COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

How do you explain a career change?

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Describe a challenging work issue you had to face, and how you dealt with it?

How do you explain gaps in your work history?

How do you explain low grades?
How do you explain terminations?
How do you explain a lay-off?
How do you keep your present employer from being contacted?
How do you address a reduction in salary from your current job to the job that you're interviewing?
Where do you want to be 5 years from now?
What salary are you seeking?
Tell us about yourself.
What is your greatest weakness?
How do you handle stress?
How do you deal with difficult people?
How do you handle conflict?
If you were on a merry-go-round, what song would be playing? If you were going to be an animal on the merry-goround, what would you be?"

4. In what way do you think you can contribute to our company?

5. Tell me a story.
6. Tell me about a time when you tried and failed.
7. Tell us about your analytical skills.
8. What are some of the things you find difficult to do?
9. What are your short and long term goals?
10. What can you add to what we have already asked you that should make us want to hire you?
11. What does "customer service" mean to you?
12. What do you wish to gain from our company?
13. What do you know about our company?
14. What do you think the employee's responsibilities are to the company?
15. What motivates you?
16. What things make a good team member?
17. Why do you feel we should hire you for this position?
18. Why do you want to change jobs?
19. Why do you want to leave this job after only four months?
SUPERVISORY INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
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How do you deal with an unhappy or frustrated employee?

What are the attributes of a good manager?
You have an exemplary employee who suddenly starts coming in late. How will you handle this situation?
Tell us about the passion in your life as it relates to your work.
What aspects of your work do you get the most excited about?
What are your most outstanding qualities?
If you were to start your own company, what would that company do?
Tell me about the last book that you read.
If you were a cucumber in a salad and somebody was about to eat you, what would you do?
What are your worst qualities?
What is your favorite color and what does it reflect in your personality?
Rate yourself from one to ten on your work ethic with ten being best .
Describe yourself.

Working Effectively With Others

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Tell us about your inter-personal skills.

What experience have you had working with external agencies?
How do you deal with conflict?
Tell us about a situation in which you were required to work with people at various levels within your organization?
What was the most important step that you took to work effectively with these people?
To what extent have your assignments required interface with other departments?
Tell us about an incident in which you dealt with an irate customer, which would demonstrate your ability to work
effectively with others?
In what kinds of situations do you find it most difficult to deal with people?
Describe to us the extent to which you have worked with executive or top management.
What has been your experience in working with community organizations?

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10. Tell us about your experience in working with volunteers.

Education
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How does your experience and education qualify you for this job?
How does your education qualify you for this job?
Why did you choose to attend the college that you are attending?
What aspect of your education applies to this position?
What training have you received that qualifies you for this job?
What have you done outside of formal education to improve yourself?
What training opportunities have you taken advantage of and why?
What additional training will we have to provide for you if we hire you?

Experience
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Tell
us
about
yourself.
Focus on the aspects of your experience that apply specifically to the position that you're applying for.
How are you qualified for this job?
How does your current job qualify you for this position?
How does your experience qualify you for this job?
Describe a typical day at your present position.
What were your three greatest accomplishments on your last job?
What are some of the things on your current job you have done well?
What is the most difficult assignment you have had?
What accomplishment on the job are you the most proud of?
What steps have you taken to improve your job skills?
What significant contributions have you made to the operation of your work group?
How has your current position prepared you to take on greater responsibilities?
What makes you more qualified than the other candidates?
Why do you want to leave your current job?
How has your job prepared you to take on greater responsibility?
Tell us about your qualifications for this position.
What actions have you taken in the past 10 years to prepare you for this position?
What steps have you taken in the past two years to improve your qualifications?
In the areas where your experience falls short for this job, what steps will you take to make up for this shortfall?
Describe yourself.
What skills and abilities do you have?
Recall an incident where you made a major mistake. What did you do after the mistake was made? What did you learn
from this mistake?
What is the greatest failure you've had? What would you have done differently?
What action on the job are you the least proud of?
Tell us about a difficult situation that you encountered and how you resolved it.

Resume
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Take us through your resume.

What are you most proud of on your resume?

