Job Interview Questions and Answers

Category: Questions

  • How did you communicate bad news to your staff?

    This is another question that you will likely be asked if you are being considered for a management or supervisory position, so you should take the time to prepare your answer in advance. Due to the fact that this question relates to your experience in terms of management, it is a fairly simple question. Your goal in answering this question should be to demonstrate that you are able to communicate information to your staff in an effective manner, even if that information is not likely to be received well.

    Also, keep in mind that the way you choose to communicate information could very well be based on that particular situation. For example, the way that you respond in this situation might depend upon whether you are sharing the information with a group or with an individual. It is critical that you include in your answer your ability to recognize the perspectives of the staff when relaying information, particularly if the information to be shared is bad news.

    In the event that you have not had the experience of communicating bad news to your staff in the past, you will need to be somewhat more creative in framing your answer to this question. Keep in mind the principles that were described above and consider how you would approach this situation based on those principles. If you have not had any actual experience in this regard you should not simply indicate that and leave your answer without going on to describe how you plan to handle the situation if it should arise in the future. Elaborating on the topic even if you do not have any actual prior experience is a good way to show that you have given the matter careful consideration and also that you are a forward thinker. It can also be good preparation for the future to consider how you would respond in this type of situation. If you are involved in management there is likely to come a time at some point where you very well may need to relate bad news so giving thought to how you will handle that type of situation now will ensure you are well prepared.

  • Have you ever hired anyone? Why did you choose them?

    This is a two part question. The first part of the question is fairly simple and straight forward. If you have ever been responsible for hiring someone you would simply provide a yes or no answer to the question. The second part of the question would only apply if you have actually ever been responsible for hiring someone. If that is the case then you would then go into details regarding the process that you used for choosing the right candidate for the job.

    Keep in mind that you will likely only be asked this question if you are being considered for a position in which you will be responsible for hiring someone. Everyone must start somewhere so if you find yourself in a position where you are being considered for a position that would involve hiring others but you have not had any prior experience in this regard you will need to handle the question in a different manner so that you are able to demonstrate that even though you are not experienced in this area you are knowledgeable enough to effectively handle it.

    You should never answer a question in an interview dishonestly. In regard to this interview question, you should not respond that you have had experience in hiring someone if that is not the case. You can easily set yourself up for disaster by answering in a dishonest way because this type of thing can be uncovered easily in a reference check. Instead, provide a truthful answer but continue your answer to indicate the type of skills and qualifications that you would look for in someone if you were to be responsible for hiring. Consider the types of skills that would be considered critical in a good applicant such as an aptitude for the job, skills, initiative, flexibility and commitment. There is no reason that a lack of experience in a particular area should hold you back from being considered for a position if you are able to demonstrate that you have the necessary skills and knowledge necessary in order to effectively handle a job requirement, such as hiring.

    This is a question that you should absolutely take the time to practice when preparing for an interview, especially if you think that you may interview for a position in which you will be responsible for hiring.

  • How do you motivate people?

    The how do you motivate people interview question is more likely if you are being interviewed for a leadership position or a management position. If you are interviewing for such a position you should be prepared to answer this type of question. When preparing for this type of question you should give some thought to the strategies that would be most effective in motivating staff members. This usually means making sure that you understand the perspectives and needs of staff, which can often be quite different. It is essential when you answer this question that you demonstrate your ability to understand the needs of your staff while also maintaining the ability to communicate visions and goals. You should also be able to gain a commitment from staff toward meeting those goals. Many managers find that establishing rewards and incentives that are appropriate in nature is a good way to support and lead staff toward the desired outcomes.

    The interviewer is likely looking for specific skills when asking this question. Those skills may include teamwork, excellent communication, the ability to set a good example for others, praising performance when appropriate and the ability to recognize what each person can bring to the team.

    Your answer to this question should fully demonstrate that you possess the skills that are necessary in order to succeed in this type of environment and to successfully motivate members of your staff.

    If you have never worked in an environment in which you held a leadership or management position, you may feel as though you would have difficulty in answering this question but this is not the case. While you may not have any specific experience regarding motivating others in the workplace, you can certainly discuss how you would go about motivating staff based on your knowledge of the best way to provide incentives and encouragement to help teams accomplish goals and meet objectives. Knowledge of effective motivation techniques can be more important than actual experience in this type of situation, although it can certainly be beneficial to have a combination of both.

    If you are planning to interview for a position that involves management or leadership this is certainly a question that you should be well prepared for. Take the time in advance to formulate how you would respond to this question so that you will not be caught unaware if it is posed to you.

  • Is there anything that will prevent you from working the job’s regular hours?

    This is a question that is similar to questioning whether you will have any difficulties in getting to work and arriving to work on time. The interviewer may very well ask you this question if they are considering hiring you for the job, so you should expect to receive this question and be prepared to answer it in an effective manner. Keep in mind when answering this question that you should take care regarding any questions that ask about the number of hours per week that you will be able to work so that you do not accidentally make a misstep.

