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What were your starting and final levels of compensation?

Interviewers expect a candidate for employment to be able to provide the details of their compensation history. Be prepared to tell the interviewer how much you earned at each of your prior positions.

Make sure that what you tell the interviewer matches what you listed on your job application. Refresh your memory prior to the interview by reviewing your compensation history, so, you can speak in detail and accurately. Don’t exaggerate or inflate your earnings. Many employers will check references and confirm your salary history prior to making a job offer. A discrepancy between what you reported and what the employer says could knock you out of contention for the job.

It is common for a prospective employer to be interested in your previous salary. This will give them some prospective on how much you will be expecting to earn in a new role, and to a lesser extent, will also help back up some of your interview answers. For example, if you continually mentioned your high levels of responsibility and the levels of trust that put you in situations such as being alone with vast amounts of money, and you were on minimum wage, it may appear to the interviewer that you were perhaps telling one or two lies.

This question will also show the interviewer that you have a good grasp of your own interests. If you don’t have enthusiasm over your own interests then how would you be able to show enthusiasm for the interests of the prospective company. For this reason, if you are unsure, it would be prudent to research back through your own work history and revise the facts and figures. These numbers may also have been required for the initial forms upon applying for the job, so it is essential to ensure that anything you say in an interview, corresponds with what was put in any forms. At worst a slip up and therefore a discrepancy, could paint you as a liar, which is not an attractive trait.

The answer can also be structured to give some indication of your progression in your last position.

Example Answers

1

"After leaving school at 18 I went into my first post at 16,000 per year. After finishing and passing my apprenticeship two years later I received a pay increase with my new position at 22,000. Earnings were loosely performance based. The company gave annual appraisal reports and decisions on pay rises came from these reports. In the three years after my probation period, after passing the apprenticeship, I received three pay rises. The first was to 24,000 then 26,000 before my final salary which without bonuses stood at 28,000."

2

“I was paid a flat rate of £100 per article I wrote, as they tended to be very short articles. My usual rate is £350 per 3000 words, and 3000 words would usually take me one full working day to complete, depending on the subject. So my income was linked very much to how much work I was allocated.”

This shows you are fully aware of how your career had progressed and the figures of your earnings. As long as this compares to the information the interviewer has an answer like this should get a positive response.

Good luck.

  
What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make?

These questions are designed to test your resolve and will show the interviewer your ability to think outside of the box. The answer should be related to the job you have applied for but the way you answer the question, will be much more important than the answer itself. How you answer will depend on the job itself, but ensure you have prepared yourself for this question and practice asking it until you are confident you can deliver an effective response.

No matter how prepared you are for the question you should still take a pregnant pause before answering.

This question is designed to make you think, if it appears you were expecting the question the potency of your answer will be decreased.

To make sure you are not seen in a negative light, avoid answering like the example below:

Example Answers

"I find the most difficult decisions to make are one’s when you are rushed. Not having enough time to fully explore the problem can negatively impact on the outcome."

Whilst this is a valid point, this is highly likely to be a recurring scenario throughout your working life. By telling your interviewer that you struggle under these circumstances, you could be ruling yourself out of the running on this one question. That is another good reason to always give a considered and measured response.

In order to take advantage of this situation you should use a similar answer to the one below:
   
"I find the most difficult decisions to make are when the interest’s of the company are more important and conflicting with the interests of an individual or employee. I always find it difficult not to side with the individual, but know I must have the resolve and moral courage to work in the interest of the company."

This answer explains that you fully intend to be committed to the company and that you know your responsibilities may include resolving difficult and perhaps even controversial scenarios.

Good luck.

  
Accountant Interview Questions

If you have passed your Accountancy exams and are now qualified then you are you just need to find the right kind of company.

There are various types of roles so you need to think which environment you would be best suited to. You could apply for positions within an Accounting Practice or be an Accountant of a company for example a retail head office. Which environment suits you, do your research.

When you have an interview you need to tailor your answers to the company as the environment will allow for differing questions.

