| Open Questions |
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This is where interviewers give you the chance to talk.
They want to hear your ideas and see how you develop an
answer.
Questions such as these allow you the chance to sell
yourself. They require a level of preparation on your
part. Think about the key themes that are likely to be
covered in the interview and especially about those which
you consider will be attractive and of interest to the
interviewer.
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Examples:
What levels of budget responsibility have you had throughout
your career?
How did you implement Investors in People?
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| Probing |
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What interviewers are particularly
interested in your
reply and want further information, they will use probing
questions to focus in on the subject.
It's rather like a funneling
process where the interviewer
moves from general questions to specific examples.
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Examples:
Tell me about your research to date.
How did you manage the change?
What made you respond in that way?
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| Closed Questions |
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Direct questions that tend to pin you down to a factual
reply or to a 'yes' or 'no' answer.
Questions such as these can inhibit you and restrict
your freedom in presenting information. For example, you
may not have been responsible for the budget in your last
post, but have had budget responsibilities in the past.
If you are not able to communicate this information it
may reduce your chances of being successful. Always try
to highlight relevant previous experience.
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Examples:
Where you responsible for managing a budget in your last
job?
Are you familiar with Investors in People?
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Hypothetical questions
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Hypothetical questions are just that, encouraging you
to imagine how you might handle the unknown. They also
provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate how well
you think and the quality of your judgment. The interviewer
will suggest a hypothetical situation and ask how you
would deal with it.
These can tend to be difficult questions to answer, especially
if complex scenarios are being presented. If you are not
careful you can end up tying yourself in knots, especially
if you concentrate too much on trying to work out what
kind of answer you think they might want. Try to relate
these questions to your own experience and, if you are
not clear about the complete details of the situation,
ask for more information.
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Examples:
What would you do if... ?
How would you deal with..?
What would you expect from a perfect manager?
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| Leading Questions |
| These are the opposite to hypothetical questions as here,
the interviewer steers you to the kind of answer they expect.
Leading questions do not give interviewers much of an idea
about you, though you will have an insight into their thinking.
Generally it is best not to rock the boat; go where the
questions are leading and check if you are unclear. |
Examples:
As you have had experience of budgeting, I'm sure you
wouldn't...
With regard to Investors in People, you are obviously
aware of the problems with...
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| Difficult Questions |
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These take many shapes and forms. Give yourself a moment
to think, rather than trying to start answering immediately.
Don't be evasive; you may have some ideas about which
areas of questioning are likely to cause you difficulty
. Anticipate what areas interviewers might cover and be
ready for them. It is important to have some kind of answer
ready rather than clamming up and leaving interviewers
to jump to their own, possibly incorrect, conclusions.
You don't know which questions will take you by surprise.
Whatever they are, take your time over them. And remember
that in most cases, the interviewer is trying to give
you the opportunity to put yourself forward in the best
possible light, not trying to trip you up.
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Examples:
I see you have a gap of 3 years in your employment; what
did you do during that time?
This job requires a professional diploma. How are you
going to make up the shortfall in your qualifications?
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| Negative Questions |
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These can often reflect an interviewer's tendency to
look at the more negative side of life. It may be their
way of making comparisons between the best candidates.
Don't fall into the trap of defending yourself, as though
this were a direct attack by the interviewer. Be constructive
and turn the question around to show yourself in a positive
light.
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Examples:
What are your weaknesses?
Why is it that you have changed jobs so often?
You stayed in your last job for 10 years. Why so long?
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