Interview Questions

1.         General Question

1.1.        Tell me about yourself.
What the hiring manager really wants is a quick, two- to three-minute snapshot of who you are and why you’re the best candidate for this position.
So as you answer this question, talk about what you’ve done to prepare yourself to be the very best candidate for the position. Use an example or two to back it up. Then ask if they would like more details. If they do, keep giving them example after example of your background and experience. Always point back to an example when you have the opportunity.
“Tell me about yourself” does not mean tell me everything. Just tell me what makes you the best.
sample answer:
I have been working in the field of civil engineering for the past 6 years. My most recent experience has been with an engineering consulting firm where I’ve worked for the last 2 years. I enjoy my job because it’s challenging and I like interacting with a variety of people. In my most recent assignment I was on a project that lasted nine months. I made a significant contribution to the project because of my expertise in sanitary engineering. One of my strengths is my attention to detail. I am known for being extremely thorough and meeting or exceeding deadlines and goals. My boss knows that I work well under minimal supervision, that I am very conscientious and that the job will be done right the first time. I’m looking for a new opportunity where I can contribute to the growth of the company by helping educate customers on the benefits of using our consulting services.
My background to date has been centered on preparing myself to become the very best _____ I can become. Let me tell you specifically how I've prepared myself...
Tell about your major, what you plan on doing when you get out of college, what other jobs you have had.
Answer in about two minutes. Avoid details, don’t ramble. Touch on these four areas:
How many years, doing what function
Education – credentials
Major responsibility and accomplishments
Personal summary of work style (plus career goals if applicable)

1.2.        Did you bring your resume?
Yes. Be prepared with two or three extra copies. Do not offer them unless you’re asked for one.

1.3.        How did you prepare for this interview?
When I found this position posted on the internet (monster.com) I was immediately interested. I checked out the company website and mission statement, looked at the bios of company founders and executives, and was impressed. Once I had the interview appointment, I talked with friends and acquaintances in the industry. And, I’m sure I’ll find out a lot more in today’s meetings.”

1.4.        Do you have the qualifications and personal characteristics necessary for success in your chosen career?
I believe I have a combination of qualities to be successful in this career. First, I have a strong interest, backed by a solid, well-rounded, state-of-the-art education, especially in a career that is technically oriented. This basic ingredient, backed by love of learning, problem-solving skills, well-rounded interests, determination to succeed and excel, strong communication skills, and the ability to work hard, are the most important qualities that will help me succeed in this career. To succeed, you also need a natural curiosity about how systems work -- the kind of curiosity I demonstrated when I upgraded my two computers recently. Technology is constantly changing, so you must a fast learner just to keep up or you will be overwhelmed. All of these traits combine to create a solid team member in the ever-changing field of information systems. I am convinced that I possess these characteristics and am ready to be a successful team member for your firm.

1.5.        Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it resolved?
Note that if you say no, most interviewers will keep drilling deeper to find a conflict. The key is how you behaviorally reacted to conflict and what you did to resolve it.
For example: “Yes, I have had conflicts in the past. Never major ones, but there have been disagreements that needed to be resolved. I've found that when conflict occurs, it helps to fully understand the other person’s perspective, so I take time to listen to their point of view, and then I seek to work out a collaborative solution. For example . . .”
Focus your answer on the behavioral process for resolving the conflict and working collaboratively.

1.6.        Tell me about a time when you had to plan and coordinate a project from start to finish.
I headed up a project which involved customer service personnel and technicians. I organized a meeting to get everyone together to brainstorm and get his or her input. From this meeting I drew up a plan, taking the best of the ideas. I organized teams, balancing the mixture of technical and non-technical people. We had a deadline to meet, so I did periodic checks with the teams. After three weeks, we were exceeding expectations, and were able to begin implementation of the plan. It was a great team effort, and a big success. I was commended by management for my leadership, but I was most proud of the team spirit and cooperation which it took to pull it off.

1.7.        Describe a situation in which you found that your results were not up to your professor's or supervisor's expectations. What happened? What action did you take?
Recently I was asked to put together a proposal for a migration of network systems. Misunderstanding my boss, I thought it was just an informal paper. When I presented it to him days later, he was upset with the quality since it had to be presented to our VP. I explained my misunderstanding, apologized, reworked the paper, and had it back to him with enough time for him to review it before he presented it successfully at the meeting

1.8.        What do you know about our organization? 
Research the target company before the interview. Basic research is the only way to prepare for this question. Do your homework, and you’ll score big on this question. Talk about products, services, history and people, especially any friends that work there. “But I would love to know more, particularly from your point of view. Do we have time to cover that now?
This question is one reason to do some research on the organization before the interview. Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who are the major players?

1.9.        What experience do you have?
Try to cite experience relevant to the company’s concerns. Also, try answering these questions with a question: “Are you looking for overall experience or experience in some specific area of special interest to you?” Let the interviewer’s response guide your answer.
What experience do you have in this field? Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.
I think I have my current job because of my experiences abroad. Those experiences gave me greater self-confidence and a greater understanding of myself, which led to my willingness to uproot myself and try new work in a new location.”

1.10.     According to your definition of success, how successful have you been so far?
Be prepared to define success, and then respond (consistent record of responsibility)
You should always answer yes and briefly explain why. A good explanation is that you have set goals, and you have met some and are on track to achieve the others.

1.11.     How has your college experience prepared you for a business career? 
Emphasize your best and favorite subjects. If grades were average, talk about leadership or jobs you took to finance your education. Talk about extra-curricular activities (clubs, sports, volunteer work)
I have prepared myself to transition into the the work force through real-world experience involving travel abroad, internship, and entrepreneurial opportunities. While interning with a private organization in Ecuador, I developed a 15-page marketing plan composed in Spanish that recommended more effective ways the company could promote its services. I also traveled abroad on two other occasions in which I researched the indigenous culture of the Mayan Indians in Todos Santos, Guatemala, and participate din a total language immersion program in Costa Rica. As you can see from my academic, extracurricular, and experiential background, I have unconditionally committed myself to success as a marketing professional.

1.12.     What do you look for in a job? 
Flip this one over. Despite the question, the employer isn’t really interested in what you are looking for. He’s interested in what he is looking for. Address his interests, rather than yours. Use words like “contribute,” “enhance,” “improve,” and “team environment.” Fit your answer to their needs Relate your preferences and satisfiers/dissatisfiers to the job opening.

1.13.   What are the reasons for your success in this profession?
Wants to know what makes tick.
“I attribute my success to three reasons: First, I’ve always received support from coworkers, which encourages me to be cooperative and look at my specific job in terms of what we as a department are trying to achieve. That gives me great pride in my work and its contribution to the department’s efforts, which is the second factor. Finally, I find that every job has its problems, and while there’s always a costly solution, there’s usually an economical one as well, whether it’s in terms of time or money.” Then give example from your experience that illustrates those points.

1.14.     What is your energy level like? Describe a typical day.
Demonstrate good use of your time.
“At the end of the day when I’m ready to go home, I make a rule always to type one more letter[make one more call, etc.] and clear my desk for the next day.”

1.15.     Why do you want to work here?
Researched the company and built a dossier. Reply with the company’s attributes as you see them. Talk about their needs. You wish to be a part of the company project and can make a definite contribution to company goals.
“I’m not looking for just another paycheck. I enjoy my work and am proud of my profession. Your company produces a superior product/provides a superior service. I share the values that make this possible, which should enable me to fit in and complement the team.”

1.16.     What kind of experience do you have for this job?
Looking for someone who can contribute quickly to the current project, problem solver.
“My high-speed machining background and familiarity with your equipment will allow me to contribute quickly. I understand deadlines, delivery schedules, and the importance of getting the product shipped. Finally, my awareness of economy and profit has always kept reject to a bare minimum. “

1.17.     What are the broad responsibilities system analysts?
While the responsibilities of my job title vary somewhat from company to company, at my current/last job, my responsibilities include…
Describe how your job relates to the overall goals of your department and company
The quality of my work directly affects the ability of others to do their work properly. As a team member, one has to be aware of the other players.

1.18.     What aspects of your job do you consider most crucial?
Determine time management, prioritization skills, and any inclination for task avoidance.

1.19.     Are you willing to go where the company sends you?
Ask, “Are you talking about business travel, or is the company relocating?” “Yes”

1.20.     How long would you stay with the company?
Might be offering a job. Must encourage him to sell you on the job.
“I would really like to settle down with this company. I take direction well and love to learn. As long as I am growing professionally, there is no reason for me to make a move. How long do you think I would be challenged here?”

