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Interview Questions
Questions employers ask in an interview basically fall into three categories: "behavioral", "situational", and "traditional". The growing trend by employers is to ask "behavioral" interviewing questions. Following are sample interviewing questions.
See this PDF for Legal and Illegal Interview Questions.
The following behavioral interviewing questions are broken down by the skills and traits employers might be seeking.
- How was your transition from high school to college? Did you face any particular problems?
- Tell of some situations in which you have had to adjust quickly to changes over which you had no control. What was the impact of the change on you?
- Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills
- Give a specific example of a policy you conformed to with which you did not agree.
- We can sometimes identify a small problem and fix it before it becomes a major problem. Give an example(s) of how you have done this.
- Describe a situation in which you had to collect information by asking many questions of several people.
- In a supervisory or group leader role, have you ever had to discipline or counsel an employee or group member? What was the nature of the discipline? What steps did you take? How did that make you feel? How did you prepare yourself?
- Recall a time from your work experience when your manager or supervisor was unavailable and a problem arose. What was the nature of the problem? How did you handle that situation? How did that make you feel?
- Recall a time when you were assigned what you considered to be a
complex project. Specifically, what steps did you take to prepare for
and finish the project? Were you happy with the outcome?
- What one step would you have done differently if given the chance?
- What was the most complex assignment you have had? What was your role?
- Tell of a time when your active listening skills really paid off for
you-maybe a time when other people missed the key idea being expressed.
- What has been your most successful experience in speech making?
- Tell me about a situation when you had to speak up (be assertive) in order to get a point across that was important to you.
- Have you ever had to "sell" an idea to your co-workers or group? How did you do it? Did they "buy" it?
- Describe a recent unpopular decision you made and what the result was.
- Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way
- Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion.
- Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete.
- Tell of the most difficult customer service experience that you have ever had to handle-perhaps an angry or irate customer. Be specific and tell what you did and what was the outcome?
Decision Making and Problem Solving
- Give me an example of a time when you had to keep from speaking or making a decision because you did not have enough information.
- Give me an example of a time when you had to be quick in coming to a decision.
- Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year.
- Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem.
- Describe an instance when you had to think on your feet to extricate yourself from a difficult situation.
- Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem
- Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision.
- Describe some projects or ideas (not necessarily your own) that were implemented, or carried out successfully primarily because of your efforts.
- Describe a situation that required a number of things to be done at the same time. How did you handle it? What was the result?
- Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead
- Give examples of your experiences at school or in a job that were satisfying. Give examples of your experiences that were dissatisfying.
- Give me an example of a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty.
- Describe a situation when you were able to have a positive influence on the action of others.
- What is the toughest group that you have had to get cooperation from?
- Have you ever had difficulty getting others to accept your ideas? What was your approach? Did it work?
- Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
- Describe a time in school when you had many projects or assignments due at the same time. What steps did you take to get them all done?
- Give me an example of an important goal which you had set in the past and tell me about your success in reaching it.
- Describe a time when your schedule is suddenly interrupted? What did you do?
- Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.
- Give an example of when you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. Why was this person difficult? How did you handle that person?
- Describe a situation where you found yourself dealing with someone who didn't like you. How did you handle it?
- What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.
- Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa).
- Describe a situation where others you were working with on a project disagreed with your ideas. What did you do?
- Describe a situation in which you found that your results were not up to your professor's or supervisor's expectations. What happened? What action did you take?
- Tell of a time when you worked with a colleague who was not completing their share of the work.
- Who, if anyone, did you tell or talk to about it? Did the manager take any steps to correct your colleague? Did you agree or disagree with the manager's actions?
- Describe a situation in which you had to arrive at a compromise or guide others to a compromise.
Technical and Professional Knowledge
- Sometimes it's easy to get in "over your head". Describe a situation where you had to request help or assistance on a project or assignment.
- Give an example of how you applied knowledge from previous coursework to a project in another class.
- Compare and contrast the times when you did work which was above the standard with times your work was below the standard.
- Describe some times when you were not very satisfied or pleased with your performance. What did you do about it?
- What are your standards of success in school? What have you done to meet these standards?
- How have you differed from your professors in evaluating your performance? How did you handle the situation?
Star Technique for Answering Behavioral Questions
One strategy for preparing for behavioral interviews is to use the "Star Technique". Ideally, you should briefly describe the situation, what specific action you took to have an effect on the situation, and the positive result or outcome.
Situation or Task(S or T)
Describe the situation that you were in or the task that you needed
to accomplish. You must describe a specific event or situation, not a
generalized description of what you have done in the past. Be sure to
give enough detail for the interviewer to understand. This situation can
be from a previous job, from a volunteer experience, or any relevant
event.
Action you took(A)
Describe the action you took and be sure to keep the focus on you.
Even if you are discussing a group project or effort, describe what you
did -- not the efforts of the team. Don't tell what you might do, tell
what you did.
Results you achieved(R)
What happened? How did the event end? What did you accomplish? What did you learn?
Sample STAR story:
Situation(S)
Advertising revenue was falling off for my college newspaper, the
Stetson Reporter, and large numbers of long-term advertisers were not
renewing contracts.
