The Best Answers to Tough Interview Questions Tell me about yourself. This is really more of a request than a question.

But these few words can put you on the spot in a way no question can. Many quickly lose control of the interview during the most critical timethe first five minutes. This is not the time to go into a lengthy history or wander off in different directions. Your response should be focused and purposeful. Communicate a pattern of interests and skills that relate to the position in question. Consider your response to this question as a commercial that sells your autobiography. rovide an answer that includes information about where you grew up! where you went to school! your initial work e"perience! additional education and special training! where you are now! and what you intend to do ne"t. #ne of the most effective ways to prepare for this question is to develop a $%-second biographic sketch that emphasi&es a pattern of interests! skills! and accomplishments. 'ocus your response around a common theme related to your ma(or interests and skills. Take! for e"ample! the following response! which emphasi&es computers. "I was born in Canton, Ohio and attended Lincoln High School. Ever since I was a teenager, I tinkered with computers. It was m hobb , m passion, and m wa o! learning. Like most kids I en"o ed computer games. #hen m !olks gave me a computer as a reward !or making honor roll m sophomore ear, I mastered $OS, #indows, and #ord%er!ect within si& months. I then went on to teach m sel! programming basics. ' the time I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to stud programming. (rom that point on, ever thing !ell into place. ) li!e revolved around computing. ' m "unior ear at S racuse, I decided I wanted to work !or a ma"or so!tware manu!acturer. *hat is wh I had an internship last summer at (ast*rack So!tware. I now want to work !or a ma"or pla er so I can be at the !ore!ront o! breaking trends and new technolog . #hen m college roommate told me about his start in our department, I hounded him until he helped me get a re!erral, which brought me here toda . I am prepared to answer an +uestions ou ma have about m education and e&perience." This response sets a nice tone for starting the interview. The interviewee is able to say a lot within $% seconds by staying focused. The message is clear) the interviewee has both passion and focus relating to the position. *e stays on message and concludes by leaving the door open for additional questions about his education and e"perience. +nfortunately some candidates get off on the wrong foot by rambling on for several minutes about their childhood! family! hobbies! travels! and interests. ,epeat -ey .ccomplishment /tatements Throughout the interview you will be asked numerous questions about your attitude and ability

to do the (ob. 0henever possible! talk about your accomplishments in terms of what you did and the results of your actions for employers. 1ive e"amples of your effectiveness! which should include specific skills and statistics. Where do you see yourself five years from now? This open-ended question is one of the most difficult and stressful ones (ob seekers face. 2mployers ostensibly ask this question because they are looking for people who know what they want to do and who are focused on specific professional goals. 3f you lack goals! you will have difficulty answering this question. Be sure you arrive at the interview with a clear vision of what you want to do today! tomorrow and five years from now. Be consistent with the ob(ective on your resume and the skills and accomplishments you4re communicating to the interviewer. Your answer should be employer-centered. 'or e"ample! "In !ive ears I hope to be working with an emplo er in an increasingl responsible position, that enables me to utili,e m talents and work closel with m colleagues in solving important problems. I see m sel! taking on new and e&citing challenges in an en"o able environment and hope!ull this will be with our compan ." 5o not indicate that you hope to start your own business! change careers! or go back to school. /uch responses indicate a lack of long-term interest since you do not plan to be around for long. 0hile some may respond that they honestly haven4t really thought that far ahead! the interviewer infers that the applicant lacks vision and goals. Describe a major goal you ve set for yourself recently. 1ive an e"ample of a goal you both set and achieved. 3deally! this should be a professional goal6 such as improved time management skills! achieved new performance targets! or learned a new skill. . personal e"ample can also be appropriate if it reinforces your pattern of accomplishments. 'or e"ample! if you take a great deal of initiative and quickly move into leadership positions! you might use a personal e"ample relating to your recent community work) organi&ed a community walk-a-thon that raised 78%!%%% in matching funds to purchase new computers for the local library. Talk about results of achieving your goal. This indicates you set realistic goals and that you can focus on outcomes. /elect an e"ample that has interesting outcomes related to your efforts. The e"ample should showcase your skills and abilities. !ow that you ve had a chance to learn more about us" what would you change about our com#any? Be careful here. Most companies don4t want you to come in and shake up the place. .t the same time! they don4t want someone who says! 9:othing! everything looks great here.9 /eek a middle ground by focusing on one or two non-threatening issues that may have come up in your discussions. 'or e"ample! "(rom our discussion o! the problem with the southwest accounts, I think we should look into the possibilit o! consolidating them the L- o!!ice. However, I think we need to do a thorough cost.

bene!it anal sis o! this region be!ore making such a move. #e ma !ind the %hoeni& o!!ice to be more bene!icial." /uch an answer indicates you are open to making changes but you also have a certain nonthreatening decision-making style. Your response should sound sensible and innovative. We all have wea$nesses. What are some of your major wea$nesses? This is not the time to confess all your problems nor to confidently say you have no weaknesses. The best way to handle this question is to mention personal weaknesses that are outside the (ob or a professional weakness that you have already improved upon. 'or e"ample! "I have a real weakness !or chocolate that tends to go right to m waist/ I0m watching m calories care!ull these da s/" or "I0ve never been good with accounting. I0m glad this "ob doesn0t involve accounting." Or "I have a tendenc to take on too much on m own. I am working on this b delegating more." What ty#e of decisions do you have difficulty ma$ing? /how that you are generally decisive but mention that there are situations that give you time to pause or you are learning how to better make decisions. 'or e"ample! "I sometimes have di!!icult choosing between two e+uall good ideas." or "I used to have di!!icult sa ing 0no0 to people until I learned to better set priorities." What is your biggest failure? 'ocus on something outside your work or something that happened on the (ob that you later fi"ed. 5o not admit to any personal quality that might hamper (ob performance! such as procrastination! la&iness or lack of concentration. Choose something that will not reflect badly on your ability to perform in the given position! such as one that took place early in your career. 'or e"ample! ") biggest !ailure was not being selected as a SE-L because I was diagnosed with night vision problems. #hen I was 12, all I wanted to be was a SE-L. 'ut I0m glad I didn0t, because I ma have overlooked an e&citing career in in!ormation technolog " or "#hen I was working at CL -dvertising -ssociates, I lost the 34 million 5ettler account a!ter onl si& weeks on the "ob/ I !elt aw!ul and thought I would be !ired. I was determined to get the account back and did a!ter si& months. *oda the account makes up 167 o! CL -dvertising." What are the major reasons for your success? This is not the time to become e"tremely self-centered and arrogant. -eep in mind that employers are often looking for team players rather than ;one ,angers. . good response to this question may relate to a mentor<and or philosophy of work or the people you work with. .lso!

use this question as an opportunity to inquire about an appropriate 9fit for success9 with this company. 'or e"ample! ")an ears ago I learned an important lesson !rom 'ob 8elson, who was m !irst supervisor and reall became m most important mentor. He told me his secret to success was to 0Look at each da as a new opportunit to be our ver best. Set high goals, be honest, never sa no, and work with people who share our passion !or doing their best.0 I0ve alwa s remembered that advice and tr to live it ever da . I am ver sel! motivated, determined and honest. I reall love what I do and I tr to surround m sel! with people who share similar passions. I thrive on this t pe o! environment. -m I likel to !ind this environment with our compan 9 Can ou tell me a little more about the characteristics o! success!ul people at our compan 9 #hat do ou see as some o! the ke success !actors !or this position9" We re considering two other candidates for this #osition. Why should we hire you rather than someone else? 5o not be distracted by the mention of two other candidates! you don4t know anything about them and they could be fictitious. 'ocus on what strengths you bring to the table. These should be consistent with the four things most employers are looking for in candidates during the (ob interview) competence! professionalism! enthusiasm! and likability. ,emember! they are looking for chemistry between you and them. Be prepared to summari&e in $% seconds why you are the best candidate for the (ob. .lso! let the employer know you want the (ob and you will en(oy working with them. . lack of interest in the (ob may indicate a lack of enthusiasm for the (ob and them. %ow do you s#end your free time? This question may have several purposes. The interviewer may be (ust curious about your personal life without getting into illegal questions. *e may also want to know how well rounded you are in your personal and professional lives. 'ocus on some of the standard hobbies or activities that most people engage in) golf! tennis! boating! reading! music! opera! collecting! gardening! or cooking. 3f you are operating a home-based business as a sideline! you may not want to reveal your entrepreneurial spirit-it may indicate you are planning to leave and go solo as soon as the business starts doing well. /ource) *aldane4s Best .nswers to Tough 3nterview =uestions! Bernard *aldane .ssociates! >%%%. Why do you want to wor$ in this industry? Tell a story about how you first became interested in this type of work. oint out any similarities between the (ob you4re interviewing for and your current or most recent (ob. rovide proof that you aren4t simply shopping in this interview. Make your passions for you work a theme that you allude to continually throughout the interview.

