Job Interview Questions and Answers

Tag: job interview question

  • 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.

  • If you had to be stuck on a desert island with one person, who would you choose?

    This is another question asked to gauge your values, your ability to deal with unusual situations (a strange question,) and your creativity. This question has been asked enough that now people prepare for it, so it’s not as powerful a question as it once was.

    Still, interviewers ask it, so be ready for it.

    It’s best to stick to people with positive images, like Dr. Stephen Hawking or Bill Gates, while avoiding clearly negative or evil people like Hitler or Charles Manson.

    Avoid polarizing figures, such as political figures like a sitting President, unless you’re sure of the interviewer’s political leanings. Even popular figures like the Pope could create conflict. In general stick to the rules of polite conversation – avoid politics and religion. Even if you do, anyone might have a problem with anyone, and the follow up question could include some perceived negative such as:

    “You’d want to be stranded with American Idol Simon and have him criticize everything you do?”

    In those cases, if you’ve selected a seemingly neutral person, laugh it off. “Well, we’d have to set some ground rules first, no criticism, or singing.”

    Name well known, rather than obscure people. The rule of thumb is if you have to explain who someone is, it isn’t as good an answer because it’s likely meaningless to the interviewer.

    “James Watts, because without him nobody would be able to easily tie their shoes.” Most interviewers won’t know that Watts invented the Aglet, the now hard plastic end on a shoe lace.

    The answer is OK if you throw in a brief biography. “James Watts, he invented the hard end on a shoe lace, the Aglet. He was really good at coming up with simple solutions to every day problems, which I think would be valuable on an island.”

    You can mention people who aren’t famous, but who fall into positive stereotypes such as a brother, father, or other important relation or mentor.

    Former Boss:
    “I’d love to spend time on the island with my former boss. He was always calm in the worst situations, I think that would be important.

    Or, take the perfectly pragmatic approach.

    Survivalist:
    “I don’t know if you’ve seen the show Survivorman, but this guy is an expert on surviving in the wilderness. He knows what to eat, what not to eat, how to make shelters, how to gather water, all the important survival skills.”

    One answer, given by a recently passed up candidate, is a sure loser. “Not you, we’ve only been talking 5 minutes and already I can’t stand you.”

  • If you won $10 million in the lottery, what would you do?

    Believe it or not this question isn’t about measuring your loyalty to the company. Not many interviewers would be surprised to know that someone who won $10 million would stop working. But reassuring them that it wouldn’t be a quick departure – thus hurtful to the company – makes for a good answer.

    “Frankly, I’d stop working for a while. But I wouldn’t leave you in the lurch. I’d let you know I’m taking a hiatus, and help find and train a replacement.”

    The question is designed to delve into your character, to determine if you’re generous, wise, or if the only thing on your mind is a wild spending spree. The practical approach addresses this well.

    “The chances of winning the lottery are very slim, less than the chances of getting hit by lightning. I’m creating a stable financial future for myself with hard work at a good career, along with wise financial planning including frugal spending and a lot of saving. That’s how I’ll build my own jackpot.”

    Another approach is to mention strong financial planning.

    “Believe it or not I’d keep working. I’d see a financial planner about making that money work for me in a number of ways. It would put an end to financial worries, having that to fall back on, but as a supplement to my income. I want to keep busy in my career.”

    Other strong answers include:

    Generosity:
    “I have a lot of younger nephews and nieces, so I’d put some into trusts for their educations, give some to charity, and the rest would go into funds for my children’s’ educations. Of course I’d keep a bit for myself, save it for a rainy day.”

    Investment:
    “I think I’d invest in this company, I not only want to work here, I’d love to be involved financially too – your company really excites me.”

    Travel:
    “Aside from saving some and donating some, I’d use some for a trip around the world. I’ve always wanted to see all those other sights and cultures I haven’t been able to see.”

    Honesty is the best policy, so if priority #1 would be a spending spree, at least spin it in a positive way.

    “Of course I’d buy a new house, a new car, new clothes, not only for myself but provide some necessities to people in need.”

    One applicant’s answer exposed him as a life long pessimist. “I’d check the ticket again, surely I mis-read the numbers, because I never win anything.”

  • Describe the ideal company for you?

    Interviewers ask this question when they think there’s something about the job or company that won’t be a fit for you. They believe you’re overqualified for the job, or unwilling to do the type of work it requires. This question is very common in the current market in which many people are having to downsize their career – take a lower paying or less prestigious job or position in a “lower” career such as a former manager taking a job as a menial laborer.

    Even if you insist you want the job, if you reveal your real desire is something different, you’re sunk.

