indeed's 100 most common interview questions
Tell me three positive things that your previous employer would say about you.
- commitment -always want to work -easy to work with
Describe ten different uses for a pen other than writing.
- to hold things up li,e your hair -
Do you have any questions for me?
-What keeps you at (company name)? -What part of your job do enjoy the most? -What programs or software would you say is the most beneficial to know in order to succeed in this position? -How would you describe the company's outlook on lateral vs vertical growth, are there opportunities for both or is one more prevalent then the other? -tell me more about your path since you started at (company) and how you got to your current position?
What is something negative that your previous employer would say about you?
-too shy
Give me an example of a time when you made a mistake at work. How did you handle it?
earlier during my time as a server, I had recently been trained to make drinks as a barista. On my first day working off of training, my boss watched me as I made a drink. I thought I had completed the steps properly but she stopped me in the middle of me, pouring honey, into one of the teas. She told me that I was supposed to measure two tea spoons of honey before mixing it into the cup. I fixed what I did wrong and apologized for the mistake and from that point on I have never stopped to think that I need to properly measure everything out for consistency in taste across all drinks that I make. And likewise, when I am training a new barista I make sure to point out all the proper steps in making each drink so the rule continues to be spread amongst all workers.
How do you manage stress?
exercise get enough sleep and rest eat healthy plan personal time do not judge yourself harshly have a sense of humor have a social life talk to a nurse
If you could remove any state in the United States, which would you choose and why?
Alaska
If you could only choose five words to describe your character, what would they be?
Always willing to do more.
What are three positive qualities that you don't possess?
Charisma, vocal, Extrovertedness
What makes you want to work for this company?
Company: The reason I applied to this job was mainly because KPMG is an outstanding company that has been supporting businesses and people for such a long period of time. My cousin herself has been working for KPMG for over 7 years and ever since I was young, I wanted to be just like her. When she took me under her wing she described how much she enjoyed what she does for a living and since then, I knew KPMG was the place I wanted to see myself grow, succeed and learn from. Based on my cousins experience, its clear that KPMG not only cares about their clients but also their employees, and I want to work for a place that can positively impact my experience as a young professional willing and able to learn and gain technical experiences.
How many times do the hands of a clock overlap in 24 hours?
Every 65 minutes so 22 times
Describe the difference between exceptional and good.
Exceptional is going above and beyond one's expectations
How would you handle a situation where you were required to complete multiple tasks by the end of the day, but it would be impossible to finish all of them?
First I would try to complete as much as I can and as fast as possible and once I reached a point where I knew I couldn't finish and had an idea of what I was able to finish on my own, I would then go to my supervisor and I would be honest and say hey I have a lot on my plate given the number of tasks I was assigned, and I'd rather give you my best work than slap something together that isn't great so I would really appreciate an extension or for you to cut down on my tasks so I can perform at my best abilities and turn in my best work.
How do you feel about hearing "no?"
I ask myself why they could've said no and either comply or find ways to better myself until I get the right answer.
Do you prefer to work independently or with a team?
I can work both independently with little to no supervision or within a group. I feel like I am very flexible when it comes to my work style however I do prefer working in teams more because it allows for more efficient preparation and carrying out of tasks and I feel as though bringing many minds onto one project can help launch ideas and facilitate innovation.
Why did you choose to major in [x] in college?
I chose to major in finance because I've always been great with numbers but I never found an outlet to qualifying this passion into the real world until I found finance.
Tell me about your lifelong aspirations.
I come from a family of immigrants I am a first generation American citizen, my parents immigrated from Cambodia and I guess I set my expectations and goals high for myself in order to prove to my parents that they came to America for a reason and that reason is to see their daughter thrive within her career path and I want to be able to provide for my parents so they don't have to work in the labor intensive jobs that they work in currently.
Do you prefer an entrepreneurial or structured company culture?
I don't know I feel like I would have to try both company styles out since I have little to no experience working with a corporate company however I would say that I prefer a company that is open minded and allow its employee's to express new ideas for growth and such.
If you discovered that your company was doing something illegal, like fraud, what would you do?
I don't think I would truly do something in particular if its something that has been drilled into a company's practice for far long before I even started because I'm only one person so it would be hard to make necessary change without taking extra legal actions so wouldn't say anything, I would just simply choose to leave the company because it does not align with my morals.
