Interview Preparation: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Sample 2 – Mid Level
I see myself working for the same company, promoted to Directors
positions. I envisage that I would be heading and be responsible for P & L.
I would be having a team of 500 people and serving minimum 10 customers.
Interview Preparation: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Sample 1 – Fresher
I see myself working for the same company, promoted to team
leads positions. I envisage that I would be leading a team of 20 people and handling multiple projects.
Interview Preparation: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
The Interviewer:
Interviewer wants to understand
- if you would stay in company long enough
- have you even though about it?
- Are your ambitions too big for the job / are you overfit?
The Applicant:
- Understand company structure through research
- Show growth with the same organization.
- Some companies have sponsorship programs- you can ask for sponsorship programs and say you would like for sponsored study. This is a risky thing to reveal. They may reject if they feel you won’t stay in job enough.
Interview Preparation: Why are you looking for a change? Sample 2 – Seeking more money
I have produced results in my current Job. I am a top performer. Based on my capability I feel that I am operating at a level less than my capability so I am seeking a change where I can operate at higher level.
OR
I have produced results in my current Job. I am a top performer. Based on my capability I feel that I am operating at a level less than my capability. My salary is also not at par with top notch professionals. I need to wait for a very long time in the current system to get the both. So, I am seeking a change where I can operate at higher level.
Interview Preparation: Why are you looking for a change? Sample 1 – Mid Level Layoff
There is industry wide restructuring in the company even though my name is not in the current list but it will come in time to come. So, I am searching for the Job in advance.
OR
For last few years I feel that I am not given due credit for my capability. Growth options in company are very limited and people have wait for very long time for promotions. I have already worked on increasing my capability. So, I am looking outside seeking growth.
OR
I was given D rating because I had performance issues. I didn’t work on those issues and will work in same way in my next job. – straight away reject
Interview Preparation: Why are you looking for a change?
The Interviewer:
Interviewer wants to know
- Why are you searching the Job?
- What compelled you to search Job?
- Are there performance issues in you?
- If you leave your current job too early, will you stay long enough in next job?
The Applicant:
- Tell the truth and articulate it nicely.
- If there is company restructuring and there are company-wide layoffs, it is ok to tell.
- If you were not given good rating in performance review and there are chances that you will be asked to leave. You shall tell that you do not fit in the position any more. Your growth is struck and you want to move out to pursue growth.
- Change for growth in position, responsibility and monitory terms is acceptable. Do not feel conscious in saying that you were offered higher wages in earlier change. Higher wages are due to your capability and relevant experience.
- If you are changing for monetary reasons – include it with increase in responsibility. Set tone from here itself that you a top notch professional.
- Look positive and confident in every situation.
Interview Preparation: What are your weaknesses? Sample 2 - Mid Level
I have done a thorough analysis of myself and my strengths are following:
1) I do not like travelling and I am very homesick I am away from home for a long time. So, I am looking for a job which has office my city and doesn’t require travelling.
2) I am too much involved in my work and feel very bad when things do not go my way. Slowly I have learned how to keep my emotions away from work and how to deal with failure. I do regular meditation and read ancient spiritual text to overcome this problem. I have learned that emotions cannot be kept away completely but they need to be given direction.
3) I do not like regular boring tasks like regular approvals tasks or operational projects. They do not have any excitement in them. So, I have decided not to go for such jobs.
It is not necessary to overcome some weakness, you may very well decide to live with them and also tell this in interview. Deciding to live with a weakness also is a strength.
Interview Preparation: What are your weaknesses? Sample 1 – Fresher
As I said earlier, I keep doing a SWOT (Strength, weakness, opportunities and threat) analysis of myself. My weaknesses are following:
1) I am introvert. Initially I was very concerned about my being introvert and not able to speak to many people. However, later I found out that being introvert is not a bad thing. Speaking without a purpose is not needed for success. So, I worked on my interpersonal skills. Now I can speak to any type of people when I want to. I am still an introvert but do speak whenever require.
2) I wasn’t very good in mathematics. I didn’t like it at all. But I figured out that some mathematics is required to survive, so I learned how to quickly do calculation in mind and decide very fast.
