Two Sections:
First section – 64 Interview Questions, Answers and Traps - Download PDF (Requires Adobe Reader)
Second section: The following was brought to our attention by one of our members. We thought it very useful and are listing it on our site. Please remember to give credit to the author listed below if you use this outside of our website.
(Excerpted from the book The Accelerated
Job Search by Wayne D. Ford, Ph.D, published by The Management Advantage,
Inc.)
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 worker
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 bet is to stay generic 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 blow the interview right there. Stay
positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a superior.
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: A 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 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 a 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 involving areas 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.
