1. Do you think you are a team player?

You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just say it in a matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point.

2. Tell me about your greatest strength?

Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples
☛ Your ability to prioritize
☛ Your problem-solving skills
☛ Your ability to work under pressure
☛ Your ability to focus on projects
☛ Your professional expertise
☛ Your leadership skills
☛ Your positive attitude

3. Tell me what is your dream job?

Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay genetic and say something like: A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and can not wait to get to work.

4. Tell me what are you looking for in a job?

Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay genetic and say something like: A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and can not wait to get to work.

5. Tell me do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive? and What type of projects will I be able to assist on? Are examples.

6. When have you had the most fun on the job?

Talk about having fun by accomplishing something for the organization.

7. Tell me what was your biggest professional disappointment?

Be sure that you refer to something that was beyond your control. Show acceptance and no negative feelings.

8. Please describe your work ethics?

Emphasize benefits to the organization. Things like, determination to get the job done and work hard but enjoy your work are good.

9. Tell me what position do you prefer on a team working on a project?

Be honest. If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out.

10. When was a time when you helped resolve a dispute between others?

Pick a specific incident. Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you settled.

11. Tell me what qualities do you look for in a boss?

Be generic and positive. Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of high standards. All bosses think they have these traits.

12. Tell me how would you propose to compensate for your lack of experience?

First, if you have experience that the interviewer does not know about, bring that up. Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard working quick learner.

13. Tell me if you think you are overqualified for this position?

Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the position.

14. What would you look for, if you were hiring a person for this job?

Be careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have.

15. Tell me do you have any blind spots?

Trick question. If you know about blind spots, they are no longer blind spots. Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here. Let them do their own discovery on your bad points. Do not hand it to them.

16. Can you tell me what have you learned from mistakes on the job?

Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off.

17. Please describe your management style?

Try to avoid labels. Some of the more common labels, like progressive, salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or descriptions depending on which management expert you listen to. The situational style is safe because it says you will manage according to the situation, instead of one size fits all.

18. Would you put the interests of the organization ahead of your own?

This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. Do not worry about the deep ethical and philosophical implications. Just say yes.

19. Tell me would you be willing to relocate if required?

You should be clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may come up. Do not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is no. This can create a lot of problems later on in your career. Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

20. Tell me how would you know you were successful on this job?

Several ways are good measures:
☛ You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
☛ Your outcomes are a success.
☛ Your boss tell you that you are successful.

21. Can you work overtime, nights, weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

22. What things motivate you to do your best on the job?

This is a personal trait that only you can say but good examples are:
☛ Challenge
☛ Achievement
☛ Recognition

23. Tell me do your skills match this job or another job more closely?

Probably this one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one.

24. What is your ability to work under pressure?

You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for.

25. Tell me what had disappointed you about a job?

Do not get trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can include:
☛ Not enough of a challenge.
☛ You were laid off in a reduction.
☛ Company did not win a contract, which would have given you more responsibility.

26. What was a problem you had with a supervisor?

Biggest trap of all. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss. If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former boss, you may well below the interview right there. Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor.

27. What would your previous supervisor say about your strongest point?

There are numerous good possibilities:
☛ Loyalty
☛ Energy
☛ Positive attitude
☛ Leadership
☛ Team player
☛ Expertise
☛ Initiative
☛ Patience
☛ Hard work
☛ Creativity
☛ Problem solver

28. Tell me what is more important to you the money or the work?

Money is always important but the work is the most important. There is no better answer.

29. Tell me what kind of person would you refuse to work with?

Do not be trivial. It would take disloyalty to the organization, violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

30. Why do you think you would do well at this job?

Give several reasons and include skills, experience and interest.

31. Tell me how long would you expect to work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good. Something like this should work. I would like it to be a long time or as long as we both feel I am doing a good job.

32. How would you be an asset to this organization?

You should be anxious for this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

33. Tell me what irritates you about colleagues?

This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. A short statement that you seem to get along with folks is great.

34. What suggestion you have made before?

Have a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered successful. One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

35. Tell me why should we hire you?

Point out how your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates to make a comparison.