COMMON INTERVIEW

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Win jobs by acing online interviews with these
awesome tips

For SFA enrollees only

 INTERVIEW
QUESTION #1:

Tell me about yourself

Tell a compelling 2-3 minute story about your career and why you’re a great fit.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

I’ve been passionate about design since I was a kid. My parents remodeled their
house when I was in high school and allowed me to play an active role in the
interior design plans. I knew then that I wanted to pursue interior design as my
career. I studied Interior Design at Savannah College of Art and Design and
graduated 4 years ago.

Since college, I’ve been working at an interior design firm in Savannah, Georgia.
During my time there I’ve been able to build my portfolio through designing both
residential and commercial spaces. My experience at the firm has built up my
proficiencies in billing and cutting-edge technologies, and it has also allowed me
to build strong relationships with local suppliers. The most rewarding part of my
job has been working in Savannah’s historic buildings. This experience has
familiarized me with best-in-class building preservation.

Moving forward I would love to work at a design firm such as yours that
specializes in the design and preservation of historical buildings. I believe my
experience and passion for preservation will allow me to be a great asset to your
design team.
 INTERVIEW
QUESTION #2:

Why are you interested in this position?

Interviewers ask this to determine if you have understood the job details, if
you're enthusiastic about the position, and if you could positively contribute to
the company.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

I’ve enjoyed the past 15 years with my current employer, but I’m ready to take
on a role that requires more leadership. While I manage five teams consisting of
10 employees each, I noticed that this job would require me to manage five
teams of 20 employees—a challenge I’m excited to take on. Would you tell me
more about the various types of teams you need someone to put together?
 INTERVIEW
QUESTION #3:

Why did you leave (or why are you leaving) your job?

SAMPLE ANSWER:

I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round
was a 20% reduction in the workforce, which included me.

INTERVIEW
QUESTION #4:

Why should we hire you?

SAMPLE ANSWER:

You should hire me for my passion and proven abilities in organization for office
efficiency. I pride myself on my time-management, coordination and
interpersonal skills. In my previous role as an administrative assistant, I came up
with a plan to reorganize the office supply closet by category. We placed fewer
orders and saved 30% on office supplies year over year. I’m excited to bring my
skills to this role.
 INTERVIEW
QUESTION #5:

What’s your expected salary?

SAMPLE ANSWER:

I am sure we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically

pay someone with my background?