Difficult Interview Questions and Winning Answers (part II)

[periwinkle617]

^thanks sis. ok buti na lang medyo nagulat kasi ako nung tinanong yung status dun sa pending application ko. baka kasi di nila ako i-consider since meron akong pending application sa ibang company.

[sarahsensible]

Yes, it is best to apply after you give birth.  Though admittedly, people are 'generally' prejudiced against women with small kids. Ewan ko, call me a pessimist, pero feeling ko kelangan extra effort talaga, na you should prove the employer that you stand out and you have something extra that others dont. Kasi having all things equal, pag ikaw ang employer, what would make you choose an applicant with a newborn baby vs an applicant who is single and has flexible working hours.

This is true. Sa interview ko sa start pa lang ng Tell me something about yourself -- I say kasi dati na am 25 (well 26 na ako) mom of 2 year old twin boys and a 1 year old baby girl. Yung tingin ng nag iinterview lumalaki yung mata pero when they heard twins sasabihin "wow twins - you don't even look like a mom" of course I say "thank you! but really they're handful good thing I have 3 nannies - that's why I have to get back working (sabay tawa)" Basta about telling about myself/my kids - I build rapport na rin. And it works naman.

[leela1025]

aww...would you have an idea what's the going rate ngayon sa P&G or Unilab pag entry level (not necessarily fresh grad, mga 3yrs work experience but BPO company) also, baka may alam ka ok na depts dun to try? Gusto ko lang talaga mag change path eh..di ko feel ang BPO sa future ko, gusto ko yung maraming travel perks sana..if meron

sa unilab, depende sa position mo. what are you targeting ba? walang masyadong travel perks sa unless med rep ang applyan mo. travelling is done my field personnel and senior-level officers.

[~yufa~]

Most difficult interview questions for me (i don't know why):
1. Tell me something about yourself (this isn't a question, is it?)
2. Strengths/ Weaknesses
3. Why would we choose you over other applicants? (I am an average person)

[blooming]

^ sagot ko sa first question...

I first start with what I do in my current job, scope ng work ko then backwards.  Answer ko surrounds sa relevant experience ko that relates to the position am applying for.

Style ko lang siguro, pero I do not dwell on personal status unless asked. This is pertaining to kids, marriage, siblings, parents.  Kasi gusto ko naka center sakin ang interview.    Not kung ilan taon na anak ko or san nag w work si hubby.

[jezamae]

Tell me about yourself
Make a short, organized statement of your education and professional achievements and professional goals. Then, briefly describe your qualifications for the job and the contributions you could make to the organization.

What is your major weakness?
Be positive; turn a weakness into a strength. For example, you might say: "I often worry too much over my work. Sometimes I work late to make sure the job is done well."

Another example.
I have problems in estimating deadlines. I tend to be overly optimistic about deadlines, which means I have to make a conscious effort to plan more for the unexpected. Because of this, i learned to do froward planning.

What is your major strength?
My technical skills is my major strength. I only need minimal supervision in performing my job. If you have sufficiently researched the organization, you should be able to imagine what skills the company values. List them, then give examples where you have demonstrated these skills.

I am a detail-oriented person. I don't just see the snap shot of the project or problem at hand, I also tend to evaluate all, if not most, factors necessary in handling a project. This helps me come up with the best solution possible. I'm a frim believer of doing it right the first time.

[blooming]

^thanks sis. ok buti na lang medyo nagulat kasi ako nung tinanong yung status dun sa pending application ko. baka kasi di nila ako i-consider since meron akong pending application sa ibang company.

most of the time baka advantage din nga kapag nalaman nila na may iba kang pang pinupuntahan na interview, or nasa advanced stages na ang ibang interviews mo.  Kapag nag-aantay ka nalang offer or may offer na tipong pinag iisipan mo nalang or 'under nego'.  Kung gusto ka kasi ng company, baka bilisan pa nila ang decision para masara na agad nila ang offer sayo.

[~yufa~]

thanks sis...that really helped a lot

[periwinkle617]

most of the time baka advantage din nga kapag nalaman nila na may iba kang pang pinupuntahan na interview, or nasa advanced stages na ang ibang interviews mo.  Kapag nag-aantay ka nalang offer or may offer na tipong pinag iisipan mo nalang or 'under nego'.  Kung gusto ka kasi ng company, baka bilisan pa nila ang decision para masara na agad nila ang offer sayo.

sis, eto ang bago kong problem si company A nauna akong nakapag final interview tapos they wanted me to start asap kaya pinag medical na nila ako kaso ang offer is project-based pero mas higher ng konti ang post pero wala pang contract na binigay  tapos si company B hinihintay ko pa yung final interview for full-time post naman. so ngayon nag woworry ako baka bigalang tumawag si company B. di ko alam kung ituturn-down ko na yung invitation nila for final interview kung sakali. sorry magulo.

