Everything about how to approach an Interview

The 50 Most Common Interview Questions:

1.    What are your strengths?

2.    What are your weaknesses?

3.    Why are you interested in working for [insert company name here]?

4.    Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

5.    Why do you want to leave your current company?

6.    Why was there a gap in your employment between [insert date] and [insert date]?

7.    What can you offer us that someone else can not?

8.    What are three things your former manager would like you to improve on?

9.    Are you willing to relocate?

10.                       Are you willing to travel?

11.                       Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.

12.                       Tell me about a time you made a mistake.

13.                       What is your dream job?

14.                       How did you hear about this position?

15.                       What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60 days/90 days on the job?

16.                       Discuss your resume.

17.                       Discuss your educational background.

18.                       Describe yourself.

19.                       Tell me how you handled a difficult situation.

20.                       Why should we hire you?

21.                       Why are you looking for a new job?

22.                       Would you work holidays/weekends?

23.                       How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?

24.                       What are your salary requirements?

25.                       Give a time when you went above and beyond the requirements for a project.

26.                       Who are our competitors?

27.                       What was your biggest failure?

28.                       What motivates you?

29.                       What’s your availability?

30.                       Who’s your mentor?

31.                       Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss.

32.                       How do you handle pressure?

33.                       What is the name of our CEO?

34.                       What are your career goals?

35.                       What gets you up in the morning?

36.                       What would your direct reports say about you?

37.                       What were your bosses’ strengths/weaknesses?

38.                       If I called your boss right now and asked him what is an area that you could improve on, what would he say?

39.                       Are you a leader or a follower?

40.                       What was the last book you’ve read for fun?

41.                       What are your co-worker pet peeves?

42.                       What are your hobbies?

43.                       What is your favorite website?

44.                       What makes you uncomfortable?

45.                       What are some of your leadership experiences?

46.                       How would you fire someone?

47.                       What do you like the most and least about working in this industry?

48.                       Would you work 40+ hours a week?

49.                       What questions haven’t I asked you?

50.                       What questions do you have for me?

How to answer 7 of the most common interview questions:

"Tell me about yourself."

 While this isn't exactly a question, answering this the wrong way could really hurt your chances of getting a job, Teach says. "I was once told by an HR executive that this can actually be a trick question. Hiring managers can't ask you certain questions legally but if you go off on a tangent when answering, you may tell them some things about you that are better left unsaid." The worst way to approach this request is to tell them your life story, which is something they're definitely not interested in. The best way to approach this is to only discuss what your interests are relating to the job and why your background makes you a great candidate.

"What are your strengths and weaknesses?"

 It's easy to talk about your strengths; you're detail oriented, hard working, a team player, etc.--but it's also easy to get tripped up when discussing your weaknesses, Teach says. Never talk about a real weakness unless it's something you've defeated. "Many hiring managers are hip to the overused responses, such as, 'Well, my biggest weakness is that I work too hard so I need try to take it easy once in a while.' The best answer is to discuss a weakness that you've turned around, such as, you used to come in late to work a lot but after your supervisor explained why it was necessary for you to come in on time, you were never late again."

"Where do you want to be five years from now?"

 “What employers are really asking is, ‘Is this job even close to your presumed career path? Are you just applying to this job because you need something? Are your long-term career plans similar to what we see for this role? How realistic are your expectations for your career? Have you even thought about your career long-term? Are you going to quit after a year or two?’” says Sara Sutton Fell, CEO and founder of FlexJobs.

Show them that you’ve done some self-assessment and career planning. Let them know that you hope to develop professionally and take on additional responsibilities at that particular company. “Don’t say something ridiculous like, ‘I don’t know,’ or “I want your job,” she says.

Teach says no one can possibly know where they'll be in their career five years from now but hiring managers want to get a sense of your commitment to the job, the company, and the industry. “In fact, I would even mention that it's hard for you to know what job title you may hold five years from now but ideally, you'd like to have moved up the ladder at this company based on your performance. You're hopeful to be in some management position and your goal is to help the company any way you can.” If you give the impression that this job is just a stepping stone for you, it's unlikely the hiring manager will be interested in you.

"Please give me an example of a time when you had a problem with a supervisor/co-worker and how you approached the problem."

