- Why did you leave your last job?
- Have you ever been fired or forced to resign?
- Why have you had so many jobs in such a short period of time?
- Can you explain this gap in your employment history?
- Exactly why do you want to work here?
- Why should we hire YOU? What can you do for us that someone else can not?
- Have you ever had problems with a supervisor or a coworker? Describe the situation for me.
- Describe some times when you were not very satisfied with your own performance. What did you do about it?
- Give me an example of a problem you faced on the job, and tell me how you solved it.
- Give me an example of an important goal you had to set and tell me about your progress in reaching that goal. What steps did you take?
- What was your role in your department's most recent success?
- What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
- What have you learned from your mistakes?
- What was the best decision you ever made?
- Describe a time when you were faced with problems or stresses at work. What did you do?
- How do you deal with competition? Are you a competitive person?
- What would you consider an ideal work environment?
- What are your long-range career objectives, and what steps have you taken toward obtaining them?
- How well do you work with people? Do you prefer working alone or in teams?
- Describe a situation when working with a team produced more successful results than if you had completed the project on your own.
- What do you do when people disagree with your ideas?
- Describe a situation where you found yourself dealing with someone who didn't like you. What did you do?
- Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion.
- Can you tell me about an important written document you were required to complete?
- What motivates you to go the extra mile on a project or job?
- Describe a situation where you messed up, or your results were not up to your supervisor's expectations. What action did you take?
- Give me an example of a time when you tried to accomplish something and failed. Were you discouraged by this? What did you do about it?
- What do you really want to do in life? What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
- What does it mean to be successful? According to your definition, how successful have you been so far?
- What is the best thing that ever happened to you?
- What is the most creative thing you have ever done?
- You don't have the right kind of experience.
- You may be overqualified or too experienced for the position.
- What are your expectations regarding promotions and salary increases?
- How much $$$ do you expect if we offer this position to you?
Give me an example of a problem you faced on the job, and tell me how you solved it.
DISCUSSION: This is a problem solving question that tests your critical thinking skills. This is a great question for showing that you are a creative and capable problem solver. The problem you select to use as an example should be as similar as possible to a problem that you are likely to face at the job you are interviewing for.1) LISTEN for their "pain points," 2) give an example of your experience where you solved something similar, then 3) get them to agree with you that such experience would be beneficial to the company.
"I try to take a systematic approach to problem solving. I take the time to gather the relevant information and clearly define the problem or goal. I think it is important to get the information and clarify the problem firstbefore you start coming up with possible solutions, or wasting other people's time. FOR EXAMPLE, when I was at Job "X" ... What kinds of challenges are YOU currently facing in your department? How tough a position does that put you in? What could the ideal candidate do to help solve this problem in their first couple months on the job?"
"Sure, at my last job we had a problem where the situation was "X" ... the action I took was "Y" ... and the positive outcome was "Z" ... I was commended by Susan in Accounting for solving the problem and getting the project back on track. I think that's the type of experience you are looking to bring to your team ... isn't it?
"You would agree that having this type of experience will help me succeeed in this position, wouldn't you?"
"... How to best tell your "experience stories" and then get them to agree with you that such experience would be huge asset for the company ..."
What did you like best and least about your previous job?
DISCUSSION: This question reveals a lot about you. You want to indicate that what you liked best about your last job are things that will appeal to the Hiring Manager. Show that your last job allowed you to demonstrate many of the positive and desirable Behavioral Competencies that are discussed at the beginning of this Guide. Give specific examples of how your last job allowed you to flex your skills and show your maturity. Never make statements like "I like that my last company gave me a lot of vacation days," or something similar. When answering about what you liked least, keep it short and do not be negative.
"What I liked about my last job was the fact that there was good on the job training. I was able to really develop my "X" skills, which I know will help me succeed here if I am fortunate enough to be able to join your team. What are the qualities and skills of the people who have been most successful at this company?"
"I've got some of those skills as well. I think that's something that could benefit your department, isn't it?"