    The way to answer this question is to describe aspects of the current company and job. Use specific examples and reasons, and state them sincerely.

    “To tell you the truth, I don’t have an ABC list of the qualities of an ideal company, but when I saw this job and researched this company, I can see that your commitment to quality and desire to help people improve themselves are in sync with my professional goals. I’ll be taking advantage on the education stipend, and I look forward to the challenge of meeting your high standards.”

    Don’t be too gushing about the company, or you may be seen as trying to butter them up or lie your way in.

    “I’ve wanted to work for you ever since I was in high school. Frankly, this is my dream job and dream company.” Unless it’s true, it likely won’t sound sincere. If it is true, express other reasons, such as matched qualifications or goals, for wanting to work there.

    If you’re coming from a much larger company, or a higher paying job with more prestige, or a company that leads the field, or all of the above, you have to calm their fear that they’re a second banana, and that the move is too far beneath you to make you happy.

    Even if you’ve said nothing to indicate it, or given other signs, you have to dispel their fear that you don’t take them seriously. Do it by knowing their qualities and strengths that set them apart from other firms, even bigger and more impressive firms.

    Atmosphere:
    “Yes, I was a sales leader for the #1 company in the industry, and I loved the money and the respect that went with it. But I have a family now, and I want to continue in the business but with a company that respects family, and treats employees like people. This is a smaller city, and a company where I’ll be Karen instead of Mrs. Brown – those things fit where I want to be in life, both for my career and my family.”

    One candidate gave the answer in the most direct way possible. “Yours.”

  • Does your boss know you’re here today?

    This question is sometimes asked as “How is it you can attend an interview during business hours,” but the meaning is the same. Your resume shows the interviewer you’re still employed, so they want to know how you treat a current employer as a clue to how you’ll treat them if they become your employer.

    One answer to avoid is:
    “I called in sick.”

    Companies don’t want unreliable workers. If you’d lie to one employer, you’ll lie to the next. Adding an explanation of how bad the current employer is only makes you sound like a whining employee.

    “They change my hours without notice, and often ask me, more like tell me, to work on a weekend without any notice. So I don’t consider it a big deal to take a sick day to look for a better job.” That answer won’t get you the job, but it probably will shorten the interview. Thanks for making the selection process easier by eliminating yourself from contention.

    A good answer to this involves using vacation time for the interview.

    Vacation:
    “I saved up a few vacation days so I could use them for interviews. That’s why I needed a little bit of notice, so I could give my employer notice of a vacation day.”

    This answer shows concern for the employer, and pre-planning – those actions are indicative of qualities companies want in employees. But this answer is equally as positive.

    “I certainly wouldn’t take any paid time off to interview with someone else, so I requested some unpaid leave. They’re very flexible about that sort of thing.” One danger with this answer is that it may make you appear too honest – too good to be true – and lead an interviewer to not believing you.

    There are other good answers too.

    Out of vacation:
    “I used up all my paid days off, so I asked for an unpaid off day. ” It’s similar to the last answer, but without the aspect of not wanting to interview while being paid by another company. This answer shows you’re dealing with a reality in a way that’s still respectful to your employer.

    It’s a reality that people want to move up in their careers. Some employers understand that.

    Told them I’m interviewing:
    “My current employer understands that I’m looking for a better position. They don’t have a job with more responsibility for me, so they’re more than willing to let me take time for interviews as long as I complete my work, and make up the time later. I’ve also agreed that if I take the job, I’ll help select and train my replacement.”

    This is the craziest answer ever given to this question. “He’s across the street in the restaurant – he thinks I’ve stepped outside for a phone call.”

  • What’s your favorite drink?

    An interviewer doesn’t even have to ask a question to get this answer, sometimes they just offer a drink and observe the result. It may seem like a strange area to prompt it, but research is very important.

    One job seeker related the story of asking for a Coke when interviewing at a restaurant. He didn’t get the job because the restaurant had a long term deal with Pepsi. It’s not that anyone was insulted about his asking for a Coke, but the interviewer knew the job seeker hadn’t done any research on the restaurant. Companies want people who are interested enough to do some research.

    Another thing to avoid is mentioning alcoholic beverages, unless it’s a job requirement.

    Alcohol:
    “I enjoy a good wine with dinner. I guess it leads right to my skill with wine tasting.”

    Except in specific situations, non-alcoholic drinks are best mentioned in this answer. Companies not only don’t want people who may drink too much, but non-drinkers have fewer medical problems, and thus cheaper health care costs and fewer lost work days for the company.

