How to answer the tough interview questions I

How to Answer the Tough Interview Questions Part I(1-50)
Introduction

When you walk into an interview for a job you
will face some Questions that can be really daunting
unless you are prepared. You can prepare by:

1 – Reading the list of questions and possible answers shown below.
2 – Read all the questions a second time and this
time substitute the answers that fit your situation.
3 – Repeat reading the questions and YOUR answers
4 – Find a friend or family member who can “role play”
as the interviewer and have them ask the questions
and you answer them. You may want to tape record the
session to hear how you sound.
5 – You and your “interviewer” should then critique
the answers to be sure they are natural and credible

If you do this several times you should be ready for the
real interview. By answering these questions you will
erase the “mystery of the unknown” that breeds fear in
most people. The boost your confidence will show at the
Interview.
If you do this well you will probably run rings around your
competion for the job who may be sputtering and hesitating
when questioned while you are spitting out the answers
with ease. About 100 questions (and potential answers) are
shown below”

Interview question (and answer) List

Q1 – Can you tell me a little about yourself?

This very commonly asked question is like an opener
to get the interview rolling. Many people like to talk about
themselves, and after all this question really gets at the
purpose of an interview, which is to get information, The
employer wants to learn as much as he can about you. He hopes
to learn more about your background. It also gives the
interviewer a chance to watch you in action, watch your
body signals, poise, etc.

This is your golden opportunity to sell your self by
telling about your abilities, past accomplishments,
future aspirations, etc. It also gives you the opportunity
to tell him what contributions you think you can make to
his company base on what you have done in the past. It also
gives you some measure of control over the interview. At this
point you may want to answer some of the questions you
anticipate he may ask, rather than sit back and wait for
him to ask them. H should appreciate this approach because
it “cuts to the chase” and should save time for both of you.
It also gives you the chance to display your confidence in
yourself, your way with words, your assertiveness, etc.

Think of an interview as a sales call where you are the
salesperson (and the product) and he is the potential
customer. In asking this question he has just invited
you to tell him about the product (you). To a salesperson
this is like a dream come true, to have the customer
asking YOU about the product. Be prepared for this question
or some variation as it is almost 100% certain you will get it.

Q2 – Why do you want to work for our company?

This question gives you the opportunity to show the employer
that you have done your homework. Using the information you
have gathered about this company, you can relate it to what
you have done and use this to tell of areas where you can help
this company in particular. Be prepared for this one. It has
been said that one of the ways to get promoted is to act like
you already have the job you are trying to be promoted into.
You could apply this to getting a job also. Find out as much
as you can about the company before the interview, relate to
what you have done, then imagine yourself already working for
the company you are interviewing.

Q3 – What do you know about our company?

As with q2 this question gives you the opportunity to
demonstrate that you have done your homework and so know what
their company does, what their products are, etc. Although this
question is phrased differently, you can still tell the
interviewer you know a lot about their company, and also that
you know how your experience relates to what they do. You can
now launch into what contributions you think you can make to
the company.

Q4 – What position are you after?

You should have this on the tip of your tongue. If you answered
and ad with a position title, it is easy. If you don’t have the
information, you can use this opportunity to question your
interviewer as to what the position is (and also any similar
positions that may be open). One book you might research in
advance is the Dictionary of Occupational Titles from the US
Government Printing Office.

Q5 – What do you want to be doing 5 years from now?

Answering this question gives you the opportunity to state your
goals, career milestones, etc. that you have, hopefully, thought
through and put down on paper. If you haven’t done this, DO it
because this is another “favorite” question asked by most
interviewers. Vague answers like “I hadn’t really thought about
it” will be scored against you, and lessen your chances for
getting a job offer. A well thought out answer will certainly
help you.

Q6 – What have been your outstanding achievements in
school and on the job?