"One thing I liked about my last job was that it allowed me to develop my leadership skills. FOR EXAMPLE, I was put in charge of a project where I had to earn the "buy-in" of people from multiple different departments — including Marketing, IT, Product Development, and even HR. I held all the responsibility for getting this project completed on time, even though I had no real authority over my teammates since they did not report to me. I was able to create a project vision that the team agreed on, and then day-to-day I made sure that each team member completed their work on time. I did this in most cases by appealing to my teammates' own self-interests. FOR EXAMPLE ... "
"Did I answer that question to your satisfaction?"
"What I liked least about my last job was that the management style was pretty hands off, and this was fine for me because I am self-motivated and work hard to achieve. But the lack of structure sometimes allowed some of my teammates to slack off from time to time — and I often ended up having to pick up the extra work. I would not mind that SOMETIMES, but it got old after a while. I had to constructively approach my manager and let her know what was going on WITHOUT creating any friction between me and the slacker teammates, who I actually liked as people. In the end, it worked out well, because I was pro-active. Have you ever run into that type of situation as a manager?"
"... A Full Explanation Of What You Need To Say To Get Hired ..."
What have you learned from your mistakes?
DISCUSSION: Show that you are able to learn from your mistakes, but don't offer up any negative examples concerning your past performance. Show that you have been successful, but that you have the maturity it takes to examine your own behavior so that you can learn and grow and be a better employee. Be brief.
"Good question. Well, I have been successful at every job I have had, but I have had the normal ups and downs. I'd say that I do actively try to monitor my work habits and the quality of my workso that I can constantly be improving myself. FOR EXAMPLE, I have had one or two hiccups with customers where their satisfaction was not where I thought it was. I learned that I have to really monitor certain difficult customers closely and "take their temperature" so I can keep their satisfaction level as high as possible. Have YOU had any customers like that here?"
"... Learn The 'Mind-Set' Of Successful Interviewing ..."
Describe a situation when working with a teamproduced more successful results than if you had completed the project on your own.
DISCUSSION: This is a "behavioral interviewing" style of question. The Hiring Manager wants to learn more about your thought process, and how well you can form examples to answer this teamwork related question. You will want to show your ability to solicit ideas from others, listen carefully, and persuade people to your point of view.
"Well, I have worked both independently and as a member of team, throughout my career. I enjoy both, and I can do both equally well. I will have to say, though, that working with others has often yielded great results for projects I have worked on — specifically when it comes to brainstorming. I try to get everyone involved in coming up with new solutions by making time for sessions where "there are no wrong ideas or answers." The creativity of a group of people is always going to be greater than that of one person, and thus the results will be more successful. I did that a lot a Job "Y". FOR EXAMPLE ..."
"Working with others allows you data-mine other people's skills and experiences, get perspectives and ideas that you would not have on your own , and check the quality of your own work before it goes out the door. FOR EXAMPLE, at Job "X" I worked with many great people. I was able to "pick their brains" — so to speak — about the effectiveness of various techniques, estimates on how long it would take to get various things done, etc. — I would not have been able to do my job as effectively without them ... Will there be the opportunity to work in team situations at this job?"
"... Eliminate Any "Fear of Interviewing" Once And for All ..."
Describe a time when you were faced with problems or stresses at work that tested your coping skills. What did you do?
DISCUSSION: Workplace stress is an issue for everyone. Don't pretend that you never get stressed out. You want to show that you can deal with stress and cope with difficult situations. Show that you are calm under pressure, and know how to avoid stress in the first place through planning and time management.
"Well I think it is important to remember that stress effects everyone, and it is inevitable that sometimes people are going to have bad days. That is why I try to give people the benefit of the doubt when they seem to have a short fuse. What I do personally is try to control my response to a situation. You can't necessarily control what happens to you, but you CAN control your own response. What I try to do is lengthen the time between the stressful situation and my response — so that I can identify the cause of the stress and decide what I can do about it ... Would you say it is a stressful environment here? ... I see. I'm sure I can handle it. I have been tested like that before ... FOR EXAMPLE ...."
"FOR EXAMPLE, on several occasions I have had to deal with very irate customers who actually yelled at me. What I did was stay calm and not let them get under my skin. I really tried to listen and decide exactly what it was that was at the root of their problem. Then I provided solutionsthat could be completed within a specific time-frame. I always find that it is best to face those types of situations head-on and be objective about them. I do my best to be professional and not get my emotions involved. Also, I try to avoid stress in the first place by tackling difficult tasks or conversations sooner rather than later. Does that make sense? ... I hope I've answered that question to your satisfaction?"
