5/23/2016

HowtoAnswer23oftheMostCommonInterviewQuestions

C R ED I T C A R D S

P ER S O N A L F I N A N C E

HowtoAnswer23oftheMostCommon
InterviewQuestions
ByPaulMichaelon4October2007

Share on Facebook

Tweet This

Pin It

Let'sfaceitnoonelikestheinterviewprocess.Well,certainlynotthepeople
beinginterviewedanyway.Youhavetobeonyourbestbehavior,youonlygetone
chancetogetitright,andit'sliketakingyourdrivingtestalloveragain.Overthe
yearsI'vebeentocountlessinterviews.TogetmyfirstjoboutofcollegeI
attendedsome1520interviewsaweek.WhetheritwasinBritainoroverherein

http://www.wisebread.com/howtoanswer23ofthemostcommoninterviewquestions

1/44

5/23/2016

HowtoAnswer23oftheMostCommonInterviewQuestions

attendedsome1520interviewsaweek.WhetheritwasinBritainoroverherein
theStates,thequestionsneverreallyseemedtochangefromjobtojob.Notonly
that,buttheanswerstothemareusuallythesame,withyourownpersonal
interpretationofcourse.HereIpresent23questionsyou'relikelytobeasked,and
howIhavelearnedtoanswerthem.Why23?BecauseIhadmorethan20and
lessthan25.Remember,beinginterviewedisaskill,andifyoudothepreparation
youshouldaceiteverytime.(Seealso:12UniqueWaystoScoreaJobInterview)

1.So,tellmealittleaboutyourself.
I'dbeverysurprisedifyouhaven'tbeenaskedthisoneateveryinterview.It's
probablythemostaskedquestionbecauseitsetsthestagefortheinterviewandit
getsyoutalking.Becarefulnottogivetheintervieweryourlifestoryhere.You
don'tneedtoexplaineverythingfrombirthtopresentday.Relevantfactsabout
education,yourcareerandyourcurrentlifesituationarefine.

2.Whyareyoulooking(orwhydidyouleaveyoulastjob)?
Thisshouldbeastraightforwardquestiontoanswer,butitcantripyouup.
Presumablyyouarelookingforanewjob(oranyjob)becauseyouwantto
advanceyourcareerandgetapositionthatallowsyoutogrowasapersonandan
employee.It'snotagoodideatomentionmoneyhere,itcanmakeyousound
mercenary.Andifyouareintheunfortunatesituationofhavingbeendownsized,
staypositiveandbeasbriefaspossibleaboutit.Ifyouwerefired,you'llneeda
goodexplanation.Butonceagain,staypositive.

3.Tellmewhatyouknowaboutthiscompany.
Doyourhomeworkbeforeyougotoanyinterview.Whetherit'sbeingtheVPof
marketingorthemailroomclerk,youshouldknowaboutthecompanyorbusiness
you'regoingtoworkfor.Hasthiscompanybeeninthenewslately?Whoarethe
peopleinthecompanyyoushouldknowabout?Dothebackgroundwork,itwill
makeyoustandoutassomeonewhocomesprepared,andisgenuinelyinterested
inthecompanyandthejob.

4.WhydoyouwanttoworkatXCompany?

http://www.wisebread.com/howtoanswer23ofthemostcommoninterviewquestions

2/44

5/23/2016

HowtoAnswer23oftheMostCommonInterviewQuestions

4.WhydoyouwanttoworkatXCompany?

Thisshouldbedirectlyrelatedtothelastquestion.Anyresearchyou'vedoneon
thecompanyshouldhaveledyoutotheconclusionthatyou'dwanttoworkthere.
Afterall,you'reattheinterview,right?Putsomethoughtintothisanswerbefore
youhaveyourinterview,mentionyourcareergoalsandhighlightforwardthinking
goalsandcareerplans.

5.Whatrelevantexperiencedoyouhave?
Hopefullyifyou'reapplyingforthispositionyouhavebagsofrelatedexperience,
andifthat'sthecaseyoushouldmentionitall.Butifyou'reswitchingcareersor
tryingsomethingalittledifferent,yourexperiencemayinitiallynotlooklikeit's
matchingup.That'swhenyouneedalittlehonestcreativitytomatchthe
experiencesrequiredwiththeonesyouhave.Peopleskillsarepeopleskillsafter
all,youjustneedtoshowhowcustomerserviceskillscanapplytointernal
managementpositions,andsoon.

6.Ifyourpreviouscoworkerswerehere,whatwouldtheysay
aboutyou?
Ok,thisisnotthetimeforfulldisclosure.Ifsomepeoplefromyourpastaregoing
tosayyou'reaboringAhole,youdon'tneedtobringthatup.Staypositive,
always,andmaybehaveafewspecificquotesinmind."They'dsayIwasahard
worker"orevenbetter"JohnDoehasalwayssaidIwasthemostreliable,creative
problemsolverhe'devermet."

