Job Interview Questions

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Sample questions for a job interview

"Getting to Know You" Questions in a Job Interview

1. What is your relevant work experience in relation to the position you are applying for at the moment?
2. Why are you interested in this position?
3. How do you think your last boss would describe you?
4. Which aspects of your previous job did you like the most?
5. Which aspects did you not like?
6. How do you know that you have done well?
7. What is your overall philosophy for managing teams?
8. How would you describe your leadership style?
9. What are your long-term career goals?
10. What skills do you need to develop in order to achieve your goals?

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Questions for "Skills Assessment"  in a job interview

Basic

1. Which of the duties in your current position do you find difficult?
2. Which tasks and activities are most interesting to you?
3. What do you spend most of your time doing?
4. What do you like about our offer?
5. And what concerns you?

Questions for "Communication Skills" in a job interview

1. Describe a situation in which you had to stand your ground in order to discuss an issue that, in your opinion, was important.
2. How do you make sure that the person you are speaking with has understood you correctly? Tell us about a situation when you had to use these skills at work.
3. Describe a situation in which you missed important details that had been communicated to you. What was the final result? How did you handle the situation?
4. Give an example of when you started working on a project or task before first understanding the overall concept.
5. Give an example of a situation in which you did not fully understand the instructions for a task assigned to you. What did you do to clarify them? What was the final result?
6. Tell us about a time when you had to give a presentation in front of a large group.
7. Tell us about a time when you had to give a presentation, but things did not go according to plan. What happened? Why did the problem arise? What would you have done differently?
8. Describe your last written communication with your manager.
9. Tell us about a time when you preferred to send a written message instead of meeting the person face to face and when that decision turned out to be a mistake. How did you realize it was a mistake? What did you do to handle the situation? What did you learn?

Questions for "Personal Skills"  in a job interview

1. Tell us about your relationship with a colleague you worked well with.
2. Describe the most difficult working relationship you have had. What actions did you take to improve this relationship? What was the final result?
3. Have you had a difficult relationship with a boss, professor, or another person? Why was it difficult for you to get along with them? How did you communicate successfully with them?
4. Tell us about a time when you managed to build rapport with a "difficult" personality. How did you achieve it? What were the final results?
5. Describe a time when you managed to build a successful relationship with a client. How did you build that relationship?
6. Describe a situation in which the company's policy affected your work. How did you handle the situation?

Questions for "Motivation" in a job interview

1. Give an example of a significant professional achievement. How did you achieve it? What obstacles were there? How did you overcome them?
2. Give an example of a work standard that you set for yourself. What do you do to achieve it?
3. Describe a situation in which you stood by an idea or plan despite the disapproval of others.
4. All positions come with problems and a sense of dead end. Give examples of specific working conditions or tasks that do not satisfy you.
5. How do you motivate yourself to complete a task you do not want to deal with?

Questions for "Initiative" in a job interview

1. Give an example of a situation in which you did more than required on a project in order to exceed someone's expectations.
2. Tell us about a project you initiated. What did you do? What was the final result? Were you satisfied with the result?
3. Give two examples of what you have improved in your work skills over the last six months.
4. Describe a situation in which you made a suggestion to improve a work process. What was the final result?
5. Describe a situation in which you tried to improve an aspect of a work process and encountered resistance. How did you handle the situation?
6. Describe a situation in which you recognized a potential problem as an opportunity. What did you do? What was the final result? What would you have done differently?

Questions for "Stress Management" in a job interview

1. Give an example of a time when you were faced with a problem or under stress that tested your ability to cope with such situations.
2. Describe a project or goal that caused you dissatisfaction.
3. Describe a situation in which you were under pressure and believe you handled it well.
4. How do you know when you are under stress? Who do you turn to for support in such a situation? Why and how does this person help you deal with stress?
5. Describe a situation in which you had to exercise a significant amount of self-control.
6. Describe a situation in which stress from your personal life threatened your work. What did you do?

Questions for "Problem Solving Skills/Analytical Skills" in a job interview

1. Describe a difficult problem that you tried to solve. How did you identify it? How did you try to solve it?
2. Describe a project you worked on in which things did not go according to plan.
3. Tell us about a situation when you had to identify the causes of a problem.
4. Describe a situation in which you anticipated a potential problem and took preventive measures.
5. Tell us about a situation in which your manager was unavailable and you had to solve a problem. What did you do and what was the final result?
6. Give an example of when you were unable to solve a problem. What was the reason for the failure? What would you do differently next time?
7. Tell us about a situation in which you used your skills in gathering and analyzing facts and managed to solve a problem.
8. What steps do you follow to investigate a problem that has arisen?

