Job Interview Strategy

• Preparation for an Interview
  
  • Why Interviews are Used?
  • Selection Methods
  • Questions Commonly Asked in Interview
  • Questions to the Interviewer
• Interview are coming
  
  • Preparation for Interview
  • Points to Note before Attending Interview 1
  • Points to Note before Attending Interview 2
  • Contingency Measures
• The process of interview
  
  • Arriving the place of interview
  • During the Interview
  • Techniques of Answering Questions
  • Before the Interview Ends
• Follow-up after Interview
  
• Accepting Job Offer
  

Preparation for an Interview

• From Job Applicants’ Perspective
  • The primary objective of a job applicant is to make the best use of the time to convince the interviewers that he is the most suitable candidate.
  • It is also a good opportunity for the applicant to learn more about the company and the job nature before he decides whether or not to accept the job (if offered).
• From Interviewers’ Perspective
  • Verification: To check against the information provided in the applicant’s resume and/or reference letter
  • Observation: To observe the applicant’s manner, disposition, personality, etc. in a face-to-face context
  • Test: To evaluate the applicant’s aptitude, talent and knowledge, etc. through various means
  • Assessment and decision-making: To determine the applicant's abilities and sincerity in taking up the post based on the verified information and observations
• Treasure Every Opportunity
• When you are invited to attend a selection interview, you must have outscored many other applicants. It also implies that your qualification/experience has preliminarily matched the employer’s expectations. Do seize this opportunity and get well prepared. If you can perform well in the interview and follow up proactively, you will stand a good chance of being selected.

2. Selection Methods

Each company will assess the candidates in accordance with its recruitment policy and different job requirements. Some large companies or public organizations often employ several methods at the same time. Job applicants should seek more information when they are asked to attend an interview.

• Individual Interview
  
  • One-to-one interview (One interviewer and one interviewee) and Panel interview (A group of interviewers and one interviewee)
  • The interviewer(s) may be: Supervisor/ Manager of Personnel/ Human Resources Department; or Supervisor/ Manager of the department concerned
  
  Important Tips:When answering question in a panel interview, look at the interviewer who raises the question. You should also from time to time maintain eye contact with other interviewers to show that you are replying to all of them.
• Group Discussion
  • Adopted by most Disciplinary Forces, Administrative Officer Grade of the Government, and some large organisations to select candidates with good leadership and presentation skills.
  • Topics for discussion mainly focus on current affairs which do not necessarily relate to the job opening. The real motive of the interviewer here is to test the candidates’ answering techniques, logical thinking, leadership and adaptability.
  
  Important Tips：
  

  	Dos		Don’ts
  O	Be enthusiastic and committed	X	Too silent, passive or respond slowly
  O	Be polite and attentive to others’ comments	X	Too aggressive, arrogant or mouth off
  O	Be proactive. Don’t shy away from mistakes	X	Too critical of others or over-concerned with appraiser’s response
  O	Make good attempts to conciliate when disputes arise	X	Scramble for the leading role and control the discussion
  O	Control your temper and avoid appearing agitated in hot discussions

• Trade Test
  Apart from asking questions, for posts requiring strong technical skills such as beautician, designer, data processor, the candidate may be requested to perform a trade test of the relevant skill.
  Important Tips: Practice makes perfect. Prepare yourself for the trade test by practising or revising the skills and knowledge before the interview.
• Written Test
  
  • For posts requiring intensive writing such as translators, public relation officers, the candidates may be required to write short reports or speeches.
  • To assess the candidates’ analytical power, sometimes a written test may be conducted in the form of case analysis. For instance, applicants for the post of Management Trainee may be required to write an internal circular to explain and defend a new policy implemented by the management.
  
  Important Tips :Revise the formats of various commonly used business correspondences. Study current affairs and be prepared for an analysis on hot topic of current affairs.
  
• Other Tests
  
  • IQ tests, logic, analogy, arithmetic problems, etc., will be used for preliminary screening of massive number of candidates
  • Aptitude test is used to categorize applicants into groups with different predispositions. The group with the desired characteristics will be screened in.
  
