The interview is an important and difficult part of the job search. Although I feel I am well prepared, I still get trapped by unexpected questions.
One example was two weeks ago when I had trouble with an interviewer of a company where I was applying.
His first question, which really surprised me, was: "Do you drink?"
How ridiculous! An assistant's job is mainly paperwork. I couldn't see any possible relation between my job and alcohol.
"Sorry, I don't," I replied, adding, "I'm not applying for the Public Relations Department."
The bald man shrugged this off: "No matter which department you are in, you have to deal with people. And it is easier to carry out your work if you drink."
The following questions dealt with dancing and singing - not a single word about my major.
Well, that's just great. I failed because I'm not good at drinking. In fact, I hate alcohol.
In another instance, I failed because of the interviewer's English. I couldn't understand it. He asked brilliant things like: "What's your old?" and "How long are you?"
How could I possibly answer that? If I corrected him, he might have felt embarrassed or offended. On the other hand, it could have been a trap to see whether I was honest or not.
Some interviewers think that a boyfriend or girlfriend could mean the difference between staying and moving elsewhere. They ask questions like: "Do you have a boyfriend?" and "Are you going to stay in the same city?"
For these I was prepared, and would answer in a way that would reassure the interviewer that I would stay with the company.
The frequently asked questions are of course easier to prepare for. A general reply to "What are your weak points" could be "I'm a bit innocent or childish".
Innocence may be a general characteristic of the young generation. But, it's not a very big disadvantage and can be easily overcome.
In any case, preparation counts. Still, when you find yourself in those unexpected situations, my suggestion is to be yourself, because nobody knows which is the best answer.
The author is a fourth-year international business communications major at Nanjing University.
(China Daily December 30, 2002)
