Monthly Archives: November 2013

How to answer: What other jobs have you applied for?

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We recently asked you what your most hated interview questions were. Here we share our tips on how to answer them. For answers to the other questions, check out the series links at the bottom of this post.

 3. What other jobs have you applied for?

Apparent, this question is  dreaded because it is like being asked how many people you’ve dated. Talking about all the jobs you have applied for might sound desperate and unappealing. But you don’t want to seem like nobody else is interested in you, or that you lack ambition and drive.

Other variations on this question include how many other jobs who are interviewing at, or which other companies you are interested in. Especially if you are being asked these questions at the end of an interview, or in a second interview, it is likely the employer is interested and trying to find out just how interested you are in the job and whether it will be a fight to get you in the role. Inevitably, when you get a job offer, there is a moment when the power balance tips, and suddenly the cards are in your hands as to whether you want the job or want to accept it under the terms you are being offered it. This question sometimes signifies that moment.

It’s not a guarantee though, and there are other reasons why you might be asked about other job prospects. The interviewer might want to know whether you truly are interested in the specific field they represent – if you tell them you have cast a wide web across different types of career options, you will come across as seeming uncommitted, so it’s best to avoid that. If you have not applied for other jobs, be honest and say it is the start of your job search, or you are only looking for really special opportunities – and go on to say why you feel so suited to this one. Never make up interest from other labs or companies – especially if you work in a small field – as the interviewer might know their peers there and find out the truth. As with relationships, don’t make yourself sound overly available, by stating you have applied for a plethora of jobs. If you do have a serious offer from another company that you will need to decide on imminently, mention it now – so this interviewer knows the position you are in.

Overall, the best bet is to to say that you have had interest from other companies or organisations in the sector without mentioning names, but that this is the job that has really caught your eye – and go on to explain why and why it is such a good fit with you. And just like dating, even if you are the most coveted candidate, don’t behave as if you are doing them a favour by spending your time in their company.

How to answer: Tell us something unusual about yourself

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We recently asked you what your most hated interview questions were. Here we share our tips on how to answer them.

2. Tell us something unusual about yourself

This question makes people feel nervous because they’ve had their serious, professional frame of mind engaged for the interview and suddenly they are being veered into uncomfortable, more informal territory. How unusual or bizarre should you go?

Again, the interviewer could have various motives for asking you this question. It might just be an ice breaker – to help you relax and inject a bit of personality into the interview process. They are probably also trying to gauge a bit more about your personality, hobbies and interests outside of work, your sense of humour, and how you might fit in with the team on a personal level. If you have any interesting hobbies or achievements (you were a member of the bee keeping society at university, or won the B-Boy championships last year) then go with these.

Alternatively, try and pick something that demonstrates a bigger passion such as travel – for instance perhaps you’ve got a project to travel to thirty countries before you turn thirty. You might use it to talk about your heroes – you once got stuck in a lift with David Attenborough for instance. Try to avoid ‘party tricks’ such as the fact you can touch your nose with your tongue or fit your fist in your mouth. You may be asked to demonstrate, and that could be undignified, and remember you are being asked to pick one thing that demonstrates how awesome you and interesting you are, so if that’s the best you can do your employer might not be too impressed. For the same reasons, of course, steer well clear from anything that is too risque – even if you can drink a record-breaking number of tequila shots before passing out.

Whatever you pick, approach the topic with enthusiasm and humour, which will allow your personality to shine through.

Stay tuned for more answers to your most hated questions later this week.

How to answer the most hated interview questions

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We recently asked you what your most hated interview questions were. Here we share our tips on how to answer them.

1. What’s a weakness of yours that has been mentioned by your colleagues?

In this question, the interviewer could be trying to achieve one of a number of things. Yes, they might genuinely want to know what your weaknesses are, but they are probably also trying to put you on the spot, by veering away from your research about their company and the role.

Be warned: you probably won’t get any points for being overly honest. When faced with this question, never confess to being bad at any of the key prerequisites for the job. Instead, feel free to discuss a weakness of yours which isn’t essential to the role.

Whatever the weakness, it is a good idea to continue on to explain how you have improved on it and are making sure it doesn’t interfere with work. For instance, you might say that you worry a lot about doing everything to a high enough standard. This shows that you are conscientious, but before the interviewer begins to think you are neurotic or under-confident, go on to explain that because you are aware of this flaw, you have found strategies to address it – for instance you ask colleagues and your manager for feedback on projects, so as to gauge whether there really is anything you should be worrying about. If the feedback is good, you tell yourself not to worry. If there is room for improvement, you act on it, rather than dwelling on it.

Some people try to answer this question by picking a ‘fake flaw’ something that could also be seen as a positive. For instance: “some people say I am a bit of a perfectionist, as I like things to be done to the best of standards at all times.” Beware of coming across as too cheesy; after all nobody is perfect.

Think about this question before the interview and take the opportunity to think honestly about your strengths and weaknesses. Choosing something real, but non-essential to the role, and that you have genuinely tried to improve on, will show the employer you are a real person who can be honest and think on their feet.

Stay tuned for more answers to your most hated questions later this week.

How sociable are scientists in their job search?

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By Anjie Cai, contributor

As a Chinese student, “being a scientist” has always been at the pinnacle of the professional pyramid. Pursing a scientific career is an indicator of one’s intelligence, ability and devotion. There is also the stereotype that scientists are shy, isolated and absorbed into their own world.  When it comes to the playground of job hunting, being unsociable doesn’t sound like a competitive trait. Therefore, I am very interested in knowing more about how sociable scientists are in their job hunt and how it affects where they get their career information from.

For the last two years, I’ve been running my own small scale investigation, by carrying out a survey at the Naturejobs Career Expo.  Things haven’t changed much over the two years – except for the fancier freebies (Naturejobs jelly beans, for starters). Science students are friendly and helpful as always, and 59 participants filled out my questionnaire.

Far from home

In terms of demographic, more than half of the students who responded were international. International students were particularly worried about promotion opportunity, salary, and work permits. They felt that friends, supervisors, and colleagues offer the most helpful advice in dealing with those concerns, whilst they felt that the information provided by careers services – although useful – is quite general and doesn’t necessarily apply to them. All in all, it is clear that international students preferred to draw on their own networks for the most useful advice.

Help wanted

When asked to rate how important different sources were in their job search, participants chose web searches, supervisors and people they met at scientific events as the top three. More than half of the participants received career advice from people they met at scientific event, and from speakers.

The findings reflect the fact that most scientists love to discuss their own research and that they are willing to give advice to people who show the same interest and passion. Our participants felt that it was rewarding to have a chat with speakers and fellow attendants and that due to the technical nature of scientific subjects, career information from science community is more helpful than that from family members. They felt that being sociable and proactive gives scientists a head start in the competitive job market, and many science students were aware of the importance of good communication in their career.

 

sociable

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All that networking clearly pays off too – nearly half of respondents said they have been offered a job, placement or internship by a contact.

But despite this networking success, it seems many of the scientists we spoke to didn’t appreciate their own talents.  When asked about the “areas you are most concerned about in job your search,” networking skills was the top of the list. How to make contacts in the science community and how to make the most of science events were both areas the scientists wanted to improve upon.  And one third of participants wanted to improve their salary negotiation skills. It seems that scientists find communication a challenge, but are perhaps better at it than they think, or don’t realise that even finding opportunities through casual contacts falls under the banner of the dreaded ‘networking’.

How does this tally with your own experiences? What’s your most reliable source when it comes to looking for a job? And which parts of the job hunt are you most concerned about?