50 Interview Questions common

1. Tell me about yourself:

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?

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-looking

reasons.

3. What experience do you have in this field?

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?

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 the others.

5. What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specific

statement or a paraphrase will work. Jill Clark, a co-worker at Smith

Company, always said I was the hardest workers she had ever known. It

is as powerful as Jill having said it at the interview herself.

6. What do you know about this organization?

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 in the last year?

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 other jobs?

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 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. Relate it to your long-term

career goals.

10. Do you know anyone who works for us?

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?

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 it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide

range.

12. Are you a team player?

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. Something like this should work: I’d like

it to be a long time. Or As long as we both feel I’m doing a good job.

14. Have you ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about that?

This is serious. Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you

like to fire people. At the same time, you will do it when it is the

right thing to do. When it comes to the organization versus the

individual who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the

organization. Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in

force.

15. What is your philosophy towards work?

The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery dissertation here.

Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes. That’s the

type of answer that works best here. Short and positive, showing a

benefit to the organization.

16. If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?

Answer yes if you would. But since you need to work, this is the type

of work you prefer. Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

17. Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no. If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying

negative things about the people or organization involved.

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. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

19. Why should we hire you?

Point out how your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not

mention any other candidates to make a comparison.

20. Tell me about a suggestion you have made

Have a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted

and was then considered successful. One related to the type of work

applied for is a real plus.

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. A short statement that you seem to get

along with folks is great.

22. What is your greatest strength?

Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples:

Your ability to prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability

to work under pressure, Your ability to focus on projects, Your

professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positive attitude

23. Tell me about your dream job.

Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job you

are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say another

job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with

this position if hired. The best is to stay genetic and say something

like: A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and

can’t wait to get to work.

24. Why do you think you would do well at this job?

Give several reasons and include skills, experience and interest.

25. What are you looking for in a job?

See answer # 23

26. What kind of person would you refuse to work with?

Do not be trivial. It would take disloyalty to the organization,

violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will

label you as a whiner.

27. What is more important to you: the money or the work?

Money is always important, but the work is the most important. There is

no better answer.

28. What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is?

There are numerous good possibilities:

Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team player, Expertise,

Initiative, Patience, Hard work, Creativity, Problem solver

29. Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor

Biggest trap of all. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of

your boss. If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former

boss, you may well below 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 get trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can include:

Not enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction Company did

not win a contract, which would have given you more responsibility.

31. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.

You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an

example that relates to the type of position applied for.

32. Do your skills match this job or another job more closely?

Probably this one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion 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 good examples are:

Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

34. Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

35. How would you know you were successful on this job?

Several ways are good measures:

You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your outcomes are a

success.Your boss tell you that you are successful

36. Would you be willing to relocate if required?

You should be clear on this with your family prior to the interview if

you think there is a chance it may come up. Do not say yes just to get

the job if the real answer is no. This can create a lot of problems

later on in your career. Be honest at this point and save yourself

future grief.

37. Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead ofyour own?

This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. Do not worry about

the deep ethical and philosophical implications. Just say yes.

38. Describe your management style.

Try to avoid labels. Some of the more common labels, like progressive,

salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or descriptions

depending on which management expert you listen to. The situational

style is safe, because it says you will manage according to the

situation, instead of one size fits all.

39. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?

Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make

it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. An

example would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project and

thus throwing coordination off.

40. Do you have any blind spots?

Trick question. If you know about blind spots, they are no longer blind

spots. Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here. Let them do

their own discovery on your bad points. Do not hand it to them.

41. If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for?

Be careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have.

42. Do you think you are overqualified for this position?

Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well

qualified for the position.

43. How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience?

First, if you have experience that the interviewer does not know about,

bring that up: Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard working

quick learner.

44. What qualities do you look for in a boss?

Be generic and positive. Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of

humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of high standards. All

bosses think they have these traits.

45. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute betweenothers.

Pick a specific incident. Concentrate on your problem solving technique

and not the dispute you settled.

46. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?

Be honest. If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out.

47. Describe your work ethic.

Emphasize benefits to the organization. Things like, determination to

get the job done and work hard but enjoy your work are good.

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.

49. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job.

Talk about having fun by accomplishing something for the organization.

50. Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive? and What type of projects will I be able to assist on? are

examples.

Somethings about anwers common

Be enthusiastic and confident when responding to questions. Don't rush your answers, but don't ramble on and on, either.