"I think that the hardest thing about work isn't the work, it's the people at work," Teach says. Most employees have a problem with a supervisor or co-worker at some point in their career. How they handle that problem says a lot about their people skills. If you can explain to the interviewer that you were able to overcome a people problem at work, this will definitely help your chances of getting the job, he says.

"What are your salary requirements?"

 “What employers are really asking is, ‘Do you have realistic expectations when it comes to salary? Are we on the same page or are you going to want way more than we can give? Are you flexible on this point or is your expectation set in stone?'" Sutton Fell says.

Try to avoid answering this question in the first interview because you may shortchange yourself by doing so, Teach says. Tell the hiring manager that if you are seriously being considered, you could give them a salary range--but if possible, let them make the first offer. Study websites like Salary.com and Glassdoor.com to get an idea of what the position should pay. “Don't necessarily accept their first offer,” he adds. “There may be room to negotiate.”

When it is time to give a number, be sure to take your experience and education levels into consideration, Sutton Fell says. “Also, your geographic region, since salary varies by location.” Speak in ranges when giving figures, and mention that you are flexible in this area and that you’re open to benefits, as well. “Be brief and to the point, and be comfortable with the silence that may come after.”

"Why are you leaving your current job?"

Hiring managers want to know your motivation for wanting to leave your current job. Are you an opportunist just looking for more money or are you looking for a job that you hope will turn into a career? If you're leaving because you don't like your boss, don't talk negatively about your boss--just say you have different work philosophies, Teach says. If the work was boring to you, just mention that you're looking for a more challenging position. "Discuss the positives that came out of your most recent job and focus on why you think this new position is ideal for you and why you'll be a great fit for their company."

If you've already left your previous job (or you were fired), Sutton Fell suggests the following:

If you got fired: Do not trash your last boss or company. Tell them that you were unfortunately let go, that you understand their reasoning and you’ve recognized areas that you need to improve in, and then tell them how you will be a better employee because of it.

If you got laid off: Again, do not trash your last boss or company. Tell them that you were let go, and that you understand the circumstances behind their decision; that you are committed to your future and not dwelling on the past; and that you are ready to apply everything that you learned in your last role to a new company.

If you quit: Do not go into details about your unhappiness or dissatisfaction. Instead, tell them that while you valued the experience and education that you received, you felt that the time had come to seek out a new opportunity, to expand your skills and knowledge, and to find a company with which you could grow.

"Why should I hire you?"

A hiring manager may not ask you this question directly but every question you answer in the interview should contribute to helping them understand why you're the best person for the job. "Stay focused on why your background makes you an ideal candidate and tell them how you are going to contribute to that department and that company," Teach says. "Let the interviewer know that one of your goals is to make their job easier by taking on as much responsibility as possible and that you will be excited about this job starting on day one."

Salpeter suggests you print and highlight the job description, looking for the top three or four most important details. "Do they include terms such as, 'cross-functional team,' 'team work,' and 'team player' several times?" If so, your answer to, "Why should we hire you?" (asked directly or as an underlying question) should mention and focus on your abilities as they relate to teams.

How to prepare for common job interview questions:

Do your homework.

 “One of the biggest complaints of hiring managers is that many job interview candidates know very little about the company they're interviewing for,” says Andy Teach, author of From Graduation to Corporation: The Practical Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder One Rung at a Time, and host of the YouTube channel FromGradToCorp. Google the company you're interviewing with and read some of the articles that pop up; study the company's website; know the company's mission, its products and services, its locations, and who their top executives are. Go to the Public Relations tab on their website and print out some of their latest press releases. "Study them so that you can talk in the interview about what's going on with the company now," he says.

Be positive.

 When preparing for an interview and anticipating likely questions, plan to answer all questions positively. “Even if you were in a bad situation, think about how you can talk about the situation positively,” Attridge says. You always have a choice. It is much better to talk about a glass being half full then to talk about it being half empty. It’s all about your perspective, and in an interview being positive counts.

Never say anything negative about your prior employers or bosses, either--no matter how bad the situation may have been. “A negative answer actually is a reflection about your judgment and business acumen, and not about the employer or manager.”

Get comfortable.

 “Preparation and practice aside, the most important tip I would like to suggest to job seekers is to feel comfortable with the interview process,” Khare says. “You can read all the advice in the world about acing the interview, but none of the tactics will work out of you are not yourself during the process.”

