QUESTION FOR INTERVIEW

1. If offered to you, how long do you plan to stay in this role? Answer :I approach every new job with a long-term view. I would like to think that I can make a positive contribution to XYZ Corp for the foreseeable future. 2. What kind of salary are you seeking? Answer1 : I would expect a salary which reflects the experience and qualifications that I bring to the role. What range do you have in mind? Answer2 : I've got a strong background in this industry and my skills are a perfect match for this role. I would expect my compensation to be at the upper end of the position's salary band. Can you tell me what that salary band is? Answer3 : Based on the information I have about the position, a salary in the range 28,000-32,000 would reflect the experience and expertise that I would bring to the role. 3. What do you think it takes to be successful in an organization like this? Answer :I think that determination, a willingness to work hard and a desire to excel in everything you do are key attributes for a successful employee in a company like XYZ Corp. A successful employee would also need to handle pressure well, be a great communicator and an excellent team member. These are attributes that have helped me succeed in my past positions and ones that I would like to apply in XYZ Corp.. 4. What do you know about this organization? Answer :I know that XYZ Corp. has been in existence for four years. It was founded by John Rush in his garage and he has built it into the third largest office supplies firm in the state with aspirations to make it number one within two years. It's renowned as an ambitious and highly progressive company and I believe it has a very bright future. I also like the fact that XYZ Corp isn't a company that rests on its laurels. 5. What do you know about the position you've applied for? What duties do you think this job entails? Answer :The Media Marketing Co-ordinator reports to the Marketing Director. Her role is to co-ordinate all media advertising, particularly print, radio, and television. The Co-ordinator works with Media agencies to profile advertising opportunities, then, working within a strict budget, she organizes cross-media advertising campaigns. An important aspect of the role is to disseminate the customer response to the adverts in order to measure its success and thus improve future campaigns. At my last job in ABC & Co I worked closely with several different media agencies, including some that specialized in new media platforms such as the Internet. I also gained invaluable experience as a member of the team that established ABC & Co as a national brand by launching ABC DooDaa nationwide. I feel that I can bring this expertise to the Media Marketing Co-ordinator role and help XYZ Corp achieve it's goal of doubling it's customer base every year for the next three years.

6.What do you know about this industry? Answer :The telecommunications industry is currently going through a period of rapid expansion. The major industry players are positioning themselves for the delivery of the next generation of telecommunication services. New developments in mobile, broadband and satellite communications mean that it's an incredibly exciting time to be in the industry. I've no doubt that the telecommunications industry will be a driving force of the worldwide economy in the 21st century. I know that XYZ Corp intends to be a frontrunner in that expansion. For that reason, this job is highly attractive. 7. Why would you like to work for me? Answer :I've been aware of your reputation for some time. You're regarded as an innovator within the industry and beyond. I appreciate that your team's success is due to a number of factors, not least of which is hard work. I'm an excellent team player, I'm a very good problem solver, and I work hard to get the job done. For these reasons, I'm confident I'd be an asset to your group. I hope that my experience shows I'm suitably qualified to fulfill the position. I know that your position within this firm speaks for itself. My ideal manager is someone that fosters excellence, innovation, and success, as well as personal and professional growth. It's widely recognized that XYZ Corp's strongest asset is its staff thanks to its strong belief in training and development. For these reasons, this is a highly desirable role. 8. What challenges do you think you'll face in this job? What problems do you think you'll face in this job? Answer :Having worked in a similar role at ABC & Co, I expect that this job will present regular deadlines to meet, strains on resource availability, conflicting priorities, and budgetary concerns to name but a few issues. These are challenges that I've successfully tackled in the past and I'm sure that record would continue here. I relish a challenge and there's nothing that I've seen in this job that intimidates me in any way. 9. What salary do you think you deserve? Answer :Having worked in the advertising industry for seven years, I bring a valuable combination of expertise, experience and dedication to each new job. I expect that a compensation towards the top of the salary range for this position would adequately reflect the value of my skills. 10. What is your salary history? Do you expect that pattern to continue? Answer 1 :(Candidate with good salary increases) In the four years of my employment at ABC & Co I was very happy with my salary growth. My most recent increase was a 15% rise after the successful completion of a year-long project. I feel that the increase reflected my performance and the extra responsibilities I assumed during the course of the project. I hope XYZ Corp is an organization that rewards excellent performances in a similar fashion. Is it?

Answer 2 :(Candidate with disappointing salary increases) My average salary increase during the course of my career has been 6%, although as I moved jobs and assumed extra responsibilities that increase has invariably been higher. Unfortunately I was disappointed with the salary increases at my last job, which averaged 2.5% . This was due to a firm-wide rigid salary structure that I felt did not reward excellent employees over those that made a significantly worse effort. This is one of the reasons that I have decided to look for a job with a more ambitious company where I will be rewarded according to my performance.

11. What concerns you about this job? Answer:I have no concerns about this job. I believe it closely matches my skill set and is a natural progression in my career. I look forward to the challenge but am confident that I can make a success of this role. 12. What concerns you about this company? Answer:I have no concerns about this company. My research has shown that ABC Corp is dedicated to the development and advancement of its staff. I've also learnt that the benefits package is one of the best within the industry. 13. How long would it take before you could contribute to this company? Answer:I'd need to get a better idea of the full responsibilities associated with this job, along with an idea of the complexities of each. 14. When would you expect your next promotion? Answer:It's difficult to give an exact time without knowing the personnel structure within XYZ Corp and specifically the line of responsibility associated with this position. However, I'm an ambitious person and through hard work, dedication, and with the guidance of a good manager, I aim to gain my next promotion as soon as possible, ideally ahead of 'normal' timeframes. 15. Why are you seeking a new job? Answer:I've worked with ABC & Co for three years. During that time I've achieved all of the goals I set myself and I've enjoyed every minute. Now, however, my aspirations extend beyond those of ABC & Co. I would like to tackle a new challenge in a different environment. 16. Where do you see this company going? Answer:XYZ Corp is the number three firm in the corporate security sector. The company does not hide the fact that it wants to lead the sector within two years. I believe that the firm can achieve this. It's a young company with a dynamic workforce and a tremendous growth rate. XYZ Corp's bright future make it a very attractive place to work. 17. If you were offered this job, what factors will dictate whether you accept it or not?

