Business interview questions

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Harvard business review interview questions

Then, ask questions that point the discussion to how the organization works. General questions — "What's the culture like?" or "Are people treated well?" — seldom work. I've come up with specific sample questions you can ask as you're interviewing for a job or talking with others who know the institution. They're grouped into six topic areas.

1. Purpose. Seek an institution whose purpose you could find inspiring. Consider asking:

Is the institution's purpose being met? What happens if there are gaps?
When has the purpose changed a decision? What if purpose conflicts with financials?
Who are the heroes?

Form an opinion whether people are proud of their product or service, and of their institution. Do people use the word "we" when mentioning it?

2. Teamwork. Consider how people work together, especially if you prefer to work in a highly collaborative environment or more independently. Ask:

How much do you work with your colleagues? What team accomplishments make you proud?
Are there special activities to promote teamwork? Are they voluntary?
Are people mostly competing for promotion and credit, or are they selflessly united behind the institution?

At their best, teams can be a strength, but some can be a problem. Weigh the answers to these questions against what you want out of your work environment.

3. Colleagues. Who you'll be working with and how they interact with each other is an important aspect of culture. Find out:

Who in your institution do you spend time with outside work? What do you do together?
Who in your institution do you expect to be part of your professional network over time?
Who are your mentors? Do leaders continuously engage with you or coach you?

Judge how much deference people give to senior people and whether that feels right. Consider your past experiences, and ask yourself how the talent compares to your classmates in college or in earlier positions.

4. Communication. How people communicate with others — and how they expect you to communicate with them — will affect your day-to-day life. Consider asking:

Except for sensitive information, do people know what's going on?
Do people say what they think? Are they direct and blunt, even if others are offended?
Is everyone encouraged to participate in discussions and have dissenting opinions? Does the boss listen?
Are people careful what they say and how they say it? Do they avoid controversial issues?

Consider how well people's communications styles fit with your preferences. See if the communication during the interview matches the answers to your questions.
5. Performance. Before taking a job, you need to know how fair or demanding performance management is and how supervisors will be looking at your work. Ask:

How would I be successful here?
What determines performance evaluations?
How is negative feedback communicated? Is it private, respectful, and focused on improvement, or negative and embarrassing?
Do performance measures reflect differences in difficulty? Are measures adjusted when employees have limited influence on results?

Some like it when there's no doubt what's on the line. Others prefer a more nuanced view of performance. How do they compare to your preference?

6. Productivity. A good match of process and policy against your preferences will significantly affect your productivity.

Are the right people involved in decisions at the right time? What steps must be taken before a big decision is made?
Do supervisors have an open-door policy? Can people drop in with questions, or do they require appointments?
What policies does the institution have on day-to-day activities (e.g., dress code, work hours, office environment)?

Stand Out in Your Interview

You've just landed a job interview for a position you really want. Congratulations. Now, you know you only get one chance to impress, but how exactly do you do that? Given all of the conflicting advice out there and the changing rules of getting a job, it's no wonder that job seekers are confused about how to best prepare for and perform in an interview.

What the Experts Say

One common piece of advice is to "take charge" of the interview. John Lees, a career strategist and author of The Interview Expert: How to Get the Job You Want and Job Interviews: Top Answers to Tough Questions, says this advice is misleading: "The reality is that the interviewer is in control. Your job is to be as helpful as you can." Claudio Fernández-Aráoz, a senior adviser at Egon Zehnder International and the author of Great People Decisions, agrees: "You need to help interviewers do the right thing since most of them don't follow best practices." According to Fernández-Aráoz, who has interviewed more than 20,000 candidates in his 26 years as a search consultant, most interviewers fall prey to unconscious biases and focus too heavily on experience rather than competence. It's your responsibility to make sure this doesn't happen. Here's how.

Prepare, prepare, prepare

Most people know they need to show up to the interview having done their homework, but both Fernández-Aráoz and Lees agree that people rarely prepare enough. "You can never invest enough in terms of preparation. You should find out as much as possible about the company, how it's organized, its culture, the relevant industry trends, and some information about the interviewer," says Fernández-Aráoz. He also advises researching the specific job challenges. This will allow you to demonstrate you have what it takes to fill the role.

Formulate a strategy

Before you enter the room, decide what three or four messages you want to convey to the interviewer. These should "show the connection between what you have achieved and what is really needed to succeed in the specific job and context," says Fernández-Aráoz. Lees says the best way to do this is to draft narratives ahead of time. "People buy into stories far more than they do evidence or data," he says. Your stories should be concise and interesting. Make sure they have a good opening line, such as, "I'm going to tell you about a time that I rescued the organization." Then, learn them like the back of your hand. Know how they begin and end so you can relay them without stumbling or sounding like a robot. Whenever possible, use one of your stories to answer an interview question.

