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Human Resources Management

What IS and IS NOT ok to ask in a job interview?)

OK

What education, skills, and training do you have that will help you succeed in this position?

Can you perform all the required job functions, tasks, and/or duties listed here, with or without accommodation? (Include a detailed list of job functions with the job application/interview. If the applicant responds that he or she can perform the task(s) with and accommodation, you may then ask: How would you perform the task(s) and with what accommodation(s)?)

Can you satisfy the physical requirements of the job? (Have a list attached)

How would you perform the specific job functions?

How many days were you absent from your last job?

What is your work history? Why did you leave your last job?

What IS and IS NOT ok to ask in a job interview?)

NOT OK

Do you have conditions/disabilities that might affect your ability to do the job?

Have you ever been treated for any mental health problems? Have you ever seen a psychiatrist?

Have you ever been hospitalized? For what?

Do you have a heart condition? (No questions about specific health conditions)

How did you become disabled? Why do you use a wheelchair? (No questions about specific disabilities or the nature of an obvious disability)

What medications do you take?

How many days were you sick at your last job?

Will you need to take leave for medical or disabilityrelated reasons?

Is there any health reason why you may not be able to perform the duties of the job?

1. How would you describe yourself? Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. Describe yourself in one word.
3. Name 3 of your strengths and weaknesses.
4. What type of books, magazines and newspapers do you read? Which were the latest ones you read?
5. Why did you choose your specific university?
6. How was your transition from high school to university?
7. Tell me more about your academic performances.
8. How will your university education benefit your future career?
9. Do you have any plans to continue studying, for an advanced degree for example?
10. If given the chance, would you have done anything differently in your university career?
11. What would you have done anything differently in your life until now? Please Login or Sing up to view this section
12. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
13. What makes you angry?
14. Describe your ideal job following graduation.
15. What career goals have you set yourself?
16. What influenced you to choose this career path?
17. What traits and qualifications do you have which will make you successful in this career path?
18. Why do you want to work at our company?
19. What do you know about our _________?
20.
21.
22.
23. You`re standing in an elevator with your potential future boss - how would you sell yourself in 10 seconds?
24. You are allowed to ask someone in history a single question. Who would you choose and what is your question?
25. How many airplanes are there in the world?
26. How would you gain the confidence of a client who has over 30 years experience?
27. Do you prefer working alone or in a team?
28. What is the role you adopt whilst working in a team?
29. Tell me about a problem you faced whilst working in a team. How did you resolve the problem?
30. How good are you at solving conflicts?
31. What would you do if a colleague is underperforming, which is hurting you and your division as well?
32. Are you good at dealing with stress? Give me several examples which demonstrate this.
33. Are you willing to travel for the job?
34. Are you willing to relocate for the job?
35. What was the biggest challenge you ever faced?
36. Describe a situation where you successfully convinced others of your ideas.
37. Describe a situation where you arrived at a compromise with a colleague.
38. Please give me some examples which show that you can adapt to a variety of people, cultures, and environments.
39. Which areas of the world would you like to explore and why?
40. Are you good at handling several tasks and responsibilities simultaneously?
41. How do you determine priorities in your planning?
42. How would your friends describe you?
43. Have you ever considered starting your own business?
44. Tell me more about your prior internship/job experience. How would your previous colleagues describe you?
45. What is the most significant contribution you made in your previous company?
46. Could you have done better in your previous job?
47. What would you like to improve professionally about yourself?
48. Your boss tells you in confidence that he is considering firing a colleague, who happens to be your best friend at work. How would you handle this situation?
49. Tell me a joke.
50. What would you do with 1 million ping-pong balls?


Leadership

1. What are you most passionate about?
2. Which activities are you better at than your friends and classmates?
3.Which activities you don’t get bored or tired?
4.What are your most outstanding unique qualities?
5. How good are you in decision making?
6. What positives do people identify in you?
7. Do you feel genuinely for others?
8. Do you feel like helping and guiding others?
9. Are you able to motivate and encourage others?

1. What are the skills and responsibilities of the people who carry out these tasks?
2. Do you have the skills?
3. Do they have the skills?
4. How do you measure success in your job?

Questions Interviewers

Should Expect to Be Asked

About the Position

1. Why is the position open?
2. Is this a newly created position? How long has the position been open?
3. What happened to the person who previously held this position?
4. How many employees have held this position in the last three years?
5. How long has this position existed in the organization? Has its scope changed recently?
6. What's your "call to action" for employees?
7. What's your ideal employee like?
8. Imagine that I excel in this position. Where would I go from here?
9. Can you give me an idea of the typical day on the job and its work- load and special demands?
10. How does an employee succeed on your team?
11. What will be my first assignment?
12. What tasks will fill a majority of my time?
13. What challenges do you think I will face in this position?
14. Could you show me a formal job description?
15. What can I bring Company XYZ to round out the team?
16. By what criteria will you select the person for this job?
17. Where does this position fit into the organization?
18. What kind of person are you looking for?
19. When was the last person promoted?
20. What is the ideal experience and skill set for this position?
21. What problems might I expect to encounter on this job?
22. What is the normal salary range for this job?
23. Tell me about promotions and advancement in this company.
24. 25. What are the three most significant things that need to be accomplished by the person in this position in the first year, and what r".- - hurdles will that person encounter?
26. Can you tell me more about what my day-to-day responsibilities would be?
27. Who has the final say in this hiring decision?

QUESTIONS INTERVIEWERS SHOULD EXPECT TO BE ASKED

28. How much freedom would I have to determine my work objectives and deadlines?
29. What kind of support does this position receive in terms of people and resources?
30. How would my performance be measured, and how is successful per- formance usually rewarded?
31. Can you give me a formal, written description of the position?
I'm interested in reviewing in detail the major activities involved and what results are expected.
32. Can you please tell me a little bit about the people with whom I'll be working most closely?
33. If I were a spectacular success in this position after six months, what would I have accomplished?
34. Do you foresee significant amounts of overtime or work on week- ends involved with this job?
35. 36. What goals or objectives need to be achieved in the next six months?
37. How do you see this position impacting on the achievement of those goals?
38. What is the first assignment you intend to give me? Where does that assignment rank on the departmental priorities? What makes this assignment a great opportunity?

About the Management

39. How does this company go about solving problems?
40. To whom would I report? What should I know about him or her?
41. How much supervision will I get as a new employee?
42. Can you briefly tell me about the managers who will supervise me?
43. How many people will I supervise? What are their backgrounds?
44. What are the most critical factors for success in your segment of the business?
45. Are my tasks limited to my job description, or will I be performing duties outside the described job scope?
46. How much scope will I have in pursuing opportunities and initiatives beyond the job description that I believe will advance the mission of the team?

About the Company

47. What are the organization's most important goals?
48. What are your plans for company expansion?
49. What are the company's growth plans for the next five years?
50. Describe the performance evaluation procedures you use.
51. Is there anything else I should know about this company?
52. Can you describe the work environment here?
53. How do you describe the philosophy of the company or organization?
54. What do you consider to be the organization's strengths and weak-nesses?
55.
56. Do the most successful people in the company tend to come from one area of the company, such as sales or engineering, or do they rise from a cross section of functional areas?
57. What's the makeup of the team as far as experience? Am I going to : be a mentor, or will I be mentored?
58. What does this company value the most, and how do you think my work for you will further these values?

INTERVIEWERS SHOULD EXPECT TO BE ASKED

59. What kinds of processes are in place to help me work collaboratively?
60. Does this company typically promote from within?
61. Why are you not filling this position from within?
62. How does this position and/or department fit into the organizational structure?
63. You said I could expect to make more money down the road. When will I get a review, and what exactly will I need to do to be success- ful?
64. When can I expect to hear from you about the next stage in the inter- viewing process?
65. What major problems are we facing right now in this department or position?
66. How does upper management perceive this division or part of the organization?
67. Could you explain the company's organizational structure?
68. What is the organization's plan for the next five years, and how does this department or division fit in?
69. Will we be expanding or bringing on new products or new services that I should be aware of?
70. What are some of the skills and abilities you see as necessary for someone to succeed in this job?
71. What challenges might I encounter if I take on this position? 72. What are your major concerns that need to be immediately addressed in this job?
73. What are the department's goals, and how do they align with the com- pany's mission?
74. What are the company's strengths and weaknesses compared with the competition [naming one or two companies?
75. How does the reporting structure work here? What are the preferred means of communication?
76. What's the gross profit margin of the division I will be working in? What percentage of the total profit from the company does it gener- ate? Is it increasing or decreasing?
77. What's your company's "killer application"? What percentage of the market share does it have? Will I be working on it?
78. How will my performance be evaluated? What are the top criteria you use?
79. What percentage of my compensation is based on my performance? 80. Is there a process whereby the employees get to evaluate their super- visor?
81. Is the company's training strategy linked to the company's core busi- ness objectives?
82. Are there formal metrics in place for measuring and rewarding per- formance over time?
83. How effectively has the company communicated its top three busi- ness goals?

About the Culture

84. How would you describe the corporate culture at this location?
85. What management style is most prevalent here?
86. How would you describe the ethical foundation for the company?
87. How are executives normally addressed by their subordinates?
88. What can you tell me about the prevailing management style?
89. Does the company have a mission statement? May I see it?
90 How does the firm handle recognition for a job well done?
91. When was the last time you rewarded a subordinate for his or her efforts? What token of appreciation did you offer?
92. What are the greatest challenges I will facei in this position in further- ing the values of the organization?
93. How does the firm recognize and learn from a brave attempt that didn't turn out quite as expected?
94. Does this company typically have a reactive or proactive strategy to dealing with problems?
95. I am a hard worker. I expect to be around other hard-working people. Am I going to be comfortable with the level of effort I find here?
96. Work-life balance is an issue of retention as well as productivity. Can you talk about your own view of how to navigate the tensions between getting the work done and encouraging healthy lives outside the office?
97. How does the company support and promote personal and profes- sional growth?
98. Can you give me some examples of the best and worst aspects of the company's culture?
99. What makes this company a great place to work? What outside evidence (rankings or awards) do you have to prove this is a great place to work?
What is the company going to do in the next year to make it better?
100. Your competitors all have great products and people programs. What is the deciding factor that makes this opportunity superior? Are you willing to make me some specific "promises" on what you will do to make this a great experience if I accept the position?
101. Can you show me that the company has a diverse workforce and that it is tolerant of individual differences? Does it have affinity groups or similar programs that I might find beneficial? Is there a dress code?
102. Can you give me an example of any "outrageous conduct" this firm tolerates that the competitors would not?
103. Does the company have a program to significantly reward individu- als who develop patents and/or great products? Is there a program to help individuals "start" their own firms or subsidiary? Will I be required to fill out noncompete agreements?
104. How many approvals would it take (and how long) to get a new $110,000 project idea of mine approved? What percentage of employee-initiated projects in this job was approved last year?

About the Interviewer

105. What have you liked most about working for this company?
106. How did you get into your profession?
107. What are some of the problems that keep you up at night?
108. What do you see as the most important opportunities for improve- ment in the area I hope to join?
109. What attracted you to work for this organization?
110. What attracted you to this company, and what do you think are its strengths and weaknesses?
111. What have you liked most about working here? Least?
112. In what ways has the experience surprised or disappointed you?
113. What is the best or toughest question I could ask you in order to find out about the most troubling aspects of this job? How would you answer it?
114. If you were my best friend, what would you tell me about this job that we haven't already discussed?
115. Are there any aspects of my background or skills that you would like to hear more about?
116.
117. What would be a surprising but positive thing the new person could do in the first 90 days?

About the Hiring Process

118. How long will it take for you (and the company) to make a hiring decision for this position?
119. If I do a great/bad job in the first 90 days, specifically how will you let me know? What steps would you take to help me improve? How do you discipline team members?
120. Can we schedule a performance review in three months?



Determining Your Competence

What skills do you think you have gained from your schooling and past work experience?

What are your strengths and weaknesses? – suggestion - although you might want to list off some weaknesses, frame it so they only make up a minute part of your answer and possibly arrange it so as to say it would not affect your work in this particular position or that you were able to turn into a strength.

How do you interact with people? Do you prefer working independently or in a group environment?

Have you ever had to work with someone that did not share your same work style or work ethic?

How did you get around that?

Have you ever had difficulty finishing a task or a project?

Why and what did you do to eventually get it done?

Describe your contribution to a group effort that you may have participated in?

Describe your leadership skills?

Where in our company do you feel your skills could be best used?

1. Tell me about a time when your employer was not happy with your job performance.
2. Have you ever had to work with a manager who was unfair to you or who was just plain hard to work with?
3. How would you define a difficult manager?
4. Have you ever been in a dispute with a supervisor? What was it about, and how was it resolved?
5. How would you finish this sentence: Most people are basically . . . ?
6. Can we check your references?
7. What kind of references do you think your previous employer will give you? Why?
8. How do you deal with coworkers or supervisors who do not show you proper respect?
9. What causes you to lose your temper?
10. Describe a situation in which your work was criticized.
11. Describe how you have responded when your work has been criticized.
12. How would your subordinates describe you?
13. Tell us about the last time you lost your temper.
14. What situations make you lose your temper?
15. Tell us about the worst supervisor you've worked under.
16 Tell us about the best supervisor you've worked under.
17 Tell us about a confrontation that you've had with a coworker.
18 How do you maintain an effective working relationship with your coworkers?
19 How would your best friend describe you?
20 How would your worst enemy describe you?
21 How do you handle rejection?
22 What are some of your pet peeves?
23 Which of your skills can stand improvement at this time?
24 What problems do you have getting along with others?
25 What are some of the things your supervisor did that you disliked?
26 A'ere you ever dismissed from a job for a reason that seemed unjus- :fied?
27 What kinds of things do you worry about?
28 What are some of the things that bother you?
29. If I were to call your supervisor today, how would he or she describe you?
30. Can you identify some weaknesses for which you need to compen- sate?
31. What do you do when your boss loads you down with a great deal of work and not enough time to do it in?
32. What do you do when there is a decision to be made and no proce- dure exists?
33. Are you generally lucky or unlucky?
34. We all know that family members tend to be critical of each other. Do your family members criticize you?
35. If you were going to be fired, how would you like your supervisor to handle it?