"I0ve alwa s wanted to work in an industr that makes tools. One o! m hobbies is home. improvement pro"ects, so I0ve collected a number o! saws manu!actured b our compan . I could be an accountant an where, but I0d rather work !or a compan whose products I trust." %ow do you stay current? 5emonstrate natural interest in the industry or career field by describing publications or trade associations that are compatible with your goal. "I pore over the #all Street 5ournal, the *imes, Institutional Investor, and several mutual !und newsletters. -nd I have a number o! !riends who are anal sts." Why do you thin$ this industry would sustain your interest in the long haul? 0hat e"pectations or pro(ects do you have for the business that would enable you to grow without necessarily advancing? 0hat e"cites you about the business? 0hat proof can you offer that your interest has already come from a deep curiosity-perhaps going back at least a few years-rather than a current whim you4ll outgrow? "*he technolog in the industr is changing so rapidl that I see lots o! room !or "ob enhancement regardless o! promotions. I0m particularl interested in the man applications !or multimedia as a training tool." Where do you want to be in five years? 5on4t give specific time frames or (ob titles. Talk about what you en(oy! skills that are natural to you! realistic problems or opportunities you4d e"pect in your chosen field or industry! and what you hope to learn from those e"periences. You shouldn4t discuss your goals in a fields or industry unrelated to the (ob you4re applying for. This may sound obvious! but too many candidates make this mistake! unwittingly demonstrating a real lack of interest in their current field or industry. :eedless to say! such a gaffe will immediately eliminate you from further consideration. "I0d like to have the opportunit to work in a plant as well as at the home o!!ice. I also hope to develop m management skills, perhaps b managing a small sta!!." Describe your ideal career. Talk about what you en(oy! skills that are natural to you! realistic problems or opportunities you4d e"pect in this particular (ob or industry! and what you hope to learn from those e"periences. .void mentioning specific time frames or (ob titles. "I0d like to sta in a !ield related to training no matter what happens. I was too interested in business to work at a universit , but I believe that teaching is somehow in m blood. I0ve been good at sales because I took the time to educate m clients. 8ow I look !orward to training the new hires."

Tell me something about yourself that I didn t $now from reading your resume. 5on4t (ust repeat what4s on your resume. Think of a talent or skill that didn4t quite fit into your employment history! but that4s unique and reveals something intriguing about your personality or past e"perience. ":ou wouldn0t know that I0ve managed m own small port!olio since I was si&teen, but I believe that it0s important !or ou to understand m interest in investment sales. I0ve averaged a 14 percent return over the past eight ears." Tell me what you $now about this com#any. 5escribe your first encounter or a recent encounter with the company or its products and services. 0hat would be particularly motivating to you about working there as opposed to working the same type of (ob in a different company? The recruiter will look for evidence of genuine interest and more than (ust surface research on the company. ,eciting the annual report isn4t likely to impress most recruiters! but feedback from customers and employees will. "I served as an intern to a restaurant anal st last summer, so I !ollowed all the steak.house chains closel . #hat ou0ve done especiall well is !ocus on a limited menu with great consistenc among locations; the business traveler trusts our product an where in the <.S. I0m particularl interested in our real.estate !inance group and e&pansion plans." What have you learned about our com#any from customers" em#loyees" or others? 5escribe how your interest has grown from personal dealings with the company representatives. Think creatively in preparing for (ob interviews. 'or e"ample! prior to your (ob interview! speak with retailers or workers at other distribution points about the company4s product line. 0hat can they tell you? 1ive one or two e"amples of what you4ve learned to e"plain why you4re interested in this company. 0hat4s the most compelling e"ample you can describe to prove your interest? "I actuall called several o! the ke accountants mentioned in our brochure. *wo o! the customers I spoke with e&plained wh the continued to bu !rom ou ear a!ter ear. :our distribution operation is phenomenal. -re there an service improvements ou think could still be made9" Tell me what you thin$ our distinctive advantage is within the industry. 5escribe things you believe the company does very well! particularly compared to its competition. 2"plain how the financial strength of the company is important. "#ith our low.cost.producer status and head+uarters operation in a low.cost area o! the countr , ou seem in a better position to be able to spend aggressivel on =>$, even in a down ear compared to our closest rival." What other firms are you interviewing with" and for what #ositions?

#ften the candidate will try to impress the employer by naming some large firms in unrelated industries with completely different types of (obs. This is a big mistake@ 0hat employers want to hear is that you4re interviewing for similar (obs in the same industry at similar firms Asuch as their competitorsB. This illustrates that you4re committed to finding a (ob in your field of interest and are likely to be a low-risk hire. "-ctuall , I0ve de!initel decided to pursue a career as a restaurant manager, so I0m appl ing !or restaurant management.training programs. I0ve recentl had interviews with several other large national !ast.!ood chains, such as Super 'urger and Clacke 0s Chicken." Do you believe you re over&ualified for this #osition? Most people don4t e"pect to be asked if they have a great deal of e"perience. This question could quite easily catch a candidate off guard! which is e"actly the interviewer4s intention. The candidate doesn4t hesitate in answering this question and shows complete confidence in his or her ability. "8ot at all. ) e&perience and +uali!ications make me do m "ob onl better, and in m opinion, m good design skills help to sell more books. ) business e&perience helps me run the art department in a cost.e!!icient manner, thus saving the compan mone . (inall , I think I0m able to attract better !reelance talent because o! all m industr contacts. ) +uali!ications are better !or our compan , too, since ou0ll be getting a better return !or our investment. -gain, I0m interested in establishing a long.term relationship with m emplo er, and i! I did well, I would e&pect e&panded responsibilities that could make use o! even other skills." What would you do if one of our com#etitors offered you a #osition? The interviewer is trying to determine whether the candidate is truly interested in the industry and company! or whether he or she has chosen the company randomly. Contrast your perceptions of the company with its competitors! and talk about the company4s products or services that you4ve encountered. 3n the long run! which players do you believe are most viable and why? This is also a good place to ask the interviewer for his or her opinion. "I0d sa no. I0m not interested in other pla ers in this industr . I want to work !or 8ike because I won a number o! races wearing the 8ike brand. 'ecause o! m positive e&perience with 8ike, I know I0d be convincing selling our product to retailers." What s your dream job? This is your ideal chance to sell your aptitudes that fit the (ob description. /how an interest in finding new ways these skills can be put to use in a new (ob with additional responsibilities. Tie in the industry! si&e of company! or other factors where appropriate. ") dream "ob would include all o! the responsibilities and duties in this position ou0re tr ing to !ill. I also thrive in a !ast.changing environment where there0s business growth. :our plans

call !or e&panding internationall during the ne&t ear, and this would satis! one o! m ultimate goals o! being involved in an international corporation." What motivates you to do this $ind of wor$? The interviewer will want to know about your belief in the products or services of the company. +se personal e"perience to demonstrate your interests and strengths. 3n an interview for your ideal (ob! you4d be highly motivated to get paid for working at something you liked. The interviewer will want to know if your natural interests are compatible with its particular (ob. "I0ve been !ortunate in m own schooling; I had wonder!ul teachers. I want to be that same kind o! teacher.who not onl encourages kids to learn but also sets an e&ample that inspires others to want to teach. In the long run, that0s our best chance o! turning around the +ualit o! education in this state." Why should I hire you? 5on4t repeat your resume or employment history. #ffer one or two e"amples to e"plain why you4re talking to this particular company. 0hat4s the most compelling e"ample you can give to prove your interest? This question often remains unasked! but it4s always in the back of the recruiter4s mind. 2ven if this question isn4t asked! you should find an opportunity to use your prepared response sometime during the interview! perhaps in your closing remarks. ") uncle had a compan that was a small.scale manu!acturer in the industr , and although he later sold the business, I worked there !or !ive summers doing all sorts o! odd "obs. (or that reason I believe I know this business !rom the ground up, and ou can be assured that I know what I0d be getting into as a plant manager here." What are your strengths? 5escribe two or three skills you have that are most relevant to the (ob. .void clichs or generalities6 offer specific evidence. 5escribe new ways these skills could be put to use in the new position. 3f you have to talk about weaknesses! be honest without shooting yourself in the foot-avoid pointing out a weakness that could be a ma(or obstacle in landing the (ob. 'or e"ample! it might be wise to mention you barely have the required work e"perience for the (ob6 the interviewer has surely noticed this much! and then you can e"plain how you4re qualified nonetheless. ") strengths are interpersonal skills, and I can usuall win people over to m point o! view. -lso, I have good "udgment about people and an intuitive sense o! their talents and their abilit to contribute to a given problem. *hese skills seem to me directl related to the "ob. I notice that ou re+uire three ears0 work e&perience !or this "ob. -lthough m resume shows I0ve onl two ears0 e&perience, it doesn0t show that I took two evening college courses related to m !ield and have been active in one o! the pro!essional societies. I also tr to gain knowledge b reading the industr 0s trade "ournals. I0m certain that m combined knowledge and skill level is the e+uivalent o! that o! other people who do have three ears0 o! work e&perience. I0m also

currentl enrolled in a time.management course; I can alread see the e!!ects o! this course at work on m present "ob." %ow do you e'#lain your job success? Be candid without sounding arrogant. Mention observations other people have made about your work strengths or talents. This question is similar to the question 90hat sets you apart from the crowd?9 "I never assume our customers are satis!ied with our product, so I do m best to !ollow up with ever customer. *his !eedback has provided valuable insight into the +ualit and characteristics o! our products. *he customer, as well, alwa s appreciates this !ollow.up, especiall when something hasn0t gone right and ou still have the opportunit to correct it on a timel basis. In addition, I0m able to pass on in!ormation to our design and production units to help improve both process and product." Would your current boss describe you as the $ind of em#loyee who goes the e'tra mile? Be ready to offer proof that you persevere to see important pro(ects through and to achieve important results. /hare an e"ample that demonstrates your dependability or willingness to tackle a tough pro(ect. 3f you describe 9long hours of work!9 make sure you demonstrate that the hours were productive! and not (ust the result of poor time management. "-bsolutel . In !act, on m annual evaluations she writes that I0m the most dependable and !le&ible person on her sta!!. I think this is mostl because o! m abilit to "uggle and prioriti,e. #ould ou like an e&ample9" Tell me about a time you didn t #erform to your ca#abilities. This question forces the candidate to describe a negative situation. 5o so in the conte"t of an early career mistake based on ine"perience6 then demonstrate the better (udgment you now have as a result of that learning e"perience. "*he !irst time I had to give a presentation to our board, I !ailed to anticipate some o! their +uestions. I was unprepared !or an thing other than what I wanted to report. 8ow m director and I brainstorm all the what.i!s in advance." %ow do you manage stress in your daily wor$? 3t might be helpful here to describe a stressful pro(ect you4ve worked on and the specific actions you took to organi&e each step and see the pro(ect through. *ow do you keep yourself calm and professional under pressure? "I tr to get out !or lunch at least once during the week to clear m head. I also have a personal rule that stops me !rom reacting to a problem until I !eel calm about it. I think, then act.but I0ve learned to do that over time."

%ow do you regrou# when things haven t gone as #lanned? 5escribe a time when some obstacle forced you to change your original plan! but you were still able to achieve the desired result. 5id you rally the support of others to make this happen? 0ith hindsight! how might you have better predicted the obstacle? "I start b tr ing to imagine the worst possible outcome; then I back up and identi! precautions I can take to avoid that scenario. In this wa I usuall end up with a result close to the original goal. *he training e&ample I described earlier is proo! o! that skill." Why is service such an im#ortant issue? The interviewer is trying to determine if the candidate understands the importance of customer service in establishing a positive image in the marketplace! and its impact on new business sales. #utstanding customer service is also a great help in establishing long-term clients and repeat business-the profitable company4s bread and butter. The longer the relationship! the greater the possibility for profit. "Service is a ma"or contributor to customer satis!action. 5ust as important as, or ma be even more important than, cost. I! a customer isn0t receiving a level o! service that meets or e&ceeds his or her e&pectations, that customer won0t be a customer !or ver long. In addition, that customer0s e&perience with our compan ma a!!ect how potential customers in the marketplace view our compan . %eople do talk and share in!ormation. *his ma a!!ect not onl pro!its but !uture sales as well. In man instances service ma be the one thing that distinguishes a compan !rom the competition. - bad reputation !or service ma compromise a compan 0s position in the marketplace." Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an irate customer. %ow did you handle the situation? *ow you react when others lose their temper or become upset is very important in most positions! especially those in service industries. The interviewer will be looking for evidence of your aptitude for work that involves a great deal of contact with the public. 1ive an e"ample of a time when you were faced with a difficult person and how you handled it. Your answer should illustrate your maturity! diplomacy! and awareness of the needs and feelings of others. ") customer service position at the telephone compan involved dealing occasionall with irate customers. #hen that happened, I0d tr to talk in a calm, even voice, in order to get the person to respond in a businesslike manner and !ocus on tr ing to resolve the situation. )ost times I was able to recti! the problem and paci! the customer, but I remember one incident in particular in which the caller became verball abusive. I tried to remain calm and pro!essional and not to let m personal !eelings enter into the situation. I didn0t respond to the abuse, I "ust made a not o! it and continued to help he customer as best I could. #hen the abuse persisted, however, I politel asked him to call back and ask !or m manager, because at that point I knew I shouldn0t resolve the problem."

%ow do you manage your wor$ wee$ and ma$e realistic deadlines? To answer this question effectively! describe in detail how you establish priorities! set deadlines! and determine schedules. "I alwa s reserve two hours o! dead time ever da to handle an unanticipated problems that ma occur. I used to plan !or eight or nine hours o! pro"ect time, but now I !ind that I0m able to manage m own pro"ects, as well as whatever m boss and sta!! need !rom me." What #ersonal s$ill or wor$ habit have you struggled to im#rove? This question is similar to 95escribe a professional skill you4ve developed in your most recent (ob.9 *owever! here you probably want to discuss an improvement from the earliest days of your career or from your relatively distant past. Make sure you convince the interviewer that this particular work habit is no longer an obstacle. "I had to learn to sa no. I used to be help!ul to the point that other sta!! abused m goodwill. 8ow I o!!er to help b countering with something I0d like help on in return. On balance I believe the trade.o!! is more e+uitable, and cooperation in our o!!ice has improved over time." What color is your brain? Be aware that you4ll probably be asked &any questions. The point is not to stump you! but to find out what makes you tick. 0hen the standard interview questions are asked! people are prepared! and it4s harder for the recruiter to get to know the real person. .n advertising recruiter! for e"ample! tries to avoid this. There is no right or wrong answer to this type of question. 3n fact! the recruiter won4t even really care what your answer is. *e or she (ust doesn4t want to hear something like! 93 don4t know! 3 guess it4s blue because that4s the way 3 imagine it.9 The point is to see how creative you are and how you think. Be sure to e"plain why you answered the way you did. ") brain is red because I0m alwa s hot. I0m alwa s on !ire with new plans and ideas." If you got on an elevator where everyone was facing the bac$" what would you do? 3nterviews in creative fields like advertising and graphic design are different from other types of (ob interviews. .dvertising recruiters tend to have a different interview style and process! usually conducting more of a behavioral interview. ,ecruiters ask questions like these to figure out what your behavior might be in a particular real-life situation. "I think I0d !ace the !ront an wa and sa aloud, 0It0s reall much more com!ortable !acing !orward, ou know.0 " What s the most creative or innovative #roject you ve wor$ed on?

rovide e"amples of your initiative and resourcefulness. 5iscuss how your leadership skills have helped you accomplish your goals. 1ive a specific e"ample that shows a creative! new! or unusual approach to reaching your goals. "$uring m summer "ob at Cellular One, I noticed that the sales in+uiries were distributed hapha,ardl to all the marketing assistants in the o!!ice. I decided to set up a s stem grouping in+uiries according to region or according to compan si,e. *his approach enabled the entire marketing team to come up with better and more creative solutions to our sales problems." (onsider the following scenario) *ou re wor$ing late one evening and are the last #erson in the office. *ou answer an urgent tele#hone call to your su#ervisor from a sales re# who s currently meeting with a #otential client. The sales re# needs an answer to a &uestion to close the sale. Tomorrow will be too late. *ou have the e'#ertise to answer the &uestion" but it s beyond your normal level of authority. %ow do you res#ond? This response shows that the candidate is confident in his or her ability and can be counted on in an emergency. /imilarly! your answer should indicate that you4re not afraid to be the decision maker in a tough situation! even if the situation4s beyond your normal level of authority. "I0d get all the pertinent in!ormation, taking well.documented notes. I0d answer the +uestion based on m knowledge and the in!ormation provided. I0d leave m supervisor a note and !ill him or her in on the details the ne&t morning. I0d be sure to e&plain m decision, as well as the thought process behind it." +ive me #roof of your #ersuasiveness. This is a question about leadership! but try not to use an e"ample in which you were the designated leader. 3f possible! describe a time when you didn4t really have authority but instead used your powers of persuasion to get people on your side. 5escribe your goal and the outcome of your efforts. 0hy did people trust or believe you? "$uring m summer internship I was assigned the task o! conducting a benchmarking stud !or all the communication e&penditures !or a ma"or utilit . I had to get the consensus o! emplo ees in several di!!erent departments. <n!ortunatel , the resented the !act that I was "ust a summer intern, and the re!used to cooperate. I had to schedule individual meetings with ever emplo ee and persuade each one that I was doing what would be ultimatel to his or her own department and to the compan . -!ter a !rustrating month, I !inall got ever one0s cooperation, the pro"ect went !lawlessl , and in the end I received a bonus !or m e!!orts." What s your most #roductive or ideal wor$ setting? The interviewer wants to know the impact that the candidate4s working environment has on his or her (ob performance. *ow well would you fit the position! physical layout of the department! and attitudes of the particular work group? 2mphasi&e your ability to work in a variety of settings and how you4ve managed to be productive in less-than-ideal work environments.

