Job Interview Questions and Answers

Tag: describe

  • 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.

  • Describe a creative solution that you have developed to solve a problem?

    This type of question is designed to find out how resourceful you can be and whether you are able to demonstrate initiative. In order to effectively answer this question you should make a point to discus how your skills in leadership have assisted you in accomplishing your goals during your career. It is important that you provide concrete examples of how you used an approach that was unusual, new or creative in order to accomplish your goals. You might also relate how you developed a creative solution in order to make your work more productive or more effective in a past position.

    If you are a new college graduate and you have not yet had any professional positions then you may find that it is more difficult to answer this question, but it certainly is not impossible. You could easily relate how you developed a creative solution to a problem while in college or while working your way through college. The key is to make sure that the answer you provide to this question demonstrates your ability to lead, to be creative and to be resourceful. This is what the interviewer is looking to uncover when posing this form of question.

    When answering this question you will need to ensure that you answer provides enough information to satisfy what the interviewer is seeking, but at the same time you will want to make sure that you do not go into so much detail that you begin to ramble. This is an excellent opportunity to practice your interviewing skills as this is a question that is commonly asked during interviews regardless of the type of job. It is also a question that you can easily prepare to answer by preparing ahead of time.

    This type of question can carry a lot of weight when interviewing for many positions, especially if the job you are applying for would require you to work independently a good percentage of the time. If that is the case you may not have a lot of support and will need to find solutions on your own and learn how to be quite creative in order to get the job accomplished. Demonstrating that you already possess the ability to do this can provide you with a competitive edge over other candidates who may be applying for the job.

  • Describe the worst job you’ve had?

    This is the type of question that you will need to be very careful answering. This question is actually a lot like a question where you are asked to describe your ideal or dream job. Your response to this question should be similar to that of the dream job question for the same reasons. When you describe the worst type of job that you have ever experienced you do not want to mistakenly describe the type of job environment for which you are interviewing. For example, you do not want to say that the worst job you have ever had was one in which you had to work in a team environment and everyone on the team got on your nerves. If the job for which you are applying is one which you will have to work as a team it is likely that this type of answer could cost you the job.

    Unless you are very well versed about the job for which you are applying, it is better to stay away from specifics when answering this question. Instead, you should rely on providing an answer that is generic in nature. For example, you might state that the worst job you’ve ever had was one in which you were not able to contribute as much as you would like due to a lack of opportunity. Steer away from describing employment situations you hated because of the attitudes of the supervisor, co-workers or something specific that related to that job.

    You can easily find yourself in murky waters when answering this question if you do not prepare properly. One of the benefits about this question is that it is easy to practice and prepare your answer. There is no standard right or wrong answer to this question, but it is a good idea to practice so that you feel comfortable giving an answer that is detailed enough to provide the interviewer with the information they seek while at the same time remaining generic enough to ensure that you do not accidentally say the wrong thing.

    When you are preparing for an interview it is important to make sure that you practice a response to this question because it is one of the more common questions that are commonly asked during interviews so there is a good chance that you will encounter it at some time.

  • How would your past coworkers describe you?

    This is a question that must be answered carefully because you do not want to reveal anything unflattering. You should always remember that the person who is interviewing you could be your future supervisor, so you should definitely take care in describing how you believe former coworkers would describe you. The key is to describe yourself in the way that any supervisor would want to see a new employee. For example you might say that former coworkers would describe you as committed, loyal, friendly, professional, etc.

    When answering this question make sure you avoid the use of the word ‘think.’ You should sound as though you are confident regarding what others would say when describing you. When you use the word ‘think’ it sounds as though you re not sure and casts some doubt onto the subject. This is something that should be avoided. You should always strive to sound as though you are confident, positive and certain regarding how others would describe you.

    It may also be helpful when answering this question if you can provide a direct quote from a former coworker. For example, you might say that a particular coworker once told you that you are the hardest working person on the team. Of course, if you do share something like this when in an interview, you should be certain that you tell only the truth. Do not just make up something that a coworker might have said about you because you think it sounds nice. You never want to place yourself in a position where you tell something that is not true in an interview and it is discovered later.

    Also, when relating how coworkers would describe you, do make sure you focus on descriptions that would be appropriate for the workplace. Even if you socialize with coworkers outside of work, you should not steer into personal territory. Even if the coworker who sat next to you said that you were the life of the party when a group of you went out after work for a few drinks, this is not something to reveal in an interview. Stick to professional qualities. The interviewer wants to find out how you function in a professional work environment. Providing a clear and confident answer regarding traits others would see in you while at work will accomplish this goal.