Top 10 Interview Questions

Top 10 Interview Questions

1. What is your greatest strength? When I'm working on a project, I don't want just to meet deadlines. Rather, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule.My time management skills are excellent and I'm organized, efficient, and take pride in excelling at my work.I pride myself on my customer service skills and my ability to resolve what could be difficult situations.

-passionate, desire, energy, different roles, adaptility, willing to learn from others, leadership and team member, creative idea suggestion, flexibility

2. What is your greatest weakness? When I'm working on a project, I don't want just to meet deadlines. Rather, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule.

Being organized wasn't my strongest point, but I implemented a time management system that really helped my organization skills.

I like to make sure that my work is perfect, so I tend to perhaps spend a little too much time checking it. However, I've come to a good balance by setting up a system to ensure everything is done correctly the first time.

I used to wait until the last minute to set appointments for the coming week, but I realized that scheduling in advance makes much more sense.

Sometimes, I spend more time than necessary on a task, or take on tasks personally that could easily be delegated to someone else. Although I've never missed a deadline, it is still an effort for me to know when to move on to the next task, and to be confident when assigning others work.

I had difficulty with calculus during college, but I persevered with tutoring assistance and extra effort and completed 2 levels with a B minus average.

I've learned to make my perfectionism work to my advantage at work. I am excellent at meeting deadlines, and with my attention to detail, I know my work is correct.

I used to like to work on one project to its completion before starting on another, but I've learned to work on many projects at the same time, and I think it allows me to be more creative and effective in each one.

Cannot tolerate with people that is not punctual when meet up.

3. How do you handle stress and pressure? Stress is very important to me. With stress, I do the best

possible job. The appropriate way to deal with stress is to make sure I have the correct balance between good stress and bad stress. I need good stress to stay motivated and productive.

I react to situations, rather than to stress. That way, the situation is handled and doesn't become stressful.

I actually work better under pressure and I've found that I enjoy working in a challenging environment.

From a personal perspective, I manage stress by visiting the gym every evening. It's a great stress reducer.

Prioritizing my responsibilities so I have a clear idea of what needs to be done when, has helped me effectively manage pressure on the job.

If the people I am managing are contributing to my stress level, I discuss options for better handling difficult situations with them.

I find that when I'm under the pressure of a deadline, I can do some of my most creative work.

I'm not a person who has a difficult time with stress. When I'm under pressure, I focus, and get the job done.

I find it exhilarating to be in a dynamic environment where the pressure is on.

I find a past pace to be invigorating, and thrive when the pressure is on.

I've done some of my best work under tight deadlines, where the atmosphere was very stressful.

I'm the kind of person who stays calm under pressure, and handles stress fairly easily.

It's a good idea to give examples of how you have handled stress to your interviewer. That way, they get a clear picture how well you can work in stressful situations.

4. Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it.

There is no right or wrong answer to questions like "What are the most difficult decisions to make?" or "Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it." These are behavioral interview questions designed to discover how you handled certain situations. The logic behind these types of questions is that how you behaved in the past is a predictor of what you will do in the future.

Give concrete examples of difficult situations that actually happened at work. Then discuss what you did to solve the problem. Keep your answers positive ("Even though it was difficult when Jane Doe quit without notice, we were able to rearrange the department workload to cover the position until a replacement was hired.") and be specific. Itemize what you did and how you did it.

The best way to prepare for questions where you will need to recall events and actions is to refresh your memory and consider some special situations you have dealt with or projects you have worked on. You can use them to help frame responses. Prepare stories that illustrate times when you have successfully solved a difficult situation.

Meeting deadlines, team member don’t want to co-operate, so need to to do his part while trying to meet the deadline

5. How do you evaluate success?

I evaluate success in different ways. At work, it is meeting the goals set by my supervisors and my fellow workers. After work, I enjoy playing softball, so success on the field is catching the winning pop-up.

-learning from the mistakes in duration we overcome the problems

-achieving target

6. Why are you leaving or have left your job? I found myself bored with the work and looking for more

challenges. I am an excellent employee and I didn't want my

unhappiness to have any impact on the job I was doing for my employer.

There isn't room for growth with my current employer and I'm ready to move on to a new challenge.

