INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Questions Asked By Employers

�         What are your long range and short range goals and objectives, when and why did you establish these goals and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?

�         What specific goals, other than those related to your occupation, have you established for yourself?

�         What do you see yourself doing five years from now?

�         What do you expect to be earning in five years?

�         What do you really want to do in life?

�         What are the most important rewards you expect in your business career?

�         Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?

�         Which is more important to you, the money or type of job?

�         What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

�         How would you describe yourself?

�         How do you think a friend or professor who knows you would describe you?

�         What motivates you to put forth your greatest efforts?

�         How has your college experience prepared you for a business career?

�         Why should I hire you?

�         What qualifications do you have that make you think that you will be successful in business?

�         How do you determine or evaluate success?

�         What do you think it takes to be successful in a company like ours?

�         In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?

�         What qualities should a successful manager possess?

�         Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and those reporting to him or her.

�         What two to three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?

�         Describe your most rewarding college experience.

�         If you were hiring a graduate for this position, what qualities would you look for?

�         Why did you select your college or university?

�         What led you to choose your field of major study?

�         What college subjects did you like best? Why? Least? Why?

�         If you could do so, how would you plan your academic study differently? Why?

�         What changes would you make in your college or university? Why?

�         Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?

�         Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?

�         What have you learned from participation in extra-curricular activities?

�         In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?

�         How do you work under pressure?

�         In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested in? Why?

�         How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation?

�         Why did you decide to seek a position with this company?

�         What do you know about our company?

�         What two or three things are most important to you in a job?

�         Are you seeking employment in a company of a certain size? Why?

�         What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work?

�         Are you willing to travel?

�         Do you have a geographical preference? Why?

�         Will you relocate? Does relocation bother you?

�         Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee?

�         Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which our company is located?

�         What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?

�         What have you learned from your mistakes?

�         What were your major courses of study in school? Why did you choose those courses?

�         What was the most important thing you learned in school?

�         Why did you decide to go to this University?

�         Do you plan to finish your college degree while you are working?

�         Did school meet your expectations? How did you pay for your college education?

�         To what extent do your grades reflect how much you learned?

�         What were your major responsibilities at your last job? At the one before that?

�         Which of your previous jobs did you like (or dislike) most? Why?

�         What was the most rewarding experience at work? What do you find most satisfying in a job?

�         What was your single most important accomplishment for the company in your last job?

�         Why did you leave your last job? Why do you want to change jobs?

�         What was the toughest problem you had to solve? How did you solve it?

�         Why do you want to work for this company?

�         This job means you will have to relocate; what problems do you foresee, if any?

�         This job has a lot of travel; how will you handle that?

�         After reading a description of the job, how do you see yourself fitting in with this job?

�         What skills did you learn at your last job that you can use here?

�         Why do you want to work for our company?

�         How do you think your education will help you on this job?

�         What would you do if you were fired in two years?

�         If you went to work for us today, what job would you like to hold in three years?

�         How long do you plan on staying with us?

�         What kinds of additional education, formal or informal, do you think you need to meet your career goals?

�         What do you know about our company?

�         Why did you choose our company?

�         What are your career goals?

�         Where do you expect to be in your career within five years?

�         What are your educational goals?

�         What future training do you plan in connection with your career goals?

�         What are your lifetime goals?

�         What do you know about the position you are interviewing for?

�         What skills, experience, and training do you have that makes you qualified for this job?

�         What other positions have you had that qualify you for this position?

�         What have you contributed to your past employers that saved the company time, money, or enhanced its image?

�         How many promotions did you receive at your last or present company?

�         Why were you given these promotions at your present or last company?

�         How many raises were given at your last position? Why were you given them?

�         What did you learn in your last three positions?

�         Why do you want to change careers?

�         Have you had any supervisory or administrative experience? Please tell me more about it.

�         What management style do you prefer?

�         How are your people-management skills? Can you give me one or two examples?

