Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?: A Crash Course in Finding, Landing, and Keeping Your First Real Job (31 page)

How you compare to other candidates

What kind of attitude and level of confidence you exude—are you energetic and enthusiastic?

Whether you’re motivated, with a strong work ethic

Whether you are honest and reliable

Whether you are a good communicator and a good listener

How much management and supervision you will require

Whether you are a good problem-solver, with common sense and strong analytical abilities.

If an interviewer doesn’t ask you questions that elicit this kind of information, you need to take the initiative, offering illustrative anecdotes at the appropriate times.

Interview questions generally fall into a few distinct categories. Read on for a breakdown with lists of questions and sample answers (the good kind and the bad kind). Study these questions and make sure you’re prepared to answer them.

What experience do you have in this industry?

What qualifications do you have for this job?

What were your responsibilities at your last job/internship?

What were your major accomplishments in your past jobs, internships, or college courses and activities?

What kind of training have you had?

How has your education prepared you for this job?

Why should we hire you?