Some general accounting questions could be:
What accounting applications are you familiar with? Describe previous accounting processes you have followed and if you have ever changed these and how? Scenarios such as describe a difficult deadline and how have you dealt with this? Explain accounting to someone who does not have an accounting background? How do they understand? Shows how well you can explain and know your chosen career path. Ensure that you read the financial pages for at least a good few weeks before to be fully up to date on any law changes, things that will be important to your role.  Make sure that you are well informed about the firm, accountancy profession and business in general.

Most asked interview questions:

– How would you handle conflicting deadlines with two different bosses?
– Why did you choose accounting?
– Scrutinize this invoice and tell me how you’d enter it in QuickBooks
– What is a CDS?

Tell me about yourself
Why should we hire you?
Why do you want this job?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
What are your salary expectations?
What motivates you?
Give some examples of teamwork
Describe a difficult work situation project and how you overcame it
Are you willing to travel?
What can you contribute to this company?

Good luck.

  
Mail Sorter Interview Questions

Trustworthiness and reliability are the key characteristics that you will need to emphasise to land this job. The interviewer will be seeking assurances that will be ready to work quickly and efficiently in a fast paced and dynamic environment. Appearing enthusiastic and keen to knuckle into the job will help give a positive impression of your interview.

During the interview, take every opportunity you can to drive home your key characteristics and strengths.

Try to include some of the following:

Trustworthiness- Your potential employer will be worried about hiring someone who could turn out to be a thief. Do as much as you can to alleviate these fears. Include examples of positions of trust you have been given in previous employment or other situations.
   
Dependable and reliable- Due to the pace of this workplace, you need to help the interviewer see you as a candidate who would be always on-time and ready to work hard. They need to know that they can depend on your strength of character, or they will choose someone else.
   
Hard Working- As this job will require you to work at a fast pace with the ability to keep up and ensure assets are sent exactly where they should be. The high volume you will see on the shop floor requires you to remain focused for extended periods.

Integrity- Portraying yourself as having a strong sense of integrity will help with the trust. A mail
sorter will, at one time or another, be in a position where temptation could test his or her integrity. You need to let the interviewer know that you can stand above these temptations and would never consider breaking the trust given to you, should you be given the job.

It will also be important to research the company and familiarise yourself, as far as is practicable, to the industry and the way it works. You will be asked questions about the job you have applied for and will be expected to have at least a basic understanding. When putting your interview techniques and answers together, be sure to practice delivering answers. This should ensure that by the time your interview comes around, you are confident and ready to show yourself in the best possible light.

Most asked interview questions:

Tell me about yourself
Why should we hire you?
Why do you want this job?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
What are your salary expectations?
What motivates you?
Give some examples of teamwork
Describe a difficult work situation project and how you overcame it
Are you willing to travel?
What can you contribute to this company?

Good luck.

  
Data Entry Clerk Interview Questions

A data entry clerk is required to be able to work quickly and efficiently, while maintaining a high, if not perfect, degree of accuracy. At times, tasking can be monotonous as high volumes of data will often need to be input into a required format or spreadsheet. You must be able to remain focused and motivated under these circumstances and it is likely that you will be given a work related exam to test your accuracy and attention to detail.

Preparing for the interview is essential and the first thing you should be looking into, is the company itself. Make sure you are fully aware of the type of information you will be working with and how that fits in to the overall structure of the company. Questions will be asked during the interview about this and clear, confident
answers will show a level of enthusiasm towards getting this role. 
 
Some sample questions are shown below. Remember this list is not exhaustive and full preparation is essential to improving your chances of success.

Question: What attracted you to applying for this post?

Answer: I believe that my strengths fit in with the job description well. I am capable of working quickly while maintaining high levels of accuracy. I have a keen eye for detail and enjoy working with computers. When evaluating my own skills it seems data entry is an ideal fit and an excellent choice of career for me.

Why? This shows your prospective employer that you are not using this job as a stepping stone to something else and fully intend to put your heart and soul into it.

Question: What are your strength’s?

Answer:  As described earlier my main strength is the ability to work quickly and maintaining an accurate output. I also see myself as dependable and hard working.

Why:     Make your strengths specific to the job. This way the interviewer will view your answers in a more positive light.

