Sample Interview

Questions

A Guide for Hiring Managers

Sample Interview Questions

Table of Contents

Introduction

Interviewing Tips

Inappropriate Interview Questions

Background Interview Questions

Frequently-Sought Skills Interview Questions

10

Entry-Level Interview Questions

17

Clerical Interview Questions

18

Sample Interview Questions

Introduction
Good interviewing skills are key for successfully selecting the
best candidate. Asking the right questions helps you identify the
right person for the position. Asking the wrong questions can lead
to legal difficulties.
This guide contains a variety of sample questions that you can ask.
There are specific questions for managerial, clerical, and entrylevel positions. There are questions to obtain information on the
candidates previous work experience and questions you can use
to identify whether candidates have frequently-sought skills (e.g.,
analytical skills). In addition, this guide also lists several
inappropriate questions that you should avoid.
If you have any questions about interview questions, interviewing
skills, or the selection process, contact your HR Advisor.

Sample Interview Questions

Interviewing Tips
Prior to the Interview
Develop a list of job-related, open-ended questions for all
candidates. Questions should focus on the critical skills, work
experience, key responsibilities, and education requirements.
Review the candidates resume and relevant work experience
and prepare specific questions about their work activities.
During the Interview
Put the candidate at ease; create a comfortable setting for the
candidate.
Asks open-ended questions; listen and respond
conversationally.
Probe inconsistencies between what the candidate tells you
and what the candidates resume states.
Probe for negatives.
Request specific examples or illustrations.
Allow the candidate to do most of the talking.
Close the interview by thanking the applicant and giving the
timeframe for making the hiring decision.
After the Interview
Complete the Interview Sheet.
Use the Interview Sheet to compare candidates.
Forward all completed Interview Sheets to your recruiter when
the hiring decision has been made.

Sample Interview Questions

Inappropriate Interview
Questions

Age, Sex, Marital Status

How old are you? What is your birth date?

How do you feel about reporting to someone younger than you?

How long have you resided at your present address?
When did you graduate from high school?
What is your marital status?
What was your maiden name?
Do you prefer to be addressed by Miss, Ms., or Mrs.?
What is your spouses name? Occupation?
How many children do you have?
What are the ages of your children, if any?
What are your child care requirements? (If asked of female
applicants only.)

The age discrimination of Employment Act of 1967, as amended,

prohibits discrimination on the basis of age against individuals over
the age of 40. Questions that elicit answers from which interviewers
can discern the age of the applicant should be avoided. References to
energy or over qualifications may be alleged as discriminatory.

Questions about marital status, pregnancy, future child-bearing plans

and the number and age of children may be a violation of Title VII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, if used to deny or limit
employment opportunities for women. It is also a violation of Title
VII to inquire about child care arrangements from female applicants
only. A number of states also have laws that specifically prohibit
discrimination on the basis of marital status.

How do you feel about significant business travel?

This is a legitimate question and can be asked only if asked of all

applicants. It is improper to place undue emphasis on conditions of
employment in the hope, or with the result, of discouraging the
applicant. It is for the applicant, not the employer, to decide whether
he or she wants the job, based on a clear explanation of the
conditions.

Sample Interview Questions

Inappropriate Interview
Questions

Race/Sex/Sexual Orientation/National Origin/ Religion

Of what groups or organizations are you a member?

What church do you attend?

Although this question seems to relate only to religious

discrimination, some religions also reveal national origin, for
example, Greek Orthodox.

Are you able to work weekends?

An applicant may have included information of this nature when

listing his or her participation in school activities on an employment
application or resume (i.e., membership in the Society of Black
Engineers). For such organizations, you may ask the applicant to
describe projects he/she worked on or leadership roles he/she held to
demonstrate his/her level of experience.
However, you should avoid direct questions about additional
memberships in groups or organizations other than those listed on the
application or resume, because they may elicit information about an
applicants race, sexual orientation, national origin or religion.

Although not unlawful itself, this question may discourage applicants

of certain religions that prohibit working on Saturdays or Sundays. To
provide applicants with a true picture of job requirements,
interviewers should explain that overtime is often required,
sometimes with short or no notice. Applicants can then be asked if
they would be able to work overtime without identifying days or time
the overtime would occur.

Have you ever been arrested?

What type of discharge did you receive from the military?

Sample Interview Questions

Inappropriate Interview
Questions

Of what country are you a citizen?

What is your nationality? What kind of name or accent do you
have?
What foreign languages can you read or speak?
What was your fathers surname?
Have you ever served in the armed forces of another country?