    The reason for this is that you do not want to be viewed as someone who is a ‘slacker’ but at the same time you also do not want to be thought of as someone who is a workaholic either. Remember that normal working hours can be different in different companies. What is a standard work week in one company might consist of 40 hours while in another it could be comprised of 60 hours per week or even more. Unless you are very familiar with that company and what they consider to be a standard work week, you could easily find yourself in dangerous territory if you answer this question too specifically.

    Some people automatically associate working a lot of hours with being ambitious and productive, but you should also realize that there can be a negative connotation to working a lot of hours as well. The interviewer could see this as an indication that you are not productive enough in order to get the work done within what is considered to be a reasonable amount of time and as a result may be hesitant about hiring you for that particular job.

    This is precisely why you should make sure you stick with a safe answer when responding to this type of question unless you are very certain about the expectations of the company and the culture of that company. Instead, you should focus your answer on indicating that you are willing and able to work as much as is needed in order to get the job accomplished. This type of answer will ensure that you do not drift into dangerous ground. This answer will also ensure that you demonstrate to the interviewer your dedication and commitment to getting the job done.

  • Is there anything that will prevent you from getting to work on time?

    This question should be expected as it can be fairly common in an interview, especially if the interviewer is strongly considering you for the position that you are interviewing for. There should not be any problem in answering this question unless you think that you might have a problem getting to work on time. Even if that is the case, you should not be concerned about answering that question as long as you are prepared. Anytime that you are applying for a job you should give thought in advance to how you will get to and from work so that you can arrive on time. If you have done this you should have a well prepared plan so that you will be able to honestly answer this question and indicate that there will be no problems that would make it difficult for you to arrive at work on time.

    You should not answer this question by going into great details about car problems you have had, the unreliability of the public transportation system or the fact that your alarm clock sometimes does not work. This is not what the interviewer wants to hear. They are looking for reassurance that you will be a reliable employee who will arrive at work well in advance of the time you are to begin your duties.

    If you have not already given some thought to how you will get to work and ensure that you get there on time, now is certainly the time to begin mapping out a plan. This is not only for the benefit of the employer but also for your own benefit as well. If you have not given thought to how you will arrive at work on time then it is likely that you will experience problems at some point that could make it difficult for you to get to work on time.

    In the event that you experienced problems in the past with arriving at work on time you should be prepared to explain how you have rectified this situation because it very well could come out when the employer performs a reference check. You do not want to provide conflicting information and leave it unexplained, risking the possible chance of losing the job because it appears that you have been less than truthful in your responses.

  • How did you find out about this job?

    This question is one which is commonly used to break the ice, so to speak, when the interview first begins so you should expect to answer this question when interviewing and be prepared to answer it. There can be many reasons why this question would be posed by the interviewer. One reason the interviewer may ask this question could very well be to simply get the interview started, but more likely it is that the interviewer genuinely wants to find out more information regarding how you learned about the position. This can be important for many different reasons. The interviewer may want to find out whether certain recruiting tactics are working. For example, if the HR department has been running ads in certain areas in order to bring in fresh recruits to the company, they may ask you this question to find out whether those tactics are working.

    Also, the interviewer may also want to find out whether you have been recommended to the position by someone they may know. For example, if you were advised to apply for the position by someone who works for the company then this is something that the interviewer would be interested in knowing so you should not hesitate in providing that information when asked.

    When you answer this question, you should make sure that you answer completely honestly. If you were not recommended by someone you should certainly not say that you were because this is something that could be found out too easily. If you found out about the job by reading the job positing in the classifieds section of the newspaper or you found it on the Internet then you should simply state that.

    It is always a good idea to conclude your answer to this question by focusing on why you were attracted to the job opening, which would hopefully be because you recognized a match between the skills and experience that are required for the job and your own qualifications. Whenever possible you should always make a strong attempt to bring the topic back to how your qualifications relate to those skills that are required for the open position. This will help to ensure that your qualifications are kept at the forefront of the interviewer’s mind and may also give you an advantage over other applicants who may also be interviewing for the position.

  • What qualities do you think are necessary to make a success of this job?

    When answering this question it is important to keep in mind that you have reached the interview level based on your resume or your job application. Not everyone who applies for a job actually reaches this point, so obviously you already have some of the qualifications or skills and experience that the employer is looking for in a successful candidate. The way to answer this question in an effective manner is to proceed by expanding upon your qualifications. You should focus on listing the skills and experience that you believe will be required for the job. Also, should go into a little bit more detail by elaborating why you believe each skill would be needed in that job. Remember that you do not have to go into excessive detail, your answer should not be too lengthy, but you do need to make sure that you are able to demonstrate your understanding of the skills that are required and how you would be able to meet those requirements.

    This is precisely why it is so important to make sure that you have reviewed the job description in advance of the interview. Ideally, you should have reviewed the job description or posting prior to the interview when you completed the job application or sent in your resume. As a result you should be very familiar with the qualities or qualifications that would be necessary in order for this position to be successful.