  

Questions Commonly Asked in Interview

To most candidates, answering questions is always the greatest challenge in an interview. In fact, you do not have to panic. If you have made good preparation and stay calm during the interview, the interviewers will be very impressed. Now get prepared for the following common questions:

Character, motivation and aspiration

1. Please briefly introduce yourself.
2. How would you describe your personality and inclinations?
3. What are your hobbies and interests?
4. Which type of persons you can best get along with? Why?
5. Which type of person you dislike most? How would you deal with them?
6. What kind of working environment you would feel most enjoyable?
7. Do you have any target to achieve in your lifetime?
8. Which factor would you consider the most significant when selecting your job?
9. How would you expect your attainment in career development in 5 years’ time?
10. What is your long-term career plan? How would you achieve your goal?
11. What do you think of a successful career?
12. How did you tackle the difficulties you encountered in the past?
13. Are you ambitious?

Important Tips

• Question 1 to 5 help the interviewer to assess whether you can build up a good relationship with other colleagues. There is no right or wrong answer. Exaggeration won’t help.
• Question 6 to 13 help the interviwer to understand if you share the same values with the company. Therefore, you should do some background research on the company to know more about its products/ services, its future development etc.

2.School Life and Plan on Further Studies

1. What are your most favourable / unfavourable subjects? Why?
2. Do you think your exam grades can truly reflect your capability and ability?
3. Any unforgettable experience in your school life?
4. What have you learned from extra-curricular activities?
5. Do you have any plan on further studies?

Important Tips

• The above questions allow the interviewer to know more about your character, school life and what job-related skills you have acquired from your schoolwork and extra-curricular activities.
• Questions in Group 1 and Group 2 are inter-related. Think twice before the interview to avoid contradictory answers.

3.Company and Job Applied

1. Why do you apply for this position?
2. Why do you like to join this company?
3. What do you know about this company?
4. What are the duties of this job? Which one attracts you most?
5. What are your major strengths and weaknesses? How do they relate to the job you apply for?
6. What can you contribute to this company if you are hired?
7. Why do you think you are the right candidate for this job?
8. Do you have any qualifications or experience that would facilitate you in carrying out your duties?
9. What are the qualities you regard as essential for a successful career in our company?
10. What other jobs have you applied for? How would you decide if you get offers from different companies?
11. Do you mind outdoor work or overseas duties?
12. Do you accept overtime work or irregular working hours?
13. When could you report duty?
14. What is the salary you would expect?

Important Tips

• How will the interviewer assess your sincerity for the post? If you appear totally ignorant of the company or the industry you wish to work in, how can you convince the interviewer that you are the right person?
• Strength and weakness are actually a matter of point of view. When mentioning your weakness, you may soften it by stating its positive aspects.

Work Experience

1. What kind of work experience do you have?
2. Please briefly describe the duties and responsibilities of your last job.
3. What have you learned from your previous jobs?
4. What do you like/dislike most in your previous jobs?
5. Please briefly describe the toughest task you have handled in the past.
6. Your previous job and this job vary in many ways. Tell me why you consider yourself capable of doing the new job.
7. You have changed your job many times. Could you tell me why?
8. How do you get along with your colleagues? Any unforgettable or unpleasant experience?
9. You have been jobless/ graduated for quite a period of time. Why are you still unable to get a job?
10. Why do you change your job this time?

Important Tips

• The interviewer wishes to decide whether you are the right candidate based on your past working experience.
• You should elaborate how you can apply your past working experience positively to the new job.
• Do not appear to be critical or agitated when you are asked about your view of your previous company. It will only reflect your immaturity.

5. Technical skills and language proficiency

1. Have you taken any professional examination? What was the result?
2. Are you familiar with computer operation? Which computer software can you handle?
3. Do you know how to speak Putonghua? Could you introduce yourself in Putonghua?
4. Please briefly introduce yourself. (in English)
5. Do you know any other language or dialect? Please demonstrate.
6. Have you ever attended any training courses which are related to this job?

Important Tips

• The interviewers must figure out whether you possess the essential skills of the post and knowledge before they can assess whether you can manage the new job.
• Just answer honestly. Exaggeration won’t help.
• You may state concisely where you have acquired those skills and how you have applied them in practice.

