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This question most frequently appears in administration orientated job interviews. It holds no hidden agenda and makes no attempt to dissect your psyche. It is a simple, straight to the point question, which aims to ensure that you have the necessary skills to carry out a specific job. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t be tripped up by this question. Many people will be aware that they have certain skills or talents, but because they become almost second nature, it is sometimes hard to put into words exactly how we achieve what we do. Therefore, it is worth taking the time to identify all of your strengths and the reasons behind them.

Common techniques and tools people use to keep themselves organized include; keeping business and personal e-mails separate, keeping a detailed diary of daily tasks done and upcoming, planning as far in advance as is practicable, using a specific filing system and the list goes on and on.

An example answer could be, "keeping my work space tidy is always my number one priority with regards to organization. Keeping my desk clutter free help keeps my mind clutter free. I am also keen on ensuring all planned tasks are recorded in at least two mediums. Usually on the computer’s calendar and by hand in my work diary. Through my experience I have found that filing papers as soon as they become available to me, instead of letting them build in my in tray, is a much more efficient way to stay organized."   

If organization is one of your strengths, given a little time and effort you will be able to give a brief concise insight into your personal methods. However, it is important to practice delivering your answers to the interviewer to ensure you do not miss an opportunity to highlight your talent.

  
If you had any formal performance reviews you could actually quote what you last boss said about you but if not think positively about your relationship with your last boss and what would he or she say about you.

If you had any performance issues and the comments could be less than favourable then focus on your positive skills when you answer this question.

Think about a time where you have been thanked for getting something done on time and efficiently then you can use this as an answer – my previous manager thought that I was very efficient and organised and was very grateful for me getting a project done in excellent time accurately.

Remember to match the skills you pick as your 3 positive things to the position that you are being interviewed for as this will help the interviewer link your good skills to what they are looking for.

Try to include:

1 example showing your ability to do the job.
1 example that shows your commitment to the work.
1 example that shows you are a good person to have in a team.

EG: “My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can always rely on me, and he likes my sense of humour.”

Remember that this is an opportunity to see yourself through someone else’s eyes and an interview is like a sales pitch, you are the product so sell, sell, sell.

Examples
Trustworthy / HonestGreat sense of humorHard workerWilling to work extra hoursFlexibleGreat under pressureKnows the professionEnergetic

  
How to Answer "What is your greatest weakness?" Interview Question

“What is your greatest weakness?” This question is another mainstay in the typical interview. Here you need to turn a negative trait positive! Your prospective employer is actually trying to find out if you are able to be critical of your own behaviors. Here are a few examples of how you can do this. Add a personal example to them if you can.

Related: What is your greatest strength?

“My greatest weakness is…..

BEING A PERFECTIONIST:

“I tend to criticise my work a lot and continue to look for ways to improve on it. I rarely am happy with my first draft of a piece and find myself going over and over it. This trait also sometimes means I will do extra research on the project in my own time so I can be happy with it. I like to know that my clients can be assured they will always get a quality piece of work from me”

DOING MANY THINGS AT ONCE:

“I often find myself working on tasks simultaneously when I have several projects ongoing, some people think you should do one at a time; however I feel that by varying what I am doing me actually am more productive, as I do not get fatigued by one subject, whilst boosting my creativity as I am able to think more freely.

IMPULSIVE:

“I tend to be quite impulsive and instinctive. I seize opportunities when they arise. I learned to harness this trait quite effectively in my last role by training myself to use it to sense when somebody might be interested in products and services and introducing them to the products that would suit them.”

SEEKING APPROVAL:

“I often find myself needing to check my work with others before signing it off or asking for feedback from clients. I do tend to worry that I might have made a mistake, and I always want a client’s work to be perfect. I don’t need constant supervision or anything like that, I just like someone to say ‘that is fine’ when I am done. It makes me feel good about what I have done”

PLANNING EVERYTHING:

“I often find that I have to plan everything. I like to know exactly when I will be somewhere, how I will get there, how I will get back, what I will be doing. I even like to know exactly when people will be visiting me at home etc. Some people dislike this aspect of my personality, however it keeps me organised and means I can make the most out of my day. I hate having empty time, or turning up too early or too late for appointments due to lack of planning.”

