In the thread on job application errors, Eygonzal asks about potential interview questions. This is an interesting area so I thought it could be useful to start a new thread.
As a starter, I think the following link provides some good discussion on the questions you may be asked at interview http//www.forensicfocus.com/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1599
On a personal level, I am still often surprised when I am helping somebody to prepare for an interview and they still don't have a clear answer why they actually want the job. Surely, this is the most basic preparation and there is no excuse for not having very strong answers to this question?
Hi David,
I think your spot on about getting the basic questions right. It’s extremely important to give thoughtful answers, but not those which sound manufactured from a template. Below is a list of typical introduction questions I’ve faced in the past
• Why are you interested in joining the company
• What appeals to you about the job
• What made you apply for the job
• What do you feel you can bring to the job
Also don’t be surprised to be asked questions related to your CV. In my last interview I was asked to further explain my previous jobs; such as what I had learnt and why I had left. This is an opportunity for the employer to create a profile about yourself and analyse whether you are suitable.
I would also advise to research the company you’re applying for and possibly the person who be will conducting the interview.
• What does the company do
• What services it offers
• How the has the company developed over the years
• Significant milestones for the company
Lastly above all as David has mentioned on many of his posts, it’s important to sell your personality and show your qualities.
In the thread on job application errors, Eygonzal asks about potential interview questions. This is an interesting area so I thought it could be useful to start a new thread.
As a starter, I think the following link provides some good discussion on the questions you may be asked at interview http//www.forensicfocus.com/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1599
On a personal level, I am still often surprised when I am helping somebody to prepare for an interview and they still don't have a clear answer why they actually want the job. Surely, this is the most basic preparation and there is no excuse for not having very strong answers to this question?
Thank you for the post, very interesting.
Joel
I believe in this job climate and especially if you are applying for a position that requires experience, you should expect an interviewer to determine if you know what you say you do in your CV. Hence, if your CV implies you are technically able to examine cases with network forensics, telephones etc. then if you are applying for a technical position you should be able to answer questions about these areas.
When I have interviewed people, that's often where the issues are found, since it is determined they have either been dishonest in their CV or don't have an appreciation of what they don't know. I have found in for digital forensics world CVs often look fantastic but the people rarely live up to what is on them. So the key - don’t overplay your skills.
Another thing to note is that a good interviewer will be able to read between the lines and get to the bottom of what things actually mean in your CV. Don’t be dishonest. I have unfortunately seen quite frequently people placing qualifications they don’t have on to their CV since they believe they will get them soon. Until your degree is confirmed or you have your professional certificate you don’t have the letters! It’s actually fraud!
I do not have a problem with someone putting "working toward …" as long as they can demonstrate they are actually understand the concepts covered by that specific education.
Most of the concerns I ran into was where someone would have the certifications, but zero real life experience. Somehow they managed to get a certification but as soon as they passed the test they have forgotten how to locate the proverbial "on switch"…
Clearly stating they are working towards a qualification is fine. In fact it's good to know what people are studying for. However, I am unfortunately talking about people listing them as a qualification and/or using the letters.
Sam
I agree with you, Sam. Lying on your CV is never a good move.
A number of companies now check all your qualifications and earlier this year we had a horrible situation when somebody we represented had a job offer withdrawn for lying about their A'Level grades. They had been awarded a C and stated on their CV that they received an A.
Beware!
No qualms about that here either. Someone who is willing to bend their CV, may also be willing to bend in other things.
After having seen some of the replies to this post, I feel it’s time to leave some of my own remarks and opinions.
As I am a graduate who has secured employment, I have been through many interviews and there are a couple of questions which stand out the most. These are the very annoying ‘HR-esq’ questions, which may resemble “What type of chair would you be?” (a swivel one perhaps? ) ) and “What type of cake would you be?”. Now, as annoying as these questions may be, I’d suggest doing a fair amount of preparation as these will often throw you from your usual calm, collective self.
As well as the two ridiculous ones I’ve outlined above (well perhaps not the first one), there are ones which make a lot more sense. Some of these could be
i) Where do you see yourself in five years time?
ii) Are you a team player?
iii) If you are in a team and a fellow team player becomes overpowering, what would you do?
iv) What are your weaknesses?
These questions are rather clichéd but the answer to these questions is trying not to be too honest in my opinion. For example, everyone has weaknesses (including the interviewer I might add) and you know that you have your own weaknesses but if you state what they are, follow up questions will concentrate on said weaknesses and not your own strengths. Answers for these questions have to be quite calculated and in the case of my example, you make your own weakness into a strength. The weakness that you state has to be a matter of fact or quite obvious and in my opinion related to the job. For example, you are a graduate and admit that you do not know everything but you do know that you can do x, y and z. However, I would not just go ahead and use this example as the answer has to look natural and not manufactured.
In addition to HR type questions, every Digital/Computer forensic interview I have ever been to had some type of technical test, whether it be a few verbal questions or a written test. There is nothing that anyone can do to help you but yourself here. Make sure you do your homework!
(On a personal level, I am still often surprised when I am helping somebody to prepare for an interview and they still don't have a clear answer why they actually want the job. Surely, this is the most basic preparation and there is no excuse for not having very strong answers to this question?)
Regarding this part of David's post, the most basic answer to this question is…everyone wants the job because they need a job. So what do you tell a prospective employer who you are interviewing with as an entry level candidate? Because to be honest, most entry level applicants are going to be applying for many jobs with many companies………they just want that first job. So what is the reply to the question (why do you want this job) for an entry level candidate?
T