- Why are you interested in this role?
- In what areas would you like to improve?
- Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job?
- How do you manage/handle pressure or stress?
- What five adjectives describe you the best?
- What animal would you be if you were an animal?
- Describe a situation in which you had to deal with an irate customer. Did you rectify the problem?
- What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can’t?
- Why should we hire you?
- What are your hobbies?
- How well do you work with people? Do you prefer working alone or in teams?
- How would you describe your work style?
- How do you measure success?
- What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?
- What Are Your Weaknesses?
- What was your greatest professional accomplishment?
- Describe a typical work week / day
- What is the biggest failure you’ve had in your career?
- How would you evaluate your ability to deal with conflict?
- What did you dislike most about your last job?
- What qualities do you think are necessary to make a success of this job?
- Have you ever had difficulty with a supervisor? How did you resolve the conflict?
- How would you describe yourself?
- What’s your favorite drink?
- How do you motivate people?
- How would you define a good working atmosphere?
- What kind of person do you get along with the best?
- Tell me more about yourself?
- What kind of tree would you be if you were a tree?
- What Are Your Goals?
- Describe a creative solution that you have developed to solve a problem?
- What one thing would you change about your last job?
- Why Do You Want to Work Here?
- What types of people have trouble getting along with you?
- How do you handle it if you know your boss is wrong?
- Tell me about a tough work situation / project and how you solved it?
- Are you willing to relocate?
- What is your ideal position?
- Are you a team leader or a team follower?
- When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?
- What is your greatest weakness?
- How did you prepare for this interview?
- If you are hired, what will you do in your first 30 days?
- In what kind of an environment do you feel most productive?
- What did you learn from your previous job (or school?)
- Tell me about an important decision or judgment call you’ve had to make on the job.
- What Wage Are You Seeking?
- Why are manhole covers round?
- How do you go about making important decisions?
- Do you have questions about the job / company?
- What are the qualities of a successful manager?
- What proactive steps did you have to take to increase the output of your position?
- How did you find out about this job?
- What do you think of your previous boss?
- How do you balance work and home life?
- What is your personal mission statement?
- What were your favorite subjects in school and why?
- Explain a database to a 3 year old, in 3 sentences?
- What types of programs/software are you familiar with?
- What were your responsibilities in your last position?
- Tell me about a time you had to work according to a policy you disagreed with?
- Describe the best job you’ve ever had?
- Describe the ideal company for you?
- How would you define leadership?
- Tell me about the one thing in your life you’re proudest of.
- Why Did You Leave (Or Why Are You Leaving) Your Job?
- There’s a fire, and you can only save three things. What are they?
- Tell me about a time an idea or task of yours was criticized?
- Can you explain this gap in your employment history?
- How have you had to reinvent or redefine your job to meet your companies changing needs?
- If you had to be stuck on a desert island with one person, who would you choose?
- What creatively inspires you?
- What made you follow the career path that you have chosen?
- While trying to meet a deadline, you discover a snag that will hinder the finished product. How do you handle this?
- How would your past coworkers describe you?
- Would you rather be liked or feared?
- What’s more important to you — the work itself or how much you’re paid for doing it?
- If you won $10 million in the lottery, what would you do?
- When given new tasks or duties, describe how you adapt to them?
- What one thing in your life would you change?
- In your past positions, have you had to deal with any kind of cultural diversity?
- How have you added value to your job over time?
- What were your three most important responsibilities in your last job?
- What kind of people did you have contact with on your previous jobs (titles/positions)?
- What is your pace when working?
- When considering your future, where do you hope to be in 5 or 10 years?
- How do you see yourself advancing within this company?
- Tell me about a situation that got out of control. How did you handle it?
- What kind of supervisor would you be?
- How do you keep up to date with your job/industry?
- Have you interviewed at other companies?
- Does your boss know you’re here today?
- Describe the worst job you’ve had?
- How long have you been looking for a job?
- What would your biographer name your biography?
- What do you know about our company?
- Evaluate the best supervisor you’ve ever had?
- If coworkers are displaying improper behavior toward one another, what do you do?
- Have you ever been fired?
- Is there anything that will prevent you from getting to work on time?
- Evaluate the worst supervisor you’ve ever had?
- How did you communicate bad news to your staff?
- Is there anything that will prevent you from working the job’s regular hours?
- What types of people, or qualities in people, give you trouble at work?
- What entices you most about the possibility of this job?
- What is your philosophy regarding your business life vs. your personal life?
- What other kind of positions have you been applying for?
- In a situation where you are handling insubordinates, how would you describe your approach?
- Have I said anything that makes you think you’re not the best candidate for this job?
- What training do you need?
- What training or certification do you have?
- What book is on your nightstand?
- Why were you late for the interview?
- In your last job, how many times were you promoted and why?
- How old were you when you obtained your first job?
- Have you ever hired anyone? Why did you choose them?
Answer this question as it comes. But don’t give an answer like “My name is XYZ, I attended XYZ college, with a degree in XYZ…” The interviewer isn’t asking for your height and weight, or for the basic details about you and your work history – that’s contained in the resume or CV.
This question gives you the opportunity to say the things that didn’t fit in the resume. One example of a strong answer is describing things about your education that couldn’t be covered on the resume.
“When I was in college I spent weekends working in the library with Professor Soandthus, a premier historic researcher. I learned a lot about research preparation, organizing facts, as well as organizing questions so that there’s not time wasted looking for answers to the wrong questions.”
This is also a good time to mention some examples of your character strengths in action.
Perseverance:
“When I was a boy scout I wanted to become an Eagle Scout, that’s the highest level in scouting, in the worst way. But as I got older I had to work to help pay for books and tuition. I went a lot of sleepless nights studying for various merit badges, and preparing the project necessary to achieve the rank. But the day I became Eagle Scout made it all worth it.”
Honesty:
“I’m no Abraham Lincoln, but one day when I was in the store I noticed the cashier had undercharged me for an item. I love saving money, but that was a mistake. When I pointed it out to her she took even more off the price. I had to see a manager before someone understood they had charged me too little. He appreciated the honesty so much he let the lower price stick.”
General Nice Guy
“I don’t know if every neighborhood has one, but in my neighborhood I’m the handy man. Everyone comes to me when there’s something they can’t fix. The kids in the area think my garage is a bike shop – I’ve fixed more flat tires than I can count.”
It’s a good idea to try to fit the answer to the job or company, after some research. But don’t make up something that sounds too good to be true, like:
“The story of your company’s founder inspired me to get into this business. I patterned my life on his work.”
The only time that would be appropriate is if it were 100% true, and you could show proof, such as a photo of you with the founder when you were a child.
