F2F Class Notes _14th June (Harmony)

1. Tell me about yourself

   Cover four areas in your life: your early years, education, work
   experience, and your current situation. Keep your complete answer to
   about 2 minutes; don’t ramble or elaborate. This is your 2-minute
   self-introduction and you will be very accomplished at giving it by
   the time you are in job interviews. Because this question usually
   comes early in the interview, you will gain confidence by knowing you
   can answer it well.

Early Years:  where you are from?

I live in Shanghai for almost 3 years – I have lived in Shanghai….

I’m living in – I lived in

In most of peoples opinions – most people think
8 years In pharmaceutical.. – Of those 15 years, 8 of them have been at pharmaceutical companies

Current job – current job title

** be confident, this is the one question you can’t screw up!

Eg. I have an expertise in HR recruiting area, I have been in this industry for 8 years.

Eg.  In my spare time/ for fun I like to play with my cat and eat Mexican food.

Eg.  My colleagues always say I’m a team player, However I also work well without much direction needed.

2. What can you offer us that other candidates can’t?

   If this question is asked early in the interview, you might respond by
   discussing generally how your skills and experience would benefit the
   company. To get more specific, you will need to know something about
   the job situation they have in mind and that subject is not usually
   discussed until the end of the interview. Resist the temptation to
   frame an answer based on your assumptions about the position. If the
   question is asked after the interviewer has described the position,
   only then can you relate any of your accomplishments to the problems
   of your prospective employer. This is an opportune time to discuss
   your problem-solving abilities.

• Expand sourcing channel — Follow up with an example. (for example before I came on board at Pfizer….)
• Training skills
• Influence my key customers

I always initiate new channel for talent pool expanding, such as social media talent, wechat etc.  For example I promote wechat posting of my new factory positions, then I promote it because I think I can pass this information so faster than another channel and for free the result is good.  And because more people know our information after to post.  At last I received almost 100 resumes from this channel.

Edited:

I always initiate new channels to expand the talent pool, such as social media channels, like wechat etc.  For example/instance, I promote wechat postings of new factory positions.  I promote it because I think I can pass this information faster than other channels and for free/at a lower cost! The result has been good/ this has been working because more people know our positions/brand/company and once I received almost 100 resumes.

• Make effective use of the tools (channels/ website/social media etc.) available, with the budget in mind.

*** read the interviewers body language, are they bored?/Interested?

3. What are your strengths?

   You should be able to list 3 or 4 of your key strengths that are
   relevant to their needs, based on the research and other data you have
   gathered about their company.

   4. How successful have you been so far?

   Be prepared to define success for yourself and then respond. Try to
   choose accomplishments that relate to the company’s needs and values.

   5. What are your limitations?

   Respond with a strength which, if overdone, can be a detriment and
   become a weakness. For example, you might. say, “My desire to get the
   job done sometimes causes me to be overzealous and demanding of my
   organization. But I am aware of this problem and believe that I have
   it under control.” Or deal with your need for further training in some
   aspect of your profession. Do not claim to be faultless, but limit
   your answer to one specific issue.

   6. How much are you worth?

   Try to delay answering this until you have learned more about the job
   and can estimate, based on previous research, the salary range this
   company endorses for similar positions. If you feel obliged to answer,
   you might reply in this way. “You are aware of what I have been
   earning at Ajax, and I would hope that coming to Acme would be a
   progressive step. Perhaps, we can go into this question in more depth
   when have a better idea of what the job responsibilities and scope
   would be.”

   7. What are your ambitions for the future?

   Indicate your desire to concentrate on doing the immediate job well –
   and your confidence that the future will then be promising. You do not
   want to convey that you have no desire to progress, but you need to
   avoid statements that are unrealistic, or that might threaten present
   incumbents.

   8. What do you know about our company?

   You’ve done your homework, and have studied all that is publicly
   available about Acme and are thus aware of many published facts.
   However, you might state that you would like to know more; then be
   prepared to ask intelligent questions. Avoid a recitation of the
   facts, incorporate personal remarks and specific questions to
   facilitate a lively exchange of information.

   9. Why are you seeking a position with our company?

   Indicate that from your study of the company, many of the activities
   and problems are the sort that would give you a chance to contribute
   to the company through your experience and skills. If you honestly
   can, express your admiration for the company and what it is that
   appeals to you.

   10. What qualifications do you have that you feel would make you
   successful here?

   If this question is asked after you have sufficient information about
   the position, talk about two or three of your major skills (supported
   by accomplishments) which you believe will be useful in the position.
   If the question is asked earlier talk about two or three of your major
   skills and relate them to the extent that you can to the company.
   Gauge the amount of detail for this and other answers by the time
   frame set by the interviewer for your meeting and by his or her
   signals as to how much information is enough.

   11. What things are most important to you in a job?

   Use information developed in your knowledge of the company and relate
   it to the position, if you know the details of the position. If not,
   use a corporate” answer: “to be challenged,” “part of the team,” etc.

