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Common Interview Questions and Answers :
1. Tell me about
yourself:
The most often asked question
in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be
careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start with the item
farthest back and work up to the present.
2. Why did you leave
your last job?
Stay positive regardless of
the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never
speak ill of supervisors, co- workers or the organization. If you do, you will
be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive
reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other
forward- looking reasons.
3. What experience do
you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that
relate to the position you are applying for. If you do not have specific
experience, get as close as you can.
4. Do you consider
yourself successful?
You should always answer yes
and briefly explain why. A good explanation is that you have set goals, and you
have met some and are on track to achieve the others.
5. What do co-workers
say about you?
Be prepared with a quote or
two from co-workers. Either a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Jill Clark, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was the hardest workers
she had ever known. It is as powerful as Jill having said it at the interview
herself.
6. What do you know
about this organization?
This question is one reason
to do some research on the organization before the interview. Find out where
they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who
are the major players?
7. What have you done
to improve your knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement
activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can be
mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.
8. Are you applying
for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a
lot of time in this area. Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization. Anything else is a distraction.
9. Why do you want to
work for this organization?
This may take some thought
and certainly, should be based on the research you have done on the
organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed.
Relate it to your long-term career goals.
10. Do you know anyone
who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on
relatives working for the organization. This can affect your answer even though
they asked about friends not relatives. Be careful to mention a friend only if
they are well thought of.
11. What kind of
salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you
answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, That's a tough
question. Can you tell me the range for this position? In most cases, the
interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on
the details of the job. Then give a wide range.
12. Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics
that show you often perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself
are good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just say it in a
matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point.
13. How long would you
expect to work for us if hired?
Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work: I'd like it to be a long time. Or As long as
we both feel I'm doing a good job.
14. Have you ever had
to fire anyone? How did you feel about that?
This is serious. Do not make
light of it or in any way seem like you like to fire people. At the same time,
you will do it when it is the right thing to do. When it comes to the
organization versus the individual who has created a harmful situation, you
will protect the organization. Remember firing is not the same as layoff or
reduction in force.
15. What is your
philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not
looking for a long or flowery dissertation here. Do you have strong feelings
that the job gets done? Yes. That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.
16. If you had enough
money to retire right now, would you?
Answer yes if you would. But
since you need to work, this is the type of work you prefer. Do not say yes if
you do not mean it.
17. Have you ever been
asked to leave a position?
If you have not, say no. If
you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying negative things about the people or
organization involved.
18. Explain how you
would be an asset to this organization.
You should be anxious for
this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this
relationship.
19. Why should we hire
you?
Point out how your assets
meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.
20. Tell me about a
suggestion you have made.
Have a good one ready. Be
sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.
21. What irritates you
about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. A short
statement that you seem to get along with folks is great.
22. What is your
greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good,
just stay positive. A few good examples: Your ability to prioritize, Your
problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your ability to
focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your
positive attitude
23. Tell me about your
dream job.
Stay away from a specific
job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you
strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that
you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay
genetic and say something like: A job where I love the work, like the people,
can contribute and can't wait to get to work.
24. Why do you think
you would do well at this job?
Give several reasons and
include skills, experience and interest.
25. What are you
looking for in a job?
See answer # 23
26. What kind of
person would you refuse to work with?
Do not be trivial. It would
take disloyalty to the organization, violence or lawbreaking to get you to
object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.
27. What is more
important to you: the money or the work?
Money is always important,
but the work is the most important. There is no better answer.
28. What would your
previous supervisor say your strongest point is?
There are numerous good
possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team player, Expertise,
Initiative, Patience, Hard work, Creativity, Problem solver
29. Tell me about a
problem you had with a supervisor.
Biggest trap of all. This is
a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss. If you fall for it and tell
about a problem with a former boss, you may well below the interview right
there. Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a
supervisor.
30. What has
disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or
negative. Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction Company did not win
a contract, which would have given you more responsibility.
31. Tell me about your
ability to work under pressure.
You may say that you thrive
under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.
32. Do your skills
match this job or another job more closely?
Probably this one. Do not
give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one.
33. What motivates you
to do your best on the job?
This is a personal trait that
only you can say, but good examples are: Challenge, Achievement, and
Recognition etc.
34. Are you willing to
work overtime, Nights, Weekends?
This is up to you. Be totally
honest.
35. How would you know
you were successful on this job?
Several ways are good
measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful
36. Would you be
willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this
with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up. Do not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is no. This can
create a lot of problems later on in your career. Be honest at this point and
save yourself future grief.
37. Are you willing to
put the interests of the organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty
and dedication question. Do not worry about the deep ethical and philosophical
implications. Just say yes.
38. Describe your
management style.
Try to avoid labels. Some of
the more common labels, like progressive, salesman or consensus, can have
several meanings or descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you will manage
according to the situation, instead of one size fits all.
39. What have you
learned from mistakes on the job?
Here you have to come up with
something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake
with a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off.
40. Do you have any
blind spots?
Trick question. If you know
about blind spots, they are no longer blind spots. Do not reveal any personal
areas of concern here. Let them do their own discovery on your bad points. Do
not hand it to them.
41. If you were hiring
a person for this job, what would you look for?
Be careful to mention traits
that are needed and that you have.
42. Do you think you
are overqualified for this position?
Regardless of your qualifications,
state that you are very well qualified for the position.
43. How do you propose
to compensate for your lack of experience?
First, if you have experience
that the interviewer does not know about, bring that up: Then, point out (if
true) that you are a hard working quick learner.
44. What qualities do
you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive. Safe
qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and
holder of high standards. All bosses think they have these traits.
45. Tell me about a
time when you helped resolve a dispute between others.
Pick a specific incident.
Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you settled.
46. What position do
you prefer on a team working on a project?
Be honest. If you are
comfortable in different roles, point that out.
47. Describe your work
ethic.
Emphasize benefits to the
organization. Things like, determination to get the job done and work hard but
enjoy your work are good.
48. What has been your
biggest professional disappointment?
Be sure that you refer to
something that was beyond your control. Show acceptance and no negative
feelings.
49. Tell me about the
most fun you have had on the job.
Talk about having fun by
accomplishing something for the organization.
50. Do you have any
questions for me?
Always have some questions
prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are
good. How soon will I be able to be productive? And What type of projects will
I be able to assist on? Are examples.
And Finally Good Luck
