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Traditional Questions Behavioral Interview Questions Case Study Interview Questions Stress Interview Questions Illegal Interview Questions Questions to ask the Employer Interview Etiquette	Learn how to Dress for Success How to Prepare and Practice Dining over Interviews and Advanced Interviewing Tips (Second Interviews) Interview Types Interviewing Skills Main
Interview Questions and Etiquette Interview quesions come in several formats. Here are some typical formats: Traditional questions: these questions are designed to give insight about you – your experience, education, and fit into organizations. Traditional: Tell us a little about yourself. Tell us about your educational background. Why did you choose to interview at this organization? Why did you choose to interview for this position? Why did you choose your major? Which campus activities did you participate in? What job related skills have you developed? Describe your experience working on a team. How do you organize and plan major projects? Here are a few responses to get you in the mindset of answering questions. Keep in mind that they are only suggestions...to help you start the process. You should come up with your own responses. What Are Your Weaknesses? This is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Turn this question around to discuss an area that needs improvement, not an outright weakness. Then try to demonstrate that you are doing something to improve in that area. Another good weakness is recognizing a deficient skills set that can be improved. One important aspect to remember is not to give away a character flaw or negative personality trait and try to concentrate on professional skills. Example: "Everyone has areas in which he or she can improve. Personally, I feel that mine is in expanding my computer knowledge, both hardware and software. Today, technology changes so quickly that by the time a person learns a new software, if becomes obsolete. I am currently looking into attending a workshop on doing business on the Internet." *Why Should We Hire You?* Desire, commitment, and passion toward one's career goals are vitally important to a hiring manager. Emotion is as important as, if not important as, qualifications. Confidence comes from knowing your capabilities, desires, and goals. This self-assurance comes across in an interview in your voice and body language in addition to your answers. Confidence is everything! Example: "I want this position because of the challenges and opportunities Golden Gates, Inc., offers. I have read a number of articles on the company over the past three years and I waited for the right position to open up and submitted my resume when the ad appeared. I am well qualified, have a solid verifiable record of achievement, and have skills and abilities suitable for Golden Gate's corporate culture." *Why Do You Want to Work Here?* The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you've given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is an opening. Example, "I've selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices." *How would a former boss describe you?* Personalities are not the issue here. Whether you were best friends or not, the key to answering this question effectively is demonstrating your accomplishments. What two or three achievement were you responsible for that your boss would acknowledge? Example: "As a property manager, I have been recognized for effectively managing over 20 properties simultaneously, which is 20 percent more than anyone else in our organization. I am sure that he would mention that fact along with my strong organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to prioritize my tasks." *What are your short and long-term career objectives?* Sometimes it's best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. The interviewer wants to see how you envision your future. Evidence supports the fact that high achievers are people who have defined goals for themselves. The interviewer also wants to see how realistic your objectives are and how they mesh with the company's goals. Example: "My long-term goal is to become an educator in the Bentwood County school system. To that end I am seeking a position as a substitute teacher to help me get my foot in the door for when permanent placement is available. This enables me to prove myself to my superiors and peers and contribute to the educational goals of the school system and the students." *How well do you handle stress?* We live in a stressful society. Being able to deal effectively with stress is important. You don't want to go in depth with your answer, so keep it simple and general. Example: "A certain degree of stress keeps me at my peak-performance level. Just as an actor experiences stage fright before stepping in front of the audience, I overcome nervous, stressful feelings by plunging into a project. Though I do not seek to create stressful situations, when they occur, I use them to my advantage and rise to the occasion. What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't? What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. The interviewer is testing your confidence level and composure under pressure. He is seeking an affirmation from you that you are the best candidate for the job. The interviewer is looking for reinforcement in order to make the right hiring decision. Example: "I am sure you have interviewed many qualified people for this position. Perhaps they have somewhat similar skills, qualifications, and accomplishments, but I have a genuine enthusiasm for the company and the job. I offer you the opportunity to take advantage of my more than ten years of consulting experience. Most important, I am a person who would professionally represent your company, lead and coach your employees, and attain the challenging goals you have set forth." *If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?* This is the time to pick a strong, powerful adjective that can easily accentuate your skills as an individual. Such words will not only demonstrate your strong leadership and communication skills, but that you have a strong drive and passion. Example: "If I were to describe myself in one word, I would say that I am respectful. I always take into consideration of others. In projects that I have been a leader in, I always take the time to hear all alternatives before making a decision and always try to incorporate the ideas of others into plans in which I supervise." *Describe one of your past failures and how you handled it.