7.Haveyoudoneanythingtofurtheryourexperience?
Thiscouldincludeanythingfromnightclassestohobbiesandsports.Ifit'srelated,
it'sworthmentioning.Obviouslyanythingtodowithfurthereducationisgreat,but
maybeyou'respendingtimeonahomeimprovementprojecttoworkonskills
suchasselfsufficiency,timemanagementandmotivation.

8.Whereelsehaveyouapplied?
http://www.wisebread.com/howtoanswer23ofthemostcommoninterviewquestions

3/44

5/23/2016

HowtoAnswer23oftheMostCommonInterviewQuestions

Thisisagoodwaytohintthatyou'reindemand,withoutsoundinglikeyou're
whoringyourselfallovertown.So,behonestandmentionafewothercompanies
butdon'tgointodetail.Thefactthatyou'reseriouslylookingandkeepingyour
optionsopeniswhattheinterviewerisdrivingat.

9.Howareyouwhenyou'reworkingunderpressure?
Onceagain,thereareafewwaystoanswerthisbuttheyshouldallbepositive.
Youmayworkwellunderpressure,youmaythriveunderpressure,andyoumay
actuallypreferworkingunderpressure.Ifyousayyoucrumblelikeagedblue
cheese,thisisnotgoingtohelpyougetyourfootinthedoor.

10.Whatmotivatesyoutodoagoodjob?
Theanswertothisoneisnotmoney,evenifitis.Youshouldbemotivatedbylife's
noblepursuits.Youwantrecognitionforajobwelldone.Youwanttobecome
betteratyourjob.Youwanttohelpothersorbealeaderinyourfield.

11.What'syourgreateststrength?
Thisisyourchancetoshine.You'rebeingaskedtoexplainwhyyouareagreat
employee,sodon'tholdbackandstaydostaypositive.Youcouldbesomeone
whothrivesunderpressure,agreatmotivator,anamazingproblemsolveror
someonewithextraordinaryattentiontodetail.Ifyourgreateststrength,however,
istodrinkanyoneunderthetableorgetatopscoreonMarioKart,keepitto
yourself.Theinterviewerislookingforworkrelatedstrengths.

12.What'syourbiggestweakness?
Ifyou'recompletelyhonest,youmaybekickingyourselfinthebutt.Ifyousay
youdon'thaveone,you'reobviouslylying.Thisisahorriblequestionandonethat
politicianshavebecomemastersatanswering.Theysaythingslike"I'mperhaps
toocommittedtomyworkanddon'tspendenoughtimewithmyfamily."Oh,
there'safireableoffense.I'veevenheard"IthinkI'mtoogoodatmyjob,itcan
oftenmakepeoplejealous."Please,let'skeepourfeetontheground.Ifyou're
askedthisquestion,giveasmall,workrelatedflawthatyou'reworkinghardto

http://www.wisebread.com/howtoanswer23ofthemostcommoninterviewquestions

4/44

5/23/2016

HowtoAnswer23oftheMostCommonInterviewQuestions

askedthisquestion,giveasmall,workrelatedflawthatyou'reworkinghardto
improve.Example:"I'vebeentoldIoccasionallyfocusondetailsandmissthe
biggerpicture,soI'vebeenspendingtimelayingoutthecompleteprojectevery
daytoseemyoverallprogress."

13.Let'stalkaboutsalary.Whatareyoulookingfor?
Runforcover!Thisisonetrickygametoplayinaninterview.Evenifyouknow
thesalaryrangeforthejob,ifyouanswerfirstyou'realreadyshowingallyour
cards.Youwantasmuchaspossible,theemployerwantsyouforaslittleas
you'rewillingtotake.Beforeyouapply,takealookatsalary.comforagoodidea
ofwhatsomeonewithyourspecificexperienceshouldbepaid.Youmaywantto
say,"well,that'ssomethingI'vethoughtlongandhardaboutandIthinksomeone
withmyexperienceshouldgetbetweenX&Y."Or,youcouldbeslyandsay,
"rightnow,I'mmoreinterestedintalkingmoreaboutwhatthepositioncanoffer
mycareer."Thatcouldatleastbuyyoualittletimetoscopeoutthesituation.But
ifyoudohaveaspecificfigureinmindandyouareconfidentthatyoucangetit,
I'dsaygoforit.Ihaveonmanyoccasions,andeverytimeIgotveryclosetothat
figure(bothbelowandsometimesabove).

14.Areyougoodatworkinginateam?
UnlessyouhavetheI.Q.ofahouseplant,you'llalwaysanswerYEStothisone.It's
theonlyanswer.Howcananyonefunctioninsideanorganizationiftheyarea
loner?Youmaywanttomentionwhatpartyouliketoplayinateamthoughit'sa
greatchancetoexplainthatyou'reanaturalleader.

