1. Tell me about yourself. Keep the answer job or skill related. 2. Tell me about your dream job.

Don't mention a specific job. Say something generic like, "I want a job where I love the work and the people I work with." 3. Why did you leave your last job? Never refer to a major problem with management or say undesirable things about your supervisors, co-workers or the organization. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, or a chance to do something better. 4. What is your weakness? Always try to give a positive answer. For example, "It takes me a long time to get ready in the morning, so I set my alarm two hours ahead of my time in for work." 5. What are your strengths? Sell yourself. Say how you can be a desirable employee for the company. 6. What do you know about the type of work we do? Do a research about the company before going to the job interview. 7. Why should we hire you? This is your chance to show why working for the company is important to you and why you think you will fit in. Don't mention other applicants for comparison. 8. Tell me about a suggestion you have made. This will show that you care about the company's growth. Use an example that was accepted and successful, especially one that is related to the position. 9. Do you consider yourself successful? You should always answer yes. Success doesn't necessarily have to be big ones, just mention how you have achieved goals you have set for yourself. 10. Why have you been unemployed for such a long time? Mention the activities you have done that would help market yourself like trainings or short courses you attended, or for example say, "I gave birth and had to take care of my baby and this experience taught me so much about patience and time management. 11. What do co-workers say about you? Recall good things that your co-workers have said like, "My manager, Mr. Santos, once told me that I am a very organized person". 12. How long would you expect to work for us if hired? Don't give a specific answer. Say something like, "I plan on staying for long." or "As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job." 13. Do you think you are overqualified for this position? Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the position.

Or you may say something like, "I don't think I am overqualified, but I am fully qualified." 14. Have you ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about that? If you had, always explain yourself in a way that implies you did not want to, but had to. 15. Are you applying for other jobs? Be honest. If you are considered an asset to the company, they just might give you a good salary offer to get you to work with them, instead of the other companies you are applying to. 16. Describe your management style. Mention how you deal with your subordinates or your projects like, "I provide team members with effective guidance and motivation to complete assignments on time so our projects succeed." Or you can simply say "For me, good communication among members is the best way." 17. Are you a team player? The answer should always be a yes then cite examples. You may mention situations where you were part of a group or organization, and the activities you've had that show you worked well with them. 18. What is your philosophy towards work? Don't give a monologue here. Say something short and positive like, "My philosophy is to do my best at all times." 19. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project? You may say you are comfortable with any position in the team, may it be the leader, or follower. This shows that you can lead a team but at the same time also able to follow directions. This shows you are flexible. 20. Have you ever been asked to leave a position? If you have, be honest and never say anything negative about your former boss or company. Focus on saying positive like how much you have grown from the experience. 21. What irritates you about co-workers? Do not speak badly of your past co-workers, as this reflects a flaw on your attitude, not theirs. Divert the negativity posed by the question. Assure the interviewer you get along well with fellow co-workers. 22. Why do you think you would do well at this job? Mention your skills, experience and interest. 23. What is more important to you: the money or the work? You can say something like, "Both are important because everybody needs money to live but job satisfaction is also important."

24. What has been your biggest professional disappointment? Mention something that was beyond your control but show acceptance and no negative feelings. 25. What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is? There are many good qualities you can mention but be sure to give an example or a situation to back your answer. Or if you have a recommendation letter you may say, "I believe my supervisor would say that my strongest point is that I'm reliable, hardworking, efficient, timely, and responsible. I know this because he has written it in my letter of recommendation. Would you like to see it?" 26. Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor. Never mention a problem or anything negative about your supervisor. Try to think and then come up with none. 27. Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends? This is up to you. Be totally honest. 28. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure. You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for. 29. How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience? You may point out that you are a quick learner and hard worker. Or state experiences that may not be from work but are somewhat related like for a managerial position, you may cite experiences you had as a leader in a school project. 30. Do your skills match this job or another job more closely? Never give the interviewer the impression that you are more interested on other jobs. 31. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job. Talk about having fun but at the same time accomplishing something like a team building you had where you gained a good relationship with your co-workers. 32. Would you be willing to relocate if required? Be honest. Discuss with your family beforehand, assuming this question should come up. 33. What motivates you to do your best on the job? Some examples are challenge, achievement, recognition, integrity. 34. How would you know you were successful on this job? You can say something like, "When I have achieved all the goals that were set and I have given more than what is expected of me." 35. Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead of your own? Just say yes. This is a test of your loyalty. 36. What qualities do you look for in a boss? Be generic and positive. Some examples are fair, competent, good motivator.