    • Cola or other soft drinks (without mention of brand names unless you know the company doesn’t have a deal with another brand.)
    • Energy or power drinks (again, with attention to brands.)
    • Juices – considered healthy.
    • Water – an always safe alternative.
    • Coffee – common but watch out for the caffeine addiction connotation.

    Even the seemingly best choice might have a down side, so make sure to include a brief explanation that downplays any negatives.

    Juice:
    “I love a small glass of orange juice with breakfast. It has a lot of sugar, so I tried low sugar and low sodium types, they’re very good.”

    Soft Drinks:
    “I enjoy a good cola, and really don’t like the sugar free kinds. So I drink it in moderation.”

    Coffee:
    “A good cup of coffee gets me going in the morning, but I’m not the type of person who crumbles without it.”

    Water:
    “I drink a lot of water, it refreshes me like nothing else can.”

    Avoid putting down other choices directly. You never know what the interviewer likes, unless they’re drinking something during the interview. Don’t try to impress by mentioning or choosing the same drink the interviewer is drinking, unless it’s the drink you really like or want.

    For example “I only drink water. I can’t believe people drink soft drinks, that stuff is poison,” doesn’t score points, and may insult someone.

    This woman, needless to say, didn’t get the job after this answer. “Before lunch it’s whiskey, beer with or after lunch, but only wine at dinner or before bed.”

  • What would your biographer name your biography?

    This is a personality questioned designed to get a picture of your self image and how creative you are, what you have accomplished, and even how humble you are. It’s a light hearted question that often comes in the beginning of the interviewer, to help set the tone and direction for the following questions.

    There’s really no wrong answer, but there are some general guidelines.

    • Don’t fake it with titles such as “The Inventor’s Inventor” which suggest you’ve done something you haven’t. That is, of course, unless you are a great inventor
    • Show humility, either with the title or with a brief explanation. “Titles sell books, so don’t put too much into this, but I think it would be something like “Rising Above – Hard Work to Success.”
    • Show self respect. It’s one thing to be humble, it’s another to be self depreciating with something like “A Picture of No Big Deal.”

    It’s also important to make it something that has to do with the career, or even better yet specifically with the job you’re seeking.

    In this example, the answer is in an interview for a sales job.

    Not Specific:
    “I think they’d call it “Get ‘Er Done!”

    Specific to sales:
    “It would be “The Closer,” because I know how to close sales.

    Even if the title isn’t specific, a brief explanation can tie the title to the job. Here are more examples.

    Administrative Assistant:
    “I’ve never really thought about it, but it would be “Mr. Friday,” because I’m a great right hand man.”

    Construction:
    “I don’t think they’d write a biography about me, but if someone did they’d call it “From Bricks to Mortar,” which is a good tie in to the strip malls I’ve built.”

    Marketing:
    “Wow, I didn’t expect a question like that. Hmmm, I think something along the lines of “Making Noise People Want to Hear.” I try to market in ways people don’t want to escape, like something eye catching that stops people from changing the channel during commercials.”

    Manager:
    “It would be “Going My Way,” I don’t just bark commands, I work with the team so we’re all moving in the same direction.”

    Store Clerk:
    “”Are You Being Served,” because I’m always on the look out for a customer in need. That’s the job, after all.”
    One woman seemed to not really want the job when she answered the question. “The Ghost,” she said, “because my last boss said I’m never around when he needed me.”

  • Why are manhole covers round?

    This question is all about creativity and imagination, with a hint of knowledge. It’s one of the Microsoft interview questions that gained popularity in the 90’s. There is no definitive answer, but there are a number of reasonable ones.

    Matter of fact:
    “Because manholes are round.” This may lead to a follow up question, “why are manholes round.”

    Practical matter:
    “Because no matter how they’re positioned, round covers cannot fall through round manholes.” This isn’t actually true, as there is a whole class of polygons with constant width and diameter, but most interviewers won’t know this, even though the original interviewers at Microsoft did know this.

    One of the reasons most cited by people who deal with manholes leads to this answer.

    “It’s easier for a single person to move them around because, unlike any other shape, they can be rolled.”

    Some answers take a little more imagination than others, but are still based in the real world.

    “Round manhole covers have no edges. If one is dislodged and a car hits it, it won’t flatten the tires.” Still, people would probably not like the results of hitting a dislodged round manhole cover.

    Some lesser used answers will lead to a more positive reaction from the interviewer:

    Cost:
    “It’s cheaper to manufacture a round manhole cover to fit a man sized round hole, than it is to manufacture a square man sized manhole cover that fits a square hole – there’s less surface area needed.” This answer has been mentioned by some engineers.