1.21.     How long would it take you to make a contribution to our company?
Answer this with a question.
“What are your greatest areas of need right now?” “Let’s say I started on Monday the seventeenth. It will take me a few weeks to settle down and learn the ropes. I’ll be earning my keep very quickly, but making a real contribution…Do you have a special project in mind you will want me to get involved with?”

1.22.     What do you know about our company?
You can’t answer this question unless you have enough interest to research the company thoroughly.
Successful--products, services, sales/marketing
History in community―When started, growth of company
Good work atmosphere―condition of building, hardworking people, high quality equipment

1.23.     What do you think determines progress in a good company?
You answer will include all the positive personality traits you have been illustrating throughout the interview.

1.24.     Why should I hire you?
Short and to the point, highlight area.
“I have the qualifications you need[itemize them], I’m a team player, I take direction, and I have the desire to make a thorough success.”

1.25.     What can you do for us that someone else cannot do?
Recap the interviewer’s job description.
“I can bring to this job a determination to see project through to a proper conclusion. I listen and take direction well. I am analytical and don’t jump to conclusions. And finally, I understand we are in business to make a profit, so I keep an eye on cost and return. What else are you looking for?”

1.26.     What would your references say?
Ask past employers to give a letter of recommendation.

1.27.     Can we check your references?
“Yes, of course you can check my references.”

1.28.     Can you work under pressure?
Don’t answer “Yes” or “no”.
“Yes, I usually find it stimulating. However, I believe in planning and proper management of my time to reduce panic deadlines within my area of responsibility.”

1.29.     What is your greatest strength?
Isolate high point from background and build in a couple of the key value profiles from different categories.
“I believe in planning and proper management of my time. And yet I can still work under pressure.”

1.30.     What are your outstanding qualities?
Same as above question.

1.31.     How does this job compare with others you have applied for?
Ask you to compare.
“No two jobs are the same, and this one is certainly unlike any other I have applied for.”

1.32.     What makes this job different from your current/last one?
The interviewer’s desire to uncover experience you are lacking.
“From what I know of the job, I seem to have all the experience required to make a thorough success. I would say that the major differences seem to be…” and here play back the positive attributes of the department and company as the interviewer gave them to you.

1.33.     Do you have any questions?
Why the job is open?
How long have you been here? What is it about the company that keeps you here?
What should I first assignment be?
What type of training is available?
Who should I report?

1.34.     How do you take direction?
The interviewer wants to know whether you are open-minded and can be a team player.
“I take direction well and recognize that it can come in two varieties, depending on the circumstances. There is carefully explained direction, when my boss has time to lay things out for me in detail; then there are those times when, as a result of deadlines and other pressures, the direction might be brief and to the point. While I have seen some people get upset with that, personally I’ve always understood that there are probably other considerations I am not aware of. As such, I take the direction and get on with the job without taking offense, so my boss can get on with her job. It’s the only way.”

1.35.     Would you like to have your boss’s job?

1.36.     What is your greatest weakness?
“I enjoy my work and always give each project my best shot. So when sometimes I don’t feel others are pulling their weight, I find it a little frustrating. I am aware of that weakness, and in those situations I try to overcome it with a positive attitude that I hope will catch on.”

1.37.     What is the worst thing you have heard about our company?
Just say with a smile:
“You’re a tough company to get into because your interviews and interviewers are so rigorous.”

1.38.     How would you define your profession?
How well you would be able to defend your position in a no-holds-barred conversation with the chairman of the board, who says exactly what he or she thinks at all times.
“Why do you say that?”

1.39.     Why should I hire an outsider when I could fill the job with someone inside the company?
Tell me why I should hire you. The first is a simple recitation of your skills and personality profile strengths, tailored to the specific requirements of the job. For the second step, they looking for someone can benefit the department in a larger sense.
“Those are my general attributes. However, if no one is promo table from inside the company, that means you are looking to add strength to your team in a special way. In what ways do you hope the final candidate will be able to benefit your department?”

1.40.     What interest you least about this job?
Regardless of your occupation, there is at least one repetitive, mindless duty that everyone groans about and that goes with the territory.
“Filing is probably the least demanding part of the job. However, it is important to the overall success of my department, so I try to do it with a smile.”

1.41.     What personal characteristics are necessary for success in your field?
It’s a brief recital of key personal profiles.
“To be successful in my field? Drive, motivation, energy, confidence, determination, good communication.”

1.42.     Do you prefer working with others or alone?
Determine whether you are a team player.
“I’m quite happy working alone when necessary. I don’t need much constant reassurance. But I prefer to work in a group―so much more gets achieved when people pull together.”

1.43.     Do you make your opinions known when you disagree with the views of your supervisor?
State that you come from an environment where input is encouraged when it helps the team’s ability to get the job done efficiently.
“If opinions are sought in a meeting, I will give mine, although I am careful to be aware of others’ feelings. I will never criticize a coworker or a superior in open forum; besides, it is quite possible to disagree without being disagreeable. However, my past manager made it clear that she valued my opinion by asking for it. So, after a while, if there was something I felt strongly about, I would make an appointment to sit down and discuss it one-on-one.”

1.44.     What would you say about a supervisor who was unfair or difficult to work with?
“I would make an appointment to see the supervisor and diplomatically explain that I felt uncomfortable in our relationship, that I felt he or she was not treating me as a professional colleague, and therefore that I might not be performing up to standard in some way―that I wanted to right matters and ask for his input as to what I must do to create a professional relationship. I would enter into the discussion in the frame of mind that we were equally responsible for whatever communication problems existed, and that this wasn’t just the manager’s problem.”

1.45.     How do you manage to interview while still employed?
Best to make the answer short and sweet and let the interviewer moves on to richer areas of inquiry.
“I had some vacation time, so I went to my boss and explained I needed a couple of days off for some personal business, and asked her what days would be most suitable. Although I plan to change jobs, I don’t in any way want to hurt my current employer in the process by being absent during a crunch.”

1.46.     What have your other jobs taught you?
Talk about the professional skills you have learned and the personality traits you have polished.
“There are two general things I have learned from past jobs. First, if you are confused, ask―it’s better to ask a dumb question than make a stupid mistake. Second, it’s better to promise less and produce more than to make unrealistic forecasts.”

1.47.     Define cooperation.
How to function as a team player in the workplace.
“Cooperation is a person’s ability to sacrifice personal wishes and beliefs whenever necessary to assure the department reaches its goals. It is also a person’s desire to be part of a team, and by hard work and goodwill make the department greater than the sum of its parts.”

1.48.     Tell me how you moved up through the organization.
Long answer, include personality, goals, past, future, and some stream.

1.49.     What interests you most about this job?
“Before answering, could I ask you to tell me a little more about the role this job plays in the departmental goals?”
The additional information you gather with those questions provides the appropriate slant to your answer.
“I’m looking for a challenge and an opportunity to make a contribution, so if you feel the biggest challenge in the department is…, I’m the one for the job.”

1.50.     Tell me about yourself.
Relevance to the world of your professional endeavor, honesty, integrity, being a team player, or determination. Keep answer to one or two minutes. Use resume summary as base to start.
“I put my heart into everything I do, whether it be sports or work. I find that getting along with teammates-or professional peer-makes life more enjoyable and productive.”

1.51.     Rate yourself on a scale of one to ten.
You are probably best claiming to be an eight or nine, saying that you always give of your best, but that in doing so you always increase your skills and therefore always see room for improvement.

1.52.     Explain your role as a group/team member.
Describe yourself as either a team player.
“I perform my job in a way that helps others to do theirs in an efficient fashion. Beyond the mechanics, we all have a responsibility to make the workplace a friendly and pleasant place to be. That means everyone working for the common good and making the necessary personal sacrifices toward that good.”

1.53.     How would you define a conducive work atmosphere?
Tricky question. Keep it short and sweet.
“One where the team has a genuine interests in its work and desire to turn out a good product/deliver a good service.”

1.54.     You have a doctor’s appointment arranged for noon. You’re waited two weeks to get in. An urgent meeting is scheduled at the last moment, though. What do you do?
“If I were the manager who had to schedule a really important meeting at the last moment, and someone on my staff chose to go to the doctor’s instead, how would I feel? The first thing I would do is reschedule the appointment and save the doctor’s office inconvenience. Then I would immediately make sure I was properly prepared for the emergency meeting.”