37. How do you see yourself five years from now? If you answer that you have not thought about it or you have no plans yet, the interviewer could conclude you have no vision and goals. Say something that is achievable but not too low as this could imply you lack initiative. It should be consistent with the objective on your resume and the skills you mentioned you have. 38. What have you learned from mistakes on the job? Mention mistakes you've had but be sure to focus more on the lessons you have learned from that mistake. 39. Do you have any blind spots? Don't say something specific but just say everyone has them that's why working as a team is very important to point out and cover each other's blind spots. This answer diverts the question to how you are as a team player. 40. If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for? Mention qualities that are needed for the position that you have. 41. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute between others. Pick a specific incident and what role you played in its resolution. 42. Describe your work ethic. Emphasize benefits to the organization. Things like, determination to get the job done and work hard but enjoy your work are good. 43. What are your expectations from this job/company? You will be able to answer this question well through company research and selfassessment. Think as if you are already part of the company. You may say something like, "I expect challenging tasks." 44. Do you have references? Contact your references ahead of time and have their names and contact details ready 45. Do you have any questions for me? Always prepare questions, but those that are not answered in the company's website or those you have not discussed. Asking questions shows you are interested to know more about the company or the job. 46. Why do you think you will be successful at this job? You can say something like, "Basing on my research of the company and the job description, I can say that I have the skills and experience you are looking for. 47. What do you think of the last company you worked for? As always, never say anything negative about the last company you worked for. You can say you learned a lot from the company and the job, and you consider it an important stepping stone in reaching everything you have achieved. 48. How do you handle criticism? You can say something like, "I see criticism as an opportunity to improve my work."

Then give an example where you were criticized and you handled it in a positive way like, "My manager once told me that the reports I gave him were unorganized so I tried to review my past reports and asked if he had any preferences. I followed my manager's suggestions and reconstructed my reports. My manager was happy with all the reports I handed him after that." 49. Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibilities? Employers ask this especially if the position you are applying for is higher than your former position. This is for them to gauge if you are up for the challenge of the new position. Give a positive answer and show them you are the job. 50. What are your activities and interests outside of work? Say something about your interest and how it can help you on the job you are applying for. Like basketball can teach you team work, or baking can teach you accuracy. If you are applying for a job that requires you to be fit, you may mention physical activities that you do like swimming or any other sport.
Why did you select your college or university? = I chose to go to a university because I like being part of a large group. The world is a big place, just as my university, and the parallels between the two will better help prepare me for post college life. Also, my university has a really strong school of sciences and I wanted to study under the best minds in the country. If you could, how would you plan your academic study differently? Why? = My only regret in college is the limited amount of time that is allotted for it. I will never have the opportunity to spend four years studying topics that I am interested in for the pure sake of learning. How would you prepare for important tests or exams? = I am an avid note taker. When preparing for test, I always review section by section until I have mastered all of the concepts presented. I also do research in addition to what is required to bring new ideas and supplement the core information. If I were to ask your professors to describe you in three words, what would they be? = Attentive, Competitive, Leader

Calm, Bright, Quick-witted Sharp, Intellectual, Humorous Responsible, Passionate, Cooperative Team-player, Flexible, Intelligent

Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?

My grades are a good indication of my academic achievement, but in a way you may not expect. The improvement that you will see over four years of college does not show lack of

achievement in those early semesters. Rather, it shows the effects of finding an area of study that I was passionate about and good at. Yes, I feel my grades are a very accurate indication of my success in college and graduate school. I took my academics very seriously and worked very hard for the grades I received. I am proud of the achievements I have made.
Did you prefer working independently or in groups on school projects? = I work comfortably as part of a group and I also work well independently. For most projects or assignments, having multiple brains working toward the same final product can only be beneficial. I only had one or two assignments that were undoubtedly created to do individually. How has your college experience prepared you for a career? = My experience in college not only prepared me for my career, it prepared me for life outside of my career. I gained skills that cannot be taught. Through interactions with fellow students, professors, internship supervisors, and coworkers, as well as other college staff, I earned a "degree" in people and social skills that I did not even sign up for. What was your greatest strength as a student? = My biggest strength as a student was how I studied and prepared for exams. I created a system that helped me learn and memorize information and I always felt prepared for my exams. I still use my study skills now to learn and remember people's names, positions in the community, and other important info about them, which is important to remember, as a social worker. Have you completed any internships? What did you gain from the experience? = My university required all fashion design majors to complete a rotation of internships during the summer between junior and senior year. At first, I did not understand why we were spending the summer working, but once I started my rotation, I knew why they set the requirement. The internships helped me focus more specifically on what part of fashion design I was interested in. Without the personal experience, it would have been a shot in the dark and I may have had to go back to square one if I was not happy with my career choice.

Basic Interview Questions:

Tell me about yourself. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Why do you want this job? Where would you like to be in your career five years from now? What's your ideal company? What attracted you to this company?

