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Possible Responses To Some Typical Interview Questions: Preparing
answers to potential interview questions is vital to interview success.
There are a number of standard interview questions which you might
consider before meeting with employers. Listed below is a sampling
of these questions and possible responses.
(1) Tell me something about yourself:
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This question is aimed at finding out what kind of person
you are, not merely about your job skills. You may wish to mention
your personal strengths, interests and abilities. |
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(2) Have you ever done this kind of work before:
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You should never say "no" to this type of question. Since
no two jobs are the same, what the interviewer wants to know
is whether you can learn to do that job in a reasonable amount
of time. Mention transferable skills and all of the experiences
you have had that makes it likely that you can learn quickly
to do the duties required in this specific job. Discuss your
education/training in relation to the job, any relevant non-paid
experiences, and how quickly you have learned that type of work
in the past. |
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(3) Why do you want to work here:
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When an interviewer asks you why you wish to work for their
company, they are attempting to learn whether you will be satisfied
with your job and likely to stay. It is also a way to see whether
or not you have done any research on the compa ny, know it enough
to really want to work there, rather that just wanting to work
anywhere. To reassure the interviewer, mention as many positive
features about the job, company or organization as you can.
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(4) Why did you leave your last job:
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When the interviewer asks you why you left your last job
or why you want to leave your present job, they are trying to
determine whether you had difficulties that may also arise with
them.
In describing your last job, say as many positive things as
you can abou t it even if it had many undesirable features--all
jobs do. Try not to say anything negative about the company
or the supervisor, only that your needs did not fit with the
job. Be evasive, if possible, for if you criticize the company
or supervisor, the interviewer will view you as someone who
is likely to do the same to them if you are hired by their company.
On the other hand, they will regard you as appreciative and
pleasant if they hear you speaking in a positive way about a
company you left and will feel that you are likely to be appreciative
and pleasant regarding the job for which for you are interviewed.
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(5) What kind of salary are you expecting?
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When you are asked about your salary requirements in an interview,
the interviewer is attempting to determine whether your expectations
are too high for them. Of course, you want as much as the company
is willing to pay. However, by naming a salary at this stage
of the hiring process, you can only harm yourself. The wisest
course is to remain negotiable until you have been offered a
position. |
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(6) Why should we hire you instead of someone else:
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When you are asked this direct question, the interviewer
is asking you, in a sense, to make their decision for them.
If you have to hesitate or can think of only one or two reasons,
then they will feel that the reasons are not too obvious or
not sufficient. You should quickly list your skills and positive
characteristics. |
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(7) How much were you absent from your last job:
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This question is to determine whether you are dependable.
Discuss your past attendance record and give assurance of your
future reliability. |
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(8) When are you available for work:
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Try to answer as soon as possible. Many factors may be causing
your hesitation about committing yourself, but now is not the
time to mention them. If you express hesitation now, you may
not get a job offer. Whether it is because you are uncertain
about wanting the job, have scheduling problems, or are waiting
to hear about other job opportunities, wait until you are actually
offered the position to discuss your concerns. |
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(9) What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses:
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Try to highlight your most positive attributes (i.e., skill,
reliability, experience, enthusiasm...) Make sure to use examples
to illustrate your positive qualities and how they apply to
work. Do not describe any weaknesses that may be essential to
performing effectively on the job, and avoid making negative
comments. Talk about things which you have improved and the
steps you took to do so. |
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(10) What five words would you say describe you best:
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When asked to select words to describe yourself, select only
positive aspects. |
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(11) What was your last employer's opinion of you:
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The best answer to the general question about your last employer's
opinion of you is to have an open letter of recommendation from
your last employer, which you can then summarize and show to
the interviewer. If you do not have such a letter list the positive
things they would say about you. Suggest that the interviewer
contact your employer, and express your assurance that they
will speak highly of you. Supply the interviewer with a list
of references, including phone numbers. |
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(12) What are your long-range goals:
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The interviewer is trying to find out whether this position
fits in with your long term plans. The items to stress are that
you like the company/organization, you hope to become a valuable
employee, and that you hope you will be in a role which challenges
you and enables you to make an effective contribution to the
company.
Even if you know beforehand that the organization has opportunities
for advancement and encourages it, be cautious about making
statements concerning your desire for promotion. Excessive enthusiasm
for advancement can be misinterpreted as dissatisfaction with
the job you are starting in or as future problem competition.