* This can be a tricky question, but a good answer can set you apart from the rest of the field. Treat failures as a learning experience and show that failures lead to greater successes. You must have a good example or illustration prepared for this question. Example: "I believe that failure should be treated as an opportunity to learn. One incident that immediately comes to mind occurred when my boss was traveling from Atlanta to Palm Springs. He arrived at the airport and discovered that his ticket was out of date. I had changed his reservation with the travel agent, but she forgot to issue the new ticket and delivered the wrong one. We had done business with the same travel agency for two years, and I never had this happen before. It certainly taught me the value of the saying "inspect what you expect." I learned that I should never assume anything." *If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?* 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 would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make? Back to Top Behavioral questions: These questions are designed to give insight of your future performance based on your past performance. Review your past and jot down a few examples of experiences that show your leadership, ability to deal with conflict, and other favorable attributes. It's best to think of times when things did NOT go well and how you responded to those situations. These sort of questions highlight your thought process and the way you handle specific situations. The way that you have behaved in the past can show an interviewer just what type of person you may be to their company/organization. Try to use specific examples and never underestimate the power of storytelling. Also, always leave the interviewer with a strong, positive image of you; so even if you are describing something negative, end it on a positive note such as "What I learned from this is to..." Organization and Planning Skills Describe a specific situation which illustrates how you set objectives to reach a goal. Tell me about a time when you had to choose between two or more important opportunities. How did you go about deciding which was most important to you? Tell me how you normally schedule your time in order to accomplish your day-to-day tasks. Describe a situation where you had a major role in organizing an important event. How did you do it? Think about a lengthy term paper or report that you have written. Describe how you organized, researched and wrote that report. Give an example of how you organized notes and other materials in order to study for an important exam. Describe a time when you reorganized something to be more efficient. How did you do it? Think of a time when you made important plans that were fouled up. How did you react? What did you do? *Interaction and Leadership* These questions focus on your ability and level of interaction with others as well as your ability to work independently. Demonstrate that you can work well in a team environment and produce exceptional results independently. Being able to describe a specific event relating to the question asked is critical for the interviewed to assess your past actions to potential future ones. Try to choose events that can be closely associated to the position you are seeking. Tell me about an event in your past which has greatly influenced the way you relate to people. Give a specific example that best illustrates your ability to deal with an uncooperative person. Some people have the ability to "roll with the punches." Describe a time when you demonstrated this skill. Tell me when you had to work with someone who had a negative opinion of you. How did you overcome this? Recall a time when you participated on a team. Tell me an important lesson you learned that is useful to you today. Describe an instance when you reversed a negative situation at school, work, or home. How did you do it? Describe a situation which best illustrates your leadership ability. Think about someone whose leadership you admire. What qualities impress you? Assertiveness and Motivation The interviewer is trying to test how you handle pressures in your everyday, academic and professional life. The way in which you manage your emotions in your personal life can greatly impact those in your work life. The interviewer is looking for someone who is not only well motivated, but has a drive and desire to achieve in the position they seek. When choosing examples, try to bring in ones that will relate closely to your position and what pressures may come from it. Describe several work standards that you have set for yourself in past jobs. Why are these important to you? Tell me a time when you have experienced a lack of motivation. What caused this? What did you do about it? Describe a situation where you had to deal with someone whom you felt was dishonest. How did you handle it? Describe a situation that made you extremely angry. How did you react? Tell me about a time that best illustrates your ability to "stick things out" in a tough situation. Describe a time when you motivated an unmotivated person to do something you wanted them to do. Give me an example of a time when you were affected by organizational politics. How did you react? Give me an example of when someone tried to take advantage of you. How did you react? Decision Making and Problem Solving The interviewer is looking for someone who can make important decisions while possibly under a variety of stressors. It is important to demonstrate that you are the type of person who can not only make effective decisions, but be able to work collaboratively with others in trying to make a decision or solve a problem. Use examples from your academic or previous work experience where you demonstrated the ability to utilize critical thinking and team management skills to achieve a goal. Give an example that illustrates your ability to make a tough decision. Tell me about a decision you made even though you did not have all the facts. Describe a situation where you have had to "stand up" for a decision you made, even though it was unpopular. Describe a situation where you changed your mind, even after you publicly committed to a decision. Describe a situation that illustrates your ability to analyze and solve a problem. Tell me about a time where you acted as a mediator to solve a problem between two other people. Describe a problem that seemed almost overwhelming to you. How did you handle it? Tell me about a time where you have used a creative or unique approach to solve a tough problem. Case Study questions: These questions give insight about how well you can think on your feet. For example: how many gas stations are there in the United States? Think out loud and walk them through your reasoning. The answer isn't as important as the reason, so make sure to thoroughly explain your answer. As mentioned before, case study questions are designed to see how you think on your feet. It's important to think out loud. Again, the answer isn't nearly as important as the reason behind the answer. Often times