Slide 1

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 2

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 3

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 4

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 5

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 6

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 7

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 8

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 9

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 10

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 11

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 12

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 13

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 14

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 15

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 16

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 17

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 18

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 19

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 20

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 21

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 22

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 23

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 24

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 25

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 26

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 27

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 28

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 29

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 30

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 31

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 32

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 33

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 34

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 35

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 36

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 37

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 38

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 39

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 40

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 41

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 42

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 43

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 44

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 45

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 46

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 47

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 48

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 49

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 50

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 51

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 52

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 53

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 54

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 55

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 56

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 57

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 58

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 59

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 60

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 61

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 62

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 63

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 64

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 65

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 66

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 67

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 68

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 69

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 70

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 71

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 72

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 73

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers


Slide 74

Interview – Few Important Questions with Answers
Arun Kumar Davay – [email protected]

Be Calm!
Be Cool!
Be Composed!
Be Confident!
Be Consistent!
Be Competent!!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from
now?
•

•

The aim of this question is to test your foresightedness and
also gauge if you plan for the future. Stick to professional
goals and aspirations while answering. The interviewer
does not want to hear about a dream vacation you plan to
take, or the industry you would like to be in. Talk about
company related objectives. This is an opportunity for you
to show that you want to succeed in the company and are
keen on creating a career path there.
Sample answer: As your company has a strong
performance-based culture, in five years I see myself
playing a key role of Brand Manager, working on your
marketing initiatives.

What if you don't make it in this
interview?
•

•

This is often used as a stress question to check your
spontaneity. The idea is to see if you have a back
up plan and how you handle rejection. You need to
be assertive and confident while answering this
question. You can say you will be disappointed,
adding that you will continue to move ahead in
your career with the same enthusiasm and vigor.
Sample answer: I will be disappointed if that
happens, but will work on specific feedback and
try again when the opportunity presents itself.

Tell me about yourself
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You
need to have a short statement prepared in your
mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items unless
instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have
done well at your college and how you wanted to
perform in the first job.

Why do you want to make a career in ...
(Sales, IT, HR, etc)?
•

•

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the
chosen career. Knowledge about the domain and the job
shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates
initiative on your part.
Sample answer: I have always been a people's person and
counseling is a skill that comes naturally to me. Armed
with a Master's degree in HR, I believe a job as an HR
executive will give me an opportunity to put my natural
skill sets and education to practice

Why Should We Employ You?
For this question, your answer should list out
strengths that you feel are relevant to the job.
Given below are some answers which could help
you with your answers. However, structure them
to suit your requirements.

Why Should We Employ You?
(contd)
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work
done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate people
Even during emergencies, I do not loose my cool
I have good entrepreneurial skills
I have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say “no” to people when required to do so!
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see
them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult
work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give
appropriate details and examples)

Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?
This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously,
you must have applied to other companies if you are
looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not.
However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could
be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you
applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?
Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

What Salary Are You Expecting?
Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If
pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and
would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a
convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in
your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound
apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

How much do you expect?
If you have done your homework, you would know
how much other people in similar jobs are paid.
Quote the range upfront.

How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid,
given the market value of the job and your
skills. If you can bring some extra skills to
the table, do not hesitate to ask for more
than the market value.

What kind of a culture are you
comfortable with?
It is better to be frank about your
preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear
idea about your expectations.

Which is more important to you- salary,
perks or growth opportunities?
This one will reveal the real you. So be sure
what you are going to say. Above all, be true
to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation
move, then say clearly that you will never sell
yourself short.

What do you know about our
company?
Do not give your opinions about the company.
Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from
newspapers and so on. Talk about the product
portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of
the company. Also it is better to refer details about
each company before going for the interview their
websites

Why should we choose you over
someone else?
Talk clearly about problems that you have
solved in your College/Project Team and
highlight the quality required.

Your qualifications are excellent, but you may
be overqualified for the position?
Point out that more experience can never be a
drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight
the fact that a company on the fast-track needs
multi-skilled people. It needs people within
different departments to work together. Also
emphasize that the company's future growth will
be an exponential function of your experience.