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(13) What kind of machines/software can you operate:
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If the interviewer asks this question, then, obviously, skill
in this area is very important, and you should express your
experience and capability. Be as specific as possible about
your expertise--it provides evidence of your familiarity. If
the interviewer asks about equipment you haven't had experience
with, describe what types of similar packages/machines you have
worked with, and convey your confidence that you can learn quickly. |
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(14) Can you work under pressure or tight deadlines:
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This question indicates that your job will involve working
under pressure and deadlines, so reassure the interviewer by
giving examples of paid or unpaid activities that involved deadlines/pressure.
Mention several examples, stressing how capable you were in
rising to the occasion, that you did not mind the stress, and
possibly even enjoyed it! |
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(15) What would you do in this situation:
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This is usually a hypothetical or technical question. Take
the necessary time to answer the question carefully, and ask
for further details or explanations where necessary. Keep in
mind the general steps of problem solving:
Collect information
Analyze the information
Classify it by order of importance
Get expert advice or opinion on the subject
Reach a decision
Communicate the decision
Implement the decision
If given a technical question, keep your cool, analyze the question
and often you will find you have the necessary background to
answer. In both cases (hypothetical or technical), the interviewer
is trying to gauge your ability to function under pressure,
and to analyze and solve problems using sound judgement. |
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(16) What do you think of working in a group:
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In this question, you are being asked to demonstrate your
ability to get along well with others. Speak of the advantages
of working in a group. For example, you might explain how the
various individuals in the group complement one another in carrying
out certain tasks. Be prepared to give concrete examples of
personal experience in a group. |
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(17) Would you be willing to work as a temporary or contract employee?
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Consider this a viable alternative to permanent employment
in the 90's. Temporary/contract work will get your foot in the
door, give you a chance to prove yourself, give you new current
experiences and additional references. Think hard before turning
down this valuable opportunity. |
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Following are more sample questions that you may face in a job interview. Develop your own answers for these questions -- practice makes perfect.
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• What do you know about our company/this position? What attracted you to this position?
• What qualifications and relevant experience would you bring to this position?
• Do you prefer working by yourself, or with others? Team player?
• What parts of a job do you find most/least satisfying?
• What motivates you?
• What are the most important rewards you expect in and from your career?
• What would you say has been your proudest accomplishment(s) so far? What has been your greatest disappointment?
• What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held?
• What have you learned from your mistakes?
• What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses? (Technically and otherwise)
• What qualifications do you have that make you think you will be successful in this position?
• In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?
• How do you work under pressure? Give me an example.
• What have you done which shows initiative and willingness to work?
• What are your short/long-range goals, and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?
• What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
• In addition to preparing for these type of questions, you should be prepared for behavioural questions which ask you to relate a particular incident from past experience: Describe a time when you... How did you go about... Give us an example of...
• There may also be some hypothetical questions asking how you would respond to a specific scenario. Role playing would be a different version of this format and could also be used.
• These types of questions require some thought on your part; try to be comfortable with the silence and not blurt out"I can't think of anything; I don't know."
• The more you have rehearsed possible interview questions/scenarios, the more comfortable you will be no matter what the format.
• What if you don't get the job... |
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DON'T LET A LOST PROMOTION GET YOU DOWN
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You've been a top performer who has gotten terrific reviews.
You thought a promotion was imminent, but you have recently
been passed over. You are angry, and it is affecting your work.
Getting passed over for a promotion can be devastating. For
some, it can be a crippling blow. For others, it is just a temporary
setback. How you rebound depends on you. You can sit back and
stew, blaming everything from the office politics to an unsupportive
boss (either could be possible); or you can take steps to make
a comeback. Here are suggestions for turning things around:
1) Acknowledge your anger. You're entitled to it. Let it out, but not at work. Find a friend who is willing to listen to you blow off steam.
2) Congratulate the promoted coworker. It's not his or her fault. Offer your help. This person might be able to help you in the future.
3) Get feedback. Focus on the future. The decision has already been made - it's unlikely management will reverse its decision. Find out why you weren't chosen without being confrontational. It may be that you need more technical expertise or experience. Discuss what you can do to position yourself for the next opportunity. Don't criticize the person who was promoted.
4) Get training. Fill in the gaps with classes or seminars. Some people even do volunteer work locally to gain certain skills.
5) Get on with life. Anger will pass with time. Critically examine what your promotion potential really is in your organization. It might require some tough career decisions.
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