These achievements should have been included in brief form in
your resume’, but here you have the chance to elaborate and
enlarge these with more detail. For instance if you came up
with and implemented a change that saved a previous employer
X dollars per month, you can go into detail about how you
thought of it, how you presented the suggestion, how it was
implemented, and how much the company’s profits were increased.
Make the numbers very specific as specific numbers are more
believable than generalized round numbers. This question
allows you to build up your image in the interviewer’s mind.

Q7 – What is your greatest strength?

A good answer to this question will undoubtedly help your
chances of a job offer. This is another opportunity to tell
your prospective employer what you do best. This is not the
time to be modest, but rather you should go into detail. Here
again, be as specific as you can and be prepared to back up what
you say with evidence of your strength. i.e. – If you had the
best sales record of anyone in the company in your district,
lay that out along with any supporting numbers. If you sold 35%
of all that was sold in your district and the closest anyone
else in the department came was 15%, lay it out. This approach
(using specifics) is much more convincing than simply saying
you were the best salesperson in your district.

Q8 – What is your greatest weakness?

This question is tricky to handle but obviously you should
NOT start spouting out all your bad points ( we all have a few).
Rather, you should turn the question around on the interviewer,
so that your greatest weakness is really not a weakness at all,
but is really a strength. i.e. – You could say your greatest
weakness is that you are too talkative, but that in most cases
this really helps you because it helps you communicate better,
and you usually learn more this way than you would if you were
quiet all the time. Another example answer – “I’m afraid I am
a workaholic” While this might seem like a weakness because of
all the material that’s been written about this “disease”. On
the contrary, most employers look at someone who is a “workaholic”
as one who is “dedicated to their job”, so calling yourself a
workaholic (if it is really true) may actually be an advantage.
Many great musicians, for example have become great by spending
almost all their waking hours practicing, and who can say this
is really bad?

In general, there are many ways of answering this tricky question,
but the key here is advance preparation. Be ready for it!

Q9 – Do you plan to make this job your career?

While you might be tempted to give a cynical or sarcastic answer
like ” Yes, I like delivering mail to all the offices here and
want to do it for the rest of my life” Don’t do it. The best
answer to this question is that you feel this is a good
starting point and it will give you the experience you need to
enhance your skills so that after a certain period of time you
will be in a position to handle a more responsible job. This kind
of an answer should indicate that you are ambitious and hope to
advance with the company. Again, this is a common question and
you should be prepared in advance to answer it.

Q10 – Why should I hire you?

Answer this one with all the attributes, accomplishments, etc. that
will make you the best choice for this job. Tell them that you like
this kind of work, or that you want to help contribute to your new
employers success. If you have done something in the past that
specifically relates to what they do, tell them what that was in
detail, then tell them you can do the same for them. The absolute
WORST answer you could give here is “I don’t know” Don’t do it.
Be prepared and go over what you will say ahead of time on this one.

Q11 – What hours are you available to work?

Best answer is that you are flexible and will work whatever hours
they want you to work. Any other answer will limit your job chances
as most companies expect to schedule their employees to work
whenever they are needed.

Q12 – What minimum salary would you accept?

The answer to this has to be a personal choice but if your think
they are just shopping around for the cheapest person they can hire,
the best answer is that you would like to be paid the salary they
paid the person who last did that job when they first started. If
you are a real go-getter, you may answer that you feel you are more
productive than the average person and then tell them what you will
accept. Another answer is ” if you feel I am qualified for the
job, then make me an offer and I will consider it.

Q13 – Will you work overtime if it is offered?

The only acceptable answer for this one is yes. Any other answer
may spoil your chances.

Q14 – Why are you leaving your present job?

If you are presently employed, the best answer is that I have not
left my present job yet, and I may not, but that it depends on
the opportunity I am offered. Another acceptable answer would be
that my present job has very little room for growth, and that
I am looking for a job with more responsibility, or I want to
broaden my experience, or a similar answer that is positive.

Q15 – Why did you leave your last job?