"... This Download Will Fill You With Motivation And Confidence ..."
What was your role in your department's most
recent success?
DISCUSSION: You'll want to be very specific here, and frame your answer in terms of how you saved time and money. The Hiring Manager is looking for a pattern of success, and you need to describe recent successes in detail. Use the S.T.A.R. Statement formula for your examples. Be prepared with at least three examples concerning your recent successes, and make sure at least one of them relates to teamwork and something you accomplished as part of a group. Make sure you address how your work made other people FEEL, as well as the time you saved and the revenue or cost-savings you generated.
"I guess that would be a recent project for client "X." I handled all of the communicationwith the client for our last project. It was a three month long project where my team had to build a custom package based on the needs of client. I was instrumental in translating the client's business needs into detailed product features. I had to make sure that my team understood what the client wanted, and then check the quality to make sure that we were delivering a quality product with the features that the client was expecting."
"Well, it was an ongoing process that required a lot of communication and teamwork with my team as well as the client. I think my role really was to clarify the scope of the project, and then "manage the client's expectations." We were able to deliver on time, and the client was thrilled! I was able to make sure no time was wasted on adding unnecessary features, and since we were working on a fixed bid price, we saved my company time and money. My manager and everybody on my team felt great because the project went so smoothly ... Is that the kind of experience that would help me be successful here?"
DISCUSSION: This is a problem solving question that tests your critical thinking skills. This is a great question for showing that you are a creative and capable problem solver. The problem you select to use as an example should be as similar as possible to a problem that you are likely to face at the job you are interviewing for.1) LISTEN for their "pain points," 2) give an example of your experience where you solved something similar, then 3) get them to agree with you that such experience would be beneficial to the company.
"I try to take a systematic approach to problem solving. I take the time to gather the relevant information and clearly define the problem or goal. I think it is important to get the information and clarify the problem firstbefore you start coming up with possible solutions, or wasting other people's time. FOR EXAMPLE, when I was at Job "X" ... What kinds of challenges are YOU currently facing in your department? How tough a position does that put you in? What could the ideal candidate do to help solve this problem in their first couple months on the job?" "Sure, at my last job we had a problem where the situation was "X" ... the action I took was "Y" ... and the positive outcome was "Z" ... I was commended by Susan in Accounting for solving the problem and getting the project back on track. I think that's the type of experience you are looking to bring to your team ... isn't it? "You would agree that having this type of experience will help me succeeed in this position, wouldn't you?""... How to best tell your "experience stories" and then get them to agree with you that such experience would be huge asset for the company ..."
What did you like best and least about your previous job?
DISCUSSION: This question reveals a lot about you. You want to indicate that what you liked best about your last job are things that will appeal to the Hiring Manager. Show that your last job allowed you to demonstrate many of the positive and desirable Behavioral Competencies that are discussed at the beginning of this Guide. Give specific examples of how your last job allowed you to flex your skills and show your maturity. Never make statements like "I like that my last company gave me a lot of vacation days," or something similar. When answering about what you liked least, keep it short and do not be negative.
"What I liked about my last job was the fact that there was good on the job training. I was able to really develop my "X" skills, which I know will help me succeed here if I am fortunate enough to be able to join your team. What are the qualities and skills of the people who have been most successful at this company?" "I've got some of those skills as well. I think that's something that could benefit your department, isn't it?" "One thing I liked about my last job was that it allowed me to develop my leadership skills. FOR EXAMPLE, I was put in charge of a project where I had to earn the "buy-in" of people from multiple different departments — including Marketing, IT, Product Development, and even HR. I held all the responsibility for getting this project completed on time, even though I had no real authority over my teammates since they did not report to me. I was able to create a project vision that the team agreed on, and then day-to-day I made sure that each team member completed their work on time. I did this in most cases by appealing to my teammates' own self-interests. FOR EXAMPLE ... " "Did I answer that question to your satisfaction?" "What I liked least about my last job was that the management style was pretty hands off, and this was fine for me because I am self-motivated and work hard to achieve. But the lack of structure sometimes allowed some of my teammates to slack off from time to time — and I often ended up having to pick up the extra work. I would not mind that SOMETIMES, but it got old after a while. I had to constructively approach my manager and let her know what was going on WITHOUT creating any friction between me and the slacker teammates, who I actually liked as people. In the end, it worked out well, because I was pro-active. Have you ever run into that type of situation as a manager?""... A Full Explanation Of What You Need To Say To Get Hired ..."