1. Tell me about yourself using words of only one syllable.
2. Have you done the best work you are capable of?
3. What was the most useful criticism you ever received?
4. Describe the best person you have ever worked for or who has worked for you.
5. If your last boss were able to wave a magic wand over your head, what aspect of your performance would he or she fine-tune?
6. If you had the opportunity to do the last 10 years of your career over again, what would you do differently?
7. Describe the most difficult decision you have ever had to make. Reflecting back, was your decision the best possible choice you could have made? Why or why not?
8. If I were to speak with your current supervisor, what would he or she say are your current strengths and weaknesses?
9. Take as a given that you got this job, and you have been doing it for three to six months but things are just not working out. We are sitting here discussing the situation. What do you think you would say about what went wrong?
10. When you've had a really good day at work and you go home and kick back and you feel satisfied, what was it about that day that made you feel really good? When you have had a really bad day at work and you go home and feel upset, what was it about that day that made you feel really upset?
11. What cherished management belief have you had to give up in order to get where you are?
12. What's more important to you, truth or comfort?
13. Have you learned more from your mistakes or from your successes?
14. Is honesty always the best policy?
15. How has your tolerance for accepting mistakes from your subordi- nates changed over the years?
16. Where do you think the power comes from in your organization? Why?
17. On what occasions are you tempted to lie?
18. Is the customer always right?
19. If you could organize the world in one of three ways-no scarcity, no problems, or no rules-how would you do it?
20. Should all business relationships have fixed terms-that is. expira- tion dates?

Exit Interview between departing employee and a representative from employer

QUESTIONS

1. Tell me about how you've come to decide to leave.
2. What is your primary reason for leaving?
3. Are there any other reasons for your leaving?
4. Why is this decision important or significant for you?
5. Within the context of [particular reason to leave], what was it ".- - concerned you most?
6. What could have been done early on to prevent the situation :- - escalating to this point?
7. How would you have preferred the situation(s) to have been har - :
8. What opportunities can you see that might have existed :" situation/problems to have been addressed satisfactorily?
9. What was most satisfying about your job?
10. What was least satisfying about your job?
11 Vhat would you change about your job?
12 Did your job duties turn out to be as you expected?
13 Did you receive enough training to do your job effectively?
14 Did you receive adequate support to do your job?
15 Did you receive sufficient feedback about your performance between nerit reviews?
16 How do you feel about the organization?
17 Did this company help you to fulfill your career goals?
18 Do you have any tips to help us find your replacement?
19 Were you satisfied with this company's merit review process?
20 What would you improve to make our workplace better?
21 Were you happy with your pay. benefits, and other incentives?
22 What was the quality of the supervision you received?
23 What could your immediate supervisor do to improve his or her man- agement style?
24 Based on your experience with us. what do you think it takes to suc- ceed at this company?
25 Did any company policies or procedures (or any other obstacles) make your job more difficult?
26 What can you say about the processes and procedures or systems that have contributed to the problem(s)/your decision to leave?
27 What specific suggestions would you have for how the organization could manage this situation/these issues better in the future?
28 What has been good/enjoyable/satisfying for you in your time with us?
29 What has been frustrating/difficult/upsetting to you in your time with us?
30 What could you have done better or more for us had we given you the opportunity?
31. What extra responsibility would you have welcomed that you were not given?
32. How could the organization have enabled you to make fuller use of your capabilities and potential?
33. Would you consider working again for this company in the future? 34. Would you recommend working for this company to your family and friends?
35. How do you generally feel about this company?
36. What did you like most about this company?
37. What did you like least about this company?
38. What does your new company offer that this company doesn't?
39. Can this company do anything to encourage you to stay?
40. Before deciding to leave, did you investigate a transfer within the company?
41. Did anyone in this company discriminate against you, harass you. or cause hostile working conditions for you? Any other comments?
42. What could you say about communications and relations between departments, and how could these be improved?
43. What training would you have liked or needed that you did not get, and what effect would this have had?
44. How well do you think your training and development needs were assessed and met?
45. What training and development did you find most helpful and enjoy- able?
46. Can you tell me about a situation with a customer you dealt with that didn't go too well, and what you would now do differently?
47. What improvements do you think can be made to customer service
48 How would you describe the culture of the organization?
49 Were you oriented adequately for your role(s)?
50 What improvement could be made to the way that you were inducted/prepared for your role(s)?
51 What can you say about the way your performance was measured and the feedback you received on your performance results?
52 What suggestion would you make to improve working conditions, hours, shifts, amenities, and so on?
53 How well do you think the appraisal system worked for you?
54 What would you say about how you were motivated, and how that could have been improved?
55 What can you say about the way you were managed? On a day-to- day basis? And on a month-to-month basis?
56 How would you have changed the expectations/objectives/aims (or absence of) that were placed on you? Why?
57 What, if any, examples of ridiculous policies, rules, and/or instruc- ns can you highlight?
58 What examples of ridiculous waste (material or effort), pointless reports, meetings, bureaucracy, and so on, could you point to?
59 How could the organization reduce stress levels among employees where stress is an issue?
60 How could the organization have enabled you to have made better use of your time?
61 What things did the organization or management do to make your job more difficult/frustrating/nonproductive?
62 Aside from the reason(s) you are leaving, how strongly were you attracted to committing to a long and developing career with us?
63 Whati can the organization do to retain its best people (and not lose any more like you)?
64. Have you anything to say about your treatment from a discrimination or harassment perspective?
65. Would you consider working again for us if the situation were right? Exit Interview Questions for Recent Recruits Who Have Stayed in the Position for a Year or Less
66. How could you have been helped to better know/understand/work with other departments necessary for the organization to perform more effectively?
67. How could we have improved your own recruitment?
68. How could your induction training have been improved?
69. How did the reality alter from your expectations when you first joined us?

Education
Why did you select your undergraduate degree?
Why did you choose your University?
What are the main things you learned from your studies?
Why did you pursue an MBA or ____ _____ _____ ______ ______ _____ _______?
Why did you select your particular concentration/major/stream?
How do your studies relate to your career goals?
How did you finance your studies?
Which parts of your MBA/_____ Program did you enjoy the most?
Which parts of your MBA Program/_____ did you enjoy the least?
What have you learned in your degree program that has been most useful to you?
Are your grades a good indication of your academic achievement?
What did you learn from participation in extracurricular activities?
Describe your most rewarding university experience.
Has your coursework helped you in any way for this type of position and how so?
Tell us about your study and work skills. QUESTIONS

1. Can you review your salary history for me?
2. Is money important to you?
3. I understand your reluctance to commit to a salary estimate here. However, I need to know what salary you are seeking in order to know if your salary is within our range.
4. What salary, excluding benefits, are you making now?
5. What do you expect in the way of salary for this position?
6. Why aren't you earning more at your age?
7. What do you feel this position should pay?
8. Would you consider taking less pay than you made in your last job?
9. How can we best reward you?
10. What kind of salary reviews or progress would you expect in this company?
11. In your professional opinion, what is the value added, expressed in dollars, of the position for which you are applying?
12. What do you think you're worth? Why do you think you're worth that?
13. How do you think your compensation should be determined?
14. What value can you add to our organization?
15. How much money do you want to be making five years from now
16. How much did you make on your last job?
17. What sort of salary are you looking for?
18. Would you be willing to work for less?

1. This is a Christian [or Jewish or Muslim, etc.] company. Do you think you would be happy working here?
2. What's your nationality?
3. Is that an Irish [or whatever] name?
4. Would working with people of another faith be a problem?
5. Where are your parents from?
6. What is your religious affiliation?
7. Do you go to a church/synagogue/mosque?
8. Do you believe in God?
9. Do you pray?
10. What religious holidays do you observe?
11. Where are your people from?
12. Where were you bom?
13. Where did you grow up?
14. Does your religion prevent you from working weekends or holidays?
15. Is that a Jewish name?
16. Is there any day of the week you're not able to work?
17. What church are you a member of?
18. Do you sing in the church choir?
19. Do your children go to Sunday school?
20. What do you do on Sundays?

GENDER AND SEX

1. Do you wish to be addressed as Mr., Mrs.. Miss. or Ms.?
2. Are you fertile, or do you have the capacity to reproduce?
3. What are your plans about having children in the future?
4. What's your sexual orientation?
5. Are you a member of any gay or lesbian groups?
6. Are you straight?
7. Do you date members of the opposite or same sex?

PERSONAL FINANCES

1. What is your economic situation or status?
2. What kind of car do you drive?
3. Who paid for your education?

DISABILITY

1. What health problems do you have?
2. Do you have any disabilities?
3. Are you physically fit and strong?
4. Is your hearing good?
5. Can you read small print?
6. Do you have any back problems?
7. Have you ever been denied health insurance?
8. When were you hospitalized the last time?
9. Is any member of your family disabled?
10. Have you ever been addicted to drugs?
11. Have you ever filed for worker's compensation?
12. Do you see a physician on a regular basis?
13. When was your last medical checkup?
14. Do you have large prescription drug bills?
15. Do you have any handicaps?
16. What caused your handicap?
17. What is the prognosis of your handicap?
18. Have you ever had any serious illness?
19. Do you have any physical disabilities?
20. Have you ever received worker's compensation?
21. Do you have problems with alcohol or drugs?
22. Do you have HIV or AIDS?

Acceptable

1. Employment eligibility?

NATIONAL ORIGIN AND/OR ANCESTRY

1. Where were you born?
2. In what city/country did you grow up?
3. Where are your people from?
4. How did you acquire the ability to speak, read, or write a foreign lan- guage?
5. How did you acquire familiarity with a foreign language?
6. What language is spoken in your home?
7. What is your mother tongue?
8. That's an interesting accent. What country do you come from?
9. What was your first language?

Acceptable

1. What are the names of your relatives already employed by the com- pany or a competitor?
2. Describe the role of your family in your career.
PREGNANCY AND CHILDREN
1. Are you married?
2. Are you a single parent?
3. Do you have children?
4. Do you plan on having (any/more) children?
5. What do you use for birth control?
6. What kind of child-care arrangements have you made?
7. Who will take care of your children?
8. Are you a family man (or woman)?
9. Do you intend to get married soon?
10. What are your long-range plans for family?
11. How many people live in your household?
12. Do you live by yourself?
13. Do you have someone who can take care of a sick child?
Acceptable
Do you foresee any long-term absences in the future?
Note: Inquiries relating to duration of stay on a job or anticipated abser.
must be made to male and female applicants alike.

Core Competency Questions

9. What do you continue to leam from teaching general survey or ser- vice courses?

10. Tell us about your research program. What are you working on cur- rently? What do you plan to look at next?

11. You've seen our mission statement. How would you see yourself con- tributing to our mission and campus atmosphere?

Ethics Questions

12. Tell us about a time you handled an ethics issue. How did you resolve it?

Brainteasers and Business Problems

13. What is the cutting edge in your field, and how does your work extend it?
14. What is the broader significance of your research? How does it expand our historic understanding, literary knowledge, and/or human- istic horizons?


10. If I were talking with your supervisors/subordinates/colleagues, what adjectives would they use to describe you?

Core Competency Questions
11. You'll be required to hit the ground running for this job. How will you be able to handle this?

Ethics Questions

12. What are the most common ethical problems that managers face?
Brainteasers and Business Problems

13. Do you want this job? [One hopes the answer is positive.] Then why, through our entire discussion, have you not asked for it?
14. Take as a given that you got this job and you have been doing it for three to six months, but things are just not working out. We are sit- ting here discussing the situation. What do you think you would say about what went wrong?
15. How would your coworkers describe you?
16. How do you generally handle conflict?
17. How do you behave when you're having problems with a coworker?
18. Describe your best friend and what he or she does for a living.
19. In what ways are you similar or dissimilar to your best friend?
20. Do you like to travel?
21. What are your hobbies?
22. Are you an overachiever or an underachiever? Explain.
23. What actions can you take to ensure that user requirements are appro- priately addressed in the implementation of a new application?
24. What is a message queued
25. What is DHCP?
Ethics Questions
26. Can acting ethically increase a company's bottom line? How? Brainteasers and Business Problems
27. How can you tell a good program from a bad one?
28. When I say the word initiative, what is the first thought that comes to mind?

Information Technology Management

Network Administration Expertise

Icebreaker and Background Questions

1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
Behavioral Questions
2. Tell me about a time you were required to make a decision that could have had negative outcomes. How did you make this decision?
3. Tell me about a time when you made a suboptimum decision about a project.
4. Give me an example of a recent incident in which you took the ini- tiative on a project.
5. Would you still take the initiative on a project if you knew you weren't going to be recognized for it?
6. Our clients frequently ask for projects to be changed midprocess. Tell me how you have dealt in the past with similar midprocess reque'' for project changes.
7. Describe your participation on an IT steering committee. What was the challenge? What was your role? What was the outcome?
8. With respect to your participation on an IT steering committee, what technology did you choose? Why? How did it work out?
9. What plan of action do you take when facing a problem?
10. What is the most boring project you have ever worked on? How did you do on it?
11. How do you react to criticism from superiors if you believe it is unwarranted?
12. Describe the best company you have ever worked for.
Core Competency Questions
13. What metrics do you prefer to measure user satisfaction with IT?
14. Have you seen or used our product(s) or service(s)? What did you like or not like about them?
15. What is blocking, and how would you troubleshoot it?
16. What is a deadlock, and what is a livelock? How will you go about resolving deadlocks?
17. Describe synchronization with respect to multithreading.
18. What is an abstract classy
19. Explain different ways of using thread.
20. What are statistics? Under what circumstances do they go out of date How do you update them?
21. What are cursors? Explain different types of cursors. What are the disadvantages of cursors?
How can you avoid cursors?
22. What are joins? Explain the different types of joins.
23. Describe the project or situation that best demonstrates your codir- skills.
24. Describe the project or situation that best demonstrates your analyt ical abilities.
25. Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Explain.
26. Do you set goals for yourself?
27. Have your team members ever come to you with their personal prob- lems? What limits, if any, have you put on those interactions?

Human Resources Management

Icebreaker and Background Questions

1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. What are the most important rewards you expect out of your career?
Behavioral Questions
3. Give me an example of a time when you were assertive and took the initiative to get a particular job done.
4. Tell me about how you would budget for recruiting.
5.

Questions to Determine Fit

6. If you were hiring someone for the job you are interviewing for, what three qualities would you look for?
7. Do you have a favorite interviewing question you like to ask cand: dates?
8.
Information Technology Management

Icebreaker and Background Questions

1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. What kind of supervisor is likely to get the best performance out of you?
Behavioral Questions
3. Describe a situation in which you were able to enhance the useful- ness of information in an existing mainframe system and increase your employer's productivity.
4. Tell me about a time when you were required to work with people you had not previously worked with.
5. What would you do if you had almost completed a project and the specifications changed?
6. Tell me about a recent and relevant project experience in which yoL brought together a team to interpret functional specifications an; translated that into a sound technical project.
7. How has your conception of information systems quality evolve; over the years?
8. Describe successful strategies for software testing that you have employed.