Questions for "Decision Making" in a job interview

1. Give us an example of a difficult decision you made. What information led you to make that decision? What were the other possible options? What was the final result?
2. Give us an example of when you used good judgment and logic to make a decision.
3. Describe a situation in which you had to choose between several alternatives. How did you evaluate each alternative?
4. Tell us about a situation in which you made a decision and then had to defend it to your colleagues.
5. Describe a situation in which you had to make a quick and accurate decision. What did you take into account?
6. When have you had to make a decision without having the necessary information? How did you handle the situation? Why? Were you satisfied with the result?
7. Give an example of a situation in which you made the wrong decision and had to deal with the consequences.
8. Give us an example of a decision you made, but which later turned out to be wrong. Why was it wrong? What would you have done differently?

Questions for "Teamwork" in a job interview

1. Tell us about a situation in which you had to rely on your team to complete a project.
2. Think of an example when you worked effectively in a team. Describe how you perceived the contributions of the other team members.
3. Give us an example of a situation in which you made a major contribution as part of a team. Why do you think that team performed well?
4. Tell us about the most difficult team you have worked with. Why was it difficult for you to work with its members? What did you do?
5. Describe a team experience that disappointed you. What should you have done to improve the final result?
6. Tell us about a member of your team who did not perform their duties. What did you do to try to prevent this?
7. Have you been in a team where you were the leader? How did you promote your team's effectiveness? What were the results?

Questions for "Time Management Skills/Organizational Skills" in a job interview

1. How do you plan your weekly tasks and how does your schedule work?
2. Tell us about a project you planned. How did you organize and distribute the tasks over time? How did you develop your action plan?
3. Tell us about a time when you had to deal with several competing priorities. How did you plan your time? What were the final results?
4. We have all failed to complete one of our tasks on time at some point. Tell us about a time when this happened to you as well.
5. Tell us about a situation in which your task deadline was too short and unrealistic. How did you handle the situation?
6. Have you ever missed a deadline? What was the final result and what lesson did you learn from the situation?
7. Tell us about a project in which you rushed to finish it and this happened at the expense of quality.
8. Describe a case in which you had to make a difficult decision between your personal and professional life.

Questions for "Influence" in a job interview

What do you expect to achieve during the first three months if we select you for the position?

In the lines below we will also share something from behind the scenes of conducting a job interview: a list of warning signs in candidates' behavior that should serve as red flags during the job interview.

When HR specialists interview job candidates, they usually use a list to help identify "warning signs" that the candidates are not suitable for the organization or the position. When a candidate shows one of these warning signs during the job interview, he or she is no longer considered a potential employee. Of course, every case is separate and specific. That is why it is good to trust your common sense during meetings with job candidates or your interviewer. 

Here is a list of warning signs shared by interviewers: 

1. Cannot look me in the eye (exceptions should be made for those with Asperger's or other medical conditions).
2. Could not answer concisely and directly even the most basic questions, but instead provides a strange and unclear "answer".
3. Did not show up on time for the interview and seems to have no legitimate excuse.
4. During the first conversation/interview, asked how many vacation days or work breaks are allowed.
5. Does not know what the organization does and/or what job they are applying for.
6. Speaks ill of their current or previous boss/employer.
7. Dramatises when discussing current or past work experience.
8. Moves very slowly and shows very little energy.
9. Cannot provide an honest and candid answer to the following interview question: "Please share the biggest mistake you have made at work in the last three years".
10. Uses inappropriate language or is dressed inappropriately.
11. Chews during the interview.
12. Shows a lack of courtesy, is disrespectful, or appears confused. For example, when accepting a cup or bottle of water at the start of the interview, leaves the used cup or bottle on the table instead of offering to throw it away/take it out.
13. Provides inconsistent and/or contradictory information or answers.
14. Looks at their mobile phone, makes a phone call, or responds to someone by texting during the interview.
15. Does not ask questions about the job or the organization when given the opportunity and/or shows a general lack of curiosity about both.
16. Has weaknesses that clearly do not bode well for the job position. (e.g. an introvert who prefers to work alone but is applying for a customer service position).
17. The person is prepared for the job interview, but does not show passion or desire to do the job they are applying for.
18. The candidate for the position is invited to a second interview or asked to provide follow-up information, but does not respond in a timely manner.

Make sure you do not make any of the above "mistakes" during the job interview or sign up for our online training "Successful Job Interview - How to Present Yourself Best" to gain confidence.

Conclusion

The list we have provided, of course, does not include absolutely all job interview questions, but it covers the most important points and gives guidance on how to prepare.

Do not forget that you need to prepare and present a complete CV that is appropriate for the position. If you have doubts about the content of your CV and its format, see how to increase your chances of being selected by creating the perfect CV.

 Course “Successful Job Interview”

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