you will not be able to give a solid answer, but you can give a good approximation. Here are some items that might help you: The population of the US is 305 million The average household size is 2.6 people There are 128 million households in the US The mean household income is $50,000 The US Gross Domestic Product is $14 trillion (information gathered from October, 2008)) Here are a few examples of case study questions: Business case problem Another type of case is more analytically focused and tries to gauge your comfort and confidence with numbers. To understand these cases, you will often need some understanding of the numbers that validate the hypotheses. An example of a business case problem is: “Tokyo Joe’s is a convenience store franchise located in Atwater, CA, across the street from the Greyhound commuter railroad station. Atwater has a population of 48,000. In the town there are four convenience stores. Tokyo Joe's wants to increase sales and profits. What would you do to help them?” Since case interview questions give insight into the way you think, they can catch you off guard. Here are some examples of interview questions that have stumped people in the past. Keep in mind that you don't have to answer a question right away. It's perfectly okay to say "That's an interesting question, I'll have to think about it." Historical: If you could meet anyone in history - dead or alive - who would it be? What historical event would you change? Figure/Estimation: How many gas stations are there in America? At any given time, how many planes are in the sky? How many hybrid cars are on the road right now? Personality: If you were an animal, what animal would you be? What color describes you most accurately? If you were a cartoon character, which one would you be? Puzzlers/Brainteasers: Why are manhole covers round? If one political party remains in office for the next 100 years, what will be different? If the price of gas continues it's current pattern for the next 10 years, how will that change society? Client (Actual or Theoretical): An American has been arrested for illegal drugs in the country of Plutonia. The illegal drug used is common blood pressure medication that she has a prescription for. As a representative of the U.S. Government, what do you do? You are contacted by a local convenience store that sells groceries, alcohol, and tobacco products to create a new delivery system. What aspects of this new endeavor should be considered? A manufacturer has contacted you and discovered that although production and sales are at an all-time high, they are still not turning a profit. What is the problem? Other: Case Study questions can come in different formats as well. They may start a sentence and ask you to finish it, give you a stack of correspondences and ask you to solve a problem, or even give you a certain amount of information and guide you through the rest of the question. Be prepared for anything. When answering the questions, your answers can even be controversial as long as you support them with good reasoning. Example: Q: If you could meet anyone in history - dead or alive - who would it be? A: Adolph Hitler because I can't believe anyone could actually be that evil or have no redeeming qualities. I like to look for the good in everyone and I would hope that I could somehow appeal to his good side and change his ways. (This shows that you will probably be a very easy person to get along with) It could also be someone respected that reflects upon something you consider important. Q: If you could meet anyone in history - dead or alive - who would it be? A: Harriet Tubman because she showed true leadership in the midst of extreme adversity. (This shows that you value leadership - especially when it is needed most, and can be depended on to take charge when something goes wrong). Stress Interview questions: Stress interview questions are designed to see how the candidate reacts under stress and how well they can think on their feet. Interviewers may act sarcastic, angry, confrontational or challenging, or rapidly fire questions at the candidate. Some interviewers have turned their backs on candidates, taken phone calls, asked demeaning questions, or even rolled their eyes and sighed during the interview. The best strategy is to recognize the scenario for what it is, remain calm, maintain eye contact and stay positive without getting angry or hostile; and most importantly - don't take it personally. Stress questions come in many different forms. The interviewer may ask you the same question several times pretending not to understand your answer, trying to see if you get flustered having to explain yourself over and over; or they may lead their question with: "I don't feel like we're getting to the heart of the matter. Start over and tell me what you really think about..." "Well, if that's the best answer you can give..." They may also ask you direct questions such as: "If you caught a colleague stealing supplies or cheating on her expenses, what would you do?" "If a colleague confided in you that they saw someone stealing from the company, what would you do?" "What's more important to you, truth or comfort?" Back to Top Illegal Questions Occasionally employers ask illegal questions (marital status, age, sexual orientation, etc.). Often it is unintentional (keep in mind that many companies don't have legal divisions educating them on what's legal or illegal to ask). You have the right to refuse to answer these questions, but your reaction is very important. If the company is a shady company, then of course this could be a a reason to not work for them, but if they are trying to avoid a situation and have just gone about it the wrong way, they may just need to be educated in the proper way. First think about why they are asking the question, then think of how to respond without putting anyone on edge. Example: If an employer asks if you plan to have children, you can respond with “Are you asking this because you are worried about me taking unscheduled leaves of absence?” If this happens to you, please report the questions to us – we would like to know about it, and will contact the company. Turning the Tables in the Interview - Asking Questions You've sat through most of the interview and have answered all the recruiter's questions. You know you've made a good impression because you prepared for the interview and your answers were articulate and decisive. You've come across as a very bright, capable candidate then the recruiter asks something you didn't anticipate: "Do you have any questions?" If you don't have any questions prepared and you try to cover your mistake by asking a spur-of-the-moment question, chances are that you will damage your chances for a successful interview. Some recruiters refuse to hire people who don't ask intelligent