Common interview questions and answers

1. Tell me about yourself?

Ans : 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. imit it to work!
related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about thin"s you have done and #obs you
have held that relate to the position you are interviewin" for. $tart with the item farthest
back and work up to the present.
%. &hy did you leave your last #ob?
Ans: $tay positive re"ardless of the circumstances. 'ever refer to a ma#orproblem with
mana"ement and never speak ill of supervisors( co!workers or the or"ani)ation. *f you do(
you will be the one lookin" bad. +eep smilin" and talk about leavin" for a positive
reason such as an opportunity( a chance to do somethin" special or other forward!lookin"
reasons.
,. &hat e-perience do you have in this field?
Ans: $peak about specifics that relate to the position you are applyin" for. *f you do not
have specific e-perience( "et as close as you can.
.. /o you consider yourself successful?
Ans:You should always answer yes and briefly e-plain why. A "ood e-planation is that
you have set "oals( and you have met some and are on track to achieve the others.
0. &hat do co!workers say about you?
Ans: Be prepared with a quote or two from co!workers. 1ither a specific statement or a
paraphrase will work. 2ill 3lark( a co!worker at $mith 3ompany( always said * was the
hardest workers she had ever known. *t is as powerful as 2ill havin" said it at the
interview herself.
4. &hat do you know about this or"ani)ation?
This question is one reason to do some research on the or"ani)ation before the interview.
5ind out where they have been and where they are "oin". &hat are the current issues and
who are the ma#or players?
6.. &hat have you done to improve your knowled"e in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate to the #ob. A wide variety of activities
can be mentioned as positive self!improvement. 7ave some "ood ones handy to mention.
8. Are you applyin" for other #obs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area. +eep the focuson this #ob and what
you can do for this or"ani)ation. Anythin" else is a distraction.
9. &hy do you want to work for this or"ani)ation?
This may take some thou"ht and certainly( should be based on the research you have
done on the or"ani)ation. $incerity is e-tremely important here and will easily be sensed.
:elate it to your lon"!term career "oals.
1;. /o you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives workin" for the or"ani)ation. This can affect your
answer even thou"h they asked about friends not relatives. Be careful to mention a friend
only if they are well thou"ht of.
11. &hat is your 1-pected $alary?
A loaded question. A nasty little "ame that you will probably lose if you answer first. $o(
do not answer it. *nstead( say somethin" like( That<s a tou"h question. 3an you tell me
the ran"e for this position? *n most cases( the interviewer( taken off "uard( will tell you. *f
not( say that it can depend on the details of the #ob. Then "ive a wide ran"e.
1%. Are you a team player?
You are( of course( a team player. Be sure to have e-amples ready. $pecifics that show
you often perform for the "ood of the team rather than for yourself are "ood evidence of
your team attitude. /o not bra"( #ust say it in a matter!of!fact tone. This is a key point.
1,. 7ow lon" would you e-pect to work for us if hired?
$pecifics here are not "ood. $omethin" like this should work: *<d like it to be a lon" time.
=r As lon" as we both feel *<m doin" a "ood #ob.
1.. 7ave you ever had to fire anyone?
7ow did you feel about that? This is serious. /o not make li"ht 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 ri"ht thin" to
do. &hen it comes to the or"ani)ation versus the individual who has created a harmful
situation( you will protect the or"ani)ation. :emember firin" is not the same as layoff or
reduction in force.
10. &hat is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not lookin" for a lon" or flowery dissertation here. /o you have stron"
feelin"s that the #ob "ets done? Yes. That<s the type of answer that works best here. $hort
and positive( showin" a benefit to the or"ani)ation.
14. *f you had enou"h money to retire ri"ht now( would you?
Answer yes if you would. But since you need to work( this is the type of work you prefer.
/o not say yes if you do not mean it.
16. 7ave you ever been asked to leave a position?
*f you have not( say no. *f you have( be honest( brief and avoid sayin" ne"ative thin"s
about the people or or"ani)ation involved.
18. 1-plain how you would be an asset to this or"ani)ation ?
You should be an-ious for this question. *t "ives you a chance to hi"hli"ht your best
points as they relate to the position bein" discussed. >ive a little advance thou"ht to this
relationship
.19. &hy should we hire you?
?oint out how your assets meet what the or"ani)ation needs. /o not mention any other
candidates to make a comparison.
%;. Tell me about a su""estion you have made ?
7ave a "ood one ready. Be sure and use a su""estion that was accepted and was then
considered successful. =ne related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.
%1. &hat irritates you about co!workers?
This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anythin" that irritates
you. A short statement that you seem to "et alon" with folks is "reat.
%%. &hat is your "reatest stren"th?
'umerous answers are "ood( #ust stay positive. A few "ood e-amples: Your ability to
prioriti)e( Your problem!solvin" skills( Your ability to work under pressure( Your ability
to focus on pro#ects( Your professional e-pertise( Your leadership skills( Your positive
attitude
%,. Tell me about your dream #ob ?
