Some interview questions cover the basics of a job candidate’s understanding and appropriateness for a position you are trying to fill. They tend to be clichéd and a bit boring but can get quickly to a simple understanding of how candidates view themselves, understand the job opening and their past responsibilities. Or, have they even looked at your website?
- Who are our competitors?
- What is the name of our CEO?
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- Why do you want this job?
- Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?
- What’s your ideal company?
- What attracted you to this company?
- Why should we hire you?
- What did you like least about your last job?
- When were you most satisfied in your job?
- What can you do for us that other candidates can’t?
- What were the responsibilities of your last position?
- Why are you leaving your present job?
- What do you know about this industry?
- What do you know about our company?
- If you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?
- Tell me about your proudest achievement.
- Who was your favorite manager and why?
- What do you think of your previous boss?
- Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?
- What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
- What would be your ideal working environment?
- What do you look for in terms of culture—structured or entrepreneurial?
- Give examples of ideas you’ve had or implemented.
- What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- Why are you interested in working for [insert company name here]?
- Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?
- Why do you want to leave your current company?
- Why was there a gap in your employment between [insert date] and [insert date]?
- What can you offer us that someone else can not?
- What are three things your former manager would like you to improve on?
- Are you willing to relocate?
- Are you willing to travel?
- Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.
- Tell me about a time you made a mistake.
- Tell me what you learned from the mistake.
- What is your dream job?
- How did you hear about this position?
- What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60 days/90 days on the job?
- Discuss your resume.
- Discuss your educational background.
- Describe yourself.
- Tell me how you handled a challenging situation.
- Why should we hire you?
- Why are you looking for a new job?
- Would you be able to work holidays/weekends?
- How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?
- What changes have you made in working with others to be more effective at work?
- What do you think are the most important attributes of successful people? How do you rate yourself in those areas?
- How do you make decisions?
- If you were limited to just one person to get advice and help from, which person would you choose? Why?
- What would you do if you made an important business decision and a co-worker challenged it?
- Describe a crisis you’ve faced at work.
- Describe a time when you were asked to do something you weren’t trained to do and how you handled it.
- Describe the boss who would get the very best work from you.
- What will make you love coming to work here everyday?
- What would you do if management made a decision you didn’t agree with?
- What is there about this opportunity that most excites you?
- What’s your greatest fear about this opportunity?
- Do you have any questions for me?
- When are you available to stat?
- Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss.
- How do you handle pressure?
- What are your career goals?
- What gets you up in the morning?
- What were your bosses’ strengths/weaknesses?
- Are you a leader or a follower?
- What are your co-worker pet peeves?
- What are some of your leadership experiences?
- How would you fire someone?
- What questions haven’t I asked you?
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