Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers Arun Kumar Davay – arundavay@gmail.com

Be Calm. Be Cool. Be Composed. Be Confident. Be Consistent Be Calm! Be Cool! Be Composed! Be Confident! Be Consistent! Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you to show that you want to succeed in the company and are keen on creating a career path there. Sample answer: As your company has a strong performance-based culture, in five years I see myself playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this interview? This is often used as a stress question to check your spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to be assertive and confident while answering this question. You can say you will be disappointed, adding that you will continue to move ahead in your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor. Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that happens, but will work on specific feedback and try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself The most often asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work/Study-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done well at your college and how you wanted to perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ... (Sales, IT, HR, etc)? The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates initiative on your part. Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You? For this question, your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the job. Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers. However, structure them to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You? (contd) I have good co-ordination skills Good analytical skills I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work done My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool I have good entrepreneurial skills I have consistently met my deadlines and targets Can say “no” to people when required to do so! I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see them grow I am a good team player I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ? This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously, you must have applied to other companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not. However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy? Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting? Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect? If you have done your homework, you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid. Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth? Work out how much you should be paid, given the market value of the job and your skills. If you can bring some extra skills to the table, do not hesitate to ask for more than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you comfortable with? It is better to be frank about your preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary, perks or growth opportunities? This one will reveal the real you. So be sure what you are going to say. Above all, be true to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation move, then say clearly that you will never sell yourself short.

What do you know about our company? Do not give your opinions about the company. Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from newspapers and so on. Talk about the product portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of the company. Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview their websites

Why should we choose you over someone else? Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your College/Project Team and highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may be overqualified for the position? Point out that more experience can never be a drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people. It needs people within different departments to work together. Also emphasize that the company's future growth will be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself. 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………..!

Why should I hire you? Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the job. I realize that there are many other college students who have the ability to do this job. I also have that ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes me the very best person for the job - my attitude for excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but putting every part of myself into achieving it. In …… and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective What is your long-range objective? Where do you want to be 10 or 15 years from now? 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. In fact, my personal career mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming 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.

How has your education prepared you for your career? As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the ………field but 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. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player? Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level, including leading my team in assists during the past year -- I always try to help others achieve their best. In academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than any one of us could have achieved individually. As an example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with. a boss or professor Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it resolved? Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end, you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness? I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper planning in the past. I would over commit 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 …………….! (Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe you, what would they say? I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would say those things because I have with me several letters of recommendation from my professors and those are their very words. Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have? The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be the visionary for the people who are working under them, the person who can set the course and direction for subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what would you change? That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to continually look back and wish that things had been different in the past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past. But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ………. field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best ………… your company has ever had. To make positive change, and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question, there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader? Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with the people who work under you. Perhaps you could answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm but fair with the people who work for me and find that I get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”. 

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out Mundane or Repetitive Work? Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of Your Team? An interviewer asking this question is looking for an answer that shows how you manage and run your team that work for you in order to achieve the best performance out of them. Your answer should include areas that show your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people that work for you such as communication skills and praise.

Tell me about yourself The most often asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing  for. Start with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job? Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.

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.

Do you consider yourself successful? 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.

What do co-workers say about you? Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specific statement or a paraphrase will work. Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was the hardest worker he had ever known. It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview herself.

What do you know about this organization? 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?

What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year? Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety  of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good  ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs? Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area. Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for this organization. Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this organization? This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on the research you have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us? Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the organization. This can affect your answer even though they asked about friends not relatives. Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well thought of.

What kind of salary do you need? A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position? In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player? 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.

How long would you expect to work for us if hired? Specifics here are not good. Something like this should work: I'd like it to be a long time. Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about that? This is serious. Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to fire people. At the same time, you will do it when it is the right thing to  do. When it comes to the organization versus the individual who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the organization. Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in force.

What is your philosophy towards work? The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery dissertation here. Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes. That's the type of answer that works best here. Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right now, would you? Answer yes if you would. But since you need to work, this is the type of work you prefer. Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position? If you have not, say no. If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying negative things about the people or organization involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this organization You should be anxious for this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you? Point out how your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates to make a comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made Have a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered successful. One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers? This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. A short statement that you seem to get along with folks is great.

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

Tell me about your dream job. Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay generic and say something like: A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do well at this job? Give several reasons and include skills, experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to work with? Do not be trivial. It would take disloyalty to the organization, violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you: the money or the work? Money is always important, but the work is the most important. There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is? There are numerous good possibilities: Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor Biggest trap of all. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss. If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former boss, you may well below the interview right there. Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job? Don't get trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can include: Not enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction Company did not win a contract, which would have given you more responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under pressure. You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job more closely? Probably this one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the job? This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are: Challenge,  Achievement,  Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends? This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were successful on this job? Several ways are good measures: You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your outcomes are a success. Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required? You should be clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may come up. Do not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is no. This can create a lot of problems later on in your career. Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead of your own? This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. Do not worry about the deep ethical and philosophical implications. Just say yes.

Describe your management style. Try to avoid labels. Some of the more common labels, like progressive, salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or descriptions depending on which management expert you listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you will manage according to the situation, instead of one size fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the job? Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots? Trick question. If you know about blind spots, they are no longer blind spots. Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here. Let them do their own discovery on your bad points. Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this position? Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience? First, if you have experience that the interviewer does not know about, bring that up. Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss? Be generic and positive. Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of high standards. All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me? Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive? and What type of projects will I be able to assist on? are examples.

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