Human Resources Management

Icebreaker and Background Questions
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. Tell me about a project that got you really excited.
Behavioral Questions
3. Tell me about a time when you had to assert yourself in a difficult sit- uation.
4. Tell me about your biggest hiring success.
5. Tell me about your biggest hiring mistake.

Questions to Determine Fit

6. To what do you attribute turnover?
7. Is turnover always detrimental?
8. Tell me about a time when you had to discipline a subordinate.

Core Competency Questions

9. Is any level of employee turnover acceptable?
10. How could we improve the hiring process we are using to select person for this position?

Brainteasers and Business Problems

21. What has been the most useful technical criticism you have ever received?

22. What would be impossible for you to do, but if you could do it, it would greatly increase your productivity, results, and/or success?



8. What is your management style?
9. Are you a good manager? Can you give me some examples of suc- cesses you have had as a manager? Do you feel that you have top managerial potential?
10.
11. Have you ever had to fire people? What were the reasons, and how did you handle the situation?
12. What do you think is the most difficult thing about being a manager or executive?

Core Competency Questions

13. Prioritize the elements of a complicated project.
14. Do you use an activity chart to track the flow of the activities neces- sary to reach your goals?
15. What project management methodologies have you found most effec- tive?
16. In what ways have you improved in your capacity for planning over the years?
17. What do you do when there is a decision to be made and no proce- dure exists?

Ethics Questions

18. How might you be able to gauge a person's ethical mindset in ^' interview?

Brainteasers and Business Problems

19. Tell me about a time when you had a conflict in your work and h.; you resolved it.

Core Competency Questions

11. What is your process for setting priorities?
12. How do you approach long-term projects?
13. How would you describe your problem-solving ability?
14. Most of us become more astute decision makers as the base of our experience broadens. In what respects do you feel you have improved as a decision maker?
15. Describe a situation that required you to use fact-finding skills. 16. How many projects can you handle at a time?

Ethics Questions

17. If two managers give you two projects to be completed by the end the day and you have time to do only one, how do you proceed?
Brainteasers and Business Problems

18. In your career, what negotiation are you most proud of?
19. What has been your biggest analytical challenge?

Core Competency Questions

1. What are some examples of important types of decisions or recom- mendations you have been called upon to make?
2. Would you describe how you have approached making important decisions or recommendations? With whom did you consult?
3. Tell me what you have learned about reducing employee turnover.
4. How do you prioritize your time?
5. Take me through a project on which you demonstrated _________ skills.

Ethics Questions

6. How do you include business ethics into the mix when recruiting?

Brainteasers and Business Problems

7. Describe the most difficult decision you have ever had to make. Reflecting back, was your decision the best possible choice you col have made? Why or why not?V 8. How successful do you believe you've been so far?

Training and/or Presentation Skills

Icebreaker and Background Questions

1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. What were the most important projects you worked on at yo. last/present job?

Behavioral Questions

3. Can you give me an example of a major project you have workec that involved communication and writing skills?
4. Tell me about a work situation that required excellent communication skills.
5. Can you recall a time when you persuaded someone who initial!y dis-agreed with you to ultimately see the correctness of your posiition?
6. Give me an example of your using strategic thinking at work.
7. Tell me about a time when your communication style influenced a: . decision.
Questions to Determine Fit
8. How would you compare your oral skills to your writing skills.

Customer Service

Icebreaker and Background Questions
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. We're all customers. What frustrates you about customer service?
Behavioral Questions
3. If you had a customer who was complaining about poor service, how would you handle it?
4. Tell me about your worst customer service dilemma and hov you: overcame it.
5. Can you tell me about a difficult collection problem and hov. dealt with it?
Questions to Determine Fit

6. What's one thing we at this company could do to make our customers even more satisfied with us?
7. What is the customer service attitude at your present organization?
Core Competency Questions
8. How do you deal with customers who think they are right even when they are wrong?

Sales and Marketing
and/or Sales Management

Icebreaker and Background Questions
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. Are you a self-starter? Can you give me an example of an instance which you have taken the initiative?
Behavioral Questions
3. What is your definition of sales'!
4. Can you tell me about a time when you identified a new, unusual. different approach for addressing a problem or task?
5. Tell us about your experience in dealing with the public.

Questions to Determine Fit
6. How would you describe your assertiveness?
7. Who was the toughest customer you ever faced?
Core Competency Questions
8. When was the last time you sent a thank you note to a custom;' didn't buy that day?

Sales and Marketing
and/or Sales Management

Icebreaker and Background Questions
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. What makes you proud of your work?

Behavioral Questions

3. What was the most surprising objection you have ever received, and how did you handle it?
4. Can you talk about a sales incentive program that motivated you?
Questions to Determine Fit
5. What do you despise about making telephone sales calls?
6. Who are the motivation gurus you find most interesting?
Core Competency Questions
7. Where do you find your telephone leads?
8. What is your ratio of initial contacts to actual sales presentations?
9. What percentage of your sales calls result in sales?

Sales and Marketing
and/or Sales Management

Icebreaker and Background Questions

1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. Can you think of a challenge you have faced? How did you deal with it?
Behavioral Questions
3. Tell me about a time you adjusted your approach to a prospect based on his or her body language.
4. Tell me about a time when you followed up with a reluctant prospect and still failed to get the order.
5. Talk about a time when you overcame your own mental block or prejudices udices to make a sale.
Questions to Determine Fit
6. What strategies do you use to repeat the customer's key concept back to him or her during a sales pitch?
7. How do you turn an occasional buyer into a regular buyer?
8. Have you ever taken over an existing territory/desk? What was the volume when you started? What was it when you left?


Sales and Marketing
and/or Sales Management

Icebreaker and Background Questions
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
Behavioral Questions
2. Tell me about a time when you almost lost a sale and worked hard to get it back.
3. When you cold-call a prospect, what obstacles do you expect the clerical staff to put in your way?
4. When you telephone a prospect, what strategies do you use to get past the secretary or receptionist?
Questions to Determine Fit
5. How do you qualify a prospect?
6. How do you overcome the difficult periods that face everyone in sales?
7. How long does it take you to get from initial contact to sales closing?
8. How do you deal with rejection?

INTERVIEW SCRIPTS 1-40

Core Competency Questions
9. What have you learned about guarding against groupthink?
10. Have you developed any special techniques for brainstorming?
11. Are you able to predict a person's behavior based on your reading him or her?
12. Describe your organizational skills.
13. What strategies do you apply to working with disorganized . colleagues?
14. Have you ever not taken a risk and later regretted it?
15. Tell me about an occasion when the team objected to your ideas. What did you do to persuade them of your point of view?
16. What factors would you consider in assembling a project team?
17. Name some of the pitfalls to be avoided in building an effective team.
18. Through what tools can a committee become more useful or productive?
19. What actions can a supervisor take to establish teamwork in the organization?
20. You supervise a group of civilian employees. Your employees appear to be at odds with the uniformed personnel. What steps can you take to improve the teamwork between civilian and uniformed personnel?
21. What are the advantages, if any, of establishing team goals as opposed to individual goals?
Ethics Questions
22. If you knew that millions of people would model their lives after yours, would you change anything about the way you live? When have you changed your behavior to try to influence someone else?
22. What's more important to you, truth or comfort?
23. How would you react if I told you that your interview, so far, was terrible"?

Team Leadership
Icebreaker and Background Questions
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. What are some of your pet peeves?
3. How would you describe your organizational style?

Behavioral Questions

4. Tell me about a time when you had to confront a team member.
5. Tell me about a time when you initiated an action that brought unex pected results.
6. Can you describe a time when your performance exceeded expecta tions?
7. Tell me about an unsuccessful team of which you were a member What, if anything, could you have done differently?
8. Tell me about a successful team of which you were a member. What was the most outstanding characteristic of that team? What specifically did you contribute?
Questions to Determine Fit

9. As a member of a team, how do you see your role?

Team Leadership
Icebreaker and Background Questions
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. Who or what has been a major influence in your life?

Behavioral Questions

3. Tell me about a time when your team made emotional decisions abc. a particular project. What happened, and how did you handle it?
4. Tell me about a specific accomplishment you have achieved as a p- ticipant in a team.
Questions to Determine Fit
5. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
6. Can you give me an example of a time when you received const'-. tive criticism?
7. What makes you want to work hard?
8. What past accomplishments gave you satisfaction?
9. What type of work environment do you like best?
10. Explain how you overcame a major obstacle.
11. How do you handle pressure and stress?


General Management
and/or Supervision

Icebreaker and Background Questions
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?

Behavioral Questions

2. Tell me about a time when your communication style made a dirt; ence in a project.
3. As a manager or supervisor, one of your jobs is to provide direct'; and leadership for a work unit. Describe how you have accomplish: this in the past.
4. Tell me about a situation in which you were able to find a new _- better way of doing something significant.
5. Give me an example that would show that you've been able develop and maintain productive relations with others, though th: were differing points of view.
Questions to Determine Fit
6. How would you describe your communication style?


General Management
and/or Supervision

Icebreaker and Background Questions
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. Where do you want to be-and what do you want to be doing-fi • years from now?
Behavioral Questions
3. When you have entered a new workplace in the past, as a manager supervisor, describe how you have gone about meeting and develop ing relationships with your new coworkers, supervisors, and repon-- staff.
4. Tell me about a time when you used creativity in your last/pre'r position.

Questions to Determine Fit

5. What experiences do you bring that involve creativity?
6. How important is it for you to leam new skills?
7. What new skills would you like to leam?
8. Do you consider yourself successful?


General Management
and/or Supervision

Icebreaker and Background Questions
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. What sort of position are you really looking for? Can you de-.- ' your ideal job?

Behavioral Questions

3. Some people feel that spending a prolonged time at one job de~ strates a lack of initiative. How do you respond to that?
4. What are the advantages of staying at one job for a long time
5. Tell me about a time when you solved a problem in a unique manner.
6. Give me an example of a time when you used your strengths to achieve outstanding results. Questions to Determine Fit 7. Since you were in the same job for such a long time, you've probably grown very comfortable in it-maybe even a bit stale. How would you cope with a new job in a company such as ours?


General Management
and/or Supervision
Icebreaker and Background Questions
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. What books and/or magazines do you read?
3. I've read your resume and application, but what else should I know about you to make a good decision about your qualifications for this Job?
Behavioral Questions
4. Tell me about a time when your knowledge of your position made a difference in the outcome of a situation.
5. Can you describe a situation in which a crisis occurred and you had to shift priorities and workload quickly?
6. How do you feel about your present workload?
Questions to Determine Fit
7. Have you thought about why you might prefer to work with our firm as opposed to one of the other firms at which you've applied?
8. When some managers make a decision, they often feel a nee- defend it at any cost or despite new information. Can you describe a time when you changed a stated decision or opinion because you were persyaded you were wrong?


General Management
and/or Supervision
Icebreaker and Background Questions
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
Behavioral Questions
2. A manager or supervisor must manage performance and conduct peri odic performance reviews. Tell me how you have managed employer performance in the past. Describe the process you have used to give performance feedback.
3. Tell me about a difficult decision you have had to make. 4. With respect to a time when you had to make a difficult decisions, what did you leam from that experience?
5. Describe the way your department is currently organized. Questions to Determine Fit
6. What kind of leader are you? Please provide an example.
7. What is the title of the person you report to, and what are his or her responsibilities?
8. What would your boss say about your performance in your last position?

INTERVIEW SCRIPTS

Questions to Determine Fit
9. What kinds of obstacles to completing assignments on time do you most frequently encounter at work?
10. If you have complaints about your present company and you believe they think highly of you, why haven't you brought your concerns to their attention?
11. The successful candidate for this position will be working with some highly trained individuals who have been with the company for a long. time. How will you fit in with them?
12. What is the most difficult situation you have faced? How did you handle die it?
13. What can you bring to this job from your previous experience?
14. What do you like the best about supervision?
15. What do you like the least about supervision?
16. What has been your most positive experience as a supervisor?
17. What has been your most negative experience as a supervisor?
18. Which aspect of supervision did you feel the most comfortable with?
19. Which aspect of supervision did you feel the least comfortable with?
20. What aspect of supervision is most difficult for you, and why?
Core Competency Questions
21. What's the hardest thing about being a leader?
22. Are you a mentor to anyone? Who? What is your philosophy of mentoring?
23. What does the word success mean to you?
24. What does the word failure mean to you?
25. What experience have you had in supervision?
I
1. How do you see our company helping you achieve your goals?
Core Competency Questions
2. How do you deal with unanticipated expenses? Can you give an example?
3. How do you defend the budget in your present position?
4. Tell me about a time when you underestimated a budget and had to ask for additional funds.
5. Did you ever have to restructure your budget in the middle of the fiscal period? What approach did you take?
6. How would you create a budget in the position for which you are applying?
7. What process do you use for evaluating the training and developmental needs of subordinates?
Ethics Questions
8. Describe your previous employer's strategy for managing ethics.
Brainteasers and Business Problems
9. How have you benefited from your disappointments?
10. Can you suggest three reasons why manhole covers are circular?
11. How do you manage others day to day while focusing on the big pic ture?
12. Distinguish between planning for the short term, midterm, and long term.
13. How do you quantify the results of your activities as a manager?
14. Have you ever completed a formal retum-on-investment calculation on a strategic investment? Please provide details.
Ethics Questions
15.

Brainteasers and Business Problems
16. If your photograph were splashed on a magazine cover, what would the magazine be, and what would the headline say?
17. How would you rate me as an interviewer?


Q: Do you think it is important to promote team building among employees in the organization? What steps do you take to ensure this?
A: Candidate should work for good positive relations among employees and understand that good co-worker relationships are vital to the company, the team, and that positive relations improve efficiency.

Q: Tell me about a time when a colleague strongly disagreed with your views, ideas, or way of working? What kind of relationship can you develop with such a person?
A: The job seeker should have excellent interpersonal skills and that they are able to improve relations with people even in cases where they cannot agree upon certain issues.

Q: Do you like people?
A:

Q: How frequently do you add contacts to your address book? Do you think it is worth building network of contacts?
A: Job seeker should want to build and be able to build more contacts. They should understand that more contacts can help them achieve professional/company related goals.