The answers should run along the same lines as answers to Q14.
The most important thing is to make it a positive answer. A
negative answer such as “I couldn’t get along with my boss”
is about the worst answer you could give.

Q16 – When can you start?

Best answer is immediately if not employed, but if employed,
depending on company policy you should give at least 15-30
days notice. This will allow your present employer some time
to find a replacement.

Q17 – What is your current salary?

This is a matter of record so you must give them the exact truth
on this one.

Q18 – What was your biggest problem with your last job?

This is another question you need to turn from negative to
positive. Example of a good answer – My biggest problem was that
I wanted more responsibility and authority and the job you are
offering looks like just what I was looking for. Or – My present
job is not challenging enough and your offering looks like it is.

Q19 – How do you think you can make a contribution to our
company?

The best answer here is to give examples of some contributions you
have made to your present employer and tell the prospective employer
you can do the same for them. If it is cost reductions, or profit
improvements, as before, use specifics, rather than just general answers.

Q20 – Can you name 2 or 3 of your accomplishments from the
past that gave you the most satisfaction?

Don’t miss this golden opportunity to shine but have the answers on the
tip of your tongue by going over in your advance preparation.

Q21 – Do you work well under pressure?

This is a straightforward question and you should be prepared with
an answer. If you have doubts you can turn the question around and
ask the interviewer exactly what kind of pressure he is talking about.
It’s better to find out ahead of time what pressure and determine whether
or not the job offered is “your cup of tea”

Q22 – Do you learn from your mistakes?

Best answer is yes to this one, then be prepared for the follow-up
question like “can you tell me about it and how it happened?Just
saying you don’t make mistakes is a BAD answer. Everyone makes
mistakes but be careful in choosing examples. Find a minor mistake,
and tell about how you learned a valuable lesson you would not
otherwise have learned.

Q23 – Do you make mistakes?

Best answer is “I am only human but I don’t make any more than the
next guy, and they are minor ones and I do learn from them” If true,
you could also mention that you are a sticker for doing things right
the first time, and most of the time you are able to do this.

Q24 – What is it you really want to do in life?

This is a very general “philosophical” question probably designed
to draw you out. Use this opportunity to outline your life goals,
and tell the interviewer what you hope to do. It helps to prepare
ahead by spending time writing down some life goals, etc.

Q25 – Why are you here?

This question is best handled by mention of the specific job for
which you are applying and why you came to this company instead
of going elsewhere.

Q26 – Are you afraid of being fired from your present job?

This question was probably designed to throw you off balance or get you
flustered. Don’t let it worry you. The best answer for this one is that
you have no reason to be afraid because …. and start telling about some of the contributions you have made, etc. and that you are an asset to
your employer.

Q27 – If you had it to do over again, what field would you go into?

This question is probably designed to find out if you really like what you
are doing. If you give a negative answer or say you wish you had gone into another field you are asking for trouble. Best answer is “I can’t think of a field I would rather be in.”

Q28 – How many sick days have you taken in the last 3 years?

The truth is the best answer. Most companies are very sensitive to
absenteeism and it is only natural for them to want to see how your
record compares with the other candidates for the job.

Q29 – Are you willing to relocate?

This is fairly straightforward but if the company has several locations you
might at this point ask if they mean for this job or possibilities of transfers in the future.

Q30 – What do you dislike most about your present employer?

Safest answer here is that you have nothing against your present
employer, but that you are looking for more responsibility, a more
challenging job, etc., etc.

Q31 – What do you feel about this or that government policy, racial
or ethnic group, religion or?

Best answer here is to ask the interviewer how this relates to the job for
which you are applying? If the interviewer doesn’t back off, you might want to reconsider having applied for a job here. This kind of question may be asked but in my opinion has no place in a job interview.

Q32 – Do you like to work on just 1 project at a time, or have
several projects going at the same time?

