50 Common Interview Questions and Answers-1

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50 Common Interview Questions and Answers (Compiled in the interest of students)

What kind of salary do you need? Are you applying for other jobs? Why should we hire you? Review these typical

interview, questions and think about how you would answer them, Read the questions listed; youll also find some

strategy suggestions with it!

" Tell me about yourself.

#he most often asked question in interviews! $ou need to have a short statement prepared in your mind! %e carefulthat it does not sound rehearsed! &imit it to work'related items unless instructed otherwise! #alk about things youhave done and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing for! (tart with the item farthest

back and work up to the present!

" Why did you leave your last job?

(tay positive regardless of the circumstances! )ever refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill

of supervisors, co'workers, or the organi*ation! +f you do, you will be the one looking bad! eep smiling and talk

about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special, or other forward'

looking reasons!

" What experience do you have in this field?

(peak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for! +f you do not have specific e-perience, get as

close as you can!

" Do you consider yourself successful?

$ou should always answer yes and briefly e-plain why! A good e-planation is that you have set goals, and you havemet some and are on tract to achieve the others!

" What do co-workers say about you?

%e prepared with a quote or two from co'workers! .ither a specific statement or a paraphrase will work! /0ill 1lark,

a co'worker at (mith 1ompany, always said + was the hardest worker she had ever known!2 +t is as powerful as 0illhaving said it at the interview herself!

" What do you know about this organiation?

#his question is one reason to do some research on the organi*ation before the interview! 3ind out where they have

been, and where they are going! What are the current issues, and who are the major players?

" What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?

#ry to include improvement activities that relate to the job! A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive

self'improvement! 4ave some good ones handy to mention!

" !re you applying for other jobs?

%e honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area! eep the focus on this job and what you can do for this

organi*ation! Anything else is a distraction!" Why do you want to work for this organiation?

#his may take some thought and certainly should be based on the research you have done on the organi*ation,

(incerity is e-tremely important here, and will easily be sensed! Relate it to your long'term career goals!

" Do you know anyone who works for us?

%e aware of the policy on relatives working for the organi*ation! #his can affect your answer even though they

asked about friends not relatives! %e careful to mention a friend only if they are will thought of!

" What kind of salary do you need?

A loaded question! A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first! (o, do not answer it! +nstead,say something like, /#hats a tough question! 1an you tell me the range for this position?2 +n most cases, the

interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you! +f not, say that it can depend on the details of the job! #hen give a wide

range!

" !re you a team player?

$ou are, of course, a team player, %e sure to have e-amples ready! (pecifics that show you often perform for thegood of the team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your team attitude! 5o not brag; just say it in a

matter'of'fact tone! #his is a key point!

Compiled by M. Subramanian-Faculty-RLIMS " "ow long would you expect to work for us if hired?

(pecifics here are not good! (omething like this should work6 /+d like it to be a long time!2 7r /As long as we both

feel +m doing a good job!2

" "ave you ever had to fire anyone? "ow did you feel about that?



#his is serious! 5o not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to fire people! At the same time, you will do

it when it is the right thing to do! When it comes to the organi*ation versus the individual who has created a harmful

situation, you will protect the organi*ation! Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in force!

" What is your philosophy towards work?

#he interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery dissertation here! 5o you have strong feelings that the job getsdone? $es! #hats the type of answer that works best here! (hort and positive, showing a benefit to the organi*ation!

"#f you had enough money to retire right now$ would you?

Answer yes if you would, %ut since you need to work, this is the type of work you prefer! 5o not say yes if you do

not mean it!

" "ave you ever been asked to leave a position?

+f you have not, say no! +f you have, be honest, brief, and avoid saying negative things about the people or

organi*ation involved!

" %xplain how you would be an asset to this organiation.

$ou should be an-ious for this question! +t gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the

position being discussed! 8ive a little advance thought to this relationship!

" Why should we hire your?

9oint out how your assets meet what the organi*ation needs! 5o not mention any other candidates to make a

comparison!

" Tell me about a suggestion you have made.

4ave a good one ready! %e sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered successful! 7ne

related to the type of work applied for is a real plus!" What irritates you about co-workers?

#his a trap question! #hink /real hard2 but fail to come up with anything that irritates you! A short statement thatyou seem to get along with folks is great!

" What is your greatest strength?

)umerous answers are good, just stay positive! A few good e-amples6 your ability to prioriti*e!

" $our problem'solving skills!

" $our ability to work under pressure!

" $our ability to focus on projects!

" $our professional e-pertise!