Answer:I'm at various stages of the interview process with a number of firms at the moment. My preferred position will be in a company that offers a challenging environment, a prospect for promotion, and a rewarding working experience. It's important to me that I work for a company with bright prospects and strong desire for success. Obviously XYZ Corp is one of my preferred companies. 18. This is a much bigger company than you've ever worked at. How do you feel about that? Answer:I'm very excited. I've worked at three small or medium sized companies during my career and while there have been different challenges at each, I've always been successful. I'm looking for a new challenge in a large organization where I can apply my talents. This position in XYZ Corp certainly matches what I'm looking for 19. This is a much smaller company than you've ever worked at. How do you feel about that? Answer:It's great. I've learnt a lot working in a large organization and I'm looking forward to applying my knowledge and experience in a smaller arena. I'm under no illusions that the task ahead will be every bit as challenging as my previous role, if not more so, but it's a challenge that I'd relish. 20. What do you know about our products? Answer:I know that XYZ Soft specialize in the development of software solutions for small and medium sized businesses. The firm's best-selling products are leaders in the field - the XYZ Project Management Tool and the XYZ Personnel Management Tool. I feel that XYZ Soft has a solid product and customer base upon which it can build in the future. I understand that the firm's aim is to develop existing and new products with the aim of breaking into the Corporate sector. It's an ambitious aim but one that I believe XYZ Soft are more than capable of achieving. A major attraction of this position is the opportunity it offers to be a part of the challenging and exciting times ahead at XYZ Soft.

21. Why did you apply for this job? Why do you want this position? What interests you about this position? Answer :I've worked in the travel industry for five years and I've enjoyed every minute. I'd like to work for XYZ Corp because they are industry leaders and I want to work with the best people and the best products I can. There are exciting times ahead for the firm, particularly in light of the firm's recent announcement that it was expanding it's product range by 25% over the next 24 months. I feel that my drive, creativity and determination will be an asset to the firm and will enable me to succeed in this role. This position would enable me to apply my skills in an exciting and challenging environment. I think this position is a perfect match for my talents and my career goals.

22. What separates this company from our competitors? Answer :ABC Corp spent much of the eighties and nineties among the top seven engineering companies in the state. It is now the undisputed leader in five states with aspirations to become the leading company in the sector countrywide. That tells me that the company is highly ambitious, with a commitment to excellence in every department that enables it to meet, and indeed surpass, its aspirations. ABC Corp is now the company that its competitors aspire to become. That is what separates this company from its competitors. 23. What attracts you to this company? What interests you about this company? Answer :ABC Corp is a leading national software vendor. It has set itself aggressive targets to achieve in the near to medium term. In particular, the firm aims to become the leading vendor on the Internet within three years. I respect the history of the firm from a small start-up to one of the largest employers in the state. I also respect the principles upon which it has grown. The firm has achieved magnificent results to date and I would like to help it achieve its goals in the future. 24. Do you feel overqualified for this job? Answer :I don't think there's such a thing as being over-qualified for a job. Every position brings with it a new environment, new people and new challenges. I feel that the skills I would bring to a new job can only help me to do a better job, and would in no way hinder the challenges I would face. 25. Do you feel underqualified for this job? Answer :I attended weekend computer courses at my local district college for three years. It has changed me from someone who was scared of using a computer into a very competent computer user. My training has enabled me to gain promotion into a senior administrative role in my current job. 26. What courses/classes have you taken to stay ahead in your field? Answer :I attended weekend computer courses at my local district college for three years. It has changed me from someone who was scared of using a computer into a very competent computer user. My training has enabled me to gain promotion into a senior administrative role in my current job. 27. What educational goals do you currently have? Answer :I enjoy sailing very much. In the near future I plan to begin studying in order to become a qualified yachtsman. My ultimate goal is to become sufficiently experienced that I could skipper a crew in a competitive race. 28. Have you completed your education? Answer :I believe that I've finished my formal school and college education. Right now I'm focusing on my career and on being as good at my job as I possibly can. I enjoy learning and I think it's essential in both personal and career development. Ideally, I hope that the firm I join will encourage growth and learning through in-house and/or external training. I

strongly believe that the most important component of learning occurs 'on the job' where you learn from your peers, manager and others around you. In summary, my answer is 'No', I very much hope that my education is not over. 29. What did you like most about college? Answer :I enjoyed many things about college. It was a new challenge and an opportunity for me to expand my horizons both educationally and personally. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect was the chance to meet new people from different backgrounds. Of course the social aspect of college was immense fun, but I also relished collaborating with other people with different specializations from me. 30. What did you like least about college? Answer :It may seem a bit premature, but I would very much like to develop my project management and team leadership skills. I would very much like to take responsibility for a project or team in the next twelve months and I think developing those skills now would make the transition easier.

31. What skills do you need to develop most? Answer :It may seem a bit premature, but I would very much like to develop my project management and team leadership skills. I would very much like to take responsibility for a project or team in the next twelve months and I think developing those skills now would make the transition easier. 32. Do you have any financial qualifications? Answer 1:Yes, I took a finance module for two semesters in college. I've been surprised how useful my financial knowledge has been during my career. It has helped me schedule project budgets, analyze financial reports and prepare financial projections. There's no doubt that I'm a better manager for having this knowledge. Answer 2: I haven't had the opportunity to take any formal financial training yet. However I've had an informal training through the various project management roles I've fulfilled. I've gained some very good experience projecting budgets and preparing financial statements and I would feel comfortable undertaking similar duties. 33. Do you have any IT (Information Technology) qualifications? Answer 1: Yes, I took a computer applications module for two semesters in college. It's helped give me a better knowledge of how computers, operating systems and a wide range of software packages work. I've been able to apply this knowledge when tackling problems. Answer 2: I haven't had the opportunity to take any formal IT training yet. However, I've used computers extensively at every job I've had and I'm very much at home using a word processor, spreadsheet, database and project management software. I have a computer at home too which I use to track my family's finances and to access the Internet. I'm very comfortable using computers.

34. Would you object to attending training seminars in your own time? Answer :Not at all. I'm looking for a company with an active training program, and I'm always willing to attain new skills. Other company's I've interviewed with host training within the working day. Is it XYZ Corp company policy to always hold training outside of working hours? 35. Why did you select your college or university? Answer :I was glad to be accepted at my number one choice college. I spent quite a lot of time researching colleges with biochemistry faculties. It became obvious that this college commanded a tremendous reputation for its pioneering work and is one of the best in its field in the country. 36. What are your strengths? How do they help you? Answer :I'm well motivated, I've got a strong desire to succeed, and I'm always ready and willing to learn new information and skills. 37. What are your weaknesses? How do you overcome them? Answer :I'm always ready to learn new skills and adapt my methods to become better at what I do. If I become aware of a weakness in my knowledge base or in the way I perform my duties, I do my best to fill that gap whether through formal training, informal training, or directly from my colleagues. 38. What makes you think you're qualified for this job? Answer :I studied for a diploma in computers which I enjoyed immensely. In my last job I was able to apply knowledge I'd gained on the course to do my job better. I streamlined many of the department's manual tasks by moving them from paper to a computer-based solution. I've also got an advanced sailing certificate. This has helped me build many teamworking skills. When I worked at XYZ Corp I voluntarily attended a series of in-house personal development training programs. 39. Tell me about yourself. Answer :I'm an ambitious, self-motivated account executive and I'm very happy in my life right now. I'm looking to change jobs because I feel I've achieved all of the goals I set out for myself when I embarked in my previous role, six years ago. I've still got a strong appetite for success and I'm looking for a job that will provide fresh challenges and rewards. 40. Do you like to work as part of a team or alone. Why? Answer :I work very well when I'm part of a team, I value the ability to bounce ideas off other people and also provide my input, whenever it's wanted. Of course I'm more than capable of working alone whenever I'm required to do so too.

