50ToughInterviewQuestions

YouandYourAccomplishments
1.Tellmealittleaboutyourself.
Becausethisisoftentheopeningquestion,becarefulthatyoudontrunoffatthemouth.
Keepyouranswertoaminuteortwo,andconsiderfourtopics:
EarlyYears
Education
WorkHistory
RecentCareerExperience
2.Whatcanyoudoforusthatsomeelsecant?
Hereyouhaveeveryrightandperhapsobligationtotootyourownhornandbeabit
egotistical.
Talkaboutyourrecordofgettingthingsdone.
Mentionspecificsfromyourresumeorinventoryofaccomplishments
Saythatyourskillsandinterests,combinedwithhistoryofgettingthingsdone,makes
youvaluable.
Mentionabilitytosetpriorities,identifyproblems,anduseyourexperienceandabilityto
solvethem.
3.Whyshouldwehireyou?
Createyouranswerbythinkingintermsofyourability,yourexperience,andyourenergy.
SeeQuestion2formoredetail.

Page 2
4.Whatdoyoulookforinajob?
Keepyouanswerorientedtowardtheopportunitiesattheorganization.
Talkaboutdesiretoperformandberecognizedforcontributions
Orientyouranswertowardopportunitiesratherthanpersonalsecurity
5.Howlongwouldittakeyoutomakeameaningfulcontributiontoourfirm?
Berealistic.
Saythat,whileyouwouldexpecttomeetpressingdemandsandpullyourownweight
fromthefirstday,itmighttakesixmonthstoayearbeforeyoucouldexpecttoknowthe
organizationanditsneedsenoughtomakeamajorcontribution.
6.Didyouchangethenatureofyourjob?
Tellhowyouimprovedit.
7.Canyouworkunderpressureanddealwithdeadlines?
Observethatbotharefactsofbusinesslife.
Takeexamplesfromyourlistofaccomplishmentstoshowhowyouhavedealt
successfullywithpressureanddeadlinesinthepast.

Page 3
8.Inyourpresent(last)position,whatproblemsdidyouidentifythathadpreviouslybeen
overlooked?
Bebriefanddontbrag.Indicatethepositivechangesyoursuggestionsorleadership
resultingin.
9.Ifyoucouldstartyourcareeroveragainwhatwouldyoudodifferently?
Thebestansweris,Notathing.
Youshouldtrytopresentyourselfasapersonwhoishappywithhisorherlife.
Youveenjoyeditsupsandlearnedfromitsdowns.

Youwouldnot,asaresult,wanttochangethingsthatbroughtyoutowhereyouare
today.
Mentionthatitisthepast,afterall,thathaspreparedyouforthisposition.
10.Whatcareeroptionsdoyouhaveatthismoment?
Youshouldtrytoidentifythreeareasofinterest,oneofwhichincludesthiscompanyandjob.
Theothertwoshouldbeinrelatedfields.
11.Howwouldyoudefinesuccess?
Thinkintermsofasenseofwellbeing.
Consideropportunityandresponsibilityascomponentsofsuccess.

Page 4
12.
Say
wayyoucareerhasprogressed.
pect

onderful;Imoverjoyed!islikelytomakean
interviewerwonderwhetheryouretryingtofoolhimoryourself.Themostconvincing
confidenceisquietconfidence.
Howsuccessfuldoyouthinkyouvebeensofar?
that,allinall,yourehappywiththe
Giventhenormalupsanddownsoflife,youfeelthatyouvedonequitewellandex
tocontinuetosucceedinthefuture.
Presentapositiveandconfidentpictureofyourself,butdontoverstateyourcase.
Ananswerlike,Everythingisw

OurOrganization
13.
?
Yousho
todiscussthefollowing:
ervices
es
However,dontactasifyouknoweverythingabouttheplace.
metodosomeresearch,butdontoverwhelm

Giveanswersinapositivetone.Dontsay,Well,everyonetellsmethecompanysina
heapoftrouble,andthatswhyImhereevenifitiswhyyourethere.
Whd
rorganization
atoyouknowaboutou
uldbeable
ProductionS
Goals
Revenu
ManagementStyle
Reputation
People
Image
HistoryandPhilosophy

Letanswersshowthatyouhavetakentheti
theinterviewer.
Makeitclearthatyouwishtolearnmore.

14.
Whatelsewouldyoulike
hom
Telluswhyyouwanttoworkforus?
ThedeadliestansweryoucangiveisBecauseIlikepeople.
animals?Hereandthroughouttheinterview,agoodanswercomesfromhavingdoneyour
eworksoyoucanspeakintermsofthecompanysneed.

Page 5

tobeinvolvedwith,andthatitsbeendoingtheminwaysthatinterestyou.

