Secrets for acing interviews

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?

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