What do you enjoy doing?
I enjoy finding creative outlets to fuel the energy I have for things to do outside of school and work. I tend to get bored v dry easily so I love being creative in my free time. Whether that be learning how to crotchet and sew or learning new music on the piano.
Do you see yourself as a detail-oriented person or a big-picture person?
I feel like I'm mainly a detail oriented person over big-picture mostly because I enjoy being pretty particular about the tasks I takeover as I like to make sure all the parts or bits and pieces are working properly before letting it out for more people to utilize so it is more user friendly I guess.
What makes you the best candidate for this job?
I feel like as an incoming new graduate, I have a lot to offer even with the little experience that I have. Meaning that given that I have only worked in small intern positions and food service roles. Even within the first 6 months of working at my most recent job as a server, my manager saw my potential to aid in company growth and allowed me to present my ideas and implement these ideas for increased business operations. Like I said previously, I am great at spotting needs and filling these problems with solutions which is a skill I have been able to apply to almost every position I have partaken in.
When were you the most satisfied in your previous position?
I feel the most satisfied when a solution is found to either an obvious or not-so-obvious problem. In my previous role at my job as a waitress, I noticed my manager would text out schedules each week to over 17 employees individually. I thought there could be a more efficient and timely manner to approach this task for my manager, so I offered to research new software in order to streamline employee/manager communication and strategy. Once I found an application to best fit our work environment needs, I proposed to start utilizing excel spreadsheets to prepare and relay employee schedules weekly and deliver these schedules through our new communication application. second example: I also love to be able to spot when customers need things before they have to ask as well. At my job when I'm serving at the Thai restaurant I work at, my favorite thing in the world is when I go up to a customer to check on them and I'm quick to notice that they need a box to go or they need more water since they've finished their glass already so I sometimes finish their sentence for them or tell them what they need, but respectfully of course. I also like making suggestions for indecisive customers, because I have studied our menu back to front and memorized all my favorite dishes and what notes come with what. I like to narrow down what a customer might want to drink for example by asking whether they like spicy or not dishes and then if they like sweetened or unsweetened drinks or hot vs iced for drinks. It kind of feels like trivia in my head for knowing the perfect dish based on a customer's wants and needs.
Have you ever been given an assignment that was too difficult for you? What was your solution and why?
I guess everyone reaches their limit at some point so my answer to this question is yes, I have been given an assignment that was too difficult to handle. In terms of my most recent job, I once was given the opportunity to work a shift by myself. It was expected to be slow and my boss has a lot of trust in me, But this particular night happened to be extremely busy and there was one point where I had to handle a full house on my own. In the moment I decided to ask the back of house cooks to cut me some slack and be patient with me as I am getting things done but later during closing my manager finally came in and saw the mess at the restaurant once everyone was gone. He decided to help me close and clean the restaurant, and as we were closing we discussed ways I could've handled this situation a little better. He told me that I should be able to tell customers that I am not able to handle a full house and only allow 5 tables instead of 9 tables at a time when I'm working alone. So i definitely learned from this experience and was able to handle working alone a lot better once I learned to manage my tasks a bit better and listen to my manager's advice. In terms of academically when I had to complete a project in one of my classes, corporate finance. It was actually the first 3000 level class that I have taken and the first finance course I took outside of basic intro to finance. And it actually has to do with the project that I included in my resume that I am now very proud of. It was a capital budgeting assignment and me and and my partner had no clue how to perform any of the tasks we were given. We were relatively new to using excel at least on a regular basis as well so even doing basic functions were kind of difficult for us. When we hit a stump and could no longer figure out how to proceed, I took it upon myself to attend my professor's office hours and just ask for an excel tutorial on creating a capital budgeting analysis and that is exactly what she did for me. I felt like I could clearly execute every formula and excel function after leaving her office and then relayed this information to my partner for us to complete together.
Tell me about an instance when you had to deal with conflict in the workplace.
