| Sample interview questions of the common
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| | etc. Focus more on achievement than
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| type are listed below. Answers are
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| | reward.
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| included. But perhaps suggestions for
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| | Q.
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| tailoring your responses is a better way
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| | What makes you want to work hard?
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| to put it, since specific answers are
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| | A.
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| impossible to provide. Practice answering
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| | Naturally, material rewards such as
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| these sample interview questions out loud
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| | perks, salary and benefits come into
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| to yourself or ask a friend or relative
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| | play. But again, focus more on
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| to help you.
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| | achievement and the satisfaction you
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| Don't feel that you have to answer right
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| | derive from it.
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| away. Interviewers know that you're
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| | Q.
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| nervous and expect you to think a bit, so
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| | What type of work environment do you like
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| do think carefully before you answer. But
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| | best?
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| don't hesitate too long or it'll appear
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| | A.
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| that you're stalling. Interviewers will
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| | Tailor your answer to the job. For
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| ask open-ended questions to see where
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| | example, if in doing your job you're
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| you'll go with them, so try not to ramble
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| | required to lock the lab doors and work
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| while you're thinking of a real answer.
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| | alone, then indicate that you enjoy being
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| Q.
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| | a team player when needed, but also enjoy
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| Tell me about yourself.
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| | working independently. If you're required
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| A.
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| | to attend regular project planning and
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| This is the dreaded, classic, open-ended
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| | status meetings, then indicate that
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| interview question and likely to be among
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| | you're a strong team player and like
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| the first. It's your chance to introduce
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| | being part of a team.
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| your qualifications, good work habits,
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| | Q.
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| etc. Keep it mostly work and career
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| | Why do you want this job?
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| related.
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| | A.
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| Q.
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| | To help you answer this and related
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| Why do you want to leave your current
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| | questions, study the job ad in advance.
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| job? (Why did you leave your last job?)
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| | But a job ad alone may not be enough, so
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| A.
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| | it's okay to ask questions about the job
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| Be careful with this. Avoid trashing
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| | while you're answering. Say what attracts
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| other employers and making statements
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| | you to the job. Avoid the obvious and
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| like, "I need more money." Instead, make
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| | meaningless, such as, "I need a job."
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| generic statements such as, "It's a
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| | Q.
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| career move."
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| | How do you handle pressure and stress?
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| Q.
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| | A.
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| What are your strengths?
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| | This is sort of a double whammy, because
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| A.
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| | you're likely already stressed from the
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| Point out your positive attributes
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| | interview and the interviewer can see if
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| related to the job.
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| | you're handling it well or not. Everybody
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| Q.
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| | feels stress, but the degree varies.
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| What are your weaknesses?
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| | Saying that you whine to your shrink,
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| A.
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| | kick your dog or slam down a fifth of
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| Everybody has weaknesses, but don't spend
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| | Jack Daniels are not good answers.
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| too much time on this one and keep it
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| | Exercising, relaxing with a good book,
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| work related. Along with a minor weakness
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| | socializing with friends or turning
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| or two, try to point out a couple of
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| | stress into productive energy are more
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| weaknesses that the interviewer might see
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| | along the lines of the "correct" answers.
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| as strengths, such as sometimes being a
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| | Q.
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| little too meticulous about the quality
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| | Explain how you overcame a major
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| of your work. (Avoid saying "I work too
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| | obstacle.
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| hard." It's a predictable, common
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| | A.
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| answer.) For every weakness, offer a
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| | The interviewer is likely looking for a
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| strength that compensates for it.
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| | particular example of your
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| Q.
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| | problem-solving skills and the pride you
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| Which adjectives would you use to
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| | show for solving it.
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| describe yourself?
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| | Q.
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| A.
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| | Where do you see yourself five (ten or
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| Answer with positive, work-oriented
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| | fifteen) years from now?
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| adjectives, such as conscientious,
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| | A.
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| hard-working, honest and courteous, plus
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| | Explain your career-advancement goals
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| a brief description or example of why
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| | that are in line with the job for which
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| each fits you well.
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| | you are interviewing. Your interviewer is
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| Q.
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| | likely more interested in how he, she or
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| What do you know about our company?
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| | the company will benefit from you
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| A.
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| | achieving your goals than what you'll get
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| To answer this one, research the company
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| | from it, but it goes hand in hand to a
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| before you interview.
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| | large degree. It's not a good idea to
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| Q.
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| | tell your potential new boss that you'll
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| Why do you want to work for us?
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| | be going after his or her job, but it's
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| A.
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| | okay to mention that you'd like to earn a
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| Same as above. Research the company
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| | senior or management position.
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| before you interview. Avoid the
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| | Q.
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| predictable, such as, "Because it's a
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| | What qualifies you for this job?
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| great company." Say why you think it's a
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| | A.
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| great company.
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| | Tout your skills, experience, education
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| Q.
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| | and other qualifications, especially
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| Why should I hire you?
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| | those that match the job description
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| A.
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| | well. Avoid just regurgitating your
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| Point out your positive attributes
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| | resume. Explain why.
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| related to the job, and the good job
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| | Q.
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| you've done in the past. Include any
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| | Why did you choose your college major?
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| compliments you've received from
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| | A.
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| management.
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| | The interviewer is likely fishing to see
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| Q.
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| | if you are interested in your field of
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| What past accomplishments gave you
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| | work or just doing a job to get paid.
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| satisfaction?
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| | Explain why you like it. Besides your
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| A.
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| | personal interests, include some
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| Briefly describe one to three work
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| | rock-solid business reasons that show you
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| projects that made you proud or earned
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| | have vision and business sense.
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| you pats on the back, promotions, raises,
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|
