personally |
| her. Quite opposite, fundraisers, or | | | | embarrassed about my performance in a |
| anyone trying to raise funds, are | | | | job interview.Yate's book is just one |
| usually gregarious, friendly people. | | | | source and one method to help you |
| Apparently no one told this woman that | | | | prepare for the job interview for your |
| it's important to make any community | | | | dream job. You can find other equally |
| member feel comfortable, even one who is | | | | good sources to help you ace your job |
| interviewing with you for a job (hey, my | | | | interviews. And I highly recommend you |
| daddy COULD have been a rich member of | | | | do seek out some job interview |
| the community!).Well, this woman was so | | | | preparation resources before your next |
| cold and matter of fact (and not even | | | | job interview---if you really want to |
| totally focused on me and the interview | | | | get that job---particularly some tips |
| at times), that she got me. I was | | | | about responding to job interview |
| already nervous about the job interview | | | | questions.Karen Fritscher-Porter |
| and now the questions felt more like an | | | | publishes a website for administrative |
| interrogation---one I was failing at. | | | | professionals at that contains |
| First came the stammering. Then came the | | | | practical on-the-job advice and career |
| blank mind on my part. And then came | | | | advancement tips. |
| dumb words, followed by no words. When I | | | | |