Job Interview Questions

[B16RacerN2NR]

I'll be interviewing for a job (Cement/Asphalt Finisher for my City's Public Works Department) in a few weeks. I interviewed for a different position, but same department, a few months ago but didn't get the job because I didn't have the experience they were looking for.

Anyway, one of the interviewers from my last interview will be on the interview panel again. I spoke to him and he said I interview very well and my experience in cement/asphalt should help me land this job, ect... However, there are still a few questions, from the last interview that i'm almost sure will be asked again, that i feel my answers could have been better.

I've read all kinds of interviews tips and such on google and yahoo but I have yet to run into a link or website that helps with my particular questions.

The first question I feel like I bombed was:

'How would you go about letting your new Supervisor know what type of worker you are and what he should expect from you?'

Let's just say that I pretty much just said 'Walk up and talk to him' lol. For some reason that question threw me off gaurd.

The second question was: 'What does safety mean to you?'

My response 'It means everything. Safety is always comes first, especially at a job site. No one ever gets hurt from being safe' IDK, that answer just sounds retarded when I say it back to myself lol. Like i'm trying too hard. Telling them what I think they wanna hear.

Last question: 'Give me an emergency situation in which you had to help out others and how did you go about solving the problem?'

I don't remember my answer to this question but I know I could have done better with it. If someone could elaborate a little more on what type of answer they would/could be looking for...

So what should my answers be? I'm not asking for the exact answer, just a guideline so-to-speak. Any other tips would be helpful as well.

And for the record, I dress very sharp to all my interviews

 

[Sigurd8404]

Here's my take on it. You see, you do want to tell them what they want to hear, you just don't want to make it seem obvious. You have to make them believe that that is really how you feel. That first question sounds like a work ethic question, come up with a response about showing up on time, quality of work, etc. The safety one sounds pretty much right, yah it's cheesy and whatever, but safety is always supposed to come first. I couldn't really tell you how to answer the last one, cause I don't know if you've ever been in an "emergency situation". But if you have been, I'd talk about what you did to solve it like they ask, however maybe elaborte a little more on what you learned from the experiance and how it will help you if you ever happen to come across an emergency situation again. That's what I got. Good luck man!

 

[get_nick]

Dont' think about what they want to hear. because they have everybody thinking that same thing. you need to be different. they want to hear "outside the box" answers. especially working for the city. when you give an answer, they need to be all, "ahhhh good answer" and nodding their heads.

'How would you go about letting your new Supervisor know what type of worker you are and what he should expect from you?'

"I would take time during a lunch break or coffee to discuss who he thought his best and worst kind of employees are. I would tell him how i work and find a way to take the best of what is already here with the best of what i have to offer".

The second question was: 'What does safety mean to you?'

Safety is the preservation of the company. Our most precious asset is our employees and we need to ensure that we have everybody safe and able to be productive. a close second is physical assets, trucks, tools, and equipment. We must have all of this to be productive and profitable.


Don't think of answers like, "why should we hire you?"

"uhhhhh because i work hard and have integrity."

everybody says that. Say stuff like, "i work hard to be a good example to the team and do the best job at what i do and help contribute to other tasks even if they aren't my direct job."

 

[fionntan]

Confidence is just as important as how you answer. Most interviewers know that people get nervous, so it is ok to give answers like you did. If you seem to believe in your answers then people will believe you. Dont worry about telling them what they want to hear because that is what they want to hear. Just go in with your head up and look them in the eyes. Plus you have an advantage, you have already interviewed with them before so you know what to expect.

 

[Sigurd8404]

"I would take time during a lunch break or coffee to discuss who he thought his best and worst kind of employees are. I would tell him how i work and find a way to take the best of what is already here with the best of what i have to offer."

I do not agree with this at all, however I do not feel like starting an argument in this thread as its purpose is to hopefully help B16 on the interview. Best advice I can give with everything that's been and will be posted is, take what you want and leave the rest! Good luck once again.

 

[get_nick]

I do not agree with this at all, however I do not feel like starting an argument in this thread as its purpose is to hopefully help B16 on the interview. Best advice I can give with everything that's been and will be posted is, take what you want and leave the rest! Good luck once again.

well, you don't have to agree with it, and i would be happy to hear your input.

the point isn't about what is being said. it's about your thought process and approach to handling people and management. they want conflict resolution, open discussion, and respect for management. they could give a rats ass about details of how you handle it. they want to read into what type of person you are.

interviews are about who you are. they don't have you come in if you aren't qualified.