"I like having at least one hour o! uninterrupted time in the earl morning to plan m da . I usuall start around ? a.m. Otherwise, I en"o an o!!ice with open doors, constant !eedback, and lots o! energ and activit . It helps me work more productivel when I sense how bus ever one else is, too." Do you #refer continuity in structure or fre&uent change in your daily wor$? Your answer should be consistent with the (ob description. 5escribe environments that have allowed you to remain interested and learn new things without getting bored. "I en"o challenge and change, which is wh I !re+uentl ask !or the tough assignments. *he last two pro"ects we discussed were ones that I asked !or. I don0t allow m sel! to get bored." What environments allow you to be es#ecially effective? 2mphasi&e your fle"ibility and your ability to work in many different types of environments. Your answer should not consist of a laundry list of requirements Aprivate office! few interruptions! and so onB or the interviewer may conclude that you will be difficult to satisfy. "-lthough I can work e!!ectivel in most environments, I pre!er environments where people are their own bosses, within reason. I like to have a goal but be able to draw m own map to get there. *o accomplish goals, I rel on asking +uestions and !inding people receptive, so cooperation and access are important to me in a work group." %ow will you com#lement this de#artment? 5escribe how your personality and<or skills would help round out the department. 0hat types of people en(oy working with you for hours at a time? *ow would the company4s customers or clients react? .ssure the interviewer that there will be no surprises about your work personality. "I en"o an environment in which people bounce ideas o!! each other and have the !le&ibilit to ask !or help when the need it. I0m usuall a great troubleshooter !or %C problems in m o!!ice, and I0m o!ten going to ask !or help proo!reading important memos. I believe in give.and.take." Whom did you choose as your references and why? The interviewer is looking for a logical mi" of people without any obvious omissions. 'or e"ample! a former sales person would do well to include a former salesperson as a reference. 5escribe what you4d e"pect each of your references to say. 3nclude a diverse group-senior to (unior! an associate from work! and old professor from college. "I selected a !ormer boss, a peer, and customer as re!erences, to demonstrate that I0m a prett well.rounded person and get along with all the important work associates in m li!e." (an we call all of your references?

This is a question designed to protect you. 3f your current (ob employer doesn4t know your looking for a new (ob Aas is most often the caseB! you can request that the interviewer contact your current employer after you4ve accepted a position and given your notice to your current employer. "I0d pre!er that ou call m current boss onl a!ter ou0ve made me a !irm o!!er o! emplo ment and I0ve had a chance to tell her m sel! that I0m changing "obs. *hen, o! course, I understand our need to veri! that m application was accurate." Are you most #roductive wor$ing alone or in a grou#? The interviewer is looking for someone who can work in an environment without the environment disrupting the candidate4s preferred way of getting work done. Be honest but communicate that you4re a fle"ible and reasonably adaptable employee. "I need some privac time !or planning, but otherwise I like the activit and noise o! people around me and the abilit to share ideas. I think most writers need rein!orcement, because we all get writer0s block occasionall ." Tell me about an effective manager" su#ervisor" or other #erson in a leading role you ve $nown. Talk about a supervisor4s management style and interpersonal skills. 'ocus on the positive-how the person worked rather than what type of work he or she did. *ow was the person able to accomplish so much and get your support? "*he best pro!essor I ever had alwa s reviewed the most important points !rom our last class be!ore he moved on to new material. He also watched our !aces care!ull and repeated in!ormation whenever he saw a blank stare. Sometimes he would "ust ask !or !eedback b sa ing, 0#hat are ou having di!!icult with90" He never assumed too much or made us !eel dumb !or not grasping a concept +uickl ." What ty#e of #eo#le do you wor$ with most effectively? 'ocus on the positive here. 0hat type of boss! employee! and colleague would you be? -eep in mind that the interviewer wants to find out how well you would fit in with the other personalities in the company-not how well the other personalities in the company would suit you. "I tend to work well with people who are con!ident and straight!orward. It0s more di!!icult !or me to be around timid people, because I move +uickl and am decisive." What things im#ress you in colleagues? The recruiter will want to see how developed your interpersonal skills are. More than likely! you4ll be interacting not only with your own department! but with other people in the company! and possibly colleagues. /how the recruiter that you will shine in this area.

"I admire and work best with people who are o! good character and have integrit . I also think con!idence and enthusiasm is positive in an business environment." %ow do you organi,e and #lan for major #rojects? 1ive the interviewer a good idea of your general approach to mastering comple" tasks. You may wish to include here how you decide time frames! set deadlines! determine priorities! delegate tasks! and decide what to do for yourself. "I love to brainstorm a best, worst, and most likel scenario. *hen I set out a timetable that0s realistic. #hat I usuall !ind is that some combination o! m best and worst cases evolves; I can ad"ust m schedule easil as these things un!old because I0ve alread visuali,ed what could happen and how I0d react." What #ersonal characteristics add to your effectiveness? Talk about what makes your personal style unique and effective. 'or e"ample! how are you able to get cooperation from others? 0hat specific skills and traits help you get results! and why? "I alwa s sta in touch with m network. I! I see an article that might be o! interest to someone I know, I clip it and send it to that person. *hen, when I need help and make a phone call to that person, the phone call gets returned promptl ." %ow have your technical s$ills been an asset? 5escribe how you4ve used technical skills to solve a problem. Tell a specific story. 5emonstrate how these same skills have been useful in other situations or in most of the (obs you4ve held. 3f you4re hired! what situations will you handle particularly well? "-lthough I never planned on a career as a writer or publisher, much o! m "ob in marketing has depended on good writing and creative la out skills. ) part.time college "ob with a newspaper taught me a lot about desktop publishing, how to position something on a page e!!ectivel , and how to write short sentences with ma&imum impact. In all o! m marketing "obs, I0ve been able to e&plain m goals clearl to graphic designers, which has helped me avoid costl design revisions." %ow do you usually go about solving a #roblem? The interviewer will want to hear the logic you use to solve problems as well as the outcomes you4re able to achieve. .re you decisive? *ow do you narrow the options and make decisions? 0hat do people say about your reasoning skills? 0hat e"amples would they cite of your effective decision-making? "#hen I need to solve a problem, I generall start b writing down as man ideas as I can think o! about possible causes. 8e&t I look !or relationships among causes so I can group together

s mptoms o! bigger problems. <suall , a!ter I stud these groups o! problems, the real cause becomes readil apparent." %ow #ractical or #ragmatic are you? 1ive the interviewer an e"ample of some practical or sensible approach you4ve used to solve a problem. 0hen was a simple solution the best solution? *ad others overlooked the obvious? 3n this e"ample! you4ll want to show off your commonsense skills rather than your academic skills. "I can usuall pick up on an underl ing problem, even i! it0s not too obvious. I recall an investment banker who visited our real.estate.!inance class and asked us what might cause the *ok o investment communit a problem in attracting local investment dollars. - number o! !inance students in the class started tr ing to think o! some complicated set o! reasons. I decided it would have to do with getting out o! a bad market +uickl , and that a non.li+uid investment would create problems. I said investors would be unsettled i! the primar investment is local real estate and in!lation has caused the paper value to e&aggerate the real street value. -s it ended up, that was the answer he wanted." Tell me about a time when there was no rule or #recedent to hel# you attac$ a #roblem. Can you operate without structure? 5escribe your problem-solving process! especially the steps you took and measures you established in a particularly trying situation. 5emonstrate confidence and the willingness to take on more challenges. "I was the !irst emplo ee in a newl created position. I spent the !irst week developing an understanding o! the histor that had led to creation o! the position. Onl then did a method !or setting priorities on the "ob become clear." What s your greatest achievement to date? Be sure that the achievement you describe here is relevant to the (ob you4re interviewing for. .lso! be careful that your answer doesn4t sound as if the best is behind you. Mention something great that you4ve achieved! but clearly communicate your belief that the best is yet to come. "I0m proud o! the !act that I graduated on time with a solid @%- while I pla ed varsit basketball !or !our ears. - lot o! women on m team either took a reduced course load or let their grades su!!er. I believe the reason I got through it all was sheer determination; I never even let m sel! visuali,e an thing but !inishing on time and with good grades. So I !irml believe, as a pro!essional counselor, in the importance o! a positive outlook." Tell me about something you accom#lished that re&uired disci#line. This is your opportunity to discuss a skill you worked to develop! or a time when the quantity of your work required solid time-management skills. *ow did you remain focused?

