Fifty Questions You Need the Answers to Before an Interview

These are just some of the questions you could be asked at an interview. Because most of us view interviews with the same sense of anticipation as we would about a visit to the dentist we often do not think about them. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Tell me about yourself?

2. Why do you want to work here?

3. How do you feel you can help or company / organization?

4. If you were choosing someone for this position, what kind of person would you select?

5. Why do want to go into the ________________field?

6. If you feel you have any weakness with regard to this position, what would it be?

7. What are some of your weaknesses?

8. What do you expect in this position that you were not getting in your past positions?

9. How do you feel about working extra hours?

10. Where do you see yourself in 3 years? In five years?

11. How would you handle this problem? (After the interviewer describes a complex problem)

12. Are you considering other positions at this time? How does this one compare with them?

13. Why did you leave your last position?

14. How long have you been out of work?

15. What have you been doing since you left your last position?

16. How did you like working at ______________company? Why?

17. What are your short / long range goals? How do you expect to meet them?

18. What does success mean to you?

19. What motivates you? How do you motivate others? Especially those with performance problems?

20. Do you plan to get further education, degrees?

21. What have you done to improve yourself during the last year?

22. How do you spend your spare time?

23. Tell me about your health?

24. If you could relive your last 15 years, what changes would you make?

25. Tell me about your greatest achievement / disappointment in life

26. What did you like best / lest in your last position?

27. Do you prefer working alone or as part of a team?

28. What are some of the more difficult problems you encountered in your past positions? How did you solve them?

29. When was the last time you felt enthusiastic about helping a colleague or staff member succeed? Explain.

30. Did you ever make suggestions to management? What happened?

31. What do you think management could do to make you function more effectively?

32. What has kept you from progressing as fast as you would like?

33. Tell me about the best / worst boss you ever had?

34. What do people criticize you about?

35. What are your pet peeves?

36. What is your leadership style?

37. Are you geographically mobile, either now, or in the future?

38. What else do you think I should know about you?

39. What is your philosophy of life? Of work? Of your field?

40. Can we check your references, and what would they say about you?

41. What kinds of people do you find difficult to work with?

42. What can you offer us that someone else can’t?

43. Can you work well under stress?

44. Describe the biggest crisis in your life?

45. Have you ever been fired?

46. Tell me about the last incident that made you angry? How did you handle it?

47. What do you really want to do in life?

48. Does your employer know that you are planning to leave?

49. How would your subordinates describe you? Your peers?

50. What is the biggest mistake you ever made?

About the Author:

Peter Robson has over 20 years experience in the career guidance industry. he has worked with people from a variety of job backgrounds and industries. He works with people individually as well as project managing large outplacement assignments.   These are just some suggestions for sample job interview questions which is why you should sign up for my 5 day job hunting course at http://www.careers-advisor.com

Comments

[Ty Abernethy]

Peter- all important questions to prepare for! Obviously you can't memorize your answer to each one of these questions, but it is good to at least think them all over beforehand. Recruiters are getting more creative with their interview questions, beyond the typical strengths and weaknesses question. If there's a question you know you'll struggle to answer, rehearse the answer before the interview so you're prepared. You don't want to get caught without an answer!