6. Current Affairs

1. What is your opinion on the Policy Address recently announced by the Chief Executive or the Budget recently released by the Financial Secretary?
2. How would the recent government policy affect our industry or you?
3. Do you read newspaper regularly? Why do you choose this paper?

Important Tips

• There are many possibilities in the world of business. You must keep up with the changes of the society. Your sensitivity and responsiveness to news and important events may indeed impress the interviewers.
• Try to learn from editorials of different newspapers and make reference to others’ viewpoints. BUT never memorize them word-by-word. You should try to comprehend different editorials and commentaries and appreciate both sides of the coin to develop your own point of view. Otherwise, the interviewers can only conclude that you are lacking independent thinking.

7. Hypothetical Questions

1. If a customer becomes dissatisfied with the service you or your partner render and threatens to make a complaint against you, what would you do?
2. If a certain pack of product fails to reach the customer on time as a result of your mistake, and your supervisor is unaware of it, what would you do?

Important Tips

• Questions of this kind are used by interviewers to test your responsiveness and crisis-management skills. Most are related to work situations
• You must stay calm. Think twice before you answer. However, try not to have too many pauses.

Questions to the Interviewer

To show your sincerity and interest to the post, you can ask some of the following questions when the interviewer ask if you have any question.

• This is the last chance to impress the interviewers. Make use of this opportunity to remedy any mistakes and to demonstrate your sincerity again. You should also try to find out more about the post and the company before you finally accept or reject the offer.
• Do not ask how much you can earn hastily. It is better to let the interviewer raise the issue first to avoid appearing too money-minded.
• Before the interview, do some research on the employment terms of the post and draw up your own bottom-line. You should also consider factors other than salary, like staff benefits, leave, promotion prospect, self-development, etc.

Preparation for Interview

Re-examine the content of your covering letter and resume to avoid contradictory comments during the interview

Sleep well before the day of interview. Sufficient and quality sleep will make you look smart and confident

Questions to the Interviewer

To show your sincerity and interest to the post, you can ask some of the following questions when the interviewer ask if you have any question.

• This is the last chance to impress the interviewers. Make use of this opportunity to remedy any mistakes and to demonstrate your sincerity again. You should also try to find out more about the post and the company before you finally accept or reject the offer.
• Do not ask how much you can earn hastily. It is better to let the interviewer raise the issue first to avoid appearing too money-minded.
• Before the interview, do some research on the employment terms of the post and draw up your own bottom-line. You should also consider factors other than salary, like staff benefits, leave, promotion prospect, self-development, etc.

Arriving the place of interview

Greetings

• Remember to tell the receptionists that you are there for interview. They may not know if you just sit down and do not say a word.
• Be courteous to all members of the staff who may be your colleagues in the future.
• Knock the door before you enter the interview room. Greet the interviewer and politely ask whether you should close the door.

Shaking Hand

• Needless to shake hands with the interviewer proactively. Observe whether they have the intention to do so and respond accordingly.
• Shake hands naturally. Do not use too much or too little force.
• Wipe your hands before entering the room if you get sweaty hands.

During the Interview

Eye Contact and Nodding

• Maintain eye contact with the interviewers. Nod occasionally to exhibit your attention and agreement to what the interviewer says. This will make a sincere and serious impression.
• Do not nod too eagerly. You may look as if you are impatient or want to interrupt.
• Do not look around when you are speaking. The interviewer may take this as a sign of your lack of interest in the post/ company.

Body Language

• Don't take a seat until you are told to do so. Keep your back straight while sitting.
• Beware of your body language. Be gentle and elegant.
• Crossing your legs while sitting, swaying your body, crossing your arms before your chest, leaning towards the seatback, resting your face on you hand(s), etc. are all improper gestures.
• Stay away from the following behaviours if you do not want to look unsure and impolite:
• Crinkle your shirt or tie and put your hands into the pockets of your pants.
• Smooth down your hair frequently.
• Play with your finger/ ball pen, move up your spectacles very often, or cover your mouth with your hand while speaking.

