How to Answer Hard Interview Questions - And everything else you need to know to get the job you want

'For twenty years, I have been on the side of the desk where sits that scariest of dragons: the interviewer. The sheer variation of quality in the performance of interviewees has prompted me to distil what I've learned into one, manageable body of advice which, I hope, gives you the edge when it comes to getting that job.' As well as tips on how to prepare for, and conduct yourself at the interview itself, this book has almost 50 examples of the kind of answers interviewers really want to hear; the kind of answers that will get you that job. And if you can't find the answer to the question you want, then Charlie Gibbs will answer it for you, personally by email. CONTENTS......Page 6 PREFACE......Page 12 1 FINDING THAT JOB......Page 14 Filling in your application form......Page 15 Curricula vitae......Page 16 2 PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW......Page 18 Personal ratings and competencies......Page 19 Levels of competence......Page 23 Researching the organisation......Page 44 Timing is everything......Page 47 Planning what to wear......Page 48 What should I take with me?......Page 51 Outside the dragon’s den......Page 52 Legislation affecting recruitment......Page 53 Sex Discrimination Act 1975......Page 54 Race Relations Act 1976......Page 57 Disability Discrimination Act 1995......Page 58 Asylum and Immigration Act 1996......Page 61 Police Act 1997......Page 63 The employment tribunal......Page 64 Preparation......Page 67 Conducting the interview......Page 68 The importance of interview notes......Page 69 5 CONDUCTING YOURSELF AT THE INTERVIEW......Page 70 Questions about your drive for achievement......Page 73 Questions about your strategic thinking......Page 78 Questions about your relationship building......Page 82 Questions about your commercial awareness......Page 86 Questions about your leadership of change......Page 90 Questions about your leadership skills......Page 94 Questions about your continuous improvement......Page 99 Questions about your customer awareness......Page 104 Questions about your decision-making skills and judgement......Page 107 Questions about your influencing skills......Page 110 Questions about your development of self and others......Page 114 Questions about your teamworking skills......Page 118 The ‘... and finally’ questions......Page 122 First-round interviews......Page 124 Final-stage interview......Page 126 Learning from rejection......Page 128 Resigning from your current job......Page 133 9 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS......Page 136 Drive for achievement......Page 139 Strategic thinking......Page 142 Relationship building......Page 143 Commercial awareness......Page 144 Leadership of change......Page 146 Leadership skills......Page 148 Continuous improvement......Page 150 Customer awareness......Page 153 Decision-making skills and judgement......Page 155 Influencing skills......Page 157 Development of self and others......Page 160 Teamworking skills......Page 162 Specialist knowledge......Page 163 Appendix: The joke’s on HR......Page 165 Index of questions......Page 170 R......Page 174 W......Page 175 Helps you to perform better in an important interview. This book includes: 50 examples of the kind of answers interviewers really want to hear; tips on how to prepare for and conduct yourself at the interview; and insider advice from an HR professional with over 20 years' experience. Don't be caught off guard in an important interview - this book will thoroughly prepare you and help you perform better under the spotlight. It features 50 examples of the kind of answers interviewers really want to hear