Dan Johnston from PPR Career shared the following list of frequently asked questions on a job interview, as well as advice on what to be prepared for.
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Answer in about two minutes. Avoid details, don’t ramble. Touch on these four areas:
Prepare in advance using this formula:
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Yes. Be prepared with two or three extra copies. Do not offer them unless you’re asked for one. |
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Research the target company before the interview. Basic research is the only way to prepare for this question. Do your homework, and you’ll score big on this question. Talk about products, services, history and people, especially any friends that work there. “But I would love to know more, particularly from your point of view. Do we have time to cover that now? |
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Pre-interview research and PPR Career will help you here. Try to cite experience relevant to the company’s concerns. Also, try answering this questions with a question: “Are you looking for overall experience or experience in some specific area of special interest to you?” Let the interviewer’s response guide your answer. |
(Is this person mature and self aware?) |
Be prepared to define success, and then respond (consistent record of responsibility) |
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Give one or two accomplishment statements |
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Refer to positive aspects of the job, advancement opportunities, and what you learned. |
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Give only one, and tell how you have corrected or plan to correct your work. |
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Be consistent with what you think the boss would say. Position the weakness in a positive way (refer to #12) |
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Keep your answer short and relevant to the job and the organization’s culture. |
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Present three. Relate them to that particular company and job opening. |
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Don’t say you have one, but give one that is really a “positive in disguise.” I am sometimes impatient and do to much work myself when we are working against tight deadlines.” Or “I compliment and praise my staff, but feel I can improve.” |
(Is the person motivated? What are his/her values, attitudes? Is there a fit?) |
Emphasize your best and favorite subjects. If grades were average, talk about leadership or jobs you took to finance your education. Talk about extra-curricular activities (clubs, sports, volunteer work) |
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Refer to your satisfiers for likes. Be careful with dislikes, give only one (if any) and make it brief. Refuse to answer negatively. Respond that you “like everything about my current position and have acquired and developed a great many skills, but I’m now ready for a new set of challenges and greater responsibilities.” |
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Flip this one over. Despite the question, the employer isn’t really interested in what you are looking for. He’s interested in what he is looking for. Address his interests, rather than yours. Use words like “contribute,” “enhance,” “improve,” and “team environment.” Fit your answer to their needs Relate your preferences and satisfiers/dissatisfiers to the job opening. |
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“Not long, because of my experience, transferable skills and ability to learn.” |
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“As long as I feel that I’m contributing, and that my contribution is recognized. I’m looking to make a long term commitment.” |
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If you want to supervise, say so, and be enthusiastic. |
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“To grow and develop professionally, to help others develop, to build a team and to share what I have learned.” |
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“Getting things planned and done through others and dealing with different personalities.” Show how you have done this in the past. |
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Let’s assume the interviewer has a point here. That doesn’t mean you have to agree with the negative terms of the question. Answer: “What I like about my present position is that it’s both stable and challenging. But it’s true that I’ve grown about as much as I can in my current position. (This response also turns the issue of salary on its head, transforming it from What more can I get? to What more can I offer?) |
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Never answer with negative reasons, even if they are true. However, some companies have financial problems which may preclude you from staying with them. Frame your answer positively by answering why you want to move to the target company instead of why you left or want to leave your most recent job. For example, instead of answering, “I don’t get enough challenges at [company],” respond, “I am eager to take on more challenges, and I believe I will find them at [hiring company]. ”I’m not unhappy (at my present employer). However, this opportunity seems to be particularly interesting and I am interested in pursuing it further. Never personalize or be negative. Keep it short, give a “group” answer (e.g. our office is closing, the whole organization is being reduced in size). Stick to one response; don’t change answers during the interview. When applicable; best response is: I was not on the market when PPR Career contacted me and explained what you are doing, it peaked my interest. |
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Team work is the key. |
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Be positive. Refer to the valuable experience you have gained. Don’t mention negatives. |
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Be aware of what the job requires and position your answer in that context. In many cases it would be both. |
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Use this question as a chance to show that you are a team player: “The only people I have trouble with are those who aren’t team players, who just don’t perform, who complain constantly, and who fail to respond to any efforts to motivate them.” The interviewer is expecting a response focused on personality and personal dislikes. Surprise her by delivering an answer that reflects company values. |
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Refer to your strengths and skills. |
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If you like him or her, say so and tell why. If you don’t like him or her, find something positive to say. |
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Explain how this size or type of company works well for you, using examples from the past if possible. |
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Refer to job preferences. Say that this job and this company are very close to what best suits you. |
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You feel you can help achieve the companies objectives, especially in the short run. You like what you’ve learned about the company, its policies, goals and management: “I’ve researched the company and people tell me it’s a good place to work.” |
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Think this through. Your answer should be compatible with accepted norms. |
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Talk about formal courses and training programs. |
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Again, choose your words carefully. Don’t be negative. Say that no company is perfect, it had both strengths and weaknesses. |
(Does the person match job and criteria?)