41. What motivates you? Answer :A little appreciation for a succesfully completed work. If failed in that task, I am

motivated to do it better than ever. If completed sucessfully, the sucess motivates me to go in for a tougher project/work which is a new challenge for me. As it is, winning challenges is the spirit in me. 42. How do you handle stress? Answer :I'm not the type of person that becomes stressed very easily. However, if in an extreme circumstance I did start to become stressed, I would look to the cause of it and attempt to identify a solution. I would certainly not be afraid to look to others for their input and assistance. In a working environment I think stress comes around from pressurized situations. In such cases the best solution is often one of situation management until the crisis abates. 43. I'm worried about your lack of _____ experience. Answer :I don't feel you've anything to worry about. While I've only been a designated team leader for one year, I've spent eighteen months as the most experienced member of the team and in many situations I effectively led the team. I very much enjoy team management and am confident in my own abilities. 44. What do you like to do in your spare time? Answer :I enjoy participating in and watching most sports. I discovered golf at college and find it a great way to relax and spend time with friends. I also enjoy playing football and tennis. I was captain of the school swimming team and I try to keep that up as best I can too. I also enjoy listening to music, watching movies, and being around my friends. 45. You've been in the same firm for a number of years. How do you think you'll adjust to a new one? Answer :Sample Answer(s) I'm looking forward to the challenge. Even in this day and age there is a lot of value in staying in the one company for a prolonged period of time. In my current role I have had an opportunity to work with many people throughout the company and build great working and personal relationships. In addition, I had enough time in each area I worked to make a real and lasting difference. Also, I'd also like to think the firm's decision to retain my services for so long is indicative of the esteem in which I'm held. However, it's now time for me to move on so I can take the skills I've attained at ABC Corp and apply them in a new environment. 46. How often do you miss deadlines? Answer :As infrequently as possible. In the reality it may be impossible to achieve every single deadline, however in my experience good planning and project management can alleviate late deliveries. 47. Why should we hire you? Answer :I believe that I've got the skills and enthusiasm required to fulfill the role that's available. I think I'd be a valuable asset to the firm and, from my experience, I'm sure I'd make a positive contribution to the company's ambitions.

48. How do you measure 'success'? Answer :I measure my own personal success by how well I've achieved the goals I set myself. I feel I've been successful to date - I attended my college of choice, I graduated with a degree, and I've spent three successful years at XYZ Bros. The key in being successful is to set challenging yet attainable goals, while always remaining focused on what you hope to achieve. My current goal is to succeed at this interview. 49. In what kind of work environment are you most productive? Answer :Tailor your answer to the job. For example, if in doing your job you're required to lock the lab doors and work alone, then indicate that you enjoy being a team player when needed, but also enjoy working independently. If you're required to attend regular project planning and status meetings, then indicate that you're a strong team player and like being part of a team. 50. How do you handle pressure? Answer : This is sort of a double whammy, because you're likely already stressed from the interview and the interviewer can see if you're handling it well or not. Everybody feels stress, but the degree varies. Saying that you whine to your shrink, kick your dog or slam down a fifth of Jack Daniels are not good answers. Exercising, relaxing with a good book, socializing with friends or turning stress into productive energy are more along the lines of the "correct" answers.

51. How do you plan to achieve those goals? Answer :I plan on gaining additional skills by taking related classes and continuing my involvement with a variety of professional associations. I noticed that XYZ company (the company you are interviewing with) provides in-house training for employees and I would certainly be interested in taking classes that would be relevant. I will continue my professional development my participating in conferences, attending seminars, and continuing my education. 52. You haven't worked for a long time. Are you sure you can handle this job? Answer :You may have gaps in your employment due to family responsibilities. Perhaps you've been a homemaker or a caregiver. You may have retired and then decided to work again. Memorize one phrase or short sentence to explain your situation. Then emphasize the experience you've gained.

53. What kind of worker are you? Answer :Again, no one is perfect. Showing that you tackle every assignment with all of your energy and talents is admirable but mention that you also learn from your mistakes. 54. What causes you to lose your temper? Answer :Everybody has a low boiling point on some particular issue. Pick one of yours; something safe and reasonable. People who are late to meetings, blame shifting, broken appointments and office ''back-stabbing'' are suitable responses. Don't say that you never fly off the handle. You won't be believed. 55. What did you like most about your previous job? What did you like least about your previous job? Answer :An employer can evaluate the type of worker you will be by the items you choose. Cite specifics. You are also providing clues about the environment you seek. What you liked most can include a strong teamwork atmosphere, high-level of creativity, and attainable deadlines. What you liked least should include any situations you are unlikely to encounter in your new position. 56. Your resume suggests that you may be over-qualified or too experienced for this position. What's Your opinion? Answer :Emphasize your interest in establishing a long-term association with the organization, and say that you assume that if you perform well in his job, new opportunities will open up for you. Mention that a strong company needs a strong staff. Observe that experienced executives are always at a premium. Suggest that since you are so wellqualified, the employer will get a fast return on his investment. Say that a growing, energetic company can never have too much talent. 57. How long would you stay with us? Answer :Say that you are interested in a career with the organization, but admit that you would have to continue to feel challenged to remain with any organization. Think in terms of, ''As long as we both feel achievement-oriented.'' 58. Tell me about a time you had to handle multiple responsibilities. How did you organize the work you needed to do? Answer :While attending college, I also worked at a law firm. I was successful because I practiced good time-management skills and I made a to-do list every day. As I completed each task, I checked it off the list. It is funny how something so simple can keep you so organized. As a result of my to-do lists, I was able to visualize my daily progress. 59. Describe a situation in which you found that your results were not up to your professor's or supervisor's expectations. What happened? What action did you take? Answer :Recently I was asked to put together a proposal for a migration of network systems. Misunderstanding my boss, I thought it was just an informal paper. When I presented it to him days later, he was upset with the quality since it had to be presented to

our VP. I explained my misunderstanding, apologized, reworked the paper, and had it back to him with enough time for him to review it before he presented it successfully at the meeting. 60. What would you do with your life if money was not a concern? Answer :I am not depending on money to make me happy. What makes me happy is having a satisfying job that provides challenge and new situations daily.

