Job Interview Questions & Answers

What types of programs/software are you familiar with?

This is a fairly cut and dry question that does not require a lot of creativity in terms of framing your response. You should answer by describing the programs or software that you are familiar with. Also, you should indicate the ways in which you have used each of the programs that you have experience using. You might also consider giving examples of the different functions of those programs which you feel you are proficient using. For example, if you are experienced in using Excel you might describe how you are proficient in creating and formatting different types of spreadsheets. Alternately, you might describe your experience using Word and talk about how you have used it in the past to create tables. The goal here is to let the interviewer know which programs you are experienced in using and provide proof that you are really as comfortable using those programs as you say you are.

Also, you should make an attempt to relate your different skills to the requirements for the job. Once again this is where it can be extremely important to make sure that you have thoroughly reviewed the job requirement in advance and found out as much as possible about the prospective job as possible. This will serve you will in terms of framing your response to numerous interview questions, including this one.

You should also be aware of the possible dangers of stretching the truth when responding to this question. It is never a good idea to let the interviewer think that you are experienced in using programs when you have no experience with those programs. Giving a false or misleading answer to this type of interview question will always come back to haunt you. In the event you do land the job the company will expect you to have the skills and experience that you indicated on your resume and in your interview. If you stretch the truth even a little when you are answering this question you could very well find yourself in trouble later on down the road. Always remember that providing untruthful answers on your resume and/or in your interview can be grounds for dismissal, so the best option is always to be completely honest in order to avoid future problems. If you don’t have the experience you think is require you can always say you are a fast learner.
In what kind of an environment do you feel most productive?

When the interviewer poses this question what they are really trying to find out is what type of environment has an impact on your job performance. They need to know how well you would be able to fit into the position as well as the department in which you would be working. Good managers recognize that the attitudes of a work group or team can have an impact on job performance, so the interviewer is likely also interested in finding out whether you will be able to work well with that team given the prevailing attitudes so they can make the right fit for that position.

Your response to this question should emphasize your ability to function well in a variety of different settings. You should also indicate in your response that you are able to be productive even in situations and environments that are less than ideal. While your response to this question can be specific in terms of the type of environment in which you feel you work best, you also need to be careful to indicate your ability to remain flexible and respond well in a number of different situations.

For example, you might indicate that you enjoy having some time alone in order to get your day planned but that the majority of the time you enjoy being around a lot of activity and receiving feedback. You may give an example that relates to a prior work situation, but once again, make sure that you always indicate your flexibility regardless of the specific type of environment in which you prefer to work.

The main goal of your response to this question should be to indicate that you are easy to work with. Make sure you steer clear of making any type of demands regarding the type of environment in which you need to work in order to be productive, such as uninterrupted work time or private offices or you will run the risk of the interviewer assuming that you may be difficult to work with and satisfy. This is certainly something that you do not want to have happen because if that is the case, the interviewer is likely to choose someone else for the position they feel will be easier to work with, even if that person may not be quite as qualified or as experienced as you.
Are you a team leader or a team follower?

There are many common questions which you are likely to see when interviewing for a job and this is one of them. While this question may at first appear to be fairly black and white, the most important thing to understand is that it is not what it appears. An effective answer to this question should not be one or the other. Keep in mind that regardless of the type of job for which you are interviewing, most positions require effective workers to be a bit of both to different degrees. Even if you are interviewing for an entry-level position you will still need to have some ability to act as a team leader. The same is also true if you are applying for a management position. Not only will you need to be able to act as a reliable and effective team leader, but you will also need to be a team player as well.

Therefore, when the interviewer asks this question they are not simply looking for an answer that indicates you are one or the other. They are instead looking for evidence that you are able to act as both as the situation calls for it.

In responding to this question you should also give some thought to the particular question for which you are interviewing. Think about the types of duties that are likely to be associated with that job. Think back on the job posting and what was described relating to the job.

It is also a good idea to given an example of how you are able to work as team player or a leader when possible. For example, you might indicate that you like the idea of working in teams because it is easier for people to share ideas, work together and ultimately arrive at better decisions when working in teams. Of course, at the same time, you should follow-up with an indication that you are at ease working independently as well. The same would also be true if you sense that the position in question would require someone to primarily act as a team leader. In that situation, you might say that you work well independently due to the fact that you are self-motivated, conscientious and organized. Along the same lines, you are also comfortable working in teams and understand that in some situations the team approach is the best.
In a situation where you are handling insubordinates, how would you describe your approach?

This is another question that seeks to understand how you would handle a management or supervisory position. Your answer may vary based upon whether you have actually handled this type of situation in the past in your management experience or whether you are new to the idea of management. Once again, the best way to handle this question is to stay as close to the middle of the road as possible. This is particularly important when framing a response to this question because you have now way of knowing what the disciplinary policy is for that particular company and how the company would advocate that type of situation to be handled.