I'm looking for a bigger challenge and to grow my career and I couldn't job hunt part time while working. It didn't seem ethical to use my former employer's time.

I was laid-off from my last position when our department was eliminated due to corporate restructuring.

I'm relocating to this area due to family circumstances and left my previous position in order to make the move.

I've decided that is not the direction I want to go in my career and my current employer has no opportunities in the direction I'd like to head.

After several years in my last position, I'm looking for an company where I can contribute and grow in a team-oriented environment.

I am interested in a new challenge and an opportunity to use my technical skills and experience in a different capacity than I have in the past.

I recently received my degree and I want to utilize my educational background in my next position.

I am interested in a job with more responsibility, and I am very ready for a new challenge.

I left my last position in order to spend more time with my family. Circumstances have changed and I'm more than ready for full-time employment again.

I am seeking a position with a stable company with room for growth and opportunity for advancement.

I was commuting to the city and spending a significant amount of time each day on travel. I would prefer to be closer to home.

To be honest, I wasn't considering a move, but, I saw this job posting and was intrigued by the position and the company. It sounds like an exciting opportunity and an ideal match with my qualifications.

This position seemed like an excellent match for my skills and experience and I am not able to fully utilize them in my present job.

The company was cutting back and, unfortunately, my job was one of those eliminated.

7. Why do you want this job?

This is not only a fine opportunity, but this company is a place where my qualifications can make a difference. As a finance executive well versed in the new stock options law, I see this position as made to order. It contains the challenge to keep me on my toes. That's the kind of job I like to anticipate every morning.

I want this job because it seems tailored to my competencies, which include sales and marketing. As I said earlier, in a previous position I created an annual growth rate of 22 percent in a flat industry. Additionally, the team I would work with looks terrific.

I well understand that this is a company on the way up. Your Web site says the launch of several new products is imminent. I want be a part of this business as it grows.

Having worked through a college business major building decks and porches for neighbors, this entry-level job for the area's most respected home builder has my name on it.

As a dedicated technician, I like doing essential research. Being part of a breakthrough team is an experience I'd love to repeat.

This job is a good fit for what I've been interested in throughout my career. It offers a nice mix of short- and long-term activities. My short-term achievements keep me cranked up and the long-term accomplishments make me feel like a billion bucks.

I want this job selling theater tickets because I'd be good at it. I'm good at speaking to people and handling cash. I would like a job with regular hours and I'm always on time.

Although some companies are replacing Americans with imported low-wage workers, you are standing tall. This company's successful strategies, good reputation and values make it heads and shoulders above its competition.

I'd fit right in as a counter clerk in your fine drycleaners. I have observed that the counter clerk position requires competence at handling several activities in quick order -- customer service, payments, bagging and phones. I like multitasking and, as a homemaker, I have a lot of practice in keeping all the balls in the air.

The work I find most stimulating allows me to use both my creative and research skills. The buzz on this company is that it rewards people who deliver solutions to substantial problems.

8. Why should we hire you? When an employer asks you, “Why should we hire you?” she

is really asking, “What makes you the best fit for this position?” Your answer to this question should be a concise “sales pitch” that explains what you have to offer the

employer. The best way to respond is to give concrete examples of why

your skills and accomplishments make you the best candidate for the job. Take a few moments to compare the job description with your abilities, as well as mentioning what you have accomplished in your other positions. Be positive and reiterate your interest in the company and the position. Here's how to prepare your response.

Think of the Job Listing To prepare an answer to this question, look at the job listing.

Make a list of the requirements for the position, including personality traits, skills, and qualifications. Then, make a list of the qualities you have that fit these requirements. For each quality, think of a specific time that you used that trait to achieve something at work. For example, if you list that you are a “team player,” think of a time in which your ability to work well on a team resulted in a successfully completed project.

Keep it Concise You want your answer to be brief – no more than a minute or

two long. Therefore, select one or two specific qualities from the list you created to emphasize in your “sales pitch.” Begin by explaining what you believe the employer is looking for, and how you fulfill that need.

Focus on your Uniqueness The interviewer wants to know how you stand out amongst

the other applicants. Therefore, focus on one or two qualities you possess that might be unique, or more difficult to find, in other interviewees. For example, if you are very experienced with a certain skill that the job requires, say so. This is your chance to tell the interviewer why you would be an invaluable employee.