Most asked interview questions:

Tell me about yourself
Why should we hire you?
Why do you want this job?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
What are your salary expectations?
What motivates you?
Give some examples of teamwork
Describe a difficult work situation project and how you overcame it
Are you willing to travel?
What can you contribute to this company?

Good luck.

  
Finance Manager Interview Questions

A good grasp of mathematics and excellent analytical skills are going to be needed for a job as a financial manager. Before getting to this stage, and depending on the company you will soon hopefully be working for, it is likely that you will be required to complete a number of exams. This will include a psychometric test and key skill exams, with particular emphasis on maths. Previous experience that relates to this work is normally a requirement and most positions will be strongly contested.

If you have got this far and are now awaiting your interview, it is of paramount importance to prepare yourself for the upcoming interview. Research the company thoroughly to ensure you are up to date with what the company does and where it is likely to go in the future.

Along with questions about your experience and suitability for the post, you will need to be seen as
confident and very dependable, with a strong work ethic.

The example questions listed below are by no means exhaustive. Ensure you have prepared yourself as far as you can. Practice possible answers to a friend or relative to give you the best chance of coming across as a positive and confident candidate.

Question: What makes you think you would make a strong financial manager?
Answer:   This is the time to explain your previous experience. Be sure to put the emphasis on your skills as an analyst and your ability to work under pressure. Give examples of times you have demonstrated these qualities.

Question: What are the key tasks of a Financial Manager?
Answer:    Here is the question that should be blatantly obvious, but so many people slip up and give incomplete answers. This question will be asked in some way, shape or form so prepare for it.

Tailor your answer to the relevant company. Most questions need time to consider the answer. However, you should be confident enough to rattle through this one and show the interviewer you are ready to take on the role.

Question: Why did you leave your last job?
Answer:   Now you have the opportunity to explain that you are looking for new challenges and the ability to fullfill your potential.Construct your answer to show how your skill set matches the job description.

Most Asked Interview Questions:

Tell me about yourself
Why should we hire you?
Why do you want this job?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
What are your salary expectations?
What motivates you?
Give some examples of teamwork
Describe a difficult work situation project and how you overcame it
Are you willing to travel?
What can you contribute to this company?

– Demonstrate about your analytical skills and the give an example
– How do you feel about working fully on commission?
– Tell me why you would like to work for a company that is experiencing bankruptcy.

Good luck.

  
Police Interview

The process of recruting Police Officer is completely different than any other job as you know. Police interviews are also different than any other type of interview due to nature of this job and its duties.

This job is very important for the community so they must be careful when they choosing their staff that we can understand.

You would still get typical interview questions though during your one to one interview such as:
Why do you want to become a police officer?Why do you want to join your particular force?What have you done to find out about your force you want to join?Most asked interview questions:

Tell me about yourself
Why should we hire you?
Why do you want this job?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
What are your salary expectations?
What motivates you?
Give some examples of teamwork
Describe a difficult work situation project and how you overcame it
Are you willing to travel?
What can you contribute to this company?

Good luck.

  
Driver Interview

A driver needs to be reliable, dependable and a good time-keeper. Most driving jobs will involve strict dead lines and often requires workers to take on unsociable hours. Before you get to the interview stage it is likely you will need to produce the relevant qualifications for the job. Also, due to legal restrictions, expect to be asked about your health in the interview, or possibly even before this stage.

It is important to portray yourself as calm and collected. You will be spending a lot of time in traffic
and your prospective employer will want to ensure you aren’t going to cause them hassle due to a short fuse. Road rage is a real problem for professional drivers, especially when working with the public, for example, when taxi driving. There will be opportunities during the interview to alleviate these fears and it is important to keep emphasising the fact that you are capable of keeping calm and don’t aren’t easily frustrated.

Possible questions that may be asked include, but are certainly not limited to the following:

Question: Would you consider yourself a dependable driver?

Answer:     Absolutely. I worked for my previous employer for two years and was never late. I was trusted with the most important consignments because of my record of delivering in a timely and safe manner.

Question: Would you be willing to work night shifts, or change your hours at short notice?

Answer:     Yes. I am accustomed to working unsociable hours and consider myself to be flexible. I can fully understand that this is a vibrant business and flexibility is essential to provide the best results.