    Practicality:
    “When workers need to bring equipment, or cables, into the hole, they won’t snag on a round hole like they would on the edges of a square hole.”

    The question has become so common that it often no longer serves its purpose. The original intent was not to get a specific answer, but to see how a person arrived at and explained whatever answer they gave. That included measuring people’s willingness to answer the question. The question was designed to measure logical thinking and open mindedness, more than knowledge of trivia. So if you can explain how you arrived at the answer, almost anything is fine.

    Odd answer:
    “Heavier people may have a harder time fitting into a manhole. They can more easily, and less painfully, squeeze into round holes than square holes or other shapes with corners.”

    The question may seem silly, but avoid answering like this. “Nobody told me I’d have to crawl down manholes for an accountant job.”

  • Why were you late for the interview?

    The best answer for this question is not to have to answer it. An interviewer knows if you can’t manage to make the interview on time, you’re a big risk for being late to work, missing deadlines, and mismanaging time in general. But, if something happens that makes it impossible to be on time, be prepared to explain it well.

    Overslept:
    “The alarm clock didn’t go off. I just overslept. It usually doesn’t happen.” The next thing most interviewers will say to this is “thanks for coming…Next!!!”

    Traffic Accident:
    “There’s a huge accident on the highway, a plane actually crash landed right across all the lanes, and all the alternates routes were jammed as a result. I left on time to get here an hour early, but there was no beating this traffic.”

    Any traffic excuse better relate to very unusual circumstances. Employers don’t want to hear about heavy traffic or accidents, no matter what. But if a bridge crumbles, or there’s a fire, an earthquake, or a real disaster, then there might be an excuse. But if there is, a call ahead is in order.

    “Hello, I’m scheduled for an interview at 9AM this morning. I wonder if we can move that back to 10AM. I’m on the train, and the tracks are blocked by a stalled semi truck. Word is it’s all about 45 minutes behind schedule.”

    In such situations it may even be better, if possible, to move the interview to another day or much later time, such as afternoon when an interview was scheduled for the morning. One important element of time management is respect for the other person’s schedule. Leaving a client hanging, or being late for a sales meeting, destroys sales.

    Miscommunication in time is a decent excuse, as long as the mistake was on the interviewer’s part.

    “I have the email on my phone, you wrote that our interview is for 10AM, not 9AM. I’m sorry we got crossed up.”

    Allowing for others’ mistakes shows a positive attitude, especially in a situation in which you gain by not embarrassing the other person.

    “Darn it, I thought you said 10AM, sorry.” Watch for eye rolling after an answer like this.

    If there isn’t a good reason, something out of the ordinary, this situation can’t be spun. Don’t make up stories, apologize and hope the interview turns better.

    This answer, given on a recent interview, is a loser. “I’m always late, get used to it.”

  • What were your favorite subjects in school and why?

    Be honest as much as possible, but face it, an answer that doesn’t include something to do with your career and the job you’re seeking is a useless answer to this question. Hopefully you’re interviewing for jobs that have to do with your career, and thus with subjects you enjoy. But even if not, relate the subject to the job.

    Some tips for this answer:

    • Mention subjects directly connected with the job. For example if the job is at a bank, mention you enjoyed accounting and finance classes.
    • Mention special projects outside of school work as these show a keen interest in the subject and field. For example, maybe you won an award at a science fair, and are now an engineer.
    • Mention subjects related to the main subject or job. For example, if you’re interviewing at a consulting firm mention part time classes you took in communications, or any activity or class that had something to do with interacting with people.
    • Mention subjects or activities related to general job skills. “I’m President of our home owner’s association” shows leadership, as well as responsibility to the community, and by extension to a boss or company.

    Engineer/Math:
    “I always loved math, from the time I first learned numbers. The more advanced the classes, the more I loved the challenge, and the feeling after learning something new or solving a problem. That’s why I’m a good engineer, because for me it’s not the comfort of having the solution, but the challenge of finding it. I teach an adult education math class at the junior college as a way to keep up my skills and to help other people learn what I love.”

    Florist/Art:
    “Art was my favorite subject. I remember finger painting in preschool, and I hand made all the decorations for our senior prom in HS – they were a big hit. I volunteer as a gardener at a local retirement home – I even take care of their inside flowers and plants to help bring some beauty to the people who can’t get out.”

    Salesman/Science:
    “I was always curious about how things work, which is why I liked science so much. But I love to talk to – I was captain of the debate team in College. Sales is the perfect combination for me – psychology, knowing how people think and react, and communication, talking but also listening. They’re all important skills.”

    For some jobs, this man’s answer might be important. “Recess!” We just can’t think of any.