.
iththat
on.Yourhomeworkshouldincludelearningenoughaboutthecompanytoavoid
pproachingplaceswhereyouwouldntbeableorwouldntwanttofunction.
Youmightsayyourresearchhasshownthatthecompanyisdoingthingsyouwouldlike
Ifthecompanyisknownforstrongmanagement,youranswershouldbeyouwouldliketobe
partofthatteam.
Ifthecompanyputsagreatdealofemphasisonresearchanddevelopmentemphasizethefact
thatyouwanttocreatenewthingsandyouknowthisisaplacewhereinventivenessis
encouraged
Iftheorganizationstressesfinancialcontrols,youranswershouldmentionareverencefor
numbers.
Ifyoufeelthatyouhavetoconcoctananswertothisquestion,thenyouprobablyshouldnt
betakingtheinterview,becauseyouprobablyshouldntbeconsideringajobw
organizati
a
15.
ouarebeinginterviewed).

termsofresponsibilitiesandaccountability.
mptan
answer.
Ifyouarentsure,asktheinterviewer,heorshemayanswerthequestionforyou.
Pleasegivemethedefinitionof(thepositionforwhichy
Keepyouanswersbriefandtaskoriented.
Thinkin
Makesurethatyoureallydounderstandwhatthepositioninvolvesbeforeyouatte

16.
aythatitdependsofthejobanditschallenge.
Doyoupreferstafforlinework?
S
17.
oradifferentsizecompany?Toadifferent

Tailoryouanswertothejobbeingdiscussed.
Dontyouthinkyoumightbebettersuitedf
typecompany?

Page 6
Saythatyourpreferencesforthesizeortypeofcompanygenerallydependonthejo
question.
bin
Notethatyourresearchhasshownyouthatthisorganizationandthisjobmeetyou
criteria.
18.
alkaboutthejobandthecompanyforwhichyouarebeinginterviewed.
Ifyoucouldchooseanycompany,wherewouldyougo?
T
19.
estrictyouranswertofieldssimilartotheoneinwhichthiscompanyoperates.
Whatotherjobsareyouconsidering?
R
20.
wan
veadvertised.
Relateyourgoalstothecompanyyoureinterviewingfor:Inafirmlikeyours,Iwould
liketo.
Whatareyourlongrangegoals?
Referbacktotheselfassessmentphaseofyourcareercontinuationefforts.Dontanswer,I
tthejobyou

21.
out
job,andmentionasingle,minor,unattractive
em.
Whatdoyoufindmostattractiveaboutthisposition?Whatseemsleastattractiveab
it?
Listthreeorfourattractivefeaturesofthe
it

Page 7
22.
eleast?

terrible,aninterviewermaywonderwhyyouve
remainedthereuntilnow,orwhetheryouhaveanattitudeproblemthatwouldbelikely
toshowuponanewjob,too.
Inyourcurrent(last)position,whatfeaturesdo(did)youlikethemost?Th
Becarefulandbepositive.Describemorefeaturesthatyoulikedthandisliked.
Dontsitepersonalityproblems.
Ifyoumakeyourlastjobsound
23.

,whathavebeen(were)yourfivemostsignificant

oucan
s,ifyoud
liketohearaboutsomeotherareaofmyworkTheniftheinterviewerasksfor
additionalaccomplishments,youcangivethemwithoutappearingtoboast.
Inyourcurrent(last)position
accomplishments?
Havespecificexamplesready.
Ifyouareaskedforfiveexamples,dontciteten.
Ifyouwanttoshowthatyouwereresponsibleformorethanfiveachievements,y
say,Ivegivenyoufivethatseemthemostimportanttome.Thereareother
24.
rwiththeorganization,butadmitthatyouwouldhave
uetofeelchallengedtoremainwithanorganization.Thinkintermsof,Aslongas
ebothfeelachievementoriented.
Howlongwillyoustaywithus?
Saythatyouareinterestedinacaree
tocontin
w
25.
ationwiththeorganization,and
opportunitieswillopenupforyou.

individualsarealwaysatapremium
n
investment.
Yourresumesuggeststhatyoumaybeoverqualifiedortooexperiencedforthis
position.Whatdoyouthink?
Emphasizeyourinterestinestablishingalongtermassoci
saythatyouassumeifyouperformwellinthisjob,new
Mentionthatastrongcompanyneedsastrongstaff.
Observethat
Suggestthatbecauseyouaresowellqualified,thecompanywillgetafastreturno

Page 8
Saythatagrowing,growing,energeticcompanycanneverhavetoomuchtalent.

