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Job Interview Questions About You
Describe a typical work week.
Do you take work home with you?
How many hours do you normally work?
How would you describe the pace at which you work?
How do you handle stress and pressure?
What motivates you?
What are your salary expectations?
What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make?
Tell me about yourself.
What do people most often criticize about you?
Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?
Give some examples of teamwork.
What type of work environment do you prefer?
How do you evaluate success?
If you know your boss is 100% wrong about something how would you handle it?
Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it.
More job interview questions about your abilities.
More job interview questions about you.
Describe a typical work week.
BEST ANSWER:
Interviewers expect a candidate for employment to discuss what they do while they are working in detail. Before you answer, consider the position you are applying for and how your current or past positions relate to it. The more you can connect your past experience with the job opening, the more successful you will be at answering the questions.
It should be obvious that it's not a good idea talk about non-work related activities that you do on company time, but, I've had applicants tell me how they are often late because they have to drive a child to school or like to take a long lunch break to work at the gym.
Keep your answers focused on work and show the interviewer that you're organized ("The first thing I do on Monday morning is check my voicemail and email, then I prioritize my activities for the week.") and efficient.
Do you take work home with you?
Do you take work home with you is a tricky question, be ready. The longer the answer, the bigger the hole you've dug.
BEST ANSWER:
When I need to, no problem. I realize the importance of meeting deadlines and getting work done on time.
How many hours do you normally work?
BEST ANSWER:
Be careful before you answer questions about how many hours a week you work. You don't want to be construed as a slacker or as someone who works too many hours. At some companies, the norm is a 40 hour week and everyone goes home on time. At others, everyone might work 50 or 60 hours a week.
However, working a lot of hours isn't necessarily a good thing - it could mean you're not productive enough to get the job done in a reasonable amount of time.
So, unless you're sure about the company culture and expectations, the safest answer is not to mention a certain number of hours. Rather, mention that you work as much as necessary to get the job done.
How would you describe the pace at which you work?
BEST ANSWER:
When you're asked to describe the pace at which you work, be careful how you respond. This is another question where faster isn't necessarily better. Most employers would rather hire employees who work at a steady pace. Someone who is too slow to get the job done in a reasonable time frame isn't going to be a good hire. Neither is a candidate who works frenetically all day.
Options for answering this question include saying that you work at a steady pace, but usually complete work in advance of the deadline. Discuss your ability to manage projects and get them done on, or ahead, of schedule. If you work at a job where you have set criteria (i.e. number of calls made or responsed to) that measures accomplishments, discuss how you have achieved or exceeded those goals.
How do you handle stress and pressure?
BEST ANSWER:
A typical interview question, asked to get a sense of how you handle on-the-job stress, is "How do you handle pressure?" Examples of good responses include:
Stress is very important to me. With stress, I do the best possible job. The appropriate way to deal with stress is to make sure I have the correct balance between good stress and bad stress. I need good stress to stay motivated and productive.
I react to situations, rather than to stress. That way, the situation is handled and doesn't become stressful.
I actually work better under pressure and I've found that I enjoy working in a challenging environment.
From a personal perspective, I manage stress by visiting the gym every evening. It's a great stress reducer.
Prioritizing my responsibilities so I have a clear idea of what needs to be done when, has helped me effectively manage pressure on the job.
If the people I am managing are contributing to my stress level, I discuss options for better handling difficult situations with them.
It's a good idea to give examples of how you have handled stress to your interviewer. That way, they get a clear picture how well you can work in stressful situations.
What motivates you?
BEST ANSWER:
There isn't a right or wrong answer to interview questions about what motivates you. The interviewer is trying to understand the key to your being successful in the job he is interviewing for, and wants to make sure it's a good fit. Consider, in advance of interviewing, what actually does motivate you and come up with some specific examples to share during the interview.
Your response will vary based on your background and experiences, but, you will want to share your enthusiasm and what you like(d) best about your job. Here are some examples:
I was responsible for several projects where I directed development teams and implemented repeatable processes. The teams achieved 100% on-time delivery of software products. I was motivated both by the challenge of finishing the projects ahead of schedule and by managing the teams that achieved our goals.
