Fundamental Interview Questions
Example Questions With Expert Commentary
On-Line Resources
Fundamental Interview Questions
These questions, in one version or another, tend to show up in many different types of interviews. They are excellent questions to master. If you are just starting out, these are ideal questions to start with. You may even want to start out with just a few of the easiest questions so that you can "find your voice" and confidence before tackling the more involved ones.
If you think that a question is hard to answer, script it (write it out) and self-rehearse it a few times. Remember, having answers to these questions is NOT the toughest part! Anyone can research these questions on the Internet and prepare answers.
We want you to have a unique advantage: we want you to shine during the interview while others are stumbling, sounding mechanical, arrogant and/or awkward. With practice, you will be able to inspire confidence and stand out. It can make even the weakest applicant look great. The more you practice, the better you get - so even if it's not with us, we urge you to start practicing!
QUESTIONS:
Explain any gaps in your employment.
This is an important one because it generally comes up when it applies! If you need some ideas about how to develop answers, check out some of the links below. Also, it's very helpful to brainstorm some ideas ("interpret your past") with friends/family/significant others. If you're normal, this question can cause some stress and you no matter what you think, you may NOT be the best person to think it through. You will be amazed at how other people can come up with ideas that help you figure out what to say ... so please consider trying this.
Most importantly: when you come up with your response, you will need to deliver it with sincerity and confidence. Practice this question regularly to overcome any stress. If you come across as being comfortable and believing in your answer, it can go a long way in terms of reducing concerns the interviewer may have.
Gaps: Google Search Results / List
http://susanireland.com/resumeguide/gaps.html
http://hubpages.com/request/2616/best
http://career-advice.monster.com/resume-writing-basics/Resume-Dilemma-Employment-Gaps-and-/home.aspx
Why is this organization the right place for you?
A little reseach on the Internet about the organization you're applying for is a good idea. In addition, check out some of the commentary on the topic itself:
Right Place: Google Search Results / List
Practice: Work on tailoring your answer to have an upbeat and interested sound.
What has been your greatest challenge and how did you handle it?
Make sure you look at the STAR technique listed on this page. Ideally, you should be ready to describe a challenging situation from your past that you overcame or that you learned a valuable lesson from.
Ethics is a buzzword that is being bandied about ... so if you have an ethics dilemma with an interesting outcome, you may want to use this. While a poorly thought-out story could be risky, one with some redeeming value could be a great opportunity to be distinguishing and informative about your character.
Practice: describe the situation, action and response in a clear, simple and understandable manner.
What is your biggest weakness?
Whatever you say, don't say you're a "perfectionist" or a "workaholic" - these are probably two of the most overused answers! One strategy is to make a list of your weaknesses and then pick one that you feel comfortable in discussing. When you describe it, think about putting it in a positive light: how have you learned to deal with it and grown (implying that its now more of a past issue), or how does it provide some advantage or insight into situations? If this question is causing too much stress, try taking a strength and describing the weaknesses it causes.
Weakness: Google Search Results / List
Practice: As long as you pick something truthful, your sincerity should shine through - as if you're speaking from the heart. While you're practicing, if you hear yourself starting to sound bland, think of a situation in which you've had the weakness and reconnect with your "sincere" voice.
What is your greatest strength?
Hopefully this will be straightforward. If you're having any trouble, check out some of these links:
Strength: Google Search Results / List
Practice: Confidence! Some people are bashful and even embarrassed to talk about what they're good at - it doesn't feel natural or "right" (cultural forces can impact this). You're indicating what you're good at and you want to be believed, so you want to work on projecting confidence.
Tell me about your last job; what did you do?
(or if currently employed ... What do you do?)
Sometimes, the simplest questions can trip you up. When you think about everything that you did at your previous (or perhaps current) job, its easy to start rambling. What you need to do is to figure out the best way to describe the role that you peformed. Can you describe it in a simple sentence? What was your job title? Can you describe the main functions that you did (without getting consumed by detail)? When you have too much information about a topic, brevity can be hard. Omitting things that you've done can seem painful, yet it will greatly help your case if you can paint a clear and understandable picture of what you did.
Practice: Simplicity and clarity. This could take several iterations (practice interviews) to work out a description that you are happy with. The more times you have to explain what you do to complete strangers, the better you'll get at it and the easier it will flow.
Tell me about yourself.
Just like the question "what do you do?", try to answer this question efficiently and concisely. There are two things that easily happen without rehearsal: going blank (not everyone is at ease talking about themselves!) or rambling (a sign of too much, unfocused information). If you're having trouble with this question, try writing it out. You can even pretend you're someone else writing about "you" if that helps. Be sure to have a quick one sentence version and a 3 minute version. There's lots of good wisdom on this topic on the Internet, you may want to check it out:
You: Google Search Results / List
This is one of the most important questions you can get asked in your working life, so practice this one until you can say it without any distracting facial twitches or drops in tone!
Practice: Simplicity and clarity. This could take several iterations (practice interviews) to work out a description that you are happy with. This is a particularly good question to master since you'll be able to introduce and describe yourself easily in work and social situations.
What are your future goals? (or What are your career goals?)
Do you know where you want to be in 5 years ... or long-term? Do you like the industry that you're working in? Do you want to eventually move into (if you are not already in) a management position? How does the potential employer factor into your future goals? When you think about this question, consider answering both the short term (say 5 years) and long-term versions of it.
Goals: Google Search Results / Links
Practice: Listen for any indecisiveness in your voice and work on replacing it with confidence and sincerity.
What extracurricular activities do you have?
To some interviewers, this is an important question. Depending on the type of job you are applying for, other interests can be a benefit (showing a balanced, stable life ... and possibly leadership potential). This type of question is more likely to show up for a college admission than a normal job interview. If it comes up, being able to answer it well provides valuable character information. It can also make you sound interesting in social situations!
Practice: Sounding interested and enthusiastic are important aspects here.
Why are you the right person for this position?
Here's your chance to give your elevator pitch! You really want to shine here; even if you don't think you're the most qualified person, your answer here can be a powerful influence on what the interviewer thinks of you. What are your most interesting qualifications? What strengths and value will you bring to the job / team / employer? Why are you valuable in solving the kinds of problems that might come up?
Best: Google Search Results / List
Practice: This is worth scripting out and optimizing over time to a generic employer in your industry. You have to put on your sales hat and sell your product ("you") convincingly! We've all heard good and bad sales pitches and one things that stands out is whether the salesperson believes in their product. This answer will take some time to evolve and you'll be helped by hearing others. More than anything, you want to sound like you believe in what you're saying.
How would your coworkers describe you?
Describe an instance in which you were selected to lead a project.
The two questions above tap into how you relate and deal with your coworkers. Think about each question and if you have trouble answering either, pretend you're someone in the office who looks up to you (even if you think such person doesn't exists), and answer from that perspective. If you encounter a serious block, try listing some negative answers - and once you've got those out of your system, the humble, positive ones will flow.
Example Questions With Expert Commentary
Here's a link to a blogger who provides a lengthy excerpt from the book The Accelerated Job Search by Wayne D. Ford, Ph.D, published by The Management Advantage, Inc. Listed are Ford's 50 common interview questions and his expert comments about answering each of them.
50 Common Interview Questions ... With Suggestions
One of the best set of on-line resources to all aspects of the interviewing process:
©2009
Practice Talking, Inc.