   12. How would you describe your personality?

   Mention only 2 or 3 of your most useful traits. Remember that the
   interviewer is trying to determine your “fit” in the company. Your
   ability to accurately identify their corporate values will enable you
   to frame your response appropriately

   13. How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm?

   Be realistic and speak in terms of 6 months to a year. Again, the
   timing of the question is important. Do you know enough about the
   specific position to give a cogent response? (If it’s a new, undefined
   job, even 6 months to a year may be overly optimistic.)

   14. Don’t you feel you might be over-qualified or too experienced for
   the position we have in mind?

   Most of the time this question really means: I am afraid you are
   willing to take this job because you need a job and you will leave as
   soon as you get a better job offer. Your answer must address this
   concern.

   Example: “You could be right, but having taken a voluntary early
   retirement from XYZ Company, I am in the fortunate position of being
   able to do what gives me the greatest satisfaction; and what I enjoy
   doing most is – (describe the contents of the job). The additional
   advantage to you if you hire me is that extra qualification and
   experience will be available for you to use when necessary.”

   15. What is your management style?

   No doubt you defined your management style as part of your assessment
   and have talked about it with your consultant. You might want to talk
   about how you set goals and then get your people involved in them.
   Also, describe the techniques that you like to use to bring out the
   best in people, using the most appropriate style to fit the situation.
   Your research may have given you a sense of whether the company
   believes in a highly participative style, or is more authoritarian in
   its approach. If you don’t know the company’s style, keep your answer
   “soft” and situational.

   16. Describe a situation in which you had a difficult management
   problem and how you solved it.

   Relate one of your accomplishments, which had to do with this kind of
   situation. Depending on the organization’s culture and needs,
   highlight conflict management, team building, or staffing.

   17. As a manager, what do you look for when you hire people?

   Their skills, initiative, adaptability – whether their chemistry fits
   with that of the organization.” Responding in this way mirrors the
   interviewer’s need to determine what you can do, will do, and how you
   fit into their organization.

   18. As a manager, have you ever had to fire anyone? If so, what were
   the circumstances and how did you handle it?

   If you have, answer in brief that you have indeed had experience with
   this problem and that it worked out to the benefit of both the
   individual and the organization. You followed the company’s
   disciplinary procedures carefully before proceeding to termination.
   (The company may be concerned about discrimination and legal issues.)
   Don’t go into the details unless the interviewer asks for more
   information. If you have never fired anyone, say so, but talk about
   how you would utilize progressive discipline before resorting to
   termination to protect the company’s best interests.

   19. What do you see as the most difficult task in being a manager?

   Your answer might address getting things done through others; getting
   things planned and done on time; within the budget; or other
   management issues. Since budget management is a valuable transferable
   skill, you might wish to work your abilities in this area into the
   discussion if appropriate. Be guided by the interviewer’s I-Speak
   style and the needs and culture of the organization in determining
   what to stress in your answer.

   20. Describe some situations in which you’ve worked under pressure or
   met deadlines.

   Refer to your accomplishments. Discuss one or two in which you were
   especially effective in meeting deadlines or dealing with
   high-pressure situations.

   21. Tell me about a work situation that irritated you.

   Talk about this type of situation in terms of the skills you used to
   manage and improve it. Avoid describing a work situation you know
   exists in your target company unless you want to emphasize that you
   can improve or eliminate it Stress your ability to ” stay cool” under
   pressure.

   22. Tell me about an objective in your last job which you failed to
   meet and why.

   This question assumes that you failed to meet some of your objectives.
   If you can honestly state that you met all your established
   objectives, say so. If there was an objective, which you were unable
   to meet for legitimate reasons, discuss it with an explanation of the
   obstacles over which you had no control. Even better, discuss an
   objective which you “renegotiated” when you realized it could not be
   met because of obstacles beyond your control.

   23. Would you describe a few situations in which your work was criticized?

   Describe only one, and tell how you have corrected or plan to correct
   the issue. Do not go into detail. If the interviewer wants more detail
   let them ask for it.

   24. What have you learned from your mistakes?

   Discuss one or two situations where you successfully transformed a
   mistake or error in judgment into a learning experience.Emphasize the
   positive result, with the error as the learning catalyst.

   25. What important trends do you see coming in our industry?

   Choose two or three important developments to discuss. This is your
   chance to show that you have thought about the future, the economics,
   the markets, and the technology of the industry.

   26. Why are you leaving your present job?

   If you had the opportunity to cover this in your 2-minute
   self-introduction, there’s a good chance the question will not be
   asked. Regardless of when it is asked, it must be answered briefly. If
   it was a force reduction due to economic circumstances, make that
   clear. If possible, explain how your termination was part of a larger
   movement. When you have finished answering, let it go. Refrain from
   analyzing any friction points with your boss.

   27. Describe what you feel would be an ideal working environment.

   This is a place where you can bring in some of your own values and
   personal experiences. But don’t make it sound too sublime or
   impractical. Downplay the negative.

   28. Looking back. How do you perceive your past employer? Be positive.

   Refer to the valuable experience you have gained. “It is an excellent
   company which has given me a lot of good experience and opportunities
   to perform.”

