55 most frequently asked interview questions

* ACTION WORDS: These are words that you should use in your answers that would prove that you would
never be satisfied with being a spectator at your job.
Planned Implemented Formulated
Created Conceived Initiated
eveloped !riginated
* LADRS!I" WORDS: These are words that should be used throughout the interview to prove that you
would rather be a leader than a follower.
!rgani"ed #uilt Presided !ver
Coordinated $esponsible For %uided
&upervised irected %ave irection To
'anaged (ed
* RS#LT WORDS: The use of these words should help to prove that you wanted results and you got them.
Contributed To $educed Provided For
)valuated emonstrated That Collected
&aved *chieved Increased
an +ohnston from PP$ Career shared the following list of fre,uently as-ed ,uestions on a job interview. as
well as advice on what to be prepared for.
$% Tell me a&out yourself% #se '"i(ture )rame A**roa(+,
'y name is +ohn &hi. I have been wor-ing on web application since /001. using *&P. +&P. and P2P. in
different universities and organi"ation. Currently I am an analyst at *uto3one. responsible of collecting and
analy"ing business performance data for /45 hub stores. #efore that. I spent one and half years of web site
development of engineering college at 6'. I love the job as a web specialist. I believe my s-ills in web site.
computer programs. and data analyst will help me fit into this challenging job.
$ight now I am the hub analyst at supply chain group. In the last /.7 years at *uto3one. I had wor-ed beyond
the e8pectation from my manager to develop the hub networ- and improve the hub performance. 9hen I join
this position. I was just e8pected to run a wee-ly performance reports for these /45 hub stores. 2owever. with
my initiatives. I developed numerous tools using &*&. :#;:#* and 9eb for hub operations. These tools help
me ma-e effective job at my position. )8traordinary <PI improvement was observed with my contribution.
'oreover. I also too- over eCommerce. :endor. and :P. 9ith such a rich e8perience of collaborating with
'erch. &tev. &t!ps. (P. Comm. I. and )Com. I am ready to join one of the most important departments to
carry out a data driven product and price optimi"ation. *ctually. I had spent 4 whole years at 6C focusing on
data driven engineering system. 9ith my degree of I). I would love to join this e8cellent group to continue my
career at *uto3one.
= 2ub analyst = :arious department involvements
= 4 years of data driven engineering system research
= Ph of I) in web product optimi"ation
= /5 years of :#;:C;9eb programming
= > years of &*& development
?ow I have been in this department for one year. I once wor-ed under 'aren and recently under %urcan. I
demonstrated a high s-ill in leading projects such as fog synchroni"ation. store product assortment tool. and
demand forecasting. I am energetic and outgoing. In a group. I am cable of getting support from people. I am
e8cited to ta-e this leadership position. I am ready to develop an even stronger team and to provide product
assortment decision support tools for the company.
-% Did you &rin. your resume/
@es. #e prepared with two or three e8tra copies. o not offer them unless youAre as-ed.
0% W+at do you know a&out our or.ani1ation/
6' is one of the best universities in 'id=&outh 6&*. It grows fast in recent years. The *cademic *ffair
Technology office will be a core element to support the whole university to ma-e sure we get best students and
faculties and develop the best programs. * web site of **T will be a portal application for the whole
integration. I am sure you are in need of the assistance on architecture and contents organi"ation. I would love
to use my s-ills in web application. data processing and software tools to help you. I am confident to develop a
best platform to support the university.
#ecause of its direct impact on profits. pricing is one of the most important activities in business.
6nderstanding. managing and improving pricing processes and outcomes is sure to increase margins and
revenue.
= Price segmentation ; iscrimination
= (oo-up and &ales forecasting
= Price impact B )lasticity
= Product assortment '*P
The '*P team is responsible for the processes of '*P product assortment. ?$. and harmoni"ing with store
refresh. 9e have a powerful forecasting tool. automated assortment decision process. and -nowledgeable
members to support '*P and ?$ processes. The opportunities for this group are to enhance
communications between our groups and associated departments in the company. to integrate more between
store decisions and category decisions. and mostly importantly. to provide better and more graphically tools for
managers.
