Review these typical interview
questions 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 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?
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
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 uture 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
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