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06
GreatAnswerstoToughInterviewQuestions
Thenumberonewaytoacetoaninterviewistoknowyourself!Always completeyour researchbeforeaninterview:knowthe
kindsofthingsyouaregoodat,thekindofthingsthatyoumayneedtoworkon,thekindsofexperiencesyouvehadinthe
past,whatkindofbossyoudliketowork for, whatkindofcompanyyoudliketoworkfor,etc.
Questionsthatrevolvearoundpotentialnegativesarealwaysthetoughesttoanswer.Prepareforthembythinkingabout
answersaheadoftime.Typeupanswersorwritethemout,andreviewthembeforegoingintotheinterview. Itislikestudying
concise,andthenstoppingandseeingiftheinterviewerwantstopursueitfurther.
Thefollowingquestionshavebeenidentified assomeofthetoughestintheinterviewingbusiness.Thesearetheonesyou
needto prepare for aheadoftime!
1. Tellmeaboutyourself.
Probablytheeasiestdifficultquestionyouwillface!Itiseasytotalkaboutyou,butwhatdoestheemployer really wanttoknow?
Trytalkingaboutpersonalcharacteristicsandskillsthattranslateintocareerstrengths. Developaoneminutecommercialfor
yourself. Inoneminute,tellsomeonefromyourhighschooldaysupwardwhyyouchosethecollegeyoudidwhat youdidin
collegeandwhyyoumadethedecisiontogointoyourparticularfield.
Typicallytheinterviewerislookingforanoverviewofyourrelatedexperience.Provideananswerthatshowsalogical
progressionthroughoutyoureducational/professionalcareer.Ifyoureducationalbackgroundledyouinacertaindirection,
includethatintheoverview.Whilethismaybeseenasaneasyquestionforsome,quiteafewsolidcandidatesblunderedon
thissimplequestion.Wearenotusedtosellingourabilitiesandcompetencieslikeaproduct.Forthosewhohavegivenit
somethought,thisistherightopportunitytotalkaboutyourstrengthssuchasyourenthusiasm,leadership,selfconfidenceand
reliability,withafewreallifeanecdotesthrowninto supportyourpoints.
EXAMPLE: Ilovetojumpintoprojectswithbothfeet. Icanconcentrateonsolvingatechproblemforhours,althoughIknow
toeffectivelyusemytimeIneedtoconsultmycolleaguesfortheirexpertise,andoftenconvenebriefprojectteam
meetingsbouncearoundasolution,plotting itout, and preparing a presentation formyboss.Objectoriented
technology[orany otherskill]ismynewestchallenge.
EXAMPLE: Mybackgroundtodatehasbeencenteredonplanningmyselftobecomethe verybest________Icanbecome.
LetmetellyouspecificallyhowIvepreparedmyself
2. Whatareyourgreateststrengths?
Youcertainlyhavemanypositivequalities,butsinceyoucanonlychooseafew,becarefulasyouranswerwillalsoreflectyour
values.Somemightsayhonesty,otherreliabilityorastrongsenseofleadership,butwhateveritmightbe,bereadytomake
referencetoasituationwhereyouhavedemonstratedsuchstrength.Exampleshelpsolidifyandsupportyourstrengths.
3. Whatisyourgreatestweakness?
Admitthatyouhaveaweakness,andthatyouaresuccessfullyusingastrategytoimprovethisweakareyouhaverealizedin
yourprofessionalarrayofskillsandexperience.Thistechniqueturnstheweaknessintoastrength bydemonstratingyour
commitmenttoselfimprovement.
EXAMPLE: Iwouldsaythatmygreatestweaknesshasbeenalackofproperplanninginthepast.Iwouldovercommit
myselfwithtoomanyvarianttasks,thennotbabletofullyaccomplisheachas I wouldlike.However,sinceIve
cometorecognizethatweakness,Ivetakenstepstocorrectit.Forexample,Inowcarry mypalmpilotatalltimes
sothatIcan effectively plan myappointmentsandtodo listitems.
4. Whatwereyourfavoritesubjectsinschoolandwhy?
Ofcourse,ifyourmajorisComputerScience,youwanttomentionsomeofyourcomputerscienceclasses.Youcanmention
otherrelatedsubjectsaswell.Forexample,ifyoureinterviewingatafinancialservicesfirm,youmightdiscusswhyyouliked
youraccountingorfinanceclasses.Ifyoudidanyusualorspecialprojectsinthatareabringitupnow.Mentionanythingthat
shoeskeeninterestsinthisemployersparticularkindofwork.
