Wingate Dunross, Inc. - Candidate Partnering - Interview Tips

Technical Questions: The simple tactic is to keep the answers to difficult questions short and expound on the simpler ones. This will focus more time on areas of strength. Often people will try to hide their lack of knowledge behind smoke and mirrors. Keep this in mind: Your interviewer won't ask a technical question he can't answer himself.
Tell Me About Yourself: This response should not be your life's story. Your interviewer is looking for what you've done during your career. Interviewers are looking for why you made some of the choices you made and how you got to be where you are now. Interviewers are looking for your accomplishments and how they were able to benefit your employer. Interviewers are also looking for how those accomplishments will contribute to this company. Try to keep your answers to about 3-5 minutes and have it clearly thought out in advance.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Strengths should focus on technical skills or personality traits that qualify you for the position such as the ability to multitask, or your attention to details. Traits such as honesty and work ethic should be presumed to apply to all jobs. Weaknesses should be honest, but carefully structured to avoid eliminating your candidacy. When identifying a weakness, be sure it is not just a self-serving strength (i.e. "I work too hard") but also be sure to identify what you are doing to correct it.
Your Goals: Focus on immediate objectives rather than your long-term goals. Avoid identifying your goals in terms of desired titles or compensation, but rather on working for a specific type of company that will provide the growth you are seeking.
Your Present or Previous Employers: Hit the highlights. Your interviewer wants to know a little about what your company does, roughly how large it is in terms of annual revenues or assets and employees, how large your department or group is, and where you fit into it. DO NOT badmouth any company or supervisor, DO NOT air any dirty laundry, and DO NOT come across sounding like you are grousing, complaining or whining.
Why You Want to Change: Be honest. Your motivation may be any one or a combination of a lack of growth opportunity, challenge, advancement, supervisory potential, or a change of environment or business culture. Responses might include, "I'm looking for a growth opportunity with a larger firm" or "I want to work for a smaller company where I can make more of an impact. Or, very simply, "I wasn't looking; I was recruited by Wingate Dunross, but the opportunity sounded interesting, and I think it could be a good career move."
Why you Want to Work for This Particular Firm: DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Research the organization and explain why you want to be a part of what they are doing. Be specific.
Benefits and Compensation: Although you do not want to talk about Benefits or Compensation, the topic may come up. If you're asked to state a desired salary on an application, print "OPEN" only. If asked by your interviewer how much you are making, simply answer the question, "My base salary is $______, and I have an annual bonus of $_______. And if you are asked how much you are looking for, try to avoid stating an amount in your first interview. You might want to reiterate your motivation to make a change and add your willingness to be open by answering along the lines of, "I'm looking for a more progressive environment where I can add value to my company. If you think I'm a fit for this job, and I am confident that I am, all I ask is that you extend a fair offer."
Form: DO NOT allow yourself to become so comfortable in the interview that you let your guard down. When answering questions, watch your language, your attitudes and your body language. Make eye contact when answering questions.