"I had to work two "obs to put m sel! through graduate school. I interned at the newspaper while I studied "ournalism during the week. *hen on weekends, I sold real estate. 5uggling those three schedules was a challenge, but I did it because it was important to me to graduate without school loans." Where do you ho#e that your career will have #rogressed to in the ne't few years? .void the temptation to suggest (ob titles6 this makes you seem unbending and unrealistic! since you don4t know how long it might have taken your interviewer to reach certain levels! and you wouldn4t want to insult. 5escribe new e"periences or responsibilities you4d like to add that build on the (ob you4re applying for. "Over the ne&t !ew ears I0d like to have progressed to the point there I have bottom.line budget responsibilit , and I0m also in charge o! a production unit where I have labor.relations, +ualit . control, design, and manu!acturing responsibilities. I believe this "ob will go a long wa to helping me meet m career goals." -ince this will be your first job" how do you $now you ll li$e the career #ath? This can be a difficult question to answer convincingly! unless you4ve done a little bit of preparation. 5iscuss! for e"ample! an internship or a conversation that4s allowed you to assess the culture of the organi&ation or to preview the work involved. 5escribe other people in the profession who have been mentors or who have taught you about the field. .lso! point out why you4re interested! how you learned more about the industry! and how you stay current with industry trends. "-lthough it0s true that I0ve never worked a "ob in our industr , I0ve talked to man !riends and alums at m school who0ve been success!ul in our compan . I alwa s ask them +uestions, 0#hat0s the most !rustrating thing about our "ob90 and 0#hat0s the most rewarding thing about our "ob90 (rom the in!ormation I0ve gained, I0m con!ident that I0ll be able to adapt +uickl to our culture and will !ind the ne&t !ew ears rewarding, based on m goals and values." What are your as#irations beyond this job? .gain! don4t fall into the trap of specifying (ob titles. /tick to a natural progression you see as plausible. *ow should this (ob grow for the good of the organi&ation? Then turn your attention once again to the (ob at hand. 3f you seem too interested in what lies beyond this (ob! the interviewer will fear that you won4t stick around for long. "'e ond this "ob as a marketing assistant, I see m sel! moving up through marketing anal sis into brand management and eventuall running a categor . I0m aware that there are several skills I need to develop in the interval, and I believe with our continuing.education program and m own motivation !or sel!.improvement, I0ll have those skills when the opportunities arise !or greater responsibilit . *hat0s wh I0m determined to learn !rom the ground up, starting as a marketing assistant."

%ow long do you thin$ you d continue to grow in this job? This is a variation on the question! 90here do you want to be in five years?9 Be as specific as you can! considering what you know about the position. 5on4t mention a (ob title you4d want ne"t! or the interviewer will wonder if you4re already preoccupied with moving on. ") own personal measure o! growth in a "ob is ac+uiring new skills, new knowledge, and new insights into the industr . -s long as I can measure this t pe o! growth, I consider m sel! success!ul. I0m a believer in stretching a "ob b reaching out to learn more about other areas that are peripheral to the "ob I0m in." (om#are this job to others you re #ursuing. /ome consistency or thread of commonality among your other prospects is important here. Your choices must reflect your career aspirations. 0hat common skills are clearly needed in all the (obs you4re pursuing? "I0ve narrowed m "ob search to onl those large securities !irms within the !inance industr . *he basic skills necessar with all o! these !irms are similarA strong +uantitative and anal tical abilities, the abilit to make decisions +uickl , and good interpersonal skills to react to a customer0s needs." Tell me about your salary e'#ectations. . well-prepared candidate can effectively turn this question around. .sk first for the company4s salary range! then answer in general terms based on your qualifications in relation to the (ob requirements. "I0ve become a little !rustrated in the past ear because the downturn in our industr has caused limited promotional opportunities. 'ased upon salar in!ormation published b our national association, the market price !or someone with m e&perience and educational background is in the broad range o! thirt to !ort thousand dollars per ear. -lthough I0m not certain how our salaries compare to the national norms, m !eeling is that m value would certainl be in the upper hal! o! this national range. I hope ou0ll share with me some o! our salar ranges relative to the national norms." What do you reasonably e'#ect to earn within five years? .gain! turn this question around and ask what4s typical for the career path. Then consider! based on your skills and performance! the areas you4ll e"cel in. ;eave it to the interviewer the appropriate time frames for promotions. 5on4t speculate! or you4ll risk sounding arrogant! unrealistic! or the opposite-too reserved or too tentative. ") e&pectation !or the ne&t !ive ears is that m contributions will be recogni,ed and appropriatel rewarded. I reali,e that salar levels are based on a number o! !actors, including the compan 0s pro!itabilit and the general business c cle that a!!ects our industr , but I e&pect

to take on greater responsibilit each ear and to be appropriatel compensated !or m e!!orts and contributions." .ther than wor$" tell me about an activity you ve remained interested in over several years. The interviewer is looking here for a history of commitment over time! and consistency of interests. 5o you sustain your hobbies over a period of time! or do you have a different hobby every year? .re your interests compatible with the (ob you4re applying for? 0ould they be of value in any way to the company? "I0ve been involved in Cancer Societ !undraising ever since m grandmother died !rom the disease. In the back o! m mind I guess I0m hoping the research can lead to !indings in time to save the li!e o! someone else in m !amil ." What do you enjoy in your s#are time? The interviewer wants evidence that you4re well rounded! not (ust one-dimensional. *e or she is looking for shared interests or common ground. You should always! in some way! relate your answer to the (ob description. "I reall en"o getting outside.I o!ten go camping and hiking. I0ve learned a lot about di!!erent !abrics that are good !or various weather conditions. *hat0s wh I0m so interested in our te&tile operations." Do you live a balanced lifestyle? 5o you have an outlet! a way to break from work! so that you show up each day refreshed and ready to perform at your highest level? 5escribe something specific that allows you to rela". .re your personal and career interests compatible in terms of their logic or thought process? "I make an e!!ort to get out o! the o!!ice at a reasonable hour twice a week. I go home and walk m dog. *hat0s one o! the most rela&ing things I do, but it o!ten helps me to think o! solutions !or problems at work, even though I0m not consciousl tr ing to solve those problems." What outside activities com#lement your wor$ interests? The interviewer is interested to see if the candidate4s personality is reflected in both work and outside activities. Your answer to this question will shed light on your personality and thus possibly on your compatibility with the (ob. "I0ve alwa s en"o ed tennis. In man wa s it0s a game o! strateg and pacing. #hen something isn0t working in the !irst set, ou have to change our strateg !or the second set. :ou also have to pace our energ in case ou go to a third set, and constantl watch and read our opponent0s reactions. I0m a guts tennis pla er.I go !or the big points sometimes.but I0m care!ul with timing. *hat0s the wa I work, too."

If you found yourself getting burned out" what would you do to revitali,e your energy? .re you disciplined enough to avoid burnout? 0hen you4re not being productive! do you recogni&e it? 0hat do you do to cope with stress? "I don0t allow m sel! to get involved in a routine to the point that I get burned out. I0ve alwa s been the t pe o! person who asks !or new assignments so that I sta motivated and interested." .ur com#any believes that em#loyees should give bac$ time to the community. %ow do you feel about it? 5escribe a time you gave something to a community or organi&ation as a volunteer. 5o you go above and beyond what4s e"pected of you? 5o you use your skills productively? .re you unselfish-a team player? 5emonstrate how your personal interests make you productive even when you aren4t being paid. 0hat incentives other than a paycheck inspire you? "I believe that, too. In m last "ob as manager I told each o! m emplo ees that the could spend one (rida a!ternoon a month at a charit o! their choice on compan time as long as the weren0t gone on the same (rida s. Ironicall , productivit didn0t decrease at all; the got more done in the morning.and I guess (rida a!ternoons weren0t that productive to begin with. I0ve spent m a!ternoons with an adult reading program." What community #rojects that can use your #rofessional s$ills are #articularly interesting to you? This interviewer wants to know if the candidate will be a good corporate citi&en. The question also gives the interviewer a sense of the (ob seeker4s values. Try to focus your answer on productive applications of your work-related skills. 5on4t get sidetracked describing a cause that doesn4t demonstrate (ob-related skills. .void discussing any charity or organi&ation that may be considered controversial. "-s a marketing person, I0ve o!!ered !ree advice to our local high school !or its !und.raisers, as well as to a local real.estate o!!ice whose success could help m rural communit 0s real.estate values." Describe how a s#ort or hobby taught you a lesson in teamwor$ or disci#line. Tell about a time you had to use teamwork to get a desired result. Tell a specific story! then e"plain how the same skill or lesson has been used in your work. ") !ootball coach !rom high school taught me alwa s to watch out !or the other gu . I! ou do, he0ll cover ou when ou need him to. I0ve applied that principle in all m work groups, especiall on the trading !loor." When you aren t at wor$" do you #refer to stic$ to a schedule" or do you #refer to be s#ontaneous? Why?

Be careful that! whichever answer you choose! it4s consistent with the (ob you4re interviewing for. 'or e"ample! since accounting is a profession that requires discipline and precision! your answer should reflect your natural inclination toward agendas! schedules! and precision. *owever! for a sales (ob! you4d probably want to show that you4re prepared to wing it. This question is essentially about your (ob personality but is also about your compatibility with the (ob. ") workda is ver structured because I0m generall in !our or !ive meetings a da . On the weekends, I like to have a plan, but not necessaril a set schedule. *hat in itsel! is a rela&ing change o! pace !or me, but I !eel I0d be wasting time with no plan at all." Tell me about an interest that you outgrew. 5escribe a former interest or hobby that you no longer pursue! making sure that the interest isn4t related in some way to the (ob you4re interviewing for. Talk about why you outgrew the interest and how it4s not compatible with your current interests. Be sure to discuss how your current interests are related to your career. "Earl on, I wanted to be a research ph sician. *hen I spent time in a chemistr lab and reali,ed I wasn0t looking !orward to the ne&t two ears o! lab work. *hat0s wh I0ve chosen marketing !or medical e+uipment instead. It combines m respect !or the medical pro!ession with a "ob that0s more suited to m personalit ." What would you do if I told you that I thought you were giving a very #oor interview today? 3nterviewers like to ask stress questions like these to see how well you hold up under pressure. Your best bet is to stay calm and rela"ed6 don4t allow your confidence to be shaken. "#ell the !irst thing I0d do is ask ou i! there was an speci!ic part o! the interview that ou thought I might have mishandled. -!ter that I0d think back and tr to remember i! there had been an !ault communication on m part. *hen I0d tr to review possible problems I had understanding our +uestions, and I0d ask !or clari!ication i! I needed it. (inall , i! we had time, I0d tr to respond more !ull and appropriatel to the problem areas ou identi!ied !or me." Tell me about your most difficult wor$ or #ersonal e'#erience. The interviewer will want to know how you hold up under pressure. 5escribe a situation! either personal or professional! that involved a great deal of conflict and challenge and placed you under an unusual amount of stress. 0hat! specifically! were the problems! and what did you do to resolve them? "One time m coworker went through rehab !or si& months a!ter a wreck, and I picked up a lot o! additional work to help him out. I know he would0ve done the same !or me, and it0s important !or me to have that kind o! trust along the members o! m work group."

