From: 2024-09-05 HireReady Workshop Speaker: Kyle Law, Lead Recuiter, Jobscan
- Common question: Tell me about yourself
- try SEAT framework: Skills, Experience, Achievement, Type of Person
- Interview question: What are you salary expectations?
- You should have a minimum number in mind.
- If I don’t have at least this number I can’t pay my bills
- The reason that they’re asking:
- ensure that their expectations are in line with yours
- Negotiating strategy
- It’s never in your benefit to give your number first
- Try asking what is your budget for your role?
- Try politely turning the question back to them.
- Try “I’m sure you have a salary range in mind. If you don’t mind, could you please share it with me. I’ll see if it works for me.”
- “I believe the salary range will be commensurate with experience and I know you are looking to stay within your budget…what range are you thinking”
- It’s not a good idea to refuse to answer the question. This will burn a bridge
- You should have a minimum number in mind.
- Question: “What are you weaknesses?”
- Why do they ask this?
- They want to know what you have improved on.
- They want to know that you are a person who works on self-improvement and self-awareness
- They also want to see that you are coachable, open to feedback.
- Strategies:
- Don’t just answer the question. Share how you overcame the weakness.
- 1: Choose a genuine professional weakness 2: Share a story about how this weakness has impacted you in 3: Discuss what steps you’ve taken to improve the weakness4: Showcase the
- Why do they ask this?
- Question: “What are your strengths?”
- Hard or soft skills?
- just focus on what is relevant
- show how your strengths will benefit the business
- Do you need to share a story?
- It might depend on who is asking the question.
- This isn’t necessarily a trick question. They just want to know if you are self-aware of your strengths.
- How many strengths should you aim to talk about in 3 mins?
- Are strengths and qualifications different?
- They’re looking for something more specific.
- Example answers:
- timely decision making
- I’m an optimistic and realistic person
- add more detail.
- Hard or soft skills?
- Question: “Why do you want this job?”
- This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate a genuine interest in the role.
- Show how you can benefit the company.
- Focus less on how this benefits you.
- I want this job cause it’s remote.
- exception:
- Bad answers:
- I want to pay the bills
- Question: “Why are you looking for a new job?”
- Reason for asking:
- they want to know if their expectations match yours.
- They want to know if they will be able to keep you happy long term.
- Generally the reason why we’re looking for a new job is because we are disatisfied with our last job?
- But this can be a touchy subject.
- avoid saying:
- I’m super unhappy because XYZ
- Strategies:
- Try to frame it in a way that will make them sympathetic to way you left
- Sample answers;
- “It wasn’t a good fit for me”
- “I left my old job to care for a family member”
- Is it bad to be honest about mass layoffs?
- This should not affect your reputation.
- Reason for asking:
- Question: “what makes you unique?”
- Hiring manager is more likely to ask this rather than a recruiter
- Example answer:
- What makes me unique is that I lived in 20 different states, so that makes me instantly relate to more applicants.
- Show how your unique qualities benefit the company.
- Takeaways
- Demonstrate:
- Fit: how well you “fit” the company
- Level of interest
- How you can benefit the company
- Demonstrate: