Interview Questions
At some stage during all of our careers we have prepared for an interview. As part of this preparation we wonder about the questions that might be asked and what our answers should be - pretty normal stuff really. This is how it should be; we should prepare by thinking of and listing the types of questions that are likely to come up and try to prepare some answers that will allow us to respond naturally. It is important to appear natural in our responses, interviewers are good at realizing if a person has pre-prepared answers learnt off for the interview. It would not help. Best to have the general thought or structure of the response worked out which will ensure that the question is not a surprise on the day. This is the key - no surprises. Be prepared, have broad ideas in place to answer questions in certain areas and be relaxed with your answer. Do remember that questions are asked in many ways about the same issues so listen carefully to each question.
So, try to think of the likely questions, prepare broad answers, listen carefully on the day and be natural and conversational with your responses. Remember also that you are the expert on you and on your chosen field. You are being interviewed for you the person and your future role in a new company.
Here are some typical questions. Depending on the interview and interviewer you may be asked general questions or more probing technical questions in your field of expertise. We can only provide sample questions and there are many that we have not listed here.
- Could you tell us about yourself, lets give about ten minutes or so. Take us from your early background.
- Did you enjoy your schooldays? What was it about school that you found most enjoyable?
- Did your early education benefit you? How has it helped you?
- What influenced you to take up your career?
- What was the most significant achievement you had as a youth? Were you an achiever?
- Why did you chose to go to ……..ABC school/college?
- Was it enjoyable?
- Did school or college help you as a person?
- Did you enjoy being a student?
- Looking back now, would you have done anything differently?
- Did you have any key roles during your early days in school or sport?
- So you became a ABC. What encouraged you to this career?
- What job have you done that you enjoyed most or least? Why?
- Why did you leave company X?
- Describe your current job? What are your major achievements?
- How would your current colleagues describe you?
- What would a reference from your current employer say about you? What about previous employers?
- Why are you leaving?
- What are your strengths? Weaknesses? What should you do better?
- Are there areas that you would like to develop/ Have you any plans to do so?
- What is your operating style/management style?
- Are you organized, good at timekeeping, accurate with numbers?
- Are you computer literate?
- Tell us about your major projects/
- Are you happy with your chosen career? Are you ambitious?
- How do you work with people. What is your style?
- Do you enjoy people? What about the bad day, how do you react.
- What would people who work with you say about you?
- What are your major achievements? How would your colleagues describe it?
- Describe yourself?
- Have you responsibilities beyond your current job, for example at home or with a club or society?
- What areas of your role could be improved? Have you any plans to do so?
- How would you be of assistance to us?
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