K.R.Lindsay10.06
5. Whychangejobsnow?
Interviewerswanttonowyourreasonsforleavingaparticularposition/employer.Itisimportanttostaypositiveaboutyourpast
experiences.Nobodywantstohireapersonthatcomplainsaboutpastemployerstheyfigureyoumaycomplainaboutthemin
thefuture.Talkabout whyitwastimetomoveon,thatyoulearnedalot,youareseekingnewandmorechallenging
opportunities, etc.
6. Whatmakesyoustandoutwhencomparedwithyourpeers?
Employerswanttoknowthattheyareconsideringsomeonewhowillgoaboveandbeyond thecallofduty.Itiseasytohirea
personthatwilldothattheyareaskedtodobetweennineandfive.However,itisbettertohireapersonthatmeetsallthe
basicexpectations andmore.Provideexamplesofprojectswhichyouexcelledwith,ideasthathelpedstreamlineoperations,or
newsales/marketingtechniquesthatincreasedrevenues.Ifyouputsomethoughtintoit,thereareprobablyseveralthingsyou
haveaccomplishesinthepastthatmakesyoustandout.
7. Whattypeofmanagement/supervisiondoyouprefer?
Thisquestioncancomeinmanyforms,butthemeaningisalwaysthesame:areyouabletobemanagedbypeoplewith
differentstyles?Youprobablyhavereportedtomanagerswithvastlydifferentapproachestomanagementandsupervision,
andhavelearnedwhichstylesyouprefer.Sinceyouprobablydonotknowthemanagersstyleattheprospectiveemployer,
talkaboutthepositiveaspectsofeachstyleyouveencountered.
8. Whatdoyoulikeaboutyourcurrentposition?Whatwouldyouaddtomakeitmore
challenging?
Interviewersarelookingforpeoplethathavesomerelevantexperienceforthepositionoffered.Thisquestionallowsyoutopick
theresponsibilitiesthatyouenjoyedthatarealsoincludedintheavailableposition.(I likethepeopleisNOTanacceptable
answer,unlessyouaretakingthemwithyou!)Thesecondpartofthisquestionfocusesonwhatyouwanttolearninyournext
job.Ifitwereavailableinyourpresent/lastposition,youwouldstillbethere.Think aboutwhatthispositionoffersandwhatyou
cancontribute.Thisshouldmatchwellwiththatyouwanttolearn/do.
9. Wheredoyouseeyourselfin(X)years?
Thismaybethetoughestquestionofthemall!Ifyouonlyhadacrystalball!Basically,however,Interviewersaredoingareality
checkhere.Theywanttoseeifyouarearealisticaboutyourcareergoalsandthestepsyouwillneedtotaketoattainthem.
Thebestanswersstartinthepresentandworkforward.Talkaboutyournextmoveandwhatyouhopetoaccomplishoverthe
nextyearortwo.Thentakethatoneortwomoresteps.Mostimportantly,keepyourdreamswithintherealmofreality.
10. Whyshouldwehireyouforthisposition?
Thisquestionisasstraightforwardastheycome.Ifyouvepreparedfortheinterviewaheadoftime,thisoneshouldbeeasy.
Youranswershouldfocusonyourexperience,accomplishments,whyyouaredifferentthanyourpeers,andyourworkethic,as
theypertaintothespecificjobdescription.Ifyouhandledtheinterviewwelluptothispoint,youarejusttyingitalltogether.
11. Whatbooks/magazinesdoyouread?
Obviously,atechnicalortradejournalisoneanswertheyarelookingfor.Thebooksyouvereadtellthemanagersomething
aboutyoupersonality.Whateveryoudo,dontsay,Idontliketoread.
12. Whatinterestsyoumostaboutthisposition?
Youreducation,trainingandexperienceaswellasyouraccomplishmentsshouldprovidegoodreferencesforansweringthat
question.Donothesitatetostressthefactthatthiswouldrepresentadynamicmove,whilegivingyoutheopportunitytogrow,
toincreaseyourresponsibilitiesandknowledge ofthefield,andmaypossiblyhelpyoudefineandreachnewgoals.
13. Doyouworkwellunderpressure?
Ofcourseeveryonewillsayyes,butitismoreconvincingifyoucouldprovideexamplesofsituationswhenyouhaveremained
coolunderfire.Becarefulnottochooseasituationofcrisisforwhichyouweretheoneresponsible!
14. Ifyoucouldchangeonethingaboutyourpersonality,whatwoulditbe,andwhy?
K.R.Lindsay10.06
Maketheanswertothisquestionpositivebyreferencingyourattitudeanddetermination.CommentssuchasIamsometimes
impatientwithslowperformersorBeingverydemandingofmyselforSometimes Iexpecttoomuchfromothersaregood.