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“As many hours as it takes to get the job done.” |
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Relate past success in accomplishing the objectives which are similar to those of the prospective employer. |
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Give examples from accomplishments. |
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Draw from your successes. Yes, my people like and respect me personally and professionally. They often comment on how much they learn and develop under my supervision. |
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If you haven’t, say so, but add that you could do it, if necessary. |
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Refer to accomplishments. |
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Refer to accomplishments. If you haven’t had budget responsibility, say so, but refer to an accomplishment that demonstrates the same skill. |
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Remember, you’re talking to a prospective employer, not your best friend. Don’t dredge up a catastrophe that resulted in a personal or corporate failure. Be ready for this question by thinking of a story that has a happy ending – happy for you and your company. Never digress into personal or family difficulties, and don’t talk about problems you’ve had with supervisors or peers. You might discuss a difficult situation with a subordinate, provided that the issues were resolved inventively and to everyone’s satisfaction. |
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Refer to accomplishments. Everyone has had a few of these pressure situations in a career. Behavior-related questions aim at assessing a candidate’s character, attitude, and personality traits by asking for an account of how the candidate handled certain challenging situations. Plan for such questions by making a list of the desirable traits relevant to the needs of the industry or prospective employer and by preparing some job-related stories about your experience that demonstrate a range of those traits and habits of conduct. Before answering the questions, listen carefully and ask any clarifying questions you think necessary. Tell your story and conclude by explaining what you intended your story to illustrate. Finally, ask for feedback: “Does this tell you what you need to know?” |
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Rejection is part of business. People don’t always buy what you sell. The tick here is to separate rejection of your product from rejection of yourself: “I see rejection as an opportunity. I learn from it. When a customer takes a pass, I ask him what we could do to the product, price or service to make it possible for him to say yes. Don’t get me wrong: You’ve got to makes sales. But rejection is valuable, too. It’s a good teacher.” |
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Refer to accomplishments |
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Refer to accomplishments. |
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Draw examples from accomplishments. |
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Talk first about doing the job for which you are applying. Your career goals should mesh with the hiring company goals. |
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Just say you wish to exceed objectives so well that you will be on a promotable track. |
(How does the person handle stress? What is their confidence level?) |
Refer back to question #48 on goals. |
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This may sound suspicious, negative, or just plain harsh. Actually, it’s a call for help. The employer wants you to help him/her hire you. Keep your response brief. Recap any job requirements the interviewer may have mentioned earlier in the interview, then, point by point, match your skills, abilities and qualifications to those items. Relate a past experience which represents success in achieving objectives which may be similar to those of the prospective employer. |
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“A strong company needs a strong person.” An employer will get faster return on investment because you have more experience than required. |
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“Finding the right job takes time. I’m not looking for just any job.” |
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No need to be self-revealing. “Hindsight is 20/20; everyone would make some changes, but I’ve learned and grown from all my decisions.” |
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Be careful. If you don’t know the market value, return the question by saying that you would expect a fair salary based on the job responsibilities, your experience and skills and the market value of the job. Express your interest in the job because it fits your career goals – Receptive to a reasonable and competitive offer – don’t talk $’s. It’s always best to put off discussing salary and let PPR Career handle that. ANSWER: I’m open to a competitive offer. I’d prefer to discuss the opportunity and allow my recruiter to handle any salary questions. |
11 Comments on 55 most frequently asked interview questions
can we run the progs without including header files
1)copying all the contents of relevant header files then what about library linking: auto?
or like pascal all in one default standard header and library file?
or by means of macros
2nd thing can we run programs without operating system ? like on 8085 kit basically what happens about routines or memory management overheads
This is the best sight for inteview advice i have been on all day. The information is very precise, and exactly what i needed.
These are a good set of basis How to’s. I am new to the Job Circuit. 10 years in the military, those things don’t tend to help you hunt for a job. So the questions and answers are a great source of knowledge for those of us just getting out there.
this is just brilliant !!!!!! Good work Dan…..i have given interviews before and even interviwed people in the past…and trust me some of these questions have often given me goosebumps. Even when i knew what i wanted to say..i just din”t know how to put it across to the interviewer. The questions do sound easy but it really needs some brains to answer them correctly.These faq’s would really do a lot of good to those applying for managerial jobs, who have experience but don’t really know how to show it.
Thanks
This site is an excellent source to face interviews in today’s scenario, especially with the question and answer type mode, because it makes us feel so easy to answer in the interviews. It also boosts up and induces confidence to techies who are just getting out there.
Hats off to you Dan! You’ve done a great job providing such details for persons trying to enter the competitive job market. These are the winning 55 questions to help land that dream job.
As Indrani Gorti mentioned “techies”, I myself am not one, however your Q & A is ideal for anyone in any given situation.
Tah,
Nicky
Thanks Dan,
This site is great. I have never thought to look at any sight before an interview. This site is excellent, because all three interviews I have had I have failed due to the lack of knowledge of answering the questions correctly. I really thought that I was leaving a good impression, but all the while I was leaving without the job. I am so glad that I found this site. I have an interview on the October 18, and I am very sure that these are some of the questions that the panel will ask, but now that I know better I will do better, and when I do better I will feel confident with getting the job.
Thanks
Topeka
I am working in a company as a HR manager. So I need this question to ask to the interviewee to explore him more and more. And in other organization as well I am working as a trainer of the students for the interview, preparation for the interview, personality development aptitude development classes.
I hope so that this will help me more and more.
If you can provide me more information regarding my requirements then please send me on the same mail address.
Great insight Dan , the tips are really helpful. will let you know if you qualify for a drink If I getr through tomorrow.and yes god bless
As a senior trainer of IT sector I personally felt the true importance of all these questions and the answer tips and even proposed these questions to my students. They are also benefited highly in their professional life.
Re question 12. No absolutely not! Lame “false negatives” are very tried, and any interviewer worth his salt will see right through it.
Be honest and use a real opportunity for improvement, such as “I can be better at prioritisation and time-management” then say what you’re doing to improve like “I now carry a PDA which has my schedules, tasks, emails and alarms/reminders” etc
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[...] This is a "dirty dozen" set of typical interview questions that Dan Johnston from PPR Career sent us. Refer to the set of answers for details. [...]