Page 141 - 101 Dynamite Answers to Interview Questions

134 Nail the Job Interview!

. How soon could you begin work?

If you need to resign from your present job, you may be expect-
ed to give at least a two-week notice. However, more notice may
be expected for high-level positions. You might turn the ques-
tion around by aslcing

When wouldyou want me to begin work?

If he says immediately, ask for two to four weeks, which is a
normal time frame for individuals who must leave one job for
another one.

You can also expect specific questions relating to your technical
expertise, management abilities, and specialized lu-towledge. These will
vary considerably with the position, organization, and individual. For
example, if you are interviewing for a computer programming position,
you will probably be asked questions about the specific equipment you
use, are capable of using, or want to use. If you are interviewing for a
management-level position, expect questions relating to “situations” you
are likely to encounter, such as how you would deal with a subordinate
who by-passes the chain of command in reporting directly to your
superiors, who consistently arrives late to work, or who does not work
well with co-workers on projects requiring cooperative efforts.

Illegal Questions

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 males discrimination on the
basis of race, sex, religion, or national origins illegal in personnel deci-
sions. The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 includes questions
related to disabilities as being illegal. Questions that delve into these areas
as well as others, such as age, height, or weight, are also illegal, unless
they can be shown to directly relate to bona fide occupational qualifica-
tions. If a question relates directly to the job, it is usually legal to ask.
Most interviewers are well aware of these restrictions and will not ask
you illegal questions. However, you may still encounter such questions
either because of ignorance on the part of the interviewer or blatant
violation of the regulations. As we noted earlier when discussing