Job Interview Questions and Answers

Tag: prevent

  • 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.