Examples of Answers You have explained that you are looking for a sales executive

who is able to effectively manage over a dozen employees. In my fifteen years of experience as a sales manager, I have developed strong motivational and team-building skills. I was twice awarded manager-of-the-year for my innovative strategies for motivating employees to meet and surpass quarterly deadlines. If hired, I will bring my leadership abilities and strategies for achieving profit gains to this position.

You describe in the job listing that you are looking for a special education assistant teacher with an abundance of patience and compassion. Having served as a tutor at a summer school for dyslexic children for the past two years, I have developed my ability to be extremely patient while still achieving academic gains with my students. My experience teaching phonics to children ages 6 to 18 has taught me strategies for working with children of all ages and abilities,

always with a smile. My previous employer often placed me with the students with the most severe learning disabilities because of my history of success. I will bring not only experience, but patience and creative problem-solving, to this position.

9. What are your goals for the future? - Best AnswersThe best way to respond to the interview question "What are your goals for the future?" or "Where do you see yourself in five years?" is to refer to the position and the company you are interviewing with.Don't discuss your goals for returning to school or having a family, they are not relevant and could knock you out of contention for the job. Rather, you want to connect your answer to the job you are applying for. Examples of good responses include:

My long-term goals involve growing with a company where I can continue to learn, take on additional responsibilities, and contribute as much of value as I can.

I see myself as a top performing employee in a well-established organization, like this one. I plan on enhancing my skills and continuing my involvement in (related) professional associations.

Once I gain additional experience, I would like to move on from a technical position to management.

In the XYZ Corporation, what is a typical career path for someone with my skills and experiences?

10. Tell me about yourself. - Best Answers

Because it's such a common interview question, it's strange that more candidates don't spend the time to prepare for exactly how to answer it. Perhaps because the question seems so disarming and informal, we drop our guard and shift into ramble mode. Resist all temptation to do so.

Your interviewer is not looking for a 10-minute dissertation here. Instead, offer a razor sharp sentence or two that sets the stage for further discussion and sets you apart from your competitors.

Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Give them "your synopsis about you" answer, specifically your Unique Selling Proposition. Known as a personal branding or a value-added statement, the USP is a succinct, one-sentence description of who you are, your biggest strength and the major benefit that a company will derive from this strength. Here is an example of a Unique Selling Proposition: "I'm a seasoned Retail Manager strong in developing training programs and loss prevention techniques that have resulted in revenue savings of over $2.3Million for (employer's name) during the past 11 years."

What a difference you've made with this statement. Your interviewer is now sitting forward in her chair giving you her full attention. At this point, you might add the following sentence: "I'd like to discuss how I might be able to do something like that for you." The ball is now back in her court and you have the beginnings of a real discussion and not an interrogation process.

Be Specific

The key is that you must lead with your strongest benefit to the employer. Be specific and don't wander about with some laundry list of skills or talents. Be sure to put a monetary value on your work if at all possible and be ready with details when you're called upon. Give an estimated value to the $$ you've either helped to make or save for your employer.

Be Prepared

When you walk into an interview, remember to always expect the "tell me about yourself" question. Prepare ahead of time by developing your own personal branding statement that clearly tells who you are, your major strength and the clear benefit that your employer received. The advantages of this approach are that you'll quickly gain their attention and interest them in knowing more. You'll separate yourself from your competitors. You'll also have a higher chance of being positively remembered and hired.

1. So, tell me a little about yourself.

I'd be very surprised if you haven't been asked this one at

every interview. It's probably the most asked question because it sets the stage for the interview and it gets you talking. Be careful not to give the interviewer your life story here. You don't need to explain everything from birth to present day. Relevant facts about education, your career and your current life situation are fine.

2. Why are you looking (or why did you leave you last job)?

This should be a straightforward question to answer, but it can trip you up. Presumably you are looking for a new job (or any job) because you want to advance your career and get a position that allows you to grow as a person and an employee. It's not a good idea to mention money here, it can make you sound mercenary. And if you are in the unfortunate situation of having been downsized, stay positive and be as brief as possible about it. If you were fired, you'll need a good explanation. But once again, stay positive.

