Here are a list of interview questions that you will have wanted to rehearse and have the answers to prior to your interview. At least with this preparation you might not be taken aback with some of the questions that might be posed. Answering these questions prior to the interview will entail thinking long and hard about what you want to get across to the interviewer.
The ultimate goal is to be able to convince the interviewer, or panel of interviewers that you are not only suited for that particular position but that you would be an asset to the company. In all these interview questions you want to appear strong, motivated, driven, with not only individual working capabilities but abilities for team work or group project. Not only are the interviewers interested in your skills but also in your personal interaction with people on a casual and professional basis.
In an interview how does one handle the question “Tell us about yourself?”.
This is going to be one of the most asked interview questions. It is so alluring to interviewers since it is so open ended and they want to see where you are going to take it. Be honest; do not ramble on and on. You want the answer to reflect your sense of self not only on a professional business level, but also on a personal one without getting too personal and sappy.
You want to mention what your aspirations are, your motivations, your skills, your strengths. Since this probably would be one of the first initial interview questions that they ask or one of the last ones you want to either commence and end with a response which will leave the interviewer with a positive image of you.
Interview Questions determining your Competence
- What skills do you think you have gained from your schooling and past work experience?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses? – suggestion- although you might want to list off some weaknesses, frame it so they only make up a minute part of your answer and possibly arrange it so as to say it would not affect your work in this particular position or that you were able to turn into a strength.
- How do you interact with people? Do you prefer working independently or in a group environment?
- Have you ever had to work with someone that did not share your same work style or work ethic? How did you get around that?
- Have you ever had difficulty finishing a task or a project? Why and what did you do to eventually get it done?
- Describe your contribution to a group effort that you may have participated in?
- Describe your leadership skills?
Interview Questions concerning your education
- What is/was your major?
- Why did you choose it?
- How do you feel it has prepared you to enter the workforce?
- Do you feel that your GPA is reflective of your capabilities?
- Has your coursework helped you in any way for this type of position and how so?
- Tell us about your study and work skills.
Interview Questions on your participation in extracurricular organizations and your university/college experience.
- Have you been involved in any extracurricular or volunteer activities while at university or college?
- How would you describe your contribution to those activities? Did you run into any difficulties?
- Do you find that any of the skills gained in these activities could be transferable to your professional life?
- Have you had any experiences in university that have changed you as a person?
Interview Questions on your knowledge of the industry and company you are interviewing with
- Why are you interested in our company?
- How do you see your qualifications and skills contributing to this company?
- What interests or entices you about this position that you are interviewing for?
- Why do you feel that you are right for this position?
- What is it that interests you about this industry?
Even industry specific questions may be asked on a comparative note Would you be able to explain the similarities and differences between an investment bank and a merchant bank or between an advertising firm or a media buying company?
Interview Questions concerning your past Work Experience History - Have you worked in the past? Where? What was your position and what did you accomplish there?
- Do you find that you gained any skills that you may apply to your new job?
- What was the most difficult project you worked on? How did you go about accomplishing it?
- Did you run into any problems with your co-workers? If so what did you do to remedy the situation?
Interview Questions on Remuneration
- What salary do you expect from this position?
- What factors besides salary are important in making up your mind on a position within different companies?
Interview Questions of a more Personal Nature
- Describe yourself to us? Tell us about yourself?
- What are your goals in life? Do you feel you are on your way to achieving them?
- What personal challenges have you had to face and how did you react and deal with them?
Interview Questions about your future
- What are your aspirations?
- Where do you see yourself in a few years (on a professional level)?
- How would you see you evolution in this type of industry?