Q: Describe how you get on with your work colleagues? How frequently do you seek each other's support? How frequently do others seek and ask for support from you?
A:

Q: What, in your view makes a person likeable?
A:

Q: Do you think it is worthwhile to establish new relationships? What are the consequences of building new relationships in your professional and personal life?
A:

Q: How will you initiate a new relationship with a potential client? Do you think it is necessary?
A:

Still looking for answers?

1: Ability to Delegate
2: Ambition
3: Analytical Skills
4: Assertiveness
5: Awareness to Detail
6: Career Goals
7: Cooperation Skills
8: Coaching Ability
9: Communication Skills
10: Confidence
11: Conflict
12: Creativity
13: Customer Service
14: Decision Making
15: Determination
16: Diplomacy Skills
17: Ethics
18: Imagination
19: Initiative
20: Inventiveness
21: Job Knowledge
22: Judgment
23: Leadership
24: Learning Skills
25: Listening Skills
26: Manage Change
27: Management Ability
28: Mental Attitude
29: Motivation
30: Negotiation Skills
31: Organizational Skills
32: Patience
33: People Skills
34: Personality Traits
35: Present Job
36: Pressure
37: Problem Solving Abilities
38: Profile Match for New Company
39: References
40: Reliability
41: Resignation
42: Resourcefulness
43: Responsibilit
44: Risk Taking
45: Safety Skills
46: Salary
47: Sales Ability
48: Strategic Thinking
49: Teamwork
50: Technology Skills
51: Trick Questions
52: Written Communication Skills

Question: Do you think delegation is a way to dump failure on the shoulders of a subordinate or as a dynamic tool for motivating and training your team to realize their full potential?
Answer Guide: Employee should see delegation as an effective management skill which allows staff to use and develop their skills and knowledge to their full potential. A cynical view of this skill is a warning sign.

Question: What type of instructions would you give your staff if you decided to delegate?
Answer Guide: Clear instructions with decisive standards; everyone should know what needs to be done, when it should be finished, and the quality/detail needed. A job seeker should delegate the objective, not the procedure.

Question: What steps do you take to ensure that the work you delegate is successful?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should explain he knows how to outline desired results, ask for progress reports, sets interim deadlines, and does not overly focus on the methodology.

Question: What do you think are the most common excuses team leaders use to not delegate?
Answer Guide: They can do it better them selves, can’t trust him/her to do it; he/she is not qualified enough; they don’t want anymore added responsibilities; I don’t have time to show anyone how to do it; No one to delegate to; I am the only one that can do it.

Question: What should you assume about your co-workers if you want to delegate successfully?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be able to view the positive potential of co-workers; does not rule out the possibility that a co-worker may want more responsibility; co-workers want to learn more; job seeker should recognize that the short term training investment will pay off in the long term.

Ambition - Interview Questions
Question: How ambitious are you? And why do you think you are ambitious?
Answer Guide: Job Seeker should demonstrate a real ambition that is also backed by a persistence and real enthusiasm to succeed. However, check that this ambition is balanced by a sense of clear-headiness and an innate common sense. Make sure that the candidate is grounded in reality.

Question: Do you think this company is ambitious and if so, why?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should demonstrate a good knowledge of the company, especially its past achievements, and have an optimistic and positive view of its future.

Question: Do you have any past heroes?
Answer Guide: Pay attention to the heroes and look for the qualities they admire. Do they possess any of those qualities? Look for historic figures that have demonstrated a clear purpose, enthusiasm and all the other specific qualities that resonant with the position you are offering.

Question: What important goals have you achieved in the past year?
Answer Guide: Look for an answer that demonstrates real ambition that is also backed, not only by persistence, but by a real enthusiasm to succeed. Try to determine if they have a record of practical achievement.

Analytical Skills

Question: Can you tell me about a time when you discovered a more efficient way to do a work task?
Interview Answer Guide: Job seeker should be able to identify a time where he/she was having difficulty with a work task, found a way to rectify the faults and work more efficiently.

Question: Tell me about a task that really tested your analytical abilities?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should mention a time where he/she had to use reason and logic to resolve a problem. Job seeker may have analyzed all the relevant information and created a good, effective solution.

Question: Tell me about a tricky situation for which you found a very simple solution?
Answer Guide: Job seekers answer should show that they are a problem solver, that they can analyze all the information, and come up with a solution.

Question: Have you ever been in a real dilemma at work? What did you do to get out of it?
Answer Guide: You should hear answers that show the job seeker has sound analytical skills to solve a problem; analyzes problems in great detail to come up with a solution.

Question: Tell me about an assignment you worked on in which you had to amass a huge amount of data, and then analyze it?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be able to explain how they can compile facts and figures for preliminary analysis; derive relevant facts and information from the study of this data.

Question: Can you tell me about a situation where your analysis of a problem was deemed to be incorrect? What would you have done differently?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should have the character to admit mistakes. Also clarify: Were the steps he took correct? More importantly, has he/she learned from this mistake?

Assertiveness

Question: Have you ever been in a situation, at work, when you have been motivated to question an ethical issue?
Answer Guide: Evaluate the answer and try to see if the job seeker is intimidated by authority figures; are they prepared to protest something they do not believe in; are they able to see things from someone else's perspective.

Question: If a clash of personalities were to occur with a colleague, what steps would you take to make the working relationship run smoothly?
Answer Guide: Things to look for: Does the job seeker seem to have the ability to solve this issue? What steps would they take? Does the thought of a personality conflict intimidate them? Do they seem confrontational or quietly assertive?

Question: Can you explain an occasion when you have had to motivate and boost the morale of your colleagues.
Answer Guide: Evaluate how positive and confident the applicant appears to be when discussing their ability to motivate co-workers. Do they seem confident that they can improve productivity in difficult situations?

Question: Describe an occasion when you had to give an explanation of what you could realistically deliver, and why was this issue important?
Answer Guide: If the delivery falls short or there is a problem, then immediate steps can be taken to correct the problem. Should have realistic expectations based on skills and/or abilities.

Question: What steps will you take to clarify unclear information, or instructions with regard to your work?
Answer Guide: Does the job seeker’s answer show that they will be assertive or confrontational when trying to clarify instructions? Assess whether or not the candidate can deal with confrontational issues in a calm and rational manner. Does the very thought of disobedience make them angry?

Awareness to detail

Question: Give me an example of an assignment that you found difficult to finish? How did you go about it?
Answer Guide: Answer should show the job seeker is quality conscious, understands the importance of time management techniques, understands how critical deadlines are, and does not give up when obstacles occur.

Question: Do you always double-check your work?
Interview Answer Guide: Job seeker should show that they are aware of the quality process and that they try to deliver a flawless project

Question: Is detail important to you? Do you think details should be left to your assistant?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should show that they check their work to ensure that he/she delivers good quality product and that they take responsibility for his/her own work.

Question: Did you ever have to complete a project with a fixed pressurized deadline, where the final proposal had to be 100?
Answer Guide: Accuracy and perfection? If so, tell us about it.

Question: How do you handle projects with short deadlines that require precise calculations and analysis? What is your approach?
Answer Guide: Should follow systematic approach; has the ability to be accurate while keeping in mind the time constraints, use of appropriate software and technology.

Question: Tell me about a time when you were given an assignment, but you were not clear of how to go about it. How did you tackle this situation?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should know whom to deal with to get the relevant information, how to assess the details of the project and decide what he/she is supposed to do.

Career Goals

Question: What are your career goals - both short-term and long term?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should demonstrate clear purpose, enthusiasm and commitment to own goals; plans ahead; do they see the company intertwined with their future plans?

Question: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Answer Guide: Do they see their future intertwined with the company; have they done enough research into the company; do their answers demonstrate that they are ambitious, energetic, goal-oriented, and enthusiastic?

Question: There are thousands of possible careers. Why do you want to follow this particular career?
Answer Guide: Job seekers who really want this job, will be quick, definite and forceful when explaining why.

Question: Five years ago - how would you have answered the Interview Question: "Where do you see yourself five years from now?" Do you think you have achieved what you wanted to?
Answer Guide: Demonstrates honesty, persistence and enthusiasm in their plans for the future, especially with this new position; shows they learn from past mistakes; they are not quitters.

Cooperation skills

Question: Some people believe life is all about “The survival of the fittest”. Today, others are suggesting, from new biological evidence, that life is in fact all about the '”The survival of the most cooperative”. What do you think? Interview Answer Guide: Candidate should knows the importance of co-operating, they seem to try to co-operate with others, and tries their best to keep the relationship with his/hers co-workers and superiors healthy.

Question: Give me an example of a situation where you helped your colleague perform a particular task in which you had better knowledge on the subject?
Answer Guide: Should be helpful; team player; ready to help people in the team.

Question: Can you tell me about a time when you backed off in a meeting because you felt someone else should speak or have an opportunity?
Answer Guide: Answer should show that they have self-control, have respect for others, are ready to help people, and that they are a team player.

Question: Tell me about a time when you acted as a mediator to help colleagues resolve their differences.
Answer Guide: Does the candidate show that they can handle conflict and/or that they have the ability to mediate situations? Can they come up with a solution that will be in the best interest of all the people involved?

Question: How would you show co-workers the importance of co-operation?
Answer Guide: Answers should show the need for a healthy, self-respecting, functional team and how vitally important cooperation is for success in modern commercial life

Question: Give me an example of a time when you tried your best to work with someone, but the problems still remained. What did you learn from that situation?
Answer Guide: Should understand and try to cooperate with others and work hard to keep the relationship with co-workers healthy.

Question: Give an example of a time when you assisted a co-worker to enhance their work skills?
Answer Guide: Should discuss helping co-workers with their work for the benefit of the company and the company’s customers.

Question: Tell me about a time when you had to help a co-worker who had made a bad mistake. What did you do?
Answer Guide: Should have tried to help the person; appear to go out of their way to help others; appear to care about what is best for the company; does not seem to exploit colleagues for his/her own benefit.

Coaching ability

Question: What procedures do you use to evaluate the ability of your co-workers? What do you do to help your colleagues perform to the best of their abilities?
Answer Guide: Should be able to recognize potential talent and abilities in others and nurture this attributes.

Question: Give me an example in which you gave some on-the-job training to your subordinates. Please be as specific as possible
Answer Guide: You should heart that they have provided on-the-job training for others; whether they have or haven’t the job seeker should appear to be helpful and committed to creating a strong well skilled team.

Question: Do you think it is important for your colleagues to constantly update their skills? If so, what have you done to help in this matter?
Answer Guide: Candidate should appear to take care of the people around him/her in the company, so that they can be more successful; motivates and inspires other to do better and achieve more; enhances education and skills.

Question: What do you think are the main factors that normally boost the morale of your fellow workers? How would you incorporate these factors into this organization?
Answer Guide: Candidate should know that workers need to feel valued for the contributions they make; clear goals that co-workers can work towards; co-workers should be given opportunities to grow, learn, and achieve within the workplace.

Question: Describe a time when you helped a co-worker enhance their social skills.
Answer Guide: Job seeker should seem to naturally help others in enhancing their skills.

Question: As a team leader, how can you motivate a colleague who is not interested in working? What can be done to get him/her to contribute to the organization? Give an example if you have done something similar in the past.
Answer Guide: Candidate should appear to view situations from the other person’s perspective, understands and can see potential problems, acts as a counselor, and tries to inspire colleagues.

Question: Tell me about a time when you gave coaching sessions, yet the participants had difficulty in understanding the topics you were covering. What did you do?
Answer Guide: Should appear to have the relevant coaching skills; has patience and does not mind repeating the topic until everyone understands the purpose of the coaching session.

Communication skills

Question: Tell me about a time when you had to be very careful in communicating delicate information. What was the possible risk involved and how did you go about it?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should appear to understand the necessity of confidentiality, to have the ability to disclose delicate/sensitive information carefully, and with utmost sensitivity.

Question: Describe a time when you took extra effort to make sure the person with whom you were communicating with had really understood your point. How did you do this?
Answer Guide: The candidate's answer should show that they understand why clarification is an important part of communication.

Question: What steps do you take to establish a rapport with others?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should have the ability to see things from another person's perspective. How do they accomplish this? Does the candidate appear to be able to empathize with others?

Question: Give me an example when you had to present complex information in a simplified manner in order to explain it to someone.
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be able to explain how they break up complex information to help co-workers easily understand the information.

Question: Give me an example when you had to present complex information in a simplified manner in order to explain it to someone.
Answer Guide: Does the candidate appear to have good listening skills? Can they listen close enough to get the correct information?

Question: How do you explain a complex technical issue to someone who has less technical knowledge than you?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be able to express his/her knowledge in a clear, simple manner; answer should show that they have the ability to explain technical matters to non-technical people.

Question: Give me an example of a time when you had to put your point across in a meeting to which most of the people were reluctant to hear.
Answer Guide: Job seeker should show the ability to convince others by making valid points; have a strong character; is not afraid to speak his/her mind to defend the interest of the company and/or his/her own interests.

Confidence

Question: How would you define self-confidence?
Answer Guide: An attitude, which allows individuals to have positive yet realistic views of themselves and their situations. A candidate who trusts her own abilities, has a general sense of control in her life, and believes that, within reason, she will be able to do what she wishes, plans, and expects.

Question: How confident are you?
Answer Guide: Applicant should answer the question instantly and forcefully while maintaining full eye contact. Also pay close attention to body language: Is the applicant's body language congruent with his answer?

Question: Tell me about a situation or situations that might demonstrate your confidence to do this job?
Answer Guide: Does the job seeker appear to be able to deal with all the diverse situations he/she will meet in your organization? Do they appear to be able to handle issues in a calm and confident manner?

Question: Would your friends describe you as a confident person?
Answer Guide: Watch the applicant's body language and non-verbal responses, especially eye movement. Does he/she sound and look convincing when answering this question?

Question: Do you think there is a difference between confidence and arrogance?
Answer Guide: Applicant should know that confidence is an essential life-affirming character trait, while arrogance is a poor, frightened, and inadequate self-image parading as confidence.

Conflict

Question: Tell me about a situation when you were given job instructions and you were unable to comprehend the instructions. How did you go about completing the task?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should explain that seeking clarification is alright; that they try to clarify things to make sure the job is done right; should see conflict as natural and not a personal attack.

Question: How do you manage to work with people whom you are not comfortable with? What do you do in such situations?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should explain that they put the team first; should not appear easily intimidated; seeks to resolve differences; does not personalize conflicts.

Question: Tell me about a time when you helped to successfully mediate in a conflict? How did you feel?
Answer Guide: Candidate should show that they are helpful in resolving conflicts by understanding each co-workers view of the situation.

