Soft Skills "Interview Questions"

1. Tell me about yourself:The most often asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

2. Why did you leave your last job?Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.

3. What experience do you have in this field?Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.

4. Do you consider yourself successful?You should always answer yes and briefly explain why. A good explanation is that you have set goals, and you have met some and are on track to achieve the others.

5. What do co-workers say about you?Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specific statement or a paraphrase will work. Jill Clark, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was the hardest workers she had ever known. It is as powerful as Jill having said it at the interview herself.

6. What do you know about this organization?This question is one reason to do some research on the organization before the interview. Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who are the major players?

7. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.

8. Are you applying for other jobs?Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area. Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for this organization. Anything else is a distraction.

9. Why do you want to work for this organization?This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on the research you have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

10. Do you know anyone who works for us?Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the organization. This can affect your answer even though they asked about friends not relatives. Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well thought of.

11. What kind of salary do you need?A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, That’s a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position? In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range.

12. Are you a team player?You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just say it in a matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point.

13. How long would you expect to work for us if hired?Specifics here are not good. Something like this should work: I’d like it to be a long time. Or As long as we both feel I’m doing a good job.

14. Have you ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about that?This is serious. Do 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 organization versus the individual who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the organization. Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction inforce.

15. What is your philosophy towards work?The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery dissertation here. Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes. That’s the type of answer that works best here. Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

16. If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?Answer yes if you would. But since you need to work, this is the type of work you prefer. Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

17. Have you ever been asked to leave a position?If you have not, say no. If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying negative things about the people or organization involved.

18. Explain how you would be an asset to this organizationYou should be anxious for this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

19. Why should we hire you?Point out how your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates to make a comparison.

20. Tell me about a suggestion you have madeHave a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered successful. One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

21. What irritates you about co-workers?This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. A short statement that you seem to get along with folks is great.

22. What is your greatest strength?Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples: Your ability to prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positive attitude.

23. Tell me about your dream job.Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay genetic and say something like: A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and can’t wait to get to work.

24. Why do you think you would do well at this job?

Give several reasons and include skills, experience and interest.

25. What are you looking for in a job?

See answer # 23

26. What kind of person would you refuse to work with?Do not be trivial. It would take disloyalty to the organization,violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

27. What is more important to you: the money or the work?Money is always important, but the work is the most important. There is no better answer.

28. What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is?There are numerous good possibilities: Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team player, Expertise,Initiative, Patience, Hard work, Creativity, Problem solver.

29. Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisorBiggest trap of all. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss. If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former boss, you may well below the interview right there. Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor.

30. What has disappointed you about a job?Don’t get trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can include: Not enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction Company did not win a contract, which would have given you more responsibility.

31. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for.

32. Do your skills match this job or another job more closely?Probably this one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one.

33. What motivates you to do your best on the job?This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are: Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

34. Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends?This is up to you. Be totally honest.

35. How would you know you were successful on this job?Several ways are good measures: You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your outcomes are asuccess.Your boss tell you that you are successful.

36. Would you be willing to relocate if required?You should be clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may come up. Do not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is no. This can create a lot of problems later on in your career. Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

37. Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead ofyour own?This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. Do not worry about the deep ethical and philosophical implications. Just say yes.

38. Describe your management style.

Try to avoid labels. Some of the more common labels, like progressive, salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or descriptions depending on which management expert you listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you will manage according to the situation, instead of one size fits all.

39. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project andthus throwing coordination off.

40. Do you have any blind spots?Trick question. If you know about blind spots, they are no longer blind spots. Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here. Let them do their own discovery on your bad points. Do not hand it to them.

41. If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for?

Be careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have.

42. Do you think you are overqualified for this position?Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the position.

43. How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience?First, if you have experience that the interviewer does not know about, bring that up: Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard working quick learner.

44. What qualities do you look for in a boss?Be 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.

45. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute between others.Pick a specific incident. Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you settled.

46. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?

Be honest. If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out.

47. Describe your work ethic.Emphasize benefits to the organization. Things like, determination to get the job done and work hard but enjoy your work are good.

48. What has been your biggest professional disappointment?Be sure that you refer to something that was beyond your control. Show acceptance and no negative feelings.

49. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job.Talk about having fun by accomplishing something for the organization.

50. Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive? and What type of projects will I be able to assist on are examples.

51. What problems have you encountered at work and how did you deal with them? When you respond, be sure to include a positive outcome to the problems you reference in your answer.

I feel that the best way to deal with any challenges is to meet them head on. When I found that one of my colleagues was saying things that weren't true behind my back, I went to him and talked it through. It turned out that he had misunderstood what I had said, and I was able to set the record straight with him, and my supervisor.

Once I found a major flaw in the work of one of the most senior members of the department, which could have been very costly to the company if it had been overlooked. I went directly to him, and called it to his attention so he could fix it before it affected the final outcome.

52. If you know your boss is 100% wrong about something, how would you handle this? is asked to find out how you deal with a difficult situation.

An answer that works well is: "It depends on the situation and the personality of the supervisor." To elaborate, give examples:

My present supervisor does not like to have his authority questioned. He's fairly new on the job and almost all of the people he supervises have been on the job longer than he has.

He's never bothered to learn the procedures, how things are done or how the computer system works. But if any of us tell him that how he wants something done won't work, he gets extremely angry. So, I never tell him he's wrong. Never. Whatever he tells me to do, I smile and say "okay." Then if I know a way to get it done that will work, I do it that way, give him the results he wants and never tell him I didn't do it the way he told me to. He got the results and is happy. I saved myself the stress of being yelled at and gave him what he wanted, so I'm happy.

My prior supervisor was more easy-going and if I told her "You know, I think it might work better if I do what you asked in such and such a way," she would say "Okay, try it."

If I were a new hire on a job, I would probably not question a supervisor because I might think I didn't know enough. Except on the new job I'm going to. The director has admitted that she's new on the job and there are a lot of things that a secretary does that she doesn't know how to do, so she will be depending on me to know how to keep the office running.

53. What Do People Most Often Criticize About You?" to find out how sensitive you are and how well you accept criticism. An interviewer might also ask this question as a way to find any “red flags” – qualities that would make you a poor candidate for the position.

Be careful answering this question. You don't want to imply that you are criticized consistently on the job, but you also don't want to imply that you're perfect.

It makes sense to mention things that are not specifically related to the job for which you're applying. You want to emphasize that the criticism or weakness does not affect your ability to perform the job well.

You might also choose to mention a “weakness” that might actually be considered a strength on the job. For example, you might say that some people have said you are very critical of your work, but you can explain that you have a keen attention to detail, and you bring that detail-oriented nature to the workplace.

The best kind of answer will explain how you improved upon a weakness you once had. This will demonstrate that you are excellent at taking criticism.

Sample Answers

a. There's no on-going criticism. I'm open to personal and professional growth and welcome the opportunity to improve.

b. One of the things that I am sometimes criticized for is being too much of a perfectionist. I tend to expect very high standards of work from myself.

c. I had a supervisor many years ago tell me that I was too critical of other people’s work. I took that to heart, and made sure from that point forward that my analysis and suggestions are always supportive and helpful rather than critical. More recently, people have praised my ability to give thoughtful and useful feedback.

d. From the time I was a child, I always had a hard time making presentations in a group situation. A few years ago I took several courses in public speaking, and last year I received an award for a presentation I gave at the company’s yearly executive board meeting.

e. If humor is appropriate, this is a good time to use it. However, keep in mind that an interviewer might then press you for a more serious answer, so have one ready. Example: I have a teenage daughter - few things I do are okay on her radar screen.

