Interview Overview
THE INTERVIEW
Typical Questions Asked by Clients:
Tell me about yourself.
What do you know about our company?
Can you explain to me your understanding of the position?
Why are you considering a change?
Can you share with me the professional accomplishments you have had that stand out?
Can you share with me an example of a trying situation that you faced and how you managed to resolve it?
Why do you want to work here?
Why are you looking to change positions?
Tell me what you consider to be your strengths and what you consider to be your weaknesses?
How much money do you want?
What do you like most about your current job (or manager)? What do you like least?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
What is the best thing that your boss will say about you? What is the worst?
Name five adjectives that would best describe you. (Be able to back it up)
Typical Questions That every Candidate Should Ask:
(Do not ask benefits questions or questions about money.)
Could you tell me about the growth plans for the company (the department?)
How is the department set up and what departments will I be interacting with?
What is the greatest challenge I will face in the position?
What skills do you feel are important to be successful in this position?
Why did you join this company?
BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS
Please Note:
Not all of these questions may be relevant to your particular level of experience. Take the time to see how your experience may relate to each of these questions.
- Describe a situation in which you operated in an environment with little or not structure or direction. How did you respond?
- Tell me about a situation where you, or people around you, were uncomfortable due to lack of direction or guidelines. What caused it, and how did you react?
- In your current or last jobs, have you been in situations where you are not sure of what you will be doing next week or next month? Or, when you cannot predict how your efforts turn out? Give me an example.
- Can you tell me about a time when you found yourself in the middle of a crisis, for example, when everything seemed to be going wrong for a customer project? What was the situation? How did you approach the crisis? What went through your mind?
- Describe your approach to data gathering and analysis. Tell me about a time when you applied this approach to a complex project. What methods did you use? How did you present the results?
- How would you describe your communication style?
- Describe a situation in which effective interpersonal skills contributed to your success.
- Provide an example of a time when you worked on a project/job with little supervision. How did you proceed? What was the result?
- Describe a situation when you have converted ideas or insights into new business opportunities or a new approach to a project? What was the result?
- How would your last employer describe your work habits and ethics?
- Please describe a time when you made a mistake. How did you handle this?
- In a business setting, how would you handle a situation in which someone repeatedly did not understand you?
- Tell me about a time when it was important to the success of a project or an engagement that you win someone’s trust? Who was the individual and how did you go about it?
- As a leader, how have you handled situations where one or more team members were not doing their share or were limiting group progress?
- What is one of the most difficult leadership challenges you have ever faced? What did you do? What was the result?
- Tell me about a time when you put a team together from the onset. How did you get everyone to achieve the result/goal?
- Describe a time when you were a member of a team that had difficulties. What did you do to help alleviate the problem? What was the result?
- What specifically have you done in the past year to develop your skills and stay on the leading edge of your field? Give me some examples.
- Learning from past mistakes is something we all can benefit from. Tell me about a time when you learned a valuable lesson from a failure at work.
- Can you recall a time when you needed to learn a new skill or assimilate a lot of new data quickly in order to meet a project or work requirement? What steps did you take to acquire this learning? How much time did it take?
- What have you done to promote teamwork and cooperation among individuals and groups in your current job? Give me some examples. What was your motivation? How effective were your actions?
- How have you handled a situation involving a person with an opinion different than yours?
Adaptability
- Tell me about a situation in which you have had to adjust to changes over which you had no control. How did you handle it?
- Tell me about a time when you had to adjust to a classmate’s or colleague’s working style in order to complete a project or achieve your objectives.
- How was your transition from high school to college? Did you face any particular problems? How did you handle them?
Analytical Skills / Problem Solving
- Describe the project or situation that best demonstrates your analytical abilities. What was your role?
- Tell me about a time when you had to analyze information and make a recommendation. To whom did you make the recommendation? What was your reasoning? What kind of thought process did you go through? Why? Was the recommendation accepted? If not, why?
- Tell me about a situation where you had to solve a difficult problem. What did you do? What was your thought process? What was the outcome? What do you wish you had done differently?
- What steps do you follow to study a problem before making a decision? Why?
Communication
- Tell me about a recent successful experience in making a speech or presentation? How did you prepare? What obstacles did you face? How did you handle them?
- Have you ever had to "sell" an idea to your classmates or co-workers? How did you do it? Did they accept your idea?
- Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa). How did you handle the situation? What obstacles or difficulties did you face? How did you deal with them?
- Tell me about a time in which you had to use your written communication skills in order to get an important point across.