Question: Tell me about a situation where you were aware of a serious mistake made by a colleague and what did you do about it?
Answer Guide: You basically want to hear that they do not like to point fingers at others; that they try to stop the mistake from happening again by making his/her colleague aware of their error in a non blame educational manner.

Question: Describe a time when you had a disagreement with a colleague at work. How did you manage to work it out?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should appear to know how to resolve issues and uses it as an opportunity to reinforce interpersonal relationships; concentrates on the issues and never personalizes things.

Question: Tell me about a time when you had to work through some negativity to get some work done.
Answer Guide: Answer given should show you that the candidate can stick with it and work through negativity quickly.

Question: Describe a time when everyone in the meeting was opposing your ideas. How did you manage to work it out?
Answer Guide: Candidate should appear to know how to convince others that their point is right. Sees conflict as natural. Never personalizes it, but explains the issues involved forcefully; stands up for what he believes is best for the business in a logical and reasonable manner.

Question: How would you handle a conflict between you and higher management?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should appear to be able to reason logically and forcibly argue for what is best for the company; should be respectful to, but not intimidated by higher management.

Creativity

Question: How often do you discuss and work with colleagues to think up new systems and styles of working?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be enthusiastic to discuss and argue over challenges that need extensive thinking to develop innovative new systems and styles of working.

Question: Have you ever tried a new way of doing things? Did you succeed?
Answer Guide: Candidate should show that they are able to take risks in trying new solutions and ways of working; should be able to think beyond traditional thinking.; can develop innovation solutions to problems and enhance company performance.

Question: Tell me about one case when you tried to solve a problem with a totally different approach than is normally used. What was the result?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be ready to solve problems in different ways; be ready to handle situations with innovative thinking, is ready and able to explore new solutions to fix existing problems.

Question: Can you tell me about a situation, which you tried to solve a problem with ideas and methods that had not been tried before?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should appear to be able to reason logically and forcibly argue for what is best for the company; should be respectful to, but not intimidated by higher management.

Creativity

Question: How do you handle negative feedback from very angry clients? How do you respond to him/her?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be able to manage customer complaints without being dominated; should not be over-whelmed by a disapproving customer.

Question: Can you tell me about a time when you did some thing extra, which was not part of the routine activities assigned to you, but you did it for the benefit of the customer?
Answer Guide: Candidate should want to put in the extra effort to provide better and more complete service to customers.

Question: Explain with an example, how would you handle a situation where a customer is asking for something, which is not in the interest of the company or which would violate a policy of the company?
Answer Guide: Applicant should show that they are able to keep balance between company policy and interest of customers; is cautious enough not to be trapped in the future because of any communication made by him/her with customers.

Question: you ever felt, during course of your work, that the existing systems and solutions are not sufficient to meet the needs of customers properly and/or that they need to be changed? If so, tell me more.
Answer Guide: Candidate should show that they take initiatives; capable of changing current systems for the better to improve customer satisfaction.

Question: Can you explain how you contact or initiate communications with customers?
Answer Guide: Applicant should appear to have the skills to build a healthy, professional relationship with customers and co-workers; should be enthusiastic to build a larger customer base.

Question: If you had to turn down a request from a valued client, what would you do?
Answer Guide: Be well-mannered; try to explain the situation to the client; adhere to company's policies; try to remain reliable to customer.

Question: How do you handle negative feedback from very angry clients? How do you respond to him/her?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be able to manage customer complaints without being dominated; should not be over-whelmed by a disapproving customer.

Question: Can you tell me about a time when you did some thing extra, which was not part of the routine activities assigned to you, but you did it for the benefit of the customer?
Answer Guide: Candidate should want to put in the extra effort to provide better and more complete service to customers.

Question: Explain with an example, how would you handle a situation where a customer is asking for something, which is not in the interest of the company or which would violate a policy of the company?
Answer Guide: Applicant should show that they are able to keep balance between company policy and interest of customers; is cautious enough not to be trapped in the future because of any communication made by him/her with customers.

Question: you ever felt, during course of your work, that the existing systems and solutions are not sufficient to meet the needs of customers properly and/or that they need to be changed? If so, tell me more.
Answer Guide: Candidate should show that they take initiatives; capable of changing current systems for the better to improve customer satisfaction.

Question: Can you explain how you contact or initiate communications with customers?
Answer Guide: Applicant should appear to have the skills to build a healthy, professional relationship with customers and co-workers; should be enthusiastic to build a larger customer base.

Question: If you had to turn down a request from a valued client, what would you do?
Answer Guide: Be well-mannered; try to explain the situation to the client; adhere to company’s policies; try to remain reliable to customer.

Decision

Question: How do you handle negative feedback from very angry clients? How do you respond to him/her?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be able to manage customer complaints without being dominated; should not be over-whelmed by a disapproving customer.

Question: Can you tell me about a time when you did some thing extra, which was not part of the routine activities assigned to you, but you did it for the benefit of the customer?
Answer Guide: Candidate should want to put in the extra effort to provide better and more complete service to customers.
Question: Explain with an example, how would you handle a situation where a customer is asking for something, which is not in the interest of the company or which would violate a policy of the company?
Answer Guide: Applicant should show that they are able to keep balance between company policy and interest of customers; is cautious enough not to be trapped in the future because of any communication made by him/her with customers.

Question: you ever felt, during course of your work, that the existing systems and solutions are not sufficient to meet the needs of customers properly and/or that they need to be changed? If so, tell me more.
Answer Guide: Candidate should show that they take initiatives; capable of changing current systems for the better to improve customer satisfaction.

Question: Can you explain how you contact or initiate communications with customers?
Answer Guide: Applicant should appear to have the skills to build a healthy, professional relationship with customers and co-workers; should be enthusiastic to build a larger customer base.

Question: If you had to turn down a request from a valued client, what would you do?
Answer Guide: Be well-mannered; try to explain the situation to the client; adhere to company's policies; try to remain reliable to customer.

Determination

Question: How do you prioritize your work? Give us an example.
Answer Guide: Applicant’s answer should that they know the difference between high and low priority tasks.

Question: Would you describe yourself as resilient? If so, please give some recent examples.
Answer Guide: Candidate should show strong character and will-power when answering question. They should appear to easily over-come obstacles.

Question: Describe a time when you took on additional work to help your team meet a crucial work goal?
Answer Guide: You want to hear that the applicant has taken on extra work to help the company, to help the team’s performance, and/or to help meet an objective set for his/her department.

Question: Give me an example when you spoke out about something you didn’t feel was right.

Interview Answer Guide: Applicant’s answer should show that they have a very clear point of view and expresses them forcefully whenever the need arises; takes the initiative to prove his/her point; has a strong, commercial, ethical viewpoint.

Question: Give me an example when you had to face and overcome strong opposition against you in a meeting.
Answer Guide: Answer should show that they have a strong character and willpower to face anyone if they feel their point is right. They should be able to articulate and justify their arguments in a clear, logical and reasonable way.

Diplomacy

Question: Have you ever felt irritated or frustrated while dealing with a customer? How do you respond when customers become demanding beyond an acceptable level?
Answer Guide: Answer should show that applicant is well-tempered, able to control and safeguard professional interests in agitated situations.

Question: How do you respond when you receive negative feedback from a customer about you personally? What approach would you take to deal with such a customer?
Answer Guide: Applicant should show that they do not let personal ego come in the way of professional behavior. Notice if they can take criticism well and if they see the value of positive criticism.

Question: How would you respond if one of your colleagues came to you and asked you something, which you could not reveal to him, because you were bound by confidentiality?
Answer Guide: Answer should show that he/she can balance confidentiality and communications with co-workers, can keep necessary information confidential, and does not feel bad about keeping confidential information from co-workers.

Question: Have you faced any situation when you needed to act very skillfully and discreetly? How did you manage?
Answer Guide: You should hear that applicant is cautious while interacting with customers and co-workers to avoid future problems, that they think about the long-term, and that they want to maintain positive, personal, working relationships.

Question: What kind of customer queries have you been handling? How do you manage to meet their requirements and how do you respond to them?
Answer Guide: You should hear that candidate is well-mannered, well-tempered, and reliable when dealing with customers.

Ethics

Question: Have you ever felt irritated or frustrated while dealing with a customer? How do you respond when customers become demanding beyond an acceptable level?
Answer Guide: Answer should show that applicant is well-tempered, able to control and safeguard professional interests in agitated situations.

Question: How do you respond when you receive negative feedback from a customer about you personally? What approach would you take to deal with such a customer?
Answer Guide: Applicant should show that they do not let personal ego come in the way of professional behavior. Notice if they can take criticism well and if they see the value of positive criticism.

Question: How would you respond if one of your colleagues came to you and asked you something, which you could not reveal to him, because you were bound by confidentiality?
Answer Guide: Answer should show that he/she can balance confidentiality and communications with co-workers, can keep necessary information confidential, and does not feel bad about keeping confidential information from co-workers.

Question: Have you faced any situation when you needed to act very skillfully and discreetly? How did you manage?
Answer Guide: You should hear that applicant is cautious while interacting with customers and co-workers to avoid future problems, that they think about the long-term, and that they want to maintain positive, personal, working relationships.

Question: What kind of customer queries have you been handling? How do you manage to meet their requirements and how do you respond to them?
Answer Guide: You should hear that candidate is well-mannered, well-tempered, and reliable when dealing with customers.

Ethics

Question: Is there anything you would like to add before we end?
Answer Guide: This is where the candidate should take the opportunity to sell themselves by reviewing skills, qualifications, education, and personality traits that would make him/her good for the open position. Employer will be looking watching the job seeker's reaction and payi8ng attention to their answer.

Question: Have we missed anything that you'd like to add?
Answer Guide: Employer will be looking to see if the candidate takes this opportunity to sell themselves. They should be trying to prove that they can do the job.

Question: Do you feel that we have covered everything?
Answer Guide: Candidate should still be eager to show his knowledge and interest in the company.

Question: Do you have any questions you would like to ask us?
Answer Guide: Candidate should still be eager to show his knowledge and interest in the company; their comments and questions should be aimed to prove that they want the position.

Question: What else should we know about you?
Answer Guide:Take this opportunity to sell yourself and think about possible items you forgot to mention.

Question: Is there anything that we might have left out that you would like us to clarify?
Answer Guide: Candidate should be eager to show his knowledge and interest in the company.

Imagination

Question: Do like doing things in a new way? Do you think it is worth it?
Answer guide: Job seeker should be eager to experience new things and to try new approaches.

Question: How many things (like systems, methodologies, standards etc) were changed at your last job because of your suggestions? How did it benefit the company?
Answer guide: Applicant should seek new solutions and ways of doing things in a better more effective way; can suggest improvement to methods and systems to achieve more efficiency.

Question: What are some things that you may change in the near future about your style of working? And why?
Answer guide: Job seeker should want and like to keep improving working methods on a regular basis to achieve better efficiency at work.

Question: What are the methods and systems you think should be changed in your current organization to achieve higher efficiency at work? How? Why?
Answer guide: Candidate should be able to find improvement potentials in systems and methods of work, yet keeps organizational policies in mind. Looking for someone that notices detail and can come up with creative solutions.

Question: Do you think that technology can help to achieve better efficiency at work? And can you give me an example to explain your thinking?
Answer guide: Job seeker should be open to try and accept new technologies which will achieve better performance, more efficiency, and possible innovations.

Question: How do you use customer feedback? How do you develop a new system or work process while always keeping the customer’s response well in mind?
Answer guide: Job seeker should be able to establish a relationship between work procedures and services to customer; should have ability to develop new processes of work, using response of customers, as an effective tool of reference.

Question: Can you tell me about a situation where you used your imaginative skills to solve a very difficult problem?
Answer guide: Job seeker’s answer should shows that they can think “out of the box” and not be afraid to try new things.

Initiative

Question: Tell me about a time that you undertook a course of study, on your own initiative, in order to improve your work performance?
Answer guide: Answer should show that the applicant wants to keep updated on latest developments and has a strong belief in life-long learning.

Question: Tell me about initiatives you have taken to improve procedures at work? Were you successful? Would you do anything different now?
Answer guide: Answer should show consistency in initiating positive actions. Job seeker should be able to contribute innovative thoughts and actions to improve different aspects of the company.

Question: Tell me about a time you succeed in overcoming a major obstacle. How did it make you feel?
Answer guide: Candidate should show a strong sense of commitment and the tenacity to overcome obstacles. They should also have the ability to formulate imaginative steps to solve problems. Candidate should also learn and get inspired by personal success.

Question: Tell me about a time when you found a better way of doing something, which proved to be an improvement on the existing system.
Answer guide: Job seeker should find ways of improving systems at work; be able to recognize areas that need improvements. They should also have the management skills and philosophy to improve performance.

Question: Has your supervisor ever come to you and pointed out that you had not met some of your tasks at work? How frequently does it happen?
Answer guide: Job seeker should show a strong sense of responsibility, that they can take actions and initiatives, and that they can act upon them without having to be told.

Inventiveness

Question: When you need to create an order of job tasks that need to be completed, how do you decide which task has priority?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be responsible enough prioritize their tasks. They should also have the ability to organize effectively, and focused enough to handle the most important tasks first.

Question: What steps do you take when you have to make an immediate decision and you do not feel you have all the relevant or necessary information?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be able to successfully handle a stressful situation and make a good decision. The applicant should be able to evaluate the current information effectively and make a good decision.

Question: If you are given a specific problem to solve, how do you decide what information is necessary to come up with a good solution?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be capable of deciding what information is necessary to make an informed decision. If they are not they should be capable of using a team effort to bring about a successful conclusion.

Question: You need information, and access to it is being denied to you. What steps do you take to acquire the information?
Answer Guide: Applicant should show that they are effective at troubleshooting any problems that may arise internally. They should be capable of building and utilizing an effective network of information.

Question: When was the last time you used an inventive method to draw out company resources beyond a level that is usually met?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be resourceful and ingenious when dealing with company information and equipment. He or she should effectively decide how to be a custodian of company assets.

Question: When you are working, how often do you think of innovations that will improve your work performance?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be able to come up with and contribute ideas for solving problems. They should search for creative ways to improve processes and procedures and try out new ideas.

Question: What if there was a person you intensively disliked within your work team, yet you sense that this person is going to be the most creative in bringing the assignment to an effective conclusion. What steps do you take to nurture their contribution and demonstrate that you value their input?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be character driven rather than emotionally driven. A successful conclusion should take precedence over an emotional response.

