50 COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Review these typical inte view !"esti#ns an$ thin% a&#"t h#w y#" w#"l$ answe the'( Rea$ the !"esti#ns liste$) y#" will als# *in$ s#'e st ate+y s"++esti#ns with it( ,( Tell 'e a&#"t y#" sel*The '#st #*ten as%e$ !"esti#n in inte views( .#" nee$ t# have a sh# t state'ent p epa e$ in y#" 'in$( /e ca e*"l that it $#es n#t s#"n$ ehea se$( 0i'it it t# w# %1 elate$ ite's "nless inst "cte$ #the wise( Tal% a&#"t thin+s y#" have $#ne an$ 2#&s y#" have hel$ that elate t# the p#siti#n y#" a e inte viewin+ *# ( Sta t with the ite' *a thest &ac% an$ w# % "p t# the p esent( 3( Why $i$ y#" leave y#" last 2#&4 Stay p#sitive e+a $less #* the ci c"'stances( Neve e*e t# a 'a2# p #&le' with 'ana+e'ent an$ neve spea% ill #* s"pe vis# s5 c#1w# %e s # the # +ani6ati#n( I* y#" $#5 y#" will &e the #ne l##%in+ &a$( 7eep s'ilin+ an$ tal% a&#"t leavin+ *# a p#sitive eas#n s"ch as an #pp# t"nity5 a chance t# $# s#'ethin+ special # #the *# wa $1l##%in+ eas#ns( 8( What e9pe ience $# y#" have in this *iel$4 Spea% a&#"t speci*ics that elate t# the p#siti#n y#" a e applyin+ *# ( I* y#" $# n#t have speci*ic e9pe ience5 +et as cl#se as y#" can( :( D# y#" c#nsi$e y#" sel* s"ccess*"l4 .#" sh#"l$ always answe yes an$ & ie*ly e9plain why( A +##$ e9planati#n is that y#" have set +#als5 an$ y#" have 'et s#'e an$ a e #n t ac% t# achieve the #the s( 5( What $# c#1w# %e s say a&#"t y#"4 /e p epa e$ with a !"#te # tw# * #' c#1w# %e s( Eithe a speci*ic state'ent # a pa aph ase will w# %( ;ill Cla %5 a c#1w# %e at S'ith C#'pany5 always sai$ I was the ha $est w# %e s she ha$ eve %n#wn( It is as p#we *"l as ;ill havin+ sai$ it at the inte view he sel*( <( What $# y#" %n#w a&#"t this # +ani6ati#n4 This !"esti#n is #ne eas#n t# $# s#'e esea ch #n the # +ani6ati#n &e*# e the inte view( =in$ #"t whe e they have &een an$ whe e they a e +#in+( What a e the c" ent iss"es an$ wh# a e the 'a2# playe s4 >( What have y#" $#ne t# i'p #ve y#" %n#wle$+e in the last yea 4 T y t# incl"$e i'p #ve'ent activities that elate t# the 2#&( A wi$e va iety #* activities can &e 'enti#ne$ as p#sitive sel*1i'p #ve'ent( ?ave s#'e +##$ #nes han$y t# 'enti#n( @( A e y#" applyin+ *# #the 2#&s4 /e h#nest &"t $# n#t spen$ a l#t #* ti'e in this a ea( 7eep the *#c"s #n this 2#& an$ what y#" can $# *# this # +ani6ati#n( Anythin+ else is a $ist acti#n( A( Why $# y#" want t# w# % *# this # +ani6ati#n4 This 'ay ta%e s#'e th#"+ht an$ ce tainly5 sh#"l$ &e &ase$ #n the esea ch y#" have $#ne #n the # +ani6ati#n( Since ity is e9t e'ely i'p# tant he e an$ will easily &e sense$( Relate it t# y#" l#n+1te ' ca ee +#als(

,0( D# y#" %n#w any#ne wh# w# %s *# "s4 /e awa e #* the p#licy #n elatives w# %in+ *# the # +ani6ati#n( This can a**ect y#" answe even th#"+h they as%e$ a&#"t * ien$s n#t elatives( /e ca e*"l t# 'enti#n a * ien$ #nly i* they a e well th#"+ht #*(