ManagementStyle
26.
mpanysstyletoknowthatyourmanagementstylewill
Resultsoriented(Effectonbottomline)
Participativestyle(opendoormethodmotivatingpeopleanddelegating)
Whatisyourmanagementstyle?
Youshouldknowenoughabouttheco
complimentit.Possiblestylesinclude:
Taskoriented(Problemsolving)

27.

examples?Doyoufeelthatyouhave
ted.

atements.
Stressyourexperienceandyourenergy.
Areyouagoodmanager?Canyougivemesome
topmanagementpotential?
Keepyouranswerachievementandtaskorien
Relyonexamplesfromyourcareertosupportyourst

28.
Men
Themostdifficulttaskmaybetomotivateandmanageemployeestogettasksroutinely
plannedandcompletedontimeandwithinbudget.
Whatdoyouthinkisthemostdifficultthingaboutbeingamanageroranexecutive?
tionplanning,execution,andcostcontrol.

Page 9
29.oyouconsideryourselfaleader?
akeexamplesfromyourworkexperience.
D
T
30.
Thinkintermsofskills,initiative,andadaptabilitytoworkcomfortablyandproductivelywith
thers.
Mentionthatyouliketohirepeoplewhoappearcapableofmovingupinan
organization.
Whatdoyoulookforwhenyouhirepeople?
o

31.
Adm
l,bothforthecompany
uthinkfortheindividualorindividualsinvolved.
Showthat,likeanyoneelse,youdontenjoyunpleasanttasks,butthatyoucanresolve
themefficientlyand,inthecaseoffiringsomeone,humanely.
Haveyoueverhadtofirepeople?Whatwerethereasons,andhowdidyouhandlethe
situation?
itthatthesituationwasnteasy,butsaythatitworkedoutwel
and,yo

IndustryTrends
32.h
dsthatillustratehowwellyouunderstandyourindustry.
Economicconditions
Currentcompetitivesituation
Regulatorydemandsrelatedtothedirectioninwhichyourbusinessisheading.
Watimportanttrendsdoyouseeinourindustry?
Bepreparedwithtwoorthreetren

Youmightconsidertechnologicalchallengesoropportunities

Page 10
33.
industry?
epreparedwithtwoorthreekeyissues.
Whatarethefrontierorcuttingedgeissuesinour
B

ReasonsforYourSearch(orWhyYouAreOutofWork)
34.
Beb
nwithouthurtingyourself.
arch,whereyouconsideredthistopicas

idoffinastaffreduction,sayso
yourdecision,theresultofyourdesiretoadvance

chsuggestedearliermaybeuseful.
Dontfabricateastoryforaninterview;evenintodaysreferenceshyclimate,yourstory
maybechecked.
Whyareyouleaving(didleave)yourpresent(last)position?
rief,tothepoint,andashonestasyouca
Referbacktotheplanningphaseofyourjobse
youthoughtaboutreferencestatements.
Ifyouwerela
Otherwiseindicatethatthemovewas
yourcareer.
Dontmentionpersonalityconflicts.
Theinterviewermayspendsometimeprobingyouonthisissue,particularlyifitsclear
thatyouwereterminated.Beaspositiveandhonestasyoucan.TheWeagreedto
disagreeapproa

35.
findingajobisntdifficult,butthatfindingtherightjobdeservestimeanddemands
arefulplanning.
Whyhaventyoufoundajobbeforenow?
Saythat
c

Page 11
36.Didyouthinkofleavingyourpresentpositionbefore?Ifso,whatdoyouthinkheldyou
there?
Youmightsaythatthechallengeofthejobheldyouinthepastbut,asthatseemedto
diminish,youreachedthedecisiontoinvestigatenewopportunities.
37.Whatdoyouthinkofyour(former)boss?

Beaspositiveasyoucan.
Apotentialbosswillanticipatethatyoumighttalkabouthimorherinsimilartermsat
somepointinthefuture.
38.Willyoubeouttotakeyourbosssjob?
Saythatwhileyoucertainlyhopetowinadditionalresponsibilityintheorganization,youve
alwaysfocusedongettingthecurrentjobdone.

StrengthsandWeaknesses
39.Wouldyoudescribeafewsituationsinwhichyourworkwascriticized?
Bespecific.Dontbeemotional.
Thinkintermsofconstructivecriticism
Showthatyourespondedpositivelyandbenefitedfromthatcriticism.

Page 12
40.IfIspokewithyour(former)boss,whatwouldheorshesayareyourgreateststrengths
andweaknesses?
Namethreeorfourstrengthsandonlyoneweakness.Behonestbutnotnegative.
41.Whatareyourstrongpoints?
Presentatleastthree.
Useconcrete,workrelatedexamplestoillustratethem.
Trytorelateyouranswertotheinterviewingorganizationandthespecificjobopening.
42.Whatareyourweakpoints?
Dontsayyouhavenone.Buttrytomakeanegativesoundlikeastrengthcarriedabittofar.
Isometimesgetimpatientandbecomedeeplyinvolvedwhenaprojectisrunninglate.
Dontofferalistofweaknesses
Agoodinterviewermaypressyouabitbysaying,Isthereanythingelse?Youmight
answerNo,Idontthinksoonthattopic.
Iftheinterviewerpersist,comeupwithasecondweakness,butonlyifyouareaskedfor
it.Dontoffernegativeinformationunnecessarily.
Iftheinterviewercontinuesandasksforathirdweakness,saypolitelythatyoureally
cantthinkofanythingelse.
Finally,showthatyouareworkingtocorrectyourweaknesses.

