ABOUT JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.COM

Hi there, I’m Rory, and I would love to tell you a little about myself, and also what inspired me to write this eBook on JOB INTERVIEWS.

I can clearly remember back to the time, (several years ago now!) when I had to start applying for jobs and attending interviews, and the whole range of emotions and frustrations I felt after the disappointments and setbacks I experienced.

Some of the most common, and frustrating situations I encountered, which I’m sure you have probably also endured, is where you are placed in a no-win situation when then employer tells you things like:

• You don’t have any experience,
• You are to young for this position,
• You are over (or under) qualified for this job

My first successful job interview was over 20 years ago, after I left the armed services. I applied for a job with a commercial company working in the high security operations room. I guess looking back on it now my interview knowledge and skills were virtually non-existent.

I know I would have had a basic CV prepared, and would have done some research into the company background, but I would not have thought about preparing an interview plan or answers to the most likely questions I would have been asked.

The amazing thing was I actually got the job, but I guess I will never know if it was down to my interview technique or because of my military experience and being vetted to work in the most high security environments.

This was the start of a very long and successful business career, but of course in life, nothing every goes completely smoothly and I learnt that there are constant challenges which we are confronted with, and the way we deal with these has a big impact of our personal and professional life.

After 6 months in the job, I got the opportunity to apply for my first supervisory position. I was actually told my interview went much better than they had expected, and my employer had to make a tough decision about who to give the job to. In the end they decided on the safe option and gave the job to a colleague who had more a little more service than I did.

As a young guy, with a family who was always very ambitious to gain promotion and increase my income for my families benefit, I found this very frustrating to accept, but of course there was nothing I could do about it, except continue to work hard, and prove what I had to offer and hope that I would get another opportunity.

This learnt me a big lesson that there are so many things in the world of work that are either unfair or beyond your control, that we have to do all possible to tip the scales in our own favour to get the edge over other candidates.

I did however get the next promotion that became available, which was my first rung on the management career ladder. During the following years I progressed into jobs involving building surveys and risk assessments, integrated security systems designs, and sales & marketing. I progressed from being a sales surveyor to strategic accounts manager dealing with major national clients, and finally a European and Middle East market sector manager.

All of these promotions entailed me having to undergo very rigorous interviews and selection processes, including personality profiling and psychometric tests. I have attended many management, training courses, which included the techniques for interviewing, training and motivating staff.

When I started the whole process of interviewing and employing staff myself, it was only then that I could really see things from the interviewer’s perspective and the many things an employer is looking for from a new employee.

For instance, I found that there is normally no shortage of CV’s coming from hundreds of people that on paper at least, are more than qualified to do the job. Whilst a lot can be gained from the content, and layout of their CV’s and covering letter, it is not until the person is physically sat in front of you that many other important factors start to come into play.

Things such as personality, building rapport, body language, communication skills, a positive attitude, team spirited, to name just a few.

It is vitally important for you to remember that people are emotional creatures and most decisions are based upon EMOTION rather than LOGIC, so the more you understand and use this knowledge to your advantage, will have a major impact on many areas of your life.