If this were your first annual review with our com#any" what would I be telling you right now? 'or this question you obviously want to present a positive impression. 93 wish you would show up on time more!9 is definitely not a good answer. ,emember to focus on one or two of your key strengths based on the personal themes you4ve developed. ":ou0d be thanking me !or a "ob well done and would be e&plaining how ou look !orward to continuing to see good work !rom me. (urthermore, I would anticipate our e&plaining how ou reall appreciated m putting in e&tra time on some ke pro"ects and how m creative thinking helped come up with some innovative solutions to e&isting problems." +ive an e'am#le of a time when you were as$ed to accom#lish a tas$ but weren t given enough information. %ow did you resolve this #roblem? .lthough this e"ample may seem trivial! the candidate demonstrates maturity and an ability to approach work conceptually. The interviewer will want to know that you understand that (ust getting the (ob done isn4t enough. Your response should show resourcefulness and initiative. "-t m last internship, m supervisor, an account e&ecutive, asked me to assemble !ive hundred press kits !or a mailing. I wasn0t sure in what order the pages and press releases should go, but m supervisor had alread le!t !or a client meeting. -!raid o! putting the in!ormation together in the wrong order, I managed to track down her cell phone number and called her in her car. She e&plained the order o! the materials over the phone, and in the end I managed to prevent a mistake that would have cost hours o! work and a dela in the mailing.not to mention a !ew headaches." %ow have you handled criticism of your wor$? The interviewer is looking for an indication of the candidate4s accountability and professional character. 5escribe a specific pro(ect or work habit that caused you a problem until you faced up to it and overcame it. .lternatively! you might describe a time you responded ob(ectively and professionally to particularly harsh or unreasonable criticism of your work. "I wasn0t able to keep a good emplo ee once who0d been in our manu!acturing !acilit !or ten ears. His "ob description was rewritten to re+uire computer skills. I o!!ered to send him to night classes, but he re!used the help. I had no option but to replace him. In retrospect i! I0d encouraged him and other emplo ees to ac+uire new training periodicall , he might not have been overwhelmed b the time his position was reworked. 8ow I0m vigilant about encouraging m group to attend seminars and courses to enhance their "ob skills and to avoid becoming outdated." Tell me about a situation that frustrated you at wor$.

This is another question designed to probe the candidate4s professional personality. The interviewer will want reassurance that you are able to hold up under pressure. 5escribe how you4ve remained diplomatic! ob(ective! or professional in a difficult situation. "I was !rustrated once when one o! m clients, who0d insisted on a high.growth stock, called in a panic because the stock price had dropped more than twent points in one da . I had a hard time convincing him to ride it out rather than cut his losses. *his happened despite m attempts !rom the beginning to e&plain the short.term volatilit o! that stock." Tell me about your least/favorite manager or #rofessor. .nswering this question will be a bit like walking across a loaded minefield! so be aware@ -eep in mind that the interviewer doesn4t want to learn about your former supervisors6 he or she does want to learn about the way you speak about them. Though the interviewer may bait you to make a negative statement about your former employer! doing so can create a host of problems. 2ven if your claim is completely true and (ustified! the recruiter may conclude either that you don4t get along with other people or that you shift blame to others. The best way around this dilemma is to choose and e"ample that4s not too negative! touch upon it briefly! then focus the rest of your answer on what you learned from the e"perience. "#ell I0ve been prett !ortunate as !ar as managers go, and I didn0t have an problems with m pro!essors. In m !irst "ob out o! college I worked with a manager who was prett inaccessible. I! ou walked into his o!!ice to ask a +uestion, ou got the sense that ou were bothering him, so we "ust learned to get help !rom each other instead. I wouldn0t sa he was m least.!avorite manager, because he was a good manager in a lot o! wa s, but I would have pre!erred that he0d made himsel! more available to us and given us more direction." Who s the toughest em#loyer you ve ever had" and why? .gain! you should avoid making negative statements about your previous employers! at all costs. Turn the question around with a positive! upbeat response! as this candidate does. "*hat would be )s. Henson at (ranklin -ssociates. She0d push people to their limits when things got bus , and she was a stickler !or detail. 'ut she was alwa s !air, and she rewarded good, hard work. I0d call her a tough boss, but a good boss." Time management has become a necessary factor in #roductivity. +ive an e'am#le of a time/management s$ill you ve learned and a##lied at wor$. 0hen answering this question! describe a time-management technique you4ve applied to work that4s allowed you to save time and resources. 3n such areas as public relations time is precious! and the interviewer will want to see that you have an idea of how valuable your time is. Try to give an e"ample that demonstrates how you4ve managed to increase productivity because of effective time management.

"I regularl use scheduling so!tware, which helps me e!!ectivel plan !or the da , week, month, or ear. It also has a to.do.list !eature and an alarm option, which is help!ul !or meeting timel deadlines. In general, though, I0m ver goal oriented and sel!.disciplined. I like to !ocus clearl on one pro"ect at a time !or a set amount o! hours. In the past I0ve !ound that this has helped me save time, which in turn has given me the opportunit to implement new procedures that have ultimatel saved the department time and mone ." Would you be willing to locate to another city? You may! even in some first interviews! be asked questions that seem to elicit a tremendous commitment on your behalf! such as this one. .lthough such questions may be unfair during an initial (ob interview! you may well conclude that you have nothing to gain and everything to lose with a negative response. 3f you4re asked such a question une"pectedly during an initial (ob interview! simply say something like 9That4s certainly a possibility9 or 34m willing to consider that.9 ;ater! if you receive an offer! you can find out the specific work conditions and then decide if you wish to accept the position. ,emember! at the (ob-offer stage you have the most negotiating power! and the employer may be willing to accommodate your needs. 3f that isn4t the case! you might wish to e"plain that upon reflection! you4ve decided you can4t Afor instanceB relocate but you4d like to be considered for other positions that might open up in the future. "I0d pre!er to be based here, but it0s certainl a possibilit I0d be willing to consider." Would you be able to wor$ e'tended hours as necessary to #erform the job? Your response should match closely the position you4re applying for and should reflect a realistic understanding of work and time required. .sk about seasonality of work! if you4re unsure! and show a willingness to work occasional e"tended hours. "I0m accustomed to working long hours during the week. I usuall work until at least si&.thirt , because I get a lot done a!ter the business o!!ice closes at !ive. I can make arrangements to be available on weekends, i! necessar , though I do pre!er to have at least twent .!our hours0 notice." -ell me this sta#ler. 0ith this kind of question the interviewer will want to determine how quickly you can think on your feet! as well as your ability to communicate effectively and succinctly. Be prepared to give a thirty-second speech on the benefits and advantages of virtually any common office ob(ect! from a paper clip to a telephone! particularly if you4re interviewing for a sales position. "*his is a pro!essional.+ualit stapler, designed to be !unctional as well as attractive. It will help ou reduce clutter b enabling ou to !asten pages together. -nd since papers relating to the same sub"ect will now be attached, ou0ll be more e!!icient and will save time searching !or