54. Do You Work Well With Other People?

a. Working on a number of team projects has allowed me to develop my ability to communicate clearly with others, and mediate conflicts between team members. For example, on a recent project, two of my teammates were having trouble coming to an agreement about how to approach an element of the project. I listened to each of their concerns, and got everyone to sit down and come up with a

solution that would make everyone happy. Because of my ability to listen to others and mediate conflict, we were able to finish our project ahead of schedule, and even received commendation from our employer for the high quality of our project.

b. I am a patient listener and clear communicator, which is essential to being a sales representative. Customers often call me with complaints and concerns, and my ability to patiently listen and empathize makes them feel appreciated. I then work with them to come up with creative solutions to their problems. I believe my people skills are the reason I won best sales representative three years in a row at my previous company.

c. My ability to communicate effectively with others has been critical to my success as a manager. For example, my ability to listen to my employees has helped me motivate my staff and improve performance. When the quality of one employee’s work began to falter, I met with the employee to discuss the issue. I listened to her own concerns about her work, and we discussed ways to resolve her concerns while improving her performance. I firmly believe that being able to clearly communicate with and actively listen to employees is essential to improving their performance.

55. Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?

a. I am equally comfortable working as a member of a team and independently. In researching the LMN company, your mission statement and the job description, I could see similarities to my previous position where there were some assignments that required a great deal of independent work and research and others where the team effort was most effective.

b. In high school, I enjoyed playing soccer and performing with the marching band. Each required a different kind of team play, but the overall goal of learning to be a member of a group was invaluable. I continued to grow as team member while on my sorority's debate team and through my advanced marketing class where we had numerous team assignments. I'm very comfortably working on a team, but I can also work independently, as well.

56. When Was The Last Time You Were Angry? What Happened? he or she wants to know how you might handle stressful situations at work. The real meaning of the word "angry" to an interviewer is loss of control, and it's important to know that you can handle difficult situations while remaining professional.

a. I try to look at every situation from an analytical perspective, and not let my emotions dictate my actions. I have had employees in the past whose professionalism has been questionable, and who have not met the requirements of the job. In those situations, I have found that the best policy is to be honest about the issues in question, and offer clear strategies for improvement.

b. I don’t think anger is an appropriate workplace emotion. I have dealt with situations that I found frustrating; for example, I had a coworker who was very confrontational in her written and oral communication. I felt like I was constantly being criticized for things beyond my control. I sat down with her and talked about ways that we could improve our communication. After having that calm, productive conversation, our relationship as coworkers improved greatly, and we actually became collaborators on a number of successful projects.

c. Anger to me means loss of control. I do not lose control. When I get stressed, I step back, take a deep breath, thoughtfully think through the situation and then begin to formulate a plan of action. For instance, when I am given multiple projects to complete in a short amount of time, rather than feeling frustrated, I come up with a strategy for how to complete the work in a steady, methodical manner that will not overwhelm me.

57. Tell us about yourselfAnswer: This is usually the opening question and, as first impressions are key, one of the most important. Keep your answer to under five minutes, beginning with an overview of your highest qualification then running through the jobs you’ve held so far in your career. You can follow the same structure of your CV.

58. What would you say are your strong points?A:Pick the three biggest attributes that you think are the most important for this job and explain how these strengths are useful in work situations. They could be tangible skills, such as proficiency in a particular computer language, or intangible skills such as good man-management. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at the job description. There is usually a section listing candidate requirements, which should give you an idea of what they are looking for.

59. What would you say are your weak points?A: The dreaded question, which is best handled by picking something that you have made positive steps to redress. For example, if your IT ability is not at the level it could be, state it as a weakness but tell the interviewer about training courses or time spent outside work hours you have used to improve your skills.

60. Why do you want this job?A: Think carefully about it. Your answer is very important for the interviewer. Quote the aspects of the job that you like and explain why it matches with your career path and your expectations. Do not mention the negative aspects of your current job or the job you are being interviewed for.