1.55.     Tell me a story.
Ask, “What would you like me to tell you a story about?” People who answer the question without qualifying show that they do not think through carefully. Tell a story that shows like people, willingness, and manageability. Don’t discuss love life.

1.56.     In hindsight, what have you done that was a little harebrained?
The only safe examples to use are ones from your deep past that ultimately turned out well.
“Well, I guess the time I bought my house. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for, and at the time, I really couldn’t afford it. Still, I managed to make the payments, though I had to work like someone possessed. Yes, my first house―that was a real learning experience.”

1.57.     What type of decisions did you make on your last job?
Searching to define your responsibilities, show your achievement profile.
“Being in change of the mailroom, my job is to make sure people get information in a timely manner. The job is well defined, and my decisions aren’t that difficult. I noticed a year or two ago that when I took the mail around at 10 am, everything stopped for twenty minutes. I had an idea and gave it to my boss. She got it cleared by the president, and ever since, we take the mail around just before lunch. Mr. Gray, the president, told me my idea improved productivity, saved time, and that he wished everyone was as conscientious.”

1.58.     In what ways has your job prepared you to take on greater responsibility?
Looking for example of your professional development. Tell a story.
“When I first started my last job, my boss would brief me morning and evening. I made some mistakes, learned a lot, and got the jobs in on time. As time went by I took on greater responsibilities,[list some of them]. Nowadays, I meet with her every Monday for breakfast to discuss any major directional changes, so that she can keep management informed. I think that demonstrates not only my growth but also the confidence my management has in my judgment and ability to perform consistently above standard.”

1.59.     In what ways has your job changed since you originally joined the company?
Same to above.

1.60.     Seeks to determine how goal-oriented and motivated you are in your work life.
“Well, if my boss were promoted over the coming years, I would hope to have made a consistent enough contribution to warrant his recommendation. It is not that I am looking to take anyone’s job; rather, I am looking for a manager who will help me develop my capabilities and grow with him.”

1.61.     What have you done that shows initiative?
Look for ways to increase sales, save time, or save money.

1.62.     In what areas do you feel your supervisor could have done a better job?
“I have always had the highest respect for my supervisor. I have always been so busy learning from Mr. Jones that I don’t think he could have done a better job. He has really brought me to the point where I am ready for greater challenges. That’s why I’m here.”

1.63.     What are some of the things your supervisor did that you disliked?
Smoke.

2.         Experience and Management Questions

2.1.        What are your qualifications?
Relevant skills and achievements.
“I can give you a general answer, but I feel my answer might be more valuable if you could tell me about specific work assignments in the early months.”

2.2.        What are your biggest accomplishments?
Keep answer job related.
“Although I feel my biggest achievements are still ahead of me, I am proud of my involvement with…I made my contribution as part of that team and learned a lot in the process. We did it with hard work, concentration, and an eye for the bottom line.”

2.3.        How do you organize and plan for major project?
Effective planning requires both forward thing(“Who and what am I going to need to get this job done?”) and backward thinking(“If this job must be completed by the 20th, what step must be made, and at what time, to achieve it?”)

3.         If you are leaving a job

3.1.        What did you like/dislike about your last job?
You liked everything about your last job. Your company taught you the importance of certain keys from the business, achievement, or professional profile. Keep answer short and positive. Only one negative about past employers.
“I really liked everything about the job. The reason I want to leave it its to find a position where I can make a greater contribution. You see, I work for a large company that encourages specialization of skills. The smaller environment you have here will, as I said, allow me to contribute far more in different areas”.
If interview with a large company, “I work for a small company and don’t get the time to specialize in one or two major areas.”

3.2.        What is the least relevant job you have held?
If your least relevant job is not on your resume, it shouldn’t be mentioned.
“Every job I’ve held has given me new insights into my profession, and the higher one climbs, the more important the understanding of the lower-level, more menial jobs. They all play a role in making the company profitable. And anyway, it’s certainly easier to schedule and plan work when you have first-hand knowledge of what others will have to do to complete their tasks.”

3.3.        What have you learned from jobs you have held?
Tie your answer to your business and professional profile.
“More than anything, I have learned that what is good for the company is good for me. So I listen very carefully to directions and always keep my boss informed of my actions.”

3.4.        How do you feel about your progress to date?
You see each day as an opportunity to learn and contribute.
“Given the parameters of my job, my progress has been excellent. I know the work, and I am just reaching that point in my career when I can make significant contributions.”

3.5.        Have you done the best work you are capable of doing?
“I’m proud of my professional achievements to date, especially[give an example]. But I believe the best is yet to come. I am always motivated to give my best efforts, and in this job there are always opportunities to contribute when you stay alert.

3.6.        How long have been looking for another position?
“Well, I’ve been looking for about a year now. I’ve had a number of offers in that time, but I have determined that as I spend most of my waking hours at work, the job I take and the people I work with have got to be people with values I can identify with. I made the decision that I just wasn’t going to suffer clock-watchers and work-to-rule specialists anymore.”

3.7.        Have you ever been fired?
“No”

3.8.        Why were you fired?
“I’m sorry to say, but I deserved it. I was having some personal problems at the time, and I let them affect my work. I was late to work and lost my motivation. My supervisor had directions to trim the work force anyway, and as I was hired only a couple of years ago, I was one of the first to go.”

3.9.        Have you ever been asked to resign?
“No”

3.10.     Were you ever dismissed from your job for a reason that seemed unjustified?
“No”

3.11.     In your last job, how did you plan to interview?
Just give a description of how the skilled interviewer prepares.

3.12.     Your application shows you have been with one company a long time without any appreciable increase in rank or salary. Tell me about this.
First, try to avoid putting your salary history on application forms.
“My current employer is a stable company with a good working environment, but there’s minimal growth there in my area―in fact, there hasn’t been any promotion in my area since…Your question is the reason I am meeting here with you; I have the skills and ability to take on more responsibility and I’m looking for a place to do that.”

3.13.     Why were you out of work for so long?
Emphasize that you were not just looking for another paycheck―you were looking for a company with which to settle and to which to make a long-term contribution.
“I made a decision that I enjoy my work too much just to accept another paycheck. So I determined that the next job I took would be one where I could settle down and do my best to make a solid contribution. Form everything I have heard about this company, you are a group that expects people to pull their weight, because you’ve got a real job to do. I like that, and I would like to be part of the team. What do I have to do to get the job?”

3.14.     Why have you changed jobs so frequently?
You may wish to impress on the interviewer that your job-hopping was never as result of poor performance, and that you grew professionally as a result of each job change.
“Now I want to settle down and make my diverse background pay off in my contributions to my new employer. I have a strong desire to contribute and am looking for an employer that will keep me challenger; I think this might be the company to do that. Am I right?”

3.15.     Why do you want to leave your current job? Or why did you leave your last job?
Challenge: you weren’t able to grow professionally in that position.
Location: the commute was unreasonably long.
Advancement: you had talent, but there were too many people ahead of you.
Money: you were underpaid for your skills and contribution.
Pride: you wanted to be with a better company.
Security: the company was not stable.
“My last company was a family-owned affair. I had gone as far as I was able. It just seemed time for me to join a more prestigious company and accept greater challenges.”

3.16.     What was there about your last company that you didn’t particularly like or agree with?
The company policies and/or directives were sometimes consciously misunderstood by some employees who disregarded the bottom line―the profitability of the corporation.
“I didn’t like the way some people gave lip service to ‘the customer comes first,’ but really didn’t go out of their way to keep the customer satisfied. I don’t think it was a fault of management, just a general malaise that seemed to affect a lot of people.”

4.         Quantifying Your Experience and Accomlishments

4.1.        How many hours a week do you find it necessary to work to get your job done?
No absolutely correct answer here.
“I try to plan my time effectively and usually can. Our business always has its rushes, though, so I put in whatever effort it takes to get the job finished.”

5.         Job Search Questions

5.1.        What are you looking for in your next job?
You must say what you want in terms of what you can give to your employer.
“My experience at the XXX Corporation has shown me I have a talent for motivation people. That is demonstrated by my team’s absenteeism dropping 20 percent, turnover steadying at 10 percent, and production increasing 12 percent. I am looking for an opportunity to continue that kind of contribution, and a company and supervisor who will help me develop in a professional manner.”

5.2.        Are you looking for a permanent or temporary job?
Try to go beyond saying “Yes.” Explain why you want the job.
“Of course, I am looking for a permanent job. I intend to make my career in this field, and I want the opportunity to learn the business, face new challenges, and learn from experienced professionals.”
“Is this a permanent or a temporary position you are trying to fill?”