Job knowledge

Question: In which areas do you consider yourself to be a specialist, and how do you envisage being able to utilize your expertise within our organization?
Answer Guide: Commitment to expand expertise by building a foundation of core knowledge, and realizing that this base can be expanded.

Question: In what specific areas do you need to expand your knowledge to become more proficient at this job?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should demonstrate a commitment to expanding knowledge in core functional areas and recognize the need to change and expand ideas.

Question: In which areas of your job do you feel capable and in which areas to you feel more comfortable utilizing other people’s experience?
Answer Guide: Applicant should recognize their personal limitations, demonstrate a commitment to improve, and understand the value of team work.

Question: When did you last volunteer to take a work project simply because it allowed you to expand your personal knowledge of the internal structure within your company?
Answer Guide: Answer should demonstrate a commitment to learn about the internal structure of their working environment.

Question: Describe a recent occasion when you used your knowledge of the internal structure, within your company, to answer complex questions about the organization?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should have the ability to discuss technical issues about how the internal structure of a company works. This skill can assist either a customer or a supplier to use the company in a more productive manner.

Question: Can you suggest methods to utilize your knowledge of the company’s structure to improve relationships with our customer’s and clients?
Answer Guide: Answer should demonstrate a willingness to improve customer relations

Judgement

Question: When you observe a curious pattern in data, how do you analyze it?
Answer Guide: Candidate should have an ability to recognize data patterns and be able to use an analytical approach to assess why those patterns occur.

Question: When a logical approach to a problem is ineffective, how do you come up with a solution?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be capable of being a lateral and creative thinker when addressing problems.

Question: What steps do you take when a customer claims that part of his consignment has not been delivered?
Answer Guide: Applicant should show the ability to take responsibility for actions outside his/her direct control.

Question: What do you do when someone else’s errors are adversely affecting your project?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should have the skills to analyze the cause of the problem and can get to the truth before making a decision.

Question: When was the last occasion that you had to make an instant character judgment of a person to come up with a solution to a problem?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should show the ability to appraise and evaluate another’s motives and intentions quickly. They need to do this in an effective manner.

Leadership

Question: Describe one experience when you had to lead a team. Answer Guide: Applicant may not have had experienced a leadership role, but they should be able to display leadership skills and abilities.

Question: How do you keep each member of the team involved and motivated, while keeping morale high? What steps do you need to take to achieve this?
Answer Guide: Applicant should work hard to develop respect for each member of the team and try to makes team members feel important. Mutual respect is vital to success.

Question: In what situations do you prefer to use your leadership skills? Can you give me some examples?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have ideas about where their skills would work best. They should show that they create solutions to tricky and unexpected situations when extraordinary leadership skills are needed.

Question: Does you like to praise team members in public? How do you express your appreciation of them?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be open-minded enough to appreciate the efforts and achievements of every member of the team.

Question: Have you ever tried to act as a mentor to a colleague? Was it worth it from a professional point of view?
Answer Guide: Applicant should enjoy assisting others in their personal development as it helps to achieve common goals. They should understand that Helping people increases morale.

Question: Have you ever tried to do a job for which you were unqualified for? How did you react at that time? Were you able to accomplish your task?
Answer Guide: Applicant should indicate and ability to take risks and chances to achieve goals at work. Their had work should inspires others

Question: Explain a recent mistake. What did you learn from it and in what areas can you utilize that knowledge in the future?
Answer Guide: Candidate should display a level of adaptability and be able to apply learning in a resourceful and innovative manner. Candidate should be able to able to acquire knowledge from errors as well as triumphs.

Question: When was the last time that you volunteered to expand your knowledge at work, as opposed to being directed to do so?
Answer Guide: Candidate should demonstrate a level of personal enterprise and initiative to acquire work knowledge voluntarily.

Question: When did you last acquire effective knowledge in your own time and how can you apply this towards your career?
Answer Guide: Candidate should display an aptitude for personal growth by independently learning and should be prepared to utilize that knowledge in multi-lateral ways

Question: What was the last seminar you attended? How did you apply this new-found knowledge towards your work?
Answer Guide: Candidate should demonstrate a real commitment to formal education, as well as the ability and imagination to apply these new concepts directly within the work place

Question: In which specific areas of your work are you really interested in expanding your knowledge of? How do you intend to achieve this?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be committed to self-development through a continuous learning process, whether at work or away from work. Goal should be to improve their contribution to the work force and/or the company.

Question: When was the last occasion you asked for direct feedback from a superior or a customer? How did you then use this knowledge to improve your personal performance?
Answer Guide: Candidate should be capable of constructively applying all forms of feedback towards creating a better and more efficient performance.

Question: What is personally fascinating about the areas of your job in which you wish to expand your knowledge?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should demonstrate a provable level of interest and creativity for all aspects of his/her work.

Learning

Question: Explain a recent mistake. What did you learn from it and in what areas can you utilize that knowledge in the future?
Answer Guide: Candidate should display a level of adaptability and be able to apply learning in a resourceful and innovative manner. Candidate should be able to able to acquire knowledge from errors as well as triumphs.

Question: When was the last time that you volunteered to expand your knowledge at work, as opposed to being directed to do so?
Answer Guide: Candidate should demonstrate a level of personal enterprise and initiative to acquire work knowledge voluntarily.

Question: When did you last acquire effective knowledge in your own time and how can you apply this towards your career?
Answer Guide: Candidate should display an aptitude for personal growth by independently learning and should be prepared to utilize that knowledge in multi-lateral ways

Question: What was the last seminar you attended? How did you apply this new-found knowledge towards your work?
Answer Guide: Candidate should demonstrate a real commitment to formal education, as well as the ability and imagination to apply these new concepts directly within the work place

Question: In which specific areas of your work are you really interested in expanding your knowledge of? How do you intend to achieve this?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be committed to self-development through a continuous learning process, whether at work or away from work. Goal should be to improve their contribution to the work force and/or the company.

Question: When was the last occasion you asked for direct feedback from a superior or a customer? How did you then use this knowledge to improve your personal performance?
Answer Guide: Candidate should be capable of constructively applying all forms of feedback towards creating a better and more efficient performance.

Question: What is personally fascinating about the areas of your job in which you wish to expand your knowledge?

Answer Guide: Job seeker should demonstrate a provable level of interest and creativity for all aspects of his/her work.

Listening

Question: Are you capable of getting to the bottom of a situation, when some one is incapable of communicating what they really mean? If so how do you achieve this?
Answer guide: Applicant should be able to understand work-related language, be able determine what a co-worker is trying to say, and be intuitive in recognizing human emotions.

Question: Relate an occasion when you withheld your own opinion, and tried to obtain the opinion of others, and why was this action important?
Answer guide: Applicant should know that as a team player the views of others are important. The ideology of the phrase “There is no ‘I’ in team” should be represented. Ego and/or narcissism should not be a trait applicant expresses.

Question: Describe an incident when you had to listen attentively in order to act quickly enough to meet a deadline.
Answer guide: Answer should show that applicant has good listening skills and that they are a dependable person who responds accurately to the central issues.

Question: Give an example of a time when you had to ask direct questions to bring out diverse opinions on a central issue.
Answer guide: Job seeker should have the skills to convince others to fully participate in a discussion and help them expand on their ideas.

Question: How do you deal with situations when others are finding it hard to communicate effectively with you?
Answer guide: Candidate should have the ability to use their listening and interviewing skills to clarify issues and make points easier to understand. They should be able to influence the conversation in a way that allows other people to effectively communicate; should not be impatient.

Question: What do you do when someone is deliberately giving you vague, dissembling, or even obstructive information, which hinders your ability to complete a task?
Answer guide: Applicant’s should be capable of determining what information is correct. By clarifying with a superior or researching they work around the obstruction. They should try to bring the conversation to a satisfactory conclusion, but always have the best interests of the company in mind.

Manage Change

Question: Tell me about a time when you experienced a major change to your normal work practices. How did you handle it?
Answer Guide: Applicant should handle change and ambiguity with ease. They should not oppose change out of habit or fear and they should understand that change is often a good thing.

Question: During your career, you must have experienced some difficult times. If so, how did you maintain a positive attitude?
Answer Guide: Applicant's answer should indicate that they are a positive thinker and that they know how, and the skills, to handle tough situations.

Question: Describe a time when there was a fundamental change in the way things were done in your workplace. What was your response towards it?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be courageous in facing any sort of change, view things in an unbiased manner, and have the interests of the company in mind.

Question: Describe how you felt when there were some recent changes at work.
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be optimistic and easily takes things as they come.

Question: Tell me about a time when you were very much opposed to a change that affected your work practices. How did you get through it?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should try to view things in an unbiased manner, have the strength of character to voice their concerns if he /she thinks a new practice will have a negative effect on overall efficiency, and articulate their position with well-reasoned arguments.

Question: Describe a time when you wanted some change in the working style of the team, but others were reluctant to do so. How did you go about it?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have the communication and persuasion skills necessary to convince others. They should be able to articulate and justify his/her point to prove that the change suggested is for the benefit of the business as a whole.

Management ability

Question: With reference to a day’s work, what steps do you take to organize and prioritize your tasks?
Answer Guide: Applicant’s ability to focus will be evaluated. They should be able to organize and plan the tasks to be completed.

Question: How do you decide which tasks take priority when organizing a complete project?
Answer Guide: Applicant should appear focused when deciding what needs to be completed first and show common sense in their decision making.

Question: How do you perform when others need your guidance in a business crisis?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should show that they can supervise and give direction while acting under stress.

Question: Has there been an occasion when you refused to bow to a customer’s pressure to “bend the rules”?
Answer Guide: Applicant needs to demonstrate ethical professional standards. They should always keep in mind the interests of the organization and understand that these interests are more important than the customer’s interests.

Question: What do you when you discover you are in a compromising situation?
Answer Guide: Applicant should show the ability to a make good, fast decisions. They should not be a victim and should work towards doing what is right. They should be able to be honest without being naive?

Question: Describe a specific instance, in a group situation, where you made your views known about an issue important to yourself. What was the issue, and why was it crucial?
Answer Guide: Applicants answer should indicate that they are capable of leadership qualities through effective communication. They should not be intimidated easily.

Question: Your whole team has proposed a course of action, but you believe that the stance is unethical, how do you react?
Answer Guide: Applicant must be able to express their views in profession and persuasive manner. They should not bend under pressure and should be able to stand up for what they think is right.

Mental Attitude

Question: How do you handle a situation where the workload is beginning to be too much and your emotions start to be involved in the situation?
Answer Guide: Candidate should be able to step outside of an emotive situation, evaluate the problems, come up with solutions, and be character driven?

Question: How do you handle yourself when you feel the world is against you?
Answer Guide: Response should show applicant is in control of their attitude, that they think rationally, and they do not see, or allow, themselves to be a victim.

Question: How would your mother describe your attitude towards work?
Answer Guide: Applicant should respond with humor and yet still attempt to give an honest appraisal of his/her character traits. This includes both positive and negative traits as viewed from another person’s perspective.

Question: Have you ever had an occasion when you discovered a strong point in your character, that you didn’t know you had? Then think of the same occasion, but with a personal limitation
Answer Guide: Answer should demonstrate whether or not there is an ability to recognize and exploit strength of character and/or recognize weakness.

Question: Is it useful to be able to quickly and accurately appraise another person’s temperament?
Answer Guide: Candidate should show that their personal perceptions are not biased and that they have the ability to make accurate judgments quickly.

Question: When was the last time you had a project that really energized you.
Answer Guide: Applicant should demonstrate a high level of enthusiasm, energy, and dedication.

Question: What is your general attitude towards life?
Answer Guide: Candidate should have a positive confident attitude. Words and body language will be evaluated to determine whether or not a truthful answer was given.

Question: Do you attempt to predict how others will react to a given situation or a suggestion?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should anticipate reactions and objections which shows the skill to plan ahead. Job seeker should value people and understand the necessity of finding common goals and grounds.

Question: How do you react when asked to do something beyond your capabilities?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be able to admit that they do not know some things. They should have the ability push themselves forward in a challenging situation.

Question: Would you describe yourself as an optimist or a pessimist?
Answer Guide: Most people are a mixture of the two, but the applicant’s words, presence and body language (especially the energy in the eyes) will indicate the predominant personality trait(s) and/or beliefs.

Motivation

Question: Describe a project you were involved in that really excited you? How long did that feeling last?
Answer Guide: The candidate should reveal a dedication and passion towards their work.

Question: Tell me about a time when you willingly volunteered for a task. Also, why were you so interested in this specific task?
Answer Guide: Applicant should express that they take the initiative when it comes to additional work and they are always interested in increasing their knowledge and contacts. Applicant should have plenty of energy to do more.

Question: Tell me about a hurdle which got in the way of achieving an ambitious goal. How did you go about overcoming it?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should show that they are a hard worker and that they try to achieve ambitious goals; they should not surrender easily.

Question: Tell me about a goal you achieved which at some points seems hopeless? Why did you keep going on?
Answer Guide: If candidate has done this, it shows great energy and commitment. Candidate should also show that they can work hard, but are not obsessive about their work.

Question: Describe a work related goal that you have set for yourself.
Answer Guide: Applicant should appear to self-motivate by setting ambitious goals and targets.

Question: Can you tell me at least three things that you have done in the past year to improve yourself, both business-wise and competency wise?
Answer Guide: Applicant’s answer should show an interest in learning new things, they should be self-motivated, and want to be as qualified as possible.

Question: Tell me about a time when you and your whole team were demoralized for some reason. What do you do to raise spirits?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should express him/herself as a team player. They should be self-motivated and group motivated. They should not give up easily and have the ability toempathize with other colleagues.

Question: Would you regard yourself as a self-starter? Can you give me a recent example where you displayed this quality?
Answer Guide: Answers should prove that applicant can self-motivate by setting ambitious goals, working hard, and keeping up with current trends. They should clearly demonstrate this quality with appropriate examples.

Negotiations

Question: When was the last occasion that you had to use your negotiating skills to bring about a resolution that was in everyone’s best interest?
Answer Guide: Applicant’s answer should prove that the job seeker has the capacity to employ negotiating skills for the benefit of the company, the customer, and themselves in personal situations.

Question: Do you need to make your attitude more positive when marketing yourself and your ideas to others?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be positive and a confident attitude towards marketing themselves and their ideas.

Question: What skills do use when you need to influence the way other people think?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be able to use effective strategies to create a compromise. They should be persuasive, should have the ability to empathize, and should want to create a “win-win” solution for everyone involved.

