[Solution] During the Interview
Created at:
Author: Emily Carter
During an interview, your answers to questions are important, but your body language and nonverbal cues are also on display. You want to project a professional demeanor at all times.
Read the scenario, and answer the question.
Damon has an important interview coming up. He is reviewing various ways to send positive nonverbal messages.
What tips should he follow? Check all that apply.
- Listen attentively
- Cross your arms in front of you
- Sound enthusiastic and sincere
- Stand with your hands in your pockets
- Don't chew gum
View Explanation
During his interview, Damon should avoid chewing gum or crossing his arms. He should also maintain an enthusiastic and sincere tone throughout the interview. In addition, Damon should show the interviewer that he is interested and attentive by listening carefully to questions.
What can you do to ensure that your interview answers are effective?
- Emphasize salary or benefits
- Focus your answers on the key characteristics interviewers seek
- Reveal your weaknesses and your strengths
View Explanation
Stay focused on your strengths. Focus your answers on your expertise, competence, motivation, interpersonal skills, decision-making skills, and enthusiasm for the job.
You can anticipate many of the questions you will be asked in an interview.
Identify the type of question.
"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
- A question about the future
- A question to get acquainted
- A question to see if the interviewer's job will be threatened
View Explanation
Employers ask questions about your future to see whether you are goal oriented and to determine whether your goals are realistic.
Interviewers use situational and behavioral questions to determine how well a candidate might respond in a given situation.
Select the most appropriate answer to the following question.
"If you were aware that your coworker was falsifying data, what would you do?"
- If I became aware that a coworker was falsifying data, I would redo the data before submitting the work, and then tell them how much of my time was wasted by having to redo their work.
- If I became aware that a coworker was falsifying data, I would compile evidence to support my claim and bring it to the attention of the appropriate party. Ethical conduct is key to a productive workplace.
- If I knew, I would tell her to stop. If she didn't stop, I would tell my boss and get some help. I don't really think I'd want to work for a company that employed that type of person.
View Explanation
Situational questions are designed to test your problem-solving skills. Even if the situation sounds negative, try to keep your response positive.
Federal laws prohibit interviewers from asking questions related to .
View Explanation
Federal laws prohibit employment discrimination based on gender, age, religion, color, race, national origin, or disability. Some local laws prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. It is inappropriate for an interviewer to ask questions related to these areas.
Selena was taken off guard when her interviewer asks about the salary she was looking for. Since she had not even had an interview, she was uncertain how to answer the question.
How should Selena respond when asked about her salary range at the beginning of the interview process?
- Ask what the salary ranges of other candidates are
- Ask how much they are willing to pay
- Indicate she does not know enough about the job yet to reasonably answer that question
View Explanation
One way to handle salary questions is to ask politely to defer the discussion until it is clear that a job will be offered. Another possible response to a salary question is to reply candidly that you can't know what to ask until you know more about the position and the company.
Many illegal interview questions are asked innocently by inexperienced interviewers.
Which of these is an illegal question that might be asked of a job candidate? Check all that apply.
- You don't look old enough to be a college graduate! How old are you?
- Do you know how to use an Apple computer and Excel spreadsheets?
- Great last name; is it Spanish?
View Explanation
U.S. federal law states that "it is illegal to discriminate against someone (applicant or employee) because of that person's race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 and older), disability or genetic information." Therefore, it is inappropriate for interviewers to ask any question related to these areas.
You can ask questions directly related to the job such as availability on weekends.
Common Interview Questions and Effective Response Strategies
| Question Type | Example | Response Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Background | "Tell me about yourself." | Give a concise professional summary highlighting relevant skills and experiences |
| Future-oriented | "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" | Show ambition that aligns with the position and company growth |
| Situational | "What would you do if..." | Demonstrate logical thinking and ethical problem-solving |
| Behavioral | "Describe a time when you..." | Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) |
| Strength/Weakness | "What's your greatest weakness?" | Mention a real weakness that's not critical to the job, and how you're improving it |
| Salary | "What are your salary expectations?" | Defer until later or provide a researched range based on the position |
Professional Nonverbal Communication Checklist
Do
- Maintain good eye contact
- Offer a firm handshake
- Sit up straight with good posture
- Nod occasionally to show attentiveness
- Use natural hand gestures when speaking
- Smile appropriately
- Maintain a calm, confident tone
- Dress professionally for the industry
Don't
- Fidget or play with objects
- Check your phone or watch repeatedly
- Cross arms defensively
- Slouch in your chair
- Chew gum or eat
- Interrupt the interviewer
- Use excessive hand movements
- Stand with hands in pockets
