50 Interview Questions Revised March 1, 2011

1. Tell me about yourself Brief work history Education List 4-5 Characteristics Hobbies This is 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.

2. Why did you leave your last job? ““I haven’t left; I’m still employed” “The school year ended, my job was seasonal”. If fired – give reason why and what you did to fix it. “The Business closed”. 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-thinking reasons.

3. What experience do you have in this field? If you don’t have specific experience in the field, then you can make generalized statements: People related skills: “I have experience working as a team member”. Experience operating a cash register: “I have experience using a cash register”. Organizational skills: “I have experience organizing incoming shipments”. 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.

4. Do you consider yourself successful? “Yes, particularly in the area of __________________” “I have continued to work had in school and will be getting my diploma _______________”. 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 others.

5. What do co-workers say about you? Give 3-5 positive statements “Jill Clark, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was the hardest worker she had ever know.” It is as powerful as Jill having said it at the interview herself. Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.

6. What do you know about this Organization? You should research the company prior to your interview and be able to answer basic questions, such as: Who owns it? What is there? Type of business? 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?

7. What have you done to improve your knowledge this past year? Going to school (where) Job training (Wright Tech) “I Participated in Work Skills Day, an activity day focused on job training” Volunteer (if job related) 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.

8. Are you applying for any other positions? “Yes, although I am extremely interested in this position”. “No, this is the only position I am applying for”. “Yes; I need to be employed but this job would be my preference”. 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.

9. Why do you want to work for this organization? “This just seems like a friendly environment to work” People skills “I’ve been a customer here for many years and I trust the product/service here”. 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. Related it to your long-term career goals.

10. Do you know anyone who works here? “I know who some of the people are who work here but they are just acquaintances”. “Yes, I know _______________”. “No, I do not know anyone who works here”. 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.

11. What kind of salary do you need? “I’m am open to negotiating” “I don’t have a specific amount, though the salary range for this positions fits my needs.” This is 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 is can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range.

12. Are you a team player? “Yes, I enjoy working as a team member”. 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.

13. How long would you expect to work for us if hired? Specifics here are not good. “I’d like it to be a long time”. “I would like to stay with the company as long as we both feel I’m doing a good job”. Specifics are not good in this case.

14. Have you ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about that? You want them to know you will do what is good for the company. It is not the same as laying someone off. “Yes, I did have to fire someone. It was not pleasant but it was necessary for the company”. “No, I have never had to fire anyone but I would be able to do it if it was a required part of my job”. This is a very serious questions. Do not make light of it in anyway or seem that you like to fire people. You want them to know you will be able to fire someone if necessary.

15. What is your philosophy towards work? “I like to get the job done, and keep high standards in my work”. Be short and positive, showing a benefit to the company. They are not looking for a long answer. Think about how you feel about work – do you have strong feelings about the job getting job, about dong the job right the first time?

16. If you had enough money to retire right now would you? “I would like to retire someday, but for now I need to work to keep me busy”. “I enjoy working, and this is the type of work I prefer”. It’s okay to be honest, but remember you might be bored if you had nothing to do all day. Do not say “yes” if you do not mean it.

17. Have you ever been asked to leave a position? Be honest – they will be able to find out if you are not telling the truth “No, I have never been asked to leave a position.” “Yes, I was asked to leave my position at …. I learned from the experience by …. (provide an explanation of what you learned from the experience, and why it is no longer an issue). Avoid saying negative thins about the people or organization involved. Take responsibility for your actions and explain what you have learned and what steps you have taken to remedy the situation.

18. 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. “I can be a positive role model for others with my …. Positive attitude … leadership abilities …. etc. What is it about you that makes you a great asset?

19. Why should we hire you? Point out how your skills meet the skills needed for the job. “I have great cashiering skills” “I work well in a teaming situation” “I have exceeded production goals” You should address why they should hire YOU, instead of someone else. What can YOU offer them? Do NOT talks about why YOU need the job, or how it can benefit you. This is about the needs of the employer – not your needs!

20. Tell me about a suggestion you have made. If you have one, use a suggestion that was accepted and was considered successful. If you don’t have a work-related suggestion, is there one you have from another environment? “I suggested we vary our break times to make our services better for customers” “I suggested we close the storage room door to save heating costs in the winter” Have a good one ready. While work-related suggestions are preferred, others may work if you don’t have a work-related suggestion.

21. What irritates you about co-workers? This is a trap question! Think real hard, but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. “I seem to get along with most people, so I can’t really think of anything” I’m a pretty tolerant person, so not much irritates me” Why don’t you want to give examples of things that irritate you? Because you don’t want them to think you are easily irritated. If there is something that might really bother you, it could be: “When someone is talking negatively about the job”, or something about someone else not doing their job. Saying something positive gives you a chance to say something positive about yourself.

22. What is your greatest strength? Stay positive! “My ability to prioritize” “I have great problem solving skills” “I work well under pressure” “I focus on what needs to be done” “I have a great attitude and I love to work” They are not looking for a long list on strengths – just mention ONE! Try to use one that best fits the job for which you are interviewing.

23. Tell me about your dream job Stay away from a specific job – you cannot win! You don’t want to make it look like the job you’re interviewing for is your dream job (you’ll sound insincere), and you don’t want to mention another job because they’ll think you won’t stick with the job they hire you for! “A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and can’t wait to get to work” Think of your dream job, and figure out what the QUALITIES of that job are that you like. For example, if you want to be a famous Singer, what is it about that job that you like? The recognition, the acknowledgement, having people like? It’s those qualities you want to mention.