    You should also be prepared for the fact that there could be a follow-up to this question in which you are asked to describe a situation in which you had to implement those skills. It is a good idea to prepare for this type of follow-up question by giving some thought to how you would be able to utilize those skills in order to be more productive or effective in your position.

    Always remember that this is one of the most important questions that you will need to answer in an interview and you should make sure that you make full use of the opportunity to describe why you are the best person for the job based on your skills and qualifications and how they relate to the position. Doing so can help you to gain a strong competitive edge over other job applicants who may be vying for the same position.

  • Tell me about the one thing in your life you’re proudest of.

    This is another fairly common interview question. It is one that can be easily misinterpreted and as a result many job applicants have a tendency to venture into territory that is too personal. The interviewer is looking to connect an accomplishment that you are proud of to your professional life. As a result, you should make sure you do not talk about something that relates to your personal life. The only exception to this would be if you can connect a personal accomplishment to traits that would transfer easily to the workplace. For example, suppose that you finally managed to learn how to sail. This is something that might require dedication, concentration and commitment. All of these are admirable qualities that would be welcomed in any work environment.

    What you do not want to do is to focus on some personal aspect in your life that does not correlate to your professional life. For example, you may very well be proud of your children and how well they have turned out but it can be difficult to correlate this to the workplace.

    Due to the fact that this is a question which you may likely encounter when in an interview, you should make sure that you give it appropriate thought so that you will be fully prepared to answer it. Keep in mind when answering this question that you do not need to go into a lot of detail and ramble on about the particular accomplishment. Instead, it is important to make sure that your answer is instead focused on what you learned from that accomplishment and how your experience helped you to move forward with your goals.

    In answering this question you might also talk about the steps that you took to help you reach the final accomplishment. This is a good way of showing that you are able to set goals, develop concrete steps for meeting those goals and then go on to achieve those goals based on a well thought out plan. This can be quite important no matter what type of job you are interviewing for and hope to be hired for.

    Giving thought and consideration to this type of answer is important as you can be almost certain that you will need to provide an answer to this question at some point.

  • What five adjectives describe you the best?

    This is probably one of the most common interview questions that may be posed to you. It is highly likely that you will encounter this interview question if you go on an interview so you should be fully prepared to handle it in an effective manner.

    When answering this question you should first keep in mind that your response should be based solely on your professionalism. The interviewer is not looking for information that relates to your personal life. Also, they are not looking for words that would describe your physical appearance. Instead they are looking for information that describes you in a professional sense so they can learn more about you.

    There are many different words that you can use to describe yourself, but keep in mind that the words you choose should be positive and should also be truly indicative of your professional persona. You should always make sure that you will be able to back up any words that you use when describing yourself. Never use words that that do not actually describe you. In other words, if you are not the most social person in the world then you should not use the word friendly to describe yourself. Some possible words that you might consider using include ethical, diligent, empathetic, self-motivated, flexible, reliable, ambitious, hardworking, optimistic, confident, honest, a team player, determined, organized, etc.

    It is extremely important that you do not just simply choose words that you think will sound good to the interviewer. If you do this it can easily become a problem for you if you are hired for the job. Do not make the mistake of simply trying to impress the interviewer.  Instead, make sure that your answer is honest. This will serve you far better.

    Also remember that your answer does not need to be lengthy. All the interviewer is looking for in your answer is five words that will actually describe you and give them a better picture of the type of employee you would be as well as how you see yourself. There is no need to go into a lengthy answer. Do take the time to give careful thought to this question so that you will be prepared for it, but beyond deciding on the words you will use if asked this question, that is all that you need to do.

  • Tell me about an important decision or judgment call you’ve had to make on the job.

    This question is similar to asking how you arrive at decisions that must be made in the workplace. Keep in mind that no matter what type of job you may have you could easily find yourself in a situation in which you would need to make an important judgment call or decision. Even someone in an entry level position could find themselves in a situation where they would need to make an immediate decision. Your goal in answering this question should be to demonstrate that you have the ability to review the facts that are relevant to the situation and consider all of the choices or alternatives and then make a decision that is based upon the most appropriate action for that given situation.

    When you form your answer to this type of question you should make sure that you discuss the way you would consider all of the resources that are available to you at the time as well as any constraints that might apply to the situation. This will show that you do not make hasty decisions and that you can be relied upon and trusted to make decisions that are wise and based on information available.

    You may be able to easily relate your answer to a situation in which you have encountered in the past on a prior job. If your work experience is limited that may not be possible but you could still relate your answer to a situation in which you needed to make a decision on your own. Remember that your answer should show that you are able to work independently when the situation calls for it, which could very well happen no matter what type of industry in which you are involved.

    This interview question should not be taken lightly as it is likely that you will encounter this question in an interview at some point. You should give thought and consideration to how you can relate this question to your prior experience so that you will be well prepared to answer the question if it is ever posed to you. This will help you to make the best impression possible on the future employer and also provide you with the best edge in terms of other candidates who may be interviewing for the same job.