6.         Your Work Habits and style

6.1.        What kinds of people do you have difficulties working with?
In my last three jobs I have worked with men and women from very diverse backgrounds and cultures. The only time I had difficulty was with people who were dishonest about work issues. I worked with one woman who was taking credit for work that her team accomplished. I had an opportunity to talk with her one day and explained how she was affecting the morale. She became very upset that others saw her that way, and said she was unaware of her behavior or the reactions of others. Her behavior changed after our talk. What I learned from that experience is that sometimes what we perceive about others is not always the case if we check it out.

6.2.        How do you handle conflict? (How would you evaluate your ability to deal with conflict?)
On the job, there are many possible sources of conflict. Conflicts with: fellow employees management rules, procedures clients, customers demands of work vs. personal life, family The best way to approach a good answer is to look at if from the employers point of view—they want to be your first priority and they want you to solve problems (not bring them any). “I know everything cannot run smoothly at work all the time. When there is a conflict I usually try to determine the source of the problem and see if it can be solved. This might involve other members of the work team discussing the problem and offering possible solutions. I would then try to pick the solution which appears to have the best outcome and put it into action.” A natural follow-up to this would be: Tell me when you solved a conflict at work. So, have a brief example… a short story… to illustrate your approach. Even if not asked, you can offer your story! If it proves your point and accentuates a skill needed for the position, go with it.
I believe I am quite good at handling conflict. Working in retail and in the residence halls required that I make many unpopular decisions at times, whether it was terminating an associate or taking judicial action on a resident. Often the person in conflict with me would be upset and sometimes physically outraged. I would always make sure that I fully explained the situation, the policies behind my decision, and why those policies exist. Usually by the end of the conversation, the person could see the other side of the situation.

6.3.        How do you handle rejection? 
Rejection is part of business. People don’t always buy what you sell. The tick here is to separate rejection of your product from rejection of yourself: “I see rejection as an opportunity. I learn from it. When a customer takes a pass, I ask him what we could do to the product, price or service to make it possible for him to say yes. Don’t get me wrong: You’ve got to makes sales. But rejection is valuable, too. It’s a good teacher.”

6.4.        Tell me about a time when you tried and failed?
Has this ever happened to you? No one expects perfection actually, employers are more interested in your ability to cope, to learn from mistakes, and to deal with others who are less than perfect. If you have an example, certainly pick one that happened a while back, was not earth shattering in the results, and one which you learned and applied this knowledge recently. This is a version of ‘damning with faint praise’ by picking an incident that was minor in scope but, since you are so wise and are always willing to learn, has taught you a valuable lesson.

6.5.        What are some of the things you find difficult to do?
The interviewer is looking to determine how well you know yourself, how you react to difficult situations/tasks and credibility. Look back over your work experience for examples of challenges… speaking in public at a meeting, disagreeing with a manager over an important issue, being asked to use a software program you have not had an opportunity to learn… These ’stories’ should illustrate a lesson learned, a problem overcome or a weakness being dealt with. “I always seem to need a day or two to prepare myself to give a presentation to department heads. When I know I have to give a report on my projects, I plan out all the details in advance and rehearse. One time, there was a problem with a supplier and I was asked to update senior management… immediately. The supply chain was crucial to the completion of an important project we had been working on for 5 months and decisions had to be made based on the information I had to prepare and present on a moment’s notice. I gathered the information and presented it simply and in detail. It was much easier than I thought without the hours of concern and practice. The facts spoke for themselves. Since I understood the situation, I was able to make it clear to management and get a rapid decision. I still prefer advance notice but I know I can deliver when asked to.”

6.6.        If I were to ask your professors to describe you, what would they say?
This is a threat of reference check question. Do not wait for the interview to know the answer. Ask any prior bosses or professors in advance. And if they’re willing to provide a positive reference, ask them for a letter of recommendation.
Then you can answer the question like this:
“I believe she would say I'm a very energetic person, that I’m results oriented and one of the best people she has ever worked with. Actually, I know she would say that, because those are her very words. May I show you her letter of recommendation?”
So be prepared in advance with your letters of recommendation.

6.7.        Describe a situation where others you were working with on a project disagreed with your ideas. What did you do?
I was on a project team in a business class in my freshman year in college, The group brainstormed ideas for the video we were assigned to produce, and everyone but me was leaning toward an idea that would be easy. I suggested instead an idea that would be more difficult but would be something different that no other group would be doing. I used my communications skills to persuade the rest of the group to use my idea. During the project, we really learned what teamwork was all about, became a close team, and ended up putting a lot of hard work into the project. All the team members ended up feeling very proud of the video, and they thanked me for the idea -- for which we earned an A.

6.8.        How have you benefited from your disappointments?
Ask you to show how you benefited. Note also that it doesn’t ask you to give specific details of specific disappointments.
“I treat disappointments as a learning experience; I look at what happened, why it happened, and how I would do things differently in each stage should the same set of circumstances appear again. That way, I put disappointment behind me and am ready with renewed vigor and understanding to face the new day’s problems.”

6.9.        Describe a difficult problem you’ve had to deal with.
It’s the approach you take to solving problems in general. It is designed to probe your professional profile; specifically, your analytical skills.
“Well, I always follow a five-step format with a difficult problem. One, I stand back and examine the problem. Two, I recognize the problem as the symptom of other, perhaps hidden, factors. Three, I makes a list of possible solution to the problem. Four, I weight both the consequences and cost of each solution, and determine the best solution. And five, I go to my boss, outline the problem, make my recommendation, and ask for my superior’s advice and approval.”
Then give an example of a problem and your solution.

6.10.     How do you handle tension?
It asks how you handle it.
“Tension is caused when you let things pile up. It is usually caused by letting other areas of responsibility slip by for an extended period. For instance, if you have a difficult presentation coming up, you may procrastinate in your preparations for it. I’ve seen lots of people do things like that―a task seems so overwhelming they don’t know where to begin. I find that if you break those overwhelming tasks into little pieces, they aren’t so overwhelming any more. So I suppose I don’t so much handle tension as handle the cause of it, by not letting things slip in other areas that can give rise to it.”

6.11.     In your last job, what were some of the things you spent most of your time on, and why?
Must demonstrate good time management.
“I work on the telephone like a lot of businesspeople; meetings also take up a great deal of time. What is more important to me is effective time management. I find more gets achieved in a shorter time if a meeting is scheduled, say, immediately before lunch or at the close of business. I try to block my time in the morning. At four o’clock, I review what I’ve achieved,
what went right or wrong, and plan adjustments and my main thrust of business for tomorrow.”

6.12.     Describe a situation where your work or an idea was criticized.
How you handle criticism and to detail your faults.
“I listened carefully and resisted the temptation to interrupt or defend myself. Then I fed back what I heard to make sure the facts were straight. I asked for advice, we bounced some ideas around, then I came back later and represented the idea in a more viable format. My supervisor’s input was invaluable.”

6.13.     How do you get along with different kinds of people?
How you work in a team environment, and how you solicit and accept input, ideas, and viewpoints from a variety of sources. Give a quick, honest, illustration of learning from a coworker who is obviously different from you in some way.

6.14.     What are some of the things about which you and your supervisor disagreed?
Not disagree.

6.15.     You have been given a project that requires you to interact with different levels within the company. How do you do this? What levels are you most comfortable with?
The first part asks how you interact with superiors and motivate those working with and for you on the project. The second part of the question is saying tell me whom you regard as your peer group.
“There are basically two types of people I would interact with on a project of this nature. First, there are those I report to, who bear the ultimate responsibility for its success. With them, I determine deadlines and how they will evaluate the success of the project. I outline my approach, breaking the project down into component parts, getting approval on both the approach and the costs. I would keep my supervisors would expect three things from me: the facts, an analysis of potential problems, and that I not be intimidated, as that would jeopardize the project’s success. I would comfortably satisfy those expectations. The other people to interact with on a project like are those who work with and for me. With those people, I would outline the project and explain how a successful outcome will benefit the company. I would assign the component parts to those best suited to each, and arrange follow-up times to assure completion by deadline. My role here would be facilitate, motivate, and bring the different personalities together to form a team. As for comfort level, I find this type of approach enables me to interact comfortably with all levels and types of people.”

7.         Salary Questions

7.1.        What is an adequate reward for your efforts?
A glaring manageability question and money probe all in one.
“My primary satisfaction and reward comes from a job well done and completed on time. The occasional good word from my boss is always welcome. Last but not least, I think everyone looks forward to a salary review.”

