Smart answers to interview questions

Jan 14, 2007

WHILE you can never anticipate every question you will be asked in an interview, you can get a headstart by developing strong, concise answers to common questions.

By Timothy Makokha

WHILE you can never anticipate every question you will be asked in an interview, you can get a headstart by developing strong, concise answers to common questions.

Gloria Byamugisha, the human resource manager of Celtel, says there are common questions.

Tell me about yourself
Hassan Musinguzi, the head of administration and finance at the Population Secretariat, says this is often the first and should be one of the easiest. Musinguzi says the question seeks to establish consistency in relation to what is in the CV.

“The interviewer wants to know your professional life. Focusing on specific accomplishments, give a brief summary of your career,” he says.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Musinguzi says an interviewer does not want to hear that their organisation is a transit route for your experiments with jobs. Rather, they want to get a sense of your goals and ambition. “Demonstrate a motivation to succeed,” he explains.

Patrick Oboth, a senior lecturer of management at Makerere University, says even if the interviewees have no idea where they want to be, they should never say so. They should say something implying they are looking for challenges and opportunities for career growth.

What did you dislike about your last job?

This is tricky because you don’t want to sound overly critical, petty, bitter or a problem employee. Oboth says if you say anything negative, pair it with something positive. “The focus is not your previous job, but the job on the table. Show how this new job will give you an opportunity to exploit your hidden qualities,” he advises.

A receptionist who was seeking a job as a secretary said: “As a receptionist, I enjoyed greeting the public. I liked knowing that I could make a difference by giving people a great first impression of the company, but I felt there wasn’t room for me to utilise my organisational skills. I am looking for a position that offers more responsibility and more challenges...”

Why should we hire you?
This provides an opportunity to shove competition aside and make the most out of it. Most likely, everybody will be speaking about generalities, go specific. Quantify achievements from your previous job.

To demonstrate her strong initiative, Rose Apio, a secretary to the marketing manager in one of the banks in Kampala, said: “I created a system to organise my boss’ projects, which improved deadlines by three hours in three months.” A simple response, but spot on.

Why do you want to work here?

Oboth says this is not about you, but the organisation. “You cannot answer the question satisfactorily without knowing the background of the organisation,” he says. “Highlight your qualities and how they will contribute to the success of the organisation.”

What is your greatest strength?

Your strength might not appear to be business-related, but relate it to work. If you are into an energy-sapping sport like rugby, talk about how well you deal with pressure as part of a team. It is not easy to answer this if you do not know the system of management appraisal in place.

What are your weaknesses?

No one is flawless, so give a real weakness. Remember to exploit your weakness to your advantage. If you are impatient, illustrate how this has shaped you into a meticulous planner to avoid last-minute haste.

What salary do you expect?
This is a tricky question every person may wish to avoid. You can deflect the question back to the interviewer by saying: “I don’t know. What are you planning on paying the best candidate?” Let the employer make the first offer.

It is important to know the salary range for the position in the industry before the interview. This will help you negotiate.

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