61. What do you know about this company?A: This is your chance to impress the interviewer with your knowledge of their company. Give them a run down of their products/services, news, customers, etc. This shows that you are interested in the company and have done some research.

62. Why do you want to work for this company?A:The interviewer is waiting for an answer that indicates you’ve given this some thought. If you’ve prepared for the interview properly, you should have a good inside knowledge of the company’s values, mission statement, development plans and products. Use these information to explain why you like this job and why it matches your career ambitions. You can conclude telling the interviewer what you would bring to the company.

63. You have not done this sort of job before. How will you succeed?A:Show your qualities that will enable you to be successful in this position. That can be your capacity for adaptation or your strong interest for the field for instance.

64. Why should we hire you?A: What makes you special? You should be able to find out what they are looking for from the job description. Stress the similarities between your profile and your experience and their requirements. Explain what you would bring to the company and why picking you and not someone is will be strategic for us.

65. What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing?A: Explain why you are interested in the job and ask questions about what you possibly dislike. Stay positive about it.

66. Why did you choose a career in …?A: Be positive about your reasons. If you have changed careers make a logical argument as to why you did so.

67. How much does your last job resemble the one you are applying for? What are the differences?A:The interviewer is trying to see how well you would fit in to the position. Point up the similarities rather than the differences.

68. What do you think of the last company you worked for?A: You should stress ONLY the positive

69. Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company?A: Remember why you applied for this role! You can explain what you like about small, medium or large companies, and put a focus on the type of company you are applying to for this role.

70. Why are you looking for a new job?A:Explain your reasons for moving. Do not say negative things about your current employer.

71. What would your ideal job be?A:Again, remember where you are! Describe the job with the help of the job description. Quote things such as challenging projects, interesting career opportunities, good team atmosphere, learning and mastering new skills etc.

72. Did you feel you progressed satisfactorily in your last job?A: If you progressed faster than normal you should say so. If growth was not as good as expected then be careful how you phrase this.

73. How do you handle criticism?A:Mention the positive aspects of criticism and think of an experience you had where it was useful to get criticism. Your answer should be along the following lines: “I always think that it is important to get feedback on how I am performing so that I can improve my work.

74. Can you act on your own initiative?A:Think of an example where you have had to do something on your own initiative in your current job.

75. What motivates you?A: List your motivations such as: career growth, opportunity to learn new skills, good co-workers etc.

76. Can you work under pressure?A: Think of when you have had to work under pressure and how you reacted to it.

77. How many hours are you prepared to work?A: You should be prepared to work the necessary hours to get the job done on time.

78. What are your career goals?A: Link in all your goals and the ones that are relevant to the company who is interviewing you.

79. What interests do you have outside work?A:Your hobbies and interests can tell an employer a lot about you, including whether you are sociable or solitary, and whether you can take on leadership roles. Think about which interests can be a plus for the position you want.

80. Are you prepared to relocate?A: If you are, say so. If it’s maybe, then you have to explain that it could depend on location, salary, etc…

81. What did you earn in your last job? What level of salary are you looking for now?A: You should know what the average salary is for the position you are being interviewed. You can find surveys on internet that will enables you to have an idea of the salary braket. Once you have that information, decide of a salary you think is fair for the experience and skills you have.

82. What will your referees say about you?A:Include one thing that shows your ability to do the job, one thing that shows your commitment to the work and one thing that shows you are a good person to have in a team.

83. Do you like working in a team environment or do you prefer working alone?A:Think about your experience in a team environment and about a time where you had to be autonomous. Describe both.

84. Where do you see yourself in 2 years time?A:It’s best to talk about both short-term and long-term goals. Talk about the kind of job you’d eventually like to do and the various steps you will need to get there, relating this in some way back to the position you’re interviewing for.

85. Why would you want a position like this?A: List your goals and interests

86. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?A:Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer ‘a bunny’, you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer ‘a lion’, you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality will it take to be successful in this job?

