Job Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself. Would you:

Give examples of your strongest personal qualities and achievements.

Tell me about yourself.

Give three specific examples of your personality traits and accomplishments.

After the interview, you should

Go home and start writing that Thank You message while the interview is still fresh in your mind.

Are you a leader?

Here is an example of where I showed leadership skills ....

Which of the following is a legitimate question in a job interview?

How does your previous experience relate to the job for which you have applied?

When someone is interviewing you and they ask you if you have any questions, what should you say?

I have a few questions.....

Why are you in the job market?

I have a solid plan for my career. Within that plan I am looking for additional responsibility and more room for growth.

Why haven't you taken a job yet?

I have done some careful planning because this decision is very important to me. I have been offered positions but, to date, I have not been able to find a position that meets my criteria and this is important because the match must be good for me and the company. The position we are discussing today appears to be a good fit.

How would you characterize your management philosophy?

I like to balance my focus between bottom line results and the employees. I find attention to employee needs important in building loyalty. I also keep a keen eye on the bottom line and careful measurement of productivity.

What did you like and dislike about college?

I liked the opportunity to be involved on campus. It was a small campus that allowed students to take responsibility, organize events and be a part of the planning team. I can't really think of anything I disliked, college was a wonderful experience.

Which is the best answer for this question. Do you have any hobbies?

I love wood working, I have made tables, chairs, and a bookshelves. I love the satisfaction I get from taking a few pieces of wood and turning them into something that can be used.

How did you choose your University?

I made a list of my criteria (e.g. campus based University) and did my research. I then made a shortlist which I matched against these criteria.

How did you choose your degree subject?

I wanted to study something new and different after my A-levels and this course looked interesting.

What are your strengths?

I would have to choose between two skills. I am very proud of my determination and ability to get things done. At the same time, I am very proud of my analytical abilities and problem solving skills. These skills combine to give me a unique ability to solve problems and then implement the solutions.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I would hope to grow with the responsibility I am offered and to develop my skills as far as I am able.

What are you looking for in a position?

I'm looking for an opportunity to apply my skills and contribute to the growth of the company while helping create some advancement opportunities for myself.

Are you willing to relocate?

I'm open to opportunities within the company so if that involves relocation I would consider it.

What makes you think you have senior management potential?

I've had several recent experiences that have prepared me for the role. I've had departmental forecasting, budgeting, and staff management responsibilities. I've also managed several projects of increasingly complex nature. Additionally, I've been a resource to management for cost savings ideas and profit increasing ideas.

Where do you want to be in 5 years?

If selected, I would hope to meet my goals and take advantage of opportunities to learn so I will be considered for other positions within the company. I hope to build my career with a company such as this one.

Describe a situation you've encountered with a difficult customer.

In my last job I dealt with customers at a retail store. One customer wanted to return an item she had obviously bought several years ago, which was against store policy. I talked to her calmly and explained our policies and encouraged her tos hop and I would exchange the item, however, I could not give a refund.

What salary do you expect?

Initial salary is less important than training and opportunities for career development, but I'm sure a firm of your quality will reward appropriately.

What was your GPA? Why is it low?

My GPA is 2.8 because I held a full time job while in college, working my way through school. It is not reflective of my ability to do the job.

Before we go any further, what kind of money do you need to make?

My salary requirements are negotiable. Your firm has a reputation of compensating employees fairly and I trust you would do the same in my case. I am very interested in finding the right opportunity and will be open to any fair offer when I do so.

If a question in the application does not apply to you, what should you put?

N/A

What is the least amount of information you should know about the interviewer?

Name, Pronunciations, Position

What information about your references should be on your resume?

Name, Title, Address, Phone Number

What can't a resume tell the interviewer?

Personality

Which of the following is NOT a good way to prepare for your interview questions?

Pray really hard and then watch TV to get your mind off of it.

Which of the following are some of the tasks that are important to complete, on the days leading up to the interview?

Prepare your attire, get directions to the interview and practice-practice-practice

What are your short term goals?

Short-term, I'd like to find a position that is a good fit and where I can contribute to a company's bottom line. The position we are here to discuss today would appear to be such an opportunity. Would you tell me more about it?

What are your weaknesses?

Talk about a weakness that you really have.

What is an example of an open question?

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

What is the most important part of the entire job search process?

The Interview

How would co-workers describe you?

They perceive me as someone who cared about them personally and had high expectations. I get a great deal of satisfaction from helping others do their best. My former employees would highlight three of my priorities which are to build loyalty and a team environment, obtain results and develop people.

Which of the following statements is NOT correct, regarding an appropriate interview look?

Wear every piece of jewelry you own.

Which of the following is NOT necessary to do research on?