I have always wanted to ensure that my company's clients get the best customer service I can provide. I've always felt that it's important, both to me personally, and for the company and the clients, to provide a positive customer experience.
I have spent my career in sales, typically in commission-based positions, and compensation has always been a strong factor in motivating me to be the top salesperson at my prior employers.
What are your salary expectations?
BEST ANSWER:
Before you start talking pay (and salary negotiations) with a prospective employer, you need to find out how much the job (and you) are worth. You will need to take the time to research salaries, so, you are prepared to get what you're worth and a job offer that's realistic and reasonable.
Salary
Negotiations
Once you know what you should be earning, how do you go about getting it? Start by being very patient. When interviewing for a new position, do your best not to bring up compensation until the employer makes you an offer. If you're asked what your salary requirements are, say that they. Or tell the employer you'd like to know more about the responsibilities and the challenges of the job prior to discussing salary. Another option is to give the employer a salary range based upon the salary research you've done up front.
Negotiating
a Raise
If you are currently employed and want a raise, start by being prepared. Gather your salary survey information, recent performance appraisals that document the job you're doing, and any other relevant information. Be aware of company policy regarding compensation. Some employers are limited by budget constraints and can only give raises at certain times of the year, regardless of the circumstances. Have a clear idea of what you want. Determine the salary range you're looking for and justification for the increase and have both ready to review with your supervisor. Then, ask your supervisor for a meeting to discuss salary. Present your request, supported by documentation, calmly and rationally. Don't ask for an immediate answer. Your boss is mostly likely going to have to discuss it with Human Resources and/or other company managers.
Despite your best efforts, there may simply not be enough money in the budget to increase your salary or compensation package offer. The company may also not want to create inequities by paying one person more than others in a similar position. In that case, you can at least know you tried. Plus, if this is a job you really think that you're going to love, consider whether the company culture, the benefits, and the job itself are worth it - regardless of the salary.
What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make?
BEST ANSWER:
There is no right or wrong answer to questions like "What are the most difficult decisions to make?" or "Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it." These are behavioral interview questions designed to discover how you handled certain situations. The logic behind these type of questions is that how you behaved in the past is a predictor of what you will do in the future.
Give concrete examples of difficult situations that actually happened at work. Then discuss what you did to solve the problem. ("Even though it was difficult when Jane Doe quit without notice, we were able to rearrange the department workload to cover the position until a replacement was hired.") and be specific. Itemize what you did and how you did it.
The best way to prepare for questions where you will need to recall events and actions, is to refresh your memory and consider some special situations you have dealt with or projects you have worked on. You can use them to help frame responses. Prepare stories that illustrate times when you have successfully solved a difficult situation.
Tell me about yourself.
BEST ANSWER:
You walk into the interview room, shake hands with your interviewer and sit. Guess what their first question is? "Tell me about yourself."
Do you "wing it" and actually tell all manner of things about yourself? Will you spend the next 5 minutes rambling on about what an easy-going, loyal, dedicated, hard working employee you've been?
Because it's such a common interview question, it's strange that more candidates don't spend the time to prepare for exactly how to answer it. Perhaps because the question seems so disarming and informal, we drop our guard and shift into ramble mode. Resist all temptation to do so.
Instead, offer a razor sharp sentence or two that sets the stage for further discussion and sets you apart from your competitors.
Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
Give them "your synopsis about you" answer, specifically your Unique Selling Proposition. Known as a personal branding or a value-added statement, the USP is a succinct, one-sentence description of who you are, your biggest strength and the major benefit that a company will derive from this strength. Here is an example of a Unique Selling Proposition: "I'm a seasoned Retail Manager strong in developing training programs and loss prevention techniques that have resulted in revenue savings of over $2.3Million for (employer's name) during the past 11 years."
What a difference you've made with this statement. Your interviewer is now sitting forward in her chair giving you her full attention. At this point, you might add the following sentence: "I'd like to discuss how I might be able to do something like that for you." The ball is now back in her court and you have the beginnings of a real discussion and not an interrogation process.
Be Specific
The key is that you must lead with your strongest benefit to the employer. Be specific and don't wander about with some laundry list of skills or talents. Be sure to put a monetary value on your work if at all possible and be ready with details when you're called upon. Give an estimated value to the $$ you've either helped to make or save for your employer.