61. What do you see yourself doing five years from now? Answer :''Making a more significant contribution to whatever organisation I'm working for. To have developed new skills, abilities, maturity - perhaps a little wisdom even. To have become better qualified in whatever way suits the situation and opportunities I have. To be better regarded by my peers, and respected by my superiors as someone who can continue to increase the value and scale of what I do for the organisation.'' ''I'd like more responsibility, because that's a result of personal growth and progression, and it's important for my personal satisfaction.'' ''I have no set aspirations about money and reward - if I contribute and add value to the organisation then generally increased reward follows - you get out what you put in.'' ''Long term I want to make the most of my abilities - if possible to build a serious career, but in this day and age nothing is certain or guaranteed; things can change. I'll do my best and believe that opportunities will arise which will enable me to keep contributing, increasing my worth, and developing my ability in a way that benefits the organisation and me.'' Employers will respond well if they see that you are mature, independent, self-motivated; that you will make a positive and growing contribution, and that you understand that reward (financial, promotion, responsibility, etc) will always be based on the quality and value of your input. 62. How do you make yourself indispensable to a company? Answer :We are looking for both technical and interpersonal competence, says Doris J. Smith-Brooks, recruiting and advertising manager for Boeing Co. in Seattle, Washington. Smith-Brooks explains that students who have interned or completed cooperative education assignments generally answer the question best because they know what working for a company entails. 63. Whats your greatest strength? Answer :Dont just talk about your strengthrelate it to the position, Ferguson says. Let them know you are a qualified candidate.

64. Whats your greatest weakness? Answer :Say something along the lines of, I have difficulty with this thing, and these are the strategies I use to get around it, Ferguson says. For example, you could say, Im not the most organized of individuals, so I always answer my e-mails and phone calls right away. Im aware of the problem and I have strategies to deal with it. 65. Where do you see yourself five (ten or fifteen) years from now? Answer :Explain your career-advancement goals that are in line with the job for which you are interviewing. Your interviewer is likely more interested in how he, she or the company will benefit from you achieving your goals than what you'll get from it, but it goes hand in hand to a large degree. It's not a good idea to tell your potential new boss that you'll be going after his or her job, but it's okay to mention that you'd like to earn a senior or management position. 66. Why did you leave your previous jobs (if any)? Answer :The interviewer may want to know if you had any problems on your last job. If you did not have any problems, simply give a reason, such as: relocated away from job; company went out of business; laid off; temporary job; no possibility of advancement; wanted a job better suited to your skills. If you did have problems, be honest. Show that you can accept responsibility and learn from your mistakes. You should explain any problems you had (or still have) with an employer, but don't describe that employer in negative terms. Demonstrate that it was a learning experience that will not affect your future work. 67. What major challenges have you encountered and how did you deal with them? Answer :When going to an interview, you should always be prepared to speak about difficult situations that you have encountered in the past and how you were able to effectively resolve them. It is good to remember at least three. And remember, the situation should always reflect an attribute that you think the employer/interviewer would admire. 68. Tell me how you handled an ethical dilemma. Answer :Suppose you worked at a bank and a long-time customer wanted a check cashed right away but didnt have the fund balance in his account to cover the check, Martinez says, explaining that if the banks policy prohibited cashing checks in that manner, the teller would have a choice of violating bank policy or alienating a good customer. Martinez says the best way to handle such a situation would be to go to a supervisor, explain the situation, and ask for advice. He adds that students who cant offer a situation that they handled correctly the first time can explain how they learned from making mistakes. Explain that the next time, this was how you handled it, he says.

69. Tell me about the culture at your last company/employer. Answer :If the past culture was good them explain how and why in terms that the interviewee is likely to identify with, for example: ''The culture encouraged people to develop, grow, take responsibility. People were coached and mentored towards quality and productive effort. All of this helped me a great deal because I identify with these values, and respond to these opportunities.'' A good answer, in referring to a non-supportive culture would be to express the positive aspects (eg lots of freedom for me to take initiative, responsibility, find new ways to contribute, a free market allowing the good workers to naturally excel and develop reputation and internal working relationships, etc.) 70. Tell me about your life at College or University (or even your time in your previous job). Answer :The question is an opportunity for you to demonstrate the qualities that the interviewer is seeking in for the job, so orientate your answer towards these expectations (without distorting the truth obviously). In your answer, emphasise the positive behaviour, experience and achievements (ideally backed up with examples and evidence) which will impress the interviewer because of its relevance to the role requirements. The interviewer is looking for the same capabilities and behaviour in your college (or university or previous job) life that they want in the job. Your emphasis should be on your achievements, and how you achieved them, that are relevant to the job requirements. Interviewers with special interest in behaviour and personality may also use a question like this to assess your self-awareness and maturity, in the way you consider your answer and relate it to your own experience and development.

71. What did you achieve in your last job? Answer :Prepare a number of relevant examples and explain one (two or three if they're punchy and going down well). Make sure you feature as the instigator, or the factor that made the difference. Examples must lead to significant organisational benefits; making money, saving money/time, improving quality, anticipating or creatively solving problems, winning/keeping customers, improving efficiency. 72. Give me some examples of how you have adapted your own communicating style to deal with different people and situations. Answer :Prepare this as one of your strengths, as there's not a single job that won't benefit

from good adaptive communication skills. Give examples of how you've been detailed and given written confirmation for people who need it. Give examples of how you verbally enthuse and inspire the people who respond to challenge and recognition. Think of other examples of adapting your style to suit the recipients. Give examples when you've had to be task-driven, process driven, people-driven, and how you change your style accordingly. A chance for you to truly shine. 73. What do you find difficult in work/life/relationships (etc)? Answer :Pick a relatively irrelevant skill and say that you don't find it as easy as you'd like, so you're working on it (don't just make this up - think about it and be truthful). Don't own up to a weakness in an area that's important to the role. As with the weaknesses question, you can state certain difficulties because they are actually quite acceptable, even commendable, they'd include: suffering fools gladly, giving up an impossible task, tolerating unkind behaviour like bullying, having to accept I can't help certain big problems in the world, etc. 74. How do you plan and organise your work? Answer :Planning and writing a plan is very important. I think how best to do things before I do them, if it's unknown territory I'd take advice, learn from previous examples - why reinvent the wheel? I always prioritise, I manage my time, and I understand the difference between urgent and important. For very complex projects I'd produce quite a detailed schedule and plan review stages. I even plan time-slots for activities that aren't in themselves organised, like thinking time, and being creative, solving problems, etc. 75. How many hours a week do you work/prefer to work? Answer :It varies according to the situation. I plan and organise well, so unless there's a crisis or unusual demand I try to finish at a sensible time so as to have some time for my family/social life/outside interests. It's important to keep a good balance. I start earlier than most people - you can get a lot done before the phones start ringing. When the pressure's on though I'm happy to work as long as it takes to get the job done. It's not about the number of hours - it's the quality of the work that you do; how productive you are. 76. Do you make mistakes? Answer :Be honest. Yes of course on occasions, but I obviously try not to, and I always try to correct them and learn from them. 77. (Follow above question with) - Can you share your mistakes with others? Answer :Absolutely I can - I get the guidance I need, and it may help prevent others from making the same mistake. 78. How to do measure your own effectiveness? Answer :By the results that I achieve, and that I achieve them in the most positive way. If there isn't an existing measure of this I'll usually create one.

