April 26, 2001, 3:59 PM — There is a method to most interviews, says Williams. Understand the method and strategy and you're more likely to deliver killer answers that will leave your competition in the dust. "You should go into interviews knowing there are four broad personal skill areas that can influence your chances of being hired," he says. "These are your ability to: 1) learn and solve problems; 2) plan and organize work; 3) get things done through people; and, 4) show evidence of your motivations and interests.
Williams offers 10 hypothetical questions and possible answers based around these four skill areas:
Q1: Can you prove you have the ability to learn and apply information?
A: Discuss different types of technical knowledge you have acquired. Emphasize when and how you acquired it, particularly if you did it on your own time under your own initiative.
Q2: How would you demonstrate effective problem-solving skills?
A: Give interviewer two or three past examples about challenges you faced, what you did to solve the problem and the result.
Q3: Demonstrate how you would plan and execute projects?
A: Again, cite past examples, but this time emphasize the process you used. Give concrete examples of how you planned projects, worked around roadblocks and obstacles, and solved problems.
Q4: Demonstrate how you would get things done through people?
A: Share examples of working with team members, customers, or clients to get things done or to resolve disagreements. Include details of how you interacted with the team, organized work, specified each person's role, and got everyone to work together to solve a difficult problem. It should stress the benefits of teamwork.
Q5: Why do you think it is important to get along with people and work closely with them? (This is an extension of the prior question; this time the interviewer is searching for more evidence of your people skills.)
A: The goal is to dispense the myth that techies are misanthropic geeks who prefer to work alone in cubicles 14 hours a day. Stress the importance of cooperating with coworkers and bosses and the value of accepting criticism.
Q6: Do you consider yourself a motivated person?
A: Organizations like people who give them the most for their money. That means hiring people who think work activities are very important. Warning: "There is a trend among IT professionals to be committed more to their profession than to the organization," says Williams. "Even if you believe this, the organization is only willing to pay you for what you can do for them. Remember, 'Ask not what you can do for yourself, ask what you can do for your company.'"
Q7: Can you cite examples that demonstrate your motivation?
A: Demonstrate how you are conscientious about your work (but not compulsive), giving examples of quality and caring. Detail an instance when you went above and beyond job expectations.
Q8: How do you know you "fit" this job?
A: Prepare yourself for this question by making a list of jobs you liked the most or least, and give reasons why. Focus on work conditions like freedom vs. structure, casual vs. formal, independent vs. team-oriented, innovative vs. conventional. You need to know what you like and dislike before you can answer the question.
Q9: What do you know about the company?
A: This is another subtle motivation question to see if you did serious homework. I don't mean knowing the company's business, size, and products. If you can address how the corporate culture fits your personality and the type of person it hires, you'll make an impression. It pays to do some digging by talking to insiders.
Q10: Do you have any questions?
A: Ask about the company's direction and stability, why people stay or leave the organization, what is the turnover rate in the job and where the department is going. Don't ask questions about pay, benefits, and perks. These questions should be asked after an offer is made.
Warning: The biggest mistake you can make, says Williams, is thinking you are only being hired for your technical skills. Your personal impact on the recruiter is equally important.
So hide that tattoo and take out that earring before the interview, Williams
cautions.