Why should we hire you? What did you like least about your last job? When were you most satisfied in your job? What can you do for us that other candidates can't? What were the responsibilities of your last position? Why are you leaving your present job? What do you know about this industry? What do you know about our company? Are you willing to relocate? Do you have any questions for me?

Behavioral Interview Questions: What was the last project you headed up, and what was its outcome? Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work.

Can you describe a time when your work was criticized? Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it? Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback. How did you handle it? What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it? What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it? If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do? What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it? Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it? What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it? Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job. If you were at a business lunch and you ordered a rare steak and they brought it to you well done, what would you do?

If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do? What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue? What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years and how did you come to that decision? Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.

Salary Questions: What salary are you seeking? What's your salary history?

If I were to give you this salary you requested but let you write your job description for the next year, what would it say?

Career Development Questions:

What are you looking for in terms of career development? How do you want to improve yourself in the next year? What kind of goals would you have in mind if you got this job? If I were to ask your last supervisor to provide you additional training or exposure, what would she suggest?

Getting Started Questions: How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly with the team? How long will it take for you to make a significant contribution?

What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days of this job? If selected for this position, can you describe your strategy for the first 90 days?

More About You: How would you describe your work style? What would be your ideal working environment?

What do you look for in terms of culture -- structured or entrepreneurial? Give examples of ideas you've had or implemented. What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized? If you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detailoriented person? Tell me about your proudest achievement.

Who was your favorite manager and why? What do you think of your previous boss? Was there a person in your career who really made a difference? What kind of personality do you work best with and why? What are you most proud of? What do you like to do? What are your lifelong dreams? What do you ultimately want to become? What is your personal mission statement? What are three positive things your last boss would say about you? What negative thing would your last boss say about you? What three character traits would your friends use to describe you? What are three positive character traits you don't have? If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for? List five words that describe your character. Who has impacted you most in your career and how? What is your greatest fear? What is your biggest regret and why? What's the most important thing you learned in school? Why did you choose your major? What will you miss about your present/last job? What is your greatest achievement outside of work? What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader? Do you think a leader should be feared or liked? How do you feel about taking no for an answer? How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you? How do you think I rate as an interviewer?

Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want me to know. Tell me the difference between good and exceptional. What kind of car do you drive? There's no right or wrong answer, but if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be? What's the last book you read? What magazines do you subscribe to? What's the best movie you've seen in the last year? What would you do if you won the lottery? Who are your heroes? What do you like to do for fun? What do you do in your spare time? What is your favorite memory from childhood?

Brainteaser Questions:

How many times do a clock's hands overlap in a day? How would you weigh a plane without scales? Tell me 10 ways to use a pencil other than writing. Sell me this pencil. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be? Why is there fuzz on a tennis ball? If you could choose one superhero power, what would it be and why? If you could get rid of any one of the US states, which one would you get rid of and why? With your eyes closed, tell me step-by-step how to tie my shoes. Most Common Interview Questions Here are the most commonly asked interview questions with the possible answers (If the reader has better answers which he/she thinks fits well to the situation, they can go for it)

1. Tell me something about you? (The common first question asked in any interview) Answer: Start by telling your name and where you work at present or which was your last job. If you are a fresher then tell the employer what are you studying currently. If you are an experienced professional then tell the employer about your current job, years of core experience and about your job profile in the previous companies. Also, tell your designation in your present and past companies. 2.Tell me something about your greatest achievement so far? Answer: You must prepare for this question well. Here you have to talk about the greatest challenge that you have encountered so far in your work life and the strategy that you usually prepare to deal with it. Do not exaggerate the matters, say in short yet adding the important points. It would be better if you could present some proof for your achievement, although as the interviewer is an experienced person so he/she will understand the relevance of your statements. Remember that the way you present yourself here will portray your strengths indirectly. 3.Why do you want to leave your previous job? Answer: This is a tricky question but be very careful not to fall in any trap. Begin your reasons with a positive note and talk about the logical, professional reasons for leaving the job. Remember that there are issues in every company but dont give this reason for leaving the job. Good companies look for team players who will not grumble about the situation but will look for the solution instead. You can state business reasons or say that you want a job where you can see yourself growing along with the organization. If you have personal reasons for changing the job, then you can mention them too but make sure not to display your week side too much. 4. Do you take your work home often? Answer: This is another tricky question and to this one, shorter the answer better it is. When answering to this one, do not portray yourself as exceptionally good. Be genuine and honest in your reply. You can say that in unusual circumstances when work demands extra time and effort you realize the situation and act accordingly. You can also mention that there can be unexpected work in every field, so if required you can go out of way for the work. 5. How to you deal with stress in your work life? Answer: If asked, then you can mention the reason behind the stress and try to figure out the solution to it. Further you can add something like this If I see there are people who are adding to my stress level then I believe in discussing with them and focusing on the professional as well as personal issues that lead to such stressful situation. I also believe that humans may have psychological issues which affect their work. So, when I talk about performance I focus on the human side also apart from just being a professional. Over all I would focus on the working environment as it greatly contributes to the performance of individuals.