Question: When was the last occasion that you were given an assignment to develop your mediating skills, and what was the conclusion?
Answer Guide: Candidate should actively seek assignments to develop their mediating and negotiating skills.

Question: Have you had an experience where you realized that you had to be more positive and persuasive when selling you ideas to others? What did you learn from this experience?
Answer Guide: Applicant should recognize the necessity to continually develop their skills, should seek constructive criticism and advice, and be able to not take criticism personally.

Question: When your credibility is compromised, what steps do you take to rectify the situation?
Answer Guide: Candidate should know that they need to strengthen their bargaining power and educate themselves on all issues involved. This will give them an effectively stronger position.

Organizational skills

Question: When it is your responsibility to organize and plan a project what steps do you take?
Answer Guide: Answer should show preparation and focus when using organizational skills. Applicant should be able to prepare narrowly focused project plans.

Question: How do you accommodate last minute changes that have to be incorporated into your work?
Answer Guide: Candidate should anticipate the possibility that amendments have to be made and plan accordingly. They should also have the skills to integrate new information into a nearly completed project.

Question: How do you prioritize the tasks to be completed in one complete work project?
Answer Guide: Answer should show that applicant knows how to plan ahead, make good decisions, analyze different possibilities, and effectively accomplish the maximum workload.

Question: Illustrate how you prioritize each day's tasks?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have the necessary skills to recognize the top business priorities.

Question: What do you do when a project is not coming to fruition as expected, because of inefficient planning?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have the ability to problem solve, handle competing priorities, be able to multi-task and have the ability to effectively process and re-organize planning structures to ensure a successful conclusion.

Question: What steps do you take when the work of a colleague threatens the completion of a project?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be able to accommodate and reorganize a schedule. They should be strong enough to sort out, with tact and success, any work deficiencies of a team member and communicate with that co-worker.

Patience

Question: Are you a patient person?
Answer guide: A candidate should answer question in an affirmative manner and back it up with convincing examples.

Question: Most people find it very hard to be patient? How do you manage it?
Answer guide: Candidate should lead a disciplined life-style, which includes a range of calming, life-enhancing hobbies and activities. They should appear to have a calm personality.

Question: Can you tell me about a situation that really tested your patience?
Answer guide: Answer should display a patient and positive attitude when challenging situations occur. Applicant should be able to achieve goals that require a lot of time and patience.

Question: What types of people annoy you?
Answer guide: A good answer here would suggest a candidate can think “on his/her feet”. Applicants may mention something like “people who intentionally and repeatedly don’t do their jobs properly – even though they have accepted the job and the paycheck that goes with it”.

Question: “Genius is infinite attention to detail” would you agree with this definition?
Answer guide: Job seeker should understand that patience, focus, and a commitment to succeed are essential to the achievement of any task.

People Skills

Question: Have you ever asked for feedback about your work? Is feedback a positive or a negative?
Answer Guide: Applicant should consider feedback from others important to him/her, they should be a good listener, and they should be able to process feedback in an optimistic way to improve skills and services.

Question: Can you explain the working culture of your current team? How do you manage to let your colleagues know that you are concerned about them?
Answer Guide: Applicant should not be self-centered; they should be kind, understanding, and cordial in meetings; they should be obliging and supportive.

Question: When faced with a problem do you ever view it from the other person’s point of view? Can you give me a recent example?
Answer Guide: Answer should show the applicant can easily see things from another’s point of view. They should be able to understand another’s way of thinking and understand their interests. They should make decisions considering all dimensions of the situation.

Question: Tell me about a time you had to deal with a customer who was very vague.
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be able to recognize or assess the feelings and views of others while interacting with them. They should be able to determine what a customer wants from him/her.

Personality traits

Question: How do you cope when unexpected obstacles hinder your work?

Answer Guide: Job seeker should display a persistent, positive attitude to problem solving and recognize that goals are achievable, even with obstacles. They should know that obstacles are a part of life.

Question: With reference to a recent teamwork project, what went smoothly and in what areas could the work performance have been improved?
Answer Guide: Answer should show an understanding of the commitment necessary to build superior working relationships. Applicant should be able to coordinate the efforts of everyone and handle conflicts or obstacles that may arise.

Question: When has personal audacity improved your work performance?
Answer Guide: Applicant’s answer should show courage, a drive to push forward, and being committed to getting superior results.

Question: At certain times everyone has to work with a person where there is a serious clash of personalities. How do you handle a situation where there is mutual dislike?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have a commitment to the company, understand the benefits of team work, understand how important their role is, and work towards completion of a project, despite personality clashes.

Question: Tell me about a situation where you had an experience that caused you to grow in an unexpected and new direction.
Answer Guide: Applicant should demonstrate the ability to nurture life’s experience and then apply the experience to other situations.

Question: What are your current career objectives and what steps will you take to achieve them?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should have ambition and the sufficient drive to reach personal targets.

Question: What steps do you personally take when work tasks are falling behind schedule.
Answer Guide: Job seeker should demonstrate a positive attitude and the ability to overcome obstacles in a personal and team effort.

Present Job

Question: Do you like your present job?
Answer Guide: Answer should show ambition, have the need to extend themselves with new challenges, and see the new position as an opportunity to develop. Applicant should not delve into any problems in his/her present job, problems with colleagues, lack of opportunities, conflicts or remuneration issues.

Question: What prompted you to take your present job?
Answer Guide: Applicant should discuss ambitious reasons and a well thought out career plan.

Question: Why do you want to leave your present job?
Answer Guide: Applicant should not lie about the reason, but it is wise to not mention multiple conflicts and negative interactions with superiors. Discuss positive interactions with colleagues, opportunities that were expanded upon, and why they felt they could not move up in the company. Should have a drive to become more successful.

Question: Can you describe a typical day in your present job?
Answer Guide: Answer should show planning ability, ability to prioritize, productive amount of energy, company commitment, and strong interpersonal skills.

Pressure

Question: Illustrate an occasion when something visibly shocked you, but you had to appear composed?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have the ability to handle uncertainty, be able to think on their feet, and be character driven.

Question: How do you handle circumstances at work that make you feel temperamental or cynical?
Answer Guide: Applicant should display maturity, the ability to access the entire situation, the ability to make good decisions, and keep an optimistic attitude.

Question: During a significant setback, who were the people you could depend on?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be able to describe an established network of people he/she can trust.

Question: What steps do you take to reduce your personal stress levels when there are stressful occasions at work?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have the ability to recognize and work through stressful occasions, have stress-reducing techniques, and understand the need to take care of one’s mind and body.

Question: What steps do you take to accommodate sudden and immediate changes that occur within your organization?
Answer Guide: Candidate should have the ability to function with incomplete information, have an adaptable attitude towards changing conditions, and handle change well.

Question: When you last had a conversation with your manager’s manager, what did you discuss and how did you feel?
Answer Guide: Authority should not intimidate the applicant. They should be able to conduct themselves in a well-mannered, professional manner.

Question: Have you ever been overlooked for a promotion, which you felt you deserved? How did you react?
Answer Guide: Applicants ambition level and the ability to react positively towards personal career setbacks should be apparent.

Problem Solving Abilities

Question: Please give me a specific example of how you obtained information to solve a problem? What was the problem and how did you decide what information you required?
Answer Guide: Candidate should have a logical method of acquiring information and have a valid problem solving model.

Question: What steps did you take on the last occasion that you detected the cause of a company operating error?
Answer Guide: Answer should show that the job seeker has analytical and troubleshooting skills.

Question: When you handle a project that requires systematic data acquisition and accurate analysis, what steps do you take?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be methodical about the acquisition and analysis of data and recognize their function in the development of plans.

Question: What is your approach to managing important projects?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should have the ability to anticipate and resolve issues. The candidate should be able to organize his work into manageable steps.

Question: When faced with a work-related problem, what steps do you take to address the issue?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have an analytical approach to problem solving and use innovative methods.

Question: On the last occasion that you went out of your way to analyze the cause of a problem, how did you proceed?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have the willingness to take whatever steps are necessary to analyze the cause of the problem. They should also have the capability to develop effective and innovative solutions.

Question: What steps do you take when a colleague is impeding your progress at work?
Answer Guide: Candidate should not be confrontational, but prepared to negotiate a positive resolution.

Profile

Question: Why do you want this job?
Answer Guide: Answer should show clear, definite reasons. Applicant should show that they have researched the company well and be totally prepared. Applicant should be able to demonstrate his/her skills, competencies, and explain how their experience can benefit the company. Answers should have no doubt or hesitation.

Question: What aspect of this new job attracts you the most?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should definitively know what he/she wants. They should have done their research professionally, be clear and definite in perusing their goal of working with this organization and sell their skills with strong persuasion benefit.

Question: What do you know about our company?
Answer Guide: Applicant should know what the company’s services are, the type of people they work for, their financial situation, and they should have studied the company website. It should be obvious that the applicant research the company well.

Question: What do you know about the position you are being interviewed for?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be able to describe the benefits if they know what they want. Researching the company would help them understand the job description. Should have clear work goals.

Question: Where can you make the greatest contribution to our firm?
Answer Guide: Applicant should sell their skills and abilities to you, understand (due to research) where they will fit in, and what they will achieve with the company in that position.

References

Question: What references will your current employer give you?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have positive, confident answers and show no hesitation.

Question: Have any of your employers ever refused to give you a reference? If so, please explain?
Answer Guide: If this has occurred a positive answer should be planned and practiced. Employers will probe deeper when searching for a very convincing answer.

Question: Can we check your references?
Answer Guide: The job seeker may answer yes or no, but they should be aware that the interviewer will be paying close attention to the answer and evaluating body language.

Reliability

Question: How many days of attendance at work should be considered satisfactory? What has been your record of attendance at work?
Answer Guide: Applicant should feel that employees should make it to work everyday, unless there is a definite emergency. Job seeker should want to be punctual about attendance and consider attendance an important part of work.

Question: Tell me about a time when you were accountable for a mistake you made. Did you accept responsibility?
Answer Guide: Answer should show that applicant can accept responsibility for any mistakes made.

Question: Have any of your colleagues been regularly late at work? What was the reaction to this in your team?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should have an awareness and sincerity towards punctuality and attendance. Should consider regular attendance a necessary factor for success at work.

Question: What is your approach towards your personal and professional goals? How do you prioritize them? Give me some examples?
Answer Guide: Applicant should consider work a very important part of life. And have the ability to adjust or compromise other issues to achieve professional goals.

Question: Do you regularly keep in touch with customers? How do you tell customers about new products and updates?
Answer Guide: Applicant should want to keep a constant and persistent eye on his customers and their requirements. He/she should be at ease when communicating with his/her clients.

Question: Tell me about a time you handled a situation in the wrong way? Did you admit your mistake? If so, to whom? How did you handle situation?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be straightforward, reliable, and able to accept their faults. They should want to learn from their mistakes and makes sure not to repeat them.

Resign

Question: Have you ever been asked to resign?
Answer Guide: If the candidate has, they should explain the situation in a positive manner. Interviewer will look for positive and/or negative reasons, ethical reasons, or they may try to determine whether or not the applicant would have been fired had they not resigned.

Question: Have you ever been fired?
Answer Guide: If the candidate has, they should use extreme caution when answering the question. Convincing reasons will be necessary and should be planned before the interview.

Question: How would you resign from a company if you had decided upon that option?
Answer Guide: Applicant should understand that they need to give sufficient notice and would allow for discussion with their superiors regarding the matter.

Resourcefulness

Question: When deciding how to organize your work, how do you assess what tasks need to be given priority?
Answer Guide:: Applicant should be focused when deciding which tasks need to be done first. They idea of organizing tasks should not make the applicant nervous.

Question: Describe a time when you made your resources stretch beyond the point that you or others thought was realistic.
Answer Guide: Applicant should not appear to be wasteful, economically-thoughtful with company information, equipment, and materials.

Question: What steps do you take when there is an immediate decision to be made, but without having all the data available?
Answer Guide: Applicant should appear to be capable of coping with stressful decisions. They should be resourceful while working under pressure and should not appear to be anxious about the situation.

Question: When there is too much work to be completed in one day how do you prioritize your tasks?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be capable of focusing on the most important tasks, not merely bury themselves in work, and be able to complete job tasks in a timely manner.

Question: When was the last time that you tried a new idea to improve your work performance?
Answer Guide: Applicant should not be resistant to change; they should be capable of creating more functional work practices.

Question: if you were confronted about an error, for which you were not personally responsible, how would you explain yourself?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be resourceful and calm when explaining an error without being controversial and confrontational.

Responsibility

Question: Tell me about a time when you asked for extra responsibility in any of your previous jobs.
Answer Guide: Applicant should show a natural desire for doing extra tasks willingly.

Question: Tell me about a specific task you undertook, which was a challenge for you?
Answer Guide: Applicant should try to do his work with dedication, even in stressful circumstances.

Question: How do you manage your time in a project when the project has a tight deadline? Give an example to prove your point.
Answer Guide: Job seeker should know the importance of time management in projects and be able to show this in his/her personal example. They should also show that they have the techniques and ability to manage time properly under the pressure of completing major projects.

Question: Describe to me in detail a time when you took the initiative in a major project.
Answer Guide: Applicant should express a desire to take on more responsibility when needed. They should have enough confidence to single handedly make decisions and a desire to move up in the company.

Question: Describe a situation in where you had a task that was quite demanding and what was the result of it?
Answer Guide: Applicant should show strong decision making powers and a feeling of responsibility towards his/her work.

Question: Tell me about a time you got totally fed up on the job. What did you do after that?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should be able to accept his/her mistakes gracefully and try there best to resolve it. They should also be able to determine why the situation became so stressful.

Question: What is your first reaction when your senior manager assigns a task that you think is impossible?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have the ability to analyze the situation and make every attempt to come up with a solution. They should not have a problem asking co-workers for help from and be responsible enough to make sure that the task was done right.

Risk Taking

Question: Have you ever used a new idea without being certain of the outcome? What did you do and was it a good decision?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should have an ability to experiment and assess the results of that change.

Question: What was the outcome of a time where you created an advantage for your company, even though you were not in possession of all the data?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have a courageous attitude when acting with minimal information.

Question: When was the last occasion that you took a risk in the workplace, by saying or doing something that could have had adverse repercussions on you, but did not? Was the outcome in the long term favorable?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have self-assurance in proposing new ideas and understand that they may not always be heard/ the ideas may not be accepted.

