Sample interview questions

Sample Interview Sample Interview QuestionsQuestions

How would you respond to the How would you respond to the following common interview following common interview questions?questions?

What kind of job are you What kind of job are you interested in?interested in?

Be specific.Be specific. If you have no job If you have no job

experience, ask for experience, ask for an entry-level job in an entry-level job in your field.your field.

Example: “I’d like an Example: “I’d like an entry-level position in entry-level position in retail or sales.”retail or sales.”

What are your skills?What are your skills?

Skills are things you Skills are things you can do.can do.

Tell what equipment Tell what equipment you can operate.you can operate.

Tell what languages Tell what languages you can speak.you can speak.

Tell what computer Tell what computer software you are software you are familiar with.familiar with.

When can you start?When can you start?

Allow two-week’s notice if you are already Allow two-week’s notice if you are already working.working.

Don’t expect the employer to wait a long time Don’t expect the employer to wait a long time for you to be available.for you to be available.

Tell me about yourself.Tell me about yourself.

Describe your Describe your personal strengths.personal strengths.

Give examples.Give examples. Be positive.Be positive. Keep your response Keep your response

work-related. work-related.

What did you dislike What did you dislike about your previous job?about your previous job?

Don’t be negative Don’t be negative about your previous about your previous employer. The employer. The interviewer may think interviewer may think you have a poor you have a poor attitude.attitude.

Focus on ways in Focus on ways in which your previous which your previous job limited your job limited your growth or potential.growth or potential.

Why are you leaving your Why are you leaving your present job?present job?

Don’t say you were fired or you hated your job.Don’t say you were fired or you hated your job. Give a positive reason if possible.Give a positive reason if possible. Examples: “I want to work closer to home,”or “I Examples: “I want to work closer to home,”or “I

need more opportunity for advancement.”need more opportunity for advancement.”

Can you use a computer?Can you use a computer?

Be positive. Be positive. If you can’t do If you can’t do

something, say, “No, something, say, “No, I can’t, but I can I can’t, but I can learn.”learn.”

What salary are you What salary are you looking for?looking for?

Be realistic.Be realistic. Ask for a salary Ask for a salary

slightly above the slightly above the minimum you would minimum you would accept.accept.

Be prepared to Be prepared to negotiate by negotiate by stressing your stressing your experience and experience and skills.skills.

Do you have any Do you have any questions you want to questions you want to ask?ask?

Be ready to ask two Be ready to ask two or three questions.or three questions.

Don’t ask about Don’t ask about vacation, sick days, vacation, sick days, or job perks.or job perks.

Ask about the job Ask about the job responsibilities, responsibilities, hours, or parking hours, or parking availability.availability.