Twenty Questions Frequently Asked in Interviews
1. Tell me about yourself.
Suggestions: For the world's most wide-open questions, your best response
might be, "That's a big assignment. Let me briefly outline the things I
have done that I think are relevant to this job opening."
2.Why are you interested in our company?
Suggestion: Include what you know about the firm. "From what I've
learned so far about your approach to customers, I know I can make a
contribution to Chris Talarico & Associates, Inc. and be challenged to
grow."
3. Why are you interested in this position?
Suggestion: See above. It's advantageous to know about the job before the
interview. If you do not, early in the interview ask: "I have very general
information about the job. I wonder if you could give me some more detail?"
4. Where do you see yourself going?
Suggestion: Be concrete. Try: "I would like to expand my ability to
solve technical problems for customers."
5. What special qualities do you bring to this job?
Suggestion: Make distinctions between qualities and skills. Emphasize your
unique qualities as well as those widely held (ability to learn, creativity,
imagination, leadership, etc.)
6. What are your greatest strengths?
Suggestion: Respond by describing those strengths that correspond to what
the employer is looking for.
7. What are your greatest weaknesses?
Suggestion: Emphasize what you are honestly working on and improving.
"I am working on improving my ability to prepare formal proposals."
8. Do you perform well under pressure?
Suggestion: The obvious answer is "Very well." To take greatest
advantage of the lead, ask what kind of pressure there is and focus your answer
on the response to that question. This will also give you a better picture of
the job.
9. Do you prefer to work on you own or with others?
Suggestion: "I have no problem with either, depending on what needs to
be done."
10. I see that you majored in liberal arts. Did you take any
business courses.
Suggestion: Only narrow thinkers insist that the major field of study should
match the job. A liberal arts background can be applied to business when
refocused. Try this: "Yes, I did. I enjoyed the business courses I took and
did well in them. Also, given the rapid changes in global business, a
strong historical perspective from my liberal arts work should be very useful.
11.
I see you finished only three years of college. Do you plan to complete your
degree work?
Suggestion: Often you'll need to override a bias that a degree confirms
success on the job. Counter this: "You're looking for someone with a
degree. I understand that. I left college for financial reasons and found that
my work experience served me well and will help me to learn a job more
efficiently and effectively. Once I settle into the new position, I'll complete
my degree, focusing on courses that will be most useful to this job."
12.
Tell me about your extracurricular activities.
Suggestion: Mention any activities where developed skills and qualities
could be useful at work (resolving conflict, organizing projects, budgeting,
teamwork, etc.) If you had few or no extracurricular activities, you could say:
"Most of my time outside class was spent support school expenses. This
experience has helped me build a practical approach that will be useful in this
job."
13. I see that you finished around the middle of your class.
Suggestion: To respond to a less than average performance, say,
"My grades were not what they could have been. Those were years of change,
and it took me a while to organize myself in an unfamiliar environment. Though
my grades were low, I now know what it takes to get a job done. I can make a
major impact in this job and will surprise you with the results.
14. Tell
me about your last job.
Suggestion: Emphasize the relationship between your past accomplishments and
duties and the responsibilities of the prospective job. Stress accomplishments
more than the duties required of you.
15. Why did you leave your last job?
Suggestion: This is a key question. If you left involuntarily, "The
work did not use my best strength, which is working with people. My mistake was
that I did not remedy the situation before they did." If you are leaving
you last job voluntarily, try something like this: "I liked the job and the
people, however, I am interested in a job that allows me to make a bigger
contribution, which is why I am talking to you."
16. What were your
biggest accomplishments in your last job?
Suggestion: Be prepared to answer with results you produced rather than
duties you were given. Point out specific items from your resume.
17. How
would your last boss describe you?
Suggestion: If you performance was excellent: "She is eager to
recommend me, although sorry to see me go. Please call her." If there is a
problem: "The relationship could have been better. My boss was a good
manager, but we had different ideas about getting the job done. If you would like
a reference, contact______" and name a person you know will evaluate you
favorably.
18. Looking back at your last job, where do you think your
performance could have been improved?
Suggestion: Even though you did well, look at where you could have sought
greater responsibility and results. Apply this to what you can do in the
future.
19. What are your long-term goals?
Suggestion: Today organizations prefer employees to make continuous
improvement in the quality and scope of their work rather than take rigid steps
up an organizational ladder. Speak about expanding the range of things you can
do, learn and apply.
20. Are you interviewing with other companies?
Suggestion: Let your interviewer know you are competitive and have other
opportunities. The wrong answer would be to say, "No, this is the only
place I am looking." A better answer: "I am looking at several
different opportunities. What I see here so far looks good."
Adapted
from Interview Express, Tom Jackson and Bill Buckingham
Chris TALARICO &
Associates, Inc.
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