100 Potential Interview Questions

by Thad Peterson
Monster Staff Writer

While there are as many different possible interview questions as there are interviewers, it
always helps to be ready for anything. So we've prepared a list of 100 potential interview
questions. Will you face them all? We pray no interviewer would be that cruel. Will you face a
few? Probably. Will you be well-served by being ready even if you're not asked these exact
questions? Absolutely.

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. What are your strengths?

3. What are your weaknesses?

4. Who was your favorite manager and why?

5. What kind of personality do you work best with and why?

6. Why do you want this job?

7. Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?

8. Tell me about your proudest achievement.

9. If you were at a business lunch and you ordered a rare steak and they brought
it to you well done, what would you do?

10. If I were to give you this salary you requested but let you write your job
description for the next year, what would it say?

11. Why is there fuzz on a tennis ball?

12. How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly with the team?

13. There's no right or wrong answer, but if you could be anywhere in the world
right now, where would you be?

14. How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?

15. Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?

16. What's your ideal company?

17. What attracted you to this company?

18. What are you most proud of?

19. What are you looking for in terms of career development?

20. What do you look for in terms of culture -- structured or entrepreneurial?

21. What do you like to do?

22. Give examples of ideas you've had or implemented.

23. What are your lifelong dreams?

24. What do you ultimately want to become?

25. How would you describe your work style?

26. What kind of car do you drive?

27. Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job.

28. What's the last book you read?

29. What magazines do you subscribe to?

30. What would be your ideal working situation?

31. Why should we hire you?

32. What did you like least about your last job?

33. What do you think of your previous boss?

34. How do you think I rate as an interviewer?

35. Do you have any questions for me?

36. When were you most satisfied in your job?

37. What can you do for us that other candidates can't?

38. What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?

39. What negative thing would your last boss say about you?

40. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?

41. What salary are you seeking?

42. What's your salary history?

43. Do you have plans to have children in the near future?

44. What were the responsibilities of your last position?

45. What do you know about this industry?

46. What do you know about our company?

47. How long will it take for you to make a significant contribution?

48. Are you willing to relocate?

49. What was the last project you headed up, and what was its outcome?

50. What kind of goals would you have in mind if you got this job?
51. Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the
call of duty at work.

52. What would you do if you won the lottery?

53. Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?

54. Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own
weight? How did you handle it?

55. What is your personal mission statement?

56. Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback. How
did you handle it?

57. What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?

58. What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?

59. What is your greatest fear?

60. Who has impacted you most in your career, and how?

61. What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days of this job?

62. What's the most important thing you've learned in school?

63. What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?

64. What will you miss about your present/last job?

65. If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look
for?

66. List five words that describe your character.

67. What is your greatest achievement outside of work?

68. Sell me this pencil.

69. If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed
with, what would you do?

70. Do you think a leader should be feared or liked?

71. What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years?

72. What do you like to do for fun?

73. Why are you leaving your present job?

74. What do you do in your spare time?

75. How do you feel about taking no for an answer?

76. What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?
77. What is your favorite memory from childhood?

78. Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle
it?

79. Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want me to know.

80. Tell me the difference between good and exceptional.

81. Why did your choose your major?

82. What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?

83. What is your biggest regret, and why?

84. What are three positive character traits you don't have?

85. What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?

86. If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like
fraud, what would you do?

87. How many times do a clock's hands overlap in a day?

88. How would you weigh a plane without scales?

89. What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue?

90. If I were to ask your last supervisor to provide you additional training or
exposure, what would she suggest?

91. If you could choose one superhero power, what would it be and why?

92. What's the best movie you've seen in the last year?

93. Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish
multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you
could finish them.

94. What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?

95. If you could get rid of any one of the US states, which one would you get rid
of, and why?

96. With your eyes closed, tell me step-by-step how to tie my shoes.

97. if you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big picture person or a
detail oriented person?

