When you are invited for an interview, be sure to
come across at least 10 of the questions discussed
below.
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 do you want to leave your current 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, Recognition
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 tell 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.
Best of Luck.
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