79. What personal goals do you have and how are you going about achieving them? Answer :Prepare for this - be able to state your personal and career goals - keep them reasonable, achievable and balanced. Explain how you see the steps to reaching your aims. An important part of achieving progress is planning how to do it. Be able to demonstrate that you've thought and planned, but also show that you are flexible and adaptable, because it's impossible to predict the future - the important thing is to learn and develop, and take advantage of opportunities as they come along. 80. What makes you mad? Answer :Nothing really makes me mad - it's not a good way to deal with anything. Certain things disappoint or upset me - rudeness, arrogance, spitefulness (pick any obvious nasty traits or behaviours, particularly behaviours that you believe your interviewer will personally dislike too.)

81. What do you think of your last boss/employer? Answer :Don't be critical. If possible be generous with praise and say why, giving positive reasons. If there was a conflict don't lie, but describe fairly and objectively without pointing blame. 82. How would you react if I told you that your interview, so far, was terrible? Answer : He is trying to find out how you react to criticism. Well, I'd be quite surprised and rather sad. I have put a lot of work into preparing for this interview and getting this job is very important to me. May I ask you, what parts of my presentation did you consider were not up to an acceptable standard? If you could pinpoint these areas to me, maybe I could go over them again and clear up any misunderstandings that might exist. I'm sure that's where the problem lies" 83. What influenced you to choose this career? Answer :My past experiences have shown me that I enjoy facing and overcoming the challenge of making a sale. Without a doubt, once I have practiced my presentation and prepared myself for objections, I feel very confident approaching people I don't know and convincing them that they need my product. Lastly, I like sales because my potential for success is limited only by how much of myself I dedicate toward my goal. If any profession is founded on self-determinism, it surely must be sales. 84. Which is more important to you, the job itself or your salary? Answer :A salary commensurate with my experience and skills is important, but it's only one piece of the package. Many other elements go into making up a compensation package, but more importantly, it's critical to me to enjoy what I'm doing, fit into the corporate culture, and feel I'm making a genuine contribution.

Q: Describe yourself. Describe yourself, your views and other interesting facts, but do not go on praising yourself. I am workaholic, dedicated and must take break often to rejuvenate myself. Well, this is what my friends would say. Nevertheless, I am calm and dont mind accepting responsibilities. Q: Tell me about your educational background? Start sharing information about your qualifications from the last degree attained. Also include any major achievements during the academic years. I have done my post graduation in MBA and had been selected from my institute to represent the state at national level business meet Q: What do you know about the organization? Prepare yourself well ahead of the interview. Learn about the products and other aspects of the organization. Do your study in line with your profession/job applying. The company deals in FMCG. It has also launched two new products in the last quarter. Further, what I have found is that the company is planning for expansion in the area of insurance.

Q: How do you justify the job? Share your expectations from the job. Mention the things you will be able to execute in respect to your experience and also the things you would be learning. The job requires for individuals experienced in Search Engine Marketing and Online Promotions. As I have been working in the field of digital marketing for the last two years, my experience would help to meet the requirements of the work and also add value to the output. Q: Why do you want this job? The answer would be similar like that of the previous one. Mention facts on how it will help you in developing your career. Provide you with the opportunity to implement your knowledge and skills. The profile is right for me as I have experience in brand management. I would be able to use my knowledge and learn a lot from the company as it has a diverse portfolio. Q: Why do you want to work with this organization? You may use the earlier answer for replying to this question. If the company is likely to expand its operations in the coming years or is undergoing such activities then highlight how it would affect your career. Mention the positives of this expansion in developing your career. Q: Where do you see yourself five years down the line? Do not try to sound like an opportunist. You may say, I would expect myself to be an important part in the marketing section of the organization. A research in this dynamic domain of marketing is something that I would also be aiming. The research would be towards developing a sustainable model for the organization and also for the industry at the macro level to boost up the marketing mechanism. Q: What are your strengths? Share the strengths that have helped you in developing as marketing professional. I have experience in SAP. It has given a new perspective to my career. Apart from the technical knowledge I have good negotiating skills. I gained the skill after working as a sales person in an insurance company. Q: What are your weaknesses?

Do not say that I do not have any weaknesses, as it may indicate that you are hiding facts. It is better to say things in a positive or humorous way. I was initially not a multi-tasking person. But in the recent years I have developed myself and now I can handle around four projects simultaneously. Q: What is marketing? Marketing is a medium through which the producers anticipates the demand of the consumers and sell the required product or service to satisfy their want. It is a broader platform where activities like brand management, brand promotion, and sales are all clubbed towards reaching the ultimate object of creating and retaining a market. Q: What is marketing according to you? Marketing is the exchange of product or service between the producer and consumer. It is anticipating the consumer requirements and identifying the potential market to exchange a product or service against a predetermined value. Marketing involves a number of strategies and market players. The process is not only vital in creating a market but also in retaining the market. Q: Why marketing?