Library of Skill-Based Interview Questions

In addition to giving job-specific tests, the best way to tell if applicants carry the skills to perform specific tasks is to ask very direct questions about how they’ve used each skill in the past. Here are nearly 200 sample interview questions that hiring managers can use to spot the presence of important “soft” skills:

 

Adaptability•    You’ve probably had this experience: You worked hard on something, only to be told to change priorities and do it some other way.  How did you handle that?•    Which supervisors have you found easiest to work with?  Most difficult?  Why?•    What kinds of problems have you had in switching from one job to another?•    How do you handle breaks in routine, interruptions, and last-minute changes?

Analysis•    Describe a project or idea you originated in the last year.  How did you know it was a good idea?•    What do you do to keep informed about possible work-related problems?•    Have you ever recognized a problem or opportunity before anyone else?  What happened?

Attention To Detail•    Have you ever had an experience in which you were glad you had paid attention to some particular detail?  Please describe it.•    Have you ever found an error in your own work?  How did it happen?  What did you do about it?

Communication Skills•    Have you ever had to get a point across to different types of people?  What approach did you take?•    Give me an example of how you would explain a complicated procedure to someone who was new to the situation.•    Have you ever given instructions to someone, and then learned he/she did it wrong?  Why do you think that happened?•    Describe a decision you made based largely on data you obtained by asking questions.•    How do people react when you ask questions?  How well do they seem to understand what you want to know?•    Can you give me an example of a time you had to pitch a proposal to a group of your superiors or co-workers?  How did you do?  Why do you think things went that way?•    Have you ever done any public speaking?  How did you handle the assignment?  How did it work out?

Control    •    Describe the procedures you have used to keep track of things that require your attention.    •    Describe a typical staff meeting in your department.    •    What do you do to keep track of your subordinates’ progress on delegated assignments?    •    What procedures do you use to evaluate your subordinates’ performances?    •    What do you do when you find that a subordinate is not meeting your standards?

Decision-Making•    What was the toughest decision you had to make in the last year?  What made it so difficult?•    Describe a work-related problem you had to face recently.  What procedures did you use to deal with it?•    Are there any occasions when you feel you make up your mind too quickly?  Too slowly?•    Have you ever delayed a decision so you would have more time to think?  Give me an example.

Delegation•    Describe your normal methods of assigning work to subordinates.•    Who is in charge while you are gone?  How do you inform this person of the limits and responsibilities you expect him/her to observe?•    Have you ever moved up to a position where you had to supervise former peers?  How did you handle it?•    Describe a project that required a major effort by many members of your staff.  Who did you ask to participate?  Why did you choose them?  What assignments did they have?•    You’ve probably had a situation in which you delegated a responsibility, but the work wasn’t done as you expected.  Why do you think this happened?  What would you do differently next time?

Education

•    What is the highest level of school you completed?•    What educational training have you had that helped your career?•    I see that you attended [Name of College/University].  Why did you select that school?•    What courses did you start and then later drop out of?  Why?

Flexibility•    Have you ever had an experience in which you failed to see an idea or gain cooperation the first time, but succeeded later?  What was the difference?•    Tell me about a time you had to surmount an obstacle to reach a goal.  What was the problem, and what did you do about it?

Independence•    Give me an example of a project or idea you’ve undertaken, even though you knew it would not be popular with some people.  How did things work out?•    What were the limits of authority in your previous job?  Did you ever find it necessary to go beyond them?•    It’s possible, of course, to be loyal to your employer, but still to disagree with some rules and policies.  Can you cite an example in your own experience?•    On what occasions did you feel you had to consult with your boss before proceeding with some action?  When did you feel it was proper to act on your own?

