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Common interview questions

Some of the commonly-asked interview questions are mentioned here. Of course there is considerable variation according to many factors, including industry and position but this will give you a guideline, along with some resources. It is best to do your homework before interviewing with a company.

    • Some will ask mathematical or quick calculation questions, such as given the following scenario, what would be the ROI?
    • What interests you about this position/company?
    • Imagine we’ve just hired you. What’s the most important thing on your to-do list on the first day of work?
    • What awards have we won?
    • How would you distribute the annual advertising budget?
    • What is Twitter? What is social media?
    • How would you use it? What would be your objectives in using it?
    • Who are our main competitors?
    • What do you consider to be your 2 greatest accomplishments?
    • What job tasks did you perform most effectively?
    • What job tasks did you perform least effectively?
    • Why did you get into this line of work?
    • Where do you think the company should be in ten years?
    • What’s your opinion of our new product?
    • Have you seen the company’s new ad campaign?
    • How would you handle an employee whose performance is fine but who you know has the potential to do better?
    • What would you do if you got behind schedule with your part of a project?
    • Describe a time when you hired (or fired) the wrong person.
    • What have you liked best about your work?
    • What have you liked least about your work?
    • Currently, how interested are you in making a career move and why?
    • Why did you leave or want to leave your current job?
    • What are you looking for in your next position?
    • Ideally, what do you hope to accomplish in your career over the next three years?
    • Ideally, what do you hope to accomplish in your career over the next ten years?
    • If you don’t reach your goals, which of your personal attributes are most likely to hold you back?
    • In general, what job experiences or development activities do you think would be most helpful to you in meeting your career goals?
    • What strengths have been consistently observed in you, either through self-reflection or by others?
    • What would you or others identify as your areas of greatest relative weakness or development need?
    • What attributes have you improved over the years after having received feedback?
    • Describe your ideal job.
    • In the past, what aspects of the work environment (e.g. people, processes, systems, culture, leadership) have made it difficult for you to do your job? (please be specific)
    • How would your coworkers describe you?
    • Give me an example of how you would handle…
    • Would all of your former employers rehire you if there were an opening for a candidate with your profile?

    Please review the list below and mark the five factors that are most important to you in a job.

    Mark no more than five items, although you may mark fewer than five.

    FACTOR

    ☐Advancement opportunities (promotions)

    ☐Fast-paced environment with lots of change

    ☐Friendly workplace with good relations with colleagues, suppliers, and/or clients

    ☐Sense of personal accomplishment

    ☐Hard-driving, performance-based culture

    ☐Autonomy in carrying out my responsibilities

    ☐Belief in the mission of the organisation

    ☐Expert or authority status

    ☐Fair and consistent managers

    ☐Influence on the direction of the organisation

    ☐Monetary compensation

    ☐Opportunity to be creative

    ☐Responsibility for the performance of others and the results of the unit

    ☐Stimulating, challenging work

    ☐Training or development opportunities

    ☐Variety in job duties

    ☐Visibility and recognition

    ☐Working in a stable job with little change

    ☐Work-life balance

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    Interview checklist

    Come Prepared
    Know yourself—your strengths, weaknesses and accomplishments. An interview is not the time to wing it. Prepare as much as you would for a presentation to the Board of Directors at your company.

    Research the Company
    Find out as much as you can about the company through annual reports, newspapers, “Value Line”, Standard & Poors, etc. Your effort will show in the interview, and you’ll be seen as proactive, hardworking and astute.

    Be Well Dressed and Properly Groomed
    Appearance is a critical evaluation component.

    Arrive 15 to 30 Minutes Early
    Punctuality is a subtle clue about attitude and behavior. Tardiness, no matter the excuse, is a major blunder.

    Exhibit Enthusiasm
    First impressions, positive or negative, dramatically affect the ultimate evaluation. You can make or break an interview within the first five minutes.

    Appear Friendly and Outgoing
    Smile and say hello to everyone. A positive reaction from the support staff is an important factor in the evaluation.

    Be Self-confident
    High self-esteem and self-confidence are the hallmarks of the successful individual. With confidence, be able to demonstrate how you have overcome obstacles. There’s nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself.

    Come Prepared for Key Questions
    Practice your responses to all the typical questions, such as “Tell me about yourself” and “Why are you looking for a new position?” How well you speak will have a bigger impact than what you say.

