A midlevel market researcher went to a job interview the other day and told me about it. He was struck by the first three questions. “The interviewer came out of the gate at full speed,” he said. Still, he thought he did pretty well. Here’s a more or less accurate transcript:

…

via A Tale of Two Interviews – BusinessWeek.

1. Thinking the interview is about you.

2. Failing to translate your skills and experience.

3. Being unprepared.

4. Lacking candor.

5. Not asking any questions.

via Five Deadly Interview Mistakes – BusinessWeek.

via What’s Safe to Ask During an Interview?.

A good job seeker prepares. Take your suit to the cleaners. Think about your answers. Arrive for the interview in plenty of time.

But the one factor that can throw everything off is the type of interviewer you get. When you sit down at that table, the interviewer's line of questioning and attitude will change what you say and how.

To give you a little extra help, here is a list of 10 types of interviewers you might encounter and how to deal with them.

via 10 types of interviewers and how to deal with them – CNN.com.

• Why are you leaving?

• What did you like/dislike about your job?

• Did you have the training and support to do your job? If not, what did you need?

• Was it clear exactly what your job responsibilities were?

• Did you get adequate feedback?

• Did you discuss any issues you were having with a manager before deciding to leave?

• What do you like/dislike about the company?

• How is your relationship with your manager?

• How could that person improve?

• What is your opinion of management?

• Would you recommend us if a friend wanted to work here?

• How is employee morale?

• What would make this a better place to work?

• What qualities should we look for in your replacement?

via How to Ace the (Exit) Interview – BusinessWeek.

The first thing to know about job-interview questions is that there is more than one kind. In my experience, job seekers' questions fall into one of three categories, and it's good to know the difference—and the protocol for each.

via Column: Ask the Right Question.

“I was shocked,” he admits.

via Interview Questions from Left Field.

via The Admissions Interview: Your Questions – BusinessWeek.

“Do you have any disabilities?” or “Have you had any major health problems in the past?”

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits certain questions regarding disability. Before an offer for employment is extended, an employer may not ask job applicants about disabilities unrelated to a specific job.

Do not request general information about an employee's medical history. Questions designed to bring out information about the physical or mental health of an individual are unlawful. Even the simple question: “How many sick days did you take last year?” is illegal under the EEOC's regulations.

Instead, you may describe your attendance policy and ask if the employee can meet those requirements. It is also acceptable to ask how many days of work a candidate missed last year because there are other possible reasons for poor attendance, such as difficulty with transportation.

“Are you married?” or “Do you plan on having children?”

Pre-employment inquiries regarding marital status, pregnancy, future child-bearing plans and child care may discriminate against women, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

“Have you ever been arrested?”

In some communities, minorities are arrested at a disproportionately high rate. Because an arrest is not a determination of guilt, the answer to this question does not necessarily reveal useful information. Asking such a question, therefore, might put minority candidates at an unfair disadvantage and be considered discrimination based on race.

“What is your ethnic background?” or “That is an interesting name, where it is from?” or “Do you speak English well?” or “Are you a US citizen?”

If citizenship or fluency in English is not required to perform the job, an employer may not ask these questions. An employer should never ask about an applicant's ethnic background as it is irrelevant to the performance of job functions.

“How old are you?” or “When do you intend to retire?” or “What is your date of birth?”

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of age with respect to individuals who are 40 years of age or older. A request that a job applicant state his or her age may deter older applicants. Questions regarding age are closely scrutinized to determine whether they are discriminatory. Unless there is a business necessity, an employer should avoid asking age-related questions.

“Are you able to work on Saturdays or Sundays?” or “What is your religious affiliation?”

Title VII prohibits discrimination based on religion or creed. Pre-employment inquiries as to whether an individual can work on a Saturday or a Sunday may cause an applicant to reveal his or her religious affiliation. Asking this question, therefore, would be permissible only if that is a requirement for the position. Other questions seeking to determine an applicant's religious affiliation are not permissible.

“What organizations are you affiliated with?” or “Have you ever been a member of a union?”

Discrimination based on union membership is prohibited by the Labor Management Relations Act. An employer may not ask questions designed to obtain information about union membership. In addition, questions about organizations the applicant belongs to might also bring out information suggesting the candidate's race, religion or national origin.

via USATODAY.com – Avoid asking inappropriate interview questions.

This question calls for your one-minute commercial that summarizes your years of experience and skills and your personality in the context of the job for which you are interviewing. Get to the point and sell your professional self. Develop a few brief sentences that demonstrate you have what it takes to do the job — experience, proven results and desire to contribute.

2. Why should we hire you?: The key to answering any question about you versus your competition is using specifics.

“Everybody is going to speak in generalities, so you need something that will make you stand out a bit,” said Linda, a teacher in Springfield, Ohio. Give real examples that show them you are best-suited for the job. Linda says she would point out her achievements and accomplishments throughout her career that are relevant to the open position, as well as her experiences in dealing with different types of students and teaching situations.

Pinpoint the qualities you have that are truly valuable to the company.

3. Why do you want to work here? What do you know about our company?: Peter, a physician in Indianapolis, said that research is important in answering these questions.

“I would use this opportunity to show off what I know about the company and, more importantly, how I would fit in.”

Susan, a vice president of benefits in Chicago, said that she would address issues and challenges in the company to demonstrate the depth of her knowledge.

“I usually talk about revenue, numbers of employees, and also challenges in their type of business and how my experience relates to that,” she said. “I would point out things I have done in similar companies that could address their problems.”

4. What are your weaknesses?: The secret to answering this question is using your weaknesses to your advantage.

“I would turn my weaknesses into strengths,” said Tara, an attorney. “For example, if my weaknesses include my lack of patience I would then state that because of this, I have learned to take special measures to ensure that I remain calm and attentive.”

Just make sure that you do give a real answer to this question. None of us is without faults, so don't pretend that you do not have weaknesses.

5. What did you dislike about your last job? Why did you leave your last job?: You need to be cautious about these kinds of questions and make sure you do not end up sounding bitter.

“I would never talk down about my former company, the boss, or my former co-workers,” Tara said.

You need to have a good understanding about the job for which you're applying to turn this question into a positive one. It may be best to say that you really enjoyed many aspects of your job, then focus on how this new job will give you the opportunity to contribute more in a particular area that is key to the position.

6. Where do you see yourself in five years?: An interviewer does not want to hear that your five-year aspiration is to be sailing in the Caribbean or working in a different industry. You need to talk about goals you have that relate to the job. This will demonstrate that you understand the industry, the company and are motivated to succeed there.

Susan, the director of public relations at a major car rental company, said she would keep her answer specific to her field, such as stating that she sees herself as a vice president of corporate communications.

Preparation is the key to answering any question with poise and confidence. Always keep in mind — whatever the question is — that the interviewer is trying to uncover if you are a good fit and can make a positive contribution in the job.

via CNN.com – Answering 6 common interview questions – Dec 9, 2005.