Analytical Skills
1. Are you analytical? Give us one example of your analytical abilities.
2. Tell us about your analytical skills.
3. Tell us about a particularly difficult problem that you analyzed and what was your recommendation.
4. What steps do you take when analyzing complex problems?
5. How would you rate your analytical ability? Why?
6. How would your manager rate your analytical ability?
7. Tell us about a situation where the analysis that you performed was incorrect. What would you have done differently?
Tell us about your analytical skills.
This should be easy if you have done a realistic skill inventory for yourself, listing what skills you do have and how you can
offer proof of this skill (where you learned it, last used it). Working off your inventory, focus on various analytical skills and
match them to the skills you feel are most important for the job you are considering. You can now give specific examples
of skills you can offer. (Do not neglect skills obtained in extracurricular activities, such as volunteer work.)

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths
1. Why should we hire you?
2. What are your three greatest strengths?
3. What can you contribute to our organization?
4. Assume that you are a candidate in the coming general election. Tell me why you are the best candidate in the field.
5. What is your greatest strength?
6. We've interviewed a number of highly qualified students for this position. What sets you apart from the others?
7. What are your strengths?
8. What part of your current job are you the most comfortable with?
9. What are your strong points and how have they helped you to succeed?
Weaknesses
1. What is your greatest weakness?
2. Name your three greatest weaknesses.
3. Which is the worst of your three greatest weaknesses and why?
4. What are your weaknesses?
5. What part of your current job are you the least comfortable with?
6. What are your weak points and how have you overcome them?

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7.
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What about yourself would you want to improve

In which area do you need to make the improvement in?

Career Goals
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Where do you want to be 5 years from now in your career?

What are your long term career goals?
What prompted you to take your current job?
Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
Why did you make a career change?
Why do you want to leave your current position?
Five years ago, where did you see yourself today?
What is your career goal?

the job.)

Interview Closing
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Do you have anything to add?

Summarize by emphasizing your qualifications as they apply to this job. Also, cover anything that you missed from
your opening.
Is there anything youd like to address?
Have we missed something that youd like to add?
Is there anything else?
Is there anything you would like to add?
Do you have any questions?
Ideas on questions to ask.
Do you have any closing comments?

New Job
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What is the most attractive aspect of the job you are interviewing for?
What is the least attractive aspect of the job you are interviewing for?
In order to successfully meet the responsibilities of this position, which of your personal qualities will be of the greatest
benefit?
What part of the job that you interviewing for do you look forward to the most?
What part of the job that you are interviewing for do you look forward to the least?
What aspect of our organization has the greatest appeal for you?
Knowing our organization and the position that youre interviewing for, where can you make the greatest contribution?
How will the job youre interviewing for, fit into your career plans?
Why did you choose this profession and this specific job?
What do you think your responsibilities will be if youre hired?
Why are you interested in the position?
What are you seeking from this job?
What challenges do you think that you will face in moving from your current position to this position?
What aspect of the job announcement interested you the most?
In comparision to your current position, what do you think will be different in your new position?
Our company is more widely recognized than the current company that you're working for, why do you think that is?
Tell us why you believe you are ready to promote to the next level of management.
What can you contribute to our company?
What do you know about our company?
What interests you about a career in (field of new job)?
Why should we give you a chance to perform in this job?
Why should we hire you instead of the the other candidates?
We have 24 candidates. A number of the candidates have more experience than you do. Why should we hire you
instead of one of the other candidates?
Why do you want this job and how does it fit you?
What do you intend to accomplish as a (title of new job) with our company?
Why should we hire you?
What additional training or development will you need to perform in this position?

Teamwork
Entry Level

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What are the characteristics of a successful team?

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What are the important qualities a person should have to become an effective team member?

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What factors would you consider in assembling a project team?

Tell us about an unsuccessful team of which you were a member. What, if anything, could you have done differently?
Tell us about a successful team of which you were a member. What was the most outstanding characteristic of that
team? What did you contribute?
What qualities do you have that make you an effective team player?
Do you work better by yourself or as part of a team?
What can you contribute to establish a positive working environment for our team?

What type of people do you work best with?

Advanced
Name some of the pitfalls to be avoided in building an effective team.
Through what tools can a committee become more useful or productive?

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4.
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What actions can a supervisor take to establish teamwork in the organization?

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What are the advantages, if any, of establishing team goals as opposed to individual goals?

You supervise a group of civilian employees. Your employees appear to be at odds with the uniformed personnel. What
steps can you take to improve the teamwork between civilian and uniformed personnel?