    Remain Involved
    The most effective interviews are those where an active two-way conversation takes place. Not the typical question-and-answer type. Begin early in the interview to interject your own relevant insight.

    Establish Your Worth
    Discuss your specific accomplishments that demonstrate a proactive attitude, such as: have you installed systems, done something not required, trained someone, etc.

    Know Your Six Key Strengths
    Be prepared to discuss in detail and with examples your five or six main attributes. These should be the ultimate reason you get the job over someone else.

    Give 1-to-2 Minute Responses
    Communication is the key to successful interviewing. A minimum of one to two minutes of well-prepared discussion gives the interviewer insight into your intellect and supports your contentions.

    Provide Examples/Details
    Support statements about yourself with specific examples. These will provide legitimacy to your claims. Without them, the interviewer won’t accept them as valid.

    Remain Attentive
    Stay alert during the interview. Maintain good eye contact. Sit forward in your chair. Be animated. Show high levels of interest and stay enthused. These actions can maintain or generate momentum during the interview.

    Don’t Be Arrogant
    A presumptuous, overbearing attitude will offset the finest abilities.

    Ask Probing Questions
    A few strategic questions can demonstrate your intelligence, analytical skills and assertiveness. Have these prepared from your research. Avoid superficial small talk.

    Be Positive about Co-workers
    Don’t bad mouth previous positions, companies or employers. No matter how well founded, this implies a negative attitude, typical of those who don’t take personal responsibility for their actions.

    Clearly State Your Interest
    By the conclusion of the interview, state that you are definitely interested in the position and would like to know when the next step will take place. It’s best to demonstrate this interest throughout the session. Be careful not to go overboard.

    Know Your Objective and End with It
    Establish your objective before the interview, like a second interview or an offer. Ask for it if you have not achieved it. Ask a question such as, “do you think my skills match your needs?” This gets straight to the point and, at worse, reveals other obstacles to overcome.

    Write Thank-you Notes
    This classy final touch shows you to be professional and sensitive, and conveys sincere interest. An excellent follow through. Send to key decision-makers.

    Source http://www.bticonsultants.com/eprise/main/web/sg/bti/en/interview_checklist

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    Questions to ask the interviewer

    Questions About The Organization

    • How would you compare this company to others that you have worked for?
    • What do you like about working for this company? What would you change about this company if you could?
    • What types of people seem to do well in this department/company?
    • What opportunities do you see for this department/company in the next few years?
    • What are the challenges facing this company?
    • Do you see growth opportunities for yourself?
    • Where in the company do you hope to be in five years? (This is a good way to sense potential growth.)
    • How would you rate top management? Do they have a vision for the future?
    • Is the company prepared to deal with technological changes in the next five years?
    • Will the company continue to be competitive? How?
    • What type of growth for the organization do you foresee in the next few years? Why?
    • What would you say drives the company – sales, marketing, engineering, or finance?
    • What kind of turnover rate does the company have?
    • What is it like working here in terms of the people, work loads, and rewards?
    • How strongly does the organization try to promote from within?
    • What is the company’s policy on training and development for employees?

    Questions About The Job

    • Why is this position available?
    • Where is the person who had this position before? (If the person was promoted, ask where the person is now; if fired, ask why.)
    • How many people have held this position in the last three years? (If the turnover rate seems high, ask for an explanation.)
    • Who would I report to? How would you describe their management style?
    • Can you show me how this position fits in with the total department?
    • What would be my first assignment?
    • What are the short and long term objectives to be accomplished in this job?
    • What are the challenges that have to be faced? What are the major opportunities?
    • What factors do you feel are most important contributors to success in this position?
    • How is one’s performance evaluated in this position?

    Questions About The Work Environment

    • How does the company promote personal and professional growth?
    • What is needed to get ahead in this organization?
    • How would you describe the politics of the organization? Give me an example.
    • How would you describe the corporate culture (environment)?