papers. (inall , its sleek shape and back color are coordinated to match the rest o! our o!!ice !urniture." What is your biggest wea$ness? This is a great e"ample of what is known as a negative question. :egative questions are a favorite among interviewers! because they4re effective for uncovering problems or weaknesses. The key to answering negative questions is to give them a positive spin. 'or this particular question your best bet is to admit to a weakness that isn4t catastrophic! inconsistent! or currently disruptive to your chosen professional field! and to emphasi&e how you4ve overcome or minimi&ed the problem. 0hatever you do! don4t answer this question with a copout like 93 can4t think of any!9 or even worse! 93 don4t really have any ma(or weaknesses.9 This kind of a response is likely to eliminate you from contention. "I admit to being a bit o! a per!ectionist. I take a great deal o! pride in m work and am committed to producing the highest.+ualit work I can. Sometimes i! I0m not care!ul, thought, I can go a bit overboard. I0ve learned that it0s not alwa s possible or even practical to tr and per!ect our work.sometimes ou have to decide what0s important and ignore the rest in order to be productive. It0s a +uestion o! trade.o!!s. I also pa a lot o! attention to pacing m work, so that I don0t get too caught up in per!ecting ever last detail." Why weren t your grades better? 3t4s likely that if you4ve made it to the interview stage! you fulfill the basic criteria for the position! including the education requirements. The recruiter is probably trying to (udge here how well the candidate handles adversity. 3t4s important not to get defensive or to place blame. 3nstead! try to put a positive spin on the question-for e"ample! by concentrating on what you learned and the e"tra effort you put in! rather than on the grades you received. "School was a wonder!ul e&perience !or me. I reall en"o ed learning new ideas, I studied consistentl , and I was attentive in class. 'ut I never believed in cramming be!ore the night o! an e&am "ust to get a higher grade or sta ing up all night to !inish a term paper. I reall believe I learned "ust as much as man students who went !or the grades." Was there a course that you found #articularly challenging? The interviewer will want to see how well you respond to difficult situations. 5emonstrate that you won4t fold in the face of difficulty! and that you4re willing to put in the e"tra effort to meet a challenge. "Initiall I was completel overwhelmed b the introductor chemistr course that I took last ear. 8o matter how hard I studied, I seemed to be getting nowhere. I !ailed the !irst three +ui,,es. So I tried a new approach. Instead o! "ust stud ing b m sel!, I asked a !riend who0s a chemistr ma"or to help me with m studies. I also began to seek help !rom the pro!essor a!ter class. -nd I !ound that more time I spent in the lab was critical. I ended up with a '.plus in the course and thought I achieved a solid understanding o! the material. )ore than that, I learned

that tackling a new !ield o! stud sometimes re+uires a new approach, not "ust hard work, and that the help o! others can be crucial/ Why didn t you #artici#ate more in e'tracurricular activities? The interviewer may be worried that if you don4t have many outside interests! you may eventually suffer from burnout. 2mployers like candidates who are well rounded and have interests outside of work. 3f you didn4t participate in formal e"tracurricular activities in college! you still may want to talk about some of your interests! such as reading or e"ercising! that you may have a passion for running even if you weren4t on the college track team. "I wanted to give as much e!!ort as possible to m studies. I came !rom a high school in a ver small town, where I received a lot o! -0s, but this didn0t prepare me well !or college. So I studied hard. I have, however, !ound time to e&plore the cit and make new !riends, and I do sociali,e !ormall on the weekends."

=uestions .sked By 2mployers 0hat are your long range and short range goals and ob(ectives! when and why did you establish these goals and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them? 0hat specific goals! other than those related to your occupation! have you established for yourself? 0hat do you see yourself doing five years from now? 0hat do you e"pect to be earning in five years? 0hat do you really want to do in life? 0hat are the most important rewards you e"pect in your business career? 0hy did you choose the career for which you are preparing? 0hich is more important to you! the money or type of (ob? 0hat do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses? *ow would you describe yourself?

*ow do you think a friend or professor who knows you would describe you? 0hat motivates you to put forth your greatest efforts? *ow has your college e"perience prepared you for a business career? 0hy should 3 hire you? 0hat qualifications do you have that make you think that you will be successful in business? *ow do you determine or evaluate success? 0hat do you think it takes to be successful in a company like ours? 3n what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company? 0hat qualities should a successful manager possess? 5escribe the relationship that should e"ist between a supervisor and those reporting to him or her. 0hat two to three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? 0hy? 5escribe your most rewarding college e"perience. 3f you were hiring a graduate for this position! what qualities would you look for? 0hy did you select your college or university? 0hat led you to choose your field of ma(or study? 0hat college sub(ects did you like best? 0hy? ;east? 0hy? 3f you could do so! how would you plan your academic study differently? 0hy? 0hat changes would you make in your college or university? 0hy? 5o you have plans for continued study? .n advanced degree? 5o you think that your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement? 0hat have you learned from participation in e"tra-curricular activities?

3n what kind of work environment are you most comfortable? *ow do you work under pressure? 3n what part-time or summer (obs have you been most interested in? 0hy? *ow would you describe the ideal (ob for you following graduation? 0hy did you decide to seek a position with this company? 0hat do you know about our company? 0hat two or three things are most important to you in a (ob? .re you seeking employment in a company of a certain si&e? 0hy? 0hat criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work? .re you willing to travel? 5o you have a geographical preference? 0hy? 0ill you relocate? 5oes relocation bother you? .re you willing to spend at least si" months as a trainee? 0hy do you think you might like to live in the community in which our company is located? 0hat ma(or problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it? 0hat have you learned from your mistakes? 0hat were your ma(or courses of study in school? 0hy did you choose those courses? 0hat was the most important thing you learned in school? 0hy did you decide to go to this +niversity? 5o you plan to finish your college degree while you are working? 5id school meet your e"pectations? *ow did you pay for your college education?

To what e"tent do your grades reflect how much you learned? 0hat were your ma(or responsibilities at your last (ob? .t the one before that? 0hich of your previous (obs did you like Aor dislikeB most? 0hy? 0hat was the most rewarding e"perience at work? 0hat do you find most satisfying in a (ob? 0hat was your single most important accomplishment for the company in your last (ob? 0hy did you leave your last (ob? 0hy do you want to change (obs? 0hat was the toughest problem you had to solve? *ow did you solve it? 0hy do you want to work for this company? This (ob means you will have to relocate6 what problems do you foresee! if any? This (ob has a lot of travel6 how will you handle that? .fter reading a description of the (ob! how do you see yourself fitting in with this (ob? 0hat skills did you learn at your last (ob that you can use here? 0hy do you want to work for our company? *ow do you think your education will help you on this (ob? 0hat would you do if you were fired in two years? 3f you went to work for us today! what (ob would you like to hold in three years? *ow long do you plan on staying with us? 0hat kinds of additional education! formal or informal! do you think you need to meet your career goals? 0hat do you know about our company? 0hy did you choose our company? 0hat are your career goals?

0here do you e"pect to be in your career within five years? 0hat are your educational goals? 0hat future training do you plan in connection with your career goals? 0hat are your lifetime goals? 0hat do you know about the position you are interviewing for? 0hat skills! e"perience! and training do you have that makes you qualified for this (ob? 0hat other positions have you had that qualify you for this position? 0hat have you contributed to your past employers that saved the company time! money! or enhanced its image? *ow many promotions did you receive at your last or present company? 0hy were you given these promotions at your present or last company? *ow many raises were given at your last position? 0hy were you given them? 0hat did you learn in your last three positions? 0hy do you want to change careers? *ave you had any supervisory or administrative e"perience? lease tell me more about it. 0hat management style do you prefer? *ow are your people-management skills? Can you give me one or two e"amples? *ow well do you communicate in writing and orally? 1ive me some e"amples. Can you meet deadlines? 3f so! give me an e"ample. 1ive me an e"ample of a decision you made that benefited your company. 0hat motivates you? *ow do you best motivate others?

0hat clubs do you belong to? 0hat volunteer work do you do or have you done in the past? 0hat awards or honors have you received? 0hat are your hobbies? 0hat do you do in your spare time? 0hat are your salary requirements? *ave you ever done consulting work? 3f so! why and for whom? *ave you written any articles for a professional (ournal! maga&ine! or newspaper? 0hat civic organi&ations do you belong to? 0hat professional associations do you belong to? 0hat ma(or strength do you feel you have that would make you a great AManager! /ales ,epresentative! .ccountant! .nalyst! etcB? 5escribe a situation where your work or an idea was critici&ed. *ave you done the best work you are capable of doing? 0hat problems do you have getting along with others? 34m not sure you4re suitable for the (ob! what do you think? Tell me about something you are not proud of. 0hat are some of the things your supervisor did that you disliked? 0hat aspects of your (ob do you consider most crucial? 0hat is your energy level like? 5escribe a typical day. 0hy do you want to work here? 0hat kind of e"perience do you have for this (ob?

.re you willing to go where the company sends you? 0hat did you like<dislike about your last (ob? 0hat is the least relevant (ob you have held? 0hat would you like to be doing five years from now? 0hat are your biggest accomplishments? *ow do you organi&e and plan for ma(or pro(ects? 0hat is your greatest strength? 0hat are your outstanding qualities? 0hat interests you most about this (ob? 0hat can you do for us that someone else can4t do? 5escribe a difficult problem you have had to deal with. 0hat would your references say about you? Can we check your references? 0hat was the last book you read Aor movie you sawB? *ow did it affect you? *ow do you handle tension? *ow long have you been looking for a position? *ave you ever been fired? *ow does this (ob compare with others you have applied for? *ow do you take direction? ,ate yourself on a scale of one to ten. 0hat kinds of things do you worry about? 0hat is the most difficult situation you have faced?

0hat are some of the things that bother you? 0hat have you done that shows initiative? *ow interested are you in sports? 5o you prefer working with others or alone? 2"plain your role as a group<team leader. *ow would you define a conducive work atmosphere? 5efine cooperation. 0hat difficulties do you have tolerating people with different backgrounds and interests from yours? 3n hindsight! what have you done that was a little harebrained? 0hat would you do when you have a decision to make and no procedure e"ists? 0hat kinds of decisions are most difficult for you? Tell me about the problems you have had living within your means. 0hat area of your skills<professional development do you want to improve at this time? .re you willing to take calculated risks when necessary? /ee this pen 3 am holding! sell it to me. 0hat is the worst thing you have heard about our company? *ow do you handle re(ection? Tell me about a time when you put your foot in your mouth. 0hat interests you least about this (ob? 0hat do you feel is a satisfactory attendance record? 0hat are some of the things you find difficult to do? 0hy do you feel that way?

