50 COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Review these typical inteview !"esti#ns an$ thin% a&#"t h#w y#" w#"l$ answe
the'( Rea$ the !"esti#ns liste$) y#" will als# *in$ s#'e state+y s"++esti#ns with
it(
,( Tell 'e a&#"t y#"sel*-
The '#st #*ten as%e$ !"esti#n in inteviews( .#" nee$ t# have a sh#t
state'ent pepae$ in y#" 'in$( /e cae*"l that it $#es n#t s#"n$
ehease$( 0i'it it t# w#%1elate$ ite's "nless inst"cte$ #thewise(
Tal% a&#"t thin+s y#" have $#ne an$ 2#&s y#" have hel$ that elate t#
the p#siti#n y#" ae inteviewin+ *#( Stat with the ite' *athest
&ac% an$ w#% "p t# the pesent(
3( Why $i$ y#" leave y#" last 2#&4
Stay p#sitive e+a$less #* the cic"'stances( Neve e*e t# a 'a2#
p#&le' with 'ana+e'ent an$ neve spea% ill #* s"pevis#s5 c#1w#%es
# the #+ani6ati#n( I* y#" $#5 y#" will &e the #ne l##%in+ &a$( 7eep
s'ilin+ an$ tal% a&#"t leavin+ *# a p#sitive eas#n s"ch as an
#pp#t"nity5 a chance t# $# s#'ethin+ special # #the *#wa$1l##%in+
eas#ns(
8( What e9peience $# y#" have in this *iel$4
Spea% a&#"t speci*ics that elate t# the p#siti#n y#" ae applyin+ *#(
I* y#" $# n#t have speci*ic e9peience5 +et as cl#se as y#" can(
:( D# y#" c#nsi$e y#"sel* s"ccess*"l4
.#" sh#"l$ always answe yes an$ &ie*ly e9plain why( A +##$
e9planati#n is that y#" have set +#als5 an$ y#" have 'et s#'e an$ ae
#n tac% t# achieve the #thes(
5( What $# c#1w#%es say a&#"t y#"4
/e pepae$ with a !"#te # tw# *#' c#1w#%es( Eithe a speci*ic
state'ent # a paaphase will w#%( ;ill Cla%5 a c#1w#%e at S'ith
C#'pany5 always sai$ I was the ha$est w#%es she ha$ eve %n#wn( It
is as p#we*"l as ;ill havin+ sai$ it at the inteview hesel*(
<( What $# y#" %n#w a&#"t this #+ani6ati#n4
This !"esti#n is #ne eas#n t# $# s#'e eseach #n the #+ani6ati#n
&e*#e the inteview( =in$ #"t whee they have &een an$ whee they ae
+#in+( What ae the c"ent iss"es an$ wh# ae the 'a2# playes4
>( What have y#" $#ne t# i'p#ve y#" %n#wle$+e in the last yea4
Ty t# incl"$e i'p#ve'ent activities that elate t# the 2#&( A wi$e
vaiety #* activities can &e 'enti#ne$ as p#sitive sel*1i'p#ve'ent(
?ave s#'e +##$ #nes han$y t# 'enti#n(
@( Ae y#" applyin+ *# #the 2#&s4
/e h#nest &"t $# n#t spen$ a l#t #* ti'e in this aea( 7eep the *#c"s
#n this 2#& an$ what y#" can $# *# this #+ani6ati#n( Anythin+ else is
a $istacti#n(
A( Why $# y#" want t# w#% *# this #+ani6ati#n4
This 'ay ta%e s#'e th#"+ht an$ cetainly5 sh#"l$ &e &ase$ #n the
eseach y#" have $#ne #n the #+ani6ati#n( Sinceity is e9te'ely
i'p#tant hee an$ will easily &e sense$( Relate it t# y#" l#n+1te'
caee +#als(
,0( D# y#" %n#w any#ne wh# w#%s *# "s4
/e awae #* the p#licy #n elatives w#%in+ *# the #+ani6ati#n( This
can a**ect y#" answe even th#"+h they as%e$ a&#"t *ien$s n#t
elatives( /e cae*"l t# 'enti#n a *ien$ #nly i* they ae well th#"+ht
#*(
,,( What %in$ #* salay $# y#" nee$4