6. Why do you want to join our organization? Answer: The answer to this question will include various parameters on the basis of which you intend to be a part of the organization. You can talk about your interest in the job profile that the company has to offer you (give reasons for the same) and the position of the organization in the industry that it operates in. Also, speak about the growth of the organization and your willingness of being a part of that growth. You can talk about the work and corporate culture of the company. Be prepared to give logical reasons for the same, for instance talk about mission and vision of the company publishes on the internet and how it interests you. 7. What goals have you set for the next three years? Answer: Always remember that its necessary to realize in which direction you want to go and what are the things that you need to plan for the same. When you answer questions like these you must relate your intentions along with the work that is required to be done. For instance if you say that I want to be the zonal head, then its not enough. You must give a proper explanation like as a team leader what all work you have done previously and how you will use your abilities to achieve the next level. 8. How do you prepare yourself to make path to reach goals? Answer: There is no set answer to this question. Hence, when you give answer to this one remember to attach a valid reason behind your plan/strategy. Your answers may include switching companies to get a wider knowledge about the industry, (one more example). Talk about interest in taking new assignments so to get a deeper, wider knowledge. Also mention about being a team player and what attributes are required for that. 9. What is your definition about the ideal job? Answer: If you want the job, then your answer to this question will include the qualities of job. This does not mean that you will narrate the job description line by line. You can relate your interests with the job profile. Present your answer in a manner so that it sounds genuine and not copied from some where. 10. What are the major challenges that you have encountered so far in your career? Answer: When asked about the major challenges you must focus on the hurdles that you have faced in your work life and not the achievements. Be honest when you reply for this question. You can prepare this by noting down the difficult/challenging situations and how you dealt in it. Give reasons and proofs for every statement that you say.

11. How would you like your boss to be? Answer: This is a tricky question and to this if your answer is opposite the characteristics of your interviewer then you should forget the job. So, when asked such a question give an answer which is universal (A tip: Do not drag this answer too long). The general attributes of an ideal boss would be;

Fair/honest Supportive Helping and guiding team members in new/difficult job profile

Mentor/coach Good listener Good communication skills Technically competent

How do you handle conflicts? Answer: Conflicts arise in every organization. It is better to answer in a way that will show your strengths indirectly as a team player. You can say that you go to the depth of the matter and see the reason behind the conflict. If required you also conduct a one on one discussion and solve as per the situation. How to you deal with a team member who is not performing well? Amswer: A sample answer, I believe that sometime there are situations when a certain team member may not able to perform well. I do not rush at conclusions first. I do a one on one discussion and try to find out the reason behind the bad performance. If required, I give the training and then evaluate the results. I also seek to know if the person is having any other issues and then try to solve them accordingly. What made you choose nursing as a career? = I wanted to do something in my career that is challenging, interesting, and makes a difference in people's lives on a daily basis.

How has your training prepared you for a nursing career? = I have worked in very large hospitals, where I gained valuable experience, but I enjoy working in a small hospital, where you can get to know your patients, the doctors, and your colleagues on a more personal level. How do you handle stress on the job? = I am generally an easy going person, and I don't allow on the job stress to interfere with my work. How would you handle a family who is displeased with your patient's care? = I would listen to their concerns, and make sure that if any were well founded they were addressed immediately. How would you handle a patient who complains about everything? = I understand that some patients will complain about everything, just because they are unhappy about what brought them to our care. I just reassure them that everything possible is being done to make them comfortable. How would you handle a patient who constantly complains about pain? = I would listen sympathetically to their complaint, reassure them that their concerns were being heard, and that we were doing everything possible to help them

What do you find most rewarding about being a nurse? = I find helping patients through recovery after surgery, which is often one of their greatest challenges, to be most rewarding. Would you become a doctor if you had the opportunity? = I chose to become a nurse because I find the field fascinating. I plan on advancing my career as a nurse, not a doctor. Would you describe yourself as organized? = Absolutely. I like to have a check list, and make sure that each item gets the attention it

needs. Yes, sometimes a little too much so. I make sure that everything is neat and in order.
Are you a self motivator? = Absolutely. I can always find something productive that needs doing. Do you prefer to work alone, or as part of a team? = That depends on the circumstances. I enjoy being part of a treatment and support team, but I also like the autonomy of working alone.