Emphasize your potential

"No candidate will ever be perfect, and you will be no exception," says Fernández-Aráoz. Instead of harping on where your resume might fall short — or letting the interviewer do the same — focus on your potential. This is often a far better indicator of future job performance. "If your past achievements are not directly related to the job, but you've demonstrated a great ability to learn and adapt to new situations, you should very clearly articulate that," says Fernández-Aráoz. For example, if you're interviewing for an international role but have no global experience, you might explain how your ability to influence others in a cross-functional role, such as between production and sales, proves your ability to collaborate with different types of people from different cultures.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Healthcare business analyst interview questions

Business Analyst Interview Questions

The person who acts as a liaison between the product developer and the business user is called a business analyst. Taking this into account, a business analyst handles several responsibilities, right from the analysis of a business requirement of a project to the proper documentation of the project. Also known as functional analyst, business system analyst, or system architect, a business analyst is required to sketch different diagrams, such as case diagram, activity diagram, sequence diagram, and collaboration diagram. This makes the position of a business analyst one of the most significant job titles in any company. Thus, if you are looking for the best way to boost your business analysis skills or increase the chances of clearing your business analyst interview, it is best to start a practice test. Having a sample of the type of questions asked during a business analyst interview will give you a boost of confidence and help you prepare better for the answers. Further, they will enable you to formulate your thoughts and give you the right answers to present to the recruiters. Below are some sample questions for a business analyst interview, along with their answers, that might just help you crack the interview successfully.

Sample Business Analyst Interview Questions

Can you tell me why are you considering leaving your present job?

Just as the question is put to you, do not start blabbering bad about your current employer and company. On the other hand, you can begin off with stating that you have no growth prospects in your present company and plus, you are looking for an organization with long-term growth opportunities. This will induce the recruiter to get a step closer towards short-listing you. Or probably, you can list the long distance or relocation of the office as one of the strong reasons for quitting your present company. Talking about job security can be yet another powerful explanation about looking for a job change.

We have met several business analysts. Why are you the one we should hire?

Present all your positive skills and accomplishments to indicate your strength and confidence of handling the position better than other candidates. State how well your background matches with the job description laid by the organization. Mentioning any specific software packages and spreadsheet software that you are familiar with will be an added advantage. Let your recruiters know about all the advanced knowledge of all software that you are capable of handling and working with.

What do you know about our company?

This question will definitely be put to you to test how well you have prepared for the interview. Hence, before you face the interview, do a thorough research about the company so that it presents a good impression about you to the recruiters. Remember, all companies like prepared and organized candidates.

How do you handle stress and pressure?

Now this one is a tricky question. The company seeks to know your work culture and how well are you able to work under pressure. Be diplomatic and cautious while answering this question. Let your interviewer know that you are accustomed to working under pressure and enjoy working in an environment filled with challenges. Or you can state that you have been working in a demanding environment with deadlines and hence, would have no difficulties in continuing with the same work culture.

Others

General Questions

Can you brief us about yourself, your education, qualifications and work experience?
What are your professional strengths and weaknesses?
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
How long can we expect you to work for us?
Tell me about a project you worked on that you were very proud of, and what you did to contribute to it.
What are your goals for the future?
Describe your responsibilities as a business analyst in your last job.
What are the challenges faced by a business analyst?

Questions for Head of Department Interview

How will we notice that you’re head of department?

GCSE raw grades and value added scores will increase. However, it has to be accepted that this is a long term development and realistically it will take five years (ie a whole school cohort) to be able to fully recognise the impact of a new HoD.
There’ll be a greater take up at GCSE, and a change in the calibre of students taking the subject, moving away from those who see it as a least worst option to those who actively choose the subject.
We’ll have to take on an NQT in a couple of years to cater for increased numbers at GCSE and A level. ALternatively, the core members are supplemented by part timers who are supported by the HoD.
ITT students will contribute to our professional development.
Ideas and techniques of peer observation and support will become more acceptable and used in the department. The department will become teacher researchers and pioneer the latest developments in pedagogy with a strong focus on improving independent learning, group work and thinking skills.
There will be fully planned schemes of work at KS3 which include plans for progression and assessment. These will reflect a commitment to teaching a diverse, inclusive History curriculum in line with the 2008 NC.
Higher profile of the department – assemblies, displays, competitions, trips

How will you motivate your staff?

How will you improve the practice of your staff?

Ask the students what they think.

How could you improve our Value Added scores / raw grades at GCSE?

How could you improve take-up at GCSE?

How will you use pupil data to improve attainement?

