Common Interview Questions

PREPARING FOR AN INTERVIEW
T-20 OF INTERVIEW

1. What are your strong points for this job? What are the areas that need improvement?
2. How did your supervisor on your most recent job evaluate your job performance (If you’ve got work experience)? What were some of the good points & bad points of that rating?
3. Do you prefer working alone or in groups? What kind of people do you find it most difficult to work with? Why?
4. Can you give me an example of your ability to manage or supervise others? In your previous job what kind of pressures did you encounter? What were some of the things about your last job that you found most difficult to do?
5. What special aspects of your education or training have prepared you for this job? What courses in MBA have been of most help in doing your job?
6. What is your long-term employment or career objective? What kind of job do you see yourself holding five years from now?
7. What do you feel you need to develop in terms of skill & knowledge in order to be ready for that opportunity?
8. Why might you be successful in such a job? How does this job fit in with your overall career goals? Who or what in your life would you say influenced you most with your career objectives?
9. What kind of things do you feel most confident in doing? How would you describe yourself as a person? Do you consider yourself a self-starter? If so, explain why (and give examples)
10. Can you describe for me a difficult obstacle you have had to overcome? How did you handle it? How do you feel this experience affected your personality or ability? What do you think are the most important characteristics & abilities a person must possess to become a successful? How do you rate yourself in these areas?
11. In your work experience, what have you done that you consider truly creative? Of your creative accomplishments big or small, at work or home, what gave you the most satisfaction?
12. Do you consider yourself to be thoughtful, analytical or do you usually make up your mind fast? What was your most difficult decision in the last six months? What made it difficult?
13. Tell me specifically what you do in the civic or extra curricular activities in which you participate. (Leading questions in selected areas. i.e. sports, economics, current events, finance.)
14. What are your standards of success in your job? In your position, how would you define doing a good job? On what basis was your definition determined?
15. How would you describe your basic leadership style? Give specific examples of how you practice this?
16. Have you ever done any public or group speaking? Recently? Why? How did it go?
17. What kind of writing have you done? For a group? For an individual? What is the extent of your participation in major reports that have to be written?
18. What has been the highest pressure situation you have been under in recent years? How did you cope with it?
19. Describe your most significant success & failure in the last two years. What do you like to do best? What do you like to do least?
20. How much of your education did you earn? How this has helped you?

- Dress Appropriately If you can’t be bothered to look good and dress right for your interview why should the employer take the time to hire you. What you wear will depend on what industry and what type of job you are applying for. Dress appropriately for the interview. In other words if you are applying for a construction job don’t show up in your three piece suit, but if you are applying for a manager’s job don’t show up in your jeans.
- Be Polite Greet everyone you meet during the interview politely. At the moment these people hold your future in their hands.
- Show up early. Always arrive at least ½ hour early. This gives you time to complete any paper work required before the interview. It also shows you are punctual.
- Leave cell phones behind. Do not bring your pager or cell phone to an interview. If you have it with you be sure to shut it off. There is nothing more annoying to an interviewer than being interrupted.
- Enthusiasm wins. Be enthusiastic. Let your potential employer know how excited you are to get the position.
- Today’s job market is very competitive and the better prepared you are the better your chances are. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be in good shape for your interview.