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 What Are Employers Looking For in an Interview?

Some questions are asked in almost every typical interview. They include:

• "Tell me about yourself."

• "Why do you want to work here?"

• "What are your goals?"

Even when we prepare for these questions, sometime we wonder, "Why did they ask that question?" or "What were they really looking for during the interview?" Also note that many interviews are now performed as a team. Two or more people will be asking questions. This can cause difficulty in positioning and eye contact, and you may feel overwhelmed by the questioning. It may help to focus on the person who is asking the question and not to glance at the other people. Trying to pick up on the reactions of others in the room may distract you from answering questions with clarity and enthusiasm.

1. Tell me about yourself. The interviewer is breaking the ice, and you are setting the tone for the interview. Mention a few personal, job-related, or education-related skills or accomplishments.

Samples:

• I am a recent graduate of ......... school, where I played tennis and was a member of the ......... club.


• In school I enjoyed my English and computer classes.



• I worked in the summer as a lifeguard and assisted the swim team coach.

It is not necessary to give too much detail or go back to childhood activities.

2. Why do you want to work here? The interviewer(s) want to know how much you know about the company, including its products and services. This is where prior research on the company is crucial.

3. What are your career goals? Most of the time, employers are looking for someone to stay in the job for awhile. Therefore, career goals of returning to school, starting your own business, or moving to a different location will not be appropriate. They are checking to see if you are really interested in the job or just waiting for the next opportunity. If your career goals fit with the direction the company is moving, then your chances of getting hired have increased. Appropriate career goals might include: "I hope to become the top sales person in xxx amount of time" or "My immediate goal is to gain more experience in this field and, long-term, be able to grow as the company grows."

4. Give me an example of ......... This can be one of the most difficult questions to prepare for because you have no idea what the specific question will be. Go to the interview prepared with specific examples of when you used the following skills and you should have this question covered:

• Leadership

• Stress management

• Team building

• Persistence

• Problem solving