0hat kind of people do you like to work with? 0hat kind of people do you find it difficult to work with? *ow have you successfully worked with this difficult type of person? *ow would you evaluate me as an interviewer? 0e have tried to hire people from your ma(or before! and they never seem to work out. 0hat makes you different? 5o you like routine tasks<regular hours? 0hat have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work? 0hat do you think determines progress in a good company? 5o you think grades should be considered by first employers? 0hy do you think you would like this type of work? 0hat would your ideal career position be? 5o you consider yourself a leader! and if so! give me some e"amples of your leadership abilities? 5o you consider yourself a better manager or a better implementer? 0hat are your most significant achievements? *ave you had any international e"perience? 5o you speak or write in any foreign language? 0hat can you offer us? *ave you ever fired employees! and if so! how did you handle terminations? 0hat do you feel is the most difficult responsibility that a manager<e"ecutive must perform? 0hat is your definition of success and according to this definition! how successful have you been in your career? 0hat are your long and short range plans?

0hat were your favorite courses in school? 0ho were your favorite professors and why? 5id you prepare your own resume? *ow long have you been engaged in your (ob search? *ave you had any specific offers? 0hy haven4t you found a position before now? 0hat do you know about this company! and where did you find this information? *ow do you spend your time when you are not working? 3f you could begin your career over again! what would you do differently? *ow much do you think this position is worth? 0hat is the hardest (ob you have ever performed? 5o you ob(ect to taking psychological tests? 0hat contributions do you think that you could make to this company? You seem overqualified for this position! what do you think?

Additional Questions *ou 0ay be As$ed #ork Histor BuestionsA 3 noticed that you were working for Ayour last (ob was withB CCCC. 0hy did you decide to work there? 0hat e"actly do AdidB you do there? 0hat do AdidB you like about that (ob and company? 0hat do AdidB you not like? *ow do AdidB you get along with your supervisor there? *ow do you think he or she would rate you?

0ould he or she recommend you for another (ob? 0hat qualities do you look for in a supervisor? 0hat type of people do you like to work with? Tell me about your successes in that (ob. 0as your work ever critici&ed? 3f so! in what way? 0hat did you do to improve? 0hat kind of setting do you like to work in quiet or noisy? .lone or with others? 3n doing your (ob! do you think it4s more important to finish quickly or do the work e"actly right?

Education BuestionsA 3 see you went to CCCCCCCCC. 0hy did you pick that school? 0ould you go there again? 3f not! why? 0here would you go instead? 0hat do you feel were the most significant things you got out of going there? *ow did you happen to ma(or in CCCCCCCCC? 0ould you choose the same curriculum again? 3f not! what would you choose instead? 3n what sub(ects did you do best? 0hat sub(ects gave you the most trouble? 0hat was your overall average for class standings? 5id you have any part-time (obs while you were going to school? *ow will your degree help you succeed in our company? 0hy aren4t your grades higher?

Sel!.Evaluation BuestionsA *ow do you feel you can contribute to this company?

0hat do you hope to gain from working here? 0hat do you feel are your outstanding qualities? 0hen you analy&e yourself in relation to work and other people! do you find areas that need improvement? 3f so! how would you go about it? 0hat are your short and long range career ob(ectives? 0hy do you want to change (obs? 0hat will your last supervisor tell me are your two strongest<weakest areas? Tell me about a time when you had to delay finishing a task because you didn4t have enough information to come to a good decision. 5escribe the best supervisor you4ve ever had. 0hat do you really want to do in life? *ave you ever hired or fired anyone? *ow would you describe yourself? 0ould you like to have your boss4s (ob? 5escribe the kind of people that annoy you most. 0hat type of people do you like working with? 0hat interests you about this position? 1ive an e"ample of a time when you were able to effectively communicate with another person even though that person may have disliked you? 0hy do you want to work here? 1ive an e"ample of a time when you were able to build motivation in your co-workers or those you supervised. 0hy should 3 hire you rather than someone else for this position? *ow do you feel about your career progress to date? 1ive an e"ample of a problem you had at work and tell me how you solved it.

*ow has your past e"perience trained you for this career? 0hat did you do on your last (ob in order to help build teamwork? 0hat did you dislike<like about your last (ob? 0hat are two things you wish to avoid in your ne"t (ob? 5escribe an important goal that you4ve set in the past! and tell me about your success in reaching it. 0hat kinds of decisions are hard for you? 1ive an e"ample of a time when you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision. 5escribe the most significant written report<presentation that you had to complete. Tell me some specific techniques you used on your last (ob in order to improve your organi&ational and time management skills. 0hat is the most creative work-related pro(ect you4ve been involved in? *ow do you work under pressure? Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a (ob done. 0hat have you learned from your mistakes? 5escribe a time on any (ob when you4ve confronted problems<stresses that tested your coping skills. 1ive me an e"ample of a specific occasion when you conformed to a policy that you didn4t agree with. 0hat motivates you in a (ob and in personal life? 0hat role do you take in a group situation? 1ive e"amples. 1ive an e"ample of how you performed in a team situation. 0hat are the biggest issues facing our industry and company today? 0hat would you do to improve our company4s position?

0hat research have you done on our firm and our industry? .re you results oriented? 1ive some e"amples. *ow have you developed your interpersonal skills? .re they good? 5escribe your problem solving skills. 1ive me an e"ample of a comple" problem you solved. 1ive me an e"ample of when you have failed and how you responded. Can you work under pressure? 1ive an e"ample. 0hat type of salary are you worth and why? 0hat are the five biggest accomplishments of your life? *ow long would it take you to make a contribution to our company? 3f you could change something in the course of your life! what would you change? *ow would you rate yourself as a manager? .s a worker? 0hat were the development steps on your last performance appraisal? 0hat new goals have you set for yourself? 0hy did you choose these? 0hat did you think of your last boss? 0hat did your subordinates think of you? 0hy haven4t you obtained or accepted a (ob so far? 0hat features of your previous (obs did you like and dislike? 5escribe your ideal picture of success. 0hat interests you most about our position? 0hat was the last book you read? 0hat did you do on your last vacation?

0ouldn4t you be better off in a bigger AsmallerB organi&ation? .re you a leader? 1ive e"amples. 5escribe your personality. *ow have you increased profits in your past (obs? 0hat qualities do you look for in hiring people? 'or this (ob? 5escribe the ideal employee. *ow have you improved yourself recently? 0hat were your responsibilities in your campus activities? 5escribe your study habits. *ow do you change your style to work with people at all levels! from Dice residents to /ecretaries? 0hat other firms are you talking to and why? *ow would you decide between (ob offers from us and one of our competitors? 0hat have you learned from your past (obs? 0hat skills do you bring to us and how can you put them to work? 5escribe the time period and circumstances when you became self-supporting. 5escribe a goal you have set in the past and how successful have you been in working towards its accomplishment. 5escribe a time when you were under pressure to fulfill a commitment you made to do something in spite of difficulties. 5escribe a situation in which one of your decisions was challenged in a group. *ow did you react? 0ere you able to achieve the results you wanted? 5escribe a time when you had to be persuasive in getting your ideas across.

1ive me a question that you4ve never heard a recruiter ask you and you want to hear. 5escribe a situation in which you found yourself to be an analytical and thorough problem solver! and by solving the problem achieved good results. 5escribe when you used facts<figures to support your story to obtain a significant accomplishment in an important matter. 3t4s hard to get a new idea accepted by others. 5escribe when you have had to do this. 0hat are some things about yourself that you would like to improve? 3n order to be effective as a negotiator! it4s important to not only be able to analy&e your competition! but also be able to compromise. 5escribe an e"perience in negotiating that reflects your ability to compromise. 5escribe steps you have taken to address problem areas in some important matter. 0hat are two or three things you would still like to learn in this field? 0hat skills do you rely on most in your everyday work? 0hat kind of training do you feel you would benefit from? *ow much supervision do you normally receive? refer? 0hat kind of things come most naturally to you? 5escribe your biggest success. *ow do you feel about working in an unstructured environment? 0hy? 0hat do you like most about your present (ob? 0hat do you like least about it? 0hat kinds of things give you the greatest satisfaction in your work? ;east satisfaction? 0hat steps have you taken in the last few years to develop your skills? 3n your opinion! what makes you different from the other applicants? 0hat have been the most significant accomplishments in your life so far? 0hat sort of decisions are easy for you to make? 0hat sort of decisions are difficult for you to make? 3f we hire you for this (ob! what would we need to do to bring you up to speed?

0hat has been your biggest frustration? 3f 3 spoke to a friend! what characteristics of yours would he or she like to see you change? To what e"tent would you say that your last (ob was a learning e"perience? 0hy? 0hat changes have you dealt with in your current position? 5escribe the risks that you have taken in your last (ob! and tell me the outcome of these risks.