Keepinmindthatmostinterviewerswillusetheinformationyougivethemtoraiseevenmoreincisivequestions.
15. Howhasyoureducationpreparedyouforyourcareer?
EXAMPLE: Asyouwillnoteonmyresume,Ive takennotonlytherequiredcoreclassesinthe_____field,Ivealsogone
aboveandbeyond.Ivetakeneveryclassthecollegehastoofferinthefieldandalsocompletedanindependent
studyprojectspecifically inthisarea.ButitsnotjusttakingtheclassestoginacademicknowledgeIvetaken
eachclassbothinsideandoutsideofmymajor,withthisprofessioninmind.Sowhenwerestudying____
in_____,Ivevieweditfromtheperspectiveof____.Inaddition,Ivealwaystriedtokeeppracticalviewofhowthe
informationwouldapplytomyjob.Notjusttheory,buthowitwouldactuallyapply.Mycapstonecourseprojectin
myfinalsemesterinvolveddevelopingarealworldmodelof_____,whichisverysimilartowhatmightbeused
withinyourcompany.Letmetellyouaboutit
16. Areyouateamplayer?
EXAMPLE: Verymuchso.Infact,Ivehadopportunitiesinbothathleticsandacademicstodevelopmyskillsasateam
player.Iwasinvolvedin_____attheintramurallevel,includingleadingmyteaminassistsduringthepastyearI
alwaystrytohelpothersachievetheirbest.Inacademics,Iveworkedonseveralteamprojects,servingasbotha
memberandateamleader.Iveseenthevalueofworkingtogetherasateamtoachieveahighergoalthanany
oneofuscouldhaveachievedindividually.Asanexample
17. Haveyoueverhadaconflictwithabossorprofessor?Howwasitresolved?
EXAMPLE: Yes,Ihavehadconflictsinthepast.Nevermajorones,butcertainlytherehavebeensituationswheretherewas
adisagreementthatneededtoberesolved.Ivefoundthatwhenconflictoccurs,itsbecauseofafailuretosee
bothsidesofasituation.Therefore,Iasktheotherpersontogivemetheirperspectiveandatthesametimeask
thattheyallowmetofullyexplainmyperspective.Atthatpoint,Iwouldworkwiththepersontofindoutifa
compromisecouldbereached.Ifnot,Iwouldsubmittheirdecisionbecausetheyaremysuperior.Intheend,you
havetobewillingtosubmityourselftothedirectivesofyoursuperior,whetheryoureinfullagreementornot.An
exampleofthiswaswhen
18. IfIaskedyourprofessorstodescribeyou,whatwouldtheysay?
EXAMPLE: IbelievetheywouldsayIamveryenergeticperson,thatI putmymindtothetask athandandseetoitthatits
accomplished.Theywouldsaythatiftheyeverhadsomethingthattobedone,Iwasthepersonwhotheycould
alwaysdependontoseethatitwasaccomplished.TheywouldsaythatIalwaystookakeeninterestinthe
subjectsthatIwasstudyingandalwayssoughtwaystoapplytheknowledgeinrealworldsettings.AmIjust
guessingthattheywouldsaythesethings?No,infact,IamquitecertaintheywouldsaythosethingsbecauseI
havethemwithmeinseverallettersofrecommendationfrommyprofessors,andthosearetheirverywords.
19. Whatqualitiesdoyoufeelasuccessfulmanagershouldhave?
EXAMPLE: Thekeyqualityshouldbeleadership theabilitytobethevisionaryforthepeoplewhoareworkingunderthem
thepersonwhocansetthecourseanddirectionforsubordinates.Amanagershouldalsobeapositiverolemodel
forotherstofollow.Thehighestcallingofatrueleaderisinspiringotherstoreachthehighestoftheirabilities.Id
liketotellyouaboutapersonwhoIconsidertobeatrueleader
20. Ifyouhadtoliveyourlifeoveragain,whatwouldyouchange?
EXAMPLE: Thatsagoodquestion.Irealizethatitcanbeveryeasytolookbackandwishthatthingshadbeen differentin
thepast.ButIalsorealizethatthingsinthepastcannotbechanged,thatonlythingsinthefuturecanbe
changed.ThatswhyIcontinuallystrivetoimprovemyselfeverydayandthatiswhyIamworkinghardtobecome
theverybest__yourcompanyhaseverhadtomakeapositivechange.Soinanswertoyourquestion,thereisnt
anythinginmypastthatIwouldchange.Ilooktothefuturetomakechangesinmylife.