Why do you want the job/why should we give you the job ? – Vision for the dept

What were the strengths and weaknesses of the lesson I taught in the morning or a recently taught lesson

How would I improve learning within the department

What would you do if a member of your dept was not following school/department policy?

As a matter of professional courtesy I would assume firstly that they felt there was some aspect of the policy that was threatening the learning of the students, or that they were having difficulty in being able to implement it, so I’d do my best to discuss the matter with them – to find out what their objections or difficulties were. It is highly likely that I would learn something from this discussion, which might solve the issue and improve the policy in question or offer some support. If this did not sort things out, if it turned out there were serious compentancy issues, or this person was merely being awkward, then I would refer the matter to my line manager, for advice or further action, after warning the person in question.

Business honors program + interview questions

The College of Business Honors Program is focused on developing future leaders who will bring energy, optimism, and enthusiasm to the business world.

At the end of their freshmen year, each class takes an international trip to learn more about the increasingly global business world. In May 2011, the Honors Class of 2014 visited Brazil. The Honors Class of 2015 will be heading to Turkey in May 2012.

About

Learning to develop and nurture a diverse network of colleagues upon whom you can rely for advice, support, and encouragement throughout your business career is an essential leadership skill. The Honors Program in the College of Business is designed to develop high-potential students into strong business leaders who not only excel intellectually, but also understand that with success comes responsibility to serve their communities, their alma mater, and each other. The Honors Program for the College of Business should benefit all undergraduates and not just the students in the honors cohort.

The heart of the Honors Program is the group of students selected to be College of Business Honors Program students. Those students will work with the Assistant Dean for Honors to develop the leadership skills that will be used to encourage all business undergraduates to participate fully in honors activities and to utilize the resources of the College of Business to prepare for professional careers. Students identified for the Honors Program should demonstrate qualities that put them in the top rank of the college. Such qualities may include leadership, intellectual talent, community service, etc. Most of the activities for the honors cohort will be concentrated in the students' freshman and sophomore years. Juniors and seniors in the Honors Program will participate in leadership teams that will work with faculty and administrators of the College of Business and the University of Illinois to encourage broader participation in programs that better prepare students for their professional futures. The framework of the Honors Program for juniors and seniors will recognize the commitment to major that is required of these students.

The Honors Program provides significant experiences for the Honors Program students and expects the students to make the College of Business a better place by using the skills learned from those experiences to be undergraduate leaders of the college. Advantages of membership in the Honors Program include:

A 4-year, renewable merit scholarship.
A seminar series, “Conversation with Leaders,” for honors students with national and international business leaders.
A mentorship program based on the idea of “mentoring chain reaction” to teach students to rely on each other for support and council and begin to develop a life-long network of business contacts.
Representing the College of Business a Business Student Ambassador.
An international experience, largely funded by the College of Business, at the end of the freshman year. Students are expected to pay $1,000 of the nearly $4,000 cost. Financial aid is available for students with significant demonstrated need. In 2012, the students will be visiting Turkey.
A job shadow program during winter break of freshman year.
Social activities for honors students—dinner at the home of the assistant dean for honors, pizza nights, games nights, etc.
The Assistant Dean for Honors serves as an advisor for honors students.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Weirdest Job Interview Questions

The survey of 1,000 adults by recruitment firm Michael Page also found that many jobseekers were failing to prepare properly, saying that their main concern was making a good first impression.
Appearance was a key concern for two out of five people, with just one in four saying they spent a lot of their preparation time practising interview questions or researching interview techniques.

Dean Ball of Michael Page said: "It's understandable that weird interview questions are unnerving for some candidates but they are becoming increasingly common in interview situations so it's important that candidates are prepared for them.

"Being able to tackle these questions confidently can help candidates stand out to prospective employers, who are looking at ways to differentiate between similarly qualified candidates.

"They can also provide a moment of light-heartedness in an otherwise formal situation so should be embraced by candidates as a chance to show their originality, creativity, how they apply logic and their sense of humour."

The company has provided some top tips to help you prepare for your next interview:

Whilst it’s useful to practise with friends and family and learn from their experiences, it’s important to seek advice from outside of your immediate networks so you get a complete picture of what your interview could involve.
Practice answering difficult questions – anything from ‘where do you want to be in five years’ through to explaining a gap in your work experience.
Get a friend to test your lateral thinking by asking you weird, unexpected questions – even if they don’t have an obvious answer. The important thing is to demonstrate your creativity, logical thinking and ability to confidently make decisions on the spot without getting flustered.
Interviews are a two-way street – as much as you need to answer a future employer’s questions, you also have the chance to steer the conversation to really show off your potential and make sure all elements of your experience are covered.

And, if you think you can answer "What do you think of garden gnomes?", visit Michael Page's Facebook for the chance to win a Kindle.