,,( What %in$ #* sala y $# y#" nee$4 A l#a$e$ !"esti#n( A nasty little +a'e that y#" will p #&a&ly l#se i* y#" answe *i st( S#5 $# n#t answe it( Instea$5 say s#'ethin+ li%e5 ThatBs a t#"+h !"esti#n( Can y#" tell 'e the an+e *# this p#siti#n4 In '#st cases5 the inte viewe 5 ta%en #** +"a $5 will tell y#"( I* n#t5 say that it can $epen$ #n the $etails #* the 2#&( Then +ive a wi$e an+e( ,3( A e y#" a tea' playe 4 .#" a e5 #* c#" se5 a tea' playe ( /e s" e t# have e9a'ples ea$y( Speci*ics that sh#w y#" #*ten pe *# ' *# the +##$ #* the tea' athe than *# y#" sel* a e +##$ evi$ence #* y#" tea' attit"$e( D# n#t & a+5 2"st say it in a 'atte 1#*1*act t#ne( This is a %ey p#int( ,8( ?#w l#n+ w#"l$ y#" e9pect t# w# % *# "s i* hi e$4 Speci*ics he e a e n#t +##$( S#'ethin+ li%e this sh#"l$ w# %- IB$ li%e it t# &e a l#n+ ti'e( O As l#n+ as we &#th *eel IB' $#in+ a +##$ 2#&( ,:( ?ave y#" eve ha$ t# *i e any#ne4 ?#w $i$ y#" *eel a&#"t that4 This is se i#"s( D# n#t 'a%e li+ht #* it # in any way see' li%e y#" li%e t# *i e pe#ple( At the sa'e ti'e5 y#" will $# it when it is the i+ht thin+ t# $#( When it c#'es t# the # +ani6ati#n ve s"s the in$ivi$"al wh# has c eate$ a ha '*"l sit"ati#n5 y#" will p #tect the # +ani6ati#n( Re'e'&e *i in+ is n#t the sa'e as lay#** # e$"cti#n in *# ce( ,5( What is y#" phil#s#phy t#wa $s w# %4 The inte viewe is n#t l##%in+ *# a l#n+ # *l#we y $isse tati#n he e( D# y#" have st #n+ *eelin+s that the 2#& +ets $#ne4 .es( ThatBs the type #* answe that w# %s &est he e( Sh# t an$ p#sitive5 sh#win+ a &ene*it t# the # +ani6ati#n( ,<( I* y#" ha$ en#"+h '#ney t# eti e i+ht n#w5 w#"l$ y#"4 Answe yes i* y#" w#"l$( /"t since y#" nee$ t# w# %5 this is the type #* w# % y#" p e*e ( D# n#t say yes i* y#" $# n#t 'ean it( ,>( ?ave y#" eve &een as%e$ t# leave a p#siti#n4 I* y#" have n#t5 say n#( I* y#" have5 &e h#nest5 & ie* an$ av#i$ sayin+ ne+ative thin+s a&#"t the pe#ple # # +ani6ati#n inv#lve$( ,@( E9plain h#w y#" w#"l$ &e an asset t# this # +ani6ati#n .#" sh#"l$ &e an9i#"s *# this !"esti#n( It +ives y#" a chance t# hi+hli+ht y#" &est p#ints as they elate t# the p#siti#n &ein+ $isc"sse$( Cive a little a$vance th#"+ht t# this elati#nship( ,A( Why sh#"l$ we hi e y#"4 D#int #"t h#w y#" assets 'eet what the # +ani6ati#n nee$s( D# n#t 'enti#n any #the can$i$ates t# 'a%e a c#'pa is#n(

30( Tell 'e a&#"t a s"++esti#n y#" have 'a$e ?ave a +##$ #ne ea$y( /e s" e an$ "se a s"++esti#n that was accepte$ an$ was then c#nsi$e e$ s"ccess*"l( One elate$ t# the type #* w# % applie$ *# is a eal pl"s( 3,( What i itates y#" a&#"t c#1w# %e s4 This is a t ap !"esti#n( Thin% eal ha $ &"t *ail t# c#'e "p with anythin+ that i itates y#"( A sh# t state'ent that y#" see' t# +et al#n+ with *#l%s is + eat( 33( What is y#" + eatest st en+th4 N"'e #"s answe s a e +##$5 2"st stay p#sitive( A *ew +##$ e9a'ples.#" a&ility t# p i# iti6e5 .#" p #&le'1s#lvin+ s%ills5 .#" a&ility t# w# % "n$e p ess" e5 .#" a&ility t# *#c"s #n p #2ects5 .#" p #*essi#nal e9pe tise5 .#" lea$e ship s%ills5 .#" p#sitive attit"$e

