The Three most common interview questions



|Job Interview Questions, Answers, Tips, Help and More... |

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|A good resume will help you get you an interview, but a great interview will help you get the JOB!!  Be Ready.  We can Help. |

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|How would you answer these common interview questions?   |

|The following answers should help you to answer the most common employer interview questions! |

|Common Job Interview Question 1. Tell me about yourself: |

|The most commonly asked question to start with 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. The answer you give to this question will set the tone for the rest of the interview. The secret to success with this free-form question is to |

|focus, script, and practice. You cannot afford to "wing" this statement, as it will have an effect on the rest of the interview. |

|Focus: List five strengths you have that would be pertinent to this job (i.e. experiences, traits, and skills) – consider the requirements and key words listed in the job |

|announcement when you begin listing your strengths. You want them to relate to the position. Pretend you are doing a television commercial – what do you need to include in a |

|quick 60-second summary statement/sales pitch to sell the interviewer on the product (you)? What will make him or her want to hear more?  |

|Script: Write a draft of your response. Incorporate your strengths into the statements, as well as the keywords you have found in the announcements and any accomplishments you |

|have that relate to the position. |

|Practice: Practice reading/saying your response until you feel comfortable and confident about what you want to sell, share, and emphasize. Your script is a way of helping you |

|stay on track, but shouldn't be memorized, resulting in sounding stiff and rehearsed. You should sound natural and conversational. |

|Job Interview Question 2. Why should you be hired for this job? |

|Point out how your talents and how they meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other job candidates and try to make a comparison.  Try to tie a few things to your|

|career path and how it is a good fit.  Answer this question with confidence.  Do not waffle.  You show already know why you should be hired.  If you have doubts or are |

|tentitive about this answer, your interviewer might also have doubts. |

|This open-ended question, and others like "Where do you see yourself in five years?," throw most candidates off kilter. The purpose of questions like these is to check your |

|self-awareness and communication skills. |

|If you are the type of person who prefers an organized way of life, you may find this question a "piece of cake". But, if you are among the majority of people who let life |

|happen as it comes along, you will probably not have a smooth answer without some forethought. |

|The best answers to this type of question come from you thinking about what you want, specifically. Begin by considering your short-term goals. No one can tell you exactly how |

|to answer this question – it will come from what is important to you. However, the more focused and employer-centered you can be about your goal, the better your chances will |

|be of steering the interview in the right direction. Do your best to match your goals to the position. This requires knowledge regarding the company and position, so do your |

|homework! |

|Job Interview Question 3. Why did you leave (or want to 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. |

|This is another broad question that can take you down the wrong road unless you have done some thinking ahead of time about what to say. This question is about selling yourself|

|– think of yourself as the product. Why should the customer buy? |

|Develop a "sales" statement. The more detail you can provide, the better your answer will be. This is not a time to talk about what you want. It is a time to summarize your |

|accomplishments, relate what makes you unique, and demonstrate what you have to offer in terms of what the employer is looking for. |

|Start by looking at the job description or posting. What are the keywords? What is the employer stressing as requirements of the job? What will it take to get the job done? |

|Make a list of those requirements, then do an inventory to determine what you have to offer as a fit against those requirements. Think of two or three key qualities you have |

|that match what the employer is seeking. Do not underestimate personal traits that make you unique, such as your energy, personality type, working style, and people skills. |

|Consider your work experience, education, and volunteer work. Take some time to think about what sets you apart from others. |

|Job Interview Question 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. |

|Common Job Interview Question 5. What experience do you bring to this position? |

|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. |

|Common Job Interview Question 6. What do you know about this company/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? |

|Prepare in advance, and in a word, research, so, you can provide relevant and current information about your prospective employer to the interviewer. Start by researching the |

|company online. Review the "About Us" section of the company web site. Google the company, read blogs that mention it, and check Discussion Boards and social networking sites. |

|If you're a college graduate check with the Career Office at your school to see if you can get a list of alumni who work for the company. That's an ideal way to get an |

|insider's view of the employer, and to get information that might not be available elsewhere. |

|Use the information you have gathered to create a bulleted list of relevant information that you can easily remember during the interview. Taking the time to research will help|

|you make a good impression with how much you know about the company. |

|Common Job Interview Question 7. What motivates you? |

|There isn't a right or wrong answer to interview questions about what motivates you. The interviewer is trying to understand the key to your being successful in the job he is |

|interviewing for, and wants to make sure it's a good fit. Consider, in advance of interviewing, what actually does motivate you and come up with some specific examples to share|

|during the interview. |

|Your response will vary based on your background and experiences, but, you will want to share your enthusiasm and what you like(d) best about your job. Here are some examples: |

|I was responsible for several projects where I directed development teams and implemented repeatable processes. The teams achieved 100% on-time delivery of software products. I|

|was motivated both by the challenge of finishing the projects ahead of schedule and by managing the teams that achieved our goals. |

|I've always been motivated by the desire to do a good job at whatever position I'm in. I want to excel and to be successful in my job, both for my own personal satisfaction and|

|for my employer. |

|I have always wanted to ensure that my company's clients get the best customer service I can provide. I've always felt that it's important, both to me personally, and for the |

|company and the clients, to provide a positive customer experience. |

|I have spent my career in sales, typically in commission-based positions, and compensation has always been a strong factor in motivating me to be the top salesperson at my |

|prior employers. |

|Job Interview Question 8. Do you prefer working independently or on a team? |

|When the interviewer asks "Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?" he or she wants to know if you're a team player or would rather work on your own. |

|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. |

|Best Answers: |

|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. As I said, I'm comfortable with both. |