What have you learned from your mistakes?
DISCUSSION: Show that you are able to learn from your mistakes, but don't offer up any negative examples concerning your past performance. Show that you have been successful, but that you have the maturity it takes to examine your own behavior so that you can learn and grow and be a better employee. Be brief.
"Good question. Well, I have been successful at every job I have had, but I have had the normal ups and downs. I'd say that I do actively try to monitor my work habits and the quality of my workso that I can constantly be improving myself. FOR EXAMPLE, I have had one or two hiccups with customers where their satisfaction was not where I thought it was. I learned that I have to really monitor certain difficult customers closely and "take their temperature" so I can keep their satisfaction level as high as possible. Have YOU had any customers like that here?""... Learn The 'Mind-Set' Of Successful Interviewing ..."
Describe a situation when working with a teamproduced more successful results than if you had completed the project on your own.
DISCUSSION: This is a "behavioral interviewing" style of question. The Hiring Manager wants to learn more about your thought process, and how well you can form examples to answer this teamwork related question. You will want to show your ability to solicit ideas from others, listen carefully, and persuade people to your point of view.
"Well, I have worked both independently and as a member of team, throughout my career. I enjoy both, and I can do both equally well. I will have to say, though, that working with others has often yielded great results for projects I have worked on — specifically when it comes to brainstorming. I try to get everyone involved in coming up with new solutions by making time for sessions where "there are no wrong ideas or answers." The creativity of a group of people is always going to be greater than that of one person, and thus the results will be more successful. I did that a lot a Job "Y". FOR EXAMPLE ..." "Working with others allows you data-mine other people's skills and experiences, get perspectives and ideas that you would not have on your own , and check the quality of your own work before it goes out the door. FOR EXAMPLE, at Job "X" I worked with many great people. I was able to "pick their brains" — so to speak — about the effectiveness of various techniques, estimates on how long it would take to get various things done, etc. — I would not have been able to do my job as effectively without them ... Will there be the opportunity to work in team situations at this job?""... Eliminate Any "Fear of Interviewing" Once And for All ..."
Describe a time when you were faced with problems or stresses at work that tested your coping skills. What did you do?
DISCUSSION: Workplace stress is an issue for everyone. Don't pretend that you never get stressed out. You want to show that you can deal with stress and cope with difficult situations. Show that you are calm under pressure, and know how to avoid stress in the first place through planning and time management.
"Well I think it is important to remember that stress effects everyone, and it is inevitable that sometimes people are going to have bad days. That is why I try to give people the benefit of the doubt when they seem to have a short fuse. What I do personally is try to control my response to a situation. You can't necessarily control what happens to you, but you CAN control your own response. What I try to do is lengthen the time between the stressful situation and my response — so that I can identify the cause of the stress and decide what I can do about it ... Would you say it is a stressful environment here? ... I see. I'm sure I can handle it. I have been tested like that before ... FOR EXAMPLE ...." "FOR EXAMPLE, on several occasions I have had to deal with very irate customers who actually yelled at me. What I did was stay calm and not let them get under my skin. I really tried to listen and decide exactly what it was that was at the root of their problem. Then I provided solutionsthat could be completed within a specific time-frame. I always find that it is best to face those types of situations head-on and be objective about them. I do my best to be professional and not get my emotions involved. Also, I try to avoid stress in the first place by tackling difficult tasks or conversations sooner rather than later. Does that make sense? ... I hope I've answered that question to your satisfaction?""... This Download Will Fill You With Motivation And Confidence ..."
What was your role in your department's most
recent success?