7.2.        What is your salary history? Or what was your salary progress on your last job?
“My salary history has followed a steady upward path, and I have never failed to receive merit increases. I would be glad to give you the specific numbers if needed, but I shall have to sit down and give it some thought with a pencil and paper.”

7.3.        What were you making on your last job?
What is your current salary?
“I am earning $X, although I’m not sure how that will help you in your evaluation of my worth for this job, because the two jobs are somewhat different.”

7.4.        Have you ever been refused a salary increase?
It is best to play it safe and explain that your work and salary history showed a steady and marked continual improvement over the years.

7.5.        How much do you need to support your family?
The employer will try to get you at a subsistence salary, which is not why you are there.

7.6.        How much are you looking for or what are your salary expectations?
It is wise to confirm your understanding of the job and its importance before you start throwing numbers around, because you will have to live with the consequences.
“Well, let’s see if I understand the responsibilities fully…” You then proceed to itemize exactly what you will be doing on a daily basis and the parameters of your responsibilities and authority. “I believe my skills and experience will warrant a starting salary between $x and $x.”
“That certainly means we have something to talk about. While your range is $30,000-#35,000, I am looking for a minimum of #34,000 with an ideal of $37,000. tell me, what flexibility is there at the top of your salary range?”

7.7.        What do you hope to be earning two to five years from now?
The interviewer is probing your desired career and earning path and is trying to see whether you have your sights set high enough―or too high.
“I’d like to be earning just about as much as my boss and I can work out!” Then ask “How much is it possible to make here?”
“In two years, I will have finished my CPA requirements, so with that plus my additional experience, industry norms say I should be earning between $x and $y. I would hope to be earning at least within that that range, but hopefully with a proven track record of contributions, I would be making above the norm.”

7.8.        Do you think people in your occupation should be paid more?
“Most jobs have salary ranges that reflect the job’s relative importance and contribution to a company. And those salary ranges reflect the norm for the great majority of people within that profession. That does not mean, however, that the extraordinary people in such a group are not recognized for the extra performance and skills. There are always exceptions to the rule.”

7.9.        Why aren’t you earning more at your age?
Compliment to your skills and accomplishments.
“I have always felt that solid experience would stand me in good stead in the long run and that earnings would come in due course. Also, I am not the type of person to change jobs just for the money. At this point, I have a solid background that is worth something to a company. How much should I be earning now?”

7.10.     When do you expect a promotion?
Tread warily, show you believe in yourself, and have both feet firmly planted on the ground.
“That depends on a few criteria. Of course, I cannot expect promotions without the performance that marks me as deserving of promotion. I also need to join a company that has the growth necessary to provide the opportunity. I hope that my manager believes in promoting from within and will help me grow so that I will have the skills necessary to be considered for promotion when the opportunity comes along.”

8.         Personality Questions

8.1.        Are you a team player?
Describe what would be an ideal working environment?
Team work is the key.
Almost everyone says yes to this question. But it is not just a yes/no question. You need to provide behavioral examples to back up your answer.
A sample answer: “Yes, I’m very much a team player. In fact, I’ve had opportunities in my work, school and athletics to develop my skills as a team player. For example, on a recent project . . .”
Emphasize teamwork behavioral examples and focus on your openness to diversity of backgrounds. Talk about the strength of the team above the individual. And note that this question may be used as a lead in to questions around how you handle conflict within a team, so be prepared
You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just say it in a matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point.

8.2.        What is your greatest weakness?
Most career books tell you to select strength and present it as a weakness. Such as: “I work too much. I just work and work and work.” Wrong. First of all, using strength and presenting it as a weakness is deceiving. Second, it misses the point of the question.
You should select a weakness that you have been actively working to overcome. For example: “I have had trouble in the past with planning and prioritization. However, I’m now taking steps to correct this. I just started using a pocket planner . . .” then show them your planner and how you are using it.
Talk about a true weakness and show what you are doing to overcome it.
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper planning in the past. I would overcommit myself with too many variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would like. However, since I've come to recognize that weakness, I've taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and "to do" items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned out...

8.3.        What is your greatest strength? 
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples: Your ability to prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positive attitude.
You know that your key strategy is to first uncover your interviewer's greatest wants and needs before you answer questions. And from Question 1, you know how to do this.
Prior to any interview, you should have a list mentally prepared of your greatest strengths. You should also have, a specific example or two, which illustrates each strength, an example chosen from your most recent and most impressive achievements.
You should, have this list of your greatest strengths and corresponding examples from your achievements so well committed to memory that you can recite them cold after being shaken awake at 2:30AM.
Then, once you uncover your interviewer's greatest wants and needs, you can choose those achievements from your list that best match up.
As a general guideline, the 10 most desirable traits that all employers love to see in their employees are:
1. A proven track record as an achiever...especially if your achievements match up with the employer's greatest wants and needs.
2. Intelligence...management "savvy".
3. Honesty...integrity...a decent human being.
4. Good fit with corporate culture...someone to feel comfortable with...a team player who meshes well with interviewer's team.
5. Likeability...positive attitude...sense of humor.
6. Good communication skills.
7. Dedication...willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve excellence.
8. Definiteness of purpose...clear goals.
9. Enthusiasm...high level of motivation.
10. Confident...healthy...a leader.

8.4.        If you had to live your life over again, what one thing would you change?
Focus on a key turning point in your life or missed opportunity. Yet also tie it forward to what you are doing to still seek to make that change.
For example: “Although I’m overall very happy with where I’m at in my life, the one aspect I likely would have changed would be focusing earlier on my chosen career. I had a great internship this past year and look forward to more experience in the field. I simply wish I would have focused here earlier. For example, I learned on my recent internship…” …then provide examples.
Stay focused on positive direction in your life and back it up with examples.

8.5.        Would you rather work with information or with people? 
I like the validity of information and also like the energy that comes with working with people. The best thing about working in a group is combining the great minds from different perspectives and coming up with something extremely great, compared with when you're working alone. At the same time, information can generate vitality in the project you're working on. No matter how many heads you've got together, without information, you can't go very far. The perfect situation would be a combination of working with information and people, and I'm confident of my abilities in both areas.

8.6.        What are your weak points? 
Don’t say you have one, but give one that is really a “positive in disguise.” I am sometimes impatient and do to much work myself when we are working against tight deadlines.” Or “I compliment and praise my staff, but feel I can improve.”

8.7.        Have you ever had any financial difficulties?
Employer wants to know whether you can control not only your own finances but also finances in general.
“No, I am good at manage my financial plan”
“I should tell you that some years ago, for reasons beyond my control, I was forced into personal bankruptcy. That has been behind me for some time. Today, I have a sound credit rating and no debts. Bankruptcy is not something I’m proud of, but I did learn from the experience, and I feel it has made me a more proficient account supervisor.”

8.8.        How do you handle rejection?
Interviewer wants to know whether you take rejection as rejection of yourself or whether you simply accept it as a temporary rejection of a service or product.
“I accept rejection as an integral part of the sales process. If everyone said ‘yes’ to a product, there would be no need for the sales function. As it is, I see every rejection as bringing me closer to the customer who will say ‘yes’. I regard rejection as simply a fact of life, that the customer has no need for the product today. I can go on to my next call with the conviction that am a little closer to my next sale.”

8.9.        What personal weakness has caused you the greatest difficulty in school or on the job?
My greatest weakness had been delegation. I would take it upon myself to do many small projects throughout my shift as a manager that could have been done by others in an attempt to improve my workers' efficiency. Once I realized that I was doing more work than the other assistant managers, and they were achieving better results, I reevaluated what I was doing. I quickly realized that if I assigned each person just one small project at the beginning of their shift, clearly state expectations for the project, and then follow up that everything would get done, and I could manage much more efficiently and actually accomplish much more.

8.10.     What kinds of people do you like to work with?
“I like to work with people who have pride, honesty, integrity, and dedication to their work.”

8.11.     What kinds of people do you find it difficult to work with?
“People who don’t follow procedures, or slacker―the occasional rotten apples who don’t really care about the quality of their work. They’re long on complaints, but short on solutions.”