Initiative•    Give me an example of a time you did more than was required in your job.•    Tell me about a time your effort helped some project or idea succeed.•    What have you done to make your job easier or more rewarding?•    Describe a situation where you found you had a serious problem.  What did you do to solve it?•    What do you do differently than other people in your occupation?•    Tell me about an idea you generated.  What did you do?  How did things work out?

Integrity•    Give me an example of a time you found it necessary to make an exception to the rules in order to get something done.•    Do you feel some rules should be obeyed more stringently than others?  Give me some examples.•    How strictly do you believe your co-workers normally follow the rules?  Do you approve of their attitude?•    Did you ever have to deal with a co-worker who wasn’t pulling his/her weight?  What did you do about it?•    Have you ever been faced with another person stealing credit for an idea you came up with?  How’d you handle it?

Interpersonal Skills•    Tell me about the best boss you ever had.  What made him/her so great to work for?•    Tell me about a boss that you found it the hardest to work with.  What made him/her so difficult to work with?•    Tell me in what areas you believe your current supervisor could do a better job?•    How does your boss get you to do your best work?

Job Accommodations•    This job requires you to [Name an Essential Function].  Are you able to do that with or without reasonable accommodation?  How would you accomplish that task?•    Can you perform the functions (essential and/or marginal) of this job, with or without reasonable accommodation?•    Would you be willing to take a physical for the job?  All new employees are required to pass it.•    [Name of Company] is a government contractor that has an Affirmative Action Plan for disabled and special disabled veterans.  Do you wish to identify yourself to the company as disabled or as a special disabled veteran?•    The hiring process involves an interview, timed written test, and job demonstration.  Do you need a reasonable accommodation for this process?

•    There will be a number of weekend conferences you will need to attend.  Does overnight and weekend travel present a problem for you?•    You may have to stay overnight when traveling with other co-workers.  Would that bother you?•    Are you able to meet required work schedules?•    You might be asked to work later than 5 p.m. on occasion.  Would you be able to meet that requirement?•    Can you meet the attendance requirements of this job?

Job Interest•    What part of your work has given you the greatest feeling of achievement and satisfaction?•    What part of your work have you found to be the most frustrating or unsatisfying?•    Why did you choose this particular line of work?•    How did you hear about this job?•    Why did you choose to interview at our organization?•    Why do you want to work here?•    Where do you see yourself in five years?  •    What types of work do you like best?  Why?•    What types of work would you prefer to avoid?  Why?•    Describe your work ethic, with examples.•    What interests do you have outside work that might positively affect your on-the-job performance?

Job Requirements•    This job requires fluency in [Language].  Are you fluent in this language?•    Do you have the required licenses to perform this job?•    Do you meet our state’s minimum age requirement for work?

Judgment•    What was the best decision you ever made?  What were the alternatives?  How did you go about making it?•    Tell me the same thing about the worst decision you ever made.•    How about the hardest decision you ever made?

Leadership•    Have you had to introduce a new policy or idea that departed from the customary way of doing things?  What approach did you take to gain cooperation?  How did it work out?•    Tell me about a time that you had to gain the cooperation of a group over which you had little or no authority.  What did you do?  How effective were you?•    What did you do to help your subordinates set performance objectives last year?•    Describe a situation in which you had to help a subordinate solve a problem or meet an objective.  What did you do?  How successful were you?•    Describe a situation in which a subordinate had a performance or disciplinary problem.  How did you handle it?

Learning Ability•    Have you ever had trouble learning a new machine or procedure?  How did you deal with that situation?•    How long were you in your previous job before you felt at ease with the company’s products or services?•    What did you have to learn to be effective in your previous job?  How long did it take?  Which parts were the most challenging?

Listening Skills•    Tell me about an instance from your previous job when you had to rely on verbal information from someone else to get the job done.•    Have you ever had an occasion when you misunderstood someone else’s instructions?  Why do you think that happened?

Organizational Cooperation•    With what other departments did you normally work in your previous job?

