by Stephanie Altbier, MSLS, ERMp<\/p>\n
I recently had a job interview where the interview panel asked several personality questions. Here are my suggestions for how to answer the questions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is your hobby?\u201d<\/b> Give a professional response by talking about your volunteering activities and how you grow your professional skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat would your supervisor say about you?\u201d<\/b> If you have a reference letter from your supervisor, read the letter to the interview panel or summarize the supervisor\u2019s complements to you for a job well done.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you worked with different personalities?\u201d<\/b> Explain that you have worked with individuals who have different personalities and with diverse groups from other cultures.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow would your friends describe you?\u201d <\/b>If you have completed a Myers-Briggs personality test or another personality test, tell the interview panel about your personality traits that were revealed in the test results. If you have not taken a personality test, explain how reliable you are. You are available to work long hours, travel, attend conferences and learn new skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat would you do if you have a problem with a co-worker?\u201d<\/b> If you want to play it safe, give a neutral response by stating, I recognize that employers have different personnel policies to handle conflicts, and I would follow the policy procedures as stated in the personnel handbook. However, if you feel strongly about what you would do to resolve conflict with a co-worker then give a precise response.<\/p>\n
The two most common questions asked in an interview are What are your weaknesses? and What are your strengths?<\/b> I think Martin Yate, CPC and author of Knock em Dead<\/a>, The Ultimate Job Search Guide, and Secrets & Strategies for Success, recommends the best responses to these two questions from his blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are your weaknesses?\u201d <\/b>Yate states, \u201cYou can safely, and honestly, say that your greatest weakness is finding time to stay current with all the new technologies\/skills required in your work, because it\u2019s a challenge everyone experiences. Then you give an example(s) of how you have made time to develop an in-demand new skill.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are your strengths?\u201d<\/b> Yate states, \u201cSlant your answer toward the specific skill requirements of the job, your problem prevention and solution headset, and your possession of the transferable professional skills such as Multi-tasking, Critical Thinking, and the eight Communication skills (see any Knock em Dead book) that underlie success in every job.\u201d<\/p>\n This started as a discussion at the INALJ LinkedIn page. Come join the discussions here<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n reposted form 1\/12\/12<\/i> and 7\/30\/12<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Stephanie Altbier, MSLS, ERMp I recently had a job interview where the interview panel asked several personality questions. Here are my suggestions for how to answer the questions. \u201cWhat is your hobby?\u201d Give a professional response by talking about your volunteering activities and how you grow your professional skills. \u201cWhat would your supervisor say…<\/p>\n