L.C.V.P.

INTERVIEW PREPERATION
The Top 30 Interview Questions
Knowing wht !in" o# $uestions %ou&'' (e s!e" t %our interview )n
(e re' he'p.
You won't be able to predict every question, but there are some common ones
that most interviewers ask over and over again. Here are a list of the most
frequently asked questions at job interviews.
Openers*
1. ell me about yourself. !hat is your background"
#. !hat do you know about our company"
$. !hy did you decide to seek a position with this company" !hat interests
you about our company"
The interviewer is asking you to tell them about yourself as a person, not merely
about your job skills.
Wor! E+perien)e,-o( Per#or.n)e*
%. !hy should we hire you" !hy do you think you're the right person for this
job"
&. !hat unique qualities or abilities would you bring to this job" 'ould you
give me an e(ample of how you displayed each of these qualities in your
current job" )n what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our
company"
*. !hat aspects of your previous e(perience do you think will be most
helpful to you in this role" )s there any unique e(perience that would be
likely to be of bene+t to you in this position" ,lease outline this.
-. !hat do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses"
.. ell me about a time that you failed at something, and what you did
afterwards. !hat major problems have you encountered and how did you
deal with them"
/. 0re you a team player" 1escribe a time when you worked on a team
project. !hat was your relative position on the team" !ere you satis+ed
with your contribution" How could it have been better"
12.How do you work under pressure" 3ive an e(ample of how you dealt with
it" How do you typically behave when a deadline is approaching"
11.How do you react to criticism"
1#.!hat has been the biggest disappointment in your career to date"
1$.!hat is your greatest achievement to date"
1%.1escribe your +rst week in the job if you are successful.
1&.!hy do you wish to leave your current position"
1*.)f you had a magic wand what one thing would you change about your
present job circumstances"
1-.!hat was the last thing4person that made you very annoyed"
1..How would your fellow workers describe you"
The interviewer is trying to determine if youre qualifed for the job.
E"u)tion,Trining,/uture 0o's*
1/.!hat would you hope to achieve in the +rst 1# months"
#2.!here do you see yourself in +ve years"
#1.!hat do you see as the ne(t step in your career"
##.!hy did you choose your college and course of study"
#$.!hat other types of jobs or companies are you
considering"
The interviewer wants to know if you are serious about staying
with the company and to determine whether youve given some thought to your
future.
Co.pn% Reser)h*
#%.!hy have you applied for this particular position" !hy do you want to
work here"
#&.!hat do you know about this job" !hat do you understand to be the main
objectives of this position"
#*.!hat salary are you e(pecting"
The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the company and the job
for which you are being interviewed.
Person'*
#-.!hen are you available for work"
#..!hat do you do in your spare time"
#/.How would you describe yourself"
C'osures*
$2.Have you any questions for us"
The goal is to persuade the employer that you have the skills, background and
ability to do the job and can comfortably ft into the organisation. So, be
prepared to S! questions such as"
!hat would ) be e(pected to accomplish in this position"
!hat are the greatest challenges in this position"
How do you think ) +t the position"
he interview is not the time to ask questions about salary, bene+ts, hours
or holidays. 0nd remember lack of questions may be mistaken as lack of
interest.
Tough Interview Questions
Te'' .e (out %ou1
5eep your answer to one or two minutes6 don't ramble. 7se your '.8. summary
as a starting point.
Wht "o %ou !now (out our )o.pn%2
1o your homework before the interview9 :pend some time researching the
company. ;ind out as much as you can, including products, si<e, income,
reputation, image, people, skills, history and philosophy. =e able to demonstrate
an informed interest6 let the interviewer tell you about the company.
Wh% "o %ou wnt to wor! #or us2
1on't talk about what you want6 +rst, talk about their needs> You would like to be
part of a speci+c company project6 you would like to solve a company problem6
you can make a de+nite contribution to speci+c company goals.
Wht wou'" %ou "o #or us2 Wht )n %ou "o #or us tht so.eone e'se
)n3t2
?elate past e(periences that show you've had success in solving previous
employer problem@sA that may be similar to those of
the prospective employer.
Wht "o %ou 4n" .ost ttr)tive,'est
ttr)tive (out the 5o( o6ere"2
Bist three or more attractive factors and only one
minor unattractive factor.
Wh% shou'" we hire %ou2
=ecause of your knowledge, e(perience, abilities
and skills.
Wht "o %ou 'oo! #or in 5o(2
0n opportunity to use your skills, to perform and be recognised.
P'ese give .e %our "e4nition o# .... 7the position #or whi)h %ou re
(eing interviewe"8.
5eep it brief CC give a de+nition related to actions and results.
9ow 'ong wou'" it t!e %ou to .!e .ening#u' )ontri(ution to our
)o.pn%2
Dot long at all CC you e(pect only a brief period of adjustment.
9ow 'ong wou'" %ou st% with us2
0s long as we both feel )'m contributing, achieving, growing, etc.
:ou .% (e over$u'i4e" #or the position we hve to o6er.
:trong companies need strong people. 0 growing, energetic company is rarely
unable to use its people talents. Emphasise your interest in a longCterm
association, pointing out that the employer will get a faster return on investment
because you have more e(perience than required.