Be Prepared
When you walk into an interview, remember to always expect the "tell me about yourself" question. Prepare ahead of time by developing your own personal branding statement that clearly tells who you are, your major strength and the clear benefit that your employer received. The advantages of this approach are that you'll quickly gain their attention and interest them in knowing more. You'll separate yourself from your competitors. You'll also have a higher chance of being positively remembered and hired.
What do people most often criticize about you?
The interview question "What Do People Most Often Criticize About You?" is asked to find out how sensitive to you are.
BEST ANSWER:
There's no on-going criticism. I'm open to personal and professional growth and welcome the opportunity to improve.
Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?
When the interviewer asks "Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?" he or she wants to know if you're a team player or would rather work on your own.
BEST ANSWER:
I am equally comfortable working as a member of a team and independently. In researching the LMN company, your mission statement and the job description, I could see similarities to my previous position where there were some assignments that required a great deal of independent work and research and others where the team effort was most effective. As I said, I'm comfortable with both.
Give some examples of teamwork.
BEST ANSWER:
A typical interview question to discover how well you would work with other people is "Give some examples of teamwork."
Companies, for the most part, do not want "Lone-Rangers" - they are looking for employees who will adapt to the company culture and get along with others.
In my last postion, I was part of a software implementation team. We all worked together to plan and manage the implementation schedule, to provide customer training, and ensure a smooth transition for our customers. Our team always completed our projects ahead of schedule with very positive reviews from our clients.
What type of work environment do you prefer?
BEST ANSWER:
I can be flexible when it comes to my work environment. What is the environment in the Engineering department here at RRS, Inc? (Once they've described the work environment, include key phrases they've used when you describe your preferred work environment).
How do you evaluate success?
BEST ANSWER:
I evaluate success in different ways. At work, it is meeting the goals set by my supervisors and my fellow workers. It is my understanding, from talking to other employees, that the GGR company is recognized for not only rewarding success, but giving employees opportunity to grow as well. After work, I enjoy playing softball, so success on the field is catching the winning pop-up.
If you know your boss is 100% wrong about something how would you handle it?
BEST ANSWER:
An answer that works well is: "It depends on the situation and the personality of the supervisor." To elaborate, give examples:
My present supervisor does not like to have his authority questioned. He's fairly new on the job and almost all of the people he supervises have been on the job longer than he has. He's never bothered to learn the procedures, how things are done or how the computer system works. But if any of us tell him that how he wants something done won't work, he gets extremely angry. So, I never tell him he's wrong. Never. Whatever he tells me to do, I smile and say "okay." Then if I know a way to get it done that will work, I do it that way, give him the results he wants and never tell him I didn't do it the way he told me to. He got the results and is happy. I saved myself the stress of being yelled at and gave him what he wanted, so I'm happy.
My prior superviser was more easy-going and if I told her "you know, I think it might work better if I do what you asked in such and such a way," she say "okay, try it."
If I were a new hire on a job, I would probably not question a supervisor because I might think I didn't know enough. Except on the new job I'm going to. The director has admitted that she's new on the job and there are alot of things that a secretary does that she doesn't know how to do, so she will be depending on me to know how to keep the office running.
Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it. There is no right or wrong answer to questions like "What are the most difficult decisions to make?" or "Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it." The logic behind these type of questions is that how you behaved in the past is a predictor of what you will do in the future.
Give concrete examples of difficult situations that actually happened at work. Then discuss what you did to solve the problem. Keep your answers positive ("Even though it was difficult when Jane Doe quit without notice, we were able to rearrange the department workload to cover the position until a replacement was hired.") and be specific. Itemize what you did and how you did it.
The best way to prepare for questions where you will need to recall events and actions, is to refresh your memory and consider some special situations you have dealt with or projects you have worked on. You can use them to help frame responses. Prepare stories that illustrate times when you have successfully solved a difficult situation.
Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it.
BEST ANSWER:
A typical interview question to discover how you manage your work is "Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it."