A l#a$e$ !"esti#n( A nasty little +a'e that y#" will p#&a&ly l#se i*
y#" answe *ist( S#5 $# n#t answe it( Instea$5 say s#'ethin+ li%e5
ThatBs a t#"+h !"esti#n( Can y#" tell 'e the an+e *# this p#siti#n4
In '#st cases5 the inteviewe5 ta%en #** +"a$5 will tell y#"( I* n#t5
say that it can $epen$ #n the $etails #* the 2#&( Then +ive a wi$e
an+e(
,3( Ae y#" a tea' playe4
.#" ae5 #* c#"se5 a tea' playe( /e s"e t# have e9a'ples ea$y(
Speci*ics that sh#w y#" #*ten pe*#' *# the +##$ #* the tea' athe
than *# y#"sel* ae +##$ evi$ence #* y#" tea' attit"$e( D# n#t &a+5
2"st say it in a 'atte1#*1*act t#ne( This is a %ey p#int(
,8( ?#w l#n+ w#"l$ y#" e9pect t# w#% *# "s i* hie$4
Speci*ics hee ae n#t +##$( S#'ethin+ li%e this sh#"l$ w#%- IB$ li%e
it t# &e a l#n+ ti'e( O As l#n+ as we &#th *eel IB' $#in+ a +##$ 2#&(
,:( ?ave y#" eve ha$ t# *ie any#ne4 ?#w $i$ y#" *eel a&#"t that4
This is sei#"s( D# n#t 'a%e li+ht #* it # in any way see' li%e y#"
li%e t# *ie pe#ple( At the sa'e ti'e5 y#" will $# it when it is the
i+ht thin+ t# $#( When it c#'es t# the #+ani6ati#n ves"s the
in$ivi$"al wh# has ceate$ a ha'*"l sit"ati#n5 y#" will p#tect the
#+ani6ati#n( Re'e'&e *iin+ is n#t the sa'e as lay#** # e$"cti#n in
*#ce(
,5( What is y#" phil#s#phy t#wa$s w#%4
The inteviewe is n#t l##%in+ *# a l#n+ # *l#wey $issetati#n hee(
D# y#" have st#n+ *eelin+s that the 2#& +ets $#ne4 .es( ThatBs the
type #* answe that w#%s &est hee( Sh#t an$ p#sitive5 sh#win+ a
&ene*it t# the #+ani6ati#n(
,<( I* y#" ha$ en#"+h '#ney t# etie i+ht n#w5 w#"l$ y#"4
Answe yes i* y#" w#"l$( /"t since y#" nee$ t# w#%5 this is the type
#* w#% y#" pe*e( D# n#t say yes i* y#" $# n#t 'ean it(
,>( ?ave y#" eve &een as%e$ t# leave a p#siti#n4
I* y#" have n#t5 say n#( I* y#" have5 &e h#nest5 &ie* an$ av#i$ sayin+
ne+ative thin+s a&#"t the pe#ple # #+ani6ati#n inv#lve$(
,@( E9plain h#w y#" w#"l$ &e an asset t# this #+ani6ati#n
.#" sh#"l$ &e an9i#"s *# this !"esti#n( It +ives y#" a chance t#
hi+hli+ht y#" &est p#ints as they elate t# the p#siti#n &ein+
$isc"sse$( Cive a little a$vance th#"+ht t# this elati#nship(
,A( Why sh#"l$ we hie y#"4
D#int #"t h#w y#" assets 'eet what the #+ani6ati#n nee$s( D# n#t
'enti#n any #the can$i$ates t# 'a%e a c#'pais#n(
30( Tell 'e a&#"t a s"++esti#n y#" have 'a$e
?ave a +##$ #ne ea$y( /e s"e an$ "se a s"++esti#n that was accepte$
an$ was then c#nsi$ee$ s"ccess*"l( One elate$ t# the type #* w#%
applie$ *# is a eal pl"s(
3,( What iitates y#" a&#"t c#1w#%es4
This is a tap !"esti#n( Thin% eal ha$ &"t *ail t# c#'e "p with
anythin+ that iitates y#"( A sh#t state'ent that y#" see' t# +et
al#n+ with *#l%s is +eat(
33( What is y#" +eatest sten+th4
N"'e#"s answes ae +##$5 2"st stay p#sitive( A *ew +##$ e9a'ples-
.#" a&ility t# pi#iti6e5 .#" p#&le'1s#lvin+ s%ills5 .#" a&ility