Tell me about yourself.
My background to date has been centered on
preparing myself to become the very best
………. I can become. Let me tell you
specifically how I’ve prepared
myself………..!

Why should I hire you?
Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the
job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that
ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes
me the very best person for the job - my attitude for
excellence. Not just giving lip service excellence, but
putting every part of myself into achieving it. In ……
and …… I have consistently reached for becoming the
very best I can become by doing the following ………..!

What is your long-range objective? Where do
you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into
the future, I know what direction I want to develop
toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very
best ……. your company has. In fact, my personal career
mission statement is to become a world-class ………. in
the ……… industry. I will work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will
be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities
that might be presented in the long term.

How has your education prepared you for
your career?
As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the
………field but I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the
college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project
specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic
knowledge -- I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this
profession in mind.
So when we’re studying ……….. in …………, I’ve viewed it from the
perspective of ………. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of
how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would
actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved
developing a real-world model of ………., which is very similar to what might be
used within your company. Let me tell you more about it …….!

Are you a team player?
Very much so! In fact, I’ve had opportunities in both
athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team
player. I was involved in ……… at the intramural level,
including leading my team in assists during the past year - I always try to help others achieve their best. In
academics, I’ve worked on several team projects, serving
as both a member and team leader. I’ve seen the value of
working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than
any one of us could have achieved individually. As an
example …….…!

Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where
there was a disagreement that need to be resolved. I’ve found that
when conflict occurs, it’s because of a failure to see both sides of the
situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their
perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully
explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the
person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would
submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end,
you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your
superior, whether you’re in full agreement or not. An example of
this was when……………..!

What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper
planning in the past. I would over commit myself with too many
variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would
like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve
taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning
calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and
“to do“ items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned
out …………….!
(Lack of Time Management Skills, Financial Planning also can be
cited as answers)

If I were to ask your professors to describe
you, what would they say?
I believe they would say I’m a very energetic person, that I put my
mind to the task at hand and see to it that it’s accomplished. They
would say that if they ever had something that need to be done, I
was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was
accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in
the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the
knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they
would say these things? No, in fact, I’m quite certain they would
say those things because I have with me several letters of
recommendation from my professors and those are their very words.
Let me show you………!

What qualities do you feel a successful
manager should have?
The key quality should be leadership -- the ability to be
the visionary for the people who are working under them,
the person who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role
model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true
leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I’d like to tell you about a person who I consider
to be a true leader…….....!

If you had to live your life over again, what
would you change?
That’s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to
continually look back and wish that things had been different in the
past. But I also realize that things had been different in the past.
But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that
only things in the future can be changed. That’s why I continually
strive to improve myself each and every day and that’s why I’m
working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the ……….
field. That’s also the reason why I want to become the very best
………… your company has ever had. To make positive change,
and all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question,
there isn’t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to
the future to make changes in my life.

Are You A Good Leader?
Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can
manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with
the people who work under you. Perhaps you could
answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm
but fair with the people who work for me and find that I
get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out
Mundane or Repetitive Work?
Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this
could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The
answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have
some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my
job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or
not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of
Your Team?
An interviewer asking this question is looking for an
answer that shows how you manage and run your team
that work for you in order to achieve the best performance
out of them. Your answer should include areas that show
your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people
that work for you such as communication skills and
praise.

Tell me about yourself

•
•

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to
have a short statement prepared in your mind.
Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise.
Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held
that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start
with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

Why did you leave your last job?

•

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major
problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, coworkers or the organization.
If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep
smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an
opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forwardlooking reasons.

What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position
you are applying for.
If you do not have specific experience, get as close
as you can.

Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain
why. A good explanation is that you have set
goals, and you have met some and are
on track to achieve the others.

What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either
a specific statement or a paraphrase will work.
Anil, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was
the hardest worker he had ever known.
It is as powerful as Anil having said it at the interview
herself.

What do you know about this
organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on
the organization before the interview.
Find out where they have been and where they are
going.
What are the current issues and who are the major
players?