Just be sure never to use negative words when answering such as ‘Bad’, ‘Failure’, ‘Weakness’ etc.

photo by: uniondocs

  
Telesales interview: tips and questions.

Telesales staff usually work in call centres or within specific telesales departments of large companies.  The job is to contact existing customers or potential new customers to purchase the company’s products or service.

Some people in telesales may be asked to deal with market research for their own or another company to find out the general public’s response to specific products.  An excellent telesales person must always be polite, even when customers are rude and may blame them for ringing at an inopportune time.

It is essential to remain calm, and try to explain to the customer exactly what you are offering.  Some telesales staff make appointments for sales representatives to go and see the customer, so it is important to enter the correct information regarding the date and time.  If you are selling products, you will need to produce an invoice or receipt for the item sold, so being able to operate a computer quickly and accurately is also important.

Telesales staff often work in a large open-plan office with their own workstations.  They wear a headset so that the customer can hear them clearly, and it also leaves the hands free for typing any orders.

Many people who work in telesales don’t have formal qualifications, although many university students work in call-centres during vacations, and some may return after completing their degree.

The Interview

An aptitude for the work rather than specific qualifications is important, although any relevant qualifications should be clarified.  Before attending an interview take a look at the website of the company to get an insight into their business.

Ensure you are smartly dressed and arrive in plenty of time for your interview.  Smile at the interviewer and make a point to remember their name and use it occasionally.  During the interview, you may be asked if you would like to see the department where you’ll work if you are successful.  This should be accepted and once you’ve had a tour of that part of the business, speak positively about it.  Be enthusiastic – a telesales person must always appear to be happy, as this creates the rapport with potential customers.

Ensure that you speak clearly throughout the interview as your voice is important.  It is the only opportunity to assist the customer to like you, and therefore want to purchase the product you are selling.

At the end of the interview thank the interviewer for showing you round and make it clear that you want the job if it is offered to you.

  
Account Handler interview questions and tips:

An account handler usually develops the businesses accounts and increases sales.  An account handler is often found at an insurance company where they promote their products to brokers and independent financial advisers (IFA).

There are many different tasks undertaken by an account handler which include working to pre-determined sales targets, dealing with claims and ensuring they are passed to the relevant departments, ensuring the qualifications of agents and helping to develop the publicity literature.

There aren’t any educational qualifications necessary to be an account handler however employers will expect good GCSE results particularly in English and Maths.  It is possible that A levels may be required in order to be accepted onto management training schemes.

A successful account handler will have good communication skills, should be able to negotiate, be able to organise themselves, be able to work as part of a team, or on their own as required.

Interview

It is usual to start in a lower position, perhaps a sales administrator before working up to account handler after having some considerable experience.

When being interviewed at a new company it is essential that they have full details of previous experience and qualifications as although a degree isn’t necessary, it is always beneficial to offer additional qualifications.
Be prepared for the interview and have as much information as possible about the company which shows the interviewer that you have given some thought before attending the interview.

Dress smartly and arrive punctually – it really isn’t good manners to be late, and in many cases you may not be offered the position if you miss your appointment time.  Smile at the interviewer and speak clearly when answering questions.  Be enthusiastic and look as though you are pleased to be there.  If you are nervous, this can spoil the interview because you aren’t concentrating on the questions.  Sound confident and it will assist you.  Don’t look down at the floor.  Speak to the interviewer and smile as this will lift your tone and make your answers sound more interesting.

If you don’t hear a question or didn’t understand it, ask the interviewer to repeat it.  It is much better to do this than try to guess at what was asked, and then answer incorrectly.

Towards the end of the interview, make sure that you say that you would like the job if it is offered to you and thank the interviewer.  Ask if they know when they will be making their decision as this shows that you are interested.

  
Interview Tips for Legal Assistant

It should always be remembered when considering a career in the legal profession that we are discussing the situation in England and Wales.  The Scottish legal system is completely different and qualifications, training and job descriptions will be specific to Scotland.

In England and Wales a legal assistant, sometimes referred to as a paralegal, has an essential role within any organisation requiring legal services.  The legal assistant isn’t a qualified solicitor, but does much of the work of a solicitor.  In many cases, the legal assistant uses the position as a starting point to climb the ladder to experienced paralegal.

At this time there aren’t any specific qualifications necessary to become a legal assistant.  There are, however, the options of training and qualifications from various organisations including the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), and the Institute of Paralegals.