Interview Questions
Why are you interested in this field?
Why are you interested in this company?
Why are you interested in this position?
Why do you want this job?
What qualities do you think this job requires?
Why do you want to work for this organisation?
What have you got to contribute?
What can we offer you that your present employer cannot offer?
How long have you been looking for a new job?
What do you know about this organisation?
What interests you about this organisation?
What are you looking for in a new job?
What would be your ideal job?
What sort of jobs are you considering at the moment?
What did you do on a day to day basis?
What do you not like about the job?
How did you make a difference to your last organisation?
How successful are you?
What was your greatest success and how did you achieve it?
What has been your biggest failure?
How could you improve yourself?
How did you progress in your last job?
How do you handle criticism?
How do you work with others?
Are you a self-starter, able to work without constant supervision?
Can you be depended upon in critical situations and follow work through to completion?
Are you objective in evaluating yourself and others?
What motivates you?
Are you competitive?
What problems did you encounter and how did you overcome them?
Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibilities?
Are you enthusiastic and easy to work with?
Can you work under pressure?
Can you manage your time effectively?
How do you structure your day's work?
How do you plan your day and week?
How did you handle sudden unplanned work or crisis?v Can you handle constructive criticism in a productive manner?
What are you like under pressure?
How many hours are you prepared to work?
What are your career goals?
How did you get on with your last manager/colleagues?
How do you express yourself in situations where you have to be tactful?
What initiatives do you take to make the work place more efficient?
How do you deal with different people at work?
How do you handle work in high pressure situations?

More Interview Questions

Questions about your qualifications

How do you think a friend or someone who knows you well would describe you?
What do you think is your greatest weakness?
Can you summarize the contribution you would make to our organisation?
What accomplishment has given you the most satisfaction?
Tell me about your experiences at school.
What has been the most rewarding university experience?
Please tell me about the greatest professional assignment you've ever handled.
Tell me about your most significant work experience.
How would those who have worked with you describe you?
Why are you the best candidate for this position?
Have you ever supervised anyone?

Questions about your ability to work for the Company

Why are you interested in this job?

What do you know about us?
What qualities should a successful manager possess?

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In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?

What criteria are you using to evaluate the organization for which you hope to work?
Are you a team player?
How do you handle conflict?
How do you work under pressure?
What major problem have you encountered and how have you dealt with it?
How competitive are you?
What do you expect from your supervisor?
Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and those reporting to him or her

Questions about your career choices

What are your long-term career goals? When and why did you establish these goals and how are you preparing yourself to achieve
them?
What are the most important rewards you expect in your business career?
What do you do in your spare time?
What kind of salary are you looking for?
Are you willing to relocate?

Difficult to answer questions

Did you ever have a group leader or boss you disliked? Why did you dislike him/her?
How would someone who dislikes you describe you?
Talk about a group situation in which there were problems. How did you handle the situation and what was the outcome? What role did
you play in the group? How could the group improve its performance?
Tell me about a time when you experienced a failure and how you reacted to it.
Tell me about a time when you were under considerable pressure to meet one or more goals.
Describe a situation where you had to resolve a problem at work and explain how you resolved it.
Give me an example of how you are a risk taker.
If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
What motivates you?
Why do you want to work for us and not for our competitor?
Why should we hire you over everyone else we spoke to today?
What do you think is the most important/difficult ethical dilemma facing corporations today?
Give a one sentence positioning statement of yourself.
How do you go about deciding what to do first when given a project?
Tell me about an experience you have had in a working environment (school, work, or community).
Describe a situation where you did not agree with something your boss asked you to do and how you resolved the problem.
Can you work under pressure?
What did you like/dislike about your last job?
What would you like to be doing five years from now?

Sample Cover Letters

Below is a sample cover letter. Use this sample cover letter as a guide for your own. Remember, the best cover letters spark the
employers interest and create an impression of competence. Keep it brief and to the point.
Click here for more sample cover letters
Joe Bloggs
567 current address
Melbourne, 3000
03 9999 9999
June 2, 2004
Ms. Christine Techie
Manager for Employment
Simple Travel
Melbourne 3000
Dear Ms. Techie, (If possible address your letter to a specific individual)
(State position applied for)
The management trainee position you advertised in todays The Age greatly interests me. The Simple Travel has always served
as a landmark for me when I travel. I would like to contribute to their continued growth.
I have enclosed my rsum for your review.
(Sell yourself )
In May (2004), I will be graduating from RMIT University with a degree in business.