    Source http://www.careerowlresources.ca/Interviews/Int_Frame.htm?Int_You_Ask.htm~right

    Questions to Ask

    A few key principles about asking questions:

    • Ask only those questions to which you want an answer. This may seem obvious, but many people will ask questions merely to impress the interviewer. Why waste your time and theirs when they are likely to see through your smoke-screen?
    • Ask questions that reveal the depth of your research and your interest in the job. In other words, don’t ask questions that are easily answered on the company Web site or in the job description. (You do have a copy of the job description, don’t you?)
    • Don’t ask questions about salary, vacation, or other benefits until you are offered the job. If you do ask, the interviewer will be inclined to think that you are more interested in the money than in the position. (There are exceptions to this rule – for, instance, if you already have experience in this field and need to know if the job falls within your acceptable salary range.) Take a look at Richard Fein’s “Rogue’s Gallery of 16 Awful Questions.”

    Some sample questions:

    • How and when will my performance be evaluated on this job? How is success measured in this department / organization?
    • I read in your literature that your training program is comprised of three six-month rotations. Does the employee have any input into where he will go at the end of each rotation? How do you evaluate the employee’s performance during the training period?
    • I read in Business Week that a major competitor of yours is increasing its market share in your main market. What plans does your firm have to regain its lost market share?
    • Can you please tell me how your career has developed at this organization? Would someone entering the firm today have similar opportunities?
    • What will my typical day be like?
    • What is an average week in this job really like?
    • What are the challenging facets of the job?
    • What is the number one priority of the person who accepts this job?
    • What do you consider the five most important day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
    • What are some examples of the best results produced by people in this position?
    • Does the management encourage the policy of promotion from within the organization?
    • What are the organization’s plans for future growth or change?
    • What makes your firm, hospital, school system, ad agency, etc., different?
    • What are the organization’s strengths, and what challenges does it face?
    • How would you describe your organization’s personality and management style?
    • What do your company’s managers and supervisors have in common?
    • What are your expectations for new hires within their first three to six months on the job? The first year?
    • What might I expect to be doing over the next three to five years?
    • Describe the work environment.
    • What is the overall structure of the department where the position is located?
    • What do you see as the strengths of the department?
    • What does the department hope to achieve in the next two to three years?
    • How will that help the organization?
    • What is the biggest single problem facing the organization now?
    • What could be done if an employee doesn’t feel challenged or satisfied?
    • Are lateral or rotational job moves available to provide broader experience?
    • Are they considered valuable?
    • How are employees able to stay current on changes and trends in their field?
    • What qualities are you looking for in your new hires?
    • What happened to the last person who had this job?
    • Is this a new position? How long has this position existed?
    • How many people have held this position in the last two years?
    • Who would be my supervisor? To whom would I report?
    • Whom will I supervise?With whom will I be working most closely?
    • What characteristics does a successful person have in your organization?
    • How often are performance reviews given and how are they conducted?
    • What are the company’s values? What does the company stand for?
    • How are the company’s values reflected in everyday activities?
    • What’s the best thing about working here? the worst thing?
    • What is unique about the way this company operates?
    • Why did you come to work here?
    • What keeps you here?
    • What skills have helped you the most?
    • Nursing candidates may wish to ask about orientation, promotions, shift differentials, chain of command, malpractice policies.
    • Education candidates may wish to ask about in-service training and opportunities for professional development; textbook selection procedures; approaches to curricula; parental involvement in school-related issues or Parent Councils; median age/turnover of faculty; master’s degree requirements.
    • When can I expect to hear from you?

    Source http://www.jobsearchonline.bc.ca/Interviews/questionstoask.htm

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    Questions not to ask
    Questions Not to Ask

    Want to know what not to ask a potential employer? Here’s “The Rogue’s Gallery of 16 Awful Questions,” adapted from Richard Fein’s 101 Dynamite Questions to Ask at Your Job Interview.

    • What does your company do?
    • What are your psychiatric benefits?
    • Are you (the interviewer) married?
    • Can you guarantee me that I will still have a job a year from now?
    • The job description mentions weekend work. Would I really have to do that?
    • How can you determine my qualifications in a short interview?
    • Do I get to keep the frequent flyer miles from my trips?
    • Would anyone notice if I came in late and left early?
    • How am I as a candidate?
    • What is the zodiac sign of your company’s president?
    • How many (particular ethnic group) do you have working here?
    • Do you offer free parking?
    • What does this company consider a good absenteeism record?
    • What do you mean by “relocate”?
    • Do you reimburse the cost of getting an MBA?
    • Can you tell me about your retirement plan?

    Source http://www.jobsearchonline.bc.ca/Interviews/questionsnottoask.htm

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    A good resource for interview questions and answers is

    http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_question_database/