98. If selected for this position, can you describe your strategy for the first 90
dayss

99. Who are your heroes?

100. Tell me 10 ways to use a pencil other than writing.

Questioning (Applicants)

If you have done your pre-interviewing research, then you should have prepared
some intelligent questions in advance. Some questions you might ask:

1. What kind of training do you provide? How long is the training period?
2. What is the normal progression of a trainee over the first few years?
3. How much travel is involved in this position?
4. Do you encourage continuing education in the local colleges on a tuition
reimbursement basis?
5. What options do I have in selecting (or accepting) assignments?
6. What staff development programs are available after the initial training?

Never ask about vacation time or retirement. These are not work-related activities.
Focus on opportunity, not security. You could ask for more information regarding all
fringe benefits. It will also be helpful to prepare questions concerning the
organization's markets, methods, and projected plans. Ask them not only as they will
affect you, but for general information. Interviewers will be impressed by your
interest in the organization.

During the interview you should be sensitive to signs that the interview has run its
course. Campus interviews are usually scheduled for twenty or thirty minutes.
Interviews end in different ways. Some interviewers might look at their watch, which
is a cue for you that the interview is nearing an end; some interviewers are blunt by
standing up, holding out their hand, and thanking you for coming in. Most employer
representatives however, expect you to sense the proper time to leave on the basis
of subtle indications that your time is up.

When the interview is over, thank the interviewer for taking time to talk with you.
Re-emphasize your interest in the position and your appreciation for being
considered. This is important, since many candidates mistakenly assume that
interviewers sense their interest.

If the interviewer does not definitely offer you a job (this is very rarely done in the
initial interview) or indicate when you will hear from him/her, ask him/her to
estimate a date when a decision might be made for further job interviewing or for an
actual offer. This is important because even though the interviewer is interested in
you, sometimes s/he may wait until s/he finds someone more qualified. If you get a
deadline date, s/he cannot keep you hanging. If the interviewer is impressed with
your performance, you will probably be invited to visit the organization, meet other
personnel and go through more extensive screening. For more information on second
interviews, see the Second Interview Preparation Guide. It is usually after this
second interview(s) that a job offer will be given. So in effect, the main purpose of
an initial interview is to qualify you for a follow-up.

After The Interview

Write A Follow-up Letter · Ask for the interviewer's business card and write
him/her a letter or follow-up e-mail. But make it more than a plain thank-you note.
Tell him/her you are still interested in the position and go over some of your
qualifications that were discussed in the interview so that his/her memory will be
refreshed. Possibly include a couple of pertinent questions that you did not ask in the
interview. If s/he answers you quickly, this might be an indication that s/he is
interested in you. For further instruction, refer to suggestions in the Letter Writing
Guide.

Make Each Interview A Learning Experience · As soon as possible after the

interview, write down what you have learned. Ask yourself these questions:

• What points did I make that seemed to interest the employer?

• Did I present my qualifications well?
• Did I talk too much? Too little?
• Was I too tense? Was I too aggressive? Not aggressive enough?
• What can I do to improve my next interview?

By reviewing your performance, you can make plans to improve your skills.

Remember, the more you interview, the sharper your skills become and the sooner
you will receive an offer!

Appendix A · Sample Questions

What are your long range and short range goals and objectives? When and why did
you establish these goals and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?
What specific goals, other than those related to your occupation, have you
established for yourself for the next 10 years?
What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
What do you really want to do in life?
What are your long range career objectives?
How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
What are the most important rewards you expect in your career?
What do you expect to be earning in five years?
Why did you choose the occupation for which you are preparing?
What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
How would you describe yourself?
How do you think a friend or professor who knows you well would describe you?
What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
How has your college experience prepared you for your chosen occupation?
Why should I hire you?
What qualifications do you have that make you think that you will be successful in
this field?
How do you determine or evaluate success?
What do you think it takes to be successful in an organization like ours?
In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization?
What qualities should a successful manager possess?
Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and those reporting
to him or her.
What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
Describe your most rewarding college experience.
If you were hiring a graduate for this position, what qualities would you look for?
Why did you select your college or university?
What led you to choose your field of major study?
What college subjects did you like best? like least? Why?
If you could do so, how would you plan your academic study differently? Why?
What changes would you make in your college or univerisity? Why?
Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?
Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?
What have you learned from participation in extra-curricular activities?
What have you learned from your previous jobs?
In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
How do you work under pressure?
In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested? Why?
How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation?
Why did you decide to seek a position with this organization?
What do you know about our organization?
What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
Are you seeking employment in an organization of a certain size? Why?
What criteria are you using to evaluate the organization for which you hope to work?
Do you have a geographical preference? Why?
Will you relocate? Does relocation bother you?
Are you willing to travel?
Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee?
Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which our organization is
located?
What have you done that shows initiative?
What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?
What have you learned from your mistakes?
Describe an example where you worked as part of a team.

