Top Second Round Interview Preparation Guide

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Interviewer wants to know if you can learn to do the job in a reasonable time and how much training you will need. Never say "no" to this question. Instead, stress the experience you do have that will assist you in learning the new job quickly and efficiently. No two jobs are alike and you never do exactly the same work. In all jobs, new skills, rules and details have to be learned. Be sure to mention the following:
☛ Your past work experience.
☛ Your education and training related to the job.
☛ Volunteer work that might relate to the job.
☛ Any transferable skills - e.g. organizational skills, people skills.
☛ Your ability to learn quickly and how quickly you learned that type of work in the past.

Interviewer is trying to find out what school credentials you have. If you have no formal school qualifications but have a lot of experience, you might say:
☛ I didn't get formal school training for this job but I have (number) of years of experience in the field. I'm willing to learn new skills or go to school to get further training if I am offered the job. I learn quickly and I like to keep upgrading my skills.
If you have just completed a training course but have little work experience, you might say:
☛ I took a one year training program in (name of program) at (name of school) which is related to the job I'm applying for. I look forward to working in the field and putting into practice what I learned. I don't have a lot of work experience in this area but I learn quickly. I know you will be happy with my work.

This question indicates that the job you're applying for will involve working under pressure. Give examples of volunteer and paid work that involved pressure and deadlines. You could mention that we are always faced with pressure and deadlines in our lives and you do not mind the stress. Stressful situations are a learning and challenging experience. You might mention the following:
☛ How you handled large rush orders at your last workplace.
☛ How you prepared for exams and homework assignments while working full-time and attending school part-time.
☛ How you managed a crisis situation. (For example: a car accident)

The interviewer is trying to find out about your commitment to your career choice. In other words do you do it because you love the work or just take any job you can get for the money. If you did this work for many years and stopped due to a layoff,you might say:
I have done this for (number) of years. I like my work. The only reason I left my last workplace was because I was laid off.

The interviewer is trying to find out how you get along with Supervisors and how you feel about authority. You might say:
I appreciate getting instruction and criticism when it is done fairly and constructively.

Interviewers ask this question to see if your activities and hobbies might help the company and to get an idea of what kind of person you are outside your work life. Describe any volunteer work you do and any hobbies or interests that might relate to the job in some way. Stick to active hobbies, such as playing sports, carpentry,gardening, etc. Avoid mentioning inactive and non-creative activities such as watching television.

Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive?
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?

Point out how your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates to make a comparison.

This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. A short statement that you seem to get along with folks is great.

Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples: Your ability to prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positive attitude.

Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay genetic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and can't wait to get to work.

Do not be trivial. It would take disloyalty to the organization, violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

Money is always important, but the work is the most important. There is no better answer.

There are numerous of good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard work, Creativity, Problem solver.

Biggest trap of all. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss. If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former boss, you may well below the interview right there. Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor.

Don't get trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can include: Not enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction Company did not win a contract, which would have given you more responsibility.

You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for.

Probably this one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one.

This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition.

You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your outcomes are a success.Your boss tell you that you are successful.

You should be clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may come up. Do not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is no. This can create a lot of problems later on in your career. Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. Do not worry about the deep ethical and philosophical implications. Just say yes.

Try to avoid labels. Some of the more common labels, like progressive, salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or descriptions depending on which management expert you listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you will manage according to the situation, instead of one size fits all.

Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intention-ed mistake with a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off.

Tricky question. If you know about blind spots, they are no longer blind spots. Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here. Let them do their own discovery on your bad points. Do not hand it to them.