Creativity
- When was the last time you thought "outside the box" and how did you do it? Why?
- Tell me about a problem that you’ve solved in a unique or unusual way. What was the outcome? Were you happy or satisfied with it?
- Give me an example of when someone brought you a new idea that was odd or unusual. What did you do?
Decision Making
- Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision without all the information you needed. How did you handle it? Why? Were you happy with the outcome?
- Give me an example of a time when you had to be quick in coming to a decision. What obstacles did you face? What did you do?
- What is the most difficult decision you’ve had to make? How did you arrive at your decision? What was the result?
- 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.
Goal Setting
- Give me an example of an important goal which you have set and tell me how you reached it. What steps did you take? What obstacles did you encounter? How did you overcome the obstacles?
- Tell me about a goal that you set that you did not reach. What steps did you take? What obstacles did you encounter? How did it make you feel?
Initiative
- Describe a project or idea (not necessarily your own) that was implemented primarily because of your efforts. What was your role? What was the outcome?
- Describe a situation in which you recognized a potential problem as an opportunity. What did you do? What was the result? What do you wish you had done differently?
- Tell me about a project you initiated. What did you do? Why? What was the outcome? Were you happy with the result?
- Tell me about a time when your initiative caused a change to occur.
- What was the best idea you came up with during your professional or college career? How did you apply it?
Assertiveness And Motivation
- 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?
Integrity/Honesty
- Discuss a time when your integrity was challenged. How did you handle it?
- Tell me about a time when you experienced a loss for doing what is right. How did you react?
- Tell me about a business situation when you felt honesty was inappropriate. Why? What did you do?
- Give a specific example of a policy you conformed to with which you did not agree. Why?
Interpersonal Skills
- Give an example of when you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. How/why was this person difficult? How did you handle it? How did the relationship progress?
- Describe a situation where you found yourself dealing with someone who didn’t like you. How did you handle it?
- Describe a recent unpopular decision you made. How was it received? How did you handle it?
- What, in your opinion, are the key ingredients in guiding and maintaining successful business relationships? Give me examples of how you have made these work for you.
- Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa). How did you handle the situation?
- Tell me about a time when you had to work on a team with someone you did not get along with. What happened?
- Describe a situation where you had a conflict with another individual, and how you dealt with it. What was the outcome? How did you feel about it?
Leadership
- Tell me about a team project when you had to take the lead or take charge of the project? What did you do? How did you do it? What was the result?
- Describe a leadership role of yours. Why did you commit your time to it? How did you feel about it?
- What is the toughest group that you have had to get cooperation from? What were the obstacles? How did you handle the situation? What were the reactions of the group members? What was the end result?
Planning And Organization / Time Management
- Describe a situation that required you to do a number of things at the same time. How did you handle it? What was the result?
- How do you prioritize projects and tasks when scheduling your time? Give me some examples.
- Tell me about a project that you planned. How did your organize and schedule the tasks? Tell me about your action plan.
- 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 go
- about it?
- Think about a lengthy 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 go about it?
- Think of a time when you made important plans that were fouled up. How did you react? What did you do?
Teamwork
- Describe a situation where others you were working with on a project disagreed with your ideas. What did you do?
- Tell me about a time when you worked with a classmate or colleague who was not doing their share of the work. How did you handle it?
- Describe a situation in which you had to arrive at a compromise or help others to compromise. What was your role? What steps did you take? What was the result?
- Tell me about a time when you had to work on a team that did not get along. What happened? What role did you take? What was the result?
Interaction and Leadership
- 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 go about it?
- Describe a situation which best illustrates your leadership ability.
- Think about someone whose leadership you admire.
- What qualities impressed you?
Probes / Follow-Up Questions
- What steps did you take?
- What action did you take?
- What happened after that?
- What did you say?
- How did he/she react?
- How did you handle that?
- What was your reaction?
- How did you feel about that?
- What was the outcome/result?
- Were you happy with that outcome/result?
- What do you wish you had done differently?
- What did you learn from that?
- How did you resolve that?
- What was the outcome of that?
- Why did you decide to do that?
- What was your logic?
- What was your reasoning?
- Where were you when this happened?
- What time was it?
- Who else was involved?
- Tell me more about your interaction with that person.
- What was your role?
- What obstacles did you face?
- What were you thinking at that point?
- Lead me through your decision process.
- How did you prepare for that?
- Why?
- How?
- When?
- Where?
Brian Fenerty
Peopleflex, Inc.
1025 Andrew Drive