Share reasons why you joined this domain of marketing. Talk about the experiences you have in marketing and other necessary information. This is what I can do. All I did after joining the baseball team was that I sold more tickets than anyone else. It was then I realized that there are other avenues to score a home run. Later, when it came to garage sales I played the role of consultant. Q: Sell the product ________ to me. The interviewer(s) would give you a product to sell or may ask you to choose your own product. Think out of the box and try to sell that product with a bit of humor. Say the product is pencil- No ink required, the writing can be erased anytime, low cost and easily affordable. Its pencil you would like to buy some. Q: Describe niche market. Niche Market is a specific part of the market that a seller is focusing. This market is normal overlooked or ignored by the larger section of the producers. The small sellers may try to tap the potential of this niche market but normally fail due to cost factor. Niche market is concerned about customizing the service or product to meet the specific need of the consumer. As such the cost factor may at times go up. Q: How would you brand yourself? You may give brief idea about your work experience in marketing domain or in any specific area that you have worked on like advertisement or sales. An expert salesman who has sold insurance and also bicycles. In case, you are a fresher you may highlight the achievements in your academic years. In the college fair I was given the job of hall security but ended up planning the marketing strategy for selling the souvenirs of the show. Q: What are the different stages of a product lifecycle? Give examples of 3 products at different stages. What is will be their next stage? The stages are: Introductory Stage

Growth Stage Maturity Stage Decline Stage Q: What competitive skills do you have? Mention your work experience and also highlight the academic achievements. I have worked in digital marketing for 4 years and have two years sales experience in hydraulic brakes. I also have required experience in SAP. Q: How will you sell a refrigerator to an Eskimo? This is one of the common questions in a marketing interview. The interviewer(s) is likely to evaluate your presence of mind and also how good salesperson you are. You may go for the following lines to sale the product: The only temperature you can regulate to keep things fresh is that of the refrigerator. The only thing that saves beers from freezing and meat from tuning into ice is refrigerator. Manages temperature and almost everything. Q: What is the difference between marketing and sales? Marketing is the promotion of the products and services in the defined market to a set of target audience. Marketing plans the approach and the strategy required to be implemented. It uses both the traditional and modern promotional vehicles. Marketing includes activities like brand promotion, brand awareness and sales. Sales are a part of the marketing activities. It is the process through which a product is sold to the defined target audience. Sales are the final stage in the marketing process. A product or service may be sold to the end user or in case of a B2B model it may be sold to another business. Q: What is online marketing? Online marketing is a new platform for producers and service providers to sell or market their products and services through the virtual medium of internet. It is also called internet marketing, web marketing and website marketing. This virtual platform enables the seller to directly or indirectly interact with end users. Some of the strategies used are SEO, Email marketing and also online promotions. Q: How would you rate yourself as a salesperson on a scale from 1 to 10? I would rate myself 7 in the scale. I have been working in sales for 4 years. During the initial years, I started as trainee and from there I have moved on to become the Manager. With this career transition, I have developed an understanding about the job. I am able to grasp the pulse of the consumer. All this has helped me in drafting several sales strategies in line with the overall marketing objective. If you are a fresher then highlight your academic background and other experiences like summer training to project yourself as a potential salesperson. Q: Develop a marketing plan? Let us say a product X is being produced. It is in the line of FMGC. The planning will be done on the following parameters: Purpose of manufacturing the product Market scope Target audience Existing competitors

Pricing of the product Brand creation Packaging Promotion channel Feedback compilation Evaluation of the feedback Q: Which of our products/services most appeals to you and why? This is one of the crucial things to do before you appear for the interview. The question is common in the marketing interview. You should visit the profile of the company and collect the necessary information about the products and services. Give a crisp answer highlighting the existing policies of marketing for the particular product you would like to talk about. It would also be ideal to share your inputs on how the marketing mechanism may be strengthened. The product X, I believe, has one of the most interesting marketing strategies. The product is being nicely promoted by the use of traditional and digital media. This has also increased the penetration rate of the product Q: Describe a marketing plan you developed. What was the result of implementing that plan? Share information on how you had developed the plan but do not mention the name of the product/service or other confidential details. You may say, One of the products in our company was entering into the maturity stage from the growth stage of the product life cycle. As such it was necessary to plan out another marketing strategy that would be effective at this level. The stress was given to factors like market retention and expansion while drafting the plan. The plan was effective in strengthening the position of the product in this concerned market. The element of confidentiality is important throughout the answer. In case you are asked about the name of the company then be polite and say that certain restriction are not permitting you to disclose the name of the product. The interviewer(s) would understand the gravity of the situation. Q: Explain in brief the situations when you would be using Integrative growth strategy Intensive growth Diversification growth strategy Integrative growth strategy When internal expansion is not sufficient in increasing the market share of the organization or optimizing the production then integrative growth strategy is applied. Acquisition of other business units is carried out under this strategy. The organization plays the role of the supplier and/or the distributor to streamline the process. It also reduces the turnaround time of procurement of the materials and delivery of the finished goods to customer. There are three types of integrative growth strategy, namely backward vertical integration, forward vertical integration and horizontal Integration. Intensive growth It is used for the expansion within the organization structure by expanding the operations. The three strategies applied to achieve the expansion and optimize the production scales are market development, market penetration and product development. Diversification growth strategy A product launched by an organization goes through different stages of product lifecycle. The cycle starts from growth stage then enters into maturity and finally reaches decline stage. At this stage the sale of the product reaches a saturation level or sometimes decline. In order to diversify the risk of reducing profit or saturation, a business enters into a new market in support of a new product. This is called diversification

growth strategy. There are three types of diversifications that may be used, namely horizontal diversification; concentric diversification; and conglomerate diversification. Q: Which environmental variables impact a marketing plan? The environmental variables that impact a marketing plan are governmental, economical, technological, legal, cultural, ecological and stakeholders. Q: Which was the most difficult sale you made? Have proper reasons on why you address the sale assignment to be difficult. In case you overstate the difficulty level, then it would be counted as a negative point against your experience. During one of my sales project we had to place a new product in the existing saturated market. The difficulty was not that the market was saturated but what posed threat to the marketing policy was the fact that the rival could lower the prices of their product. As such it would become a threat for the placement of our product, as the distributors would become reluctant in the distribution activities. The fear turned into reality and we were in trouble of establishing our brand. After many negotiation sessions with distributors and retailers, we were able to place our product in the market. You may take a different approach by saying, My difficult sales job was my first sales assignment and after that I have realized every sale is different in its own way. Thus, it will be wrong in comparing the level of difficulty. Q: Which was the largest sale that you have lost? Do not share facts about the loss you had in a particular sales job, which you faced in your previous/current organization. Be diplomatic in answering the questions. Loss in business is not uncommon. You cannot avoid it, especially in sales. When I joined this career, I had faced some major losses. Somewhere they helped in thinking analytically. I have improved myself and with the positive attitude of turning every loss into profit. Q: Do you want to ask anything from us? The interviewer(s) expects some type of questions from the interviewee. If you are asked such question then take the opportunity to discuss the things that may have been left out. This is the right time to negotiate about the salary, if it has not been discussed. Or you may also discuss things related to the marketing policy of the company that you may like to understand. This may go down well with the interviewer(s). But do not ask for any confidential information that may create a level of discomfort for both the parties. I was going through the company profile and have seen many great online promotion strategies. Would you mind if I may ask how issues related to online promotion of the product that was launched two quarters back? Q: What are your hobbies? Share your hobbies and do not lie. The interviewer(s) may ask questions related to your hobbies. I love to sleep and while awake I do not mind playing a few rounds of poker in the weekends. Q: How do you pursue your hobbies? The interviewer(s) would like to see how you spend your personal life, things that you do for fun and recreation. My hobbies can only be practice in the weekends. Weekends Poker Game with friends is my favorite hobby apart from watching some really good movies. Q: What has been your greatest achievement? While answering the question makes sure you highlight the reason for calling it the greatest achievement. It is advisable to keep the greatest achievement from your professional world rather than personal life. The