3. Tell me what you know about this company.

Do your homework before you go to any interview. Whether it's being the VP of marketing or the mailroom clerk, you should know about the company or business you're going to work for. Has this company been in the news lately? Who are the people in the company you should know about? Do the background work, it will make you stand out as someone who comes prepared, and is genuinely interested in the company and the job.

4. Why do you want to work at X Company?

This should be directly related to the last question. Any research you've done on the company should have led you to the conclusion that you'd want to work there. After all, you're at the interview, right? Put some thought into this answer before you have your interview, mention your career goals and highlight forward-thinking goals and career plans.

5. What relevant experience do you have?

Hopefully if you're applying for this position you have bags of

related experience, and if that's the case you should mention it all. But if you're switching careers or trying something a little different, your experience may initially not look like it's matching up. That's when you need a little honest creativity to match the experiences required with the ones you have. People skills are people skills after all, you just need to show how customer service skills can apply to internal management positions, and so on.

6. If your previous co-workers were here, what would they say about you?

Ok, this is not the time for full disclosure. If some people from your past are going to say you're a boring A-hole, you don't need to bring that up. Stay positive, always, and maybe have a few specific quotes in mind. "They'd say I was a hard worker" or even better "John Doe has always said I was the most reliable, creative problem-solver he'd ever met."

7. Have you done anything to further your experience?

This could include anything from night classes to hobbies and sports. If it's related, it's worth mentioning. Obviously anything to do with further education is great, but maybe you're spending time on a home improvement project to work on skills such as self-sufficiency, time management and motivation.

8. Where else have you applied?

This is a good way to hint that you're in demand, without sounding like you're whoring yourself all over town. So, be honest and mention a few other companies but don't go into detail. The fact that you're seriously looking and keeping your options open is what the interviewer is driving at.

9. How are you when you're working under pressure?

Once again, there are a few ways to answer this but they should all be positive. You may work well under pressure, you

may thrive under pressure, and you may actually PREFER working under pressure. If you say you crumble like aged blue cheese, this is not going to help you get your foot in the door.

10. What motivates you to do a good job?

The answer to this one is not money, even if it is. You should be motivated by life's noble pursuits. You want recognition for a job well done. You want to become better at your job. You want to help others or be a leader in your field.

11. What's your greatest strength?

This is your chance to shine. You're being asked to explain why you are a great employee, so don't hold back and stay do stay positive. You could be someone who thrives under pressure, a great motivator, an amazing problem solver or someone with extraordinary attention to detail. If your greatest strength, however, is to drink anyone under the table or get a top score on Mario Kart, keep it to yourself. The interviewer is looking for work-related strengths.

12. What's your biggest weakness?

If you're completely honest, you may be kicking yourself in the butt. If you say you don't have one, you're obviously lying. This is a horrible question and one that politicians have become masters at answering. They say things like "I'm perhaps too committed to my work and don't spend enough time with my family." Oh, there's a fireable offense. I've even heard "I think I'm too good at my job, it can often make people jealous." Please, let's keep our feet on the ground. If you're asked this question, give a small, work-related flaw that you're working hard to improve. Example: "I've been told I occasionally focus on details and miss the bigger picture, so I've been spending time laying out the complete project every day to see my overall progress."

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

11. Strong Interview

Answers12.

www.interviewsuccessformula.com

13. Never Ever Make These 3 Humiliating Interview Blunders. Check Them Out!

14.

13. Let's talk about salary. What are you looking for?

Run for cover! This is one tricky game to play in an interview. Even if you know the salary range for the job, if you answer first you're already showing all your cards. You want as much as possible, the employer wants you for as little as you're willing to take. Before you apply, take a look at salary.com for a good idea of what someone with your specific experience should be paid. You may want to say, "well, that's something I've thought long and hard about and I think someone with my experience should get between X & Y." Or, you could be sly and say, "right now, I'm more interested in talking more about what the position can offer my career." That could at least buy you a little time to scope out the situation. But if you do have a specific figure in mind and you are confident that you can get it, I'd say go for it. I have on many occasions, and every time I got very close to that figure (both below and sometimes above).

14. Are you good at working in a team?

Unless you have the I.Q. of a houseplant, you'll always answer YES to this one. It's the only answer. How can anyone function inside an organization if they are a loner? You may want to mention what part you like to play in a team though; it's a great chance to explain that you're a natural leader.