Feeling comfortable and relaxed positively influences your confidence. “And interviewers always appreciate a relaxed and confident candidate, as opposed to a heavy promoter and edgy one,” she adds.  Practice calming your nerves, and focus on how you can prove you’d be a valuable asset to the company.

Reflect on previous interviews.

 Keep a computer or paper record of your interviews, Teach says. “Keep a record of the time of your interviews, how long they are, your impressions of the hiring manager, and perhaps most importantly, what questions were asked of you, what answers you gave, and record any questions they asked you that you felt could have been answered differently. “ Study these elements and your interview skills will improve, he says.

Figure out how to articulate your goals.

 Most of the commonly asked questions during an interview either dig into your previous experience or want to explore your future goals, Khare says. “Prepare and articulate your goals, and remain honest here.  Inconsistent answers won't get you the respect and credibility that is a must to impress an interviewer.”

powerful motivational quotes for school

School motivation

As the new school year begins the most common problem that teachers and parents face is lack of student motivation. Motivation can either come from within the student (intrinsic) or from outside (extrinsic). A child who is intrinsically motivated performs a task because of the joy that comes from learning new materials. A child who performs in school to gain parent approval, grades, or rewards is externally motivated. While research shows that those children with internal motivation may achieve greater success, teachers and parents often find that many children seek external reinforcers. Parents who ask questions that lead to more questions for a child are more successful in developing intrinsic motivation. For example, a parent that gives a child a special toy as a "reward" for reading a lesson about how an airplane works and for completing the related homework that requires answers to questions about the parts of an airplane will stimulate less motivation than the parent who helps a child discover how planes work by building a balsam plane and letting the child practice flying it. This parent can ask what changes the plane’s flight pattern. The child can then experiment, discover and generate new questions and new discoveries.

These are some motivational quotes for school:

1. No two things have been combined together better than knowledge and patience – Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

 2. You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing and falling over – Richard Branson

3. You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way! – Dr.Seuss

help you through school

4. Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. – Nelson Mandela

5. What makes a child gifted and talented may not always be good grades in school, but a different way of looking at the world and learning. – Chuck Grassley

6. Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. – Thomas A. Edison,

7. Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein. – H. Jackson Brown Jr.,

8. The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice. – Brian Herbert

9. Forget the mistake, remember the lesson. – unknown

10. Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. – Malcolm X

11. It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows. -Epictetus

12. Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. – Thomas Edison

13. Don’t decrease the goal, increase the effort. Be thankful for the hard times for they have made you. – Tom Coleman.

14. Never quit. If you stumble, get back up. What happened yesterday no longer matters. Today is another day, so get on track and move closer to your dreams. – Unknown

15. I am a warrior, not because I always win but because I always fight. – Unknown

16. The comeback is always stronger than the setback. – unknown

17. When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on. – Thomas Jefferson

18. Success is not fatal, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts. – Winston Churchill

19. Failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success – Arianna Huffington

 20. Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves. – Dale Carnegie

21. Focus on your author and blur the rest. – Unknown

22. Study a little more today, so you don’t have to regret tomorrow – Unknown

23. Push yourself because no one else is going to do it for you. – Rhyanna Watson.

24. I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it. – Unknown.

25. Success doesn’t come to you, you’ve got to go to it. – Marva Collins

26. It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up. – Vince Lombardi

27. A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. – David Brinkley

28. You don’t have to be great to start. But you have to start to be great. – Zig Ziglar

29. A river cuts through rock not because of its power but because of its persistence. – James N. Watkins.

30. You may see me struggle but you will never see me quit. – Jordan Belfort

31. So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable. – Christopher Reeve

32. The people who are crazy enough to believe they can change the world are the ones who do. – Steve Jobs

33. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. – Unknown

34. Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m Possible’ – Audrey Hepburn

help you through school

35. Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. – Winston Churchill

36. Tough times don’t last. Tough people do. – Robert H. Schuller

37. Keep going. Everything you need will come to you at the perfect time. – Unknown

38. You can’t have a better tomorrow if you’re still thinking about yesterday – Charles F Kettering

39. Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. – Malcolm X

40. Teachers can open the door, but you must enter it yourself. – Chinese proverb

41. Today is the opportunity to build the tomorrow you want – Ken Poirot

42. Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good. – Malcolm Gladwell

Proverbs From all Around The World

What is a proverb?

