Page 30 - 101 Dynamite Answers to Interview Questions

Interview Types and Techniques 23

At this point the interviewer is loolung for reasons to Iaock people out
of further consideration. For example, she may ask you to clarify some
points in your resume concerning experience as well as inquire about your
availability and salary expectations:

Mien you say you have ‘six years of progressive experience handling all
aspects of quality control with XYZ Company,’ what does that mean in
temw ofthe number ofemployeesyou supervised? How didyour responsibili-
ties increase?

Wouldyou be ready to start work in another three weeks?

Miat are your salaly expectations?

Factual questions, such as the first one, deserve factual answers alongwith
some positive contextual comments. For example, try to put your
supervisory skulls into some performance context, such as

I supervised six people. We were able to improve product quality by 50
percent, which resulted in 25 percent fewer customer complaints.

On the question of availability, use you own judgment. Remember, you
should give your present employer at least two weeks notice. If the job
requires a major geographic move, you may need more time. For now you
may want to answer “Yes,” knowing full well you need to work out the
details with both your current and future employer. If you say “No, ” you
inject a negative into this interview that may eliminate you from further
consideration.
As for salary expectations, the rule is to keep this question to the very
end of the job interview - after you learn the worth of the position and
demonstrate your value to employers. Answer by saying you are “open”
at this point. You need to laow more about the position. If the inter-
viewer persists, turn the question around and ask “Wzat is the current range
for this position for someone with my qual$cations?” And if the person
continues to persist for a figure, give a salary range you laow from your
research is in line with industry salary norms as well as your expectations.
“I was expecting in the range of$43,000 to $50,000. ” Base your responses to
salary questions on information gained from your research. This is not the