38( Tell 'e a&#"t y#" $ ea' 2#&( Stay away * #' a speci*ic 2#&( .#" cann#t win( I* y#" say the 2#& y#" a e c#nten$in+ *# is it5 y#" st ain c e$i&ility( I* y#" say an#the 2#& is it5 y#" plant the s"spici#n that y#" will &e $issatis*ie$ with this p#siti#n i* hi e$( The &est is t# stay +enetic an$ say s#'ethin+ li%e- A 2#& whe e I l#ve the w# %5 li%e the pe#ple5 can c#nt i&"te an$ canBt wait t# +et t# w# %( 3:( Why $# y#" thin% y#" w#"l$ $# well at this 2#&4 Cive seve al eas#ns an$ incl"$e s%ills5 e9pe ience an$ inte est( 35( What a e y#" l##%in+ *# in a 2#&4 See answe E 38 3<( What %in$ #* pe s#n w#"l$ y#" e*"se t# w# % with4 D# n#t &e t ivial( It w#"l$ ta%e $isl#yalty t# the # +ani6ati#n5 vi#lence # law& ea%in+ t# +et y#" t# #&2ect( Min# #&2ecti#ns will la&el y#" as a whine ( 3>( What is '# e i'p# tant t# y#"- the '#ney # the w# %4 M#ney is always i'p# tant5 &"t the w# % is the '#st i'p# tant( The e is n# &ette answe ( 3@( What w#"l$ y#" p evi#"s s"pe vis# say y#" st #n+est p#int is4 The e a e n"'e #"s +##$ p#ssi&ilities0#yalty5 Ene +y5 D#sitive attit"$e5 0ea$e ship5 Tea' playe 5 E9pe tise5 Initiative5 Datience5 ?a $ w# %5 C eativity5 D #&le' s#lve 3A( Tell 'e a&#"t a p #&le' y#" ha$ with a s"pe vis# /i++est t ap #* all( This is a test t# see i* y#" will spea% ill #* y#" &#ss( I* y#" *all *# it an$ tell a&#"t a p #&le' with a *# 'e &#ss5 y#" 'ay well &el#w the inte view i+ht the e( Stay p#sitive an$ $evel#p a p## 'e'# y a&#"t any t #"&le with a s"pe vis# ( 80( What has $isapp#inte$ y#" a&#"t a 2#&4 D#nBt +et t ivial # ne+ative( Sa*e a eas a e *ew &"t can incl"$eN#t en#"+h #* a challen+e( .#" we e lai$ #** in a e$"cti#n C#'pany $i$ n#t win a c#nt act5 which w#"l$ have +iven y#" '# e esp#nsi&ility( 8,( Tell 'e a&#"t y#" a&ility t# w# % "n$e p ess" e(

.#" 'ay say that y#" th ive "n$e ce tain types #* p ess" e( Cive an e9a'ple that elates t# the type #* p#siti#n applie$ *# ( 83( D# y#" s%ills 'atch this 2#& # an#the 2#& '# e cl#sely4 D #&a&ly this #ne( D# n#t +ive *"el t# the s"spici#n that y#" 'ay want an#the 2#& '# e than this #ne( 88( What '#tivates y#" t# $# y#" &est #n the 2#&4 This is a pe s#nal t ait that #nly y#" can say5 &"t +##$ e9a'ples a eChallen+e5 Achieve'ent5 Rec#+niti#n 8:( A e y#" willin+ t# w# % #ve ti'e4 Ni+hts4 Wee%en$s4 This is "p t# y#"( /e t#tally h#nest( 85( ?#w w#"l$ y#" %n#w y#" we e s"ccess*"l #n this 2#&4 Seve al ways a e +##$ 'eas" es.#" set hi+h stan$a $s *# y#" sel* an$ 'eet the'( .#" #"tc#'es a e a s"ccess(.#" &#ss tell y#" that y#" a e s"ccess*"l 8<( W#"l$ y#" &e willin+ t# el#cate i* e!"i e$4 .