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13. Tell me about your previous bosses.
If the topic of your relation with your previous bosses hasn’t come out until this moment, this is the moment to comment if you had any problem.
Consider – besides - that they can ask for references and then they will talk with your ex bosses. Everything you say can be checked out.
Therefore, if your relation was good, say it in a simple and concrete way.
If you had any problem or you were fired, it is not necessary to give disturbing details, but tell the truth.
If you have a strong emotional charge because the situation is very recent and you think that you suffer an injustice, take your precautions. Remember that you should not transfer your emotions; we will see what should be done in an interview in the next chapter. I suggest you to rehearse this answer until you can talk about it with no emotion. The interviewer will try to find out what happened and they will really value if you can talk about it with serenity. Try not to talk about other people. Use nouns and not adjectives.
It won’t help you not to tell what is really going on, the interviewer will detect that “something is happening” anyway.
14. How do you perform better, working alone or in teams?
“Working in teams is one of the most important elements for a successful professional life. But it is also relevant to be able to work on your own.”
We have already given this answer in Chapter 5.
And this can be the expected answer. However, don’t lie. Adapt the answer to your real temperament. The interviewer will be able to detect how you really are and remember that they will always value your sincerity.
If you really think that you are not a good team player, maybe you should say it by smoothing the answer: “I know that you value the teamwork and that is other occasions the contribution of those who can solve things by their own is necessary; in my case, even when I have worked in teams, I think that I contribute a lot more when I depend only on myself”.
15. Situations posing as an exam during the interview: most frequent examples.
For young people, the assessment group activities are usual. Through the use of cases pertinent to the evaluated group, they study their potential, the boss (es) usually participate, along with the specialists in the applications of assessment techniques.
For experienced people, who have reached relevant positions, they often ask for the resolution of cases that should be handed in, in just a few days.
There are also the classical technical exams.
However, without getting into any of the three situations, they can present hypothetical situations in the interviews in the form of a technical questionnaire. Generally, the questions are related to technical knowledge of the interviewee or the position they presently occupy or the one they are applying to.
Relate this question with Chapter 2.
16. If I call your ex bosses, what do you think they would say about you?
This question is related with number 13 of the same chapter.
17. What did you like the most – and the least - about your last job or what do you like the most – and the least - about your current job?
Prepare this question carefully. Relate all the available information. Keep in mind, which of the things you answer can be related with the position you are applying for.
Example: if you say that what you like the least about your current job is the very long schedule and the company you are postulating to have the same characteristic, answer what you want, but consider that you can be out of the search because of this reason.
18. Based on what I have seen in this curriculum you are overqualified for this position. What do you think about this?
This question scares many people, especially older ones. If you have made a good investigation about the company, you will find a good answer.
If the position is notoriously not for you, we don’t suggest you to take it. It is more honest to state a temporary relation, while you find a satisfactory job.
If it is not like that, even when you could take more relevant positions, you are not absolutely away from the position, a possible answer would be: “It is true that I was previously working as a…, but I am totally aware of the plans of this company and I think that I can provide my experience to the project and grow along with it”.
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