The safest way to respond to this question is to stick to the situational response. You should indicate that you would respond based on the situation as every situation can be different. Also, your response to the situation could very well depend upon whether this is the first time an employee has experienced an infraction or whether there have been prior problems with that particular employee. As you can see, the situational response gives you quite a bit of leeway in determining how you would respond and allows you to avoid committing to a particular response which might be deemed as either too lenient or too harsh by the interviewer.

If you do have prior management experience, this may be a good time to relate a particular incident in the past in which you experienced a similar situation and relate how you responded in that particular situation. You should keep your response brief and avoid going into a lot of details. Also, make sure that you do not mention any specific names when relating your experience in this type of situation. The idea is to indicate your experience in handling this situation and demonstrate how you were able to effectively respond to the situation for the benefit of everyone, including the company. Remember, the interviewer is looking for an indication that you are able to handle a situation in which you are faced with insubordinates and that you have the skills and wisdom to effectively handle this type of situation. Keeping your answer situational and relating back to a prior experience will help you to provide the information the interviewer is seeking without venturing into dangerous ground.
What kind of supervisor would you be?

This question may be posed to you whether you are interviewing for management or not, but if you are interviewing for a supervisory position then you can be almost certain that at some point this question or a variation of it will be presented to you. The best way to handle this question is to make sure that you avoid using any type of labels in your response. Some of the most common types of labels that are used when answering this question include taking a consensus approach or being a progressive manager. This may sound good when you are practicing for an interview, but it can quickly land you in trouble. The reason for this is that different management labels can mean different things to different people. While a particular style might sound find to you, it could mean something entirely different to someone else and if you provide a response that the interviewer understands differently you could easily lose the interview over responding to this one question.

Instead, you should frame your response so that it will indicate you would manage based on the particular situation at that particular time. This is a very safe answer because it is basically a response that will apply across the board. Using this tactic is also a very safe strategy when you have not actually had any management experience but you are presented with this question anyway. The situational style response will ensure that the interviewer knows you understand that every situation is unique and different and calls for discernment based on that situation. Regardless of the particular management style the interviewer prefers or is even looking for, this answer will ensure that you are able to easily steer clear of any dangerous ground and remain neutral.

Remember when you are answering interview questions, in most cases, you want to avoid answers that could be controversial. You just never know when an answer that you provide could be the exact opposite of what the interviewer is looking for. Since you are not able to read the interviewer’s mind, the best course of action is to stick with answers that are as neutral as possible in order to avoid accidentally venturing into a mine field that could cause you to blow the interviewer and lose out on the prospect of getting the job.
What is your ideal position?

This is another common interview question that you are likely to see if you interview for even a small number of jobs. When describing your dream job, you need to make certain that you steer well clear of describing any type of specific job. Under no circumstances should you describe the type of job for which you are interviewing. This is a common mistake that many job applicants make because they think it will buy them favor with the interviewer. Quite to the contrary, it questions your credibility because this type of strategy is easily visible. The last thing that you want is for the interviewer to think that you are simply giving them whatever answer it is that you think they want to hear. This is a fast way to bomb and interview.

On the other hand, if you describe a type of job that is vastly different from the job for which you are interviewing then the interviewer is likely to think that you will not be satisfied with the job if they give it to you and will quickly be looking for another. This is also something that you do not want to have happen when you are interviewing either. As you can see, this can be a very difficult question to answer because there are so many possible pitfalls. The best approach when answering this question is to keep your response as generic as possible. For example, you might say that your ideal job would be one in which you enjoy the work you perform, like the people you work with and are able to contribute to the company in a meaningful way.

That is a very vague and generic response but it does give you the benefit of being able to avoid the two types of problems that you could easily run into when answering this question too specifically. This is a good question that you can easily practice responding to when you are preparing for an interview. You should sound as though you have given the matter a lot of thought and that your response is genuine. Your response to this question is easily transferable, meaning that no matter how many interviews you go on or how many different types of jobs you apply for, you will be able to respond in the same manner.
When considering your future, where do you hope to be in 5 or 10 years?

This is an extremely common interview question that you are likely to encounter in some form or another. It is an open ended question which invites you to elaborate beyond just a simple yes or no answer. The thing to keep in mind when responding to this question is that there is no standard correct answer. The way in which you respond to this question is entirely dependent upon your own unique nature as well as goals and your objectives in life and for the future.

You should keep in mind when responding to this question that the interviewer is looking for something that will indicate to him or her that you are the right person for the job. So, if they hear you respond that you are planning to return to school in the near future or that you are interested in opening your own business one day this may indicate to them that you do not plan to be with them for very long. Consequently, they may not feel it is a good idea to select you for the job and invest time in your training if you plan to leave soon.

Not only should your answer to this question reassure the interviewer that you are the right person for the job, but it should also indicate that you are interested in your own professional growth. Your final response should demonstrate that you have given this matter careful thought and consideration. Ultimately, you need to show that your own career goals are compatible with that of the business for which you are interviewing.