24. Why do you think you would do well at this job? Give several reasons Include skills, experience and interests “I worked on a cleaning crew and enjoyed doing a thorough job”. “I learned how to perform simple auto maintenance at Wright Technical Center and I am very efficient.”

25. What are you looking for in a job? (similar to #23) “A job where I love to work” “A job where I like the people I work with” “A job with a friendly environment where I can work as a team.”

26. What kind of person would you refuse to work with? Do not mention minor things – it will make you look like a whiner or someone who doesn’t get along well with others! “A violent person or one who tries to intimidate others” “Someone who is disloyal to the company or doing something illegal on the job”

27. What is more important to you: the money or the work? “Money is always important, but the work is the most important.”

28. What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is? “I am very loyal to my employer” “I have a lot of energy and I use it in a positive way” “I have a positive attitude” “I have great leadership skills” “I’m a team player” “I am have initiative” “I work very hard” Just mention ONE – they are looking for your STRONGEST point!

29. Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor Be careful – this is the biggest trap of all! This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss an will label you as a troublemaker! “I don’t recall any problems with a supervisor” If you fall for this trap and tell about a problem with a former boss, you may well blow the interview right there. Stay positive and develop a “poor memory” about any trouble with a supervisor.

30. What has disappointed you about a job? Don’t be negative with this question! “There was not enough of a challenge for me” “I was laid off due to a slow-down” “The Company lost a big contract, so I was not able to advance in the company and get more responsibilities”

31. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure. “I thrive under deadlines” “I work best when I know I have a short time to get the job done” “I like to be challenged” Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for

32. Do your skills match this job or another job more closely? “My skills match this job more closely” Give examples if you can Do not give them reason to suspect that you may want another job more than this one.

33. What motivates you to do your best on the job? This is a personal trait that only you can say, but here are some examples: “Challenges motivate me” “I am motivated when I can achieve something” “Recognition motivates me”

34. Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends? This is up to you. If it’s not a problem, a simple “Yes, that would not be a issue” will suffice. Be totally honest, but know that if you say no, you may not be hired if this is a requirement of the job. If you wouldn’t want to do it on a regular basis but would help out in a pinch, you could say something like this: “I could be available for overtime or be flexible with my schedule on occasion or in case of an emergency, but not on a regular basis.”

35. How would you know you were successful on this job? “I set high standards for myself; when I meet them, I know I am successful” “My outcomes on the job were my success” (Give an example if possible) “My boss told me I was successful”

36. What would you do if you saw a co-worker stealing from the cash register? Think about what the employer would want you to do: Think about what would happen if you do not report it “I would report it to my supervisor” If you do not report it, you could get blamed for talking the missing money.

37. Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead of your own? This is a straight loyal and dedication question Do not worry about what’s right or what your values are. Just say “yes”

38. What would you do if one manager asked you to complete a task one way, and another manager asked you to complete is in another way? This can be confusing! The two managers may not know they have given you conflicting directions. You need to let them know! “I would politely let them know I was given different directions and ask which way they would like it done. This is another example of something that may not apply right now, but may be an issue when you are older.

39. What have you learned from mistakes on the job? You need to come up with something or they will think you’re not honest. Think of a small mistake you made with good intentions. Tell them something positive that you learned. “I worked too far ahead of my co-workers on a project and threw off the coordination.”

40. What would you do if the boss has asked you to stay late to work and you already have plans? Try to think of options you might have in a scenario such as this: “I have plans, but I can change them if it’s important for me to stay late.” I am unable to stay late today because I have an appointment that cannot be changed. I would be happy to come in early or stay late tomorrow.

41. If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for? Mention traits that are NEEDED AND that YOU have! Look at the job listing and see what traits they are looking for prior to the interview!

42. We have a strict dress code here; no jeans, no open toe shoes, no shorts or t-shirts. Does that work for you? Why or why not? If their dress code does work for you, they will probably not hire you for the job. “Yes, I have read your dress code and it works for me. “I have a tattoo but I can cover it up if I need to.”

43. How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience? If you have experience that the interviewer does not have, then bring that up: “I do have experience in …” Point out (if true) that you are a hard working, quick learner: “I am a hard worker and can learn the skills quickly”

44. What qualities do you look for in a boss? Be positive and generic “I prefer a boss who is knowledgeable and has a sense of humor” “I like my boss to be fair, loyal to subordinates and have high standards”

45. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute between others. Pick a specific incident Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute settled.

46. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project? If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out. Be honest “I prefer to be the detail person” “I really like being creative, so if there’s a position that could utilize my creativity, I would prefer that”

47. Describe your work ethic Point out things that would benefit the organization “I am very determined to get the job done” “I work hard and I enjoy working”

48. What has been your biggest professional disappointment? Be sure that you refer to something that was beyond your control. Show acceptance and no negative feelings “I was disappointed that there was no room for advancement at my last position” “I was disappointed when my job trial at Allina ended”

49. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job. Talk about something fun by accomplishing something for the organization. “I had fun working at McDonald’s when I was able to wait on customers” “I had fun working at Allina when I helped with planting bushes”

50. Do you have any questions for me? Always be prepared for this question! Questions where you will be an asset to the organization are good. “How soon will I be able to be productive?” “What type of projects will I be able to assist on?” “Is there a uniform required for this position?”