Common Interview Questions and Answers

By rehearsing interview questions, you'll become more familiar with your own qualifications and will be prepared to demonstrate how you can benefit an employer.

Tell me about yourself.

Make a short, organized statement of your education end professional goals. Then, briefly describe your qualifications for the job and the contributions you could make to the organization.

Why do you want to work here or What about our company interests you?

Few questions are more important than these; so it is important to answer them answer them clearly and with enthusiasm. Show the interviewer your interest in the company. Share what you learned about the job, the company and the industry. Talk about how your professional skills will benefit the company.

Why did you leave your last job?

The interviewer may want to know if you had any problems on your last job. If you did not have any problems, simply give a reason, such as: relocated away from job; company went out of business; laid off, temporary job; no possibility of advancement; wanted a job better suited to your skills.

If you did have problems, be honest. Show that you can accept responsibility and learn from your mistakes. You should explain any problems you had (or still have) with an employer, but don't describe the employer in negative terms. Demonstrate that it was a learning experience that will not affect your future work.

What are you best skills?

If you have sufficiently researched the organization you should be able to imagine what skills the company values. List them, then give examples where you have demonstrated these skills.

What is your major weakness?

Be positive; turn a weakness into strength. For example, you might say: "I often worry too much over my work, Sometimes I work late to make sure the job is done well".

Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others?

The ideal answer is one of flexibility. However, be honest. Give examples describing how you have worked in both situations.

What are your career goals? Or What are your future plans?

The interviewer wants to know if your plans and the company's goals are compatible. Let him know that you are ambitious to plan ahead. Talk about your desire to learn more and improve your performance, and be specific as possible about how you will meet the goals you have set for yourself.

What salary are you expecting?

This is a question you should not answer directly. Instead simply state where you are currently giving your base salary and bonus. Tell the interviewer you are looking for a strong opportunity where you can grow.

Here are some other questions to consider:

Career:

1. What would you have liked to accomplish in your present position that you didn't? Why didn't you?
2. What should the company expect from the person they decide to hire during the first year? The first five years?
3. What would be the toughest aspects of this job? The most enjoyable? The least?
4. What would your competitor (for a promotion or a new position) say about you in terms of your strengths and weaknesses?
5. What criteria would you use in measuring your own performance over the next year-what would you LIKE to be used?
6. What are your goals or schedule for accomplishment at your present position for the next year? For the next two or three years?
7. What do you think is your greatest contribution to your job?
8. What factors are: (a) most important to you personally in job satisfaction? (b) Most important to your subordinates in job satisfaction?
9. What are some short-and long-term problems you think you will face? How would you deal with them?
10. What problems do you think this organization will face in a year-in the next two years?
11. How long do you think the challenges of this job will excite and interest you?

Management:

1. How would you select a successor if you were promoted?
2. How do you set priorities for your own time-for your subordinate's time?
3. What skills do you think an outstanding subordinate should have-an outstanding peer?
4. How would you go about dealing with a cut in expenditures?
5. How would you deal with a significant plan for growth?
6. How would you deal with subordinates who feel they are more qualified than you?
7. What kind of selection process would you have for this position?
8. How would you deal with a subordinate who didn't measure up to the demands of the job-whose enthusiasm seems to be going down?

Personal:

1. What would your personal goals in this job be for the next year?
2. Do you belong to business, community, and social organizations-what businesses interest you?
3. What training sessions would interest you-which ones would you feel comfortable with as a panelist?
4. From age 18, what would you do differently if you could?
5. From whom have you learned the most in your career-what have you learned?
6. What would you hope to learn from an outstanding management expert?
7. Which personal accomplishments and attributes make you the most proud?
8. What gives you the most satisfaction during free or vacation time?
9. How do you motivate yourself-deal with stress?

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