2% W+at e3*erien(e do you +ave/
!verall I have about /5 years of wor-ing on web and software development and programming. &pecifically.
first. I am familiar with web applications. including *&P. +&P. and P2P and associated # technologies. I have
been managing several active web sites. &econd. I am e8perienced in data manipulations with real applications.
&o I am familiar with optimi"ation and mathematical programming in real applications. I am able to develop
and use statistical models for your academic analysis. migrating the academic results into dynamic web pages.
I). data driven engineering applicationsC
7 years of industrial research projectsC
/5 years of programming in :#;:C;9ebC
> years of &*& developmentC
one year at *3.
I had D years in *uto3one and / year in merchandising. #efore coming to 'emphis. I led a research team in
Cincinnati for industrial and manufacturing optimi"ation projects for 4 years. I am e8perienced programmer
myself. In previous about /5 years. I coordinated and supervised many successful projects. I am ready to lead
the team. train subordinates. and develop stronger group. so that we could provide better and more tools for
C's. store operations. supply chain. and :Ps.
5% A((ordin. to your definition of su((ess4 +ow su((essful +ave you &een so far/
&uccess is to become e8pert in the area you li-e to do.
I have been very successful in schools. as an outstanding research fellow. and as a top ran-ing student.
&uccess is to li-e what you are doing and do an outstanding job.
5% In your (urrent or last *osition4 w+at were your most si.nifi(ant a((om*lis+ments/
'y most significant achievement in my previous job is to combine the data analysis and processing methods
with computer technologies. 'ore than /5 engineering data processing projects were accomplished in 4 years.
)ach of them increases the manufacturing process and systemAs performance.
The significance of my current job is I would be able to use various programming tools such as :isual #asic
and 'apPoint to save time in the assignments. I enjoy being at *uto3one and my manager is very satisfied
with my wor- there.
2owever. based on my previous e8perience of graduate $* at 6T. I really love wor-ing at 6T campus as an
analyst. so I would be able ma-e full use my education and s-ills.
2owever. based on my previous e8perience of %* at 6'. I really love wor-ing at 6' campus as a web
specialist. so I could ma-e full use of my potential and s-ills.
E!2 chec-ing at 015/
/5=D5F pic-ing save
:#. TelnetC +ava
:P one time fill rate
15F to 05F increase
:#. Communication
2ub utili"ation
75F to G7=15F increase
Initiative
&P*$- Hstore operations. merchandising. national sales. IT. etcI. led to &ynch6p
&ynch6p Hconflict resolution between decisionsI
'*P forecast Hstabili"e it and predict betterI and '*P D.5
6% !ad you t+ou.+t of leavin. your *resent *osition &efore/ If yes4 w+at do you t+ink +eld you t+ere/
)ach job gains me e8perience and help me approach my final goal.
I already reached beyond the e8pectationC and I am ready for ne8t level of analyst.
7% Would you des(ri&e a few situations in w+i(+ your work was (riti(i1ed/
First time in 'I& job. customer re,uirement analysis was not enough.
I once had difficult to understand what the customer really wanted.
@ears of e8perience trained me very well.
9hen I first joined company. I lac- some -nowledge to gut chec-ing some reports before we could send out. I
-ept it in my mind. I should continue learning and practicing.
8% If I s*oke wit+ your *revious &oss4 w+at would +e say are your .reatest stren.t+s and weaknesses/
I am real goods at research and software.
9ea-: ambitious to do more jobs.
!utstanding job B +
%o beyond e8pectationC get job done. B 'aren J %urcan
$9% !ow would you des(ri&e your *ersonality/
*ctive and positiveC good with different people
$$% W+at are your stron. *oints/
9eb development. Programming. Problem analysis. reporting
Project management. People coordination. %et=job=doneC and Problem solver
$-% W+at are your weak *oints/
9hen the time is limited. I once became impatient to finish the wor- myself to meet the tight deadlines.
Push others to meet the deadline
$0% !ow did you do in s(+ool/
I study many courses in statistics and engineering courses. I am also actively involved in societies in our
subject. including industrial engineering. healthcare. and biomedical.