3) I have a fear of public speaking, I never went to stage in my college days. I still have this fear. I plan to join toastmaster club to overcome this.
Weakness you present shall not an impediment in job mentioned in Job Description.
Interview Preparation: What are your weaknesses?
The Interviewer:
Interviewer wants to elicit
- how well can you present your weaker side?
- Have you even thought about it?
- Are you aware of your weaknesses and do you have a plan to overcome it.
- Is your weakness going to an impediment in your job. For example, if job require travelling and you are too much of family person and not found of meeting new people and seeing new places.
The Applicant:
- Do not say you are a perfect person without a weakness.
- Present a weakness that is not related to Job description.
- Tell that you already have a plan to overcome the weakness and you have come a long way.
Interview Preparation: What are your strengths? Sample 2 – mid level
I do a regular a SWOT (Strength, weakness, opportunities and threat) analysis of myself. My strengths are following:
1) My experience in building high performance teams and managing difficult projects from demanding customers thus increasing revenue and reducing cost.
2) My knowledge in field of design, even though I have grown and manage a large team, I keep details of what’s happening so I am at the top of things always and VERY INVOLVED.
3) I go for regular training on soft and technical skills. I also encourage team to do so. Thus, I am continuous learning and growth oriented and take people along.
4) Even though, I am experienced but I have enthusiasm of a fresher. Every project is important and a matter of prestige for me.
5) I am a very good people manager. I know how to motivate people and get best out of them.
6) I am very good technical architect; I know every detail of architecture and have experience of using it in diverse set of projects.
Telling them about already done SWOT of yourself is important because it tell that you are aware and a thinker. Choices, you make it based on analysis and not arbitrary.
Give them 3 to 5 relevant strengths, speak every point with numbering so that interviewer can easily understand, make a map of your strengths in his mind and remember it for long.
Notice discrepancy in point 2 and point 6. design architect would be a better word so not to confuse interviewer.
Interview Preparation: What are your strengths? Sample 1 – Fresher
I keep doing a SWOT (Strength, weakness, opportunities and threat) analysis of myself. My strengths are following:
1) My education in relevant field from where I have obtained very high percentage and have earned gold medal in design subject.
2) I have learned key technologies in college time it-self through internship and open-source projects. So, I am always ahead of time.
3) I know industry trends so I am aware and alert.
4) I keep myself trained on self-management so I know how to prioritize tasks and manage time
5) Once I decide, I go for it with sincerity and full of my strengths; I leave no stone unturned for success.
Telling them about already done SWOT of yourself is important because it tell that you are aware and a thinker. Choices, you make it based on analysis and not arbitrary.
Give them 3 to 5 relevant strengths, speak every point with numbering so that interviewer can easily understand, make a map of your strengths in his mind and remember it for long.
Interview Preparation: What are your strengths?
The Interviewer:
Interviewer wants to elicit
- how well can you present yourself
- Have you done enough research on requirement of the Job
- Are you able to make a relation between Job requirements and your strengths
- You have strengths that makes a difference
- He will reconfirm the points you speak in this response
The Applicant:
- Sell yourself
- Present your best self
- Make use of your strengths that are relevant to Job
- Show growth orientation, sincerity, leadership, clarity of thinking
- Present yourself a well-managed person with long term vision
Interview Preparation: Why shall we hire you? Sample 2 – mid level
I am a very strong candidate for following reasons-
1) I carry a vast experience in design field which is directly related to work you are doing.
2) I have experienced growth where we have increased number of customers and team in short span of time. I know nitty-gritty of such a fast growth.
a) I can turn any team into a high performing team very fast.
b) I can handle difficult and new customers.
I intend to do the same in my next job.
3) My projects are available at market and publicly available to be verified.
4) I can become productive from the very first day at Job and take the group to the hights which is increase in 10% of profit in one year.
5) I know many customers and I can pull work for the company.
Give them 3 to 5 relevant reasons, speak every point with numbering so that interviewer can easily understand, make a map of your strengths in his mind and remember it for long. First one and last one shall be impact full and enticing for the interviewer.
Interview Preparation: Why shall we hire you? Sample 1 – Fresher
I consider myself a very strong candidate for following reasons-
1) My education in design from a premier design institute carry learnings of my professors and seniors.