questions. Don't ask questions just for the sake of asking questions-make sure it is information that you need. Prepare Questions in Advance You should have a list of questions prepared for this crucial part of the interview. Every question you ask should demonstrate your interest and confirm your knowledge of the organization. You should read publications in the field. You can get information about new products or policies by surfing the employer's Web site or by reading general magazines or trade publications. It is appropriate to address some of your questions to what you have read. Ask about new products, how research and development is structured at the company, management strategies at the company, how the company has changed, and potential product growth. Some of the publications providing a wealth of information are Fortune, Forbes, BusinessWeek and The Wall Street Journal. Questions To Ask 1. Ask specific questions about the position. You need to know what duties will be required of the person in the position to see if there is a fit between your interests and qualifications and the job you seek. 2. Try to find out as much as possible about qualities and skills the recruiter is looking for in job candidates. Once you determine the necessary qualities, you can then explain to the recruiter how your background and capabilities relate to those qualities. 3. Ask questions concerning advancement and promotion paths available. Every company is different and most advancement policies are unique. Try to find out what the possible promotion path is to see if it fits your career goals. You may also want to ask about periodic performance evaluations. 4. It is appropriate to ask specific questions about the company's training program if this information is not covered in company literature. 5. Ask questions about location and travel required. If you have limitations, this is the time to find out what is expected in the position. Questions Not to Ask Not only should you know what questions to ask during the interview, but it is important to know what questions not to ask. You don't want to alienate the recruiter by putting him or her on the defensive. The following areas should generally be avoided: 1. Avoid asking questions that are answered in the company's annual report or employment brochure. Recruiters are familiar enough with their own information to recognize when you haven't done your homework. If some information in the annual report isn't clear to you, by all means ask for clarification. 2. Don't bring up salary or benefits in the initial interview. The majority of companies recruiting are very competitive and will offer approximately similar salaries and benefits. The recruiter may choose to bring up the information, but you should not initiate the topic. 3. Avoid asking any personal questions or questions that will put the recruiter on the defensive. This includes questions such as the interviewer's educational background, marital status, past work experience and so on. 4. Don't ask questions that have already been answered during the interview. If you have prepared a list of questions and some of them have been addressed during the interview, do not repeat them unless you need clarification. Sample Questions What is the standing and reputation of your firm in the industry? What are the stability and growth goals for your company? Describe the structure of your firm and the various departments or divisions. Who is your biggest competition? What areas are you trying to develop within? What is the communication style of your firm? Why is this position open? How often has it been filled in the past five years?...What were the main reasons? What do you look for in an employee? What is the reason someone should come work for your firm, this job, ect..? What would be the natural progression for growth? What would you like done differently by the next person who fills this position? What are some of the objectives you would like to see accomplished in this job? What is most pressing? What would you like to have done in the next 3 months? What are some of the long term objectives you would like to see completed? How many people are in these areas? What type of support does this position receive in terms of people, finances. etc? What freedom would I have in determining my own work objectives, deadlines, and methods of measurement? What advancement opportunities are available for the person who is successful in this position, and within what time frame? In what ways has this organization been most successful in terms of products and services over the years? What significant changes do you foresee in the near future? How do you train or cross-train people for new areas? Where can I expect to be in 2-5 years? What salary should one expect, and how quickly can they grow? What are some of the more difficult problems one would have to face in this position? How do you think these could best be handled? What is the communication style of your firm? How is one evaluated in this position? What accounts for success within the company? What do you like most about this industry? What do you like least about this industry? What would you do differently in your career? If you were to leave this business, what would be the reasons? Interview Etiquette Know the names of your interviewers and address him/her appropriately during the interview. If possible, try to do some research on them. With the internet, it's quite easy to look up friendly biographical information on people. If you don't know the name of your interviewer in advance, call the receptionist and ask. Also get the receptionist's name so if you need to call back, you can use it. Try and greet all the individuals you may encounter in and around the building. That means, smiling to workers you may pass and greeting the receptionist. Watch your non-verbal communcation, especially your posture, eye contact and excessive hand gestures. Don't appear to be over-relaxed or too rigid. Do not assume that the interview is over when you walk outside the interview room. You should remain in your interview clothes until you are back at home or at a far enough distance from the location of your interview. You don't want to be seen taking off your tie or having changed into a more relaxed shirt while at lunch at the restaurant next door. One candidate did not get hired into a position he wanted because he took his tie off and had a beer at a restaurant near the interview site. The interviewing panel walked in and saw him in a less-than-professional state. He did a good job impressing the panel during the interview, but ruined it all shortly after. Also, remember to relax; and it's okay to be nervous. Many interviewers get nervous and understand you and your nervousness.

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