greatest achievement was when I sold my first product. It boosted my self-confidence and helped me taking more challenges. That achievement has been the base of my other success in the last 4 years. Q: What has been your greatest failure? Do not say that you have not meet with any failure. Share the failure in a positive way. Mention things that you have learnt. My failure was underestimating the value of proper negotiating in my first client dealing. I lost the project. It was then I started improving my negotiation skill. In the later days this helped me in achieving many targets. Q: How do you take challenges? Give example while replying to this question. It would be an easier approach. I take challenges in a positive way. During one of the sales meeting in my previous organization, the target was doubled irrespective of the fact that the market was not ready to invest. I took up the challenge and created a new customer base. Though I fell short of the target but my action was positively acknowledged. Later, that particular customer base helped the organization in increasing the sales in the following quarters. Q: How would you tackle a customer complaining about a product you sold? The approach should be quick in dealing with such situation. The customer should be given priority and all the issues should be professionally handled. In case, a replacement of product is required then the necessary arrangements should be made in least possible time frame. Once the problem is solved the situation should be discussed with team members and superiors. This would help in analyzing the approach and also making the required changes in order to avoid such problem in future. You may share any example that you may have faced in real working environment. Q: What do you like most about sales?

The interviewer(s) would like to evaluate your sales capability through this question. Try to follow up the reply with examples. It is not an easy task to sell but once you can persuade a customer to buy something it is a nice feeling. You are not only selling a product or service but also providing a value for money to a customer. Further, you are playing a crucial role in the marketing strategies of the product. Q: What are your salary expectations for this job? The question should be replied with valid justifications. Often the organizations provide a salary range in the job advertisement. It is advisable to quote a sum in that range. In case you are planning to increase the amount give a range that is close to the upper limit of the existing one. Providing a range will not be ideal when you have been asked about your expectation. The interviewer(s) would always be settling for the lower range. You may say, Given my experience and the standard industry compensation for this level of job, I would expect a salary of Q: What are the projects you have ever undertaken? Mention the projects that you have undertaken in your previous or current organization. Talk about the projects that are in line with the job you are applying. The pertinent information would not only make your reply short but also meaningful. I have worked on projects that required planning of online promotional strategies. With experience in SEO and other online promotion tools, I worked towards developing strategies that integrated the online and offline media vehicle. This ensured maximum penetration rate for the product. Q: What do you do in leisure time?

Talk about your hobbies and interest that you practice when you are free. I love to go for angling during weekends but a game of baseball is something that may stop me from angling. Q: Are you willing to work in shifts? The interviewer(s) would be looking for a proper answer rather than a vague reply. Do not say, I havent given it much thought, but feel Say something that would help the interviewer(s) evaluate your application. You may say, I do not have any issues working in shifts. I have had such experience in my earlier jobs and was comfortable with it. In case you have any preference, then it is ideal to share the same. Also mention the difficulties that you may have in taking the shift that you are not comfortable with. I would be comfortable in day or evening shifts. Graveyard shift is not possible due some personal issue like... Q: What is the thing you like the most in the world? Why? Talk about things that make you feel comfortable, happy or motivating. It may be not be necessarily from the professional life. I like the clear blue water of the sea. It helps me to unwind in the weekends when I hit for the beaches. I love foreign movies. It helps me to understand the human nature and complexities. I believe that this understanding is essentials for job like marketing. Q: What is the thing you dislike the most in the world? Why? The reply would be in the same line like that of the previous question. But do not go on criticizing the thing. Also try to highlight the way it may be changed. My biggest dislike is when I cannot enjoy the things I like. The cold attitude of any individual is something I dislike but I believe that this can be changed with time. Q: What does success mean to you? Talk about how you perceive success rather than sharing any famous quote. I was successful when I sold product for the first time. I was also successful when I got a compliment from a customer for good service. To me success is the accomplishment of things you thrive to achieve. Q: How do you define failure? You may share your views and also give examples to highlight your reply. Failure is a process of not doing anything. I believe failure happens when you realize the approach is wrong without identifying the alternative. Q: How do you define arrogance? Are you arrogant? Arrogance is not accepting that the limitations that one may have in respect of a particular thing. Follow up the answer with example to show that you are not arrogant. I believe that I have positive attitude and not arrogance. In one of the project I was not aware of a particular process, so I let my coworker handle it. I assisted him and learnt the process to ensure that I can handle it next time. Q: What role are you ready to take in a group? If the role you are applying for is of a Team leader then do not say, I am happy to let others take responsibility. This would indicate that you lack leadership capabilities. You may say that, I am ready to lead a team and also comfortable in being monitored by someone more experience than me. In case anyone from my team comes up with a productive solution, I am also willing to accommodate those ideas. I do not have any reservation that would hamper the flow of the project. This type of reply would suggest that you have no issues taking opinions and suggestions from your superior or co-workers.

If the role is that of a team member, then share facts like you would be developing yourself for higher responsibilities. I am comfortable working under an experienced team leader. I believe this would help me in developing my skills to take higher responsibilities. Q: Who has been an inspiration for you? It is advisable to talk about people like your previous employer or your professor who helped in shaping your career. My previous employer helped in learning some important things about the sales profession. He helped me to understand the intricacies that were valuable for career progression. Q: What is more important to you money or success?

