Review these typical interviewquestions and think about how you would answer them. Read the questions listed;you will also find some strategy suggestions with it.
1. Tell me about yourself:
The most often asked question ininterviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Becareful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unlessinstructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done and jobs you have heldthat relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start with the itemfarthest back and work up to the present.
2. Why did you leave your last job?
Stay positive regardless of thecircumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never speakill of supervisors, co- workers or the organization. If you do, you will be theone looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason suchas an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward- looking reasons.
3. What experience do you have inthis field?
Speak about specifics that relateto the position you are applying for. If you do not have specific experience,get as close as you can.
4. Do you consider yourselfsuccessful?
You should always answer yes andbriefly explain why. A good explanation is that you have set goals, and youhave met some and are on track to achieve the others.
5. What do co-workers say about you?
Be prepared with a quote or twofrom co-workers. Either a specific statement or a paraphrase will work. JillClark, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was the hardest workers shehad ever known. It is as powerful as Jill having said it at the interviewherself.
6. What do you know about thisorganization?
This question is one reason to dosome research on the organization before the interview. Find out where theyhave been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who are themajor players?
7. What have you done to improveyour knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvementactivities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can bementioned 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 oftime in this area. Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for thisorganization. Anything else is a distraction.
9. Why do you want to work for thisorganization?
This may take some thought andcertainly, should be based on the research you have done on the organization.Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it toyour long-term career goals.
10. Do you know anyone who works forus?
Be aware of the policy on relativesworking for the organization. This can affect your answer even though theyasked about friends not relatives. Be careful to mention a friend only if theyare well thought of.
11. What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty littlegame 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 rangefor this position? In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tellyou. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a widerange.
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 thegood of the team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your teamattitude. Do not brag, just say it in a matter-of-fact tone. This is a keypoint.
13. How long would you expect towork 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 aswe both feel I'm doing a good job.
14. Have you ever had to fireanyone? How did you feel about that?
This is serious. Do not make lightof it or in any way seem like you like to fire people. At the same time, youwill do it when it is the right thing to do. When it comes to the organizationversus the individual who has created a harmful situation, you will protect theorganization. Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in force.
15. What is your philosophy towardswork?
The interviewer is not looking fora long or flowery dissertation here. Do you have strong feelings that the jobgets done? Yes. That's the type of answer that works best here. Short andpositive, showing a benefit to the organization.
16. If you had enough money toretire right now, would you?
Answer yes if you would. But sinceyou need to work, this is the type of work you prefer. Do not say yes if you donot mean it.
17. Have you ever been asked toleave a position?
If you have not, say no. If you have,be honest, brief and avoid saying negative things about the people ororganization involved.
18. Explain how you would be anasset to this organization.
You should be anxious for thisquestion. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate tothe position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to thisrelationship.
19. Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet whatthe organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates to make acomparison.
20. Tell me about a suggestion youhave made.
Have a good one ready. Be sure anduse a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered successful. Onerelated to the type of work applied for is a real plus.
21. What irritates you aboutco-workers?
This is a trap question. Think realhard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. A short statementthat you seem to get along with folks is great.
22. What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, juststay positive. A few good examples: Your ability to prioritize, Yourproblem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your ability tofocus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positiveattitude
23. Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job. Youcannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you straincredibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that youwill be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay geneticand say something like: A job where I love the work, like the people, cancontribute and can't wait to get to work.
24. Why do you think you would dowell at this job?
Give several reasons and includeskills, experience and interest.
25. What are you looking for in ajob?
Stay away from a specific job. Youcannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you straincredibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that youwill be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay geneticand say something like: A job where I love the work, like the people, cancontribute and can't wait to get to work
26. What kind of person would yourefuse to work with?
Do not be trivial. It would takedisloyalty 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 thework is the most important. There is no better answer.
28. What would your previoussupervisor say your strongest point is?
There are numerous goodpossibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude,Leadership, Team player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard work,Creativity, Problem solver
29. Tell me about a problem you hadwith a supervisor.
Biggest trap of all. This is a testto see if you will speak ill of your boss. If you fall for it and tell about aproblem with a former boss, you may well below the interview right there. Staypositive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor.
30. What has disappointed you abouta job?
Don't get trivial or negative. Safeareas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge. You werelaid off in a reduction Company did not win a contract, which would have givenyou more responsibility.
31. Tell me about your ability towork under pressure.
You may say that you thrive undercertain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of positionapplied for.
32. Do your skills match this job oranother job more closely?
Probably this one. Do not give fuelto the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one.
33. What motivates you to do yourbest on the job?
This is a personal trait that onlyyou can say, but good examples are: Challenge, Achievement, Recognition
34. Are you willing to workovertime? Nights? Weekends?
This is up to you. Be totallyhonest.
35. How would you know you weresuccessful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourselfand meet them. Your outcomes are a success.Your boss tell you that you aresuccessful
36. Would you be willing to relocateif required?
You should be clear on this withyour family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may comeup. Do not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is no. This cancreate a lot of problems later on in your career. Be honest at this point andsave yourself uture grief.
37. Are you willing to put theinterests of the organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty anddedication question. Do not worry about the deep ethical and philosophicalimplications. Just say yes.
38. Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels. Some of themore common labels, like progressive, salesman or consensus, can have severalmeanings or descriptions depending on which management expert you listen to.The situational style is safe, because it says you will manage according to thesituation, instead of one size fits all.
39. What have you learned frommistakes on the job?
Here you have to come up withsomething or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistakewith a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead ofcolleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off.
40. Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question. If you know aboutblind spots, they are no longer blind spots. Do not reveal any personal areasof concern here. Let them do their own discovery on your bad points. Do nothand it to them.
41. If you were hiring a person forthis job, what would you look for?
Be careful to mention traits thatare needed and that you have.
42. Do you think you areoverqualified for this position?
Regardless of your qualifications,state that you are very well qualified for the position.
43. How do you propose to compensatefor your lack of experience?
First, if you have experience thatthe 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 forin a boss?
Be generic and positive. Safequalities are knowledgeable, a sense of humor, fair, loyal to subordinates andholder of high standards. All bosses think they have these traits.
45. Tell me about a time when youhelped 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 ateam working on a project?
Be honest. If you are comfortablein different roles, point that out.
47. Describe your work ethic.
Emphasize benefits to theorganization. Things like, determination to get the job done and work hard butenjoy your work are good.
48. What has been your biggestprofessional disappointment?
Be sure that you refer to somethingthat was beyond your control. Show acceptance and no negative feelings.
49. Tell me about the most fun youhave had on the job.
Talk about having fun byaccomplishing something for the organization.
50. Do you have any questions forme?
Always have some questionsprepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization aregood. How soon will I be able to be productive? and What type of projects willI be able to assist on? are examples.
And Finally Good Luck
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