Saturday 27 September 2014

Where do you see yourself in next 5 years.

"Where do you see yourself in next 5 years?" This question is strongly asked to not to know your future goal but to know the steps you takes to achieve the goal.


Possible Intention:

  • To know if you have really thought through on what you are going to do in your career.
  • To know if you can think of bigger picture.


Insights:

  • Think through what you want to do in life and why? write down and have a tentative plan of what you want to achieve.
  • Obviously expect a next question like how will you achieve it? Or how this job which you have applied for fits into the gamut of what you aspire to do.


Example Answer:

I was passionate about technology from my childhood. I am very curious to know how things work. Applying technology and doing new creative things is what gives me satisfaction. I want to become a software architect who will be able to use technology in the best way to create solution for real world problems. I know that it is easier said that done. I have discussed this and understood about an architect's role from some relatives who have that kind of experience. I have read many articles and related blogs about architecture. From my study, i came to know that the basic characteristic required to become a good architecture are thinking skills, technology knowledge and hands-on experience. I think this job would give me the required exposure to that i can move a step further towards achievement of my goal.


Anti Pattern:

  • Do not give standard answer like CEO or interviewer's position like project manager without thinking.
  • Do not suggest any role without knowing what they are or what it takes to became that or what you will get if you become one?


Interviewer's Interpretation:

  • Any well thought answer displays seriousness and commitment towards your career and hence the job work.
  • Any shoddy answer without substance would ruin any good impression created so far.

Sunday 21 September 2014

Why should we hire you?




The question Why should we hire you? is mostly in the end of Interview. This may have following intentions..


Possible Intention:

  • To know if you believe that you are better fit for the job in hand.
  • To know how you position your strengths, skills and experience in context of their usefulness for the job.
  • To know if you can really defend and handle such type of questions.


Insights:

  • This question is asked with the positive intention that you may be a good candidate for the position.
  • You need to know what are the skills and competencies needed to perform the job well.
  • You also need to demonstrate with the example your other relevant skills which make you stand out.
  • When you are fresher for a particular industry, play the card of potential.
  • Confidently answer whether an experienced or a fresher.


Example Answer:

I am B.E./ Bsc with specialization in computer science. I am passionate about programming and information technology. I like to keep track of new technologies like cloud computing, mobile application etc. When I realized during my project/ internship that i am better at finding errors in programs, I started studying software testing and quality assurance in more detail. 
            I completed training in software testing and even completed ISTQB certification. In one of my recent projects, I was responsible for creating test cases. Compatibility testing on multiple browsers and hand-held devices was really challenging. I enjoyed doing information research for various hand-held devices along with an approach of testing them. With all my past experience, my passion for technology and quality assurance, i feel i would be able to carry out my responsibilities really well and deliver the best performance.


Anti-Pattern:

  • Do not think that this question has something to do with experience and would be asked only to experienced candidates.
  • This question is not asked with a belief that you are not a good and now you need to prove this to them.
  • Do not take in a negative spirite.


Interviewer's Interpretation:

  • Knowledge of job competencies and skills shows that you are serious and have studied the industry in which you want to make career.

Saturday 13 September 2014

Given a chance, which few things would you like to change about you?

Given a chance, which few things would you like to change about you ? This question reveals following intentions..

Possible Intention:

  • To know about if you have been introspective and found some things about you that could have been different, e.g. had you studied consistently well throughout you academic life, you would have had better opportunities earlier.
  • To know that you have courage to admit your mistakes and take them positively.

Insights:

  • Choose weakness in such a way that it is not seen as big hindrance in your job performance.
  • Also narrate how you are working on improving it.

Example Answer:

I am little impatient when it comes on my work. While learning some technology or creating some program, if it doesn't work quickly according to my expectations then sometimes i get annoyed. This actually increases the time to reach the correct solution. I have realized this and trying to cope up with it. Sometimes still it take over. I would really want to change it so that i do not lose my focus even for some amount of time.

Anti Pattern:

  • Do not say you get angry quite often.
  • Do not demonstrate your aggressiveness while answering such questions.


Interviewer's Interpretations:

  • If weakness is not going to affect the team spirit and the work to be done on the job, it is acceptable.
  • You are aware of weakness and working on improving them. Such candidates are always welcome.

Sunday 7 September 2014

Tell me about any of your three strengths.

The question "Tell me about any of your three strengths" is asked to check your top qualities and preferences in your professional life.


Possible Intention:

  • To know how you look at your strengths and are they really strengths considering the context.
  • To know more about you personality.


Insights:

  • Remember whatever you regard as strength has downside of being weakness when put in another context.
  • Substantiate your strength with an example situation where you demonstrate this strength.
  • You need to be ready with analysis of your strength.


Example Answer:

I have a lot of patience, perseverance and am hard working. During our final year project, there was one module which was not working at all. Everyone in our group vainly tried to debug. Finally, i took it upon myself to take a lead and solve the problem because we did not want to accept a defeat and do some petty work aground. We together worked for around 8-10 days to fix the issue and finally the module was working. We enjoyed the efforts put in and things which we learnt in various tryouts. We were able to achieve success only because of co-ordinated team effort.


Anti Pattern:

  • Do not tell something completely irrelevant like "building muscles" is my strength. it's out of context.
  • Do not give just a list with no relevant example.
  • Do not state your strength, however attractive, perseverance, hard work, team spirit, passion for learning and for making things work against odd.