Wh% re %ou 'eving %our present 5o(2
?e+ne your answer based on your comfort level and honesty. 3ive a FgroupF
answer if possible, e.g. our department was consolidated or eliminated.
9ow "o %ou #ee' (out 'eving '' o# %our (ene4ts2
'oncerned but not panicked.
;es)ri(e wht %ou #ee' to (e n i"e' wor!ing environ.ent.
Gne in which people are treated as fairly as possible.
9ow wou'" %ou ev'ute %our present )o.pn%2
0n e(cellent company that aHorded me many +ne e(periences.
9ve %ou he'pe" in)rese s'es2
Pro4ts2 9ow2
1escribe in some detail.
9ve %ou he'pe" re"u)e )osts2
9ow2
1escribe in some detail.
9ow .u)h .one% "i" %ou ))ount
#or2
=e speci+c.
9ow .n% peop'e "i" %ou supervise on %our 'st 5o(2
=e speci+c.
;o %ou 'i!e wor!ing with 4gures .ore thn wor"s2
=e honest but positive.
In %our )urrent or 'st position< wht #etures "i" %ou 'i!e the .ost2
Lest2
=e honest but positive.
In %our )urrent or 'st position< wht re or were %our 4ve .ost
signi4)nt )hieve.ents2
Wh% hven3t %ou #oun" new position (e#ore now2
;inding a job is easy6 +nding the right job is more diIcult. @You are being
Fselective.FA
9" %ou thought o# 'eving %our present position (e#ore2 I# %es< wht
"o %ou thin! he'" %ou there2
'hallenge, but it's gone now.
Wht "o %ou thin! o# %our .nger2
=e as positive as you can.
Wou'" %ou "es)ri(e sitution in whi)h %our wor! ws )riti)ise"2
=e as positive as you can.
Wht other t%pes o# 5o(s or )o.pnies re %ou )onsi"ering2
5eep your answer related to this company's +eld.
I# I spo!e to %our previous .nger< wht wou'" s,he s% re %our
gretest strengths n" we!nesses2
Emphasise skills CC don't be overly negative about your weaknesses6 it's always
safer to identify a lack of a skill as an area for improvement rather than a
shortcoming.
Cn %ou wor! un"er pressures< "e"'ines< et).2
Yes, it's a way of life in business.
9ow hve %ou )hnge" the nture o# %our 5o(2
)mproved it ... of course.
In %our present position< wht pro('e.s hve %ou i"enti4e" tht h"
previous'% (een over'oo!e"2
5eep it brief and don't boast.
;on3t %ou #ee' %ou .ight (e (etter o6 in "i6erent si=e )o.pn%2
;i6erent t%pe o# )o.pn%2
1epends on the job CC elaborate slightly.
9ow "o %ou reso've )on>i)t on pro5e)t te.2
;irst you discuss the issues privately.
Wht ws the .ost "i?)u't "e)ision %ou ever h" to .!e2
ry to relate your response to the prospective employment situation.
9ow .u)h re %ou 'oo!ing #or2
0nswer with a question, i.e., F!hat is the salary range for similar jobs in your
company"F )f they don't answer, then give a range of what you understand you
are worth in the marketplace.
Wht "o %ou !now (out our )o.pn%2
1o your homework before the interview9 :pend some time online or at the library
researching the company. ;ind out as much as you can, including products, si<e,
income, reputation, image, people, skills, history and philosophy. ,roject an
informed interest6 let the interviewer tell you about the company.
9ow .u)h "o %ou e+pe)t< i# we o6er this position to %ou2
=e careful6 the market value of the job may be the key answer, e.g., FJy
understanding is that a job like the one you're describing may be in the range of
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Wht !in" o# s'r% re %ou worth2
Have a speci+c +gure in mind ... don't be hesitant.
;o %ou gener''% spe! to peop'e (e#ore the% spe! to %ou2
1epends on the circumstances.
Wht ws the 'st (oo! %ou re"2 @ovie %ou sw2 Aporting event %ou
tten"e"2
alk about books, sports or +lms to show that you have balance in your life.
Wht is the toughest prt o# 5o( #or %ou2
=e honest6 remember, not everyone can do everything.
Are %ou )retive2
Yes. 3ive e(amples
9ow wou'" %ou "es)ri(e %our own person'it%2
=alanced.
Are %ou 'e"er2
Yes. 3ive e(amples.
Wht re %our #uture go's2
0void, F) would like the job you advertised.F )nstead, give longCterm goals.
Wht re %our strong points2
3ive at least three and relate them to the company and job you are interviewing
for.
Wht re %our we! points2
1on't say you have none. ry not to cite personal characteristics as weaknesses,
but be ready to have one if the interviewer presses. urn a negative into a
positive answer> F) am sometimes intent on completing an assignment and get
too deeply involved when we are late.F
I# %ou )ou'" strt %our )reer gin< wht wou'" %ou "o "i6erent'%2
Dothing ... ) am happy today, so ) don't want to change my past.
Wht )reer options "o %ou hve t the .o.ent2
F) see three areas of interest...F ?elate those to the position and industry.
9ow wou'" %ou "es)ri(e the essen)e o# su))ess2 A))or"ing to %our
"e4nition o# su))ess< how su))ess#u' hve %ou (een so #r2
hink carefully about your answer and relate it to your career accomplishments.