Ever wonder why you didn’t get the job you thought you landed? Or, have you ever walked out of an interview scratching your head and wondering what was the point of some of the questions? Well, employers often ask questions that give them insight into the type of person you are, your experience and how you handle certain situations. Some questions can seem strange or off-topic if you don’t know the purpose of the questions asked.

To help you understand the questions behind these questions and prepare you for your next interview, take a look at the few examples below.

1. Question: Describe a time when you were working on a project and things weren’t going your way. What did you do, and what was the outcome of the situation?

The Real Questions: How do you handle yourself under pressure? Can you set goals and push past barriers? How do you manage stressful situations?

How You Answer: First, take the time to think of a project that was challenging but you provided a solution that was successful. In a few words, explain the project, its purpose, your role, the challenge, and the steps you took to overcome the issue and accomplish your goal.

2. Question: Describe a time you worked on a team project and there were obstacles to overcome. What were the dynamics of the team, and how was it handled?

The Real Questions: How do you get along with co-workers? What was your role, and how did you relate to others? Can you stay focused when working together on a team?

How You Answer: Briefly describe the project, your role on the team, what tasks and goals you set for yourself and/or others, the outcome of the project, and what you learned from that experience.

3. Question: Why do you want to work here?

The Real Questions: Do you know what we do? How motivated are you to work for this company? How well did you prepare for this interview?

How You Answer: Talk about why you’re interested in the position. Tell them how it relates to your passions, hobbies, or personal goals. Also, use this opportunity to build up the company’s self esteem and how it can have a positive impact on your career. But don’t brown nose – keep it simple. Provide details you’ve learned from your research about the company through the internet or from other employees prior to your interview. Show that you have taken the time to learn about the company and the position you’re applying for.

The next time you prepare for an interview, remember that employers are wanting more than just a yes or no answer – they want to know more about you and how you’ll impact their team. By knowing the questions behind the questions, you’ll have a better shot of providing the answers to set yourself apart and make their choice clear to hire you.

You may think that phone interviews are easier to coast through because you don’t have to shake hands, dress up, or think about nonverbal communication. But, phone interviews can be tricky if you don’t prepare, are easily distracted, or pick the wrong place to answer your phone. Here are three tips to help you get through your next phone interview.

Be prepared – Just like with a face-to-face interview, you should take your preparation seriously. Familiarize yourself with the company, and find out who you’re interviewing with. Also, prepare questions to ask the interviewer, and practice answering commonly asked interviews questions. For a phone interview, make sure your phone is fully charged and has a good signal if you’re using your cell phone. If you can, use a land line instead. You want to be able to clearly hear the interviewers and have them hear you as well.

Stay focused – Schedule your phone at a time of day that will allow you to prepare, and pick an appropriate location to answer the call. Place yourself in a room or a corner away from distractions where you can fully concentrate on your interview. Put your résumé and cover letter in front of you so you can reference them if the interviewer asks you a specific question regarding either one. Have a pen and notepad ready so you’ll be better suited to take notes. Write down questions you think of during the interview so you can remember to ask them when it’s time. 

Limit background noise – Creating a distraction-free area will help you sound professional and stay focused. Phones can pick up background noises very easily, so be sure to limit what you can. For example, avoid chewing gum, drinking, or eating during the interview. It’s okay to have a glass of water available, but don’t gulp it loudly. Turn off the radio or television, and stay away from children and pets because they’ll only create unwanted noise and distractions.

Just like a face-to-face interview, a phone interview can lead you to a job offer, or keep you from landing a job. So, make sure to treat a phone interview with the same preparation and professionalism you would for an in-person meeting.

Professional athletes must spend many hours working toward their goals in order to succeed. The same is true for job seekers. If you’ve been on the hunt for a job for a while, you’re probably well aware of how intensive the job search process can be. Applying and interviewing for jobs takes a lot of time, energy, and dedication. To land the job you desire, focus on beefing up your interviewing skills.

Stretch Your Small Talk Skills
In sports and in job interviews, sometimes you have to stretch yourself beyond what you’re comfortable with. You may not like making small talk, but your ability to converse well with interviewers plays a big part in their impressions of you. If you find yourself clamming up or stammering through chit chat with prospective employers, you need to practice your conversation skills. To perform well at the “big game,” rehearse answering common introductory questions such as: “What do you think of this weather?” and “Did you have any trouble finding the place?” Practice will keep your answers from being too abrupt or rambling.

Exercise Self Confidence
Star players don’t become MVPs by putting themselves down or being pessimists. When you believe in yourself, others are inclined to do the same. Even if you’ve been through 50 job interviews that haven’t resulted in a job offer, keep a smile on your face and maintain a positive attitude. Remember, successful athletes have to keep playing their best even when they’ve lost a few games. So, refrain from making self deprecating remarks or using sarcasm. Instead, convince employers that you’re the right person for the job by demonstrating self assurance and optimism.

Strengthen Your Post-Interview Follow Up
When athletes are weak in a particular area, they train hard to become stronger. If your post-interview follow up is lacking, you need to focus on pumping it up. What you do after the job interview is nearly as important as how you act during the job interview itself. You can’t win the job offer without having a good follow-up game. Keeping in touch with the employer by being available for repeat job interviews and sending a thank you note are important steps in receiving the coveted job offer. Make post-interview follow-up a top priority, and you’ll be rewarded by becoming a candidate employers can’t wait to draft.

Do you ever feel like your job search skills are in need of a work out? What type of “training” do you do before a job interview?

You’ve probably heard that you should write a thank you note after an interview. But have you followed this important advice or ignored this step? Do you know if it affected your job search? Here are three major reasons why you should always write a thank you note following an interview.

1. It’s simple.
There’s no reason you shouldn’t write a thank you note. It doesn’t have to be a long, exhaustive letter. It can be a simple, handwritten note that expresses your gratitude to the employer for taking the time to interview you. Or, you could send a thoughtful e-mail, especially if you know the hiring decision will be made quickly. This is your chance to demonstrate your professionalism and show that you’d be a courteous addition to the team. Make sure to thank everyone you interviewed with and use proper spelling and grammar. Learn how to write a post-interview thank you note so you can follow-up quickly after your interview.

2. It sets you apart.
I recently attended a meeting where the guest speaker spoke about writing thank you notes. Out of 30 qualified candidates for her position, she was the only one that wrote a thank you note. And she’s the one who was offered the job. This just goes to show how important a thank you note can be in determining whether or not you receive a job offer. Sending a note doesn’t guarantee you’ll get a job, but it can help push you ahead if you’re on equal ground with other qualified applicants. Interviewers take notice of those who make this extra effort. So, set yourself apart by taking the time to write a thank you note to your potential employer. It won’t hurt your chances of getting the job if you send a note, but it might hurt you if you fail to send one.

3. It’s an opportunity to provide more information.
A thank you note gives you the perfect opportunity to provide further information to the interviewer. You can include information you forgot to mention during the interview that would reinforce why you are the right candidate for the job. Remind employers of your strengths or share new information that entices them to request another interview or extend a job offer. This is one more chance to make a great impression, so don’t pass it up.

Taking a few moments to write a post-interview thank you note can make the difference between receiving a job offer and having to continue the job hunt. Don’t forget this important step, because your dream job could be a simple thank you away.

Do you write thank you notes to those you’ve interviewed with? How has it affected your job search?