The good news is that this is a question that you can easily prepare for prior to your interview by giving careful thought to both your short term as well as your long term career goals. Remember that those goals as well as your own unique skills and abilities should conform with the goals of the company, so it is a good idea to find out as much as possible about the company prior to the interview. Find out what the company envisions for their own future so that you can be prepared to demonstrate how your future goals compliment those of the company. Performing this type of research and taking the time to prepare a well thought out answer to this question will serve you well in the interview.
What is your philosophy regarding your business life vs. your personal life?

When this question is posed to you the interviewer is looking to gain information regarding whether you are able to balance your professional responsibilities along with your personal life. Keep in mind that balance can be crucial, especially if the position in question has a lot of responsibility. Employees that are not able to achieve balance in their professional and personal lives will likely find themselves running into problems. They may work too hard and become burned out or see their personal lives suffer. On the other hand, they may neglect their professional duties. The key is to achieve a balance between the two and you need to be able to convey to the interviewer that you understand the importance of this and how to accomplish it. Describing your philosophy regarding your professional and personal lives will help you to do that. For example, you might describe some specific activity that gives you a break from work, ensuring that you are able to return refreshed and then perform at optimum efficiency.

Your answer need not be lengthy and you certainly do not need to go into all of the activities that you enjoy in your spare time but it is important for you to convey to the interviewer that you have a life that is well-rounded and that your life is not one-dimensional in terms of either work or personal pursuits.

The interviewer may also be looking for an indication that your personal interests are compatible with your professional goals. You can demonstrate that there is common ground by relating some leisure activity which you enjoy that is related to the duties of the job description. For example, if you enjoy a particular sport you might mention that in your answer and relate how the pacing and strategy involved in that sport is indicative of your professional approach as well.

Once again, remember that your answer does not need to be lengthy. The main goal is to make sure that you convey to the interviewer the common ground shared between your personal interests and your career goals and also that you understand how to remain refreshed during your off time so that you can give 100% when you are at work. If you are able to do this you should be able to ace this interview question.
When given new tasks or duties, describe how you adapt to them?

This question is a type of organizational interview question. In forming a response to this question it may help you to understand what the interviewer is hoping to gain from your response. Ultimately, the interviewer would like to find how you organize your workload as well as how you respond to change and new experiences. Your answer to this question could be crucial to the success of the interview, so you must make sure that you give careful thought and consideration when forming a response.

It would certainly be helpful when forming a response to this question if you have an idea of the duties or tasks that you will be expected to handle should you be hired for the relevant position. You may be able to gain this critical information by reviewing the job posting. Remember that even if you do not have complete information regarding the duties related to the position, you can still form a comprehensive response by reflecting on the manner in which you have previously adapted to new tasks or duties. Keep in mind that your answer should reflect the way you actually respond to new duties because if you get the job you will be expected to respond in the same manner.

The key in forming a good response to this question is to focus on prioritizing the most important tasks, learning as much as possible about the way in which duties should be properly performed and meeting the expectations of supervisors. In addition, when answering this question you need to explain to the interviewer how you prioritize your workload and also the way in which you manage timeframes.

Finally, you need to explain whether you feel more comfortable with jumping right in to new tasks or duties or whether you feel the need to take time adjusting to the new tasks before you tackle them. Be sure to explain why you respond in the way that you do so that the interviewer will be able to gain a good understanding of the way in which you work. Your answer to this question can be crucial in the final outcome of the interview, so you should ensure that your answer is completely forthcoming and honest, but also that you give a good explanation for the way in which you respond to new duties and assignments.
How do you see yourself advancing within this company?

Among the many interview questions you may experience, this is one of the more modern types of questions. This specific type of question relates to the future, your goals and how you plan to accomplish those goals. It is often used as a form of motivational interview question in order to assess your commitment to the relevant position. Unfortunately, this type of question is one which many candidates often experience difficulty effectively handling. In many cases, candidates either do not expect the question or they have not given sufficient thought to the future and potential advancement with that company. As a result, the answer is usually improvised and that can result in detracting from the overall interview performance.

Your answer to this question could take several forms based upon your plans for the future. Keep in mind when forming an answer to this question that the interviewer is specifically interested in linking your plans to the position and the job. When you develop an answer, you need to make sure that you lay out a clear and concise career path. This can be accomplished by demonstrating your plans over the next five years and how they relate to the position. You should also show a progression that involves the position and how you would like to develop your career with the position.

You should remember that candidates will be selected based upon how well their career objectives match the open position. Your response to this question should clarify the direction in which you intend to take your career. In demonstrating your plans and the direction for your career you might establish goals related to the job, a desire to meet a goal of attaining supervisory abilities and the intent to pursue ongoing studies that may relate to the position. Finally, you should demonstrate your understanding of the necessity for experience as your career advances.

This question can usually be best answered when you have taken the time to educate yourself about the company, their organizational structure and their own plans for the future in terms of development. This will allow you to develop a career path that is in keeping with the plans of the company and also demonstrate that you have taken the initiative of researching the company and their goals. Do not overlook the importance of this question. Even though it does deal with the future it could be a make or break question when your performance is compared with that of other candidates.