•    How did events in your department affect other parts of the organization?•    Tell me about a problem you have had that would affect more than one department.  How did you try to solve it?•    What other departments have been most useful in providing information or helping with problems?  Least useful?•    What contacts do you make with other departments while setting goals?

Persuasiveness•    What do you consider the best idea you ever sold to a superior?  A co-worker?  A subordinate?  How did you do it?•    What do you consider the best idea you ever failed to sell?  What do you think the problem was?•    What strategies have you found to work best when trying to sway someone to your point of view?•    How would you respond to a co-worker who suggests an improvement that you know won’t work?

Planning/Time Management•    Describe a typical workweek.  How did you plan the week’s activities?  How well did the schedule work?•    Tell me about an occasion when your schedule was upset by unforeseen circumstances.  What did you do?•    How do you determine which activities have top priorities on your time?•    Describe a situation in which your department experienced a major backlog, or the threat of one.  How did you deal with that problem?•    How do you develop short-range plans for your organization?  Long-range plans?•    Give me an example of a time when expenses in your department threatened to run over budget.  What did you do about it?•    How many hours a week do you find it critical to get your job done?

Resilience•    Describe a situation in which you suffered a major disappointment.  How did you deal with that?•    Have you ever been fired from a job?  How did you handle it?•    What is the biggest mistake you’ve made in your career?  What steps have you taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again?•    What were the worst working conditions you ever experienced?  How did you handle them?•    Have you ever been passed over for a promotion for which you felt you were most qualified?  What did you do about it?•    What will you do if you don’t get this position?

Safety Awareness•    What are the major safety requirements of your job?•    Do you feel these requirements sometimes interfere with your performance?  What do you do then?•    Have you recently seen someone else doing a job in an unsafe manner?  Why did you notice?  How did you react?•    Have you recently had an accident or a close call?  Why do you think it happened?

Sales Skills•    Give me an example of the approach you would take to explain the features of a product or service to a customer who has trouble understanding them.•    Describe a selling situation where it was important to obtain good information.  What happened?•    You’ve probably had an occasion when you realized your initial approach wasn’t working and you had to try a different method.  What did you do?•    Describe the primary types of people to whom you sell.  What approach do you use for each group?•    Many salespeople work without close supervision.  How does this affect you?•    What’s the best method you’ve found to obtain new prospects?•    How do your selling techniques differ from those of others you know?•    Have you ever been in a position where you felt you could clinch a sale if you oversold the product just a little?  What did you do?•    How far do you feel the average salesperson in your field would go to make a sale?  How far have you

gone?•    How did you gain the technical knowledge you needed to sell your previous employer’s product line?•    What did you find easiest to learn about the product?  Hardest?•    Have you ever found it difficult to make a sale because you had trouble understanding the customer’s requirements?  Why do you think this happened?  What did you do about it?•    What were your sales goals for the last year?  How did you achieve them?•    Describe a typical sales trip.  How do you decide which prospects to contact?•    How does it affect you when someone turns you down?•    How does it affect you when an unusual number of people turn you down?•    Describe the biggest sale you ever lost.  How did you react?•    Describe one of your toughest sales experiences.  How did you deal with that problem?  Did you make the sale?•    What do you think has been the biggest improvement in your sales ability during the last year?•    Describe a typical sales encounter.  Exactly what would you say to convince a customer to buy?•    What are the two most common objections you face, and how do you deal with them?•    Role-play with me, if you will, presenting yourself to me over the phone as if you were a headhunter.  Convince me that this “product” you’re selling is worth my time.•    How do you define your closing style?•    Tell me the last time you failed to meet your quota.  How many times did that happen over the past year and what plan of action did you take to get back on track?•    With no undue flattery, if you grade me on how well I’m conducting this interview, what can you tell me about my sales and management style on the basis of the questions I’m asking you?•    Tell me about your quality ratios.  How many prospects do you typically see before closing a sale?

