interview tips

How would you answer these common interview questions?
The following interview answers should help you with the How to
Common Job Interview Question 1. Tell me about yourself:The most commonly asked question to start with 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 farthestback and work up to the present.


Job Interview Question 2. Why should you be hired for this job?Point out how your talents and how they meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other job candidates and try to make a comparison. Try to tie a few things to your career path and how it is a good fit. Answer this question with confidence. Do not waffle. You show already know why you should be hired. If you have doubts or are tentitive about this answer, your interviewer might also have doubts.


Job Interview Question 3. Why did you leave (or want to leave) your last job?Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a majorproblem 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 anopportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-lookingreasons.


Job Interview Question 4. Do you consider yourself successful?You should always answer yes and briefly explain why. A goodexplanation is that you have set goals, and you have met some and areon track to achieve the others.


Common Job Interview Question 5. What experience do you bring to this position?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.


Common Job Interview Question 6. What do you know about this company/organization?This question is one reason to do some research on the organizationbefore the interview. Find out where they have been and where they aregoing. What are the current issues and who are the major players?


Common Job Interview Question 7. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A widevariety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement.Have some good ones handy to mention.



Job Interview Question 8. Have you applied for other jobs?Answer: 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.



Common Job Interview Question 9. Why do you want to work for this organization?This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on theresearch you have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremelyimportant here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your long-termcareer goals.



Example Job Interview Question 10. Why do you think you would do well at this job?Give several reasons and include skills, experience and interest.



Example Job Interview Question 11. 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 ratherthan 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.



Example Job Interview Question 12. How long would you expect to work for us if hired?Specifics here are not good. Something like this should work: I’d likeit to be a long time. Or As long as we both feel I’m doing a good job.



Example Job Interview Question 13. 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 youlike to fire people. At the same time, you will do it when it is theright thing to do. When it comes to the organization versus theindividual who has created a harmful situation, you will protect theorganization. Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction inforce.



Example Job Interview Question 14. What is your personal 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 thetype of answer that works best here. Short and positive, showing abenefit to the organization.



Sample Job Interview Question 15. Have you ever been asked to resign?If you have not, say no. If you have, be honest, brief and avoid sayingnegative things about the people or organization involved.



Sample Job Interview Question 16. Explain how you would be an asset to this organization.You should be anxious for this question. It gives you a chance tohighlight your best points as they relate to the position beingdiscussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.



Sample Job Interview Question 17. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?Be honest. If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out.



Sample Job Interview Question 18. Tell me about a suggestion you have made that has made an impact?Answer: Have a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was acceptedand was then considered successful. One related to the type of workapplied for is a real plus.



Sample Job Interview Question 19. What has been your biggest professional disappointment?Answer: Be sure that you refer to something that was beyond your control. Showacceptance and no negative feelings.



Job Interview Question 20. What irritates you about co-workers?This is a sample of a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. A short statement that you seem to getalong with folks is great.



Mock Interview Question 21. 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 abilityto work under pressure, Your ability to focus on projects, Yourprofessional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positive attitude




Mock Interview Question 22. Tell me about your dream job.Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job youare contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say anotherjob is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied withthis position if hired. The best is to stay genetic and say somethinglike: A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute andcan’t wait to get to work.




Mock Job Interview Question 23. What kind of person would you refuse to work with?Be careful here, it should be something major. It would take disloyalty to the organization, violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.




Common Job Interview Question 24. What is more important to you: the money or the work?Money is always important, but the work is the most important. There isno better answer.




Common Job Interview Question 25. What kind of salary are you asking for?A common loaded question. A tricky 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 widerange.



Common Job Interview Question 26. What would your previous manager 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




Common Job Interview Question 27. Tell me about a problem you had with a past supervisor.Biggest trap question of all. This is a test to see if you will speak poorley of your boss. If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a formerboss, you may well below the interview right there. Stay positive anddevelop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor.




Common Interview Question 28. What has disappointed you about a job?Answer: 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.



Job Interview Question 29. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.Answer: You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for.




Job Interview Question 30. Do your skills match this job or another job more closely?Answer: Probably this one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another
job more than this one.




Common Interview Question 31. What motivates you to do your best on the job?Answer: This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are:Challenge, Achievement, Recognition




Job Interview Question 32. Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends?This is up to you. Be totally honest.




Employment Interview Question 33. How would you know you were successful on this job?Answer: Several ways are good measures:You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your outcomes are asuccess.Your boss tell you that you are successful



Employment Interview Question 34. Would you be willing to relocate if required?Answer: 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.



Employment Interview Question 35. 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 aboutthe deep ethical and philosophical implications. Just say yes.



Job Interview Question 36. Describe your management style.Answer: 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 thesituation, instead of one size fits all.


Common Job Interview Question 37. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. Anexample would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project andthus throwing coordination off.



Common Interview Question 38. Do you have any weaknesses?Trick question. If you know about weakness, they are no longer blindspots. Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here. Let them dotheir own discovery on your bad points. Do not hand it to them.



Job Interview Question 39. If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for?Answer: Be careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have.



Job Interview Question 40. Do you think you are overqualified for this position?Answer: Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very wellqualified for the position.



Common Interview Question 41. 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 workingquick learner.



Common Interview Question 42 . What qualities do you look for in a Manager?Be generic and positive. Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense ofhumor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of high standards. Allbosses think they have these traits.




Sample Job Interview Question 43. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute between coworkers.Answer: Pick a specific incident. Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you settled.



Job Interview Question 44. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?Be honest. If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out.



Job Interview Question 45. Describe your work ethic.Answer: Emphasize benefits to the company and the hiring manager. Things like, determination to get the job done and work hard but enjoy your work are good.

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