�         How well do you communicate in writing and orally? Give me some examples.

�         Can you meet deadlines? If so, give me an example.

�         Give me an example of a decision you made that benefited your company.

�         What motivates you?

�         How do you best motivate others?

�         What clubs do you belong to?

�         What volunteer work do you do or have you done in the past?

�         What awards or honors have you received?

�         What are your hobbies?

�         What do you do in your spare time?

�         What are your salary requirements?

�         Have you ever done consulting work? If so, why and for whom?

�         Have you written any articles for a professional journal, magazine, or newspaper?

�         What civic organizations do you belong to?

�         What professional associations do you belong to?

�         What major strength do you feel you have that would make you a great (Manager, Sales Representative, Accountant, Analyst, etc)?

�         Describe a situation where your work or an idea was criticized.

�         Have you done the best work you are capable of doing?

�         What problems do you have getting along with others?

�         I'm not sure you're suitable for the job, what do you think?

�         Tell me about something you are not proud of.

�         What are some of the things your supervisor did that you disliked?

�         What aspects of your job do you consider most crucial?

�         What is your energy level like? Describe a typical day.

�         Why do you want to work here?

�         What kind of experience do you have for this job?

�         Are you willing to go where the company sends you?

�         What did you like/dislike about your last job?

�         What is the least relevant job you have held?

�         What would you like to be doing five years from now?

�         What are your biggest accomplishments?

�         How do you organize and plan for major projects?

�         What is your greatest strength?

�         What are your outstanding qualities?

�         What interests you most about this job?

�         What can you do for us that someone else can't do?

�         Describe a difficult problem you have had to deal with.

�         What would your references say about you?

�         Can we check your references?

�         What was the last book you read (or movie you saw)? How did it affect you?

�         How do you handle tension?

�         How long have you been looking for a position?

�         Have you ever been fired?

�         How does this job compare with others you have applied for?

�         How do you take direction?

�         Rate yourself on a scale of one to ten.

�         What kinds of things do you worry about?

�         What is the most difficult situation you have faced?

�         What are some of the things that bother you?

�         What have you done that shows initiative?

�         How interested are you in sports?

�         Do you prefer working with others or alone?

�         Explain your role as a group/team leader.

�         How would you define a conducive work atmosphere?

�         Define cooperation.

�         What difficulties do you have tolerating people with different backgrounds and interests from yours?

�         In hindsight, what have you done that was a little harebrained?

�         What would you do when you have a decision to make and no procedure exists?

�         What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you?

�         Tell me about the problems you have had living within your means.

�         What area of your skills/professional development do you want to improve at this time?

�         Are you willing to take calculated risks when necessary?

�         See this pen I am holding, sell it to me.

�         What is the worst thing you have heard about our company?

�         How do you handle rejection?

�         Tell me about a time when you put your foot in your mouth.

�         What interests you least about this job?

�         What do you feel is a satisfactory attendance record?

�         What are some of the things you find difficult to do? Why do you feel that way?

�         What kind of people do you like to work with?

�         What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with?

�         How have you successfully worked with this difficult type of person?

�         How would you evaluate me as an interviewer?

�         We have tried to hire people from your major before, and they never seem to work out. What makes you different?

�         Do you like routine tasks/regular hours?

�         What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work?

�         What do you think determines progress in a good company?

�         Do you think grades should be considered by first employers?

�         Why do you think you would like this type of work?

�         What would your ideal career position be?

�         Do you consider yourself a leader, and if so, give me some examples of your leadership abilities?

�         Do you consider yourself a better manager or a better implementer?

�         What are your most significant achievements?

�         Have you had any international experience? Do you speak or write in any foreign language?

�         What can you offer us?

�         Have you ever fired employees, and if so, how did you handle terminations?

�         What do you feel is the most difficult responsibility that a manager/executive must perform?

�         What is your definition of success and according to this definition, how successful have you been in your career?