21. Whywereyoufiredfromyourlastjob?
Ifyouwerefiredwrongfully,sayit matteroffactly.Donotshowagrudgeagainstyouroldemployer.Ifyouwerefiredbecause
somethingthatwasyourfault,sayitinalessdamagingway.
K.R.Lindsay10.06
EXAMPLE: Icutpricesonourproducttomakeacustomerhappywithoutaskingmysuperior.ThecompanylostmoneyandI
wasfiredbecauseofthat.IagreeitwasmyfaultIshouldhaveaskedmysuperior.Ihavelearnedmylessonand
itwillneverhappenagain.
22. Itsbeen6yearssinceyoustartedyourbachelorsdegree,whyarentyoufinished?
Beaspositiveaspossibleandexplainyourreasonscalmlyandlogically.Neveranswerthefollowing:youarehavingtoomuch
funanddidnothavetime,youdonotthinka degree isimportant,etc.
23. Ifyoujoinourcompany,andanothercompany offersyoumoremoney,willyouleave?Or,
howlongwillyoustaywithus?
Ifyousayyes,youwillprobablynotgetthejob.Ifyouwant,youcantellthemthatthesalarywillmakeyouhappyandkeepyou
withthiscompany.Forexample,youmightsaysomething like,IfIacceptthejob,thenthatmeansthatIalso accept thesalary
andIdonotthinkIwillleave. Concerningyourlengthofemploymentlongerisbetter.Youmaywanttodiscussthatyouwantto
stayatyournextjobaslongastherelationshipis mutuallybeneficial.
24. Whatarethethingsinajobthatmakeyoumoreproductive?Lessproductive?
Remember,noworkenvironmentis100%perfect.Youcantpleaseallofthepeopleallofthetime.However,weadaptand
makethebestofwhatwehave.Somakeyouranswerpractical.
25. Whyhaveyoubeenunemployedforthelasttwoyears?
Youmusthaveasoundreasonfornotworkingsolongorhavingabiggapinyourworkhistory.Someexamplesofgoodreason
wouldbe: Caringforasickfamilymember Raising children Lookingfortherightjobwhereyoucanreallycontribute(thiswill
notworkiftheperiodofunemploymentwas anextremelylongtime) Trying out selfemploymentorowningyourownbusiness
Returningtoschoolforfurthertraining Learningnewskills Exploringortraveling(forashortgaponly).
26. Atyourlastjob,youworkedatthesamepositionforfiveyearswithoutapromotion.Why?
Avoidsaying anythingnegative.Tellthetruthinapositiveway.
EXAMPLE: Therewasnotmuchgrowthin ourdepartment.Noneofthepeopleworkinginmydepartmenthadbeen
promoted.ThisisoneofthereasonsI amlookingforanewemploymentopportunity.
27. Whatsalaryareyoulookingfor?Or,whatkindofsalarydoyouthinkyouareworth?
Dontbetoospecific arangeisoftenmostcomfortableforeveryonetoworkwith.Evenbetter,askifthecompanyhasasalary
scaleandbaseyouransweronthat.Remember,salaryisrelatedtomarketvalue.Researchyourworthbeforeyougetintothe
interview.Also, interviewsarenotignorant. Research yourmarketvalueandgivearange
EXAMPLE: Icheckedafewsitesontheinternetandfoundthatthe average salaryforawebdesignerrangesfrom45Kto
60K peryearinthisgeographicarea,dependingontheresponsibilitiesanddutiesinvolved.Iamnot setona
specific numberandamwillingtonegotiate.
28. Howmanyplayersarethereinasoccergame?
This typeofquestionhas nothingtodowithyourcareer. Right orwronganswersdonotmatter.Interviewerswant toseeifyou
canmanagewithnonrelatedsubjects,andthinkonyourfeet. Theymightbetestingyourabilitytoreason,problemsolve,and
utilizeresources.
EXAMPLE: Iamnotsurebutmyguesswouldbeatleasttwoplayersoneachside,oneinthegoalandonetoplaydefense.I
willputthenumberbetweensevenandtwelveoneachteam. Iwoulddefinitelywanttoconsultacolleagueofmine
whoplayssoccerifthiswasagameshowrightnow usingphoneafriendisimportantsometimesinutilizing
availableresources.
29. Doyouhaveanyquestions?
Ifyouhavedoneyourhomework,youllhaveseveralquestionstoaskabouttheposition,company,orindustry.Having
questionsalreadypreparedmakesyouappearmotivatedtoexcelintheinterview,andgenerallyorganizedandputtogether.If
allelsefails,asktheintervieweriftheyneedanyfurtherclarificationaboutyourqualifications.