Action(A)
I designed a new promotional packet to go with the rate sheet and
compared the benefits of Reporter circulation with other ad media in the
area. I also set-up a special training session for the account
executives with a School of Business Administration professor who
discussed competitive selling strategies.
Result(R)
We signed contracts with 15 former advertisers for daily ads and five for special supplements. We increased our new advertisers by 20 percent [quantities are always good] over the same period last year.- An irate customer is using abusive language, how would you handle the situation?
- You have a very busy week coming up, how do you manage your workweek and make realistic deadlines?
- If you were working on a team and one of the members was not "pulling their own weight" what would you do?
- If you had unlimited leisure time, how would you spend it?
- A salesman comes in to talk to your boss without an appointment, how will you handle the salesperson?
- In instances where you are required to assert yourself, what do you do to assert yourself effectively?
- Assume that you are a candidate for promotion, why should you be promoted?
- If you were to start your own company, what would that company do?
- If a manage or supervisor was not available and a problem arose, what would you do?
- You are working on a project and someone disagrees with your ideas, what would you do?
- You are working with someone who is difficult to get along with, how do you handle this person?
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What have been your most satisfying accomplishments?
- What were your most and least satisfying jobs?
- Why did you leave your most recent job?
- How did you get along with your last supervisor and co-workers?
- How well do you work under pressure?
- Why did you choose your major?
- What college coursework did you enjoy the most? The least?
- What extra curricular activities and interests have you been involved in?
- What are your short term and long range career goals?
- What position in the company do you want to advance toward?
- What do you know about the company?
- What interests you about our product or service?
- Why do you think you might like to work for the company?
- Why should we hire you?
- Why do you think you are qualified for the position?
- Are you willing to spend time as a trainee?
Questions for Education Majors
- Tell us about yourself:
- What is your philosophy on classroom inclusion for students with special needs?
- Explain the sorts of activities you will use to engage students.
- How would you deal with a student that refuses to do what you ask?
- Briefly describe your technological competencies; explain how you will use these in your classroom.
- What do you feel are the most important things students PreK-3 (or 7/8, 9-12, etc.) should know?
- If you could change anything about education, what would it be and why?
- Please explain how some of your "life experiences" will shape your teaching.
- Describe three strengths and three weaknesses of yours:
- What else, if anything, makes you the best person for this job?
- Explain your familiarity with the "Common Core Standards" recently adopted by Wisconsin. How will these new standards inform your teaching?
- Do you have any questions for us?
- Describe two important curricular topics that you have taught in this grade or subject area.
- How have the state standards for this subject guided your teaching?
- Tell me about a lesson you taught and why it went welL
- Name a specific method or strategy you have used to teach in the past and why it is one you will continue to use.
- Describe a classroom management plan that you have used and why it worked.
- What have you done to start and end a class successfully?
- Describe an approach you have used to differentiate instruction for students.
- While a lesson is ongoing, how can you tell if students are "getting" the material?
- Describe positive communications with students' families that you have used in the past.
- How have you evaluated your own teaching to improve?
- Elementary: What approaches to teaching reading have you used?
- Elementary: How have you used manipulatives in teaching math?
- Middle: How have you worked with a teaching team?
- Middle: Tell about integrating the teaching of reading into other subjects.
- High: How have you interested your students in the subject and motivated them to learn?
- Science: How have you used labs in the classes you have taught?
- Foreign language: What percent of a typical lesson do you teach in the target language?
- Art: What routines for safety and cleanup have you implemented?
- Music: Describe a performance or concert that went well and why it succeeded.
- Health/Physical Education: How have you built weight-consciousness topics into your course?
- Special education: Describe your experiences working with students in a mainstreamed/full inclusion/pullout setting.
- Special education: Tell us about collaborating with other teachers to help a student
Employers say they are interested in candidates who ask quality questions and make intelligent conversation based on what they know about the organization.
Before the interview, prepare a list of at least 3 questions that demonstrate your knowledge of the company and interest in the position. Following are questions broken down by topic.
- What would you consider to be the most important aspects of this job?
- What are the skills and attributes you value most for someone being hired for this position?
- Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to within the company?
- Could you describe a typical day or week in this position? The typical client or customer I would be dealing with?
- What are the most immediate challenges of the position that need to be addressed in the first three months?
- What are the performance expectations of this position over the first 12 months?
- Performing well is important to me, how will I be evaluated at XYZ company, and how often?
- What happened to the last person who held this job?
- What were the major strengths and weaknesses of the last person who held this job?
- What types of skills do you NOT already have on board that you're looking to fill with a new hire?
- What is the overall structure of the company and how does your department fit the structure?
- What are the career paths in this department?
- What have been the department's successes in the last couple of years?
- What do you see ahead for your company in the next five years?
- How do you see the future for this industry?
- What do you consider to be your firm's most important assets?
- What can you tell me about your new product or plans for growth?
- How do you rate your competition?
At
the end of the interview, don't forget to ask:
- What are the next steps in the interview process?
Make an Appointment
103 Administration Building
715-232-1601
careerservices@uwstout.edu.