 

[E_SolSi]

i know this isnt any help but all i could think of is the scene from 'Way of the Gun' when they are getting their "pre-donation" interviews.

Employee: What would you say qualifies you as a donor?
Parker: Well, I'd say I'm a fairly intelligent, good-looking man, physically fit, stable…
Employee: Ok... heterosexual?
Parker: [pause] Can I ask you something?
Employee: Sure.
Parker: Are you a faggot?[The employee, taken aback, doesn't respond.]
Parker: See, you asked me if I was heterosexual. I asked you the same question, only I was clear about the answer I was looking for.
Employee: I just asked if you were heterosexual

.................

Longbaugh: Well, I've never killed a man…
Employee: I beg your pardon?
Longbaugh: I said I've never killed a man.
Employee: I didn't ask if you had.
Longbaugh: You asked me why I think I was qualified, and I think that's qualification.
Employee: And I'm just wondering why that in particular strikes you as an important qualification for semen donation.
Longbaugh: I would say that's a big fucking qualifica—excuse me, a very important qualification.
Employee: No one's ever said that before…
Longbaugh: Have you ever asked?
Employee: No.
Longbaugh: You should

.................

Parker: Faggot. Just say it.
Employee: No.
Parker: Just say it.
Employee: I'm not going to say that.
Parker: Don't you think it's funny that if I grab a woman's ass and she punches me, she's fighting for her rights, but if a faggot grabs my ass and I punch his lights out, I'm a homophobe?
Employee: Let's just move on.
Parker: Are…you…a faggot?
Employee: Any trace of mental illness in the family?
Parker: It's not what you say anymore, is it? It's all in how you say it

.................

Longbaugh: Why is that a big deal?
Employee: Because nobody brings up sex with dead people!
Longbaugh: Course they don't, it's sick.
Employee: You brought it up.
Longbaugh: To say I never did it.
Employee: I didn't ask that.
Longbaugh: You should.

 

[Sigurd8404]

well, you don't have to agree with it, and i would be happy to hear your input.

the point isn't about what is being said. it's about your thought process and approach to handling people and management. they want conflict resolution, open discussion, and respect for management. they could give a rats ass about details of how you handle it. they want to read into what type of person you are.

interviews are about who you are. they don't have you come in if you aren't qualified.

Well, this post I pretty much agree with , however details can be important. It does depend upon the situation however, you don't want to be drawn out and overdetailed. The main thing I didn't agree with was back in the other post, which I quoted last time and frankly don't feel like quoting again. But where you said about sitting down and talking with your boss about what type of persons he feels are poor workers and what type are good workers, and discussing your skill sets with your boss and where they fit in with the company. I think that might be a wonderful thing to do possibly in a office building work setting, etc. But in a city job working with cement/asphalt finishing, the job would be more geared towards what the task at hand is and you working with your team to complete it. You don't really have a say in where your strong and weak points are in relation to what job you may be working on, you still have to complete whatever job is assigned. I, however, do reserve the right to be incorrect as I have never worked a city job. Also I am only 20 and you are 27 so it is quite possible you have more experiance than I do. But what I have posted is my viewpoint on it all. Thanks.

 

[BrutalB83]

I don't think we can really tell you how to answer these questions, since a lot of them have a personal component to them (i.e. How have you dealt with this situation before in the past? What would you do in a situation like this? etc.). The most important thing here is that you need to think about this stuff beforehand, and prepare some answers. Write them down a few times if it will help you remember. This way, you won't be stuck saying "I, uh, well, um, let me see..." when you actually get to to the interview...

 

[B16RacerN2NR]

Thanks guys...

Like I said, i'm not looking for actual things to say. Just like a guideline to follow.

For instance, they ask me the emergency question. I've been in a few situations that I would consider an emergency, some work related, others not. The work related situations have absolutely nothing to do with the current job i'm interviewing for. So would the better answer contain a previous job emergency? or an emergency from some volunteer work i've done? or do both sound ok?

So once again, i'm looking for guidance/opinions, not actual answers.

Keep'em coming guys...

 

[phyregod]

Don't dress too sharp, you are applying for a cement job after all.

'How would you go about letting your new Supervisor know what type of worker you are and what he should expect from you?'

Show him.

'Give me an emergency situation in which you had to help out others and how did you go about solving the problem?'