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While in school, I developed strong organisational and customer service skills. As a dormitory assistant, I organized events, led
meetings, and assisted students. As treasurer of the Business Society, I maintained the budget and presented budget reports. My
summer jobs also required extensive interaction with the public.
I believe these experiences have prepared me for your management trainee position.
(Request an interview)
I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my qualifications more extensively in an interview.
I can be reached at 03 9999 9999.
Thank you for your consideration.
(Place your phone number near the end)
Sincerely,
John Ryan (Sign your cover letter)

General Questions
Questions start the minute the interview does, and to show that you are an exceptional
candidate, you need to be prepared to answer not only the typical questions, but also the
unexpected. You can expect questions regarding your qualifications, your academic
preparation, career interests, experience, and ones that assess your personality.

Illegal Interview Questions

Is it legal for a job interviewer to ask me if I have a disability?

No. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits questions about medical conditions; past hospitalizations; nature and severity of
disabilities; and other related matters on job applications and in job interviews.
Unfortunately, some employers persist in asking questions that are prohibited under the ADA. This places job applicants in the uncomfortable
position of deciding how to respond.
What type of question is an interviewer allowed to ask?
An employer may ask you whether you can perform the job-related functions, as long as they dont phrase the questions in terms of the disability.
For example, if driving a vehicle is a function of the job, the employer may ask if you have a drivers license. However, they may not ask if you
have a visual disability that would prevent you from driving.
Do I have to tell the truth about my disability?
It is recommended that you never lie on a job application or job interview. The employer could have a legitimate justification to fire you later on if
its revealed that you lied. Some courts have ruled that lying on a job application or in an interview is a legitimate ground for firing an employee,
even if there is evidence that the firing was also motivated by unlawful discrimination.
Can the interviewer ask about gaps in my employment history if those gaps were related to my disability?
Under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), potential employers cannot ask certain questions at a job interview that would result in the
applicant revealing information about the existence or nature of a disability.
Questions about gaps in employment history are likely to lead to information about an applicants disability and are therefore arguably illegal.
However, until the courts and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) clarify the issue, the law on this question is unsettled.
What should I do if an interviewer asks me unlawful questions about my disability?
There is no easy answer. If you are asked a question at a job interview that is not allowed under the ADA and you answer the question, you may be
revealing information that the law allows you to keep private, at least at that stage of the job application process.
There are two basic issues for you to consider: (a) do you want to get the employer to change the illegal job application or interview process or (b)
do you want to get the job? Accomplishing both objectives at the same time may be difficult.
If your main goal is to pursue the job, you may choose to refuse to answer a question in a nonconfrontational manner. For instance, you could
state that you read about a law that prohibits questions of this type during job interviews. This lets you avoid answering the question without
giving the employer the impression that you have a disability.
If your main goal is to get the employer to change the illegal interview process, then you can file a complaint with the EEOC or state or local
human rights agencies, and ask them to take up the problem of the illegal question with the employer.
What should I do if I encounter an illegal question on a written job application?
You may leave the question blank or ask if you can take the application to fill it out at home. If you are permitted to take the application home, you
can show the application to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), NYLPI, other advocacy organizations, or state or local
human rights agencies, and ask them to take up the problem of the illegal question with the employer.
If you do this, you can also request that the agency to whom you show the application not reveal your identity to the employer. This may enable
you to get the application changed while continuing to pursue the job.
What should I do if I refuse to answer illegal interview questions and then dont get the position?
The employer has violated the law. You may want to consider filing an administrative complaint with the EEOC or a state or local human rights
agency.
If I apply for a job and I am not hired, how do I know if the employer has violated the law and discriminated against me because