I guess the most recent thing that happened to me specifically was with a coworker that no longer works with me. But since I am a server, we split tips with the person working with us. It's usually two people per shift. I noticed that instead of putting a cash tip in our shared tip jar, my coworker (she was new) took a tip from a customer and kept it. I decided not to make a scene and mention anything on the spot mainly because I did not want to embarrass her along with the fact that there were still customers present, and making a scene like this would not look good for the business as I have no clue how she would react to my confrontation. Once our shifts were over and we came to closing the register and counting cash tips, I proceeded to ask her if we had any cash tips. She then said no. Then I mentioned noticing her take tips directly from customers and she denied my allegations. This is when I decided to take the situation privately and messaged my boss saying, "hey it's no big deal but I thought I should let you know that (so and so) has been keeping tips to herself" and he handled it accordingly and made sure I was compensated appropriately when it came to calculating tips at the end of the pay period.
What kind of things do you do for fun?
I make clothes and up your le them into things I would wear.
If, while at a business lunch, you ordered a rare steak but you received one that was well done, how would you react?
I work in food service and I m is these things happen, personally I don't mind well done steak so I wouldn't say anything, but if it was something I couldn't bare to eat or if I was allergic I'd pull the server to my side and mention it calmly and ask for it to be made correctly.
Without using a scale, how would you weigh a plane?
I would Google the average weight of a plane
What animal would you want to be and why?
I would like to. E a beaver. They're very tactile
What are a few of your weaknesses?
I would say my greatest weakness is my shyness, it's something I have struggled with ever since I was a kid but something I always stand by to help me overcome my fears, is to always put myself in uncomfortable positions to aid in my growth by forcing myself out of my shell and taking on leadership roles.
Tell me about your biggest regret in life.
I would say not taking my mental health seriously enough to the point where I let myself down.
If you were in my position, what traits would you look for in a candidate for this job?
I would want to find someone who has great attention to detail, is great at spotting an issue and resolving it, and has good judgment to work under pressure for high stake tasks.
How would you feel about being more skilled or knowledgeable than your supervisor?
I wouldn't feel entitled to anything or opportunities but I would feel like I could provide insight and even help my supervisor succeed and show them I am capable.
What would you do if your supervisor asked you to do something that you didn't agree with?
I'd just say hey I'm not comfortable with performing this task is it alright if you hand it over to someone else and I compete something else to be done.
Why should we hire you?
I'm creative, dynamic, flexible, and goal-oriented. I like to solve problems, etc. I will bring a fresh perspective to your company's goals and workplace environment. Look above ^
Tell me a little about yourself.
I'm currently a senior studying finance at the university of central florida. Throughout my time in college, I have been able to showcase my motivations and my exceptional attention to detail given the projects i have taken on both academically and extracurricular wise and I am determined to apply these skillsets to a company such as yours that values highly talented individuals. I have enjoyed collaborating with others throughout my past projects and I have the experience necessary to provide outstanding service to all clients on a consistent basis given my past roles in customer service. Overall I genuinely want to see my employer succeed alongside seeing my own personal values and goals flourish which is why I feel like I can prove to be an asset to KPMG.
Describe what you are most proud of.
I'm most proud of my work ethic, all throughout high school and college I have had a really strong drive to succeed and it shows through my work and my willingness to learn and grow.
Describe what you're most fearful of.
Im fearful of amounting to nothing and basically not leaving my mark in this world despite it being so big.
Sell me this piece of paper.
It can. E used to write, take. It's, you look like you have a lot on your mid. Why don't you write it down on this piece of paper
What is your strategy for working with people who annoy you?
It depends on how much control I have over a problem. At my job for example if you don't particularly enjoy working with someone you can. Request not to work together, however if that was not an option I would say I would keep my cool and just try to communicate and work with them to the best of my ability.
Why do tennis balls have fuzz?
It slows it down
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
Japan or outer space
Is there someone that changed or altered your career path?
My boss at krungthep. He took a chance on me. Funny story, I was actually denied a position when I originally applied but I called to ask for an interview and he told me he had no open spots for me to work it I expressed my intention to work and succeed in this position and he called me back shorty after to offer me the job. From that point on I've had so many opportunities to learn and implement the things I've learned in school into my position here at my new job.
Why are leaving your current employer?
My current employer is more of a temporary position that I took on while in college to help sustain myself financially. Currently, I am looking for a full-time position as since i am a server currently, I don't believe I can rely on tips for the rest of my career. Especially because i would love the chance to apply the skillset and knowledge that i have gained in my academic career to my professional career starting hopefully with KPMG as my first employer relating to my chosen major.
