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Jobs Helps - Interview Tips, CV and Resume Format, Cover Letter Samples, Interview questions and Answers
Get Hired Fast - A blog about Job Interview Questions and Answers, CV and Resume Samples, Cover Letter Samples, Job tips and Articles for the fresher and expert level

The Interview Success Plan - Answers and Answers

Step 3:  Answers, Answers, Answers

We've found a number of ways that people use to prepare their answers to interview questions. Some people will write specific answers to as many specific questions as possible and memorize the answers. Another way is to write outline answers to specific questions and memorize the outline answers. 

Our choice is to look at categories of questions. For some categories such as the "General Experience", you can prepare an answer covering all your relevant experience. The key is to be able to think during the interview and adjust your answer to fit the question. For example, "How does your current position qualify you for the job?" is simply a variation of "How does your experience qualify you for the job?". The answers to questions on your education should always focus on the aspects of your education that are a definite benefit to the job that you’re interviewing for.


When answering situational questions, we recommend looking at each question and then trying to categorize the question. For example, employee discipline questions typically may include identifying the problem, determining if the cause of the problem, stating the consequences, preparing documentation, and using progressive discipline. When you identify the problem, determine whether you are dealing with facts or hearsay.

Another category of questions is knowledge questions. How well do you understand a function? For example, supervisory candidates will come across questions that may include the purpose of discipline, proper documentation, and progressive discipline.

Cost reductions questions require you to prioritize the reductions. The criteria for reductions would include those services which are mandatory i.e. required by law (Environmental Protection Agency) and those services which are essential i.e. security.

We strongly recommend that you practice your answers using an outline of points you want to cover rather than memorizing a statement. Why? If you practice enough times, you'll find that your answer will hit all the important points and although you'll give the answer differently each time, your answer will come naturally and confidently.

A couple of points to keep in mind are:
  • Most interviews are based on the job announcement or job advertisement.
  • Many organizations bring in interviewers from outside organizations. When outside interviewers are brought in, their understanding of the job is based on the job bulletin and job description.  (Applies only to public service.)
  • Try to use the same wording as the job bulletin and job description. If you use different wording, then you are depending on the interviewers to make the connection between the words you use and the words in the job bulletin and job description. For example, if the job bulletin uses the word "manage", use "manage" and not "supervise".