Question: When you are unsure of the outcome when trying a new idea, how do you react?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be capable of taking a calculated risk and have the ability to learn from it.

Question: When all the conditions are variable in a project, how do determine how to proceed?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should show flexibility when trying to learn “on the job”, and they should be able to tie down some of the variables, as they proceed.

Question: When changes occur in the company organization, that you think will make your workload unreasonably heavier in the long term, what is your reaction?
Answer Guide: Candidate should show maturity, an ability to discuss issue with superiors, and should not have a confrontational attitude to this change.

Safety

Question: Have you ever used a new idea without being certain of the outcome? What did you do and was it a good decision?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should have an ability to experiment and assess the results of that change.

Question: What was the outcome of a time where you created an advantage for your company, even though you were not in possession of all the data?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have a courageous attitude when acting with minimal information.

Question: When was the last occasion that you took a risk in the workplace, by saying or doing something that could have had adverse repercussions on you, but did not? Was the outcome in the long term favorable?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have self-assurance in proposing new ideas and understand that they may not always be heard/ the ideas may not be accepted.

Question: When you are unsure of the outcome when trying a new idea, how do you react?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be capable of taking a calculated risk and have the ability to learn from it.

Question: When all the conditions are variable in a project, how do determine how to proceed?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should show flexibility when trying to learn “on the job”, and they should be able to tie down some of the variables, as they proceed.

Question: When changes occur in the company organization, that you think will make your workload unreasonably heavier in the long term, what is your reaction?
Answer Guide: Candidate should show maturity, an ability to discuss issue with superiors, and should not have a confrontational attitude to this change.

Salary

Question: What kind of salary would you require to accept this position?
Answer Guide: Candidates should have a healthy regard for their value, be able to sell their skills and experience to you, show an ability to negotiate, act diplomatically, and have the ability to redirect the question back to you without an answer.

Question: What kind of salary do you think you are worth?
Answer Guide: Candidate should use this opportunity to sell the benefits of their skills, competencies and experience. They should show the ability to negotiate. Negativity is not needed here.

Question: What kind of salary do you believe you will be earning in say, five years?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should show confidence, belief in self, and strong ambition. Candidates should see themselves in the company and growing with it.
Sales ability

Question: When was the last time you created a marketing innovation, which energized you, and why did it do so?
Answer Guide: Applicant should display good judgment in creating new marketing techniques and enjoy the process and the rewards that result from the innovation.

Question: Apart from financial considerations, what is challenging about marketing?
Answer Guide: Applicant should understand the risks and challenges of new market developments.

Question: What steps do you take when you have an idea to improve either a company service or product?
Answer Guide: Applicant should understand why they need to go to their direct superior first. They should have a commitment to improving products and services which increases positive customer relations. They should want to create a feeling of loyalty and build trust with co-workers and customers.

Question: What steps to you take to promote a business idea to your manager?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have the motivation to inspire others with innovative ideas.

Question: Is your objective to sell the company or the product when target marketing a customer directly?
Answer Guide: Applicant should understand the interaction between company, product quality, and reputation.

Question: Market strategy is constantly changing, what steps have you taken in the last three months to keep up with of current trends?
Answer Guide: Answer should indicate that applicant knows how to keep up with changing trends and they should be able to recognizes the necessity of staying ahead in a constantly changing market.

Question: Sell me this pen? Answer Guide: Applicant should have the ability to pick out key features and benefits of a product and then ”‘sell” them effectively under pressure.

Question: How would you rate yourself as a salesperson on a scale from 1 to 10?
Answer Guide: A very low rating suggests poor self-belief. Too high of a rating may suggest a level of arrogance that may be resistant to suggestions of improvement. However, if they can explain why they deserve a high rating then they may just be confident and aware of their selling skills.

Question: What is your psychology of selling?
Answer Guide: Candidate should be well-versed and concise in describing his/her view of the entire structure of selling from qualifying a prospect, to handling objections, to closing.

Strategic Thinking

Question: How would you describe the term ‘strategic thinking’? Answer Guide: A candidate should see strategic thinking as a process of learning and you turn ideas into reality by developing one’s abilities in team work, problem solving, and critical thinking. They should see it as a tool to help a business or organization confront change, plan for and make transitions, and envision new possibilities and opportunities.

Question: Outline in very broad terms how you would create a strategy for say, a public interest campaign.
Answer Guide: A good candidate will list at least some of the following criteria: A clear defining of the goals and objectives of the campaign; identification of opponents; carrying out a SWOT analysis; imagining and playing scenarios; identifying primary and secondary targets; identifying allies; deciding what resources are required (salaries, expenses, other); devising tactics; drawing up an action timetable.

Question: As part of the above strategic campaign, why should you carry out a SWOT analysis?
Answer Guide: Candidate should believe it is easier to make better and more effective choices after identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. A SWOT analysis can be applied to a position, an idea, an individual, or an organization and is essential for good decision-making.

Question: How should you go about identifying allies as part of any good business or organizational strategy plan?
Answer Guide: Candidate should be flexible, be an influential decision maker on their own, and manage good relation ships with co-workers. For example, when groups with similar interests create strategic alliances, they are much more likely to achieve their goals. Allies may also be sympathetic insiders. A good candidate should understand these concepts. A sympathetic senior bureaucrat in the right organization who understands your project can also provide the most help. Finding such a person and fostering that relationship shows initiative.

Question: As you develop a strategic vision for your organization what are the five key criteria that you should focus on?
Answer Guide: Answer should include the five following key criteria: Organization; Observation; Views (the environmental view; the marketplace view; the project view; and the measurement view); Driving forces; and ideal position. The candidate’s ability to define his/her ideal position in clear, strategic terms is plus.

Question: What are the three most common reasons why change in management fails in most organizations?
Answer Guide: Candidate should understand the dynamics of change in any form of organization and be able to determine the problems of conflict and how they relate to the change. Candidate should be a problem-solver and handle dilemmas and/or conflicts effectively. They should recognize the potential problems that may arise from a lack of attention and the inability or reluctance to change.

Teamwork

Question: Have you ever had a role in a team project where your role was not clearly defined? How do you handle this?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have the skills to confront and clarify without being confrontational. They should be actively prepared to make a full contribution to the project.

Question: When your team encounters a problem, such as irritation with another co-worker, how do you reach a good resolution?
Answer Guide: Applicant should values working relationships, understand how important working relationships are for the company, and be prepared to work at making the relationship function well.

Question: When you receive positive feedback about the completion of a project do you give your team any credit?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be prepared to nurture and recognize team efforts and not behave in a narcissistic manner.

Question: When you are part of a team that is working exceptionally well, what do you think the reasons are for its success?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be aware of the recognition of a shared purpose, should understand the importance of collaboration, and be able to pool his/her resources.

Question: When you have worked on a team, and your role was crucial, what was that role? In what way was this team effort different or similar to working on your own?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have the capacity to work as a team member and as an individual. They should also recognize the importance of their contributions.

Question: When did you last coordinate your work with others in a team project? What was your most successful contribution?
Answer Guide: Answer should show an enthusiasm towards working within a team framework, an enjoyment of the collaborative benefits, and positive feelings about being part of a larger team.

Question: When you feel that a team is working efficiently, except for the fact that one member is clearly not “pulling their weight”, what steps will you take?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be prepared to push for a situation where all members pool their knowledge, take steps to ensure all members pull their weight, and create a working environment that will improve their efficiency.

Technology Skills

Question: Tell me about a time when it was necessary for you to communicate technical information, clearly, to an audience.
Answer Guide:: Applicant should appear to keep current with current technological advancements and they should be able communicate that information succinctly and clearly.

Question: What plans have you in the near future to take extra technical training, and how will it help your career prospects?
Answer Guide:: Applicant should want to acquire new technical knowledge.

Question: Give me an example of an assignment, which you have recently worked on, that involved the learning of a new technical development.
Answer Guide: Applicant should not show resistance, but a willingness to learn. They should want to understand and implement new knowledge.

Question: How computer literate are you, and which software programs are you familiar with?
Answer Guide: Knowledge of software should include word processing, presentation software, database and spreadsheet programs, and industry specific software

Question: Could your work performance be improved by incorporating new technical knowledge and developments?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should push for new technical training and to implement this new knowledge into work practices.

Question: What is your level of experience with software used in your job? What resources do you use when faced with a problem?
Answer Guide: Candidate should be able, and prepared, to communicate a difficulty to colleagues. They should be aware of online and software resources.

Question: Have you ever used software to make a work related presentation?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have experience of making presentation and of using PowerPoint.

Tricky questions

Question: Have you already done the best work you are capable of?
Answer Guide: Candidate should show confidence in regards to past work, believe that the best work is ahead of him, see this position, and the co-workers, as a positive way achieve more. Candidate should be modest, but confident.

Question: How long will you stay with the company?
Answer Guide: Candidate should have researched the company and be able to explain how he/she will integrate themselves in the company.

Question: Who is your role model?
Answer Guide: Applicant’s role model should contain the qualities and competencies employers would like to see in a successful candidate.

Question: What would you like to be doing five years from now?
Answer Guide: Applicant should see themselves well integrated in the company. Candidate should have researched the company and explain their potential skills that could benefit the company.

Question: How would your friends describe you?
Answer Guide: Answer should show focused and hard-working qualities and competencies. Descriptions should show the skills needed for this position.

Question: How would you react if I told you your interview so far was terrible?
Answer Guide: This is a test to see how well the candidate can hold themselves together. Interviewer is looking for the ability to “think on your feet” and the skills to respond articulately under pressure. Applicant should be diplomatic notice that the interviewer used the word “if”.

Question:


Answer Guide: Candidate should take the opportunity to sell their skills, knowledge, and abilities. Candidate should try to prove why t hey are perfect for the job, that they will do the job, and that they are manageable.

Question: What can you do for us that someone else cannot do?
Answer Guide: Candidate should be eager to show his/her knowledge and interest in the company and eager to show that they have all the necessary skills and competencies to do the job successfully.

Question: What was the last book you read or the last movie you saw and how did it affect you?
Answer Guide: Job seeker should emphasize his/her acquired skills, competencies, and interests. Some books or videos could demonstrate that the applicant is trying to improve their skills and knowledge.

Question: Can you tell me what things really bother you?
Answer Guide: This question is similar to others in this section. The want to see if your answers maintain a reasonable level of consistency or if they are merely a façade. They are looking out for candidates with chips on their shoulder and repressed anger. The employer is seeking those who dislike under-performance and sloppy work practice.

Question: Do you feel you could have done a better job than your previous boss?
Answer Guide: Candidates should not strongly criticize their old bosses. Their answers need to show diplomacy and tact with reasonable arguments. An enterprising attitude could be a positive option.

Question: What are some of the things about your boss that you disliked?
Answer Guide: Candidate should remain calm and poised. They should not have strong, unreasonable emotions.

Question: As we still have some time left, can you tell me a story?
Answer Guide: Candidate should maintain his/her composure and use the question to sell his/her abilities and skills to the employer.

Question: Could I ask you, how do you rate me as an interviewer?
Answer Guide: This is a test looking for the candidate’s composure and ability to think on his/her feet. Applicant should be able to respond articulately under pressure.

Question: What is the worst thing you have heard about our company?
Answer Guide: This question is designed to shock the applicant and test their composure and ability to think on their feet.

Written Communication Skills

Question: What resources do you use when it is necessary to expand and/or correct your vocabulary in a technical sense while you are writing at work?
Answer Guide: Applicant should be able to use a dictionary to ascertain the correct usage of a word and its spelling. They should also use a thesaurus to develop greater fluency and powers of expression. Candidate should have knowledge of any online resources that may be available for his specific profession.

Question: When writing business correspondence how do you make sure that the grammar is correct? Do you check for spelling errors?
Answer Guide: Applicant should understand the necessity of proofreading and be prepared to make adjustments to correct or clarify the content.

Question: Do you have goals to improve your technical and writing skills in the future?
Answer Guide: Applicant should have a continuous commitment to improve written skills. They should have a plan on how they will improve their skills.

Question: What processes do you use to clarify your written work and verify its accuracy? Have you developed a precise routine to confirm this accuracy?
Answer Guide: Candidate should demonstrate precision by insuring accuracy in the text, by asking others to proofread it, or by re-reading to check clarity and implication.

Question: Can you tell me about a recent writing assignment, what it entailed, and what steps you took to make sure the assignment was correct?
Answer Guide: Answer should indicate that the job seeker is willing to expand their written proficiency, willing to proofread, and take the time to make sure facts are accurate.

Question: What specific benefit has resulted from your efforts to improve your vocabulary and writing skill?
Answer Guide: Applicant’s answer should demonstrate an enthusiasm for being more accurate and precise in the use of terminology. They should want to have superior writing skills.
Take a look at this.
A

Accounting
Accounts Payable
Accounts Receivable
Accounting Supervisory
Analytical Skills
Audit

B

Benchmarking
Budget
Behaviour
Business Resumption

C

Behaviour Questions
Customer Service
Career
Centralization
Clerical
Closing
Communications
Coworkers
Supervisors
Confidence
Contract Administration
Correspondence
Cost Accounting
Cost Control
Court Stenographer
Creativity
Customer Service

D

Decentralization
Decision Making
Disaster Recovery

E

E-Commerce
Education - Interviewee
Employee Development
Engineering - General
Experience - Interviewee

F

Filing
First Job
Fixed Assets

G

General
General Experience and Education
General Ledger
Generic

H

Help Desk House Keeping

I

Independent
Information Technology
Internet
Interpersonal Skills
Intranet

J

Judgement

K

L

Leadership

M

Mainframe
Meetings
Motivation

N

Networking - IT
New Job

O

Organization
Outsourcing

P

Payroll
Performance Measurement
Personal Computers
Personal Qualities
Personal Qualities Situation
Personnel
Planning
Presentations
Pressure
Prioritization
Problem Solving
Procedures
Process
Productivity
Programming
Project Management
Purchasing

Q

Quality

R

Receptionist
Records Management
Reengineering
Reports
Responsibility
Risk

S

Safety
Secretarial
Security - IT
Self Starter
Staffing
Strategy
Strengths
Supervision/Management - Delegation
Supervision/Management - Discipline
Supervision/Management - Experience
Supervision/Management - Knowledge
Supervision/Management - Situations
Supervision/Management - Subordinate Supervisors
Supervision/Management - Subordinate Supervisors Situations
Systems - IT
Systems Analysis

T

Teamwork
Telephone
Timekeeping
Training

W

Weaknesses
Working Effectively with Others

Y

You