What have you done to improve your
knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate
to the job.
A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as
positive self-improvement.
Have some good ones handy to mention.

Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this
area.
Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for
this organization.
Anything else is a distraction.

Why do you want to work for this
organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be
based on the research you have done on the organization.
Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be
sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the
organization.
This can affect your answer even though they
asked about friends not relatives.
Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well
thought of.

What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you
will probably lose if you answer first.
So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like,
That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range
for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard,
will tell you.
If not, say that it can depend on the details of the
job. Then give a wide range.

Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player.
Be sure to have examples ready.
Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the
team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your
team attitude.
Do not brag,
Just say it in a matter-of-fact tone.
This is a key point.

How long would you expect to
work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work:
I'd like it to be a long time.
Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that?
This is serious.
Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to
fire people.
At the same time, you will do it when it is the
right thing to do.
When it comes to the organization versus the individual
who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the
organization.
Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in
force.

What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery
dissertation here.
Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes.
That's the type of answer that works best here.
Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

If you had enough money to retire right
now, would you?
Answer yes if you would.
But since you need to work, this is the type
of work you prefer.
Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no.
If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying
negative things about the people or organization
involved.

Explain how you would be an asset to this
organization
You should be anxious for this question.
It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed.
Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the
organization needs.
Do not mention any other candidates to make a
comparison.

Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready.
Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted
and was then considered successful.
One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question.
Think real hard but fail to come up with
anything that irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get
along with folks is great.

What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good
examples:

Your ability to prioritize,
Your problem-solving skills,
Your ability to work under pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects,
Your professional expertise,
Your leadership skills,
Your positive attitude

Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job.
You cannot win.
If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain
credibility.
If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will
be dissatisfied with this position if hired.
The best is to stay generic and say something like:
A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and
can't wait to get to work.

Why do you think you would do
this job?

well at

Give several reasons and include skills,
experience and interest.

What kind of person would you refuse to
work with?
Do not be trivial.
It would take disloyalty to the organization,
violence or lawbreaking to get you to object.
Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

What is more important to you:
the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the
most important.
There is no other better answer.

What would your previous supervisor say
your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team
player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard
work, Creativity, Problem solver

Tell me about a problem you had with a
supervisor
Biggest trap of all.
This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss.
If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former
boss, you may well below the interview right
there.
Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any
trouble with a supervisor.

What has disappointed you about a job?
Don't get trivial or negative.
Safe areas are few but can include:
Not enough of a challenge.
You were laid off in a reduction Company did
not win a contract, which would have given you more
responsibility.

Tell me about your ability to work under
pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of
pressure.
Give an example that relates to the type of
position applied for.

Does your skills match this job or another job
more closely?
Probably this one.
Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may
want another job more than this one.

What motivates you to do your best on the
job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but
good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

Are you willing to work overtime? Nights?
Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

How would you know you were
successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself and meet them.
Your outcomes are a success.
Your boss tells you that you are successful

Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the
interview if you think there is a chance it may
come up.
Do not say yes just to get the job if the real
answer is no.
This can create a lot of problems later on in your
career.
Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

Are you willing to put the interests of the
organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question.
Do not worry about the deep ethical and
philosophical implications.
Just say yes.

Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels.
Some of the more common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or
descriptions depending on which management expert you
listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you
will manage according to the situation, instead of one size
fits all.

What have you learned from mistakes on the
job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain
credibility.
Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive
lesson learned.
An example would be working too far ahead of
colleagues on a project and thus throwing
coordination off.

Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question.
If you know about blind spots, they are no longer
blind spots.
Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here.
Let them do their own discovery on your bad
points.
Do not hand it to them.

Do you think you are overqualified for this
position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you
are very well qualified for the position.

How do you propose to compensate for your
lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer
does not know about, bring that up.
Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard
working quick learner.

What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive.
Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of
humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of
high standards.
All bosses think they have these traits.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared.
Questions prepared where you will
be an asset to the organization are good.
How soon will I be able to be productive? and
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?
are examples.

Answers