There are usually vacancies for legal assistants, and although a university degree isn’t necessary most employers will require a high standard of English and Maths.  The duties of a legal assistant can vary tremendously and will evolve with experience.  The basic work will include general administration such as arranging appointments for your solicitor, speaking on the phone, preparation and proofreading of draft documents, managing case files, some legal research, liaising with clients. 

The work will vary on a daily basis and with experience your solicitor will allow you greater responsibility, whilst remembering that the paralegal or legal assistant is just that – an assistant.

The Interview

Many positions require experience and it can be difficult to obtain a first position.  It is worth contacting all companies in the area which have a legal department as they may have an unadvertised vacancy.
It is important to know something about the work undertaken by the company, so before the interview check out their website to establish the type of clients they have and in what sectors of business.

The legal assistant always needs to be dressed smartly, and it is essential to be on time. Ensure that you arrive at your interview a few minutes early.  The interviewer will expect you to be a little nervous, particularly if will be your first job, and will try to put you at your ease.  Smile at the interviewer and speak clearly in reply to questions.

Be enthusiastic as the company want their staff to enjoy being at work.  Thank the interviewer at the end of the meeting and stress that you would like the job if it is offered to you. 

  
Interview Tips and Questions for Data Entry Clerk

Although the title of Data-entry Clerk may not sound very important, the need for accurate transferring of information into the computer database is essential, otherwise it can be useless.  Another part of the job entails updating and maintaining of records already on the database. 

There are a wide variety of organisations which need Data-entry Clerks and the information they record will be specific to that business.  Some Data-entry Clerks transfer text-based information whilst others deal with numbers.  A Data-entry Clerk who works for a bank will be dealing with financial information, whilst a marketing company may record the results of surveys on the database.

Some companies combine the role of Data-entry Clerk with customer service.  This gives additional skills which is useful.  Other employees may refer to you for information on your database.  This ensures that no-one else can accidentally delete or alter any records.

There aren’t any special qualifications but most employers will insist on several GCSEs including maths and English.  Essential skills include being able to work accurately and speedily, attention to details and deadlines, together with a high degree of computer knowledge. 

The Interview

For a young person looking to enter the workplace the interview can be a daunting proposition.  They are likely to be nervous because they aren’t sure what is expected of them during the interview.

It is important to dress smartly in clothes which are age appropriate.  Ensure that you know where the company is and take a dry run to establish how long the journey will take.  If your appointment is near the rush hour you’ll need to allow extra time.  It is discourteous to be late for an interview, so make sure that you allow plenty of time and arrive about fifteen minutes before your appointment.

Prepare for the interview by checking the website of the company and finding out a little about them and their business.  During the interview you may be asked if you have any questions, so looking at the website will assist you.

When you meet the interviewer, smile and look at them rather than down at the floor.  If you are asked a question, which you don’t understand, ask for clarification.  Speak clearly at not too quickly.  At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for seeing you, and show that you are still enthusiastic by asking when they are likely to make a decision. 

Make sure that they know that you will accept the position if it is offered to you.  Good luck!

  
Office Junior interview: tips and questions.

There are opportunities for inexperienced young people who want to work in an office.  This will give a good grounding in many activities within a company before they make a decision as to whether they want to stay in an office or consider a different career.

Although educational qualifications aren’t essential, a good knowledge of spoken and written English is necessary.  Spelling accuracy is also important.  Most school leavers will be able to operate a computer and will be able to type to a certain level, although they may not know their way around the “formal” office programmes.

As employment has been more difficult to find because of the economic situation there are now graduates applying for office junior positions.  The office junior, until recently was usually aged up to about eighteen or nineteen years, and because they didn’t know very much and had few qualifications, the starting salary was quite low.

An office junior’s position is still an extremely good way of beginning at a company; learning about the differing functions within the office, such as answering the phone, taking messages, typing of letters and memos, and dealing with the post.  The office junior still makes the tea and coffee – some things never change!

The Interview

It is essential for the office junior to arrive at the appointment in good time.  Arriving late simply isn’t an option and is highly likely to disqualify your application.  Of course, a genuine reason for lateness will be considered.  Dress simply, but smartly in clothes which are age appropriate. 