What does your company do?"

Ask questions that show you’re well informed and eager to work at the
company, not those to which you should already know the answers, or that can
be easily gleaned from the company's website or annual report.

2. "My salary requirements are very flexible."

Compensation is often the touchiest subject in an interview. Certainly you want
to know what a company will pay, and interviewers want to know what you're
willing to take. It’s a negotiation, not a game. When push comes to shove, you
should be willing at least to give a range, even if you have to be broad and say,
for example, “I’m looking for something between $30,000 and $60,000.”

But don’t pretend to be flexible when you aren’t. If you’re worried that your
salary requirements are too high for the job, you may need to do some serious
thinking about how low you're willing to go. Don't sell yourself short, but ask
yourself how much you honestly think you’re worth. Do research about what
similar jobs pay and what salaries are like in the region. If a company comes
back with too low an offer, you can always try and negotiate up.
3. "It would be hella cool to get jiggy with this job."
Maybe that is how all of your friends talk (and it’s become a habit with you),
but it’s not the way you should speak during a job interview. Using slang is a
serious turnoff for interviewers. You may be articulate, intelligent, and
confident, but like, you sure won’t sound that way.

4. "Bill Gates himself offered me a $100,000 bonus."

Don’t lie! You’ll be found out, and you’ll regret it. Someday when you least
expect it, someone somewhere will discover that you didn’t really increase
sales by 999 percent in six months. Interviewers know you’ll probably
exaggerate a little to sell yourself; but don’t cross the line between
exaggeration and out-and-out lying.

5. "In five years, I see myself on a boat in the Caribbean."

When interviewers ask you about long-term goals, they want an answer that
relates to the company. Telling them that you really want to be living on a
farm (unless you're applying for an agricultural job) isn’t going to convince
them that you're an ambitious professional in your chosen field.

Even if you don't plan to stick around long, say something that reflects a
commitment to the position and the company. This may seem to contradict
the previous exhortation about lying, but try to think of it as a rhetorical
question. You might still be at the same company in five years, right?

6. “Sorry, I don’t know how to do that.”

Rather than admitting that you don't have a specific skill, stress that you’re a
fast learner and are excited about the possibility of acquiring new skills.
Most companies would rather hire an enthusiastic, smart person who needs
to be trained than someone who already has the required skills but isn’t as
eager to learn.

7. “You see, I just went through a painful divorce. . . .”

Even if an interviewer starts getting personal, don’t follow suit. You may
think you’re being open and honest, but you’re really just coming across as
unprofessional, unfocused, and disrespectful. Keep it businesslike and polite.

8. “What can your company do for me?”

Interviewers hate arrogance and selfishness. They want to know why they
should hire you. Stress the contributions you can make. Tell them about how
your efforts helped previous employers. Don’t start asking about raises,
bonuses, and promotions right away.

Remember, you’re the one being interviewed, and while you should use the
opportunity to get your questions answered, you shouldn't make it seem as if
you'll be doing them a favor if they hire you.

9. “I left my last job because my boss was a real jerk.”

Bad-mouthing your previous employer is possibly the dumbest thing you can
do during an interview. Even if your last company was a chaotic hellhole,
your boss was a monster, your coworkers were Martians, and you got paid in
tin cans, say that you left to look for more responsibility, you wanted greater
opportunity for advancement, or you were just ready for a change.