Interview Few Important

Questions with Answers

Arun Kumar Davay

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be
Compose
d!
Be
Confident

Where do you see yourself

5 years from now?

The aim of this question is to test your

foresightedness and also gauge if you plan for
the future. Stick to professional goals and
aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation
you plan to take, or the industry you would
like to be in. Talk about company related
objectives. This is an opportunity for you to
show that you want to succeed in the
company and are keen on creating a career
path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see
myself playing a key role of Brand Manager,
working on your marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in

this
interview?

This is often used as a stress question

to check your spontaneity. The idea is
to see if you have a back up plan and
how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while
answering this question. You can say
you will be disappointed, adding that
you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm
and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed
if that happens, but will work on
specific feedback and try again when
the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself

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. Limit it to
work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about
things you have done well at your
college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a

career
in ... (Sales, IT,

HR, wants
etc)?
The interviewer
to learn what

you know about the chosen career.

Knowledge about the domain and the
job shows the interviewer you are
interested and demonstrates initiative
on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a
people's person and counseling is a
skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe
a job as an HR executive will give me
an opportunity to put my natural skill
sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ

You?
For this question, your answer
should list out strengths that
you feel are relevant to the
job. Given below are some
answers which could help you
with your answers. However,
structure them to suit your
requirements.

Why Should We Employ

You?
I have good co-ordination
skills
(contd)
Good analytical skills

I can persuade people to see my point of view,

and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate
people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and
targets
Can say no to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates,
and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work
hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to
this job (Here, give appropriate details and
examples)

Do You Have Offers From

Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer.
Obviously, you must have applied to other
companies if you are looking for a job or would
have some offers from other companies
already. Therefore, do not lie that you have
not. However, you are on thin ice here! The
interviewer could be checking your honesty. On
the other hand, he/she may also be trying to
find out how focused you are - are you applying
randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your
career goals.

What Salary Are You

Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details
early in the interview. If pressed,
you could say that it all depends on
the job, and would like to talk about
it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are
asked this question in your latter
interviews, give a direct answer. Do
not sound apologetic while quoting
the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?

If you have done your
homework, you would know
how much other people in
similar jobs are paid. Quote the
range upfront.

How much do you think you

are worth?
Work out how much you
should be paid, given the
market value of the job and
your skills. If you can bring
some extra skills to the
table, do not hesitate to
ask for more than the
market value.

What kind of a culture are

you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank
about your preferences.
Your interviewer will get a
clear idea about your
expectations.

Which is more important to

you- salary, perks or
growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real
you. So be sure what you are
going to say. Above all, be
true to yourself. If you think
this is a negotiation move,
then say clearly that you will
never sell yourself short.

What do you know about

our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the
company. Stick to reported facts that
you have gathered from newspapers
and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market
perceptions of the company. Also it is
better to refer details about each
company before going for the
interview their websites

Why should we choose you

over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems
that you have solved in
your College/Project Team
and highlight the quality
required.

Your qualifications are

excellent, but you may be
overqualified for the
position?
Point out that more experience can
never be a drawback. If you are multiskilled, then highlight the fact that a
company on the fast-track needs multiskilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together.
Also emphasize that the company's
future growth will be an exponential
function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.

My background to date has
been centered on preparing
myself to become the very
best . I can become.
Let me tell you specifically
how Ive prepared
myself..!

Why should I hire you?

Because I sincerely believe that Im the
best person for the job. I realize that there
are many other college students who have
the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional
quality that makes me the very best person
for the job - my attitude for excellence. Not
just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving
it. In and I have consistently
reached for becoming the very best I can
become by doing the following ..!

What is your long-range

objective? Where do you
want to be 10 or 15 years
Although itsfrom
certainlynow?
difficult to predict things
far into the future, I know what direction I
want to develop toward. Within five years, I
would like to become the very best . your
company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class
. in the industry. I will work toward
becoming the expert that others rely upon.
And in doing so, I feel I will be fully prepared to
take on any greater responsibilities that might
be presented in the long term.