What are the religious views of the interviewer?

Which of the following questions is appropriate to ask your interviewer?

Which of the following questions is appropriate to ask your interviewer?

What does an interview teach you?

about the career

Which of these should NOT be included in a resume?

age

What is a prospective employer?

an employer that is looking for a new employee

What is layering?

an interrogation technique that builds one question on top of the other

What should you do if you make a mistake?

apologize and continue

Where should you look during an interviewer?

at the interviewer

Plan for having the right _________, not the right _________.

attitude, answers

What are good ways to do Research on the company you're interviewing to work for?

Check them out on the internet AND Talk to people who you know that work there

What are the most basic items of a resume?

objective, education, work history, community service, activities, awards, reference

How long should an informational interview last?

15-20 minutes

How many paragraphs should be in your cover letter?

3

What percent of communication is communicated non-verbally?

65-85%

If an interviewer asks you, "What's your biggest weakness?" you should decline to answer.

False

What is NOT a way to take care of Halitosis?

gum

The first thing you do when you walk into an interview is ____________.

introduce yourself using your first and last name

When is a smile not important?

it is always important

Why is it important to know a companies financial situation before working for it?

it is not a good idea to get a job with a company that is financially unstable

If you walk into an interview and find yourself sitting at a table opposite of people, the type of interview is a _____________.

panel interview

What is work history?

past jobs that are described on one's resume

What do you bring to an interview?

portfolio, resume, pen, cover letter

If you are doing an interview over a meal, what is the first thing you should do when you sit down?

put your napkin in your lap

You should always try to ______ your answers using actual numbers in an interview.

quantify

What is off limits during an interview?

religion

What should you do with your hands during an interview?

rest them in your lap

What do you use during your interview as a guideline?

resume

What hand do you shake with?

right

What does a group interview do?

shows the natural leaders

What are hard skills?

technical skills that define your job.

Your first impression is to ________.

the receptionist

Why should you ask questions?

to get information to decide whether or not you would like the job

What is the purpose of a resume?

to show an overview of yourself and your skills to get an interview

What should your paragraphs in your cover letter contain?

why you are writing, what you have to offer, how to contact

Which of our competitors have you applied to?

All or most of them.

If asked a point blank question such as: Are you creative? Are you analytical? Can you work under pressure? Etc. What is the best way to answer?

Answer yes and give a specific example.

Why do you want to enter this career?

Because I have the following skills to offer .....

Why should we take you rather than the other candidates?

Because I have the following strong points ........

Which of the following steps is most important for an individual to take in preparing for a job interview?

learning as much as possible about the company and preparing some questions to ask the interviewer

What do you look for when hiring people?

Different positions require different types of people. I try to assess the candidate's fundamental knowledge of the position and ability to learn new things. Also of importance is the candidate's attitude and ability to "fit in."

Complete this statement. ________ be late!

Don't

Which is the best answer for this question. Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?

Each situation is different, having a team to collaborate with works better for some projects, while its best for one person to work on other projects. I enjoy being a part of a team but I can work independently to.

What do you know about our organization?

Everything I've seen and heard makes me want to be a part of this organization. I understand your industry is (blank) and your primary customer is (blank). A particularly exciting part of your business appears to be (blank).

Do you have any questions you would like to ask us?

Yes, I have lots of questions I wish to ask ......

Why are you the best person for the job?

You need someone who can produce results, and my background and experience are proof of my ability. For example...

What of the following is not okay to bring with you into the interview?

Your cell phone.

What is a job posting?

a notice announcing that a job is available

What is a hypothetical question?

a question that asks you what you would do in the situation

A __________ check explores a candidate's credit worthiness and ensures your candidate has no prior criminal history

background

If someone asks you about a negative situation, what should you do?

be honest but focus on the positives

It is understandable to ________ during the interview.

be nervous

What would you NOT say if you were asked-What motivates you to succeed?

bonuses

If called back for a second interview, what should you discuss?

bring up something you didn't talk about in the first interview, specific skills , specific achievements, why you're a good candidate

When organizing a resume, how should items be organized?

by date, newest to oldest

The main thing to remember about appearance in an interview is_______.

neat, clean, simple

When asked about salary, what should be put on an application?

negotiable

What type of phrases should you NOT use when describing your work history?

came in right on time and left when work was over

What should you order over a meal interview?

chicken and salad

Constant turnover in the job market is called ___________.

churning

What needs to be in in the last paragraph of your cover letter?

contact information

You should walk into the interview __________.

cool, calm, relaxed,

________ is/are a group of people or individuals you can turn to for help.

network

Which is NOT the best power word that you would put on your resume?

doing

References should NOT be a _________.

family member

What is the first thing you do after an interview?

follow up letter