What is your favorite movie that you've seen this year?
My favorite movie I've seen would have to be everything everywhere all at once.
Have you had a favorite supervisor? Why were they your favorite?
My favorite supervisor would definitely be my current manager. He has really helped me grow into the leader I know I am today. Before him, I would take on monotonous jobs and follow day to day tasks in food service, but once I started working at Krungthep, I found myself looking for solutions to problems that my boss never even knew we had and he allowed me to implement my ideas and freely experiment wit processes that could increase or over business operation performance.
Who are your personal heroes and why?
My mom, dad and sister
Who has had the biggest impact on your career?
My parents are the ones who motivate me to the greatest extent.
Describe your perfect work environment.
My perfect work environment would probably be somewhere along the lines of a place where I could feel comfortable to express my ideas openly which is why I prefer collaborative group settings. And a workplace that emphasizes growth is really important to me.
What is your work style?
My work style tends to be on the quieter side, I prefer being able to think through my tasks so I like to have the time and headspace to do things properly. And I feel like I work most effectively when I either have specific tasks to carry out or when I am under high pressure circumstances.
What qualities make a bad leader?
One who doesn't listen to those in which they lead into order to take note and create a better working environment.
What tools and strategies do you use to stay organized?
Recently I learned about an application called notion, which basically helps me organize my entire life, it's pretty great. But besides web based applications, I really enjoy keeping track of important dates and school events like hw by writing it down in a traditional agenda.
What do you like to do in your free time?
See below
Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond what was expected of you at work.
See questions about excel schedules.
In your opinion, what makes a good leader?
Someone who listens
What aspects of your previous job did you like the least?
Something I disliked the most about my previous job, is the lack of recognition and room for growth. Although I have been promoted to increased responsibilities and management roles, I have yet to be compensated properly and I make the same as a regular waitress, just with extra responsibilities. It's something that I keep an eye out for when pursuing new roles moving forward, especially if I'd like to be promoted with a company, I'd like to also be compensated fairly and rewarded properly for my achievements and promotions.
What are some of your strengths?
Something that I would say I am good at is spotting a problem and/or need and filling those needs. I have a really good sense for attention to detail and I think thats an asset that I can provide for any project that I take on. I also think quick on my feet as I have had to adapt in fast-paced changing environments where I can also aid to my clients needs just as efficiently and promptly as well.
Tell me about the last project that you led. What was the final result?
Successful.
What is the most valuable thing that you learned in school?
Technically the most valuable thing I learned is that excel is pretty much the outlet to figuring out anything you need to know statistically within the business world, but in a more literal sense I believe the greatest thing I learned was to always build your network in order to build you net worth.
If you had the opportunity to choose any superpower, what would you choose and why?
Teleportation.
In your opinion, what is the ideal company?
The ideal company to me is a company that has a great workplace environment including the work culture that comes with it. I want to be able to feel comfortable with sharing my ideas as well as feel like there is room for growth in my position because I'm always looking for opportunities to strengthen both my technical and soft skills.
Outside of your career, what has been your greatest accomplishment?
Valedictorian.
Do you subscribe to any magazines? If so, which ones?
Wall Street journal, glossier
What kind of car do you drive?
A Mitsubishi Outlander 2019 its red.
Tell me about a time that you failed. What did you learn from it?
Ask for help
Give me an example of a solution you developed or implemented at work.
At my current job as a waitress, I noticed my manager would text out schedules each week to over 17 employees individually. I thought there could be a more efficient and timely manner to approach this task for my manager, so I offered to research new software in order to streamline employee/manager communication and strategy. Once I found an application to best fit our work environment needs, I proposed to start utilizing excel spreadsheets to prepare and relay employee schedules weekly and deliver these schedules through our new communication application.
Would you be willing to travel/relocate?
At the time being, I am willing to relocate and I am willing to travel up to 50% of the time but that is subject to change.
Describe your favorite childhood memory.
Big events like socials and celebrations
Why did you apply for this job?
