Interview Skills

Traditional Interview Questions You May Be Asked

• Why do you want this job?
• What are your career goals, both short and long-term?
• What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
• Why did you choose this career?
• How would you describe yourself?
• What does success mean to you?
• What achievements have given you the most satisfaction, and why?
• Why should I hire you?
• How can you contribute to this company?
• Do you work well under pressure?
• Will you relocate?

Questions Typically Asked in Interviews Today

Friendliness

• Can you give me an example of a time when you worked on a project requiring team work?
• We have all had to work with someone who is very difficult to get along with. Tell me about a time you have had a conflict with a coworker and how you resolved it?
• How would a coworker describe you?

Communication

• What is the worst communication problem you have experienced? What did you do about it?
• How do you handle one-on-one meetings with your supervisor?
• (If applying for supervisory position) How would you characterize your communications with your manager, peers and subordinates?
• In your experience as a customer, please give me two situations of good and bad service, and why you would or would not recommend them to a friend?

Work Experience

• Tell me about your education and training as they relate to the position under consideration.
• What experience do you have with computers? What software are you familiar with?
• (If in college) Why did you choose your major?
• Is there an area you would like to improve?

Job Motivation

• What did you like best about your job? Like least? What provides the most satisfaction and challenge to you?
• All jobs have their frustrations and problems. Describe some examples of specific job conditions, tasks or assignments that have been dissatisfying to you.
• Give an example of a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.
• Can you provide me with an example of a time when you were really motivated at work? What created the motivation?

Planning and Organizing

• What did you do in your last job in order to be effective with your planning and organizing? Please be specific.

Decision Making

• What was your most difficult decision in the last six months and what made it difficult? Was your decision successful? Is so, why was it successful?

Leadership

• Can you tell me of an experience where you have had the opportunity to use leadership skills and give specifics.

Organizational Awareness and Sensitivity

• How do you plan to keep up with changes in your technical area?
• How did you keep informed about what was going on in other areas of the organization?

Ability to Work Under Pressure

• Describe a time on any job which you have held, in which you were faced with problems or stresses which tested your coping skills. What did you do?

Goal-Setting Abilities

• Where do you see yourself in five years?

Flexibility

• What hours/days, if hired, would you be able to work?

Ability to Deal with Difficult Customers

• Tell me about a time that you had to handle an angry customer. What happened, and how did you handle it?
• What do you feel is the best way to handle an irate customer?
• Let's pretend I am your customer, and I am dissatisfied with one of your products. I have returned to your store and have every intention of returning the product. How would you help me?

Interest in Position

• How did you hear about this company and the position?
• What interests you about this position?
• Why do you feel you would be the best candidate for the job?