|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. |

|Common Job Interview Question 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. |

|Example Job Interview Question 10. Why do you think you would do well at this job? |

|Give several reasons and include skills, experience and interest. |

|Sample Job Interview Question 11. Have you ever been asked to resign? |

|If you have not, say no. If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying negative things about the people or organization involved. |

|Sample Job Interview Question 12  Explain how you would be an asset to this organization. |

|You 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. |

|Sample Job Interview Question 13. Tell me about a suggestion you have made that has made an impact? |

|Answer: Have 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. |

|Sample Job Interview Question 14. What has is your greatest weakness? |

|Answer: When you're asked what your greatest weakness is, try to turn a negative into a positive. For example, a sense of urgency to get projects completed or wanting to |

|triple-check every item in a spreadsheet can be turned into a strength i.e. you are a candidate who will make sure that the project is done on time and your work will be close |

|to perfect. |

|Note that the term "weakness" isn't used in the sample answers - you always want to focus on the positive when interviewing. |

|Sample Answers When I'm working on a project, I don't want just to meet deadlines. Rather, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule. |

|Being organized wasn't my strongest point, but I implemented a time management system that really helped my organization skills. |

|I like to make sure that my work is perfect, so I tend to perhaps spend a little too much time checking it. However, I've come to a good balance by setting up a system to |

|ensure everything is done correctly the first time. |

|I used to wait until the last minute to set appointments for the coming week, but I realized that scheduling in advance makes much more sense. |

|Job Interview Question 15. What irritates you about co-workers? |

|This is a sample of a trap question. Careful! 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. |

|Mock Interview Question 16. What is your greatest strength? |

|This is one of the easier interview questions you'll be asked. Numerous answers are good, just stay positive.When you are asked questions about your strengths, it's important |

|to discuss attributes that will qualify you for the job. The best way to respond is to describe the skills and experience that directly correlate with the job you are applying |

|for. |

|Sample Answers |

|When I'm working on a project, I don't want just to meet deadlines. Rather, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule. |

|I have exceeded my sales goals every quarter and I've earned a bonus each year since I started with my current employer. |

|My time management skills are excellent and I'm organized, efficient, and take pride in excelling at my work. |

|I pride myself on my customer service skills and my ability to resolve what could be difficult situations. |

|Mock Interview Question 17. 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. |

|Mock Job Interview Question 18. What kind of person would you refuse to work with? |

|Be careful here, it should be something major. It would take disloyalty to the organization, violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a |

|whiner. |

|Common Job Interview Question 19. 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. |

|Common Job Interview Question 20. What kind of salary are you asking for? |

|A common loaded question. A tricky 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. |

|Common Job Interview Question 21. What would your previous mgr. 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 |

|Common Job Interview Question 22.Tell me about a problem you had with a past supervisor. |

|There is no right or wrong answer to questions like "What are the most difficult decisions to make?" or "Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it."|

|These are behavioral interview questions designed to discover how you handled certain situations. The logic behind these type of questions is that how you behaved in the past |

|is a predictor of what you will do in the future. |

|Give concrete examples of difficult situations that actually happened at work. Then discuss what you did to solve the problem. Keep your answers positive ("Even though it was |

|difficult when Jane Doe quit without notice, we were able to rearrange the department workload to cover the position until a replacement was hired.") and be specific. Itemize |

|what you did and how you did it. |

|The best way to prepare for questions where you will need to recall events and actions, is to refresh your memory and consider some special situations you have dealt with or |

|projects you have worked on. You can use them to help frame responses. Prepare stories that illustrate times when you have successfully solved a difficult situation. |

|Sample Job Interview Question 23. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute between coworkers. |

|Answer:  Pick a specific incident. Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you settled. |

|Sample Job Interview Question 24. Where do you see yourself in 5 years/10 years? |

|The best way to respond to the interview question "What are your goals for the future?" or "Where do you see yourself in five years?" is to refer to the position and the |

|company you are interviewing with. |

|Don't discuss your goals for returning to school or having a family, they are not relevant and could knock you out of contention for the job. Rather, you want to connect your |

|answer to the job you are applying for. Examples of good responses include: |

|My long-term goals involve growing with a company where I can continue to learn, take on additional responsibilities, and contribute as much of value as I can. |

|I see myself as a top performing employee in a well-established organization, like this one. I plan on enhancing my skills and continuing my involvement in (related) |

|professional associations. |

|Once I gain additional experience, I would like to move on from a technical position to management. |

|In the XYZ Corporation, what is a typical career path for someone with my skills and experiences? |

|Sample Job Interview Question 25. Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it. |

|There is no right or wrong answer to questions like "What are the most difficult decisions to make?" or "Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it."|

|These are behavioral interview questions designed to discover how you handled certain situations. The logic behind these type of questions is that how you behaved in the past |

|is a predictor of what you will do in the future. |

|Give concrete examples of difficult situations that actually happened at work. Then discuss what you did to solve the problem. Keep your answers positive ("Even though it was |

|difficult when Jane Doe quit without notice, we were able to rearrange the department workload to cover the position until a replacement was hired.") and be specific. Itemize |

|what you did and how you did it. |

|The best way to prepare for questions where you will need to recall events and actions, is to refresh your memory and consider some special situations you have dealt with or |

|projects you have worked on. You can use them to help frame responses. Prepare stories that illustrate times when you have successfully solved a difficult situation. |

|Interview Question to ask your Interviewer: |

|Always have some questions prepared ready to ask your interviewers.  Not having interview questions ready is one of the three most common interview mistakes. Questions prepared|

|addressing, where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive? What type of projects will I be able to assist on? |

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