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of my disability?
There is no way to know for certain. This is especially true when an employer doesnt directly state that you werent hired because of your
disability or provides no reason at all for not hiring you.
Then, how can I prove that I wasnt hired because of my disability?
(a) You must show that you are a person with a disability; you were qualified for the job; you were denied the job; and the job either remained
open or was given to a person without a disability.
(b) The employer must offer a neutral or non-discriminatory reason for the decision not to hire you, such as the fact that you were not qualified for
the job or were not as qualified as another applicant who was hired.
(c) If the employer can meet this burden, then you have to show that the neutral reason given by the employer is not the real reason for the
employers decision not to hire you, and your disability was the true reason. Any information that you can obtain on these issues prior to filing a
complaint will be helpful to your case.
Whats my chance of success if I file a complaint based on disability discrimination by an employer?
Even if you can prove that an employer asked an illegal question on a job application or at an interview, and you can prove that you were not hired
as a result of your response to the illegal question, you will not necessarily win an administrative proceeding challenging the employers decision
not to hire you.
To win an administrative complaint or lawsuit challenging a decision not to hire you, you will also have to prove that you were able to perform the
essential functions of the job, with or without a reasonable accommodation. You will need concrete evidence that the employers decision not to
hire you was based, at least in part, on your disability.
Does an employer who asks an illegal job interview question violate the ADA even if they extend a job offer?
The employer may have violated the ADA even if you are offered the job or even if you decide that you do not want the job and withdraw your
application before a hiring decision is made. In either of these situations, you may want to ask the EEOC, NYLPI or state or local human rights
agencies to investigate and ask the employer to change the application or interview process so that the question is not asked of other applicants.
Does the ADA require employers to give preference to hiring people with disabilities?
No. While the ADA and state and local laws protect people from employment discrimination on the basis of disability, they do not require an
employer to hire or promote the person with a disability over other people.
These laws prohibit an employer from refusing to hire or promote or from taking other adverse action against a person because of the persons
disability, if he or she can perform the essential functions of the job.
An employer can, under the ADA, choose a person without a disability with more experience over an individual with a disability even if the
individual with the disability is qualified for the job.
An employer can choose a person without a disability over an individual with a disability, if the two individuals are equally qualified, as long as the
choice was not made because of the individuals disability.

Sample Interview Questions

Why did you apply for this position?

Tip: How do you think that you might fit into this company

Would you tell us what attracts you to a career with us? How do you see your
studies, skills, experience and personal qualities contributing to the work of the
organisation?
Tip: How do you think that you might fit into this company

Describe a time when you had to deal with conflicting demands. How did you deal with this situation and what was the outcome?
Tip: STAR

Can you describe a time where you have been required to perform as part of a team? What was the situation? What part did you play in the
team and what was the outcome of the exercise?
Tip: STAR

How do you establish a working relationship with new people?

Tip: Team skills

Where do you expect to be in 5 years time? What will you do if you are not successful in gaining this position?
Tip: Demonstrate to the interviewer that you have thought about what it is you want from work and what you hope to achieve. Let them know you
are flexible however, and willing to explore new opportunities.

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What particular skills and qualities do you bring to the workforce? What other skills would you like to develop in the future?
Tip: Strengths and weaknesses

Tell me about a challenging situation you have faced. What was the situation and how did you cope with it?
Tip: STAR

Is there an achievement of which you are particularly proud? What is it? Why is it significant?
Tip: STAR

Imagine that you are a member of a small team responsible for the development and production of an internal publication. Your team is
dependent on another workgroup to provide the data which will form the basis of your publication. The deadline for completing this project is not
able to be relaxed. (a) What factors do you think might affect the team's ability to meet the publication deadline? (b) What could the team do to
ensure the project is completed on time?
Tip: Hypothetical questions allow the interviewer to identify key competencies deemed important by the employer. No right or wrong answer

What are the key elements of measuring performance and how can you establish whether an outcome represents a success? (Answer this
in terms of your own work or study experience.) More specifically, what do you think might be some key indicators of the successful performance
of a national agency?
Tip: STAR (Behavioural +Situational question)

You have demonstrated in your CV that you have knowledge of entomology. Could you please expand on your experience and tell us what
you think your strengths are in this field. An important component of the position will be the maintenance of water quality parameters within
acceptable limits for the species. Can you outline your experience in water quality testing? What do you feel are the most important water quality
variables?
Tip: Multi-part question

The ability to work independently within a structured team is essential to the position. This will require the successful applicant to be selfstarting, able to prioritise tasks, be a good communicator, as well as showing considerable initiative. Can you give us some examples where you
have worked within a team environment and demonstrated these abilities?
Tip: STAR + multi-part question

What do you feel is the potential for aquaculture in Australia and what are some of the major impediments to its development? What are
some of the major aquaculture species cultured in freshwater? As well as the position involving general maintenance of the aquaria and pond
facilities, a significant component will involve participation in scientific experiments through the collection and collation of research data. Can you
describe previous experience you have had in the day to day running of scientific experiments?
Tip: STAR + multi-part question

The research project and facilities the successful applicant will be involved with receives considerable attention from the general public.
Therefore, a component of the job will involve liaising with the general public and media. This requires the delivery of information in a simple
precise manner. How confident do you feel you are in delivering sometimes complex information in a simple manner?
Tip: give examples

What computer programs are you familiar with, and more specifically, what programs would you use to write a report, enter research data,
and to prepare a poster or seminar.
Tip: give examples of where you have applied the use of these programs.