15. Tell me a suggestion you have made that

was implemented.

It's important here to focus on the word "implemented." There's nothing wrong with having a thousand great ideas, but if the only place they live is on your notepad what's the point? Better still, you need a good ending. If your previous company took your advice and ended up going bankrupt, that's not such a great example either. Be prepared with a story about an idea of yours that was taken from idea to implementation, and considered successful.

16. Has anything ever irritated you about people you've worked with?

Of course, you have a list as long as your arm. But you can't say that, it shows you as being negative and difficult to work with. The best way to answer this one is to think for a while and then say something like "I've always got on just fine with my co-workers actually."

17. Is there anyone you just could not work with?

No. Well, unless you're talking about murderers, racists, rapists, thieves or other dastardly characters, you can work with anyone. Otherwise you could be flagged as someone who's picky and difficult if you say, "I can't work with anyone who's a Bronco's fan. Sorry."

18. Tell me about any issues you've had with a previous boss.

Arrgh! If you fall for this one you shouldn't be hired anyway. The interviewer is testing you to see if you'll speak badly about your previous supervisor. Simply answer this question with extreme tact, diplomacy and if necessary, a big fat loss of memory. In short, you've never had any issues.

19. Would you rather work for money or job satisfaction?

It's not a very fair question is it? We'd all love to get paid a Trump-like salary doing a job we love but that's rare indeed. It's fine to say money is important, but remember that NOTHING is more important to you than the job. Otherwise, you're just someone looking for a bigger paycheck.

20. Would you rather be liked or feared?

I have been asked this a lot, in various incarnations. The first time I just drew a blank and said, "I don't know." That went over badly, but it was right at the start of my career when I had little to no experience. Since then I've realized that my genuine answer is "Neither, I'd rather be respected." You don't want to be feared because fear is no way to motivate a team. You may got the job done but at what cost? Similarly, if you're everyone's best friend you'll find it difficult to make tough decisions or hit deadlines. But when you're respected, you don't have to be a complete bastard or a lame duck to get the job done.

21. Are you willing to put the interests of X Company ahead of your own?

Again, another nasty question. If you say yes, you're a corporate whore who doesn't care about family. If you say no, you're disloyal to the company. I'm afraid that you'll probably have to say yes to this one though, because you're trying to be the perfect employee at this point, and perfect employees don't cut out early for Jimmy's baseball game.

22. So, explain why I should hire you.

As I'm sure you know, "because I'm great" or "I really need a job" are not good answers here. This is a time to give the employer a laundry list of your greatest talents that just so happen to match the job description. It's also good to avoid taking potshots at other potential candidates here. Focus on yourself and your talents, not other people's flaws.

23. Finally, do you have any questions to ask me?

I'll finish the way I started, with one of the most common questions asked in interviews. This directly relates to the research you've done on the company and also gives you a chance to show how eager and prepared you are. You'll probably want to ask about benefits if they haven't been covered already. A good generic one is "how soon could I start, if I were offered the job of course." You may also ask what you'd be working on. Specifically, in the role you're applying for and how that affects the rest of the company. Always have questions ready, greeting this one with a blank stare is a rotten way to finish your interview. Good luck and happy job hunting.

JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 1

"Tell me about yourself..."Be prepared to talk for two minutes about yourself. Be logical. Start anywhere, such as high school, college or your first professional position. The interviewer is trying to evaluate your communication skills and linear thinking. You may try to score a point or two by describing a major personal attribute. JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 2

"Why are you leaving your current position?"This is a very critical question. Don't bad mouth your previous employer or co-workers or sound too opportunistic. It's fine to mention major problems, a buy-out or a shutdown. You may want to state that after long personal consideration, your chance to make a contribution is very low due to extensive company-wide changes.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 3

"What do you consider your most significant accomplishment?"A good answer to this question can get you the job. Prepare

extensively—discuss hard work, long hours, pressure and important company issues at stake. You may want to tell a two minute detailed story, discussing personal involvement.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 4

"Why do you believe you are qualified for this position?"Pick two or three main factors about the job and about yourself that are most relevant. Discuss for two minutes, including specific details. You may mention a technical skill, a management skill and/or a personal success story.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 5