Under Title VII, it is unlawful to refuse to hire an individual because

of the individuals, or his or her ancestors, place of origin or because
of the individual has the cultural or linguistic characteristics of a
particular national origin. The law protects all individuals, both
citizens and non-citizens, residing in the United States.
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) requires
employers to verify that all employees are eligible to work in the U.S.
IRCA specifically prohibits employers from discriminating against
individuals because of citizenship status, unless required to do so for
national security reasons.

Would you be willing to lose weight? Shave your

beard/mustache? Not wear certain articles of clothing (e.g., a
turban) during business hours?

Many businesses establish the standard for attire in accordance with

the community of their industry. Any such standard, if challenged as
discriminatory, may be tested against whether it is a bona fide
occupational qualification (BFOQ). Without any basis in true
business necessity, such standards may be deemed to be unlawful.
Similarly, businesses may only refuse to accommodate dress or
grooming requirements based upon religion if they can demonstrate
strong business justification. Accordingly, interview questions related
to appearance and grooming should be avoided.

Sample Interview Questions

Inappropriate Interview
Questions

Mental or Physical Disabilities?

Do you have any mental or physical disabilities?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination

against qualified individuals with disabilities in any aspect of the
employment process. A qualified individual with a disability has the
requisite skills, education and experience and can perform essential
functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
Any business that has contracts with the government must also comply
with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires affirmative action
to employ and advance in employment such individuals.
If you are interviewing an applicant with an obvious disability, discuss
the position in terms of its duties, responsibilities, location and
performance expectations. Tell the applicant what needs to be done on
the job and give the applicant an opportunity to state how they could
do it. Do not inquire as to what the applicant can not do in the same
way persons without disabilities can. Do not turn down an applicant
because of negative assumptions or perceptions about persons with
disabilities.
Do not discuss how the applicant functions in personal or social
activities or other persons with disabilities you may know. Persons
with identical disabilities have different performance levels.

Financial Status

Do you own or rent your place of residence?

Do you own a car?
Do you have any outstanding loans?
Have you ever declared bankruptcy or had your wages garnished?

Inquiries as to an applicants financial status, if used to make

employment decisions, may violate Title VII. Rejection of applicants
because of poor credit ratings has a disparate impact on minority
groups. In addition, the Fair Credit Reporting Act precludes an
employer from obtaining a customer report unless the applicant is
advised this will be done. In some cases, applicants authorize the
investigation when they sign their initial application.

Sample Interview Questions

Background Interview
Questions

Activities

Would you tell me about your present (last) position?

How would you describe a typical work day?
What activities did you enjoy most at your last job?
What do you consider the most critical elements in the successful
performance of your present (last) position?
What job functions are most difficult for you? Why?
What problems have you encountered on the job? Which
problems frustrate you the most? Why? How do you deal with
them?
What was your greatest contribution in your present (past)
position?
What recommendations have you made that were implemented?
How have you improved your position from the one you
originally accepted?
How have your previous jobs prepared you for more
responsibility?
What are the reasons you left your last position?

Sample Interview Questions

Background Interview
Questions

Skills

Tell me in detail about your _(skill)_ experience.

What exposure have you had with _(skill)_?
Please give me an example of a project where you used _(skill)_.
Tell me about how you have used your _(skill)_ to be successful?

Relationships

Tell me about your working relationship with your supervisor.

How do you support him or her?
What do you feel are your supervisors greatest strengths? Why?
Weaknesses?
In what ways has your supervisor supported your performance?
For what kinds of things have you been praised? Criticized?
Describe a successful relationship with someone from another
department. Why is it successful? How could it be improved?
Describe the traits that team members have that you work well
with? What traits do you find difficult?
What do you consider essential in the management of people?
What type of task forces or projects have you worked on? What
did you contribute? What did you contribute?

Sample Interview Questions

10

Background Interview
Questions

Aspirations

Self-Assessment

What is important to you in a position? What would you like to

avoid?
What do you want to do five years from now?
What are you doing to achieve your career goals?
How will this position help you reach your long-term career
goals?
How do you define a successful career?
As an employee, what are your greatest strength? How have you
used them?
In what areas would you most like to improve? Why?
What motivates you?

Skills Match

What do you believe qualifies you for this position?

Tell me what you know about this position and what interests
you about it.
Given the skill set needed for this position, where do you think
your skills are transferable?
What elements of this position would be new to you?
What additional training do you feel is required to achieve full
proficiency?
Based on the information I have provided, what do you think are
the critical duties or skills required?

Sample Interview Questions

11

Frequently-Sought Skills
Interview Questions

Analytical and Problem-Solving

Describe a situation on any job which youve held where you

were faced with a problem. What did you do to solve it?
Give an example of a situation in which you had to be relatively
quick in coming to a decision. What was the outcome?
Give an example of a situation in which you had to use your factfinding skills to gain information for solving a problem, then tell
me how you analyzed the information to come to a decision.
Give me an example of a problem which you faced on any job
you have had and tell me how you went about solving it.