8.12.     How have you successfully worked with this difficult type of person?
“I stick to my guns, stay enthusiastic, and hope some of it will rub off. I had a big problem with one guy―all he did was complain, and always in my area. Eventually, I told him how I felt. I said if I were a millionaire, I’d have all the answers and wouldn’t have to work, but as it was, I wasn’t, and had to work for living. I told him that I really enjoyed his company, but I didn’t want to hear it any more. Every time I saw him after that, I presented him with a work problem and asked his advice. In other words I challenged him to come up with positives, not negatives.”

8.13.     What religion do you practice?
“I have a set of personal beliefs that are important to me, but I do not attend any organized services. And I do not mix those beliefs with my work, if that’s what you mean.”

8.14.     How old are you?
“I’m in my fifties and have more than twenty-five years of experience in this field.”

8.15.     Do you plan to have children?
“No”

8.16.     Can you take instructions without feeling upset or hurt?
This is a manageability question.
“Yes, I can take instruction―and more important, I can take constructive criticism without feeling hurt. Even with the best intent, I will still make mistakes, and at times someone will have to put me back on the right track. I know that if I ever expect to rise in the company, I must first prove myself to be manageable.”

8.17.     Have you ever had difficulties getting along with others?
This is a closed-ended question that requires only a yes/no answer, so give one and shut up.

8.18.     Do you think grades should be considered by first employers?
Grades were good, say “Yes.”
If they weren’t, “Of course, an employer should take everything into consideration, and along with grades will be an evaluation of willingness and manageability, an understanding of how business works, and actual work experience.”

8.19.     Do you consider yourself a natural leader or born follower?
“No matter how well developed any individual’s leadership qualities, an integral part of the skills of a leader is to take direction from his or her immediate boss, and also to seek the input of the people being supervised. The wise leader will always follow good advice and sound business judgment wherever it comes from. I would say that given the desire to be a leader, the true leader in the modern business world must embrace both.”

8.20.     Why do you feel you are a better assistant than some of your coworkers?
“I think that question is best answered by a manager. It is so difficult to be objective, and I really don’t like to slight my coworkers. I don’t spend my time thinking about how superior I am, because that would be detrimental to our working together as a team. I believe, however, some of the qualities that make me an outstanding are…”

8.21.     What was the last book you read(or movie you saw)? How did it affect you?
You should name something less faddish.

8.22.     What do you think of your current/last boss?
Short, sweet, and shut up.
“I liked her as a person, respected her professionally, and appreciated her guidance.”

8.23.     What kinds of things do you worry about?
It is best to confine your answer to the sensible worries of a conscientious professional.
“I worry about deadlines, staff turnover, tardiness, backup plans for when the computer crashes, or that one of my auditors burns out or defects to the competition―just the normal stuff. It goes with the territory, so I don’t let it get me down.”

8.24.     What is the most difficult situation you have faced?
How do you define difficult? And what was your handling of the situation? Must have story for this. Avoid talking about problems that have to do with coworkers. You can talk about the difficult decision to fire someone.

8.25.     What are some of the things that bother you? 
Show you can remain calm,
“I enjoy my work and believe in giving value to my employer. Dealing with clock-watchers and the ones who regularly get sick on Mondays and Fridays really bothers me, but it’s not something that gets me angry or anything like that.”

8.26.     How well do you feel your boss rated your job performance?
Ask for written evaluations of your work before leaving a company.
“My supervisor always rated my job performance well. In fact, I was always rated as being capable of accepting further responsibilities. The problem was there was nothing available in the company―that’s why I’m here.”

8.27.     How did your boss get the best out of you?
This is a manageability question.
“My last boss got superior effort and performance by treating me like a human being and giving me the same personal respect with which she liked to be treated herself.”

8.28.     How interested are you in sport?
How to get along with others and pull together as a team.
“I really enjoy most team sports. Don’t get a lot of time to indulge myself, but I am a regular member of my company’s softball team.”

8.29.     Tell me about an event that really challenged you. How did you meet the challenge? In what way was your approach different from others?
The first probes your problem-solving abilities. The second asks you to set yourself apart from the herd. First of all, outline the problem. The blacker you make the situation, the better. Having done that, go ahead and explain your solution, its value to your employer, and how it was different from other approaches.

8.30.     Give me an example of a method of working you have used. How did you feel about it?
Give a good example, one that demonstrates your understanding of corporate goals, your organizational skills, analytical ability, or time management skills.
“I believe in giving an honest day’s work for a day’s pay. That requires organization and time management. I do my paperwork at the end of each day, when I review the day’s achievements; with this done, I plan for tomorrow. When I come to work in the morning, I’m ready to get going without wasting time. I try to schedule meetings right before lunch; people get to the point more quickly if it’s on their time. I feel that is an efficient and organized method of working”

8.31.     When you joined your last company and met the group for the first time, how did you feel? How did you get on with them?
“I naturally felt a little nervous, but I was excited about the new job. I shared that excitement with my new friends, and told them that I was enthusiastic about learning new skills from them. I was open and friendly, and when given the opportunity to help someone myself, I jumped at it.”

8.32.     What would you do when you have a decision to make and no procedure exists?
Testing your manageability and adherence to procedures―the company way of doing things.
“I would act without my manager’s direction only if the situation were urgent and my manager were not available. Then, I would take command of the situation, make a decision based on the faces, and implement it. I would update my boss at the earliest opportunity.”

8.33.     Give me a balanced view, can you give me an example that didn’t work out so well?
Required to give an example of an inadequacy. The trick is to pull something from the past, not the present, and to finish with what you learned from the experience.

8.34.     With hindsight, how could you have improved your progress?
Tell me your mistakes and weaknesses. If you can mention ways of improving your performance without damaging your candidacy, do so.
“Other than that, I don’t know what to add. I have always given it my best shot.”

8.35.     What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you?
Demonstrate your consideration, analytical abilities, and concern for the department―and for the company’s bottom line.
“It’s not that I have difficulty making decisions―some just require more consideration than others. A small example might be vacation time. Now, everyone is entitled to it, but I don’t believe you should leave your boss in a bind at short notice. I think very carefully at the beginning of the year when I’d like to take my vacation, and then think of alternate dates. I go to my supervisor, tell him what I hope to do, and see whether there is any conflict. I wouldn’t want to be out of the office for the two weeks prior to a project deadline, for instance. So by carefully considering things far enough in advance, I don’t procrastinate, and I make sure my plans jibe with my boss and the department for the year.”

8.36.     Tell me about the problems you have living within your means.
Best defense is first of all to know that it exists, and second to give it short shrift.
“I know few people who are satisfied with their current earnings. As a professional, I am continually striving to improve my skills and to improve my living standard. But my problems are no different from that of this company or any other―making sure all the bills get paid on time and recognizing that every month and year there are some things that are prudent to do and other expenses that are best deferred.”

8.37.     What area of your skills/professional development do you want to improve at this time?
Another tell-me-all-your-weaknesses question.
“Well, from what you told me about the job, I seem to have all the necessary skills and background. What I would really finding exciting is the opportunity to work on a job where…”
Reiterate one or two areas that combine personal strengths and the job’s most crucial responsibilities, and finish with saying, “These areas are so important that I don’t think anyone can be too good or should ever stop trying to polish their skills.”

8.38.     Are you willing to take calculated risks when necessary?
How do you define calculated risks? What sort of risks? Give me an example of a risk you have in mind; what are the stakes involved?
“Naturally, I would never take any risk that would in any way jeopardize the safety or reputation of my company or colleagues. In fact, I don’t think any employer would appreciate an employee at any level taking risks of any nature without first having a thorough briefing and chance to give input.”

8.39.     See this pen I’m holding? Sell it to me.
First you will want to establish the customer’s needs with a few question like “What sort of pens do you currently use? Do you read reports and need to recall important points?”
“Let me tell you about the special features of this pen and show you how they will satisfy your needs. First of all it is tailor made for highlighting reports, and that will save you time in recalling the most important points. The case is wide for comfort and the base is flat so it will stand up and be visible on a cluttered work area. It’s disposable―and affordable enough to have a handful for desk, briefcase, car, and home. And the bright yellow means you’ll never lost it. How many gross shall we deliver?”

8.40.     Tell me about a time when you put your foot in your mouth.
The best thing to do is to start with an example outside of the workplace and show how the experience improved your performance at work.
“About five years ago, I let the cat out of the bag about surprise birthday party for a friend, a terrific faux pas. It was a mortifying experience, and I promised myself not to let anything like that happen again. As far as work is concerned, I always regard employer/employee communications on any matter as confidential unless expressly stated otherwise. So, putting my foot in my mouth doesn’t happen to me at work.”

