Handling Open-Ended Job Interview Questions
PROGRAM: “IN A WORD”
EPISODE: HANDLING OPEN-ENDED JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]
[FADE MUSIC]
I’m Candace Schaefer with “In a Word,” your weekly communication tip.
Today I’m going to talk about how to prepare for some of the trickier aspects of a job interview. There are some obvious keys to a successful interview, such as dressing professionally, arriving on time, and knowing how to discuss your qualifications. But sometimes all it takes is a seemingly innocuous question to make a job interview go wrong.
Open-ended questions such as, “Why should we hire you?” and the classic “Tell us a little about yourself” can trip up even the most qualified candidate. Unlike more specific questions about your skills or experience, open-ended questions can be tricky because they allow for so many possible answers. These questions also throw people off because they sound so conversational and informal. But interviewers use these questions quite deliberately—to assess how well you would work with their team and how well you understand what the job requires. That’s why it’s important to have balanced answers that emphasize your professional skills and personal qualities.
One of the best ways to maintain this balance is to keep your audience in mind. Read the job description carefully, and then read everything on the organization’s website. That information will give you a better idea of how the job you’re applying for fits within the company as a whole. By understanding what role you’ll play, you’ll be more aware of what kind of answers the person interviewing you hopes to hear.
For example, if you’re interviewing for a job that requires event planning, you could use the “tell us about yourself” opening to describe an event you organized outside of your job. Maybe it was your sister’s wedding or a friend’s baby shower. Describe what a good time everyone had and your role in planning things. Using appropriate anecdotes or examples can demonstrate that you’re organized, efficient, helpful, a good communicator, and a great match for an event planning job.
The ideal answer to this kind of question gives the employer a clear view of your strengths and how you’ll fit in to the workplace. But be sure to listen carefully to the question and answer only the question that was asked. It’s easy to get nervous and ramble. So spend time rehearsing potential answers before the interview.
That way, you’ll be prepared and poised no matter what questions come your way.
This has been “In a Word,” a program made possible by the Texas A&M University Writing Center and a production of KAMU FM on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. For more writing and speaking tips, visit our website at writingcenter.tamu.edu. I’m Candace Schaefer, helping you make every word count.
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]
EPISODE: HANDLING OPEN-ENDED JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]
[FADE MUSIC]
I’m Candace Schaefer with “In a Word,” your weekly communication tip.
Today I’m going to talk about how to prepare for some of the trickier aspects of a job interview. There are some obvious keys to a successful interview, such as dressing professionally, arriving on time, and knowing how to discuss your qualifications. But sometimes all it takes is a seemingly innocuous question to make a job interview go wrong.
Open-ended questions such as, “Why should we hire you?” and the classic “Tell us a little about yourself” can trip up even the most qualified candidate. Unlike more specific questions about your skills or experience, open-ended questions can be tricky because they allow for so many possible answers. These questions also throw people off because they sound so conversational and informal. But interviewers use these questions quite deliberately—to assess how well you would work with their team and how well you understand what the job requires. That’s why it’s important to have balanced answers that emphasize your professional skills and personal qualities.
One of the best ways to maintain this balance is to keep your audience in mind. Read the job description carefully, and then read everything on the organization’s website. That information will give you a better idea of how the job you’re applying for fits within the company as a whole. By understanding what role you’ll play, you’ll be more aware of what kind of answers the person interviewing you hopes to hear.
For example, if you’re interviewing for a job that requires event planning, you could use the “tell us about yourself” opening to describe an event you organized outside of your job. Maybe it was your sister’s wedding or a friend’s baby shower. Describe what a good time everyone had and your role in planning things. Using appropriate anecdotes or examples can demonstrate that you’re organized, efficient, helpful, a good communicator, and a great match for an event planning job.
The ideal answer to this kind of question gives the employer a clear view of your strengths and how you’ll fit in to the workplace. But be sure to listen carefully to the question and answer only the question that was asked. It’s easy to get nervous and ramble. So spend time rehearsing potential answers before the interview.
That way, you’ll be prepared and poised no matter what questions come your way.
This has been “In a Word,” a program made possible by the Texas A&M University Writing Center and a production of KAMU FM on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. For more writing and speaking tips, visit our website at writingcenter.tamu.edu. I’m Candace Schaefer, helping you make every word count.
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]