Page 13
SalaryRelatedQuestions
43.Whyarentyouearningmoreatyourage?
Saythatisonereasonyoureconductingthisjobsearch.Dontbedefensive.
44.Whatdoyoufeelthispositionshouldpay?
Salaryisadelicatetopic.
Wesuggestthatyoudefertyingyourselftoaprecisefigureforaslongasyoucandoit
politely.
Youmightsay,Iunderstandthattherangeforthisjobisbetween$Xand$Y.Thatseem
appropriateforthejobasIunderstandit.
Youmightanswerthequestionwithaquestion.Perhapsyoucanhelpmeonthisone.
Canyoutellmeifthereisarangeforsimilarjobsintheorganization?
Ifyoureaskedthequestionduringaninitialscreeninginterview,youmightsaythatyou
feelyouneedtoknowmoreabouttheresponsibilitiesinvolvedbeforegivinga
meaningfulanswer.Heretoo,eitherbyaskingtheinterviewerordoingresearchduring
yourinvestigationofthecompany,youcantrytofindoutwhetherthereisasalarygrade
attachedtothejob.Ifthereis,andifyoucanlivewithit,saythattherangeseemsright

toyou.
Iftheinterviewercontinuestoprobe,youmightsay,YouknowIammaking$Xnow.
Likeeveryoneelse,Idliketoimproveonthatfigure,butmymajorinterestisinthejob
itself.Remembertheactoftakinganewjobdoesnot,inandofitself,makeyouworth
moremoney.
Ifnopricerangeisattachedtothejob,andtheinterviewercontinuestopressthesubject,
thenyouwillhavetorespondwithanumber.Youcantleavetheimpressionthatit
doesntreallymatter,thatyoullacceptwhateverisoffered.Ifyouvebeenmaking
$96,000annually,youcantsaythata$42,000figurewouldbefinewithoutsounding
likeyouaregivinguponyourself.(Ifyouaremakingaradicalcareerchange,however,
asubstantialdisparitymaybemorereasonableandunderstandable)
Dontsellyourselfshort,butcontinuetostressthefactthatthejobitselfisthemost
importantthinginyourmind.Theinterviewermaybetryingtodeterminejusthowmuch
youwantthejob.Dontleavetheimpressionthatmoneyistheonlythingimportantto
you.Linkquestionsofsalarytotheworkitself.
Ifasearchfirmisinvolved,yourcontacttheremaybeabletohelpwiththesalary
question.Asearchfirmrepresentativemayevenbeabletoruninterferenceforyou.If,
forinstance,thispersontellsyouwhatthepositionpays,andyourespondthatyouare
earningthatamountnowandwouldliketodoabitbetter,heorshemightgobacktothe
employerandpurposethatyoubeofferedanadditionaltenpercent.
But,wheneverpossible,sayaslittleasyoucanaboutsalaryuntilyoureachthefinal
stageoftheinterviewingprocess.Atthatpoint,youknowthecompanyisgenuinely
interestedinyouandismorelikelytobeflexibleinsalarynegotiations.

Page 14
PersonalityTraits
45.Doyouhaveanyobjectiontopsychologicaltests?
Sayyouwouldfeelcomfortabletakingthem.
46.Doyouspeaktoothersbeforetheyspeaktoyou?
Theinterviewerisprobablytryingtodetermineyourabilitytodealwithunstableor
unanticipatedsituations.
Saythatyouractionsdependonspecificcircumstances.
Whileyouwouldntnormallystartaconversationwithastrangeronthestreet,for
example,youfeelcomfortableinitiatingdiscussionswithpeopleyoudontknowin
normalbusinessorsocialsettings.
47.Whatwasthelastbookyouread?Movieyousaw?Sportingeventyouattended?
Trytoshowthatyouleadabalancedlifewhenansweringquestionsaboutoutsideactivities.
48.Areyoucreative?
Bepreparedwithworkrelatedexamplesofcreativity.

Page 15
49.
maybewisetosayyouaretheproudownerofabalancedpersonality.
Howwouldyoudescribeyourownpersonality?
It

WhenCanYouStart?
50.
Bepreparedtogiveadateorcommittoatimeanddatethatyoucancommittoastartdate.
Areyouofferingthepositiontomenow?mightbeagoodresponseifanofferhasnot

yetbeenmade.