   29. What have you done that helped increase sales or profit? How did
   you go about it?

   This is your chance to describe in some detail a business
   accomplishment that is relevant to the proposed new job. Feel free to
   dwell on this.

   30. How much financial responsibility have you had to account for?

   You can answer this in terms of your budget or head-count or the size
   of the project or sales that you directed

   31. How many people have you managed on your recent jobs?

   Be specific – and feel free to refer to those over whom you had
   influence, such as a task force or a matrix organization.

   32. Give examples of times when you were a leader.

   Draw examples from accomplishments, which demonstrate your leadership skills.

   33. How do you think your subordinates perceive you?

   Be as positive as you can, referring to your strengths, skills and
   traits, remember to be honest. References are easily checked.

   34. In your last position, what were the things that you liked most?
   And liked least?

   Respond with care to this question. You’ll have the information from
   your satisfiers/dissatisfiers, but you’ll want to emphasize the
   positive and not talk at length about the negatives.

   35. In your recent position, what were some of your most significant
   accomplishments?

   Since you have already selected the specific accomplishments you want
   to talk about, this question will be easy for you. Be ready to
   describe three or four of them in detail. When possible, try to relate
   your answer to the nature of the new challenges you might be facing.

   36. Why haven’t you found a new position after so many months?

   You may find this question offensive, but do not take it personally.
   Simply give a brief answer, “Finding just any job is not too
   difficult, but finding the right job takes care and time,” and move
   on.

   37. What do you think of your previous boss?

   Be as positive as you can, and avoid becoming embroiled in this issue.
   This is a loaded question because most bosses avoid a contentious or
   difficult subordinate. If you like the individual, say so and tell
   why. If you don’t, think of something positive to say.

   38. If I spoke with your previous boss, what would he or she say are
   your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

   Be consistent with what you think he or she would say. Position any
   weakness in a positive way. Your old boss will probably want to give
   you a good reference, so recount some of the good things you did for
   him or her.

   39. In your most recent position, what problems did you identify that
   had previously been overlooked?

   Refer to accomplishments listed on your resume. Keep answers brief and
   include how the accomplishment was obtained.

   40. If you had your choice of jobs or companies, where would you land?

   Talk about the target job and what is attractive in the company that
   is interviewing you.

   41. What do you feel you should earn in the proposed position?

   You may want to answer this with a question, such as, “What is the
   typical salary range for similar jobs in your company?” Or, “I
   consider myself to be a better than average, so I would expect to
   receive an offer that would be better than the midpoint of the salary
   range for the position.” If there is no range in the company, give the
   range that you had in mind. But qualify it by saying you hope to learn
   more about the job responsibilities and scope.

   42. If we were to offer you this position, what changes would you make
   in your organization?

   The timing of this question is critical, since you can’t give any
   specific answer without knowing some details about the position,
   organization and culture. Even if you do, be careful about describing
   sweeping changes you might want to make. Unless the interviewer has
   specified critical problem areas that you feel comfortable addressing,
   limit your answer to explaining the need to study the current
   organization, talk with staff, and fully assess the implications
   before recommending any changes.

   43. Do you have any objections to taking our battery of psychological tests?

   “No, none at all.” (This is an indication that you are a serious candidate.)

   44. What other types of jobs or companies are you considering at this time?

   Don’t feel obliged to reveal details of your other negotiations. If
   you are interviewing elsewhere refer to your campaign in a general
   way. But concentrate mainly on the specific job for which you are
   interviewing.

   45. What sort of outside reading do you do?

   Be honest. If possible, mention some of the things you read in order
   to keep yourself up-to-date in your professional field. However, it is
   okay to show balanced interests by mentioning your recreational
   reading as well.

   46. What motivates you the most?

   Use the results of your career anchors and career assessment, but keep
   your answer fairly general: the satisfaction of meeting the challenges
   of the position, developing teams and individuals, meeting
   organizational goals. (Only if you are in sales would you mention
   money as a motivator.)

   47. Give one or two examples of your creativity.

   Refer to accomplishments that relate to the company and the position,
   if possible.

   48. What are your long-range goals?

   Relate your answer to the company you are interviewing with, rather
   than give a very broad, general answer. Keep your ambitions realistic.
   Talk first about doing the job for which you are applying, then talk
   about longer-range goals.

   49. What sort of relationships do you have with your associates, both
   at the same level and above and below you?

   This is a very important question, so you will want to take the time
   to answer it in logical steps. When talking about your relationships
   with subordinates, be prepared to state your management philosophy,
   particularly with regard to performance issues. When speaking of
   bosses, indicate your keen interest in understanding your boss’s
   expectations, so that you and your organization can build your goals
   in a way that will support his/her goals. You may also want to talk
   about how you would keep your boss informed. Stress your
   team-building, mutually cooperative approach with peers.

   50. What are some of your outside activities or recreations?

   Hopefully, your answer can show that you lead a balanced life. But
   avoid mentioning so many activities that it casts some doubt on how
   much time you will have for the job. Remember that your hobbies and
   recreation activities can be quite revealing as to your own
   personality and values.