15.Tellmeasuggestionyouhavemadethatwas
implemented.
It'simportantheretofocusontheword"implemented."There'snothingwrong
withhavingathousandgreatideas,butiftheonlyplacetheyliveisonyour
notepadwhat'sthepoint?Betterstill,youneedagoodending.Ifyourprevious

http://www.wisebread.com/howtoanswer23ofthemostcommoninterviewquestions

5/44

5/23/2016

HowtoAnswer23oftheMostCommonInterviewQuestions

notepadwhat'sthepoint?Betterstill,youneedagoodending.Ifyourprevious
companytookyouradviceandendedupgoingbankrupt,that'snotsuchagreat
exampleeither.Bepreparedwithastoryaboutanideaofyoursthatwastaken
fromideatoimplementation,andconsideredsuccessful.

16.Hasanythingeverirritatedyouaboutpeopleyou'veworked
with?
Ofcourse,youhavealistaslongasyourarm.Butyoucan'tsaythat,itshows
youasbeingnegativeanddifficulttoworkwith.Thebestwaytoanswerthisone
istothinkforawhileandthensaysomethinglike"I'vealwaysgotonjustfine
withmycoworkersactually."

17.Isthereanyoneyoujustcouldnotworkwith?
No.Well,unlessyou'retalkingaboutmurderers,racists,rapists,thievesorother
dastardlycharacters,youcanworkwithanyone.Otherwiseyoucouldbeflagged
assomeonewho'spickyanddifficultifyousay,"Ican'tworkwithanyonewho'sa
Bronco'sfan.Sorry."

18.Tellmeaboutanyissuesyou'vehadwithapreviousboss.
Arrgh!Ifyoufallforthisoneyoushouldn'tbehiredanyway.Theintervieweris
testingyoutoseeifyou'llspeakbadlyaboutyourprevioussupervisor.Simply
answerthisquestionwithextremetact,diplomacyandifnecessary,abigfatloss
ofmemory.Inshort,you'veneverhadanyissues.

19.Wouldyouratherworkformoneyorjobsatisfaction?
It'snotaveryfairquestionisit?We'dalllovetogetpaidaTrumplikesalary
doingajobwelovebutthat'srareindeed.It'sfinetosaymoneyisimportant,but
rememberthatNOTHINGismoreimportanttoyouthanthejob.Otherwise,you're
justsomeonelookingforabiggerpaycheck.

20.Wouldyouratherbelikedorfeared?
http://www.wisebread.com/howtoanswer23ofthemostcommoninterviewquestions

6/44

5/23/2016

HowtoAnswer23oftheMostCommonInterviewQuestions

Ihavebeenaskedthisalot,invariousincarnations.ThefirsttimeIjustdrewa
blankandsaid,"Idon'tknow."Thatwentoverbadly,butitwasrightatthestart
ofmycareerwhenIhadlittletonoexperience.SincethenI'verealizedthatmy
genuineansweris"Neither,I'dratherberespected."Youdon'twanttobefeared
becausefearisnowaytomotivateateam.Youmaygotthejobdonebutatwhat
cost?Similarly,ifyou'reeveryone'sbestfriendyou'llfinditdifficulttomaketough
decisionsorhitdeadlines.Butwhenyou'rerespected,youdon'thavetobea
completebastardoralameducktogetthejobdone.

21.AreyouwillingtoputtheinterestsofXCompanyaheadof
yourown?
Again,anothernastyquestion.Ifyousayyes,you'reacorporatewhorewho
doesn'tcareaboutfamily.Ifyousayno,you'redisloyaltothecompany.I'mafraid
thatyou'llprobablyhavetosayyestothisonethough,becauseyou'retryingto
betheperfectemployeeatthispoint,andperfectemployeesdon'tcutoutearly
forJimmy'sbaseballgame.

22.So,explainwhyIshouldhireyou.
AsI'msureyouknow,"becauseI'mgreat"or"Ireallyneedajob"arenotgood
answershere.Thisisatimetogivetheemployeralaundrylistofyourgreatest
talentsthatjustsohappentomatchthejobdescription.It'salsogoodtoavoid
takingpotshotsatotherpotentialcandidateshere.Focusonyourselfandyour
talents,nototherpeople'sflaws.

23.Finally,doyouhaveanyquestionstoaskme?
I'llfinishthewayIstarted,withoneofthemostcommonquestionsaskedin
interviews.Thisdirectlyrelatestotheresearchyou'vedoneonthecompanyand
alsogivesyouachancetoshowhoweagerandpreparedyouare.You'llprobably
wanttoaskaboutbenefitsiftheyhaven'tbeencoveredalready.Agoodgeneric
oneis"howsooncouldIstart,ifIwereofferedthejobofcourse."Youmayalso
askwhatyou'dbeworkingon.Specifically,intheroleyou'reapplyingforandhow
http://www.wisebread.com/howtoanswer23ofthemostcommoninterviewquestions

7/44