[blooming]

^ are you still interested sa company B?  san mo mas gusto pumasok? overall package, proximity sa house mo, etc.

first and foremost, you should secure an offer letter.  kelangan yan sa company A.  Habang wala pa, just to be safe, magpunta ka parin sa mga interviews na gusto mo pasukan.  Malay mo, makapag negotiate ka pa. 

[periwinkle617]

^actually sis interested ako both companies kaya nahihirapan ako mag decide. ok lang naman siguro na pumunta parin ako sa mga interviews since di pa talaga ako hired totally and ayoko naman kasi tawagan yung company A para lang tanungin kung ihihire ba nila talaga ako para di na ako tatanggap ng ibang offer diba?

[clueless]

^ i agree with blooming. punta ka pa din sa interviews mo with company B.

did you sign any offer sheet from comapny A? did you verbally agree to it na? if not, baka pwede pang you ask for a few days to think about it. pero kung ako sayo, wag mo masyadong madaliin yan. the ball is in their court and use it to your advantage for now. buys you time to hear out company B. sana lang mag offer din si company B bago ka tuluyang mag-sign sa company A.

in case matagalan si company B, that's when you'll need to weigh your options. do you decline A and wait for B or accept A kasi ang tagal ni B. you will have to take a risk somehow.

[periwinkle617]

^wala pa naman akong pinipirmahan sis. pero nag agree na ako verbally. kaso pag pumunta naman ako sa company B baka they would take it against me. pati pag JO ba  or contract signing pwedeng sabihin na pag-iispan ko muna? kasi baka naman di na nila ako ihire pag sinabi ko yun. thanks sis.

[clueless]

^ the first time i see an offer, i always ask for few days to think it over but i make sure i give a response in mga 1-2 days. i have never signed on the spot except for my current job.

meron ngang company that made an offer lower than what i expected so i said i'd have to think about it muna tapos ang sinagot agad sakin if i'm not happy with the offer, she can come up with a better one but subject to more approvals from management.

depends on how your interview went, how much they want you and how you lay your cards but i think it is acceptable to do that.

[periwinkle617]

^thanks sis clueless and blooming!  alam ko na gagawin ko ngayon.

[Trempot]

Most difficult interview questions for me (i don't know why):
1. Tell me something about yourself (this isn't a question, is it?)
2. Strengths/ Weaknesses
3. Why would we choose you over other applicants? (I am an average person)

first question, be honest and tell them something about yourself - your family background, status, hobbies, and goals in life. this will help them profile your personality and your priorities.

on the question on strengths and weaknesses, the best thing is to lay out all your strengths which are relevant to the job description and in contributing to the company. these are things they will consider about you in terms of your potential.

on weaknesses, be honest and acknowledge your weaknesses but tell them these are things you are working on. when you are able to convert a weakness to a strength, it is a plus point. for example, i have a weakness of being too much of an independent worker. i told the interviewers how it manifested itself in my work and that i was working on it to convert myself into more of a team player.

on the choice of having you over the other applicants, same din - be honest and tell them what you are capable of doing or how your experience and qualities would contribute more to your job and the company's well-being.

basta key is be honest and don't oversell yourself. they can see through overpromises and these won't matter anyway. you also have to be consistent with your earlier answers. coming into the interview, you should already have a clear train of thought.

good luck

[jezamae]

^wala pa naman akong pinipirmahan sis. pero nag agree na ako verbally.

if the applicant agrees verbally then after a few days decided not to pursue the position, is there a legal implication? can the employer insist na ituloy ng applicant ang pagwork sa new company?

thanks in advance sa mga sagot mga sis 

[clueless]

^ i have a friend who has done that. 2x pa. no legal action was taken. i don't think you're bound if you haven't signed anything though it may reflect badly on your character if you do this.

but i think it depends on the overall circumstances din like maybe how the interview went, how you agreed and then how you're retracting the agreement, etc.

[jezamae]

^ i have a friend who has done that. 2x pa. no legal action was taken. i don't think you're bound if you haven't signed anything though it may reflect badly on your character if you do this.

but i think it depends on the overall circumstances din like maybe how the interview went, how you agreed and then how you're retracting the agreement, etc.

reason is something sa current work nya and she was asked to stay to fixe the problem

another is if the reason is that after meeting the staff and seeing the things to do sa new office, nadisappoint sya kasi magulo and set up

thanks sis ha?

[jezamae]

^^ add ko lang sis

she hasn't signed anything but she agreed nga verbally

and it's a senior level position