You have had an opportunity to look at the statistical table from the publication (this was supplied before the interview). (a) Imagine you
were asked to write a commentary on the information in the table. Are there any significant or curious or interesting features revealed by the data
which you think should be highlighted, and if so, what might you say about them? Can you offer any suggestions to explain these features? (b)
What is your opinion of the general layout of the table? How might it be improved?
Tip: multi-part question

Behavioral Interview Questions

Behavioral questions can be difficult if you are not prepared. Always try to be conscious about what the recruiter is trying to find
out about you by asking you a particular question. Setting up a mock interview with the MIT Careers Office is an excellent way
to practice. Here are some examples:
Adaptability:

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Tell me about a time when you had to adjust to a classmates or colleagues working style in order to complete a project
or achieve your objectives.
Analytical Skills/Problem Solving
Tell me about a situation where you had to solve a difficult problem. What did you do? What was your thought process?
What was the outcome? What do you wish you had done differently?
Communication:
What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.
Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person even when that
individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa). How did you handle the situation? What obstacles or difficulties did
you face? How did you deal with them?
Creativity:
Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion.
Tell me about a problem that youve solved in a unique or unusual way. What was the outcome? Were you happy or
satisfied with it?
Decision Making:
Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year.
Describe a situation where you have had to overcome a problem or obstacle in order to move forward with something.
What did you do?
Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision without all the information you needed. How did you handle it?
Why? Were you happy with the outcome?
Flexibility:
Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree.
Describe a time when you put your needs aside to help a co-worker understand a task. How did you assist them? What
was the result?
Goal Setting:
Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement so far and why?
Tell me about a goal that you set that you did not reach. What steps did you take? What obstacles did you encounter? How
did it make you feel?
Iniative:
Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.
What tricks or techniques have you learned to make school or a job easier, or to make yourself more effective? How did
you learn that?
Describe a situation where you have had to use your initiative to solve a problem. What did you do?
What was the best idea you came up with during your professional or college career? How did you apply it?
Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish and failed.

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Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.
Integrity/Honesty:
Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.
Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision.
Tell me about a time you had to fire a friend.
Describe a time when you set your sights too high (or too low).
Tell of the most difficult customer service experience that you have ever had to handle-perhaps an angry or irate
customer. Be specific and tell what you did and what was the outcome.
Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.
Give a specific example of a policy you conformed to with which you did not agree. Why?
Leadership:
Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.
What has been your experience in giving presentations to small or large groups? What has been your most successful
experience in speech making?
Tell me about a team project when you had to take the lead or take charge of the project? What did you do? How did you
do it? What was the result?
Interpersonal Skills:
Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem.
Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.
Give an example of when you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. How/why was this person
difficult? How did you handle it? How did the relationship progress?
Planning and Organization/Time Management:
How do you determine priorities in scheduling your time? Give examples.
Describe a time in school when you had many projects or assignments due at the same time. What steps did you take to
get them all done?
Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks.
How do you prioritize projects and tasks when scheduling your time? Give me some examples.
Teamwork:
Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that individual may not have
personally liked you (or vice versa).
Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upsetcustomer or co-worker.

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Describe a situation where you have had to work as part of a team to achieve a result. What was your role in this?
Describe a situation where others you were working with on a project disagreed with your ideas. What did you do?

Software/Technical Questions

What types of office equipment have you used?

Tell me about the types of word processing you did on your last job.
What would you say are the major technical skills needed for this position?
How do you merge a file in Microsoft Word?
What certifications/classes have you completed this last year? Were any of them required by your supervisor?
Describe the types of documents you deal with on a daily basis.
What software programs do you use most often in your current position?
Describe in detail your experience with computer software programs.
Tell me about the spreadsheets you have created.
Give me an example of a technical problem you had to solve. How did you implement the solution?
Tell me about the PowerPoint presentations you have developed.
What software do you have experience with? How would you describe your experience level for that software?

New Graduate Questions

What extracurricular activities were you involved in?

What activities did you enjoy the most?

