Questions & Responses

Nobody anticipates all the questions an interviewer may ask. However, it pays to be prepared for the ones you are most likely to get. Be prepared and answer questions clearly and with enthusiasm.

Click on a question to link to the response:

Tell me about yourself.

Make a short, organized statement of your education and professional achievements and professional goals. Then, briefly describe your qualifications for the job and the contributions you could make to the organization.
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What about our company interests you?

Show the interviewer your interest in the company. Share what you learned about the company and industry through your own research. Unless you work in sales, your answer should never be simply: "money."
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What are your best skills?

If you have sufficiently researched the organization, you should be able to imagine what skills the company values. List them, and then give examples where you have demonstrated these skills.
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Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others?

The ideal answer is one of flexibility. However, be honest. Give examples describing how you have worked in both situations.
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What are your career goals? Or, What are your plans for the future?

The interviewer wants to know if your plans and the company's goals are compatible. Let him or her know that you are ambitious enough to plan ahead. Talk about your desire to learn more and improve your performance. Be specific as possible about how you will meet the goals you have set for yourself. Do not say you have no plans.
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What are your hobbies? And, Do you play any sports?

The interviewer may be looking for evidence of your job skills outside of your professional experience. For example, hobbies such as chess or bridge demonstrate analytical skills. Reading, music, and painting are creative hobbies. Individual sports show determination and stamina, while group sport activities may indicate you are comfortable working as part of a team. Employees who have creative or athletic outlets for their stress are often healthier, happier, and more productive.
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What kind of salary do you expect?

Most lines of work have a set salary range and it would be wise to learn what this range is prior to the interview. If you are unable to obtain this information, you may want to tell the interviewer that you would work for whatever the company feels is fair, based on your qualifications and the company's standard salary level for that position.
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Have you ever done this type of work before?

The interviewer is trying to determine if you are qualified for the job. If you have completed similar work in the past or have held a job using some of the required skills, examples of skills used in past jobs should be described. If this line of work is new to you and you have never done anything similar in the past, be sure to mention your eagerness and ability to learn.
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Why should we hire you instead of someone else? What are your greatest strengths?

When answering this question, remember to keep the information related to the job you're applying for. Mention positive traits that give the interviewer a variety of information about you. Confidently list your skills and your positive characteristics. Make sure you rehearse these in advance. If you are not asked this question, use the three or four skills and positive characteristics as your closing statement.
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What are your weaknesses?

Everyone has weaknesses, but the interviewer wants to know if you have any weaknesses that will prevent you from doing the particular job well. Don't mention weaknesses if they will not interfere with your ability to do the job. If you do have a weakness that will interfere with the job, then perhaps this is not the best position to be applying for. Always reassure the employer that you are confident that you can either work with or overcome the weakness.
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What kinds of machines or equipment have you worked with?

Mention machines or equipment that are related to the job in question. The more equipment you can operate, the more apparent it is that you are capable of learning about other types that might be used on the job. If you have not had experience working with the type of equipment used, describe similar equipment and express your confidence that you can learn quickly.
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Give me an example of a time when you worked under pressure.

Employers want to know how you are able to handle pressure. Give the interviewer examples of paid or unpaid activities that involved deadlines and pressures and be able to explain how you handled the stress. If you were unable to meet the deadline, explain what you did to compensate, such as working overtime, renegotiating the deadline, etc.
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Why have all your jobs been short term?

The interviewer is trying to find out if you can keep a job. You should mention any straightforward factors that are responsible for your work history, such as returning to school, summer or temporary employment, travel, etc. If you have no explanation to offer the employer, mention that you were looking for work and assure the employer you plan to stay with this job for some time.
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Why did you leave your last job?

The interviewer is looking to see if there were problems at your last job that may arise again. Employees usually leave a job for more than one reason and you should mention only those reasons that are favorable to you. If you were fired from your last job and feel you need to mention the position on your resume, explain what happened in a positive manner and note that the situation would never occur again. Do not say anything negative about a company or supervisor for whom you worked, as the interviewer will most likely view you as someone who will do the same thing again.
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Why aren't you in school? Or, Why haven't you finished school?

The interviewer may fear that you will leave your job for the same reasons you left school. He/she may also be curious about any ambitions you have to complete your education. Tell the employer in a positive way why you are not attending school at present. If you do plan to complete college, let the employer know this.
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What are your long-range goals?

The interviewer wants to know whether you are serious about staying with the company and to determine whether you have given some thought to your future. If your goals are related to the job in question, be certain to make note of this. If the position is not related to your goals, mention the advantages of gaining additional work experience as part of your career planning.
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Why do you want to work here?

The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the company and the job for which you are being interviewed. Knowledge about the company and the job shows the interviewer you are interested and demonstrates initiative on your part. You should mention as many of the positive features as you can about the company and mention why you are a good candidate to fill the job vacancy.
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How much were you absent from work or school? How is your health?

The interviewer is trying to determine whether they can depend on you to show for work. If this has not been an area of concern for you, stress your past reliability and give assurance of your future reliability. If you have had difficulties in this area in the past, tell the interviewer what the reason was and why you feel that it will no longer be a problem.
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When are you available for work?

If you are presently unemployed, you can most likely respond that you can begin work right away. However, if you are presently employed, you should be aware of how much notice your present employer requires before you are able to leave your present job. If you are going to school, know when you will be finished and what part-time hours you will be prepared to work before the school year ends.
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Can you explain this gap in your employment?

The employer may be questioning your commitment to employment, thinking that you don't like to work, or wanting to find out what you have been doing with yourself during the gap. If you have been doing anything constructive during this time, such as dedicating yourself to school, taking courses, performing volunteer work, etc., mention these. Also, mention that you were looking for jobs, and that you enjoy working.
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Do you have a criminal record?

If you have a criminal record, don't try to hide it from the interviewer. Briefly explain the situation, remembering not to sound like you are making excuses or blaming the incident on someone else. Reassure the interviewer that you have learned from your mistakes and have changed your ways.
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Are you willing to cut your hair or take out your earring?

The interviewer feels that some aspect of your appearance does not "fit" with the business and wants to know if you are willing to change your appearance. The decision of what you say is yours. However, if you say no, you may not be considered for the job. Saying yes will increase the chances of being seen as a cooperative person and consequently, of being hired.
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Do you have references?

It is best to provide the interviewer with a neatly typed sheet indicating the name, position, location and telephone number of your references. If you do not have your references with you, ask the interviewer what they would like to see to give you an idea of their expectations. If you do not have employment references, consider using the names of teachers/instructors or the names of personal references. Personal references should not be the names of friends who are approximately the same age as you. Almost all employers will ask for references, so be prepared to provide this information. Also have permission to use someone's name prior to adding it to your reference sheet.
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What have I forgotten to ask?

Use this as a chance to summarize your good characteristics and attributes and how they may be used to benefit the organization. If you are bold enough, ask the interviewer if your specific skills or talents would be of interest, or be a possible fit within the company. The objective is to ask questions resulting in "yes" answers. The more "yes" answers, the better the interviewer will feel about considering you for the job. Convince the interviewer that you understand the job requirements and that you can succeed.
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Are there any qestions that you have?

This is often the final question that an employer will ask. It is wise to always ask one or two questions as it shows the interviewer your interest in the position available. However, the interview is not the time to ask questions about salary, benefits, hours or vacation. This information may be critical for you in making your decision, but wait until you have been offered the job before asking about them.
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