我

d Morsier, a director of the Graduate School in Carnegie Mellon University,

Pittsburgh said

This occurs during the small talk before the hard questions begin. If you

can relate some unique experience that will make the interviewer remember

you, you may clinch a job, "he said

who mentioned that she did macrame. So did the interviewers we -er a girl

But it must be done without appearing to be contrived. I remer

Some of the questions seem harmless enough. Actually, they are tricks

esigned to bring out your weaknesses and strengths

" Tell me about your life"is almost always asked. It is a trap for ramblers

The interviewer wants to see how quickly you organize your thoughts and how

well you communicate. Someone who rambles a lot is on shaky ground

Your answer also provides a glimpse of your character and interest. Morsier i

recalled an episode about a lawyer being interviewed for trial work with

large firm. "She talked about a sking medal she had won. It showed she liked

o: So she wa的om

Another qu

.stion that u

people off guard: What is ye

it's a most difficult question. One should always try to present a weakness in

weakness?

a positive light You might say: "One of my problems is that i' m a pe

It interferes with my personal life because i'm always taking work ho

Pethaps the most dangerous booby trap is the inquiry: What do you think of

your former boss or company?

Never bad-mouth anyone", advises Mosier. If you were fired, try to owe it

to personality conflicts rather than to some other people. But always stress that

the conflicts didn't prevent you from doing your job well

Be more careful about the presentation of your former bos. It might b

noted that "he helped me learn specific skils" or "he was under a lot of

pressure". You might add, "But I wou, ld have handled it diferently and shown

more compassion to the employee