Here’s my thought on the article. 

While I agree that it’s important to find out as much accurate information as possible about any candidate, I also believe it is just as important for the candidate to be fully alerted to the types of questions that they may be asked AND the information that the questions are designed to illicit.  Preparing for an interview is similar to preparing for an exam.  It doesn’t matter if you know in advance ALL of the questions that could be asked…there is no way that you can know which of the questions WILL BE asked.  As a result, exam scores are still good indicators of whether or not a person possesses certain knowledge required for certification.  …and Interviews (which are basically oral exams where the subject matter is YOU) are good tools to evaluate whether or not a job candidate possesses the desirable traits that make you want to hire him/her.

Recognizably, unemployment is lingering at high rates and a good job might be any job that pays the money to keep a roof over your head.  However, the best career move will be one where both employer and employee agree to employment after each gets an “honest” picture of what the other is about.  The idea isn’t to come up with the best answer of what the interviewer wants to hear…it’s to come up with an accurate answer that is articulated so as to put your best foot forward”.   Besides, rehearsed answers are often transparent and come across as fake.

Being prepared for an interview is much like preparing your 30-second ”elevator speech”.  It’s not that the elevator speech is inaccurate or misleading, but if someone walked up to you and said, “Tell me why I should hire you in 30 seconds or less”…you wouldn’t want to spend 20 of those 30 seconds thinking about what you were going to say.

This same concept applies to interviewing.  You know the pressure that you feel to reply as quickly and intelligently as possible when asked a question.  Knowing what you may be asked ahead of time is the key to a positive outcome. 

Ready for the questions?  Here you go…

1. What do you like most about your current job (or most recent job)?  The thought behind this question is that there is ‘no correct answer’.  You simply have to offer an intelligent well thought out response.  Long periods of silence about a simple question like this indicate that you are looking for the “right answer” and that you might either be making it up or leaving things out.

2. What else do you like about your current job? This question is even more important that the previous one as it exposes weaknesses left over from the first question.  Hey, you worked there for how long?  Certainly you can come up with more that the one or two things that you just told me about.  If not, and if they don’t make sense, there could be more to the story than what is being told.

3. What are you looking for in your next job that’s missing from your present one? Remember those stories that you’ve heard about not saying anything negative about your current/previous employer?  Now’s a good time to remember them again.  This is like the “tell me about one of your weaknesses” question.  A good answer could be “more responsibilities”, but just like question number 1 above, be prepared for the follow-up, “That’s interesting, tell me more.”

4. What aspects of your last job did you like least? Again, a careless answer here could be the end of the interview…and keep in mind that a follow-up question is likely. This question works to bait you into speaking negatively about your employer.  Preparation here will help you to avoid this trap.

5. In your last job, in what accomplishments did you take the most pride?  The interviewer is hoping to be blown away with a great reason why you should get the job.  Don’t leave them hanging with a blank stare (which indicates that you did NOTHING in which you are extremely proud).

6. What do you consider your greatest strengths? Don’t be modest. Oooh! Don’t be modest? Are you kidding me? By this point in the interview, the interviewer hopes to have you feeling comfortable and is asking you to let your hair down.  The question will expose the egotist…but it also gives an opportunity for a modest person to offer that they “learn quickly” or are “a great mentor”. 

7. What am I likely to hear, positive and negative, when I call your references?  While this question gives another opportunity to reinforce a your strengths with your version of what a third-party might say about you, it also opens the door to you offering up something negative.

Throughout the interview process, be prepared for what are termed as the ‘five most important words in an interviewer’s arsenal’, “Please give me an example.”  The last thing that an interviewer wants is to learn some important decision making factor – and then finding no supporting evidence in their notes. 

All of these questions are designed open-endedly for the purpose of allowing you to demonstrate how capable and honest you really are.  Be prepared, but be true to yourself. The best job for you won’t be the job where you simply gave the answers that the interviewer wanted to hear.  The best job will be the one where the answers where honest responses that revealed that the true you is a great fit for what the employer is looking for.

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• Personalize the letter. Whenever possible, address your cover to the individual responsible for filling the position. A generic salutation sends the message that you aren’t familiar with the company; such an impression won’t convince the reader that you’re enthusiastic about the job. Likewise, “To whom it may concern” will probably concern no one. And “Dear Sir” or “Dear Madam” are ill advised–don’t risk alienating or offending your reader. If necessary, make a phone call, visit the library or use the Internet to find out the name and title of the person who does the hiring. Then make sure to get the spellings correct. Remember, the hiring manager will be looking for people who set themselves apart. Take the time to find out who’s in charge and you may be that person.
• Be natural. Use simple, uncomplicated language and sentence structure. Don’t try to sound like someone else, particularly if that means using unnaturally formal language, convoluted sentences and words you’ve never used before (perhaps misusing them in the process). You may mean to impress, but you’ll often sound awkward. Write as you would speak. Be formal, but don’t be a stiff. Say things in a simple, straightforward way, and don’t rely on a thesaurus. As with your resume, use action words to create dynamic sentences.
• Be specific and get to the point. Your cover letter must be intriguing enough to get the reader to look at the resume, but should be only an introduction to the resume, not a repeat of it. Make sure you answer the question, “Why should I hire this person?”
• Avoid using clichés. Stay away from phrases like “I’ve taken the liberty of enclosing my resume,” or “I’m a people person.” It’s difficult to sell yourself as unique if your letter reads like every other one in the pile.
• Be positive. Don’t complain about your boss or describe your present or previous work experience as “boring.” Nobody wants to hire somebody with an attitude. Above all, don’t sound like you’re begging for a job. A hiring manager may wonder why you’re so desperate.
• Be confident, but not arrogant. Don’t be negative or too humble. Tell them you’re qualified for the job, but don’t demand it. Don’t profess to know more about the company than you really do. Explain why you find the company attractive (there must be some reason or you shouldn’t be writing) and leave it at that.
• Be polite and professional. You may be a comedian with your friends, but a potential employer should be treated with respect.
• Be efficient. Don’t waste space (and the reader’s time) on unnecessary details. Respect the employer’s time–make sure every sentence has something to do with explaining your interest in the company, illustrating how you’ll fill the company’s needs, and how you’ll contact the company in the near future.
• Type your letter, but beware of the dangers of word processing. If you send a similar letter to several companies, make sure that you change all customized statements accordingly; no company wants to read how much you’d like to work for their competitor. Carefully read each letter before you sign it.
• Be available. Remember to tell the employer how to reach you. Give a phone number which will be reliably answered by either a person or an answering machine. If possible, include an e-mail address.
• Be proactive. Do not leave the ball in the employer’s court. Indicate what reaction you expect from your letter and how you will follow up. For example, don’t end with “I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
• Proofread. Check carefully for grammar and spelling mistakes, then check again. Typos and grammatical errors say a lot about the kind of work you do. Don’t depend entirely on the spell-check function of your word processor; if you use “there” for “their,” for example, spell-check won’t notice. Keep a dictionary handy for proper word usage and consult a style manual for grammar questions.
• Sign it. If you forget this, the employer may feel like you’ve sent a form letter.
• Package it nicely. Print your resume and cover letter on the same paper stock; the uniformity will look professional. Use only printers that produce neat, readable text with no stray marks or smudges. If possible, use a laser printer and avoid the inkjet.
• Keep one for yourself. Make a copy of each letter sent, and keep it for future reference.