Switch off the mobile phone as soon as you arrive at the company, and don’t smoke either inside or just near the door.

The interviewer will realise that you will be nervous and will make allowances.  When you are introduced to the interviewer, smile.  Remember to use their name occasionally.  Don’t look down at the floor, concentrate on the interviewer and when you are asked a question speak clearly without shouting.  If you don’t hear the question, ask the interviewer to repeat it.

If you have taken any courses, perhaps typing or computer skills make a point of showing any certificates you have.  There will be competition for an office junior’s position, so make sure that your application stands out.

Don’t be afraid to ask any relevant questions as the interviewer will be pleased that you are showing interest and at the end of the interview thank the interviewer and confirm that you really want the job if they offer it to you.

  
Software Tester interview: tips and questions.

There are computer programmes being developed every day and every new programme must be thoroughly checked by a software tester to establish where glitches with the function or performance are so that the software developer can correct and improve the programme before it can be signed off when perfect.

A software tester has a difficult job as he needs to find problems in programmes which the developer may have spent months of work in getting the programme to the testing stage.  The software tester needs to ensure that every part of the programme works properly so that the end user won’t have any problems.

The software tester will work on more than one programme at any time, as each programme goes back to the developer after the tester has reported on it.  There may be lengthy periods when the developer needs to work on the programme, so the software tester will move to other programmes. 

There aren’t many courses for the person who wants to be a tester so technical knowledge is usually acquired from a previous job in software development or from their time at university.  The software tester will need to know a wide variety of programming languages.

This is a highly technical career and software testers command a competitive salary.

Interview

It is taken for granted that the applicant has the essential qualifications, skills and experience necessary for this position.  The candidate should be confident in their own ability but it is important not to appear over-confident.  Spend some time finding out about the company, and ensure that there is a list of questions to ask the interviewer at the appropriate time.

It is essential to arrive in good time wearing a smart suit.  Shake hands firmly with the interviewer and smile.  The interviewer will tell you their name, so use it when speaking to them.  Look at the interviewer throughout the interview – don’t look down at the floor.  Ensure that you speak clearly, and not too quickly.  If you don’t understand a question ask for clarification.  This is preferable to answering a completely different question.

When speaking about your work sound positive and enthusiastic.  The interviewer will probably show you around the company whilst giving you information.  Do ask questions, but keep them short.  Don’t wander away from the subject or start to ramble.

At the end of the interview, shake hands again and thank the interviewer for seeing you.  Confirm that you really want the job and ask when a decision will be made.

  
Interview Tips and Questions for Legal Secretary

When you’ve made the decision that you would like to be a legal secretary, you need to be aware about what the job entails.  You will probably be able to type, but it is extremely important to be accurate when you are working for the legal profession.  You will need to have a good telephone manner and be discreet at all times.

There are many different opportunities for a legal secretary.  Although there are many legal firms, there are other organisations which may require similar legal secretarial duties.  Many estate agents have their own conveyancing departments, where the legal side of selling and buying a property is completed.  Some insurance companies have legal departments and of course, there are many legal firms, not just solicitors. 

A legal secretary needs to be extremely diligent in checking all documents which have been typed.  Depending on the type of firm, there may be a considerable amount of legal technical words and phrases which need to be spelt correctly.  It is really useful for a legal secretary to be able to write shorthand or transcribe audio files and it is essential to be able to complete work within specific deadlines.

It is possible to attend specialist courses which provide tuition for legal secretaries, but many people who have some general secretarial experience are able to transfer their skills.  Many legal firms are happy to train junior staff to be legal secretaries and will arrange for them to attend college one day each week.

The Interview

You will be expected to dress smartly when you work at a legal firm, so when attending your interview, you should dress appropriately.  Make sure that you arrive in good time – arriving late won’t create a good impression. 

Look at the firm’s website before your interview to see whether they mainly deal with criminal law, property conveyancing or they are a general practice – this is ideal for someone who enjoys dealing with a range of duties. 

Look at the interviewer at all times during the interview.  They are aware that you are likely to be nervous. Listen to the questions which will include asking why you would like to work for this particular firm and what skills you can offer to them.  Make sure that you answer the questions as clearly as possible.  If you don’t understand a question, ask for clarification.

At the end, ensure that you thank the interviewer and confirm that you really want the job if the position is offered to you.