"Have you ever accomplished something you didn't think you could?"The interviewer is trying to determine your goal orientation, work ethic, personal commitment and integrity. Prepare a good example where you overcame difficulties and succeeded. Prove that you're not a quitter.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 6

"What do you like/dislike most about your current or last position?"The interviewer is trying to determine compatibility with the open position. Be careful; don't say you dislike overtime, like management, or get too detailed. It's safe to say that you like challenges, pressure situations, opportunities to grow, or that you dislike bureaucracy and frustrating situations.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 7

"How do you handle pressure? Do you like or dislike these situations?"High achievers tend to perform well in high-pressure situations. Conversely, these questions could imply that the open position is pressure-packed and out of control. Know what you're getting into. If you do perform well under stress, provide a good, detailed example. Be descriptive.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 8

"The sign of a good employee is the ability to take initiative. Can you describe a situation where you did this?"The proactive, results-oriented person doesn't have to be told what to do. To convince the interviewer you possess this trait, give a series of short examples describing your self-motivation. Discuss one example in-depth, describing the extra effort, your strong work ethic and your creative, resourceful side. JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 9

"What was the worst/most embarrassing situation of your career? How would you have done things differently with

20/20 hindsight?"Your interviewer wants to know how introspective you are, and to see if you can learn from your mistakes. Don't be afraid to talk candidly about your failures, especially if you learned something significant from them.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 10

"How have you grown or changed over the past few years?"Maturation, increased technical skills and increased self-confidence are important developmental aspects. To discuss these effectively is indicative of a well-balanced, intelligent individual. Overcoming personal obstacles or recognising manageable weaknesses can help identify you as an approachable and desirable employee.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 11

"What do you consider your most significant strength?"Know your key five or six strengths—the ones most compatible with the job opening. Discuss each with specific examples. Don't include your management or interpersonal skills unless you can describe specific examples of good management, or how your relationship skills have been critical to your success.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 12

"Deadlines, frustrations, difficult people and silly rules can make a job difficult. How do you handle these types of situations?"Most companies, unfortunately, face these problems daily. If you can't deal with petty problems, you'll be seen as uncooperative. How you overcome these are important. Diplomacy, perseverance and common sense will prevail in difficult circumstances.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 13

"One of our biggest problems is… What has been your experience with this? How would you deal with it?"Think on your feet. Ask questions to get more details and break the problem into subsections. It is highly likely that you will have had some experience dealing with the subsections. Answer these and summarise the total. If you can't answer directly, state how you would go about solving the problem. Be specific and show your organisational and analytical skills.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 14

"How has your technical ability been important in accomplishing results?"A potential employee needs a strong level of technical competence. Most strong managers have good technical backgrounds. Describe specific examples of your technical

abilities, and how you resolved a technical issue.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 15

"How would you handle a situation with tight deadlines, low employee morale and inadequate resources?"Your interviewer is looking for strong management skills. You need to be creative and describe your toughest management task, even if it doesn't meet all the criteria. Most situations don't. Organisational and interpersonal skills, handling pressure and good handling of this question are indicative of effective management skills.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 16

"Are you satisfied with your career to date? What would you change if you could?"Be honest. The interviewer wants to know if you'll be happy. Are you willing to make some sacrifices to get your career on the right track? Your degree of motivation is an important selection factor.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 17

"What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself five or ten years from now?"Be realistic! Pie-in-the-sky goals label you as immature. One or two management jumps in 3-5 years is a reasonable goal. If your track record indicates you're in line for senior management in 10 years, then mention it. If you've had a rocky road, be introspective.JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 18

"Why should we hire you for this position? What kinds of contributions would you make?"This is a good chance to summarise. By now, you should know the key problems. Restate and show how you would address them. Don't be arrogant—instead demonstrate a thoughtful, organised and strong attitude.

Tell me about yourselfOne of the most popular 'ice breakers'.

This question may be used to assess your ability to think on your feet. An ideal response would briefly state your career history and what skills you have been able to develop. Explain how these skills could easily transfer to this new position.

Be sure to stay focused on qualities that are career related unless specifically instructed by the interviewer.