If you are applying for the job of “defusing bombs”, the best
answer would be one at a time. This is one of those tricky questions
best thought about and answered in advance. On the average most
employers are looking for people who are good at what would be
called “multi-tasking” in computerese. and so here I would answer
that I feel most comfortable handling several projects, as opposed to 1.

Q33 – Are you an extrovert or an introvert?

If you are applying for a sales job, your answer had better be extrovert,
but just tell them what you think they want to hear on this one.

Q34 – Do you consider yourself a loner, or do you like to work in a group?

The current approach is to organize employees into ” teams of
associates”, so your best answer is that you are a team player.

Q35 – How much responsibility can you handle?

This is your opportunity to tell what responsibility you have in
your present job and that one of the reasons you are job searching
is to find a job with more responsibility. Be careful you don’t
overdo it and get into a job that’s more than you can handle.

Q36 – Are you more interested in working with numbers or in working
with people?

Another question designed to separate the introverts from the
extroverts. Best answer is “both” and explain that you like
working with numbers, but that the numbers need to be
communicated by working with people.

Q37 – Why did you choose your field of work?

Only you can answer this one but it helps if you have thought
about it before your go for the interview.

Q38 – Do you like the work you are doing, and if the
answer is ‘yes’, then why are you looking for something else.?

One of the best answers is “I like what I am doing but at my
present company there is no room for growth and besides, I
want to broaden my horizons by learning some new things.”

Q39 – Do you like all your coworkers at your present employer’s?

Handle this question very carefully. Any indication that you
have problems getting along with other people has negative
vibes and will not help your chances. Indicate that you get
along with your coworkers just fine.

Q40 – Do you have any hobbies?

If not handled by your resume’, just be ready to answer.
Most likely they are trying to check you for
being “well rounded”

Q41 – How old are you?

Your application probably already states this and so
just answer it. Because of the “age discrimination” problem
employers are not supposed to discriminate, but in my
opinion most do.

Q42 – Have you ever declared bankruptcy?

This is rather straightforward. Some consider bankruptcy
to be a sign of poor money management which may or may not
have a bearing on the job opening for which you are
applying. This one can be checked by running a credit
check on you so don’t try to cover it up.

Q43 – Have you ever had your wages garnisheed?

One of my employers had a rule that if anyone ever attempted
to garnishee your wages, you would be terminated. My guess
is that they didn’t consider you a good risk as an employee
if someone tried to attach your wages. If your wages
have been, there’s a record somewhere so be careful on this one.

Q44 – Would you say you are living within your means?

Similar to q44, some feel your inability to handle money may
disualify you for the job.

Q45 – Have you ever done any “moonlighting”?

On jobs paying current minimum wage, it would be difficult
not to work a second job, but the question is really
designed to question whether you will “give your all” to
this employer. They might also want to make sure you are
not working for a competitor and that this might create
a “conflict of interest”.Be prepared is the best advice
on this question.

Q46 – Ever worked “under the table” for anyone?

Working “under the table” is against the law so a positive
answer here could lead to trouble. If you are actually doing
this, you should cover yourself by making your employer sign
a “subcontractor or similar agreement” Check with your
attorney to get the forms, etc.

Q47 – Can you tell me about the last argument you had
with your last boss?

This is a “loaded” question designed to draw you out and find
out how you handle your interpersonal relations. Be very
careful in answering this one.

Q48 – Is all your work error free?

Best answer – “I’m only human and occasionally make a
mistake but I always learn from them and never repeat the same one.”

Q49 – Do you take the time to double check your work?

This can be a “loaded” question. if you answer ‘yes’ the
interviewer can follow-up with “doesn’t that slow you down
so you are not very efficient with your time?” The best answer
for this one goes something like this: “I feel anything worth
doing is worth doing right and I double check it to assure that
I am. Double checking actually saves time because that is better
than having to spend time finding the error and then correct it.

Q50 – Can you tell me about the last time you had
an ‘emergency’ on your job and how you handled it?

If you had such a situation this gives you the opportunity
to sell yourself by telling the interviewer how you handled it.