201 Knockout Answers to Tough Interview Questions : The Ultimate Guide to Handling the New Competency-Based Interview Style

Increasingly, employers today are using a tough new kind of interview to evaluate candidates and determine how well they think on their feet. To be successful in these new competency-based interviews, job seekers must be prepared with situation-specific examples that highlight the accomplishments, knowledge, and abilities they have that employers need. Featuring a plethora of sample questions--and winning answers--this book is organized by the five core competencies most interviewers are looking for: • Individual responsibility (decisiveness, independence, flexibility, career goals) • Managerial skills (leadership, delegation, strategic planning) • Motivational factors (ambition, initiative) • Analytical skills (problem solving, attention to detail) • People skills (teamwork, communication, customer service) This indispensable guide features fill-in-the-blank exercises readers can use to prepare themselves to demonstrate sought-after competencies and wow potential employers. It's a powerful book no job seeker should be without Content: Contents Introduction 201 Competency-Based Interview Questions at a Glance PART I: THE FUNDAMENTALS Chapter 1: What Are Competency-Based Interviews? Competency-Based vs.Traditional Interview Questions Proficiencies That Competency-Based Questions Measure Industry-Specific Competencies Chapter 2: Preparing for Competency-Based Interview Questions Identify and Highlight Your Accomplishments When You Lack Specific Experience Industry-Specific Accomplishments Identify Your Core Competencies Keep SOAR in Mind Chapter 3: Leverage Your Competency-Based Resume Competency-Based Resume Tips Accomplishment-Based Information The Objective or Profile Statement The Professional Experience Section Selected Resume Formats Chapter 4: Why Candidates Do Not Get Hired When Examples Go Wrong A Negative Mind-Set A Potpourri of Other Interview Mistakes Chapter 5: Seven Ways to Stand Out During the Interview Write a Personal Brand Statement ReduceYour Anxiety ImproveYour Speaking Voice Be Concise Common Words and Phrases to Avoid Make Specific Statements Script or Outline Your Responses PART II: COMPETENCY-BASED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Chapter 6: Competency #1-Individual Responsibility Decisiveness Independence Flexibility Career Goals Chapter 7: Competency #2-Managerial/Leadership Skills Leadership Employee Motivation Ability to Delegate Strategic Planning Chapter 8: Competency #3-Personal Motivation Ambition Initiative Chapter 9: Competency #4-Analytical Skills Problem Solving Attention to Detail Chapter 10: Competency #5-People Skills Team Orientation Customer Service Communications PART III: THE END OF THE INTERVIEW Chapter 11: Closing the Job Interview Some Closing Mistakes The Closing Statement Chapter 12: The Interview Follow-Up Follow-Up Pointers Competency-Based Follow-Up Letters Contributors About the Author Synopsis: These days more and more employers are using "competency-based" job interview questions to try to ensure that new hires' experience and abilities match the demands of the positions they're filling. Designed to elicit real-life career events demonstrating your knowledge, judgment, and skills, this new breed of interview question can trip up even the savviest job seekers. And in this extremely tough job market, there are no second chances. 201 Knockout Answers to Tough Interview Questions gives you the lowdown on this new competency-based interviewing style, including a huge range of sample questions complete with winning answers you can use to prep for any make-or-break job interview. This book will arm you with confidence-inspiring answers that highlight your accomplishments in each of the five core competencies every employer wants in an employee: Individual Responsibility, Manager/Leadership Skills, Personal Motivation, Analytical Skills, and People Skills. You'll find the best way to tailor your own response to tough questions like: Describe an occasion when you managed a situation that was your supervisor's responsibility; Tell me about a time when you had competing deadlines and had to choose one to miss; Describe a time when a customer had an issue with the way you managed his or her account. What did you do about it? ; Tell me about a time you spearheaded an initiative and met resistance from the overwhelming majority of staff. You'll also discover seven ways to stand out during your interview, what to do when you lack experience, and how to avoid the common mistakes that keep candidates from being hired. Complete with fill-in-the-blank exercises that will help prepare you to demonstrate the skills that will impress any employer, 201 Knockout Answers to Tough Interview Questions gives you the hidden edge you need to come out on top and get the job offer you know you deserve This useful resource will help you gain a storehouse of sample interview answers that consistently highlight your ability in these areas. Employers today are using increasingly tough interview questions to evaluate candidates based on key competencies and determine how well they think on their feet. To stand out in these competency-based interviews, job seekers must be prepared with situation-specific examples and answers to questions that highlight their accomplishments, knowledge, and abilities—and clearly display how all three meet their potential employers' needs. In 201 Knockout Answers to Tough Interview Questions, you'll learn the five core competencies most interviewers are looking for: individual responsibility (decisiveness, independence, flexibility, career goals); managerial skills (leadership, delegation, strategic planning); motivational factors (ambition, initiative); analytical skills (problem solving, attention to detail); and people skills (teamwork, communication, customer service) Featuring fill-in-the-blank exercises and a plethora of traditional and quirky interview questions to help you prepare, this powerful book will help you get noticed by key players during the interview process—no matter what questions get thrown your way. Employers today are using increasingly tough interview questions to evaluate candidates based on key competencies and determine how well they think on their feet. To stand out in these competency-based interviews, job seekers must be prepared with situation-specific examples and answers to questions that highlight their accomplishments, knowledge, and abilities--and clearly display how all three meet their potential employers’ needs. In 201 Knockout Answers to Tough Interview Questions, you’ll learn the five core competencies most interviewers are looking for--individual responsibility (decisiveness, independence, flexibility, career goals); managerial skills (leadership, delegation, strategic planning); motivational factors (ambition, initiative); analytical skills (problem solving, attention to detail); and people skills (teamwork, communication, customer service)--and will gain a storehouse of sample interview answers that consistently highlight your ability in these areas. Featuring fill-in-the-blank exercises and a plethora of traditional and quirky interview questions to help you prepare, this powerful book will help you get noticed by key players during the interview process--no matter what questions get thrown your way. Never get stumped by an interview question again. This indispensable guide shows job seekers how to wow potential employers by answering interview questions in a way that demonstrates the five most sought-after employee competencies. In a tight market, job seekers need to be ready to face a challenging new type of interview. This is the book that will prepare them.