Page 95 - 101 Dynamite Answers to Interview Questions

88 Nail the Job Interview!

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While you can expect to encounter someone who has previous interview-
ing experience and thus conducts the interview in a professional and
competent manner, you may also encounter someone with little experi-
ence and who asks irrelevant, illegal, or stressful questions. In this case,
you need to be tactful in how you respond to the interviewer’s questions.
You may need to tale some initiative to keep the interview on track so
you can best emphasize your strengths. If an interviewer’s question seems
too broad or vague, try to refocus the question by asking a clarifjmg
question:

By , doyou mean ?

This question should transform a vague question into something that is
more manageable for you to answer. It should give better direction to
your answer.

Interviewee‘s Ways of Answering Questions

Every time you answer a question, you should analyze your listener, use
supports, and communicate positive form and content. The concepts of
positive form and positive content stress the importance of avoiding
negatives by always presenting yourself in as positive a light as possible.
Analyzing your audience and using supports stress the importance of
using a language appropriate for the situation.

Use Positive Form

Several opportunities arise during the interview for you to enhance your
image through the use of positive form. The first use of positive form
relates to names. Each of us likes to be called by our name. Make sure
you get the name of the interviewer, get it right, and use it from time to
time as you speak. Use the interviewer’s title (Ms., Mrs., Mr., Dr.,
Professor, etc.) and last name. Never call the interviewer by his or her first
name unless specially requested to do so - even if the interviewer uses