About the job interview

It determines our work area and career opportunities in the coming years when we find a new job. Even if there are hundreds of people standing behind us, applying for the same position, we still have to carefully decide based on our own criteria and our own values. It is not certain that the job that suits a hundred other applicants also suits our individuality and our expectations. That is why it is important to find out as much as possible about the job applied for, the working conditions, and the company atmosphere. Our questions show our sincere interest, and the answers help support the correctness of our choice.

How to behave in a job interview?

Your heart will surely be pounding in your throat when you cross the threshold of the staff office, but pull yourself together, take a few deep breaths and smile! Not only will you make a good impression on those inside, but your tension will also decrease! Don't panic if there are more people in the office than you expected and you suddenly don't know who to turn to. Introduce yourself loudly so that everyone can hear! Then take an interest in the person who invited you to the conversation!

Your handshake should be firm, but don't cross over to the other side of the horse: nobody likes a handshake. Look the other person in the eye when shaking hands!

If you are offered a seat, sit comfortably on the chair! Make sure you don't sit stiffly like someone who swallowed a stake, but don't slouch forward either. Do not stretch your legs! The correct sitting: legs together or crossed. You can turn the closed legs slightly to the side, but keep your torso in the direction of the interlocutor!

During a conversation, you don't always have to look straight ahead, your eyes may wander, but if you want to say something important, always look the staff boss in the eyes! Don't gesticulate too much, don't grimace. Crossed hands mean uncertainty.

Don't act defiant! By overemphasizing femininity and using sexual appeal, it is possible to achieve the opposite effect to what you want.

Be natural, don't try to look different than what you really are! Role-playing is immediately noticed by an experienced professional. Answer the questions asked openly and honestly! Put it simply, don't chatter! Don't let them interrupt you, but don't interrupt other people's words either!

Pay attention to what they tell you! Not only for the meaning of words, but also for accents, tone of voice, and body language.

Wait until the salary is brought up, then don't talk about money!
Be inquisitive. Don't just wait for the questions, feel free to ask them yourself! (But your partner should also feel from the questions that you are knowledgeable about the company, not just dropped in by accident off the street.)
At the end of the interview, make sure you have the right handshake and eye contact!

Frequently asked interview questions

An important part of preparing for the interview is to think about our answers to frequently asked questions. Let's not try to "learn" the answers, rather imagine ourselves in the interviewer's place and try to figure out what answers we can use to convince him of our suitability.

Work experience

Describe your typical work day.
Who did you report to at your previous workplace and how many subordinates did you manage?
Describe the most significant project you have worked on.
What workflows were you responsible for?
What kind of position would you be most interested in?
How did you get to your previous job and why did you come?
Which job did you enjoy the most so far?
Were you promoted at your previous job?
Were you satisfied with your salary? If yes, why, if not, why?
Where do you want to work geographically?
What expertise could we use?
In what position would you like to see yourself in 5 years? How do you plan to achieve this?

General questions

What do you know about our company?
Do you have job applications at other companies?
How long have you been looking for a job?
Where did you hear about this job opportunity?
Initiative skills
Tell me about an idea or innovation that you have introduced at your current company. How did you carry out your plan?
Describe a situation where you took a significant risk. What was the result?
In which areas would you like to develop further? How do you plan to accomplish this?
How can you contribute to the success of our company?
If we offer you the job, how would you go about it?

Leadership skills

How would you describe your leadership style?
How would your subordinates describe you?
What do you think is the secret of a successful leader?
What do you enjoy most about being a manager? What is the least?
What do you think is the most difficult part of being a manager?
What do you think is the basis of teamwork?
To what extent do you delegate your tasks?
What do you consider your most important managerial task?
What types of people do you think are the hardest to manage?
Talk about a situation that you had a particularly difficult time solving as a leader.
What are the best ways to motivate your subordinates?

Identity cards

Describe a situation where you had to work with someone you didn't get along with?
How do you spend your time when you are not working?
What are your career goals? How do you plan to implement them?
Describe a time when you had a conflict with someone at work within your work environment. How did you resolve the situation?
How did this affect their subsequent relationship?
What does the "open door" policy mean to you?
What special skills/expertise do you have?
To what extent do you need to use your communication skills in your current job?

Conflict management

Describe a situation where you had to work with someone you didn't get along with?
Talk about a time when you feel you acted inappropriately. What did you learn from your mistake?
Describe a situation that at that moment seemed completely unsolvable, but in the end you still managed to find a solution. How would you rate this case?
When was the last time you lost your temper at work?
Describe a situation where you had a conflict with one of your subordinates. How did you solve this?
How do you react when your work is criticized?

And what should we ask when it's our turn?

Asking questions is the best way to get first-hand information about the company and the position, as well as an opportunity to sell yourself. In order to ask the right questions, you must find out about the company thoroughly before the interview. It's always worth asking if you get the chance, but not too much. Let's carefully choose the questions that are really important, and the information we receive will make the picture we have formed more complete. We can ask questions about the company, the position, the company's short- and long-term plans, advancement opportunities, etc. Do not ask questions about salary and other benefits at the first interview, this is the subject of later discussions, wait for the employer's question. During the second or third meeting, ask for a detailed oral or written job description.

Here are some examples:

What are the company's short-term/long-term plans? What products/services do you plan to develop in the next 5 years? What is the company's market share? How much market competition do they face? Who are their main competitors?
What is the company hierarchy? Who will be my direct boss and how many people will I have to supervise?
In what direction can I continue to develop from this position? If I do my job well, what can I achieve? 5 years later?
What would be my responsibilities in this position?
Will I have to work independently or as part of a team?
What are the criteria for evaluating my performance?
Normally approx. how much travel should I expect?
What kind of training program do you have for employees?
What is the ideal candidate for this position?
Is this a new or existing position I am applying for?
Why is the position vacant?
What are the company's policies on non-salary benefits? Does the position include a fixed or commission-based salary? Why is it good to work for your company? What would be the ideal starting time?
How often are salaries reviewed and based on what criteria?

What shall I wear? Appearance at the job interview

The first and most important thing that immediately catches our eye: our appearance, our clothing. Wear comfortable but appropriate clothing: a suit or costume. Let's be groomed and cared for, but beware of extremes. Choose the colors tastefully and discreetly. Do not spray too strong perfume or aftershave on yourself. Especially for ladies, it is worth keeping in mind: they must convince the admissions officer of their suitability not with their charms, but with the presentation of their skills and professional preparation. (Except, of course, if someone applies to be a model, but these advices are not for them.) Be careful with make-up and don't wear your smallest skirt for this occasion. Let's also pay attention to the details: we often treat our shoes and nails like a stepchild. This time, don't forget to clean them!