Recent job interviewing questions and our responses to the great people who visit My Writing Resources.

Click the link to see recent questions on the topic of Job Resignations.

Q: I was just notified that I was not selected for the promotion in my department. Why didn't I get the promotion?

A: Good question. The manager decided that someone else was better qualified, or socially was a better fit on the team, or was the son of the owner's wife. Without the facts of how the decision was reached, it is hard to know. If you feel you did well on the interview, have good rapport with the hiring manager and are shocked by not being selected, you might want to consider asking the manager why you did not get the promotion. You can do this over coffee or in a polite and friendly e-mail. To keep him or her from being defensive, you can say that you appreciated the opportunity to compete for the promotion, felt the interview went well and want to be the best candidate should another position be available in the future. Ask, can you give me some ideas for how I can improve?

Q: What are the best interview techniques when you hate talking about yourself? Another frequent question is: How to do a good interview when you are very shy?

A: My advice is to do a couple of things: 1. Study the position being advertised. What skills, experience and training do you have that fits the needs the job ad states? As you get ready for the interview, focus on the things you are capable of and how you can do the job. 2. Practice interviewing with someone. Practice giving real-life examples of what you have done, problems you solved, people your trained, sales quotas you exceeded, etc. The more you focus on matching your current skills to the job, the less hindrance being shy will cause. If the questions come up, hopefully you will be able to replay your practice examples. During the interview, be sure to talk about the specifics of how your background matches the job as you understand it.

Q: During a job interview, what reason can I give for why I resigned from a previous company if it was because my on-the-job performance was bad?

A: You can say, truthfully that you resigned because the job was not a good fit. You do better in a more team-oriented culture. You can explain that you are looking for an employer and a position that is a better fit for your skills and need to grow with the company.

Q: Did I do bad in my job interview if I was not offered the job on the spot?

A: No. You need to keep in mind that you are one of several applicants. The interviewer needs to decide among them. You should not expect a job offer at the time you interview.

Q: At interviews, why do companies always say they have another person to interview?

A: Simply stated, it is probably true. It is also a way of saying, we are engaged in a process of making a decision. Interviewing all eligible candidates is the first part of that process. For the the interviewer it is a way to say (perhaps to all candidates), "I've not made my mind up yet on who I will select."

Q: I interviewed three times at a company yet I have not received an offer or even a call. Should I call them?

.A: This is a good question. It could be that the process is delayed by a manager who is out of town or an executive needs to schedule time to interview the top applicants. On the other hand, the selected choice needs to be sent an official offer and he/she needs to accept it before the HR department can notify others (possibly including you) about their decision.

I would agree that a follow up call is a reasonable action to take after more than two weeks have passed. However, you still may not get any information or you may get some bad news. It is a good idea to be prepared for any contingency before picking up the phone.

Q: What if, during the interview process for a promotion, my manager dislikes me and gives a bad reference?

A: Chances are, you won't be informed if this happens. But managers being human and subject to pettiness, can give an applicant a bad rap. Perhaps they don't want to lose you. But giving out bad information is unfortunate because it can bias a hiring supervisor. If you suspect that this is possible, you might want to provide the hiring manager with a list of favorable references, the people who you typically deal with.

If you do find out from a hiring manager that your boss is saying negative things about you (that are not true), it might be a good idea to report the incident to your human resources department. They should follow up with your current supervisor.

Q: In an interview, how do I tell a future employer that I quit due to unethical behavior at my former company?

A: If you left the company and are about to join (or are now with) a new company, you do not need to share the reason you left with anyone. You made a decision based on your sense of ethics. If the question comes up during an interview concerning why you left a former employer, you might respond that, the company did not meet the career objectives you had in mind, and that you felt it was time to move on to something better. This vague answer does not trap you into talking negatively about a former employer. For additional insight on how to frame your own ethics in the workplace, check out this link More

Q: How do I prepare for doing a writing sample at an interview?

A: The answer depends on how this challenge is presented. If you are a writer or your field demands writing as a job skill, you should be ready to take on this assignment. If you are new to the business (just out of college, for example) you too should be able to write a short paragraph. But if you have little or no writing experience, It is a good idea to practice writing on a topic and then let someone else look over your effort for: flow of ideas, clarity of thought, spelling errors, punctuation, etc. Keep practicing this skill and you will improve.

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