Preparing for a Great Interview - Part 4

You have stumbled upon part four of this multi-part series looking at some ideas for interview preparation. If you are just finding us, you may desire to first go back and read part one also, located HERE. As mentioned previously, many of these tips can be applied to not only a position in customer service, but to almost all interviews in general.

In picking up from last time, we look at some specific types of questions you may face at the interview. We just mention these things here so that it may stir up the mental juices so that you have a game plan on how to answer some of these type questions. Things like hypothetical questions, the "what if" scenarios that seek to test your behavioral ideas, and may also be drawn from the employers current "problem employees." If you are unsure about a question, do not feel embarrassed to inquire for additional information. Better to be clear and give a good answer, than to answer while misunderstanding the question.

So, where do you see yourself in one, three or five years from now? Similar to the above hypothetical type question, but more focused on what you see yourself working towards career wise. Give it some thought, in relation to the company you are interviewing with, have some job titles in mind that you would like to advance to. Be honest, and go in with a plan.

Why did you leave your last job, or why are you seeking to leave your current position? This is probably one of the most common questions, yet so often gets answered incorrectly. Obviously, if you are leaving over some kind of issue, they would desire to know and see if that might play a part in your future with them. Of course, most of us know that is what they are seeking for, and so we steer clear of answers that reveal issues or weaknesses. Just be honest, give the facts, but do not feel it necessary to go into all of the details. If they ask for further details, give some if you feel comfortable.

You may also want to share a life-learning lesson that you gained from the experience. If you made a series of mistakes that led to termination, explain how you may have grown from the experience and steps that you'd take to avoid such conclusions in the future. Things to avoid when asked this these types of questions: don't get angry, don't badmouth your former employer, and do not play the blame-game. Take responsibility, be professional, and stay honest about the ordeal.

Also, you may think it good to just leave the job off of your resume to even avoid it coming up. This is never a good idea, because even if you were only employed for a short period, if that job is discovered in the background check, it will appear as if you were being deceptive and could work against you. Better to include it and be honest.

More to follow! If you have any tips or suggestions that you'd like to share, feel free to post in the comments below.