8.41.     What do you feel is a satisfactory attendance record?
“I’ve never really considered it. I work for a living, I enjoy my job, and I’m rarely sick.”

8.42.     What is your general impression of your last company?
Always answer positively. “Very good” or “Excellent”. Smile and wait for next.

8.43.     What are some of the problems you encounter in doing your job, and what do you do about them?
Give an example of a problem you recognized and solved.
“My job is fairly repetitive, so it’s easy to overlook problems. Lots of people do. However, I always look for them; it helps keep me alert and motivated, so I do a better job. To give you an example, we make computer-memory disks. Each one has to be machined by hand, and once completed, the slightest abrasion will turn one into a reject. I have a steady staff and little turnover, and everyone wears cotton gloves to handle the disks. Yet about six months ago, the reject rate suddenly went through the roof. Is that the kind of problem you mean? Well, the cause was one that could have gone unnoticed for ages. Jill, the section head who inspect all the disks, had lost a lot of weight, her diamond engagement ring was slipping around her finger, and it was scratching the disks as she passed them and stacked them to be shipped. Our main client was giving us a big problem over it, so my looking for problems and paying attention to detail really paid off.”

8.44.     What are some of the things you find difficult to do? Why do you feel that way?
Answer in the past tense, show that you recognize the difficulty, but that you obviously handle it well.
“That’s a tough question. There are so many things that are difficult to learn in our business if you want to do the job right. I used to have forty clients to sell to every month, and I was so busy touching bases with all of them, I never got a change to sell to any of them. So I graded them into three groups. I called on the top 20 percent with whom I did business every three weeks. The next group were those I sold to occasionally. I called on them once a month, but with a difference―each month, I marked ten of them to spend time with and really get to know. I still have difficulty reaching all forty of my clients in a month, but my sales have tripled and are still climbing.”

8.45.     Jobs have pluses and minuses. What were some of the minuses on your last job?
“Like any salesperson, I enjoy selling, not doing the paperwork. But as I cannot expect the customer to get the goods, and me my commission, without following through on this task, I grin and bear it. Besides, if I don’t do the paperwork, that holds up other people in the company.”

8.46.     How did you get your last job?
The interviewer is looking for initiative.
“I was actually turned down for my last job for having too little experience. I asked the manager to give me a trial before she offered it to anyone else. I went in and asked for a list of companies they’d never sold to, picked up the phone, and in that hour I arranged two appointments. How did I get the job? In a word, determination!”

8.47.     How would you evaluate me as an interviewer?
“This is one of the toughest interviews I have ever been through, and I don’t relish the prospect of going through another. Yet I do realize what you are trying to achieve.” Explain that your understand the interviewer wants to know whether you can think on your feet, that there is pressure on the job, and that he or she is trying to simulate some of that real-life pressure in the interview. “How do you think I fit the profile of the person you need?”

8.48.     I’m not sure you’re suitable for the job.
“Why do you say that?” “I admit my programming skills in that language are a little light. However, all languages have similarities, and my experience demonstrates that with a competence in four other languages, getting up to speed with this one will take only a short while. Plus, I can bring a depth of other experience to the job.” Then, after you itemize your experience: “Wouldn’t you agree?”

8.49.     Wouldn’t you feel better off in another firm?
Relax, take a breath, sit back, smile, and say, “You surprise me. Why do you say that?”
“Not at all. My whole experience has been with small companies. I am good at my job and in time could become a big fish in a little pond. But that is not what I want. This corporation is a leader in its business. You have a strong reputation for encouraging skills development in your employees. This is the type of environment I want to work in. Now, coming from a small company, I have done a little bit of everything. That means that no matter what you throw at me, I will learn it quickly. For example, what would be the first project I would be involved with?”

8.50.     What would you say if I told you your presentation this afternoon was lousy?
How you react to criticism, and so tests your manageability.
“First of all, I would ask which aspects of my presentation were lousy. My next step would be to find out where you felt the problem was. If there was miscommunication, I’d clear it up. If the problem was elsewhere, I would seek your advice and be sure that the problem was not recurrent.”

8.51.     How did you get your summer jobs?
You learned that business is about making a profit, doing things more efficiently, adhering to procedures, and putting out whatever effort it takes to get the job done.
“In my town, summer jobs were hard to come by, but I applied to each local restaurant for a position waiting tables, called the manager at each one to arrange an interview, and finally landed a job at one of the most prestigious. I was assigned to the afternoon shift, but with my quick work, accurate billing, and ability to keep customers happy, they soon moved me to the evening shift. I worked there for three summers, and by the time I left, I was responsible for the training and management of the night-shift waiters, the allotment of tips, and the evening’s final closing and accounting. All in all, my experience showed me the mechanics of a small business and of business in general.”

8.52.     Which of the jobs you have held have you liked least?
Beware of saying that you hated a particular job.
“All of my jobs had their good and bad points, but I’ve always found that if you want to learn, there’s plenty to be picked up every day. Each experience was valuable.” Then describe a seemingly boring job, but show how it taught you valuable lesson.

8.53.     Do you like routine tasks/regular hours?
Yes, you appreciate the need for routine, that you expect a fair amount of routine assignments before you are entrusted with the more responsible one.
As far as regular hours go you could say, “No, there’s no problem there. A company expects to make a profit, so the doors have to be open for business on a regular basis.”

8.54.     What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work?
Tell a story about how you landed or created a job for yourself. You both handled unexpected problems calmly and anticipated others.
“I worked for a summer in a small warehouse. I found out that a large shipment was due in a couple of weeks, and I knew that room had to be made. The inventory system was outdated, and the rear of the warehouse was disorganized, so I came in on a Saturday, figured out how much room I needed, cleaned up the mess in the rear, and catalogued it all on the new inventory forms. When the shipment arrived, the truck just backed in. there was even room to spare.”

8.55.     What type of position are you interested in?
Sat you are interested in what you will be offered anyway, which is an entry-level job.
“I am interested in an entry-level position that will enable me to learn this business inside and out, and will give me the opportunity to grow when I prove myself, either on a professional or a managerial ladder.”

8.56.     What qualifications do you have that will make you successful in this field?
There is more to answer this question than reeling off your academic qualifications. Stress relevant work experience and illustrate your strong points as they match the key personality traits as they apply to the position you seek.

8.57.     Why do you think you would like this type of work?
It is usually asked to see whether you really understand what the specific job and profession entails on a day-to-day basis. To answer it requires you to have researched the company and job function as carefully as possible.

8.58.     What’s your idea of how industry works?
Just the reassurance that you don’t think it works along the same lines as a registered charity.
“The role of any company is to make as much money as possible, as quickly and efficiently as possible, and in a manner that will encourage repeat business from the existing client base and new business from word of mouth and reputation.”

9.         Your Career Goals

9.1.        What is your long-range objective?
The key is to focus on your achievable objectives and what you are doing to reach those objectives.
For example: “Within five years, I would like to become the very best accountant your company has on staff. I want to work toward becoming the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I’ll be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities which might be presented in the long term. For example, here is what I’m presently doing to prepare myself . . .”
Then go on to show by your examples what you are doing to reach your goals and objectives.
Although it's certainly difficult to predict things far into the future, I know what direction I want to develop toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very best _____ your company has. I would like to become the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities that might be presented in the long term.

9.2.        What are your short and long term goals?
No one can make goals for you. It comes down to where you are in your professional life and what you want to do. Most people have 5-6 careers in their working lifetime—some with 2 careers going at the same time (like us). The best advice is to be certain to relate your answers to the organization that interviews you. Do not make a point of having goals that cannot be realized there (”I want to work in Paris.” Organization is strictly domestic.) If you do your research into the organization, and into what you truly want to do in the future, you will be able to come up with reasonable responses. No one is going to come back to you in five years and chastise you for not meeting these goals! You will not be held to them… it is only an interview and they are interested in how you see yourself (and they want to see you in the job.)
My primary objectives are to learn as much as possible about your company's product offering, organizational structure, and professional sales techniques so that I may become the most productive member of your sales team.
What are your short-term goals?
Many executives in a position to hire you are strong believers in goal-setting. (It's one of the reasons they've achieved so much.) They like to hire in kind.
If you're vague about your career and personal goals, it could be a big turnoff to many people you will encounter in your job search.
Be ready to discuss your goals for each major area of your life: career, personal development and learning, family, physical (health), community service, and (if your interviewer is clearly a religious person) you could very briefly and generally allude to your spiritual goals (showing you are a well-balanced individual with your values in the right order).
Be prepared to describe each goal in terms of specific milestones you wish to accomplish along the way, time periods you're allotting.
My short-term objectives are to graduate from the Professional Development Program before the standard two years and begin developing a clientele. As an intern, I prepared ahead of time by studying for the Series 7 and Series 64 exams that constitute a majority of a beginning financial consultant's time. I'd like to make make the company that hires me wonder what it ever did without me.