This one time, I was on the way to a charity to donate my car, when I saw a fire in a house. I decided to check it out, and ran inside. I found a dozed 2 year old children trapped! But I carried them out, one by one.. When I got the last one out, I was about to collapse from smoke inhalation, but apparently some ranchers angry bulls had gotten out, I had to stop them from hitting the kids! Thats where I got this scar! (points to paper cut).. After I wrestled the cattle to submition, I returned them to the farmer and flew to washington to recieve my congressional medal of honor.. Right when the president was about to hand me my medal, an assasin jumped out, I jumped in front of the president and took the shot for him. I have a bullet wound in my ass, but I can't show you that, It'd be improper. Anyway, I never got my medal in all the chaos, and thats why I don't have it to show you today.

 

[BrutalB83]

For instance, they ask me the emergency question. I've been in a few situations that I would consider an emergency, some work related, others not. The work related situations have absolutely nothing to do with the current job i'm interviewing for. So would the better answer contain a previous job emergency? or an emergency from some volunteer work i've done? or do both sound ok?

I think either/or are fine. Either situation highlights your ability to perform in an emergency situation. I'd say pick whichever one puts you in the best light, or, if time allows, go ahead and cover multiple examples (ex: well, I've encountered multiple emergency situations, and in both instances...)

Honestly I think you might be putting a little too much thought into it. There are no perfect answers, or are even perfect guidelines for answering. Like I said, the most important part here is to put some thought into it beforehand. Go ahead and plan out your answers to the typical interview type questions, plus anything that's relevant to this job in particular. Write them down and read them over a few times so you don't have to fumble for something to say...

 

[BrutalB83]

Also, do you have a good-looking resume? That can help too, and while you're writing it you'll be forced to think about your strengths and weaknesses and prior work experiences, which will help you formulate answers to the interview questions...

 

[invisibledemon]

having not read any of the responses.

'How would you go about letting your new Supervisor know what type of worker you are and what he should expect from you?'

i would reply: "i would let him know by showing him, i can discuss it all day, but the only way to really tell him is to set my own example and let him know that im here to work as hard as i can. "

The second question was: 'What does safety mean to you?'

your answer sounded decent enough to me.

Last question: 'Give me an emergency situation in which you had to help out others and how did you go about solving the problem?'

you can answer this question. just tell them about the worst situation you have been in, and how you handled it. pretty simple really.
if you have nothing then i dont know what to tell you, but dear god, dont lie about it.

 

[B16RacerN2NR]

Don't dress too sharp, you are applying for a cement job after all.

When I ran into the guy who interviewed me last time and he said he liked my interview skills i said 'That's bull, you just liked how I tied my tie.' We both laughed and he said 'Actually, you were one of the best dressed. It shows you can be professional when needed. You'd be surprised at how qualified some people are for these jobs but they don't look trustworthy when the next guy presents himself just that much better and nicer' So in my case, dressing sharp is a must.

I think either/or are fine. Either situation highlights your ability to perform in an emergency situation. I'd say pick whichever one puts you in the best light, or, if time allows, go ahead and cover multiple examples (ex: well, I've encountered multiple emergency situations, and in both instances...)

Honestly I think you might be putting a little too much thought into it. There are no perfect answers, or are even perfect guidelines for answering. Like I said, the most important part here is to put some thought into it beforehand. Go ahead and plan out your answers to the typical interview type questions, plus anything that's relevant to this job in particular. Write them down and read them over a few times so you don't have to fumble for something to say...

I'm just looking to be prepared, not find the 'correct' answer(s)

having not read any of the responses.

i would reply: "i would let him know by showing him, i can discuss it all day, but the only way to really tell him is to set my own example and let him know that im here to work as hard as i can. "

Oh, that sounds good... Thanks

 

[BrutalB83]

I'm just looking to be prepared, not find the 'correct' answer(s)

I know. You've stated this before. I'm just saying the best way to be prepared is to actually think about what questions they're going to ask you beforehand, maybe write down some answers even, then you're not fumbling when it comes time to interview.

There aren't really any guidelines, besides be pleasant (obviously), portray yourself in the best light as possible while still being honest, and give answers that are long enough to get your point across, but don't ramble. They've done research on this and found that interviewers will tune out after so long, despite the fact that their job is to listen to your answers. Don't give short, overly-simplistic answers, but also be concise...

 

[B16RacerN2NR]

I know. You've stated this before. I'm just saying the best way to be prepared is to actually think about what questions they're going to ask you beforehand, maybe write down some answers even, then you're not fumbling when it comes time to interview.

There aren't really any guidelines, besides be pleasant (obviously), portray yourself in the best light as possible while still being honest, and give answers that are long enough to get your point across, but don't ramble. They've done research on this and found that interviewers will tune out after so long, despite the fact that their job is to listen to your answers. Don't give short, overly-simplistic answers, but also be concise...