t# w#% "n$e pess"e5 .#" a&ility t# *#c"s #n p#2ects5 .#"
p#*essi#nal e9petise5 .#" lea$eship s%ills5 .#" p#sitive attit"$e
38( Tell 'e a&#"t y#" $ea' 2#&(
Stay away *#' a speci*ic 2#&( .#" cann#t win( I* y#" say the 2#& y#"
ae c#nten$in+ *# is it5 y#" stain ce$i&ility( I* y#" say an#the
2#& is it5 y#" plant the s"spici#n that y#" will &e $issatis*ie$ with
this p#siti#n i* hie$( The &est is t# stay +enetic an$ say s#'ethin+
li%e- A 2#& whee I l#ve the w#%5 li%e the pe#ple5 can c#nti&"te an$
canBt wait t# +et t# w#%(
3:( Why $# y#" thin% y#" w#"l$ $# well at this 2#&4
Cive seveal eas#ns an$ incl"$e s%ills5 e9peience an$ inteest(
35( What ae y#" l##%in+ *# in a 2#&4
See answe E 38
3<( What %in$ #* pes#n w#"l$ y#" e*"se t# w#% with4
D# n#t &e tivial( It w#"l$ ta%e $isl#yalty t# the #+ani6ati#n5
vi#lence # law&ea%in+ t# +et y#" t# #&2ect( Min# #&2ecti#ns will
la&el y#" as a whine(
3>( What is '#e i'p#tant t# y#"- the '#ney # the w#%4
M#ney is always i'p#tant5 &"t the w#% is the '#st i'p#tant( Thee is
n# &ette answe(
3@( What w#"l$ y#" pevi#"s s"pevis# say y#" st#n+est p#int is4
Thee ae n"'e#"s +##$ p#ssi&ilities-
0#yalty5 Ene+y5 D#sitive attit"$e5 0ea$eship5 Tea' playe5 E9petise5
Initiative5 Datience5 ?a$ w#%5 Ceativity5 D#&le' s#lve
3A( Tell 'e a&#"t a p#&le' y#" ha$ with a s"pevis#
/i++est tap #* all( This is a test t# see i* y#" will spea% ill #*
y#" &#ss( I* y#" *all *# it an$ tell a&#"t a p#&le' with a *#'e
&#ss5 y#" 'ay well &el#w the inteview i+ht thee( Stay p#sitive an$
$evel#p a p## 'e'#y a&#"t any t#"&le with a s"pevis#(
80( What has $isapp#inte$ y#" a&#"t a 2#&4
D#nBt +et tivial # ne+ative( Sa*e aeas ae *ew &"t can incl"$e-
N#t en#"+h #* a challen+e( .#" wee lai$ #** in a e$"cti#n C#'pany $i$
n#t win a c#ntact5 which w#"l$ have +iven y#" '#e esp#nsi&ility(
8,( Tell 'e a&#"t y#" a&ility t# w#% "n$e pess"e(
.#" 'ay say that y#" thive "n$e cetain types #* pess"e( Cive an
e9a'ple that elates t# the type #* p#siti#n applie$ *#(
83( D# y#" s%ills 'atch this 2#& # an#the 2#& '#e cl#sely4
D#&a&ly this #ne( D# n#t +ive *"el t# the s"spici#n that y#" 'ay want
an#the 2#& '#e than this #ne(
88( What '#tivates y#" t# $# y#" &est #n the 2#&4
This is a pes#nal tait that #nly y#" can say5 &"t +##$ e9a'ples ae-
Challen+e5 Achieve'ent5 Rec#+niti#n
8:( Ae y#" willin+ t# w#% #veti'e4 Ni+hts4 Wee%en$s4
This is "p t# y#"( /e t#tally h#nest(
85( ?#w w#"l$ y#" %n#w y#" wee s"ccess*"l #n this 2#&4
Seveal ways ae +##$ 'eas"es-
.#" set hi+h stan$a$s *# y#"sel* an$ 'eet the'( .#" #"tc#'es ae a
s"ccess(.#" &#ss tell y#" that y#" ae s"ccess*"l
8<( W#"l$ y#" &e willin+ t# el#cate i* e!"ie$4
.#" sh#"l$ &e clea #n this with y#" *a'ily pi# t# the inteview i*
y#" thin% thee is a chance it 'ay c#'e "p( D# n#t say yes 2"st t# +et
the 2#& i* the eal answe is n#( This can ceate a l#t #* p#&le's
