China Focus

 

        

 

  • Be prepared for the interview.  Take copies of all relevant documents with you.

  • Be punctual. It is best to arrive at least 10 minutes before schedule.

  • If unexpectedly delayed, ensure that you tell the interviewer that you will be late and offer to reschedule if necessary.

  • Dress in a professional manner.

  • Be polite and respectful to the interviewer.

  • Do not swear or make jokes in bad taste.  You don’t know the personal circumstances of the interviewer and it is easy to say something that is inappropriate.

  • Research the company. Before you go in to the interview make sure that you know some basic facts about the company:

    • Where it is headquartered,

    • What products and/or services it provides,

    • Any recent coverage in newspapers or journals
       

    
 
   

 

The interviewer will ask a range of questions to discover as much information as possible about your character, attitudes and experience. Prepare some responses in advance - Be positive, never denigrate companies or people.
 

Typical questions are:

 

  • "So, tell me about yourself"

  • "Why did you leave your last job?"

  •  "Why do you want to do this job / work for this company?"

  •  "What do you think you have to offer this company?"

  • "What do you know about the company?"

  • "What do you believe are your key strengths?"

  • "What do you believe are your weaknesses?"

  • "Why have you had so many/so few jobs?"

  • "What do you enjoy most about your current / last job?"

  •  "Where do you see yourself in five years time?"

  • "Can you give me an example of your creativity / managerial / organisational skills?"

  •  "Do you work well under pressure?"

 


The interviewer will ask questions designed to elicit information about your behavior. Cite experiences in your past jobs, and always try to inject a positive note into your answer (e.g. what did you learn from the experience). Questions may include:

 

  • "Describe a situation where something went wrong"

  • "Tell me about a time when you have encountered a conflict in the workplace"

  •  "Have you ever had to deal with conflicting datelines? How did you decide which task to complete?"

  •  "What do you think you have to offer this company?"

  • "What do you know about the company?"

 

Prepare some relevant questions because you will always get asked the question: "Do you have any questions you would like to ask?"

 

The interviewer may test your loyalty and discretion by asking a question requesting confidential information about a previous employer. It is best to reply that you would prefer not to divulge any confidential information (sales figures for instance), citing the fact that you are sure the interviewer would expect the same loyalty from their employees.
 

  
 

 

 

  
 

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