Try to, um, avoid, like, using unnecessary words, right? And um, repeating yourself or, like, annoying phrases, you know?

A good technique is to write out your answers to the questions you anticipate, then edit them to make them more concise. Then practice your polished answers out loud, over and over. If you can have someone help you do a "mock interview," that would be the best way to do this.

Most questions will relate either to your ability to do the job or to the type of employee you will be. Here's one that is very commonly used to help the interviewer learn about both:

"Tell me a little about yourself."

When responding to this request, you should focus on both your personal and professional values. Always be honest, but talk about your best traits only, especially those that relate to the position for which you are applying. Highlight experiences and accomplishments you are most proud of. Here's an example:

"I'm an experienced communications specialist with extensive knowledge of public information tools and techniques. I've developed comprehensive communication plans for major public events, written dozens of articles accepted by worldwide publications, and created specialized educational programs for adults and students. I am always eager to learn new methods and procedures, and have implemented continuous improvement techniques in my past positions that saved money and increased productivity. I like working with people and enjoy group projects, but am also a self-starter who doesn't mind working on my own. I'm a volunteer with the local chapter of Special Olympics and enjoy participating in community events. My goals are to complete my Master's Degree and broaden my experiences with community relations."

Remember to tailor your response to the specific job. By studying the job announcement, you'll get a good idea of the skills and experience being sought. Work those into your response.

Consider this your own personal commercial. If the interview consisted of only this ONE chance to sell yourself, what would you say?

"What do you feel has been your greatest work-related accomplishment?"

Choose one example from your past that was important to you and helped the company you worked for. Give specific details about what you did, how you did it, and what the results were. Try to pick an accomplishment that relates to the position for which you are applying. Employers like to hear about accomplishments that reduced expenses, raised revenues, solved problems or enhanced a company's reputation.

"What is your greatest strength?"

This is a great chance to highlight your best skills. Don't pick just one, focus on your top three or four. Some examples are: leadership skills, team-building skills, and organizational skills. Determine which strengths would fit best with the position for which you are applying. For example, if the job announcement stresses the ability to handle multiple tasks, you could say: "I'm good at organizational skills, prioritization and time management. But my greatest strength is my ability to effectively handle multiple projects and deadlines."

"What is your greatest weakness?"

Be careful with this one. Most interview guides will tell you to answer it with a positive trait disguised as a weakness. For example, "I tend to expect others to work as hard as I do," or "I'm a bit of a perfectionist." Interviewers have heard these "canned" answers over and over again. To stand out, be more original and state a true weakness, but then emphasize what you've done to overcome it. For example: "I've had trouble delegating duties to others because I felt I could do things better myself. This has sometimes backfired because I'd end up with more than I could handle and the quality of my work would suffer. But I've taken courses in time management and learned effective delegation techniques, and I feel I've overcome this weakness." 

IMPORTANT: Be sure the weakness you talk about is NOT a key element of the position!

"How do you handle stressful situations?"

Give some examples of stressful situations you've dealt with in the past. Tell how you use time management, problem-solving or decision-making skills to reduce stress. For example, tell them that making a "to-do" list helps. Site stress-reducing techniques such as stretching and taking a break. Don't be afaid to admit that you will ask for assistance if you are feeling overwhelmed.

If it's true, say you actually work better under pressure.

"What is the toughest problem you've had to face, and how did you overcome it?"

Try to make this about a problem that faced your company and not just you or your particular work group. The bigger the problem, the better. Give specific examples of the skills and techniques you used to resolve this problem. Emphasize the successful results. Be generous in sharing credit if it was a team effort, but be sure to highlight your specific role.

"Have you ever had to discipline a problem employee? If so, how did you handle it?"

This is a likely question if the position for which you are applying requires supervisory duties. Explain how you used problem-solving skills, listening skills, and coaching skills to help the employee. If those techniques turned the employee around, be sure to say so. If those techniques failed, tell how you followed the company's policies and what the end result was.

"Why do you want this position?"

Here's where your research about the company will help you stand out among the other candidates. Explain how you've always wanted the opportunity to work with a company that... provides a vital public service, leads the industry in innovative products, whatever... find something specific about that company that you can tie in with your answer. Explain how your qualifications and goals complement the company's mission, vision and values (use specific examples). If you are applying for a position in a company for which you already work, explain how you'll be able to apply and expand on the knowledge and experience you've gained from your current position, and will be able to increase your contributions and value to the company through your new responsibilities.