How has your education

prepared
you for your
career?
As you will note on my resume, Ive taken not only the
required core classes in the field but Ive also gone
above and beyond. Ive taken every class the college
has to offer in the field and also completed an
independent study project specifically in this area. But
its not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- Ive taken each class, both inside and
outside of my major, with this profession in mind.
So when were studying .. in , Ive viewed it
from the perspective of . In addition, Ive always
tried to keep a practical view of how the information
would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final
semester involved developing a real-world model of
., which is very similar to what might be used
within your company. Let me tell you more about it
.!

Are you a team player?

Very much so! In fact, Ive had opportunities
in both athletics and academics to develop
my skills as a team player. I was involved in
at the intramural level, including
leading my team in assists during the past
year -- I always try to help others achieve
their best. In academics, Ive worked on
several team projects, serving as both a
member and team leader. Ive seen the value
of working together as a team to achieve a
greater goal than any one of us could have
achieved individually. As an example .!

Have you ever had a conflict

with a boss or professor?
How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been
situations where there was a disagreement that
need to be resolved. Ive found that when conflict
occurs, its because of a failure to see both sides of
the situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to
give me their perspective and at the same time ask
that they allow me to fully explain my perspective.
At that point, I would work with the person to find
out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I
would submit to their decision because they are
my superior. In the end, you have to be willing to
submit yourself to the directives of your superior,
whether youre in full agreement or not. An
example of this was when..!

What is your greatest

weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been
my lack of proper planning in the past. I would
over commit myself with too many variant
tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish
each as I would like. However, since Ive come
to recognize that weakness, Ive taken steps
to correct it. For example, I now carry a
planning calendar in my pocket so that I can
plan all of my appointments and to do items.
Here, let me show you how I have this week
planned out .!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial
Planning also can be cited as answers)

If I were to ask your

professors to
describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say Im a very energetic
person, that I put my mind to the task at hand and
see to it that its accomplished. They would say
that if they ever had something that need to be
done, I was the person who they could always
depend on to see that it was accomplished. They
would say that I always took a keen interest in the
subjects I was studying and always sought ways to
apply the knowledge in real world settings. Am I
just guessing that they would say these things?
No, in fact, Im quite certain they would say those
things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those
are their very words. Let me show you!

What qualities do you feel a

successful manager should
have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the
ability to be the visionary for the people
who are working under them, the person
who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a
positive role model for others to follow.
The highest calling of a true leader is
inspiring others to reach the highest of
their abilities. Id like to tell you about a
person who I consider to be a true
leader.....!

If you had to live your life

over again, what would you
change?
Thats a good question. I realize that it can be very
easy to continually look back and wish that things
had been different in the past. But I also realize that
things had been different in the past. But I also
realize that things in the past cannot be changed,
that only things in the future can be changed. Thats
why I continually strive to improve myself each and
every day and thats why Im working hard to
continually increase my knowledge in the .
field. Thats also the reason why I want to become
the very best your company has ever had. To
make positive change, and all of that is still in the
future. So in answer to your question, there isnt
anything in my past that I would change. I look only
to the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?

Your interviewer is looking to
ascertain whether you can manage or
lead well in your job and how you deal
with the people who work under you.
Perhaps you could answer this
question along the lines of I feel that
my team leading qualities are
exceptional. I am always firm but fair
with the people who work for me and
find that I get a good deal of respect
by operating in this manner.

How Do You Feel About

Carrying Out Mundane or
Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of
routine to it so this could well be a
frequently asked difficult question.
The answer could be something like I
understand all jobs have some element
of repetitiveness but I take all aspects
of my job seriously regardless of
whether they are mundane or not and I
always give 100% to my job.

Are You Good At Getting

The Best Out Of Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is
looking for an answer that shows how
you manage and run your team that
work for you in order to achieve the
best performance out of them. Your
answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they
benefit the people that work for you
such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

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.
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
farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your

last job?