What classes did you enjoy the most? The least?
Why did you choose your major?
Why did you change majors?
If you could start again, what major would you choose?
Why are you applying for a job in a field other than your major?
What did you learn from your summer jobs?
In what courses did you get the worst grades? Why?
Are your grades a good measure of your ability?
Give me an example of a problem you've had at school and how you solved it.

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How does your degree prepare you (a) for a career in [industry] or (b) to excel as a [job title]?
What qualifications do you have beyond academics that qualify you to make a successful transition into business?

Problem Solving/Decision Making Questions

Describe the most difficult problem you had to solve. What was the situation and what did you do? Would you do anything
different next time?
In general, how do you handle conflict?
Describe a creative solution that you have developed to solve a problem.
What solution are you the proudest of?
Describe a time when you had to use fact-finding skills.
What has been your most important work-related idea?
Who or what caused you the most trouble in implementing your ideas?
What kinds of problems do you normally experience in a day?
Tell me about a situation that got out of control. How did you handle it?
Describe the best/worst co-worker youve ever had.
Tell me about something you achieved as a group member.
How would you define a good working atmosphere?
Tell me about a time you came up with a new idea. Were you able to get it approved? If so, how did you go about it?
Can you think of a time an idea of yours was rejected? Tell me about it.
Tell me about a time an idea or task of yours was criticized.
Tell me about a time you had to work according to a policy you disagreed with.
How do you go about making important decisions?
Tell me about the last time you made a good decision and describe what it was and what the results were.
Tell me about an important decision or judgment call youve had to make on the job.
Describe the worst decision you ever made and how you corrected it.

Introductory Questions
What five adjectives describe you best?
Why should I consider you for this position?
Why are you the best candidate for this position?

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Tell me about the one thing in your life you're proudest of.
You've changed jobs frequently. What makes you think that this position will be different?
What qualities do you think are necessary to make a success of this job?
Describe your ideal job.
How did you find out about this job?
What do you know about the job?
What do you know about the this department?
Is there anything that will prevent you from getting to work on time?
Is there anything that will prevent you from working the jobs regular hours?
What kinds of work interest you the most?
What interests you most about this position?

Sample Interview Questions

Personal Motivation and Traits
How do you feel about your present workload?
What motivates you to do your best work?
How can we best help you get your job done?
Tell me about a time you went "out on a limb" to get the job done?
What are the disadvantages of this line of work?
What do you find most frustrating at work?
Tell me about a project that got you really excited?
How do you define doing a good job?
What makes a job enjoyable for you?
Under what conditions do you work best?
What is your greatest strength/weakness or deficiency?
Tell me about a work task you enjoy.
Goals
What are your 5-year goals?
Tell me what "success" means to you.

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What does "failure" mean to you?

Do you consider yourself successful?
Do you set goals for yourself and how do you do that?
Communication
Tell me about a work situation you had that required excellent communication skills.
Do you prefer to speak directly with someone or send a memo?
How would you grade your ability to communicate with upper level management, customers, and peers?
What was more important on your job, written or oral communication?
Flexibility
Tell me about the last change which occurred in your office. How did you handle it?
I'm interested in hearing about the last time you took a risk. What was it and in retrospect, was it the right decision?
How important is communication and interaction with others on your job? How many departments did you deal with?
What problems occurred?
Tell me about a time when a work emergency caused you to reschedule your work/projects.
Give me an example of the last time you went above and beyond the call of duty to get the job done
In what areas do you typically have the least amount of patience at work?
Stress
Tell me about a deadline you had to meet. How much advance notice did you have?
You have worked in a fast paced environment. How did you like the environment?
What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you?
What is the most difficult work situation you have faced?
What types of jobs do you have the most difficulty with?
What do you do when you're having trouble with your job?
What do you do when you have a great deal of work to accomplish in a short period of time?
Manageability
What do you do when you're having trouble with a boss?
If your boss knew you were interviewing, what would he say?
What do you feel an employer owes an employee?
Your supervisor tells you do to something in a way you know is dead wrong. What do you do?

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If your supervisor unfairly criticized you, what would you do?

Would you like to have your boss's job? Why or why not?
Tell me about a time when your manager was in a rush and didn't give you enough attention.
What are some of the things about which you and your boss disagree?
What are some of the things your boss did that you disliked?
In what areas could your boss have done a better job?
I would be interested to hear about an occasion when your work or an idea was criticized, what was criticized, who
criticized you, and how did you handle it?
Describe the best manager you ever had. The worst. What qualities did each of them have?

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