"Why are you the best person for this job?"

As with all other questions, be confident and enthusiastic when you answer this. Don't try to say you are the best qualified person, because you don't know the qualifications of the other applicants. Instead, emphasize several reasons why you should be hired. For example: "I've got extensive experience in [name the appropriate field] and have the specific skills you are looking for. I'm a fast learner who adapts quickly to change and will hit the ground running. I'm dedicated and enthusiastic about helping your company meet its goals, and will provide top-quality results with minimal oversite. I'm an outstanding performer who takes pride in my work. You won't have any regrets when you hire me."

What do you enjoy most about working here?

Be sure the person you ask actually works for the company. Some organizations, especially public agencies, have interview panels in which employees from other agencies participate.

Is there anything I've mentioned that makes you think I'm not the best candidate for this job?

If they do mention something that's bothering them about you, such as lack of specific experience, this gives you a last-ditch effort to change their opinion about you. If you've thought about your possible weaknesses in advance, you should have a prepared answer to those weaknesses. For example, "I know I have limited experience in this field, but what I lack in specific experience I make up for in enthusiasm and desire to excel. I'm a fast learner and I'll work harder than anyone else to be a top producer on your team."

When do you expect to make your final decision?

Be sure to ask that! Failure to do so may give the impression that you're not that interested, and you need to know when to follow up.

Continue to Questions and sugget

Question #1 - Tell me about yourself.

Answer - This is an open-ended opportunity for you to sell yourself. Share the traits that you believe are most expected for someone in the position you are seeking. Do this in the framework of highlighting a few of your accomplishments, educational background and work experience.

Question #2 - Why do you want to work here?

Answer - The key to answering this question is in having researched the company prior to the job interview. Point to some of the most favorable aspects of the company's profile and then to your desire to work for a company with such a renowned product, great work atmosphere, or whatever you believe best fits your interests.

Question #3 - What did like and/or dislike about your past job?

Answer - First and foremost, do not be critical of your past job, supervisor or employer. The hiring manager is interested in finding out if you will be a good fit for their organization and anything you say could tip him/her off that you could be a poor fit. Focus on what you wanted to do in your past job to help the company but were unable to do so (but not through any fault of the employer). For instance, you may have wanted to take a product global, but the barriers for importing to some of the best countries was simply beyond the company's financial reach at that time.

Question #4 - What interests you most about the position we have open?

Answer - This is a great chance to match your qualifications to those of the job for which you are interviewing. If you don't have a firm grasp on the responsibilities of the position, ask the interviewer to provide more details. Then you can address them specifically. Identify your particular skills and experience in terms of how they will contribute to the results expected for the position.

Question #5 - What is your greatest strength?

Answer - All employers are looking for the same basic things in an employee: problem-solving skills, taking initiative, having the right skills, and being reliable. Oh, there are others, too, but these are the basic ones. If you can answer this question in a way that addresses any or all of these traits, then you will be ahead of most other candidates for this position.

Question #6 - Why should I hire you?

Answer - This answer give you an opportunity to do two things: sell yourself via your qualifications and your personal traits. Matching your skills to the job is again a key here. Don't repeat yourself, but rather focus on things you haven't already mentioned. The personal traits that you should identify are those which lead to success, such as: determination, desire to succeed, team player and interest in accepting challenges.

Question #7 - What is your biggest accomplishment to date?

Answer - Keep it short and don't exaggerate. Tell a story to illustrate your best traits, such as: willingness to get the job done no matter how long it takes, desire to work hard, attention to detail or solve a big problem. In the world of interview questions and answers, this is one where you have the most latitude to be boastful.

Question #8 - How was your work rated at your last job?

Answer - If you have a written evaluation (and it is positive), produce it. If you don't have anything in writing, share a story that relates how your boss commended your work. Try to relate that story to something relevant at the new company where you hope to be working. Again, matching what you have done to what you will be done is key.

Question #9 - What do you think of your last boss (current boss)?

Answer - Never, ever say anything negative about your current and/or former boss. Respond to this interview question with an answer that commends an aspect of your former boss's skills.

Question #10 - Can you work under pressure?