" $our leadership skills!" $our positive attitude!

" Tell me about your dream job.

(tay away from a specific job! $ou cannot win! +f you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility!+f you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired! #he best

bet is to stay generic and say something like6 /A job where + love the work, like the people, can contribute, and cant

wait to get to work!2

" Why do you think you would do well at this job?

8ive several reasons and include skills, e-perience, and interest!" What are you looking for in a job?

(tay away from a specific job! $ou cannot win! +f you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility!

+f you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired! #he best

bet is to stay generic and say something like6 /A job where + love the work, like the people, can contribute, and cant

wait to get to work!2

" What kind of person would you refuse to work with?

5o not be trivial, +t would take disloyalty to the organi*ation, violence or lawbreaking to get you to object! :inor

objections will label you as a whiner!

Compiled by M. Subramanian-Faculty

" What is more important to you& the money or the work?

:oney is always important, but the work is the most important! #here is not better answer!

" What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is?

#here are numerous good possibilities6

" &oyalty

" .nergy



" 9ositive attitude

" &eadership

" #eam 9layer

" .-pertise

" +nitiative" 9atience

" 4ard Work " 1reativity

" 9roblem solver

" Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor.

%iggest trap of all! #his is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss! +f you fall for it and tell about a problem

with a former boss, you may well blow the interview right there! (tay positive and develop a poor memory about

any trouble with a superior!" What has disappointed you about a job?

! 5ont get trivial or negative! (afe areas are few but can include!

" )ot enough of a challenge!

" $ou were laid off in a reduction!

" 1ompany did not win a contract, which would have given you more responsibility!

" Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.

$ou may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure! 8ive an e-ample that relates to the type of position

applied for!" Do your skills match this job or another job more closely?

9robably this one! 5o not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one!" What motivates you to do your best on the job?

#his is a personal trait that only you can say, but good e-amples are6

1hallenge

Achievement

Recognition

!re you willing to work overtime? 'ights? Weekends?

#his is up to you! %e totally honest!

" "ow would you know you were successful on this job?

(everal ways are good measures6

$ou (et high standards for yourself and meet them!

$our outcomes are a success! $our boss tells you that you are successful!

" Would you be willing to relocate if re(uired?

$ou should be clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may come up! 5o

not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is no! #his can create a lot of problems later on in your career! %e

honest at this point and save yourself future grief!" !re you willing to put the interests of the organiation ahead of your own?

#his is a straight loyalty and dedication question! 5o not worry about the deep ethical and philosophical

implications! 0ust say yes!

Compiled by M. Subramanian-Faculty

" Describe your management style.

#ry to avoid labels! (ome of the more common labels, like /progressive2, /(alesman2 or /1onsensus2, can haveseveral meanings or descriptions depending on which management e-pert you listen to! #he /situational2 style is

safe, because it says you will manage according to the situation, instead of /one si*e fits all!2

" What have you learned from mistakes on the job?

4ere you have to come up with something or you strain credibility! :ake it a small, well'intentioned mistake with a

positive lesson learned! An e-ample would be < working too far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus throwing

coordination off!

" Do you have any blind spots?



#rick question, if you know about blind spots, they are no longer blind spots! 5o not reveal any personal areas of

concern here! &et them do their own discovery on your bad points! 5o not hand it to them!

" #f you were hiring a person for this job$ what would you look for?

%e careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have!

" Do you think you are over(ualified for this position?

Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the position!

""ow do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience?

3irst, if you have e-perience that the interviewer does not know about, bring that up! #hen, point out =if true> that

you are a hard working quick learner!

" What (ualities do you look for in a boss?

%e generic and positive, safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of humor, fair, loyal to subordinates, and holder of

high standards! All bosses think they have these traits!

" Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute between others.

9ick a specific incident! 1oncentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you settled!

" What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?

%e honest! +f you are comfortable in different roles, point that out!

" Describe your work ethic.

.mphasi*e benefits to the organi*ation! #hings like, /determination to get the job done2 and /work hard but enjoy

your work2 are good!

" What has been your biggest professional disappointment?

%e sure that you refer to something that was beyond your control! (how acceptance and no negative feelings!" Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job.

#alk about having fun by accomplishing something for the organi*ation!" Do you have any (uestions for me?

Always have some questions prepared! uestions involving areas where you will be an asset to the organi*ation are

good! /4ow soon will + be able to be productive?2 and /What type of projects will + be able to assist on?2 are

e-amples!

Compiled by M. Subramanian-Faculty-RLIMS-Madurai-22

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50 Common Interview Questions and Answers-1