$tay away from a specific #ob. You cannot win. *f you say the #ob you are contendin" for
is it( you strain credibility. *f you say another #ob is it( you plant the suspicion that you
will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay "enetic and say
somethin" like: A #ob where * love the work( like the people( can contribute andcan<t wait
to "et to work.
%.. &hy do you think you would do well at this #ob?
>ive several reasons and include skills( e-perience and interest.
%0. &hat are you lookin" for in a #ob?
$ee answer @ %,
%4. &hat kind of person would you refuse to work with?
/o not be trivial. *t would take disloyalty to the or"ani)ation( violence or lawbreakin" to
"et you to ob#ect. Ainor ob#ections will label you as a whiner.
%6. &hat is more important to you: the money or the work?
Aoney is always important( but the work is the most important. There is no better
answer.
%8. &hat would your previous supervisor say your stron"est point is?
There are numerous "ood possibilities: oyalty( 1ner"y( ?ositive attitude( eadership(
Team player( 1-pertise(*nitiativ e( ?atience( 7ard work( 3reativity( ?roblem solver
%9. Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor?
Bi""est trap of all. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss. *f you fall for it
and tell about a problem with a former boss( you may well below the interview ri"ht
there. $tay positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor.
,;. &hat has disappointed you about a #ob?
/on<t "et trivial or ne"ative. $afe areas are few but can include: 'ot enou"h of a
challen"e. You were laid off in a reduction 3ompany did not win a contract( which would
have "iven you more responsibility.
,1. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. >ive an e-ample that relates
to the type of position applied for.
,%. /o your skills match this #ob or another #ob more closely?
?robably this one. /o not "ive fuel to the suspicion that you may want another #ob more
than this one.
,,. &hat motivates you to do your best on the #ob?
This is a personal trait that only you can say( but "ood e-amples are: 3hallen"e(
Achievement( :eco"nition
,.. Are you willin" to work overtime? 'i"hts? &eekends?
This is up to you. Be totally honest.
,0. 7ow would you know you were successful on this #ob?
$everal ways are "ood measures: You set hi"h standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success. Your boss tell you that you are successful
,4. &ould you be willin" 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. /o not say yes #ust to "et the #ob 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 "rief.
,6. Are you willin" to put the interests of the or"ani)ation ahead of your own?
This is a strai"ht loyalty and dedication question. /o not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications. 2ust say yes.
,8. /escribe your mana"ement style ?
Try to avoid labels. $ome of the more common labels( like pro"ressive( salesman or
consensus( can have several meanin"s or descriptions dependin" on which mana"ement
e-pert you listen to. The situational style is safe( because it says you will mana"e
accordin" to the situation( instead of one si)e fits all.
,9. &hat have you learned from mistakes on the #ob?
7ere you have to come up with somethin" or you strain credibility. Aake it small( well
intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. An e-ample would be workin" too far
ahead of collea"ues on a pro#ect and thus throwin" coordination off.
.;. /o you have any blind spots?
Trick question. *f you know about blind spots( they are no lon"er blind spots. /o not
reveal any personal areas of concern here. et them do their own discovery on your bad
points. /o not hand it to them.
.1. *f you were hirin" a person for this #ob( what would you look for?
Be careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have.
.%. /o you think you are overqualified for this position?
:e"ardless of your qualifications( state that you are very well qualified for the position.
.,. 7ow do you propose to compensate for your lack of e-perience?
5irst( if you have e-perience that the interviewer does not know about( brin" that up:
Then( point out Bif trueC that you are a hard workin" quick learner.
... &hat qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be "eneric and positive. $afe qualities are knowled"eable( a sense of humor( fair( loyal to
subordinates and holder of hi"h standards. All bosses think they have these traits.
.0. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute ?
between others. ?ick a specific incident. 3oncentrate on your problem solvin" technique
and not the dispute you settled.
.4. &hat position do you prefer on a team workin" on a pro#ect?
Be honest. *f you are comfortable in different roles( point that out.
.6. /escribe your work ethic ?
1mphasi)e benefits to the or"ani)ation. Thin"s like( determination to "et the #ob done
and work hard but en#oy your work are "ood.
.8. &hat has been your bi""est professional disappointment?
Be sure that you refer to somethin" that was beyond your control. $how acceptance and
no ne"ative feelin"s.
.9. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the #ob.
Talk about havin" fun by accomplishin" somethin" for the or"ani)ation.
0;. /o you have any questions for me?
Always have some questions prepared. Duestions prepared where you will be an asset to
the or"ani)ation are "ood. 7ow soon will * be able to be productive? and &hat type of
pro#ects will * be able to assist on? are e-amples..
And 5inally (
E'ever take some one for "ranted(7old every person 3lose to your 7eart because you
mi"ht wake up one day and realise that you have lost a diamond while you were too busy
collectin" stones.F :emember this always in life.
GGGGGBest &ishesG..2aseena Abdul #aleelB2asA2aleelCGGGGGG..