Sample Answers
While at the HKL plant, we were faced with a sudden order increase for the j-ball bearing. It was for a new customer. I immediately sat down with the production supervisor, our materials/supply manager, and the union steward. We were able to lay out a workable plan that maximized hourly costs, guaranteed materials were available and, with only a slight adjustment, meet the production deadline. While it was challenging and involved long hours, the pay-off was a signed contract with a new customer.
When I was working on a software implementation team at ABC Company, we took over another company and had to transition many clients to a new product in a short amount of time. It took a lot of planning, time, hard work, and effort, but we were able to complete the project in a timely manner.
More job interview questions about your abilities.
BEST ANSWER:
Tell
me about a time that you worked conveying technical information to a
nontechnical audience.
The Interviewer wants to know
how you relate to people outside your area of expertise.
While
I worked for Mr. Smith in the accounting department, I was selected
to explain the financial section of the employee's paycheck to all
new hires. After my first two sessions, I realized I needed to
reframe my information so the new hires would have an accurate
understanding of the impact of their decisions as it related to their
pay. I worked with colleagues in human resources and marketing, and
developed a training outline that was implemented at the other
locations throughout the company.
Tell
me about a time that you worked with data, interpreting data, and
presenting data.
If you are in a non-technical
profession, this question is designed to see if you are comfortable
with information not directly related to your position.
While
at the GHI corporation, one of my job assignments was to work with
the IT department to prepare the annual meeting brochure complete
with financial data, graphs and related SEC requirements. I became
proficient at designing graphs that gave an accurate picture of the
financial data, as well as editing the legal information into a more
readable format.
Why
do you think you will be successful at this job?
The
interviewer is concerned as to whether you see this as a career move,
or stop-gap employment.
My research of your company, the job description outlined, and the information we've exchanged today, lead me to believe I have the skills and experience for which you are looking; and I'm eager to be a contributing employee.
Tell
me about a time that you participated in a team, what was your role?
Companies, for the most part, do not want "Lone-Rangers"
- - they are looking for employees who will adapt to the company
culture and get along with others.
In high school, I enjoyed
playing soccer and performing with the marching band. Each required a
different kind of team play, but the overall goal of learning to be a
member of a group was invaluable. I continued to grow as team member
while on my sorority's debate team and through my advanced marketing
class where we had numerous team assignments.
More job interview questions about you.
BEST ANSWER:
When the questions are "personal", about you, it can be a very slippery slope. The answers below are guidelines so you can write out your answers long before you go to the interview. Then, when the question is asked, you can take the few seconds (expected by the interviewer) to think about the question and how you will frame your answer (which you already know).
What
would you do differently if you could start your working life over?
The interviewer is looking for a detour that continues
to be a professional block in your career.
Looking back over
my career, I would have returned to school much earlier to complete
my Masters degree. Even though I got my degree later than I had
originally anticipated, I never lost sight of the goal.
How
do you balance life and work?
The interviewer wonders
if you've made arrangements for the days when your child is too sick
to go to school and/or daycare or if you're "out of there"
as soon as it's quitting time.
Best Answer: Being
organized helps me balance my professional life and personal life.
Consequently, I can be fully engaged while I'm at work. For those
unexpected times, I have a good back-up system of child care for my
children.
What
is your preferred way to communicate?
This is a good
opportunity to show you understand the importance of adjusting your
preferences when necessary.
At home, I enjoy talking on the
phone and emails. At work, I follow the established pattern. Each of
my bosses, in the past, has had a preferred method I've followed
their lead.
Do
you check voicemail and email when on vacation?
The
interviewer is wondering whether they will always be able to find
you.
Best Answer: While on vacation, I can be reached
for emergencies; however, I also know the people with whom I work are
very capable of making good decisions while I'm away. I understand
the importance of recharging my battery.
What
is your favorite book? How about your favorite movie? The interviewer
wants to know whether you read to stay current and if you
will you fit into the company culture.
Best Answer (include
your personal favorites): I read many different kinds of books.
My current "favorite" book is The World is Flat by
Thomas Friedman. My favorite movie? Miracle on Ice.
What
historical figure do you admire and why?
The
interviewer wants to know whether you are well read and what
characteristics you admire.
Best Answer (include historical
figures you personally admire): Personally, I most admire Abigail
Adams, John Adam's wife; professionally I admired the leadership
style of Ronald Reagan.
