HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? | Keep your answer mostly work and career related. This is your chance to introduce your qualifications, good work habits, attributes and achievements that make you a valuable employee. |
WHAT WAS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AND HOW DID YOU ACHIEVE IT? | Briefly describe one to three work projects that made you proud or earned you pats on the back, promotions, pay raises or other commendations. Focus more on achievement than reward. |
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS? | Everybody has weaknesses, but keep your answer work related. Try to point out a couple of weaknesses that the interviewer might see as strengths, such as sometimes being a little too meticulous about the quality of your work. For every weakness, offer a strength that compensates for it. |
WHY DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE JOBS? | Avoid criticizing other employers and making statements like, "I need more money." Instead, make generic statements such as, "It's a career move." It’s acceptable to discuss major problems within a company, or to share the fact that the company is being bought out or shut down. If this is the case, a safe answer is that you feel you can no longer make a contribution because of extensive changes at the company. |
WHAT DID YOU LIKE / DISLIKE ABOUT YOUR LAST POSITION? | This helps interviewers decide if you’re a good match for the position. Avoid admitting that you didn’t like working overtime or you had a conflict with your manager. Instead, put a positive spin on your answer by saying you enjoy challenges and growth opportunities. |
IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION? | Focus on a few requirements of the job and how you can meet these requirements through your particular skills and experience. Highlight your interpersonal skills, management experience, a technical skill or a personal success story. |
DESCRIBE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT STRENGTHS. | Identify five strengths you feel are most in line with the position for which you’re interviewing and give a brief example of how you successfully applied that particular strength to a work situation. |
WHAT IS YOUR IDEAL WORK ENVIRONMENT? | Try and tailor your answer to the job. For example, if the job requires you to lock the lab doors and work alone, then indicate that you enjoy being a team player, but also enjoy working independently. |
HOW DO YOU HANDLE CRITICISM? | Your answer should be along the following lines: "I always think that it is important to get feedback on how I am performing so that I can improve any areas which my manager/supervisor highlights.” |
HOW DO YOU HANDLE PRESSURE AND STRESS? | Everyone feels stress; the only difference is in the degree. A good answer may include exercising, relaxing with a good book, socializing with friends or turning stress into productive energy. |
EXPLAIN HOW YOU OVERCAME A MAJOR OBSTACLE. | The interviewer is likely looking for an example of your problem-solving skills and the pride you show in solving it. Emphasize the skills you used to deal with it, such as organizational and interpersonal skills, perseverance or diplomacy. |
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF FIVE (OR TEN YEARS) FROM NOW? | Don’t mention goals you know are most likely not attainable. Instead, focus on career-advancement goals that are in line with the job for which you are interviewing. It's not a good idea to tell your potential new boss that you'll be going after his or her job, but it's okay to mention that you'd like to earn a senior or management position. |
WHAT QUALIFIES YOU FOR THIS JOB? | Highlight your skills, experience, education and other qualifications, especially those that match the job description well. Avoid just repeating your resume. |
WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU? | Point out your positive attributes related to this job. Take this opportunity to reveal your organizational skills, positive attitude and confidence – traits that make you an ideal candidate for the position. Restate some of the key aspects of the job and describe how your qualification and their requirements match. |