Everyone has some preference and it may always be shared. But do have justification for such preference. Do not say anything that may sound contradictory, like I feel success is more important than money. The interviewer(s) may then ask things like that means you are willing to work on a low salary or thanks, I guess we wont have much trouble in discussing the salary part. You may say, I believe that success is as important as money. Without success money will be hard to come. There is a charm is being successful in your work that may not be valued against monetary compensations. Q: What kind of person are you? Talk about the things that best describe you. Mention things that will help you to highlight your personal liking along with professional experience. I am good in multi-tasking and as such I find it easy to juggle between my personal and professional commitments. Q: Rate yourself on a scale of 10. Take into consideration your experience and academic knowledge in rating yourself. I would say that my rating is 7 in the scale. My five years of experience in Digital Media and Brand Management have given me the skill to take on higher roles in the dynamic market scenarios. If you are a fresher then evaluate yourself on basis of your academic knowledge and any industrial experience that you may have. Being new to the industry I think that my rating is around 4. I have an indepth knowledge about the industry through my MBA program and also the industrial training which I had participate. Further, my training took place in Europe and it has provided with a fair understanding of the European market mechanism. Q: Why did you choose _________ as your major/subjects? The interviewer(s) would like to see your interest in this field. The reply would also suggest how effective you are in planning your career. You may say, I was more interested in marketing during my college days. This made be take MBA with specialization in Marketing. The course helped me in developing critical thinking and analytical approach to marketing issues. Also the subject on marketing strategy and research helped me in drafting strategic marketing plans. Q: Are you willing to travel? In case you have any reservation then you may share it. Get a proper understanding of things like travel duration, frequency of travel and also cost support. I have no reservations in respect to traveling but would like to know the frequency and duration of travel.

I have knowledge that the job requires traveling but would like to know the frequency as I have some reservation. Talk about your issues and always have a positive approach in finding the best possible solution. Q: Why are you leaving the organization you work for? Do not say negative things about your current organization. Also make sure that you do not keep on praising it. Try to strike a balance in your reply. I am looking for career growth. With the new business line of your company, I feel it would help in fulfilling my growth objective. Q: How much time do you need to join the organization? Consider all the commitments that are required to be fulfilled before you join the organization. Notice period is an important factor is deciding the time frame. Share the issues with the interviewer(s). In case the organization has mentioned any time frame for joining then also take it into consideration while replying. If the time frame needs to be extended then discuss the thing with the interviewer(s). As I have to submit a notice of one month it would be difficult for me to join within 15 days. I would request for some relaxation in this regards. Q: Are you aggressive? Answer the question in parts. First describe of what aggressiveness means in professional environment and then how you fit the definition. Aggressiveness is about achieving the best result using the optimum level of resources of the organization without jeopardizing the reputation of the firm. I am aggressive in my approach and do make it a point to achieve the pre-determined targets. I also do maintain positive level of aggression without disturbing the work environment. Q: What makes you a good manager? Share your experience in this regard. The reply should be factual and short. I have worked as manager for 4 years and have handled many important projects. I also underwent a diploma in Business Communication to help me in developing my negotiation and interpersonal skills. Q: What motivates you the most? The reply should be short and crisp. Share things in your professional life that motivates you rather than personal things. You may also talk about things that have relevance both in personal and professional life. Honesty and proper communication motivates me. These two helps in smooth functioning of things in different sphere of life. When an individual is honest and ready to communicate in a proper way allowing people to share their views and opinions the action process becomes easy. Q: What skills and abilities do you have? Mention your professional abilities and the technical knowledge that you have. I have done MBA with specialization in Marketing. To improve my communication skills I also did a Diploma in Communication. My work experience as sales person has also helped me to understand the intricacies of the profession. Q: We are looking for a truly inspiring Marketing and PR Executive, someone who can create a culture of open communication, trust and respect. What strategies would you implement to achieve this? To create an environment of trust and respect it is essential to define the roles of the employees and also address any major overlapping of responsibility. Delegation of work according to the capability would further ensure a favorable work environment. This would streamline the operational activities and reduce the chance of issues among the human resource. The employees grievance is another area that should be looked into. The disputes should be settled in minimum possible time to reduce the ideal time and

aggravation of any time. Also have a proper feedback channel. Training session may also be effective in addressing the problems related to communication. Q: Tell us about your experience with focus groups. Mention the experience and try to have a positive tone while sharing the negative things, if any. Focus Groups have been instrumental in helping to understand various aspects related to a new or existing product. The response is critical in formulating policies or re-structuring them to maximize the sales operation. For new product it is equally important as an organization could fathom the public reaction when the product hits the market. Q: What steps would you take to nurture commercial awareness and sales focus in this customer service team? Share the things that you had implemented in your previous job. You may say, In my previous job, I had meetings and briefing sessions were the marketing issues related to a product or service was shared. The team was given inputs on their roles and pre-defined targets were allotted. It was also ensured that there is a proper coordination among the customer service team and other related departments. Q: What criteria are you using to evaluate the organizations for which you hope to work? Be short and crisp while answering this question. Your interest in your career and willingness to acquire knowledge about the potential organizations will be analyzed. The interviewer(s) would see how you evaluate an organization in respect to your objectives and goals. But make sure you do not take the name of any organizations or event the organization you are applying. I evaluate the product portfolio, the expansion plans, the market share, growth projection and the financial stability. All these give a good idea to understand whether the organization would be a potential place to work. It also gives an idea on how valuable and crucial player one could be in that organization. Q: What two or three things are important to you in your job? You may add things that you believe would help in effective execution of a job. Identifying the requirement of the job; proper action plan and streamlined communication process are some of the essential that would help in optimizing the marketing operation of the organization. Q: Why should I hire you? Mention how you could be an important part of the operations. Share your experiences and knowledge. You may always a touch of humor in your reply. I am experienced candidate and feel that I have given some great answers to the questions. Q: What makes you better than the other people I'm seeing today? The answer may be same like the previous one. You may highlight your experience and share the ways through which you could help in strengthening the marketing strategies of the organization. Q: Have you applied to any other areas apart from marketing? In case you have applied, then mention the reason behind it. I have also applied to corporate communication. At present scenario, corporate communication is essential to disseminate the information in a proper way to all the relevant channels. Marketing will only be successful if the policies are drafted keeping in mind the intricacies of communication. This would generate proper feedback and would minimize any distortions like filtration and selective listening. Further, I have also done diploma in corporate communication and have two years of working experience in this domain. Q: Give me an example of how you convinced someone to do something that they were not too keen on doing.

I was keen on implementing business simulation programs to train mid-level employees/managers and reducing the case study approach followed during the training. I believed that this would make the session more interesting and provide a real life scenario. As the simulation training is expensive than the latter, the supervisor was not keen in implementing such process. I had to highlight the productivity of the process with the help of the Human Resource Manger and mention its long term benefits. Q: What do you realistically believe to be your earning potential? Highlight your skills and knowledge that you see as your strengths. Explain how these strengthens help you in executing your job. I believe my negotiation skills are my forte. As sales require a lot of persuasion, this skill helps me in persuading a potential client into becoming a customer/consumer. Q: Tell me about how you persuade people to accept your point-of-view. You may share any example from your work experience or simply highlight the steps you would take in this situation. First it is essential to understand the requirements of the person, and then highlight the things that would be acceptable to the person. Address the issues the person may have and also share the benefits that he or she may get.