Stay positive regardless of the

circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem 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 an opportunity, a
chance to do something special or other
forward-looking reasons.

What experience do you

have in this field?
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.

Do you consider yourself

successful?
You should always answer yes
and briefly explain why. A good
explanation is that you have
set goals, and you have met
some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say

about you?
Be prepared with a quote or two from
co-workers. Either a specific
statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company,
always said I was the hardest worker
he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it
at the interview herself.

What do you know about

this organization?
This question is one reason to do
some research on the organization
before the interview.
Find out where they have been and
where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who
are the major players?

What have you done to

improve your knowledge in
the last year?
Try to include improvement
activities that relate to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be
mentioned as positive selfimprovement.
Have some good ones handy to
mention.

Are you applying for

other jobs?
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.

Why do you want to work

for this organization?
This may take some thought and
certainly, should be based on the
research you have done on the
organization.
Sincerity is extremely important
here and will easily be sensed.
Relate it to your long-term career
goals.

Do you know anyone who

works for us?
Be aware of the policy on
relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even
though they asked about friends
not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend
only if they are well thought of.

What kind of salary do

you need?
A loaded question. A nasty 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 wide
range.

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
rather than 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.

How long would you expect

to
work for us if hired?
Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should
work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm
doing a good job.

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 you like to fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the
individual who has created a harmful
situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or
reduction in
force.

What is your 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 the
type of answer that works best
here.
Short and positive, showing a
benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to

retire right now, would
you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work,
this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not
mean it.

Have you ever been asked

to leave a position?
If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief
and avoid saying
negative things about the
people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be

an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this
question.
It gives you a chance to highlight
your best points as they relate to the
position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this
relationship.

Why should we hire you?

Point out how your assets meet
what the organization needs.
Do not mention any other
candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion

you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that
was accepted
and was then considered
successful.
One related to the type of work
applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about

co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come
up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you
seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest

strength?

Numerous answers are good, just stay

positive. A few good examples:

Your
Your
Your
Your
Your
Your
Your

ability to prioritize,
problem-solving skills,
ability to work under pressure,
ability to focus on projects,
professional expertise,
leadership skills,
positive attitude

Tell me about your

dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for
is it, you strain credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the
suspicion that you will be dissatisfied
with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say
something like:
A job where I love the work, like the
people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you

would do
well at this
job?
Give several reasons and
include skills, experience
and interest.

What kind of person would

you refuse to work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the
organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get
you to object. Minor objections
will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to

you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important,
but the work is the most
important.
There is no other better
answer.

What would your previous

supervisor 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

Tell me about a problem

you
had with a supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of
your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem
with a former boss, you may well
below the interview right there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory
about any trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed

you about a job?

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.

Tell me about your ability

to work under pressure.
You may say that you thrive
under certain types of pressure.
Give an example that relates to
the type of position applied for.

Does your skills match this

job or another job more
closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the
suspicion that you may want
another job more than this
one.

What motivates you to do

your best on the job?
This is a personal trait that
only you can say, but good
examples are:
Challenge, Achievement,
Recognition

Are you willing to work

overtime? Nights?
Weekends?
This is up to you. Be totally
honest.

How would you know you

were successful on this
job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for
yourself and meet them. Your
outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are
successful

Would you be willing 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.
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.

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 about the deep ethical
and philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your
management style.

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 the situation,
instead of one size fits all.

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.
An example would be working too far
ahead of colleagues on a project
and thus throwing coordination off.

Do you have any blind

spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots,
they are no longer blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas
of concern here. Let them do
their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are

overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your
qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the
position.

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 working quick
learner.

What qualities do you look

for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are
knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates
and holder of high standards.
All bosses think they have these
traits.

Do you have any questions

for me?
Always have some questions
prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are
good.
How soon will I be able to be
productive? and What type of
projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers