Thursday 23 June 2011

Interview Expo - Questions and Answers


As stated in our previous articles, we are going to be bringing you interview tips and tricks to make your next interview date a less stressful experience.
In this article we are going to be highlighting some interview questions and likely answers and as well as other tips to make you excel in a job interview.
Mental fear of the unknown is often what produces the physical symptoms of nervousness. In addition to preparing yourself physically, you need to prepare yourself mentally. The best way to prepare mentally is to know what may be coming.
The following are some of the most difficult questions you will face in the course of your job interviews. Some questions may seem rather simple on the surface—such as “Tell me about yourself”—but these questions can have a variety of answers. The more open ended the question, the wider the variation in the answers. Once you have become practiced in your interviewing skills, you will find that you can use almost any question as a launching pad for a particular topic or compelling story.
Others are classic interview questions, such as “What is your greatest weakness?” Questions most people answer improperly. In this case, the standard textbook answer for the “greatest weakness” question is to provide a veiled positive such as: “I work too much. I just work and work and work.” Wrong. Either you are lying or, worse yet, you are telling the truth, in which case you define working too much as a weakness and really do not want to work much at all.
The following answers are provided to give you a new perspective on how to answer tough interview questions. They are not there for you to lift from the page and insert into your next interview. But to act as a guide to format you own answers in you next interview.
Tell me about yourself.
It seems like an easy interview question. It’s open ended. I can talk about whatever I like. Right?
Wrong. What the hiring manager really wants is a quick, two- to three-minute snapshot of who you are and why you’re the best candidate for this position.
So as you answer this question, talk about what you’ve done to prepare yourself to be the very best candidate for the position. Use an example or two to back it up. Then ask if they would like more details. If they do, keep giving them example after example of your background and experience. Always point back to an example when you have the opportunity.
“Tell me about yourself” does not mean tell me everything. Just tell me what makes you the best.
Why should I hire you?
The easy answer is that you are the best person for the job. And don’t be afraid to say so. But then back it up with what specifically differentiates you.
For example: “You should hire me because I’m the best person for the job. I realize that there are likely other candidates who also have the ability to do this job. Yet I bring an additional quality that makes me the best person for the job–my passion for excellence. I am passionately committed to producing truly world class results. For example . . .”
Are you the best person for the job? Show it by your passionate examples.
What is your long-range objective? Make my job easy for me. Make me want to hire you.
The key is to focus on your achievable objectives and what you are doing to reach those objectives.
For example: “Within five years, I would like to become the very best accountant your company has on staff. I want to work toward becoming the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I’ll be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities which might be presented in the long term. For example, here is what I’m presently doing to prepare myself . . .”
Then go on to show by your examples what you are doing to reach your goals and objectives.
How has your education prepared you for your career?
This is a broad question and you need to focus on the behavioral examples in your educational background which specifically align to the required competencies for the career.
An example: “My education has focused on not only the learning the fundamentals, but also on the practical application of the information learned within those classes. For example, I played a lead role in a class project where we gathered and analyzed best practice data from this industry. Let me tell you more about the results . . .”
Focus on behavioral examples supporting the key competencies for the career. Then ask if they would like to hear more examples.
Are you a team player?
Almost everyone says yes to this question. But it is not just a yes/no question. You need to provide behavioral examples to back up your answer.
A sample answer: “Yes, I’m very much a team player. In fact, I’ve had opportunities in my work, school and athletics to develop my skills as a team player. For example, on a recent project . . .”
Emphasize teamwork behavioral examples and focus on your openness to diversity of backgrounds. Talk about the strength of the team above the individual. And note that this question may be used as a lead in to questions around how you handle conflict within a team, so be prepared.
Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it resolved?
Note that if you say no, most interviewers will keep drilling deeper to find a conflict. The key is how you behaviorally reacted to conflict and what you did to resolve it.
For example: “Yes, I have had conflicts in the past. Never major ones, but there have been disagreements that needed to be resolved. I’ve found that when conflict occurs, it helps to fully understand the other person’s perspective, so I take time to listen to their point of view, then I seek to work out a collaborative solution. For example . . .”
Focus your answer on the behavioral process for resolving the conflict and working collaboratively.
What is your greatest weakness?
Most career books tell you to select a strength and present it as a weakness. Such as: “I work too much. I just work and work and work.” Wrong. First of all, using a strength and presenting it as a weakness is deceiving. Second, it misses the point of the question.
You should select a weakness that you have been actively working to overcome. For example: “I have had trouble in the past with planning and prioritization. However, I’m now taking steps to correct this. I just started using a pocket planner . . .” then show them your planner and how you are using it.
Talk about a true weakness and show what you are doing to overcome it.
If I were to ask your professors to describe you, what would they say?
This is a threat of reference check question. Do not wait for the interview to know the answer. Ask any prior bosses or professors in advance. And if they’re willing to provide a positive reference, ask them for a letter of recommendation.
Then you can answer the question like this:
“I believe she would say I’m a very energetic person, that I’m results oriented and one of the best people she has ever worked with. Actually, I know she would say that, because those are her very words. May I show you her letter of recommendation?”
So be prepared in advance with your letters of recommendation.
What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?
Focus on two words: leadership and vision.
Here is a sample of how to respond: “The key quality in a successful manager should be leadership–the ability to be the visionary for the people who are working under them. The person who can set the course and direction for subordinates. The highest calling of a true leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person whom I consider to be a true leader . . .”
Then give an example of someone who has touched your life and how their impact has helped in your personal development.
If you had to live your life over again, what one thing would you change?
Focus on a key turning point in your life or missed opportunity. Yet also tie it forward to what you are doing to still seek to make that change.
For example: “Although I’m overall very happy with where I’m at in my life, the one aspect I likely would have changed would be focusing earlier on my chosen career. I had a great internship this past year and look forward to more experience in the field. I simply wish I would have focused here earlier. For example, I learned on my recent internship…” …then provide examples.
Stay focused on positive direction in your life and back it up with examples.
The aforementioned are only examples and should be used only as a frame work for your next interview date.

Lubes Sales Engineer at Oando Plc


Oando Nigeria PLC is one of Nigeria’s biggest oil and engineering firms. They are currently recruiting for the position of a Lubes Sales Engineer.
VACANCY TITLE: LUBES SALES ENGINEER
DEPARTMENT: Lubes
CLOSING DATE: Jun 30, 2011
VACANCY DESCRIPTION: Oando Marketing is currently seeking a Lubes Sales Engineer to executing plans to meet the sales and marketing target of Oando for Commercial and Retail Lubes through effective marketing strategies. The lubricant Sales Engineer under the Branch structure covers a minimum of 3 branches spanning over a minimum of 3 states of the country. The Lubes Sales Engineer is also responsible for building, maintaining and sustaining good and lasting Customer relationship with our entire Commercial and Retail Customers by ensuring excellent service delivery.(Note: All candidates with less than 3 years post NYSC will be required to pass an aptitude test before they can be considered for interview)
Click here to see full job description and apply
Ensure you register on their website, because you cannot access the job page if you don’t.

Dangote Group of Company - Profile


Today we bring you the brief profile of one of Nigeria’s top employing firm. Dangote group.
Company Overview
The Dangote Group is one of the most diversified business conglomerates in Africa with a hard-earned reputation for excellent business practices and products’ quality with its operational headquarters in the bustling metropolis of Lagos, Nigeria in West Africa.
The Group’s activities encompass:
Cement – Manufacturing / Importing
Sugar – Manufacturing & Refining
Salt – Refining
Flour & Semolina – Milling
Pasta – Manufacturing
Noodles – Manufacturing
Poly Products – Manufacturing
Logistics – Port Management and Haulage
Real Estate
Dangote Foundation
Since inception, the Group has experienced phenomenal growth on account of quality of its goods and services, its focus on cost leadership and efficiency of its human capital. Today, Dangote Group is a multi-billion Naira company poised to reach new heights, in every endeavour competing with itself to better the past.
The Group’s core business focus is to provide local, value added products and services that meet the ‘basic needs’ of the populace. Through the construction and operation of large scale manufacturing facilities in Nigeria and across Africa, the Group is focused on building local manufacturing capacity to generate employment and provide goods for the people.
OUR VISION
To be a world class enterprise that is passionate about the quality of life of the general populace and high returns to stakeholders
OUR MISSION
Touch the lives of people by providing their basic needs
Contact
Union Marble House, 1 Alfred Rewane Road,
PMB 40032, Falomo Ikoyi, Lagos, NIGERIA
Telephone : 234 -1- 448 0815, 448 0816
Fax : 234 -1- 270 2893, 271 2231
Email : communications@dangote-group.com
Website
www.dangote-group.com

Vacancy at Exxon Mobil Nigeria


We at www.bestnigerianjobs.com.com are glad to bring you this new job vacancy at Exxon Mobil
AUTOREQID: 12009BR
JOB OR CAMPUS FOLDER: DRILLING SUPERVISOR
JOB DESCRIPTION
•Provide day to day on-site supervision of drilling operations and prepare reports to the Drilling Operations Superintendent
•Serve as the primary contact with the rig contractor and third party personnel at the rig site to ensure that operations are performed safely and cost-effectively in accordance with approved well program
•Logistical planning and coordination of personnel, equipment, supplies and services to ensure that twenty four hour operations are maintained
•Responsible for well control, real time drilling optimization, casing tallies, cementing calculations and completion tallies and spaceout
•Organise and order necessary services and equipment to conduct drilling, completion, workover and testing operations
•Responsible for enforcement of approved Safety, Health, Environment and Security procedures to manage operational risks and prevent harm to personnel, environment and equipment
•Ensure that third party equipment is adequately and properly maintained. •Ensure compliance with all government and other appropriate regulations; including education of all rig personnel on safety and related issues. More details from the link below.
COUNTRY OR REGION: Nigeria
OFFICE LOCATION: Various
AFFILIATE NAME: Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Experienced Professionals, Students/Graduates Seeking Full-Time
TO APPLY
To complete the application process:
- log onto http://www.exxonmobil.com/careers/nigeria/apply
- click on “Search openings”
- in the ‘keyword’ search box, enter 12009BR
- Click ‘Search’
Then Apply as stated.