�         What are your long and short range plans?

�         What were your favorite courses in school? Who were your favorite professors and why?

�         Did you prepare your own resume?

�         How long have you been engaged in your job search?

�         Have you had any specific offers?

�         Why haven't you found a position before now?

�         What do you know about this company, and where did you find this information?

�         How do you spend your time when you are not working?

�         If you could begin your career over again, what would you do differently?

�         How much do you think this position is worth?

�         What is the hardest job you have ever performed?

�         Do you object to taking psychological tests?

�         What contributions do you think that you could make to this company?

�         You seem overqualified for this position, what do you think?

Additional Questions You May be Asked

Work History Questions:

�         I noticed that you were working for (your last job was with) ____. Why did you decide to work there?

�         What exactly do (did) you do there?

�         What do (did) you like about that job and company?

�         What do (did) you not like?

�         How do (did) you get along with your supervisor there?

�         How do you think he or she would rate you?

�         Would he or she recommend you for another job?

�         What qualities do you look for in a supervisor?

�         What type of people do you like to work with?

�         Tell me about your successes in that job.

�         Was your work ever criticized? If so, in what way? What did you do to improve?

�         What kind of setting do you like to work in quiet or noisy? Alone or with others?

�         In doing your job, do you think it's more important to finish quickly or do the work exactly right?

Education Questions:

�         I see you went to _________. Why did you pick that school?

�         Would you go there again? If not, why? Where would you go instead?

�         What do you feel were the most significant things you got out of going there?

�         How did you happen to major in _________?

�         Would you choose the same curriculum again? If not, what would you choose instead?

�         In what subjects did you do best?

�         What subjects gave you the most trouble?

�         What was your overall average for class standings?

�         Did you have any part-time jobs while you were going to school?

�         How will your degree help you succeed in our company?

�         Why aren't your grades higher?

Self-Evaluation Questions:

�         How do you feel you can contribute to this company?

�         What do you hope to gain from working here?

�         What do you feel are your outstanding qualities?

�         When you analyze yourself in relation to work and other people, do you find areas that need improvement? If so, how would you go about it?

�         What are your short and long range career objectives?

�         Why do you want to change jobs?

�         What will your last supervisor tell me are your two strongest/weakest areas?

�         Tell me about a time when you had to delay finishing a task because you didn't have enough information to come to a good decision.

�         Describe the best supervisor you've ever had.

�         What do you really want to do in life?

�         Have you ever hired or fired anyone?

�         How would you describe yourself?

�         Would you like to have your boss's job?

�         Describe the kind of people that annoy you most. What type of people do you like working with?

�         What interests you about this position?

�         Give an example of a time when you were able to effectively communicate with another person even though that person may have disliked you?

�         Why do you want to work here?

�         Give an example of a time when you were able to build motivation in your co-workers or those you supervised.

�         Why should I hire you rather than someone else for this position?

�         How do you feel about your career progress to date?

�         Give an example of a problem you had at work and tell me how you solved it.

�         How has your past experience trained you for this career?

�         What did you do on your last job in order to help build teamwork?

�         What did you dislike/like about your last job?

�         What are two things you wish to avoid in your next job?

�         Describe an important goal that you've set in the past, and tell me about your success in reaching it.

�         What kinds of decisions are hard for you?

�         Give an example of a time when you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision.

�         Describe the most significant written report/presentation that you had to complete.

�         Tell me some specific techniques you used on your last job in order to improve your organizational and time management skills.

�         What is the most creative work-related project you've been involved in?

�         How do you work under pressure?

�         Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.

�         What have you learned from your mistakes?

�         Describe a time on any job when you've confronted problems/stresses that tested your coping skills.

�         Give me an example of a specific occasion when you conformed to a policy that you didn't agree with.

�         What motivates you in a job and in personal life?

�         What role do you take in a group situation? Give examples.