late #n in y#" caee( /e h#nest at this p#int an$ save y#"sel*
*"t"e +ie*(
8>( Ae y#" willin+ t# p"t the inteests #* the #+ani6ati#n ahea$ #*y#" #wn4
This is a stai+ht l#yalty an$ $e$icati#n !"esti#n( D# n#t w#y a&#"t
the $eep ethical an$ phil#s#phical i'plicati#ns( ;"st say yes(
8@( Desci&e y#" 'ana+e'ent style(
Ty t# av#i$ la&els( S#'e #* the '#e c#''#n la&els5 li%e p#+essive5
sales'an # c#nsens"s5 can have seveal 'eanin+s # $escipti#ns
$epen$in+ #n which 'ana+e'ent e9pet y#" listen t#( The sit"ati#nal
style is sa*e5 &eca"se it says y#" will 'ana+e acc#$in+ t# the
sit"ati#n5 instea$ #* #ne si6e *its all(
8A( What have y#" leane$ *#' 'ista%es #n the 2#&4
?ee y#" have t# c#'e "p with s#'ethin+ # y#" stain ce$i&ility( Ma%e
it s'all5 well intenti#ne$ 'ista%e with a p#sitive less#n leane$( An
e9a'ple w#"l$ &e w#%in+ t## *a ahea$ #* c#llea+"es #n a p#2ect an$
th"s th#win+ c##$inati#n #**(
:0( D# y#" have any &lin$ sp#ts4
Tic% !"esti#n( I* y#" %n#w a&#"t &lin$ sp#ts5 they ae n# l#n+e &lin$
sp#ts( D# n#t eveal any pes#nal aeas #* c#ncen hee( 0et the' $#
thei #wn $isc#vey #n y#" &a$ p#ints( D# n#t han$ it t# the'(
:,( I* y#" wee hiin+ a pes#n *# this 2#&5 what w#"l$ y#" l##% *#4
/e cae*"l t# 'enti#n taits that ae nee$e$ an$ that y#" have(
:3( D# y#" thin% y#" ae #ve!"ali*ie$ *# this p#siti#n4
Re+a$less #* y#" !"ali*icati#ns5 state that y#" ae vey well
!"ali*ie$ *# the p#siti#n(
:8( ?#w $# y#" p#p#se t# c#'pensate *# y#" lac% #* e9peience4
=ist5 i* y#" have e9peience that the inteviewe $#es n#t %n#w a&#"t5
&in+ that "p- Then5 p#int #"t Fi* t"eG that y#" ae a ha$ w#%in+
!"ic% leane(
::( What !"alities $# y#" l##% *# in a &#ss4
/e +eneic an$ p#sitive( Sa*e !"alities ae %n#wle$+ea&le5 a sense #*
h"'#5 *ai5 l#yal t# s"&#$inates an$ h#l$e #* hi+h stan$a$s( All
&#sses thin% they have these taits(
:5( Tell 'e a&#"t a ti'e when y#" helpe$ es#lve a $isp"te &etween#thes(
Dic% a speci*ic inci$ent( C#ncentate #n y#" p#&le' s#lvin+ techni!"e
an$ n#t the $isp"te y#" settle$(
:<( What p#siti#n $# y#" pe*e #n a tea' w#%in+ #n a p#2ect4
/e h#nest( I* y#" ae c#'*#ta&le in $i**eent #les5 p#int that #"t(
:>( Desci&e y#" w#% ethic(
E'phasi6e &ene*its t# the #+ani6ati#n( Thin+s li%e5 $ete'inati#n t#
+et the 2#& $#ne an$ w#% ha$ &"t en2#y y#" w#% ae +##$(
:@( What has &een y#" &i++est p#*essi#nal $isapp#int'ent4
/e s"e that y#" e*e t# s#'ethin+ that was &ey#n$ y#" c#nt#l( Sh#w
acceptance an$ n# ne+ative *eelin+s(
:A( Tell 'e a&#"t the '#st *"n y#" have ha$ #n the 2#&(
Tal% a&#"t havin+ *"n &y acc#'plishin+ s#'ethin+ *# the #+ani6ati#n(
50( D# y#" have any !"esti#ns *# 'e4
Always have s#'e !"esti#ns pepae$( Q"esti#ns pepae$ whee y#" will
&e an asset t# the #+ani6ati#n ae +##$( ?#w s##n will I &e a&le t# &e
p#$"ctive4 an$ What type #* p#2ects will I &e a&le t# assist #n4 ae
e9a'ples(