9.3.        Where do you see yourself in five years?
This is the interviewer trying to see how you are in making long range plans and if you have goals that mesh with the organizations. One way to answer this question is to look back on your accomplishments to date: “I started out in my profession as a junior clerk while I completed my college studies during the evenings. Once I had my degree, I applied for a transfer to a more advanced position, citing my on-the-job training. This has been my pattern for my career with my past 2 employers. I learn quickly on the job and am willing to take classes and workshops to augment my experience. I have been able to assume greater responsibilities and add more value to the organization. I do not think in terms of titles… I think more in terms of “How can I solve this problem? Since this has been my career style to date, I do not imagine it to change. In five years, I feel I will have continued to learn, to grow into a position of more responsibility and will have made a significant contribution to the organization.”
Although it is hard to predict the future, I sincerely believe that I will become a very good financial consultant. I believe that my abilities will allow me to excel to the point that I can seek other opportunities as a portfolio manager (the next step) and possibly even higher. My ultimate goal continues to be -- and will always be -- to be the best at whatever level I am working at within Merrill Lynch's corporate structure.

9.4.        Where do you want to become ten years from now? 
Ten years from now I see myself as a successful consultant for a world-class firm like yours. I want to have developed a wonderful bond with my employer I will have proven myself a highly competent systems analyst and will represent my company in helping others find solutions to their information-systems needs in a professional and timely manner.

9.5.        What would you like to be doing five years from now?
Desire to be regarded as a true professional and team player.
“From my research and what you have told me about the growth here, it seems that operations is where the heavy emphasis is going to be. It seems that’s where you need the effort and where I could contribute toward the company’s goals. ”

9.6.        What are your goals?
Short term- Training, improved performance, meet company goals
Long term- Growth within the company

9.7.        How will you be able to cope with a change in environment after five years with your current company?
Take an implied negative and turn it into a positive.
“That’s one of the reasons I want to make a change. After five years with my current employer, I felt I was about to get stale. Everyone needs a change of scene once in a while. It’s just time for me to make some new friends, face some new challenges, and experience some new approaches; hopefully, I’ll have the change to contribute from my experience.”

9.8.        What are your future vocational plans? Where do you want to be five years from now? 
Avoid say, “In management”.
“My vocational plans are that I want to get ahead. To do that I must be able to channel my energies and expertise into those areas my industry and employer need. So in a couple of years I hope to have become a thorough professional with a clear understanding of the company, the industry, and where the biggest challenges, and therefore opportunities, lie. By that time, my goals for the future should be sharply defined.”

10.     Education

10.1.     How has your education prepared you for your career?
This is a broad question and you need to focus on the behavioral examples in your educational background which specifically align to the required competencies for the career.
An example: “My education has focused on not only the learning the fundamentals, but also on the practical application of the information learned within those classes. For example, I played a lead role in a class project where we gathered and analyzed best practice data from this industry. Let me tell you more about the results . . .”
Focus on behavioral examples supporting the key competencies for the career. Then ask if they would like to hear more examples.
As you will note on my resume, I've taken not only the required core classes in the _____ field, I've also gone above and beyond. I've taken every class the college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project specifically in this area. But it's not just taking the classes to gain academic knowledge I've taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this profession in mind. So when we're studying _____ in _____, I've viewed it from the perspective of _____. In addition, I've always tried to keep a practical view of how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved developing a real-world model of _____, which is very similar to what might be used within your company...

10.2.     Why did you choose to attend your college? 
My college has always had a reputation as having an excellent accounting department, so I knew that if I enrolled there, I would achieve first-class preparation for my chosen career field. It is also a highly accredited school known for satisfying employers with the preparation of its graduates -- that's why companies like yours recruit at my school -- the school produces top graduates. The school offers an excellent liberal-arts background, which research shows equips graduates with numerous qualities, such as versatility and strong critical-thinking skills. Finally, having visited the campus before enrolling, I knew that the business school emphasized group projects. During my four years in the school, I participated in more than 35 group projects, which taught me invaluable teamwork, communication, and interpersonal skills.

10.3.     What changes would you make at your college? 
My major department had a wonderful internship program, and I was able to complete three valuable internships with my department's guidance. Some other departments in the business school don't have internship programs that are as strong as my department's. I'd like to see all the departments have strong internship programs so all my school's business grads would have the same opportunities that I had.

10.4.     How will the academic program and coursework you've taken benefit your career?
As you will note on my resume, I've taken not only the required core classes for the finance field, I've also gone above and beyond by double majoring in accounting. I doubled majored since I knew that the financial consulting field requires much knowledge of portfolio analysis and understanding of the tax laws. I believe that my success in both areas of study have specifically prepared me for this area. But it's not just taking the classes in these two areas that allow me to offer Merrill Lynch clients more. I minored in Spanish to understand the growing Hispanic clientele in the Central Florida area, which as you are well aware, is a growing source of revenue for the industry. If you like, I can elaborate on other aspects of my education further.

10.5.     What were your favorite classes? Why? 
My favorite classes have been the ones pertaining to my major, which is marketing. These classes have laid the groundwork for my career in marketing. They have also taught me skills that I can bring to my employer, ranging from communication skills to interacting with others.

10.6.     Do you enjoy doing independent research? 
Are you the type of student for whom conducting independent research has been a positive experience?
Yes, I love it. I thoroughly enjoyed my senior research in college while many others in my class were miserable. I was never tired of learning more about my topic and found it exhilarating to be researching something that had not been studied

10.7.     Who were your favorite professors? Why? Describe the type of professor that has created the most beneficial learning experience for you.
My favorite professors were the ones who gave me hands-on learning experiences that I can apply to my career. Any person can make you memorize the quadratic equation, but someone who can show you how to use it, and why, were the professors I liked. I liked teachers who realized that sometimes there is more then one answer and everyone thinks differently.

10.8.     Why is your GPA not higher? Do you think that your grades are a indication of your academic achievement?
I have focused much of my energy on work and obtaining real-world experience. I commend my classmates who have earned high GPAs, but I also feel it's important to be well-rounded. In addition to work experience, I participated in sports and extracurricular activities in school. These activities taught me leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. Sometimes my heavy load has not allowed me to keep up with some of my studies, but I have learned an enormous amount that I can apply in my future industry. As you will discover if you talk to my supervisors, my ability to work effectively is much more reflective of my future potential than is my GPA.

10.9.     Do you have any plans for further education? What plans do you have for continued study? An advanced degree?
I plan to continue my education for the rest of my life. In any technology-related field, keeping up to date through continuing education is of the utmost importance. Continuing education can include on-the-job training, courses sponsored by the employer, and courses taken in new technologies as they emerge. I plan to be not only a career employee but a career student so that I can be the best information systems analyst I can be. I will ensure, however, that any education I pursue not only doesn't interfere with my job or the company's policies, but will enhance my value as an employee.

10.10. Give an example of how you applied knowledge from previous coursework to a project in another class.
Last semester I was taking a microeconomics and a statistics course. One of the microeconomics projects dealt with showing the relationship between the probability that customers would stop buying a product if the price was raised a certain amount. Through what I learned in statistics I could find the median where the price was the highest and still kept most of the customers happy.

10.11. What college did you attend, and why did you choose it?
Examine your reasoning processes.
“I decided on Centennial college because of it is No.1 College in Ontario. The college has an excellent reputation for accounting and computer program. After visiting 4 different colleges, I decided the college was the best place for me given my particular interests and career goals. I learned a great deal and made some terrific friendships with both faculty and students.”

10.12. How did you pay for college?
Took out student loans.

10.13. We have tried to hire people from your school/your major before, and they never seem to work out. What makes you different?
Test your poise and analytical skills.
“First, may I ask you exactly what problems you’ve had with people from this background?” then you can illustrate how you are different.

10.14. I’d be interested to hear about some things you learning in school that could be used on the job.
The interviewer wants to hear about real-world skills. Explain how the experience honed your relevant personality profiles.
“Within my major and minor I tried to pursue those courses that had most practical relevance, such as…However, the greatest lesson I learned were the importance of…” and then list your personality profile strengths.