Teamwork

Give me an example of a time in which you feel you were able to

build motivation in your co-workers or subordinates at work.
What did you do in your last job to contribute toward a
teamwork environment? Be specific.

Sample Interview Questions

12

Frequently-Sought Skills
Interview Questions

Flexibility

Describe a time in which you felt it was necessary to modify or

change your actions in order to respond to the needs of another
person.
Tell me about a situation where someone was angry at you. How
did you handle it?
Describe an environment where you have worked where you had
to deal with one crisis after another. How did you handle it?
What is the most frustrating work-related experience you have
faced? How did you resolve it?
What do you do when you are being pressed for a decision?
Describe a time when unexpected events demanded that you
reschedule your time or rethink your approach.
Give an example of when it was not possible for you to be
flexible.
How do you overcome objections to your ideas? Goals?

Sample Interview Questions

13

Frequently-Sought Skills
Interview Questions

Verbal Communication

Describe how have you gathered information and input from

others.
What is the toughest communication problem you have faced?
Tell me how you have verbally convinced someone of an
approach or an idea.
Tell me about a time you have compromised successfully.
Tell me about any formal presentations or proposals you have
made to management or customers?
Give an example of a situation when you could have improved
your communication with another person.
Describe a situation in which you were able to effectively read
another person and guide your actions by your understanding of
their individual needs or values.
Describe a situation in which you were able to positively
influence the actions of others in a desired direction.

Written Communication

In your current position, what situations are better for written

communication?
Describe the most significant written
document/report/presentation which you have had to complete.

Sample Interview Questions

14

Frequently-Sought Skills
Interview Questions

Organization and Planning

What did you do in your last job in order to be effective with

your organization and planning? Be specific.
Describe a situation when you had to plan a task with critical
deadlines. How did you plan to meet the deadlines? What did
you do when short-term clashed with long-term goals?
Tell me about a time when your attention to detail paid off by
avoiding a costly mistake or capitalizing on an overlooked
opportunity.

Manageability

Describe the most effective way your supervisor has given you
direction.
Describe a time when you responded well to criticism. Describe
a time when you responded poorly to criticism.
What disagreements have you had with your supervisor?
Describe a time when you felt that management had made an
emotional rather than logical decision about your work.
What qualities should a successful manager possess?
Give me an example of a specific occasion in which you
conformed to or confronted a policy with which you did not
agree.
What type of management styles do you work best with?

Sample Interview Questions

15

Frequently-Sought Skills
Interview Questions

Goals, Risks, Creativity

Give me an example of an important goal which you have set in

the past and tell me about your success in reaching it.
Give an example of a time when you had to go above and
beyond the call of duty in order to complete the job.
Describe the most creative work-related project or solution
youve developed.
Tell me about a time when you had to do something or make a
decision and there was no procedure to do so.
Describe a situation where you took a risk.
Tell me about a time when you took on a project or made
changes to an existing procedure before you were asked to.
How does your job relate to the overall goals of the company?
Give an example of where you resisted pressure to do something
because you knew it was not right.
Describe a time when you rearranged things to be more effective.

Sample Interview Questions

16

Entry -Level Interview

Questions

Educational background

Why did you enroll at this university?

How would you describe your academic achievement?
How did you choose your major?
What college subjects have you enjoyed most?
What school year was most difficult, and why?
What changes would you make in your school?
Describe your most rewarding college experience.
What are your plans for future education?
What extracurricular activities did you enjoy?
How do you think college contributed to your overall
developments?
Do you think college grades should be considered by first
employers?
How do I know your capabilities?
What have you learned from your mistakes in school?

Work history

How would you describe the ideal job for you?

What kind of work interests you most?
Explain your understanding of this jobs responsibilities.
Do you feel you still have anything to learn after all your years of
academic study?
Which summer job did you enjoy most?
With how many levels of management did you interact?
What was the jobs biggest challenge?
Tell me about a responsibility you have enjoyed.
What has been your least valuable work experience?
How would your references describe you?

Sample Interview Questions

17

Clerical Interview Questions

Describe a typical work day.

What skills can you bring to this position, other than the ones
required in the job description?
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
What aspects of your position give you most enjoyment?
What aspects of your position cause you the most problems?
What software packages are you familiar with?
What activities do you use the packages for?
How many people do you support?
How many supervisors have you had at one time?
Describe a situation where the needs of your supervisors
conflicted. What did you do?
How do you prioritize your work (or day)?
Describe your experience with general office skills (e.g.,
copying, faxing, multi-phone lines, supplies, etc.).

Sample Interview Questions

18