How to predict the questions that you will be asked in a job interview

Transcription

1 How to predict the questions that you will be asked in a job interview Predicting the questions that you will be asked at interview is actually relatively easy. With practice, you can predict around 80% of the questions you will be asked. If you take the time to prepare this way, you will feel much more confident, and are likely to give articulate and impressive answers that will satisfy the interview panel. Firstly, you can always expect some general questions along the lines of: What drew you to apply for this job? Why are you the best candidate for this position? What are you three main attributes that make you ideal for this position? What s your greatest strength and greatest weakness? What s the biggest challenge you have faced in your career so far? How did you deal with it? How does this job fit in with your career plans? As with all of your job applications and preparations, this starts with the person specification and job description. If you re lucky, these will be laid out for you, with the person specification given in a table of essential and desirable criteria. If not, you will have to pick these out from the job advertisement and create your own. If you are unclear about anything, phone up the organisation and check. There s usually a contact telephone number for someone with whom you can have an informal chat. Make a list of questions that you want answers to, and arrange a time to have a good conversation with this person. You should do this anyway, but it s especially important if you don t have a rigid job description and person specification to go on. To predict your interview questions, follow these steps: 1. Take the person specification and look at the essential and desirable criteria 2. Think of one or two questions per point that you would ask to find out if the person really did have those skills make the questions as hard and horrible as possible 3. Look at the job description, and highlight the skills, knowledge and duties 4. Think of one or two questions per point that you would ask to find out how well the person will be able to do the job. Again, make the questions very specific, and as hard as you can.

2 Here are some examples: Example 1. Clear job description and person specification Lecturers/Associate Professors in Neuroscience, Molecular Genomics & Reproductive Immunology To undertake research of international excellence in an area of neuroscience, molecular genomics or reproductive immunology, and maintain and stimulate a research group in this area. Lecture and supervise practical classes in mammalian systems physiology, probably including aspects of cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, digestive and neurophysiology at various undergraduate levels. Assessment of coursework, practical reports and examination scripts and act as an invigilator in examinations as required. Undertake research student supervision at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Any other duties appropriate to this role as required by the Head of Division. Essential Desirable Qualifications/ Education PhD in a related subject. Membership of an appropriate professional body. Skills/Training Experience Personal Attributes Good communication skills. Good time management skills Good IT skills. Knowledge required to teach in appropriate areas of undergraduate courses. Ability to initiate and lead research. Proven ability to produce and publish research of an international quality. Ability to use and develop appropriate teaching materials. A good communicator. Well organised. Ability to work in a team. Postgraduate certificate in Higher Education. Effective management of research projects. Strong track record of successful research this is an essential criterion for the higher level post. Higher education teaching experience.

3 Possible questions Describe your teaching and demonstrating experience. What have you learnt that has made you an excellent teacher? we are looking for someone with excellent communication skills. Convince us that you are the person we are looking for. Tell us about a time when you initiated and led research We are looking for someone whose research is of international quality. Tell us how your research outputs meet this criterion. Tell us about some innovative teaching materials that you have developed. How organised are you? Give us an example of a time where you had to develop a well-organised system. What was the situation and what did you do? What role do you play in a team? What strategies to do use to manage a team of varying personalities? We are looking for someone with excellent project management skills. Tell us about a project you have managed. What strategies did you use? What challenges did you encounter, and how did you deal with them? Example 2. Job description and person specification hidden in the job advertisement Journal Editor, Nature Clinical Practice The Nature Publishing Group is pleased to announce the launch of Nature Chemistry in Following the success of Nature Materials, Nature Chemical Biology and Nature Physics, and given the strength of the parent journal Nature, we fully expect Nature Chemistry to seize the commanding heights of the chemistry-publishing landscape. As part of NPG s expanding publishing programme in chemistry we are now seeking an additional Associate Editor, to be based in our Tokyo office, to work on Nature Chemistry and a number of publishing projects based in the Asia-Pacific region. Under exceptional circumstances, location in NPG's Hong Kong office may also be considered for a candidate with a proven track record of editorial experience working for a chemistry journal. Applicants should have a PhD in chemistry, or an applied chemistry discipline, with demonstrable research achievements. Although postdoctoral experience is preferred (not required), emphasis will be placed on broadly trained applicants with a good knowledge of the chemistry community. Key elements of the position include the selection of manuscripts for publication, and commissioning, editing and writing other content for the journal and other publishing projects. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate a good understanding of the East Asian research communities (in particular Japan, China and Korea) as well as being fluent in English and preferably (desired, but not required) an Asian language (Japanese, Chinese or Korean). This is a demanding and extremely stimulating role, which calls for a keen interest in the practice and communication of science. The successful candidate will, therefore, be dynamic, motivated and outgoing, and must possess excellent interpersonal skills. The salary and benefits, will be competitive, reflecting the critical importance and responsibilities of this position. Applicants should send a CV (including their class of degree and a brief account of their research and other relevant experience), a News & View style piece (no more than 500 words) on a recent paper from the chemical literature, and a brief cover letter explaining their interest in the post and salary expectations.

4 Person specification inferred from the job advertisement: Essential PhD in chemistry, or an applied chemistry discipline demonstrable research achievements broadly trained applicants with a good knowledge of the chemistry community Desirable editorial experience working for a chemistry journal postdoctoral experience Fluent in an Asian language good understanding of the East Asian research communities fluent in English Able to work under pressure Dynamic, outgoing person Self-motivated excellent interpersonal skills Job description inferred from advertisement selection of manuscripts for publication commissioning, editing and writing other content for the journal and other publishing projects Possible questions 1. Convince us that the experience you have so far will make you a brilliant editor for this journal 2. We only employ people with excellent research achievements. Convince us that you are one of these people. 3. We re looking for someone with a good knowledge of the Chemistry community. How would you describe the extent of your knowledge in this area? 4. Where has your knowledge of East Asian research communities come from? 5. Give us an example of a time when you had to work under extreme pressure. What was the situation and what did you do? 6. We are looking for someone who is dynamic and outgoing. Give us an example of a time when you demonstrated these qualities in the workplace and generated a successful outcome.

5 7. Tell us about a time when you had to draw upon your self-motivation to get a project completed. What did you learn from this experience? 8. We have a close-knit team here and are looking for someone who has excellent interpersonal skills. Tell us how you measure up. 9. Tell us how your experience so far means that you will be able to select quality manuscripts for publication (this question from the job description) 10. We are looking for someone who can write in a number of different styles. Tell us about the variety of writing that you have done. (this question from the job description)