2) My experience in internship is directly related to projects you are doing.
3) My projects are available at open-source websites to verify.
4) I can become productive from the very first day at Job.
5) As I pulled up projects at my internship, I can also pull projects in job with my quality work.
Give them 3 to 5 relevant reasons, speak every point with numbering so that interviewer can easily understand, make a map of your strengths in his mind and remember it for long.
Why should we hire you?
The Interviewer:
Interviewer wants to elicit
- how well can you present yourself
- Have you done enough research on requirement of the Job
- Are you able to make a relation between Job requirements and your skills
- He will reconfirm the points you speak in this response
The Applicant:
- Sell yourself
- Present your best self
- Make use of your strengths that are relevant to Job
- Share previous experiences with real example of
o Value you have built
o Improvements in revenue or process
o Savings in costs or time
o Changes you have brought
- Do not just say – show them.
- Do not lie.
Interview Preparation: What motivates you
The interviewer is looking for
- Clarity of thoughts
- You articulation skills
- He will check with follow up questions if your motivations made up for interview.
- Are these motivations having depth.
The Applicant
- Do not lie
- Do not make up motivations just because they are in Job Description
- Motivation related to public service, volunteering are ok tell.
- If you are motivated about money, it is ok to tell. Formula 1 racing etc are ok to come
- Ambitions and motivations about career growth are ok.
- Bring up motivations with are aligning with company and Job description.
- For example, when applying for NGO and public service job. They would be looking for people who have motivations in selfless service and helping people, making world a better place
- For a corporate Job whose purpose is to make wealth, money related motivations are ok to tell.
Interview Preparation: What motivates you Sample 1 – NGO
I am excited about helping people to make them self – reliable, thus making world a better place to live. I do this because I believe in selfless service. I would like to work with an organization which provides me opportunity in this area.
Interview Preparation: What motivates you Sample 2 – Corporate
I am excited about technology; my ultimate mission is to help people in adoption of technology. Thru use of technology, I strive to bring equality and lift poor people. Even though I intend to work on a technology corporate on salary, I believe money is a very important tool for advancement of technology and upliftment of people.
Above 2 examples show how person with same mission can have two different paths to reach the same goal. You can also modify your motivations based on situation.
Good afternoon,
I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity for
the discussion.
My name is Abhishek Kumar. I am a senior manager in easy
design which is a consulting firm for landscape designs.
I have been with the firm for 7 years. In last seven years
firm and me have grown. I started as an individual contributor, then quickly
started handling 1 customer with a 10-member team. From there I grew business
and team. I am managing a team of 100 people which is together managing 5 clients.
I specialize in designs software and have experienced diverse
set of projects. Handling difficult clients is my forte. I have converted 3 difficult
clients to repeated clients.
Prior to easy design I worked for another design firm shoba designs
for 3 years. As an individual contributor, I improved draft to final time by 30
percent. I was awarded employee of quarter and my way of work was adopted as
standard way of work in the firm.
I am a master in design from Indian design institute,
Bhopal.
Since your firm is consulting firm and this job require
similar experience, I have applied looking for growth in terms of responsibilities.
Tell me about yourself Sample 1 – Fresher
Good morning,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity for the interview.
My name is Shyam Kumar.
I did my 12th from Modern Public School Shimla
and scored 99.6 percent.
I have done my bachelor in design from government
engineering college, Delhi. I received CGPA of 8.7.
I have done my internship in designing firm easy design Delhi,
there I worked on designing user interface for mobile and web Applications. After
few weeks of training, I independently worked on user interface of upcoming product.
Product is live and you have a look at easydesing.com.
I am enthusiastic about design from childhood. I am a member
of designing community and contribute at it regularly. Some of my work is
available at freepic.com
I love badminton and participate in non-professional badminton
tournaments.
==
Greetings,
Name,
Education
Interships.
Interests
Achivements.
Good hobbies
Why are you applying?
The Applicant:
This is an ice breaker question and is very important. This is where you make your first impression. Your response shall be more than the minimum standard of expectations. You shall dress nicely, look confident and speak with ease.