A proverb is a short, pithy saying that expresses a traditionally held truth or piece of advice, based on common sense or experience.

Nothing defines a culture as distinctly as its language, and the element of language that best encapsulates a society's values and beliefs is its proverbs.

 

This graphic shows the words that are used in English proverbs, with the size of each word indicating how often it occurs.

There are some proverbs of different cultures:

1.     The old horse in the stable still yearns to run. – Asian Proverb

2.     Instruction in youth is like engraving in stone – Moroccan Proverb

3.     Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. – Asian Proverb

4.     Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. – English Proverb

5.     Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone. – English Proverb

6.     A tree is known by its fruit. – Southern African Proverb

7.     A monkey in silk is a monkey no less. – American Proverb

8.     Even a small star shines in the darkness. – Finnish Proverb

9.     The path is made by walking. – African Proverb

10. There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out. – Russian Proverb

11. A beautiful thing is never perfect. – Egyptian Proverb

12. Good advice is often annoying, bad advice never is. – French Proverb

13. Where love reigns, the impossible may be attained. – Indian Proverb

14. Before you score, you first must have a goal. – Greek Proverb

15. A bad worker blames his tools. – Australian Proverb

16. Don’t sail out farther than you can row back. – Danish Proverb

17. An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep – Arabic Proverb

18. After the game, the king and pawn go into the same box. – Italian Proverb

19. Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow. – Swedish Proverb

20. Words should be weighed, not counted. – Yiddish Proverb

21. Do good and throw it in the sea. – Arabic Proverb

22. Truth is more valuable if it takes you a few years to find it. – French Proverb

23. A loose tooth will not rest until it’s pulled out. – African Proverb

24. Drop by drop you break the rock – Italian Proverb

25. The tree often hides the forest – French Proverb

26. Do not push the river, it will flow itself – Polish Proverb

27. Measure a thousand times and cut once. – Turkish Proverb

28. Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you. – Spanish Proverb

29. If you take big paces, you leave big spaces. – Burmese Proverb

30. Turn your face toward the sun and the shadows fall behind you. – Maori Proverb

31. Better little than too little – Cameroonian Proverb

32. Tell me who your friends are, so I can tell you who you are – Bulgarian Proverb

33. Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. – Australian Proverb

34. To be willing is only half the task. – Armenian Proverb

35. When the sun rises, it rises for everyone. – Cuban Proverb

36. No man can paddle two canoes at the same time. – Bantu Proverb

37. Age is honorable and youth is noble. – Irish Proverb

38. The tree with most leaves will not necessarily produce juicy fruit. – Brazilian Proverb

39. A mother understands what a child does not say – Yiddish Proverb

Other universal proverbs:

   1.     If you can't be good, be careful

   2.     If you can't beat them, join them

   3.     If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen Link to proverb

  4.     If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas

  5.     If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys

  6.     Love of money is the root of all evil Link to proverb

  7.     Love is blind Link to proverb

  8.     Love makes the world go round

  9.     Love thy neighbor as thyself Link to proverb

  10. Love will find a way

  11. Never give a sucker an even break Link to proverb

  12. Never go to bed on an argument

  13. Never judge a book by its cover

  14. Never let the sun go down on your anger 

  15. Old soldiers never die, they simply fade away.

  16. Once a thief, always a thief

  17. Once bitten, twice shy

  18. One good turn deserves another Link to proverb

  19. One man's meat is another man's poison Link to proverb

  20. One might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb

  21. One law for the rich and another for the poor

  22. The pen is mightier than sword Link to proverb

  23. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance

  24. The proof of the pudding is in the eating

  25. The road to hell is paved with good intentions Link to proverb

  26. The shoemaker's son always goes barefoot Link to proverb

  27. You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs

  28. You can't make bricks without straw

  29. You can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds

  30. You can't take it with you [when you die]

  31. Attack is the best form of defense

  32. Bad money drives out good

  33. Bad news travels fast Link to proverb

  34. Bad penny always turns up

  35. Barking dog never bites

  36. Be careful what you wish for