Page 12
The Battalion
Monday, May 1,1989
Te
Preparedness key to answering interview questions
CHANGING TIMES
Before you go to your next job in
terview, don’t memorize stock an
swers to questions you expect to be
asked. Employers, nowadays, want
you to show you’ll make a difference
to the bottom line.
The questions you’re likely to hear
today are aimed at getting .answers
to three concerns all employers have
before an offer is made. According
to Changing Times magazine, you
should keep in mind these three
concerns to organize your thinking:
• Can You Do the Job? To find
out, an interviewer spotting a line in
your resume dealing with your ac
complishments might ask, “How
much did you save the company
when you tightened procedures in
the warehouse?”
Get the actual figures of growth
and memorize them so you can
quickly answer this question. Also be
able to explain your procedures — a
logical follow-up question.
• Will You Fit In? Here you’re
really being a^ked your style of ma
naging. Say, “It’s open door,” and
ibr
Paid? You’ll be asked what you now
earn, so tell the truth because you’re
dead meat if caught in an exaggera
tion. But you want them to name a
figure first because you don’t want
to come in with a salary that's less
than they’d be willing to offer.
ing questions are designed to spring:
• Tell Us About Your Profes
sional Experience. Your goal is not
to talk so much that you narrowly
define yourself. Challenger recom
mends keeping your replies general
and very brief, letting the inter
viewer lead the conversation.
eliminate people. People get too
honest and end up offering a litany
of reasons why they shouldn’t be
hired.
occupation are taboo, too.
II the interviewer does (read
Ol.
use that as a preamble to more dis
cussion.
A variation on this suggests that
you are overqualified for the job you
seek. Your answer: Strong people fit
in best in strong companies. With
that, stress your goal of long-term
employment.
Ask how much they pay for simi
lar jobs. If they don’t answer but
press you, say you’d like as much as
your background permits and that
you know, they will be fair.
What Do You Want To Be
Sometimes there are hidden agen
das. James Challenger, president of
the Chicago outplacement firm
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, says
those who survive the Q&A part do
so by avoiding the traps the follow-
• What Are You Looking For?
People are too specific when they are
asked what they want in a job. Stick
to general skills so you’re selling ben
efits a company may want.
• What Are Your Faults? This is a
variation on the old what’s-your-
worst-weakness gambit and is still
asked of job applicants, especially by
interviewers looking for reasons to
Most interviewers know enough
not to ask illegal questions. Areas off
limits include discussions of your re
ligion, political affiliation, ancestry,
national origin, birthplace and the
naturalization status of your parents,
spouse or children. You don’t have
to answer questions about your na
tive language or the language you
speak at home, your age, date of
birth or the ages of your children
(but you can be asked whether
you’re over 18 years of age). Your
marital status, maiden name, num
ber of dependents or your spouse’s
forbidden ground, you have thitiMaai
choices. The lirst is to answer amp
mull the situation over later. Oi votf
could say you don’t believe thesep
questions are relevant to yourabil
to do a job or ask the interviewer
explain their relevance, giving
or her a chance to back off. Oi yoi|
could ask for the interviewer’sbu
ness card and indicate you are
a complaint with the Equal Emploi
ment Opportunity Commission.
1
roil
ur
As an applicant, you can measur
the success of an interview by beiit
able to say afterward, “1 understam
them and thev understand me."
ourn
/ideo
In
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f McDonald's
MCDONALD’S
DRIVE-THRU
WINDOW
INTRAMURAL HIGHLIGHTS
m
£ Me Donald's
Wi
im \
igain
1985
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nate:
■am
video
Co
niein!
posm
rnaki
At University Drive
S. Texas Ave.
Now at Manor East Mali
BREAKFAST EVERY
MORNING
FOOTNOTES
SPORTS CLUBS
- All University Softball Playoffs start
tonight. All team captains please check
your schedules accross from racquetball
court #2.
• Good Luck on your finals, and have a
great summer from Recreational Sports.
• The Trap and Skeet Team finished third in
the nation at a tournament in Omaha,
Nebraska last week.
• The Archery Team will compete at nation
als on May 16 at the University of Miami-
Ohio.
GOLF DRIVING RANGE HOURS
The Driving Range, located at the Intramural Sports Center, is now open for operation Mon-Thu, 3 PM -
6 PM; Fri, 12 PM - 6 PM; Sat, 10 AM - 6 PM; and Sun, 12 noon - 6 PM.
RAINING?? Call 845-2625 to see if your game has
been rained out.
BEAT THE HEAT THIS SUMMER
SUMMER SESSION 1
SUMMER SESSION II
Slowpitch Softball
June 5
June 9
July 10
July 14
Volleyball Triples
June 5
June 9
July 10
July 14
Basketball Triples
June 5
June 9
July 10
July 14
Tennis Singles
June 5
June 9
July 10
July 14
Tennis Doubles
—
—
July 10
July 14
Racquetball Doubles
June 5
June 9
—
Racquetball Singles
—
—
July 10
July 14
Golf Singles
June 5
June 9
—
Golf Doubles
—
,
July 10
July 14
Horseshoe Doubles
June 5
June 9
—
Horseshoe Singles
—
—
July 10
July 14
Exercise Classes
June 5
June 16
July 10
July 14
General Motors Auto Expo Winners
I ALL UNIVERSITY
Regina L. Cleave of Kileen, Texas won a $500 check
fron General Motors and Francisco J. Sanchez Jr.
won another $500 check from GMAC in the Auto
Expo sponsored by the Sports Officials Association
April 25 and 26 at Rudder Fountain.
Locker Clearance
Individuals who have recreational lockers rentee
should renew their locker rental or clear it oulb;
June 6. AD lockers not renewed will be cleared.f<i
more information, contact Rick Hall at 845-7826
ated
C
n
Ac
liver
ne s’
Bi
atio
Read Building and G. Roliie White
Mon - Fri
Sat - Sun
6:00 AM - 8:00 AM
12 Noon - 1:00 PM
5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Deware Weightroom
Mon - Fri
Sat - Sun
11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
12 Noon - 7:00 PM
Mon - Fri
Sat - Sun
*DeWare Courts will be closed May 13 - June 4 and will reopen on June 5.
The office hours for the Recreational Sports Office May 15 - June 2 will be
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday. Regualar office hours will resume on June 5
ACKNOWLECEMENTS: McDonald's Intramural Highlights is sponsored in the Battalion by your local
McDonald's Restaurant at University Drive, Manor East Mall, H wy 21, Texas Ave. at SW Parkway and Post
Oak Mall. Stories are by Steve Harding, graphics are by Paul Irwin and photos are by Mark Figart and Lynda
Bottos.