Senior Management Skills •    Give me an example of your ability to facilitate progressive change within your organization.•    Tell me about the last time you inherited a problem unit — one suffering from poor productivity or low morale.  What was the scope of the project, and how were your direct reports affected?•    Did you create a culture of open information, sharing, and increased accountability by giving responsibility to your subordinates, or did you focus more on establishing their parameters and controlling the decision-making process?•    How do you typically stay in the information loop and monitor your staff’s performance?•    How do you typically confront subordinates when results are unacceptable?

Stress Tolerance•    Under what kinds of conditions do you do your best work?•    What kinds of conditions do you find the most difficult?•    What kinds of pressures do you feel in your job?  How do you cope with them?  What frustrates you the most?•    Describe a situation in which you were under particularly great pressure.  How did you deal with it?  How successful were you?•    Do you often take work home?  Why?

Supervision•    How would you handle a performance problem with your best employee?  Your worst employee?•    What have you done to make your subordinates’ jobs easier or more rewarding?•    What have you done to make your group work more smoothly and efficiently?•    Describe a situation in which one or more subordinates had roles in the decision-making process.  How did you make use of their contributions?•    In your mind, what is the greatest thing that distinguishes a superior employee from someone who gives typical good performance?•    What factors do you consider most important in judging a subordinate’s performance?

Technical Skills •    How did you gain the technical knowledge you need to do your job?

•    How long did you have to study before you took your [Name of Specific License] exam?  How many times did you take the test?•    Give me an example of an especially difficult assignment or project.  What was your role?  What did you do?•    Have you received any commendations for your performance?•    It says on your application that you have used specialized computer software.  Describe a typical project.•    What do you think is the most important development in your field today?  What impact do you think it will have?•    How do you keep informed about what’s happening in your field?•    To what job-related organizations do you belong?•    What job-related publications do you normally read?•    Have you recently attended any conferences or seminars in your field?  What did you get out of them?

Work Standards•    How would you define a good job in your line of work?•    What personal performance standards do you set for yourself?  What have you done to meet them?  What do you do if you find yourself falling short of a standard?•    Do you make extra efforts to meet deadlines?  Describe what you have done to complete a project or report on time.•    If you were going to evaluate your own performance, what factors would you consider most important?•    What are the important things your department has contributed to the organization in the last year?•    Are you satisfied with your department’s performance?  Why or why not?•    What’s your definition of the word success?  And how about failure?

Written Communication•    What are some of the most important documents you have written?  What kinds of problems did you have writing them?  What kind of reception did they receive?•    What is the most difficult writing assignment you have undertaken recently?  Why was it so challenging?  How did you handle it?•    Have you ever written instructions to be followed by employees or customers?  What did you do?•    Recall an important report you had to prepare.  How did you go about planning and organizing it?•    To what kind of audience do you address most of your written work?  What level of language do you use?•    Have you ever had to write technical material for lay people?  Please give me an example.

Other Commonly-Asked QuestionsSome questions don’t fit neatly into a job competence category, but are commonly-asked to give you a better feel for the candidate.  These questions routinely focus on applicants’ abilities to perform a self-analysis of their skills and on their expectations coming into the job.•    What skills do you enjoy using most?  Why?•    What is your greatest strength, and how do you take full advantage of it?•    What’s the greatest asset you currently bring to your company?•    What is your greatest weakness, and what have you done to overcome it?•    Why should I hire you?•    What makes you stand out among your peers?•    If you started working for us tomorrow, what could you contribute immediately?•    Are you familiar with the corporate culture here?  How do you think you’ll fit in?•    What would be the ideal way you’d envision spending your first day here?•    What do you feel an employer owes its employees?  How about what employees owe their employers?•    Paint a picture of the corporate culture you’ll create if we hire you.  Do you operate under a more centralized and paternalistic agenda with power centralized in the hands of a few, or do you constantly push responsibility and accountability down the line?