An ideal response for this question should be 1 to 2 minutes.

example interview response:

"I have been in the customer service industry for the past four years. My most recent experience has been face to face consulting in the IT industry. One reason I particularly enjoy this business is the opportunity to connect with people. In my last job I formed some significant customer relationships resulting in a 20 percent increase in sales in a matter of months.

What I am looking for now is a company that values customer relations where I can join a strong team and have a positive impact on customer retention and sales."

topTell me about your ability to work under pressureTo assist with your response give an example of a time in which you were able to achieve a desired outcome under constraints such as time or budget.

example interview response:

"Throughout my career in the IT industry I have always been able to demonstrate a high level of control even when placed under pressure."

For example when employed by ABC Computer Help there were instances in which I received numerous requests for IT support. During these busy times was able categorize requests as either 'urgent' or 'non-urgent' and action them accordingly.

I have been able to develop a means of prioritizing tasks so that my workload remains manageable."

topWhat is your greatest strength?Mention a skill or behaviour that is transferable. You may want to consider: your ability to work under pressure, ability to prioritize, problem solve, ability to focus on the big picture, leadership skills, etc.

example interview response:

"My ability to get along with people has always been a great strength.

It is something the I am proud of personally and professionally."

topTell me about a problem you had with a supervisorDanger - Don't fall for this type of question.

Develop a sudden loss of memory. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your former employer. Stay positive and spend little time here. Answer the question which indicates a level respect and loyalty.

example interview response:

"In the entire time I have been in the workforce I cant recall a time in which I have had a misunderstanding with an employer.

I have been very lucky to have worked under such great people in my working life. If I have ever had a concern I have always been able to confine in my one up manager."

topDo you have any questions for me?Your answer should always be yes.

You may be perceived as disinterested otherwise. Remember that an interview is a two way process. It is a chance for you to see if this prospective company will live up to your expectations as an employer.

Think of the interview as conversation. As with any type of conversation timing is important. You yourself will need to decipher when to ask what type questions along the way and not only when prompted with this question.

Asking questions about the interviewer on a semi personal level can can be a great chance to also build rapport. This wont be applicable for every interview. Most interviewers like to talk about themselves. Consider: "What do you yourself like most about working for 'ABC Consulting'?"

See also: What questions to ask the interviewer

example interview responses:

"How did this position become available?"

"What do you consider to be the company's strengths and weaknesses?"

"Can you describe a typical day for someone in this position"

topDo you consider yourself successful?Your answer should always be yes.

Always aim to provide examples of your past and current career, family, social or community achievements which you feel comfortable sharing.

No one would ever consider hiring someone who considers them self as unsuccessful.

Answering this type of question promptly will also reinforce to your interviewer that you are confident and capable individual.

Remember, factual examples that you can provide of your past will be an indicator of future for success.

topYour resume suggests that you're over qualified for this role. What's your opinion?Your interviewer is wanting to asses weather or not you are here for the long term. Give assurance that you will be committed to the bigger picture and that the company can only benefit with well qualified staff.

example interview response:

"I am looking for a fertile company in which I can see myself in the bigger picture."

"I can tell you that I believe I am well qualified for this position and I believe that a strong company needs strong staff."

"A growing energetic company can never have too much talent."

topMore questions to consider

15. What are your primary responsibilities in your current role?

16. What do you like best about your current role?

17. Tell me a time when you dealt with a challenging customer / stakeholder. How did you handle the situation?

18. Talking about you current/past workplace, how do you go about maximizing your own performance?

19. Tell me a time when when you were faced with conflicting priorities. What was your approach?

20. Why do you want this job?

21. Why should we hire you?

22. What qualities do you look for in a boss?

23. What do you know about the company?

24. What can you bring to this position?

25. What would you look forward to most in this position?

26. How does this job fit into your career plan?

27. Describe your typical approach to a project.

28. Tell me about your dream job.

29. What would your colleagues / boss say about you?

30. How do you manage a busy day?

31. What do you like best about your current position?

32. What motivates you?

33. Why did you apply for this position?

34. What do you like to do in your spare time?

35. What do you know about the company?

36. What do you believe are your weaknesses?

37. Have you applied for other jobs?

38. Tell me about an achievement that you are particularly proud of.

39. Why have you had so many jobs?

40. Where do you see yourself in five years time?

41. Tell me about a time when you have encountered conflict in the workplace.