Job Interview Questions and Answers

Tag: working

  • 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.

  • How would you define a good working atmosphere?

    When answering this question you need to make sure that you remain generic in your answer. Keep in mind that the reason the interviewer is asking this question is because they want to find out whether you will be a good fit for that department or that working environment. If you go into too much detail you run the risk of describing an environment that is the exact opposite of the type of environment in which you would be working if you are hired for the job you are interviewing for. Of course, that is something you do not want.

    As you describe the working atmosphere in which you would feel comfortable you may describe an environment in which you would be able to function as a contributing member. You might also mention that you would like to work in an environment that would allow you to hone your existing skills and gain experience to facilitate your career growth. This type of description is positive while at the same time remains generic enough that you do not have to worry that your answer will alienate the employer if it does not match the environment associated with the job you are applying for.

    As you interview for various jobs you will find that you will commonly run into several questions of this nature that require you to describe your ideal working environment, ideal boss, ideal job, etc. All of these questions are really designed to find out more about you, whether you will be easy to work with and whether you would be a good match for that particular job and working environment. Always remember that going into too much detail when answering these types of questions places you in danger of describing a situation that would not compliment the prospective job.

    When preparing for an interview it is always a good idea to practice answering several of these types of questions as it is quite likely that you will encounter at least one question of this type from time to time while searching for a job. Taking the time to practice these answers will help you to gain confidence and give you the ability to answer questions that can otherwise be difficult when they are posed to you during an interview.