By Jeff Lipschultz

Stand Out with Your Answers to These Interview Questions

The number of questions that can be asked by Human Resources or the hiring manager is limitless. Here are some of the most popular questions and my thoughts on how to answer them.

1. Tell me about yourself

One of the most common questions in an interview is “Tell me about yourself.” Actually, it is not even a question--it is an invitation. It is an opportunity to share with the interviewer whatever you think is important in their hiring decision.

More importantly, it is your chance to differentiate yourself from other candidates. In most cases, the standard questions offer the same opportunity.

[MORE: Answering: Tell Me About Yourself.]

2. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Employers don’t necessarily care to hear that you expect to climb the corporate ladder and be a supervisor. If the job you’re interviewing for is not a supervisor, they probably aren’t concerned about your management skills. You can share how you’ve been a mentor to others and led projects with little to no supervision. That should indicate you have leadership potential.

Focus on them: In five years, you should have made a significant impact to the company’s bottom line. Think about how you can achieve this in the role you’re interviewing for. In technology careers, advancing your skills is important, too. You should be able to share what areas you want to strengthen in the near term (but be careful that they are not areas of expertise that the company needs now).

By Susan P. Joyce

Formerly known as "Open Candidate," LinkdIn's "Shared Career Interests" offers members the ability to increase their visibility to the vast number of recruiters who use their LinkedIn Recruiter service.

To join, go to the "Your Dashboard" section on your Profile. Each Profile has a dashboard, visible only to that member. The dashboard shows you how visible you are in LinkedIn (see the numbers in "Profile views," "Post views," and "Search appearances"). Also, circled above, is how you can access "Shared Career Interests." (More details about that process below.)

To find the Dashboard in your LinkedIn account, click on "Me" at the top right of a LinkedIn page (when you are logged in), and then click on "View Profile." Find your Dashboard near the top of your Profile. By default, as shown above, the setting is "Off" until the member changes it.

If you decide to use this tool, LinkedIn will share the following information with recruiters who use their LinkedIn Recruiter service:

• Flag you as open to hearing about new opportunities.
• Job titles or roles you're interested in (asked in the sign-up form, described below).
• If you're open to full-time or contracted opportunities (asked in the sign-up form, described below).
• Date you flagged yourself as open to new opportunities.

Since not every recruiter or employer can afford to use LinkedIn Recruiter, your interest in new opportunities may not be visible to your target employers.

Details on how to join most effectively are below. But you might want to consider these cautions, next, before you sign up.​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​READ MORE

1. Staying On Track and Optimistic in Your Job Search by Jeff Lipschultz

2. Successful Job Interview Thank You Email by Susan P. Joyce

Privacy Statement:​​​​​​​

You are receiving this because you subscribed at the Job-Hunt.org website. Job-Hunt.org respects your privacy and has a strict anti-spam policy.

If you no longer want to receive this newsletter, simply click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this message.