Dear Michael,
Re your comment: "What types of questions can I or should I expect to table in an interview?"
I agree with all of the excellent replies to your post. I would only add that you should view the interview process as a mutual interview, not just a one-sided interrogation. The objective is to find a mutual fit between the needs of the business and the skills and aspirations of the candidate. Toward that aim, there are questions that you can anticipate like the ones you mentioned and others. And, for each of these questions that the interviewer asks you, you should both answer the question directly to give the interviewer the answer and information that they need and you need to ask the interviewer a follow up question to get the information that you need.
For example, take your first question:
- "What is your methodology?"
After answering this question to the level of detail that you feel is appropriate, then immediately ask the interviewer:
- "What is the methodology of the organization and what level of methodology maturity has the organization achieved?"
And for your second question:
- "What would you say to me if I'm the sponsor and come to you and tell you we need to move the target date up?"
After answering this question to the level of detail that you feel is appropriate, then immediately ask the interviewer:
- "What is the organization's process for requested project changes such as scope, schedule, and budget and is the process really followed or, at the end of the day, does the organization really just pay lip service to its methodology and manage projects in an ad hoc, best effort, manner?"
You get the idea. Just as the interviewer wants to ensure that you are qualified and competitive over other alternatives, you want to ensure that the organization that you are considering being part of is qualified and competitive over the alternatives you have. It is a "win-win" and you should get just as much out of the inteview as you give. The interviewer also benefits as they see more to distinguish you, as a candidate, from all the others that simply sat for the interview and only gave canned answers to canned questions.
As always, be direct and sincere. The objective isn't to pass a test by answering a bunch of questions the way you think the interviewer wants them to be, rather to find and assess the mutual fit. If they need something that you can't provide, you should be the first to suggest it might not be a good, going forward fit. And, if you need something that they can't provide or if they are not what you are really interested in, then you might consider stepping away from the opportunity. Have a plan in mind to anticipate how the interview might go and to ensure that the interview meets your needs too.
Great post and replies. Good luck..!
Mark Perry
VP of Customer Care
BOT International
