INTERVIEWER QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATE

1. How would you describe yourself? Tell me about yourself.
2. Why did you leave your last job?
3. What are your long range and short range goals and objectives?
4. What specific goals other than those related to your occupation,
have you established for yourself for the next ten years?
5. What do you see yourself doing five years from now? Ten years from now?
6. What do you really want to do in life?
7. What are your long range career objectives?
8. How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
9. What are the most important rewards you expect in your career?
10. What do you expect to be earning in five years?
11. Why did you choose this career?
12. Can you explain this gap in your employment history?
13. How well do you work with people? Do you prefer working alone or in teams?
14. How would you evaluate your ability to deal with conflict?
15. Have you ever had difficulty with a supervisor? How did you
resolve the conflict?
16. What’s more important to you -- the work itself or how much you’re
paid for doing it.
17. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
18. How would a good friend describe you?
19. Describe the best job you've ever had.
20. Describe the best supervisor you've ever had.
21. What would your last boss say about your work performance?
22. What motivates you to go the extra mile on a project or job?
23. Why should I hire you?
24. What makes you qualified for this position?
25. What qualifications do you have that make you successful in this career?
26. How do you determine or evaluate success?
27. What do you think it takes to be successful in a company like ours?
28. In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?
29. Do you have any hobbies? What do you do in your spare time?
30. Have you ever been fired or forced to resign?
31. What qualities should a successful manager possess?
32. Do you consider yourself a leader?
33. What are the attributes of a good leader?
34. Describe the workload in your current (or most recent) job.
35. Which is more important: creativity or efficiency? Why?
36. What’s the most recent book you’ve read?
37. Describe the relationship that should exist between the supervisor
and those reporting to him or her?
38. What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
39. Describe the most rewarding experience of your career thus far.
40. If you were hiring a job-seeker for this position, what qualities
would you look for?
41. Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?
42. In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
43. How do you work under pressure?
44. Are you good at delegating tasks?
45. What's one of the hardest decisions you've ever had to make?
46. How well do you adapt to new situations?
47. Why did you decide to seek a position in this company?
48. What can you tell us about our company?
49. What interests you about our products?
50. What do you know about our competitors?
51. What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
52. Are you seeking employment in a company of a certain size? Why?
53. What are your expectations regarding promotions and salary increases?
54. What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work?
55. Do you have a geographic preference? Why?
56. Are you willing to relocate?
57. Are you willing to travel for the job?
58. Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which
our company is located?
59. What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?
60. What have you learned from your mistakes?
61. What have you accomplished that shows your initiative and willingness to work?
62. Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to
successfully convince someone to see things your way.
63. Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation
that demonstrated your coping skills.
64. Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment
and logic in solving a problem.
65. Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to
meet or achieve it.
66. Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills
to influence someone's opinion.
67. Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a
policy with which you did not agree.
68. Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete.
69. Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call
of duty in order to get a job done.
70. Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you
were required to prioritize your tasks.
71. Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision.
72. What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.
73. Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with
another person even when that individual may not have personally liked
you (or vice versa).
74. Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year.
75. Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish and failed.
76. Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.
77. Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a
very upset customer or co-worker.
78. Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
79. Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.
80. Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding
skills to solve a problem.
81. Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.
82. Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and
developed preventive measures.
83. Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision.
84. Please tell me about a time you had to fire a friend.
85. Describe a time when you set your sights too high (or too low).
86. What can you do for us that someone else can't?
87. What do you look for in a job?
88. What skills and qualifications are essential for success in the
position of ______?
89. How long would it take for you to make a meaningful contribution?
90. How does this assignment fit into your overall career plan?
91. Describe your management style.
92. What do you believe is the most difficult part of being a
supervisor of people?
93. Why are you looking for a new career?
94. How would your colleagues describe you?
95. How would your boss describe you?
96. What do you think of your present or past boss?
97. What were the five most significant accomplishments in your last assignment?
98. What were the five most significant accomplishments in your career so far?
99. Can you work well under deadlines or pressure?
100. How much do you expect if we offer you this position?
101. Why do you want to work for us?
102. What other positions are you considering?
103. Have you kept up in your field with additional training?
104. How did you do in school?
105. If you took the job what would you accomplish in the first year?
106. What was wrong with your current or last position?
107. What kind of hours are you used to working or would like to work?
108. Do you have your reference list with you? (Remember don't give it
out unless it is asked for).
109. Can you explain your salary history?
110. What questions didn't I ask that you expected?
111. Do you have any question for me? (See Questions for the
Interviewer that you might want to ask below).
112. What do you want to do with your life?
113. Do you have any actual work experience?
114. How would you describe your ideal job?
115. When did you decide on this career?
116. What goals do you have in your career?
117. How do you plan to achieve these goals?
118. Describe a situation in which you were successful.
119. What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?
120. If you had to live your life over again, what would you change?
121. Would your rather work with information or with people?
122. Are you a goal-oriented person?
123. What major problem have you had to deal with recently?
124. Why did you choose to attend your college?
125. What changes would you make at your college?
126. How has your education prepared you for your career?
127. What were your favorite classes? Why?
128. Do you enjoy doing independent research?
129. Who were your favorite professors? Why?
130. Why is your GPA not higher?
131. Do you have any plans for further education?
132. How much training do you think you'll need to become a productive employee?
133. What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?
134. Why do you want to work in the _____ industry?
135. What do you know about our company?
136. Why are you interested in our company?
137. Do you have any location preferences?
138. How familiar are you with the community that we're located in?
139. Will you relocate? In the future?
140. Are you willing to travel? How much?
141. Is money important to you?
142. How much money do you need to make to be happy?
143. What kind of salary are you looking for?