Get prepared for your next interview with our interview question of the week.
There isn't much that can cause as much anxiety as a job interview. If you have been looking for a new job, then you know what I'm talking about. The thing is, in order to really stand out from the crowd, you have to be prepared with ready answers to anything an interviewer might ask.
If you're like most of us, coming up with the best answers when you're under pressure isn't easy. So, to help you get prepared, each week we take another interview question and break it down in order to come up with the best answer.
So, here you have it, The Interview Question of the Week:
Question:
Have you considered starting your own business?
Why it's a trap:
If you answer this with a “yes”, and talk about your hypothetical business plan, you run the risk of appearing to be someone who is too entrepreneurial to be a team player. Or, that you are settling for the corporate world just until you can make a go of you business.
On the other hand, if you say that you have never considered starting your own business, you might be perceived as someone who doesn't have any dreams or motivation.
The best answer:
Before you plan out your answer, it's a good idea to have an idea of the corporate culture of the company. In some companies, the culture is one that encourages innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. While other cultures are more formal and would from on the idea.
If you are interviewing at a more formal company, minimize anything that would suggest that you had seriously entertained the idea of going into business for yourself.
For example:
“I have thought about it a few times in the past, but every time I keep remembering that my whole career has been working in large corporations. It is where I want to be and where I excel.”
If you are interviewing at a company with a more innovative, relaxed corporate culture, you'll want to emphasize that with the high energy of this company, you can get the best of both worlds. You'll have the chance to see your ideas take shape and be encouraged to think outside of the box while still enjoying the benefits and stability of a larger company.
No matter what the situation is, be sure to make it clear that any desires you have about going into business for yourself is in the past and it is not a part of your future. Even in the best of situations, you don't want the interviewer to think that you are someone who is just looking for a job until you are ready to start your business and that when you leave, you'll be taking some of their accounts with you.
What do you think about this question and answer? Are there other questions you would like me to tackle here?
If you are looking for a job in the Manhattan area, visit ManhattanJobs for the best Manhattan area job listings.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for ManhattanJobsBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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