interviews are always stressful - even for job seekers who have gone on countless interviews.

The best way to reduce the stress is to be prepared. Take the time to review the "standard" interview questions you will most likely be asked. Also review sample answers to these typical interview questions. Then take the time to research the company. That way you'll be ready with knowledgeable answers for the job interview questions that specifically relate to the company you are interviewing with. Interview Questions: Work History

Name of company, position title and description, dates of employment. - Best Answers What were your expectations for the job and to what extent were they met? - Best Answers What were your starting and final levels of compensation? - Best Answers What were your responsibilities? - Best Answers What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them? - Best Answers What have you learned from your mistakes? - Best Answers What did you like or dislike about your previous job? - Best Answers Which was most / least rewarding? - Best Answers What was the biggest accomplishment / failure in this position? - Best Answers Questions about your supervisors and co-workers. - Best Answers What was it like working for your supervisor? - Best Answers What do you expect from a supervisor? - Best Answers What problems have you encountered at work? - Best Answers Who was your best boss and who was the worst? - Best Answers Why are you leaving your job? - Best Answers Why did you resign? - Best Answers Why did you quit your job? - Best Answers What have you been doing since your last job? - Best Answers Why were you fired? - Best Answers

Job Interview Questions About You

What is your greatest weakness? - Best Answers What is your greatest strength? - Best Answers I pride myself on my customer service skills and my ability to resolve what could be difficult situations. How will your greatest strength help you perform? - Best Answers How would you describe yourself? - Best Answers Describe a typical work week. - Best Answers Do you take work home with you? - Best Answers How many hours do you normally work? - Best Answers How would you describe the pace at which you work? - Best Answers How do you handle stress and pressure? - Best Answers

What motivates you? - Best Answers Are you a self motivator? - Best Answers What are your salary expectations? - Best Answers What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make? - Best Answers Tell me about yourself. - Best Answers What has been the greatest disappointment in your life? - Best Answers What are you passionate about? - Best Answers What are your pet peeves? - Best Answers What do people most often criticize about you? - Best Answers When was the last time you were angry? What happened? - Best Answers If you could relive the last 10 years of your life, what would you do differently? - Best Answers If the people who know you were asked why you should be hired, what would they say? Best Answers Do you prefer to work independently or on a team? - Best Answers Give some examples of teamwork. - Best Answers More teamwork interview questions. - Best Answers What type of work environment do you prefer? - Best Answers How do you evaluate success? - Best Answers If you know your boss is 100% wrong about something how would you handle it? Best Answers Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it. - Best Answers Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it. - Best Answers More job interview questions about your abilities. - Best Answers More job interview questions about you. - Best Answers

Job Interview Questions About the New Job and the Company

What interests you about this job? - Best Answers Why do you want this job? - Best Answers What applicable attributes / experience do you have? - Best Answers Are you overqualified for this job? - Best Answers What can you do for this company? - Best Answers Why should we hire you? - Best Answers Why are you the best person for the job? - Best Answers What do you know about this company? - Best Answers Why do you want to work here? - Best Answers What challenges are you looking for in a position? - Best Answers What can you contribute to this company? - Best Answers Are you willing to travel? - Best Answers What is good customer service? - Best Answers Is there anything I haven't told you about the job or company that you would like to know? - Best Answers

Interview Questions: The Future

What are you looking for in your next job? What is important to you? - Best Answers What are your goals for the next five years / ten years? - Best Answers

How do you plan to achieve those goals? - Best Answers What are your salary requirements - both short-term and long-term? - Best Answers Questions about your career goals. - Best Answers What will you do if you don't get this position? - Best Answers

When you're asked what your greatest weakness is, try to turn a negative into a positive. For example, a sense of urgency to get projects completed or wanting to triple-check every item in a spreadsheet can be turned into a strength i.e. you are a candidate who will make sure that the project is done on time and your work will be close to perfect. Note that the term "weakness" isn't used in the sample answers - you always want to focus on the positive when interviewing. Sample Answers

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. I would say that I can be too much of a perfectionist in my work. 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'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 it 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.