Question: Are you comfortable working alone for long hours?

Answer:   I feel confident and completely comfortable working as part of a team or alone. I have high standards and will act professionally in either setting. I feel that a personal strength is my ability to remain alert and fully focused over long periods of driving. This can be seen in my excellent safety record.

Here are the some of the interview questions:

Tell me about yourself
Why should we hire you?
Why do you want this job?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
What are your salary expectations?
What motivates you?
Give some examples of teamwork
Describe a difficult work situation project and how you overcame it
Are you willing to travel?
What can you contribute to this company?

Good luck.

  
Administrator Interview

If you are preparing for an administrator job interview, ensure you have done your homework on the company before you get there. Having an insight into what you will be doing will help give the impression of a keen and enthusiastic candidate for the job. You will be expected to be confident in talking on the phone, have strong I.T skills and comfortable with multi-tasking amongst others.
   
Some common and generic questions are shown below. Make sure to tailor the answers around yourself and the specific job you are hoping to get. Practice delivering the answers with a friend or even in front of a mirror. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become and therefore the more confident you will appear during the interview.

Question: Are you confident you could handle a large volume of calls incorporated over multiple lines?

Answer:  I have had experience of this in the past and find that remaining friendly with the customer and being efficient with time is the best way to keep stress to a minimum and helping to ensure accuracy of recorded data.

Question:  Do you have any particular strengths which you feel would help with this job?

Answer:    I believe my attention to detail and organizational skills will be a particular asset to this post. I can take a large volume of data over a relatively short space of time and ensure everything gets filed in the correct location accurately and neatly. This efficiency ensures I can maintain complete control over my workspace.     

Question: Do you work well with other people?
   
Answer:   I prefer to work as part of a small effective team. Working together increases productivity and can ensure the customer is getting the best level of service possible. In my last post I was part of a 5-man team and was second in charge behind the supervisor. I was also often trusted with taking charge of the team in the supervisors access and enjoyed engaging with the customers, either on the phone or face-to-face.

Most asked interview questions:

Tell me about yourself
Why should we hire you?
Why do you want this job?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
What are your salary expectations?
What motivates you?
Give some examples of teamwork

Good luck.

  
How to Answer "Why do you want this job?" Interview Question

Why do you want this job is a versatile question which will be asked in 99.9% of interviews. A corresponding 99.9% of the time the absolute honest answer will be "for the money". However, this is an opportunity for you to sound genuinely enthusiastic about you potential new employer. It also offers the chance to give your view on why you believe you would be a good fit for the company.
   
Example answer : In my last post I feel I have taken my skills as far as they can go. Looking into your company I can see an opportunity for me to take my talents to the next level and believe I can be a strong asset to your team.

Here you are putting the point across that you feel there is more to be gained from employing you than your previous achievements might suggest.

If the job you have applied for is one in which you can physically see, such as a shop assistant or secretary. Then you can tailor your answer to suit this.

1-

"Having visited this store many times over the last few years, I have witnessed your staff at work and believe I would fit in well. I enjoy interacting with people and believe I can be a big help to the stores customers. I have often considered trying to get a position here and I am delighted to be given the chance at this interview. "

With this answer you are telling the interviewer that you have had an active interest in working here for some time. If the job involves a team and/or customers explaining that you enjoy working with people will be necessary. A follow up question to this answer could be "Then why didn’t you apply sooner?" Be prepared for the follow up and nip it in the bud with a response along the lines of; Finishing studies, other employment etc. 

Another example answer could be:

2-

“I would really love to join your team as I have been working in this field for a very long time now, and I really want to make the next step up now into management. I feel I have a lot to offer, and a lot to teach others, and also a lot more to learn.”

3-

“I would love to be a sales assistant on your beauty concession as I love cosmetics, and I have a good eye for colours. I love helping my friends with choosing the right colours and shades and I know that your brand is the best. I would absolutely love to use the skills I have already to help customers in store to find the right cosmetics for them, and teach them the best ways of applying them. As I’m such a people person, people enjoy chatting with me and taking my advice, so I think your customers would really love me.”

Good luck.