Job Interview Questions and Answers

Tag: people

  • What types of people have trouble getting along with you?

    There is only one reason that an employer would ask this type of question in an interview and it is because they want to find out whether the people you will be working with in the new job, if you should be hired, will find you easy to work with. They also want to know what kinds of personalities you are able to get along best with in a work situation. Managers know that in order for a team to be effective and productive, there must be a sense of cohesion. While everyone on the team is unique and different and brings something to the table, there is no denying that some personalities just do not get along that well. The key to responding to this question well lies in understanding that no matter what type of job you take, you will likely encounter a wide range of different personalities and you must be able to deal with them in an effective manner.

    As you respond to this question you might state that in your past experience you have found that you are able to get along with virtually everyone but have found that you tend to get along best with people who enjoy a lot of activity and staying busy. As you can see, you do not want to provide an answer to this question that focuses on negatives in your own personality or which focuses on negatives in someone else. Instead, you should make sure that you are always completely positive in terms of the types of personalities that you work best with.

    This type of response will indicate to the interviewer your understanding of the necessity of working with an array of different personalities and also that you clearly understand the types of people with whom you are able to be most effective and productive in a work environment.

    This is a good question to practice answering when you are preparing for an interview because it is one that you are likely to encounter frequently no matter what type of job you are hoping to be hired for through your job search efforts. Taking the time to prepare for this question will ensure that you are able to handle even difficult questions if they should come your way during a future interview.

  • 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.