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

There are two ways to answer this question. Read both and use the one that feels right to you.    

The first approach is to use the question as an opportunity to re-emphasize the qualities you believe you have to be a success in the new job.  

You might say :  

"I honestly believe I can make a quite significant contribution in a relatively short time. With my relevant qualifications backed up with the extensive work-experience I already have, allied to my detailed knowledge of the market place in which I will be operating in I believe you will see results almost immediately."  

Another approach is to answer the question with another question to see if there is a specific problem in the company that they want the new employee to start solving straight away.  

"A good question. I believe I could make a significant contribution straight away as I already have lots of experience in this industry but may I ask you: Are there any specific projects that you would want me to get involved in straight way?"

For example, the company may be a software firm who are three months behind with their new software release. You are being interviewed for the position of programmer. So you would now adopt your answer to include your determination to help the company to complete that software program as soon as possible by contributing not only your computer skills but also your capacity for hard work and your previous experience working long hours under tight deadlines.  

"So I hope my first contribution would be to help you complete that software release sooner than you thought possible"

What are your biggest accomplishments?

To answer this question use the following well-established opening:  

"Although I feel that my biggest accomplishments are still ahead of me, I am proud of what I have accomplished in the past.  

For example, with [organization X] when I ………………….." now give the interviewer a list of your most relevant accomplishments with real-life examples to back them up and then conclude with :  

"So as you can see I'm very proud of these accomplishments. Although many of them were difficult in the beginning, by working hard, both personally and collectively with my work colleagues and by applying lots of hard work, concentration and persistence I accomplished them all. I just hope they give you an indication of what I believe I'm capable of in the future."  

 As you can now see, most of these questions are actually very simple to answer well  – if you take the time to consider each one of them CAREFULLY  and learn how to give simple, well-measured  and well-thought out answers in response.  

The main thing is: Don’t waffle on……or give long-winded answers to each question. Try to short, precise, POSITIVE  and to the point with your answers.  

  Tell me how you have progressed through your career?

This is an important question as it will reveal a lot about you.  

Your ability.  

Your energy.  

Your capacity to work hard and to succeed.  

And your ambition not only in the past but how that will extend to the future.  

Although your answer to this question may be long, avoid the temptation to just get bogged down in details e.g. I worked six years here from [date] to [date] and then from November 23rd I worked at ……… etc.  

Instead use the question as an OPPORTUNITY to illustrate how the skills and qualities you possess (which you have discovered THEY want) helped you progress up the company ladder.    

For example, all companies are looking for staff who are dedicated, committed, ambitious and capable of delivering on the tasks they have been assigned.  

As you are detailing your career progress, highlight not only where you have worked and what you have achieved but how these qualities and the other related qualities we outlined in the Interview e-book have helped you to progress.  

If you can convince your interviewer that these qualities are part of your natural make-up - that they are your DOMINANT character traits, you will have gone along way to convincing your employer of your potential value.    

What is your greatest strength?

By now you should have a deep, almost intuitive feeling or sense of the type of person the company is looking for -- and the SPECIFIC skills they want you to possess.  

This question will provide you, if you use it right, with another OPPORTUNITY   to highlight the desirable qualities that you possess that you believe will ideally complement the nature of the job you want.  

For example if you are interviewing for the position of journalist on your local newspaper there is no point revealing that your greatest strength lies in your knowledge of Foreign Affairs, specifically the internal politics of North Korea.  

A local paper wants someone who cannot only write but has extensive and detailed local knowledge.  

So a successful interviewee would use this question as an opportunity to emphasize this personal attribute .  

"I think my greatest strength is not only in my ability to write in a clear and lucid style but the fact that I know this area so well. I grew up here and my family have lived here for generations so I will probably know most of the people that will make the news. I believe this will help me enormously to discover and to write about the stories that will really interest your local readers"

Another example: You are an accountant applying for a position in a growing firm.  

By doing your research and asking lots of questions, you discover that what the firm is really looking for is not just a professional, competent and qualified accountant but also someone who has the ability and knack to ATTRACT more new business.  

This information should now form the HEART of your answer.  

"I think my greatest strength is not only my professional competence in accountancy which I believe my qualifications confirm but I also firmly believe that to-day's accountant must be more than simply an expert in figures -he must have the skills, know-how and confidence to sell and market his expertise, especially in to-days ever increasing competitive market. In fact I am presently studying Sales and Marketing at night classes and I hope this new skill will complement my talent in accountancy and enable me to use it for the benefit of the firm, maybe by attracting more new clients."

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So when you answer this question about your greatest strength, use it to emphasize the quality and skills that you believe your employer most wants and that you possess.

These questions are great opportunities to sell yourself so don't WASTE them by giving STANDARD answers that lack SPECIFIC direction.  

That’s what 90%  of the other interviewees will be doing. Not you – and that’s what will give you ‘the  edge’ in this interview.    

What are your outstanding qualities?  

Earlier on, in our e-course, we gave you a broad outline of the desirable qualities that companies are looking for in their prospective employees.  

This question, whose purpose is virtually similar to question 16, will give you another opportunity to show the interviewer that you possess these valued personality traits.  

However instead of listing them off, parrot fashion: "Well, I'm loyal, dedicated, hardworking etc, as in Question 16, concentrate on the ones that are most RELEVANT to the job you are applying for and give examples and stories to BRING THEM TO LIFE. 

Although  this question is very similar to the last one, however in this question, the interviewer is trying to find out more about you AS a person.  

For example, imagine you are a nurse applying for a position in a local care home.  

Don't just say: "Well, I'm a very caring person and I like looking after people " and then stop and leave it at that.  

Full stop.  

Silence.  

Make it MORE PERSONAL. Paint ‘WORD PICTURES  that show this quality in action.  

For example, listen to this applicant:  

"Well, I believe I'm a caring person. I have four bothers and two sisters and since my mother had to work since we were little kids, I have had a lot of experience looking after and caring for people! And so it is something I'm used to doing and actual enjoy -even though at times it can be draining, it is always fulfilling".

Although your personal circumstances will differ, ALWAYS expand on your answer.  

Try to make it personal and 'ALIVE' -paint word pictures so that the interviewer can actual SEE you in his mind as the kind of person you say you are.