Answer - The easiest thing to do would be to answer this question with a simple "yes". You can accomplish a lot more by telling the interviewer how well you handle pressure. Use a story to illustrate if it fits the situation. Otherwise, just explain how you plan your work to avoid high-stress situations, but that you understand they sometimes happen. When they do, you prioritize your work and accept the challenge.

Interview questions and answers will differ based on each set of circumstances. Those shown above are great guidelines to help you prepare for your next job interview. Give yourself the best chance of succeeding by rehearsing your answers (not memorizing them). You'll come across as polished and sincere – and you'll be leaps and bounds ahead of your competition.

How to answer the “ How do you handle Stressful situation”?

When answering the "How do you handle stressful situations?" question during an interview, the best strategy is to give some examples of stressful situations you've dealt successfully with in the past.

Everyone faces some form of stress on the job now and then. They probably won't believe you if you say, "I've never been in a stressful situation."

So take some time before the interview to think back over your career and come up with some stressful situations you can talk about. Make sure they are situations that had a happy ending, thanks to specific actions you took to resolve the situation.

(If this is for your first job, think of a stressful situation during school or other aspects of your life where you were able to reach a satisfactory conclusion due to positive action you took.)

Tell how you used time management, problem-solving techniques or decision-making skills to reduce stress and take action. Mention stress-reducing activities such as exercise, stretching and taking breaks to handle the tension during the situation.

Don't be afraid to admit that you would ask for assistance if you began to feel overwhelmed.

If it's true, say you actually work better under pressure.

Some jobs are much more stressful than others. If you are asked a question about handling stressful situations in an interview, understand that this question is often given as a hint of what you are likely going to encounter in your work environment. In other words, they would not be asking you if you could handle stress if it wasn't an issue.

So give serious thought about how much stress you can handle - and how much you want to have to handle it because it clearly will be an issue if you accept an offer with this company.

If you absolutely do not want a stressful job, have an answer ready that makes this clear - or be willing to say "no" to a job offer if you get one. Depending upon the answer you give to an employer during the interview, it may eliminate you from the running, but you probably wouldn't want the position anyway if it's going to stress you out.

Sample Answer:

"I'm not easily stressed. One of my previous bosses even referred to me as "unflappable." I know the importance of being flexible and am good at adapting to changing situations and shifting priorities. But if I do start to feel stressed, I'll take a break to stretch or get a little exercise and clear my head. If the stress is affecting my work, and due to something beyond my control, I'll discuss it with my boss. I remember one situation when I was working at ABC Company where an important client demanded that we finish his project two weeks ahead! of schedule. At first that seemed like an impossible task. But instead of letting the stress overwhelm me, I took action. I looked at our other projects and found a way to shift some schedules around. It wasn't easy, but we did manage to meet the customer's demand, and he was very happy with the result.

Know the answer you want to give to a prospective employer before you get asked this question so that you are prepared with the answer you really want to give them.

Why did you leave?

First and most important, never lie. If you were fired, don't say you quit. It's very easy for companies to do background checks that will reveal this lie; it will probably come back to haunt you. Besides, you don't want to start off your relationship with your next employer with a lie, do you? Admitting to being fired is not such a big deal these days.

Take a look at this video and learn some suggestions for answering this challenging question.

KISS. No, I'm not referring to the ancient rock band or kissing up to the interviewer. Keep It Short and Simple. Tell what happened--you were terminated, you quit, your job was eliminated--whatever. Do not go into detail unless asked.

Don't say anything negative. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your departure, don't say anything negative about your former boss, coworkers or company. Any negativity, frustration or anger you express will only reflect negatively on you. Stay positive!

Tell what you learned. If they want more details about why you left, tell them what happened and what you learned from the experience. This will give you the opportunity to say how you turned a negative into a positive, and how you will handle similar situations differently in the future. For example, if you were fired for violating a company policy, you could say something like, "I was terminated for violating a company policy that I feel wasn't communicated to me clearly. I should have taken the responsibility to read all of the company policies and ask questions about those I didn't fully understand. That will be the first thing I do in my next job." Employers love to hear stories about how employees take responsibility for their actions and learn from their mistakes.

Practice your answer. You should do this with every anticipated interview question. Develop your answer and practice, practice, practice!

Offer proof of your abilities. Confidently tell them that you can provide references or letters of recommendation to verify that your job performance is normally above par, that you usually get along great with your supervisors, etc. Make sure they understand that what happened to cause you to leave your last job was the exception, not the rule.