#" sh#"l$ &e clea #n this with y#" *a'ily p i# t# the inte view i* y#" thin% the e is a chance it 'ay c#'e "p( D# n#t say yes 2"st t# +et the 2#& i* the eal answe is n#( This can c eate a l#t #* p #&le's late #n in y#" ca ee ( /e h#nest at this p#int an$ save y#" sel* *"t" e + ie*( 8>( A e y#" willin+ t# p"t the inte ests #* the # +ani6ati#n ahea$ #*y#" #wn4 This is a st ai+ht l#yalty an$ $e$icati#n !"esti#n( D# n#t w# y a&#"t the $eep ethical an$ phil#s#phical i'plicati#ns( ;"st say yes( 8@( Desc i&e y#" 'ana+e'ent style( T y t# av#i$ la&els( S#'e #* the '# e c#''#n la&els5 li%e p #+ essive5 sales'an # c#nsens"s5 can have seve al 'eanin+s # $esc ipti#ns $epen$in+ #n which 'ana+e'ent e9pe t y#" listen t#( The sit"ati#nal style is sa*e5 &eca"se it says y#" will 'ana+e acc# $in+ t# the sit"ati#n5 instea$ #* #ne si6e *its all( 8A( What have y#" lea ne$ * #' 'ista%es #n the 2#&4 ?e e y#" have t# c#'e "p with s#'ethin+ # y#" st ain c e$i&ility( Ma%e it s'all5 well intenti#ne$ 'ista%e with a p#sitive less#n lea ne$( An e9a'ple w#"l$ &e w# %in+ t## *a ahea$ #* c#llea+"es #n a p #2ect an$ th"s th #win+ c## $inati#n #**( :0( D# y#" have any &lin$ sp#ts4 T ic% !"esti#n( I* y#" %n#w a&#"t &lin$ sp#ts5 they a e n# l#n+e &lin$ sp#ts( D# n#t eveal any pe s#nal a eas #* c#nce n he e( 0et the' $# thei #wn $isc#ve y #n y#" &a$ p#ints( D# n#t han$ it t# the'( :,( I* y#" we e hi in+ a pe s#n *# this 2#&5 what w#"l$ y#" l##% *# 4 /e ca e*"l t# 'enti#n t aits that a e nee$e$ an$ that y#" have( :3( D# y#" thin% y#" a e #ve !"ali*ie$ *# this p#siti#n4 Re+a $less #* y#" !"ali*icati#ns5 state that y#" a e ve y well !"ali*ie$ *# the p#siti#n( :8( ?#w $# y#" p #p#se t# c#'pensate *# y#" lac% #* e9pe ience4 =i st5 i* y#" have e9pe ience that the inte viewe $#es n#t %n#w a&#"t5 & in+ that "p- Then5 p#int #"t Fi* t "eG that y#" a e a ha $ w# %in+

!"ic% lea ne ( ::( What !"alities $# y#" l##% *# in a &#ss4 /e +ene ic an$ p#sitive( Sa*e !"alities a e %n#wle$+ea&le5 a sense #* h"'# 5 *ai 5 l#yal t# s"&# $inates an$ h#l$e #* hi+h stan$a $s( All &#sses thin% they have these t aits( :5( Tell 'e a&#"t a ti'e when y#" helpe$ es#lve a $isp"te &etween#the s( Dic% a speci*ic inci$ent( C#ncent ate #n y#" p #&le' s#lvin+ techni!"e an$ n#t the $isp"te y#" settle$( :<( What p#siti#n $# y#" p e*e #n a tea' w# %in+ #n a p #2ect4 /e h#nest( I* y#" a e c#'*# ta&le in $i**e ent #les5 p#int that #"t( :>( Desc i&e y#" w# % ethic( E'phasi6e &ene*its t# the # +ani6ati#n( Thin+s li%e5 $ete 'inati#n t# +et the 2#& $#ne an$ w# % ha $ &"t en2#y y#" w# % a e +##$( :@( What has &een y#" &i++est p #*essi#nal $isapp#int'ent4 /e s" e that y#" e*e t# s#'ethin+ that was &ey#n$ y#" c#nt #l( Sh#w acceptance an$ n# ne+ative *eelin+s( :A( Tell 'e a&#"t the '#st *"n y#" have ha$ #n the 2#&( Tal% a&#"t havin+ *"n &y acc#'plishin+ s#'ethin+ *# the # +ani6ati#n( 50( D# y#" have any !"esti#ns *# 'e4 Always have s#'e !"esti#ns p epa e$( Q"esti#ns p epa e$ whe e y#" will &e an asset t# the # +ani6ati#n a e +##$( ?#w s##n will I &e a&le t# &e p #$"ctive4 an$ What type #* p #2ects will I &e a&le t# assist #n4 a e e9a'ples(