Techniques of Answering Questions

Honesty and Courtesy

• Be sincere and avoid using cliché and looking too humble.
• Request the interviewer to repeat or elaborate the questions if you do not understand well.
• Do not overstate your merits and be honest. Depending on the job requirements, focus on your relevant strengths.
• When you do not know how to answer a question, tell the truth. You will be more embarrassed if the interviewer finds out that you are boasting.

Answer Systematically

• The use of jargon/ technical terms may reflect your knowledge or interest in the industry. However, over-use or misuse of jargons may make you look pretentious.
• Do not simply say “Yes” or “No” when answering questions. You will look passive and unreliable.
• State clearly your points with elaborations and concrete examples. Your arguments will be more persuasive.

Intonation

• Use firm and positive tone.
• Avoid speaking in a mix of different languages.
• Avoid using excessive tentative words. Otherwise, your answers will be unduly long. You will also look unconfident and flippant.

Remedy for Wrong Answer/ Response

• Under stressful situations like a job interview, wrong answers may be unavoidable.
• If it is a serious mistake, you have to apologize and state what you really mean.
• Do not give up even if you have made some mistakes. Concentrate yourself on the questions to come.

Others

• Do not interrupt the interviewer or reply hastily. Think twice before you answer.
• Do not appear impatient or surprised when the interviewer raises some questions which are totally irrelevant to the post applied. The interviewer may just wish to test your common sense and analytical power.
• Do not panic when the interviewer disagrees with your viewpoint. Some interviewers may do this intentionally so as to observe your response.

Before the Interview Ends

Before the Interview Ends

• Say thank you and goodbye before you go.

Follow-up after Interview

• Send a thank-you letter to the interviewer the next day to express your gratitude for being granted the interview. You may also emphasize your interests in the post/company again to demonstrate your enthusiasm.
• Evaluate your preparation work. Write down the questions you are asked during the interview and your response to them. You may then discover some rooms for improvement.
• Jot down some brief comments on the post, company and staff after the interview. They will be valuable reference when you are invited for a second interview or given the job offer.
• Do not be dismayed by failure. Success often comes after many failed experiences. Every interview is a valuable moment to learn and experience. You can have better performance when you are invited for another interview.

Accepting Job Offer

Do not get too excited when you are given a job offer. Stay cool-headed and note the following:

Choose the best offer

Suppose you have a couple of offers at the same time, refer to the notes you jotted down after each interview:
• Take into account of your feelings toward the posts, companies and their staff.
• Examine the pros and cons of each post, including financial standing, development prospects, chances of promotion, etc.

Reply to the employer

No matter you accept or decline the offer, do not delay your reply:
• Decline:Be polite. Some day you may wish to join the company again.
• Accept:Examine the terms and conditions of the employment contract. Take note of essential information like date, time and place to sign contract and report duty and whom you should report to.

Terms and conditions

Before accepting the offer, you must familiarize yourself with the duties of the post and terms of employment like salary, fringe benefits, working hours, leave, probation period and resignation procedures.

Unable to report duty as scheduled

If you cannot commence work as scheduled, inform the employer and show your regrets immediately. Only then the company can have sufficient time to make necessary arrangements.

Points to Note before Signing the Contract

All written contracts and oral agreements may be legally binding. You must think twice before you sign any documents to avoid losses. Do pay attention to the following points:

• You should learn more about the labour laws and other employment protection you are entitled to. For instance, you should have some understanding of the laws governing personal data privacy or eliminating disability, gender and family status discrimination, etc. For more details, you may refer to the pamphlets published by the relevant institutions or ask the institutions directly.
• If you detect any unreasonable or unlawful clause in the contract, do request the employer to amend or delete it and sign next to the amendment. You should also request a revised copy.
• To avoid unnecessary disputes in the future, you may request to put down any oral agreements or commitment on the contract.
• If there are any staff rules or codes of conduct, clarify with the employer whether they are part of the employment contract.
• Observe whether there is any restrictive clause, e.g., a clause which prohibits you to join another company in the same trade for a given period of time after your resignation. Discuss with your relatives or friends or even consult a lawyer or a professional in the industry before you sign the contract.
• Keep a copy of the signed contract for record.
• Check if there is a company chop or signature of the responsible person on your copy of the contract.