Successful Job Interviews
The most important question you will hear at a job interview is,
"Why should we hire you?"
There will be many different kinds of questions at any interview. You need, obviously, to choose the right answers, that is, what to say. If you are being interviewed by a western employer you also need to think about how you answer the questions.
Western employers look for and expect objectivity in an interview. For example, if the interviewer asks you about your school qualifications, you should describe them objectively. Just tell him the facts. You don't need to convince him of how wonderful you are, or how much your old boss and colleagues loved you, etc. Stick to the dates and the facts and let him judge for himself. Approach the interview generally in this way: let the facts speak for themselves.
However, there is one question where you can be a bit more subjective and where you can try to 'sell yourself' a bit more. When he asks the question, "Why should we hire you?" you can take talk more about your talents, and convince him you are the right person for the job.
Remember to do this in a way that is relevant to the employer. Do not say, "Hire me because I've always wanted to work for an international company and I'm a great guy". An interview is not the time to talk about what you want. If you say, "Hire me because I am a hard worker", it's a little better, because it shows you are aware of the employers needs. However, saying that you are a hard worker is not very objective - most people, even lazy people, believe that they are hard workers.
If you understand the employer's needs and the needs of his company, you will be in a better position to tell him why he should hire you. Do some research before the interview, and study carefully the requirements listed in the job description. Answer the question in the context of the job they have advertised. If they require energetic sales people, then that is what you say. (It must be true, of course.) If they need someone who is well organized then that is what you say. If they need someone who can pay attention to detail, then that is what you say, etc.
The key to a successful interview is that you offer a solution to a problem the employer is having. Here's a useful sentence: "Well, from our conversation, it sound like you need someone who can ......I believe I am the person to fill that position".