�         Give an example of how you performed in a team situation.

�         What are the biggest issues facing our industry and company today?

�         What would you do to improve our company's position?

�         What research have you done on our firm and our industry?

�         Are you results oriented? Give some examples.

�         How have you developed your interpersonal skills? Are they good?

�         Describe your problem solving skills.

�         Give me an example of a complex problem you solved.

�         Give me an example of when you have failed and how you responded.

�         Can you work under pressure? Give an example.

�         What type of salary are you worth and why?

�         What are the five biggest accomplishments of your life?

�         How long would it take you to make a contribution to our company?

�         If you could change something in the course of your life, what would you change?

�         How would you rate yourself as a manager? As a worker?

�         What were the development steps on your last performance appraisal?

�         What new goals have you set for yourself? Why did you choose these?

�         What did you think of your last boss?

�         What did your subordinates think of you?

�         Why haven't you obtained or accepted a job so far?

�         What features of your previous jobs did you like and dislike?

�         Describe your ideal picture of success.

�         What interests you most about our position?

�         What was the last book you read?

�         What did you do on your last vacation?

�         Wouldn't you be better off in a bigger (smaller) organization?

�         Are you a leader? Give examples.

�         Describe your personality.

�         How have you increased profits in your past jobs?

�         What qualities do you look for in hiring people? For this job?

�         Describe the ideal employee.

�         How have you improved yourself recently?

�         What were your responsibilities in your campus activities?

�         Describe your study habits.

�         How do you change your style to work with people at all levels, from Vice Presidents to Secretaries?

�         What other firms are you talking to and why?

�         How would you decide between job offers from us and one of our competitors?

�         What have you learned from your past jobs?

�         What skills do you bring to us and how can you put them to work?

�         Describe the time period and circumstances when you became self-supporting.

�         Describe a goal you have set in the past and how successful have you been in working towards its accomplishment.

�         Describe a time when you were under pressure to fulfill a commitment you made to do something in spite of difficulties.

�         Describe a situation in which one of your decisions was challenged in a group. How did you react?

�         Were you able to achieve the results you wanted?

�         Describe a time when you had to be persuasive in getting your ideas across.

�         Give me a question that you've never heard a recruiter ask you and you want to hear.

�         Describe a situation in which you found yourself to be an analytical and thorough problem solver, and by solving the problem achieved good results.

�         Describe when you used facts/figures to support your story to obtain a significant accomplishment in an important matter.

�         It's hard to get a new idea accepted by others. Describe when you have had to do this.

�         What are some things about yourself that you would like to improve?

�         In order to be effective as a negotiator, it's important to not only be able to analyze your competition, but also be able to compromise. Describe an experience in negotiating that reflects your ability to compromise.

�         Describe steps you have taken to address problem areas in some important matter.

�         What are two or three things you would still like to learn in this field?

�         What skills do you rely on most in your everyday work?

�         What kind of training do you feel you would benefit from?

�         How much supervision do you normally receive? Prefer?

�         What kind of things come most naturally to you? Describe your biggest success.

�         How do you feel about working in an unstructured environment? Why?

�         What do you like most about your present job? What do you like least about it?

�         What kinds of things give you the greatest satisfaction in your work? Least satisfaction?

�         What steps have you taken in the last few years to develop your skills?

�         In your opinion, what makes you different from the other applicants?

�         What have been the most significant accomplishments in your life so far?

�         What sort of decisions are easy for you to make? What sort of decisions are difficult for you to make?

�         If we hire you for this job, what would we need to do to bring you up to speed?

�         What has been your biggest frustration?

�         If I spoke to a friend, what characteristics of yours would he or she like to see you change?

�         To what extent would you say that your last job was a learning experience? Why?

�         What changes have you dealt with in your current position? Describe the risks that you have taken in your last job, and tell me the outcome of these risks.


Attribution — this work is Attributed to CH Gowri Kumar