DISCUSSION: You'll want to be very specific here, and frame your answer in terms of how you saved time and money. The Hiring Manager is looking for a pattern of success, and you need to describe recent successes in detail. Use the S.T.A.R. Statement formula for your examples. Be prepared with at least three examples concerning your recent successes, and make sure at least one of them relates to teamwork and something you accomplished as part of a group. Make sure you address how your work made other people FEEL, as well as the time you saved and the revenue or cost-savings you generated.
"I guess that would be a recent project for client "X." I handled all of the communicationwith the client for our last project. It was a three month long project where my team had to build a custom package based on the needs of client. I was instrumental in translating the client's business needs into detailed product features. I had to make sure that my team understood what the client wanted, and then check the quality to make sure that we were delivering a quality product with the features that the client was expecting." "Well, it was an ongoing process that required a lot of communication and teamwork with my team as well as the client. I think my role really was to clarify the scope of the project, and then "manage the client's expectations." We were able to deliver on time, and the client was thrilled! I was able to make sure no time was wasted on adding unnecessary features, and since we were working on a fixed bid price, we saved my company time and money. My manager and everybody on my team felt great because the project went so smoothly ... Is that the kind of experience that would help me be successful here?"Here is a free peek:
Here Are Some Questions For
YOU To Use On The Interviewer!
DISCUSSION: Remember that every time a Hiring Manager asks you a question, YOU HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO ASK A QUESTION OF YOUR OWN! Questions are a great follow up to a winning answer. Probe for the things that the Interviewer wants to hear. Probe for the Interviewer's hidden needs. Try some "tie down" questions that get the Interviewer to agree with you. There are 43 of these questions in the Guide. Here are some samples:
- What are the day-to-day expectations and responsibilities of the person hired into this position, ... and what would make that person a "superstar"?
- What does your boss expect of you and your team in terms of performance? How could I help you meet those goals?
- What's the one thing I could do on the job that would benefit you the most?
- Have I addressed that 100% to your satisfaction?
- Does that answer your question about "X"?
- Does that make sense? Would that be good example?
- You do think that my experience with that type of situation would be relevant to my work here, don't you?
- I think that's the kind of experience you are looking to bring to your team, isn't it?
Bonus #1: How to Tell if Someone is Lying to You
This is a full 3 page article that will make you an expert at decoding deception.
Here are some excerpts:
- His timing of emotional gestures may seem disjointed. Expressions such as happiness or surprise may be only shown around the mouth, instead of the whole face. Watch for him turning his body away from you, or placing items like a stapler or glass of water in front of himself.
- If someone says straight away that he absolutely won't budge, it probably means that HE CAN BE SWAYED. He needs to object completely because he knows he'll cave in if you pressure him.
- A person who is lying will depersonalize his answer and use an abstract assurance like "You know I'm against that sort of thing. That's morally wrong." They will imply an answer, but will not state it directly.
- Remember that in TRUTHFUL statements a fast "yes or no" is followed QUICKLY by a more detailed explanation. A lying person may pause because he needs time to think up an explanation. He may stall by asking you to repeat the question or by answering your question with a question.
This free bonus will clue you in on PROFESSIONAL software that is TOTALLY FREE (no adware, no spyware, no fees) that you can configure to a) manage your job search efforts b) increase your $ income while you are looking for a job, and c) make your interview practice time more efficient by cutting your overall interview preparation time by at least 54%.
This section may be the most valuable part of the Guide. It is an extremely helpful 4 page article packed with wisdom. Here are the section titles:
- Solar Plexus Exercise to Focus Power
- Breathing Exercise for Confident Interviewing Success
- Think Positive to Multiply your Income
- Forgiveness Exercise for Money Magnetism
- Self-Image Exercise: Dress for Success without Spending an Arm and a Leg
- Self-Definition Exercise: Write your own book, or others will write it for you
- Added Value Exercise
This is a 2 page article that will motivate you to kick your sales activities into high gear! It includes:
- How to cultivate a ROCK-SOLID VISION of what you want to achieve
- How to translate your vision into specific, tangible goals
- Why you need an action plan of bite-sized daily and weekly tasks
- How to be a team player even if you are a lone-wolf or a renegade at heart
- How you can cultivate the creativity you need to survive
- Why you should make an appointment with yourself for an hour every week to get organized and maintain a professional image
- How to stay honest and motivate yourself to work hard
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