Company: The reason I applied to this job was mainly because KPMG is an outstanding company that has been supporting businesses and people for such a long period of time. My cousin herself has been working for KPMG for over 7 years and ever since I was young, I wanted to be just like her. When she took me under her wing she described how much she enjoyed what she does for a living and since then, I knew KPMG was the place I wanted to see myself grow, succeed and learn from. Based on my cousins experience, its clear that KPMG not only cares about their clients but also their employees, and I want to work for a place that can positively impact my experience as a young professional willing and able to learn and gain technical experiences. Role-specific: out of all the possible positions to choose from when applying for KPMG, advisory delivery was the one position that really drew my attention, mainly because I enjoy client-facing and solution-oriented roles. One particular thing I noticed when studying the job description is that for this role, your company is looking for someone who is great at pinpointing problems and finding solutions with a high level of accuracy which is a quality that I pride myself on, especially in my most recent job as an assistant manager. I love being able to spot areas that need attention and provide more efficient solutions for increased business operations.
Do you think leaders should be liked or feared?
Definitely a little bit of both I feel like there needs to be a good balance between the two traits for a leader.
What personality types do you work well with and why?
I like to work with collaborative people but I also don't mind working with quiet and reserved people because they can still work in a team with me with no issues as long as people are accepting of my ideas and willing to work with me through a project or task.
Tell me about the responsibilities you held in your last job.
For my current job I act as assistant manager as well as shift lead for when I am working on site at a Thai restaurant. My current duties involve: Researched and implemented a new communication software to streamline increased business operations. • Developed and proposed a system strategy for delivering employee schedules of over 17 individuals on a weekly basis. • Prepare and administer biweekly payroll tip reports to management utilizing Google Sheets and MS Excel. • Oversee 5 shift associates through team-building efforts, adjusting to changing conditions in a fast-paced environment with flexibility and accuracy while assisting internally with inventory control. • Build loyal clientele and ensure customer satisfaction through friendly interactions of up to 100 customers daily and positive financial indexes of at least 20-30% profit margins.
What is your life's mission statement?
Get comfortable with discomfort
What is the first thing you would do if you were to win the lottery?
Hire a financial planner or advisor to tell me what to do with my money.
How do you feel about your previous employer?
I absolutely love my most recent job and the people, I feel super comfortable and heard by management and any issue I've ever had was always resolved promptly.
Ultimately, what do you hope to achieve and become?
I hope to become successful in my career whether that be the path I set for myself originally as an analyst of some sort, or if I progress laterally and start working in tech or marketing, I love the idea of learning new technology and programs that will help society innovate.
What do you know about our company?
I know that KPMG is one of the big 4 consulting/accounting firms and it has been supporting business and clients for over 150 years which is why it is such a renowned company. Based on what my cousin who works for KPMG has told me, she has expressed that KPMG really focuses on accounting, however there are opportunities for advisory and consulting which is my ultimate goal for my career and my five-year plan. I know that KPMG is a wonderful company to work for and I would absolutely love the chance to apply my skills in order to be not only an asset but also someone who can say they have learned a great deal from their position here at KPMG as KPMG's mission is to turn knowledge and understanding of information, industries and business trends into value for our firms' clients, our people and the capital markets is something that I also value.
What will you miss most about your current/previous job?
I think the culture and the people that come with it. It's super diverse so I love being around people who have gone through the same things as me and can relate to what I have been through growing up.
Tell me about the most difficult decision you have had to make recently. How did you reach a decision?
I think the most difficult decision I have had to make was recently was to move away from my family to be closer to school. It was definitely hard to adjust and my parents did not support this decision but I found myself not only adapting to my new environment but also thriving currently. The biggest reason why I felt like I needed to move was to be able to focus on my goals and work towards who I felt like I could become as a young professional in college working to break into the financial services industry. Workplace: The most difficult decision I have had to make recently regarding the workplace was
Tell me about the most difficult time in your life. How did you get through it?
I was homeless.
How do you approach giving someone difficult feedback?
I was honest but I did it aim to hurt their feelings
Describe a time when your work or performance was criticized.
I was lacking energy. I just practiced dance more.
Give me an example of a time that you showed leadership.
Yes
Have you ever been a part of a team where there is a member not doing their part? How did you react?
Yes I was honest and told my manager they weren't picking up their own slack so they could be held accountable appropriately