$2% In your (urrent or last *osition4 w+at features did you like most/ Least/
'ost: a very nice manager and a very good wor-ing environment.
I li-e everything about my current position and have ac,uired and developed a great many s-ills. but IAm now
ready for new challenges and greater responsibilities.K
The current position in a very low grade and salary levelC the group didnAt initially e8pect to do such high level
job I did. This '* position needs higher level s-ills and will mostly use my -nowledge and e8perience.
!pportunity for this position is to communicate with C's more. 9e need more involvement with outsiders.
$5% W+at do you look for in a :o&/
* job can use my s-ills in programming. * job is related to education. * job I will be able to contribute and
improve. * job is of team environment.
#y going to school in this topic helped me catch up with the new technology. including the statistic methods.
computing algorithms. and management s-ills too.
Competing with all e8cellent students and wor-ing with -nowledge professor helped me learn a lot.
*n analyst job can use my s-ills and e8perience in data driven system. This '* position is the very one can
utili"e my e8perience of /5 years in programming. > years of &*&. 7 years of data driven applications. and
especially one year at the hub group.
* management position to develop and achieve my potential. 'y goal is to develop. train and guide a strong
'*P team to provide useful assortment decision support tools.
$5% !ow lon. would it take you to make a meanin.ful (ontri&ution to our firm/
?ot long. because of my e8perience. transferable s-ills and ability to learn.
I li-e to ta-e a short time to get familiar with your models and problems.
*fter that. I will be able to wor- together with other team members to solve the real cases and improve the
wor- performance.
$6% !ow lon. would you stay wit+ us/
*s long as I feel that IAm contributing. and that my contribution is recogni"ed. IAm loo-ing to ma-e a long term
commitment.
$7% If you +ave never su*ervised4 +ow do you feel a&out assumin. t+ose res*onsi&ilities/
If you want to supervise. say so. and be enthusiastic.
* team will be wor-ing li-e a complicated computer program. )ach part in it has different functions and has to
be wor-ing in a wor-flow manner.
I used to manage many different projects and coordinate various people.
$8% W+y do you want to &e(ome a su*ervisor/
LTo grow and develop professionally. to help others develop. to build a team and to share what I have learned.K
-9% W+at do you see as t+e most diffi(ult task in &ein. a su*ervisor/
L%etting things planned and done through others and dealing with different personalities.K &how how you have
done this in the past. The habit of time management is different among people.
-$% ;ou<ve &een wit+ your (urrent em*loyer quite a w+ile% W+y +aven<t you advan(ed wit+ +im/
L9hat I li-e about my present position is that itAs both stable and challenging. #ut itAs true that IAve grown
about as much as I can in my current position.
--% W+y are you leavin. your *resent *osition/
I am eager to ta-e on more challenges. and I believe I will find them at Mhiring companyN.
IAm not unhappy Hat my present employerI. 2owever. this opportunity seems to be particularly interesting and I
am interested in pursuing it further.
!ur office is closingC the whole organi"ation is being reduced in si"e.
I was not on the mar-et when PP$ Career contacted me and e8plained what you are doing. it pea-ed my
interest.
-0% Des(ri&e w+at would &e an ideal workin. environment/
Team wor- is the -ey.
-2% !ow would you evaluate your *resent firm/
#e positive. $efer to the valuable e8perience you have gained. onAt mention negatives.
-5% Do you *refer workin. wit+ fi.ures4 or wit+ words/
#e aware of what the job re,uires and position your answer in that conte8t. In many cases it would be both.
#alance between figures and words
I love wor-ing with data. ata driven approach was my main job in previous 7=> years. I developed numerous
tools in this area.
!ur main aim is to provide clear and meaningful data and figures to C's. directors. :Ps to help them ma-e
right decisions. #est parts at $ight price.
-5% W+at kinds of *eo*le do you find diffi(ult to work wit+/
I would prefer wor-ing with persons who are motivated. team=wor-ing. and tend to listen.
-6% !ow would your (o=workers des(ri&e you/
$efer to your strengths and s-ills.
Programming O ata processing s-ills
(i-e to communicate with people
2ave clear schedules
-7% W+at do you t+ink of your &oss/
If you li-e him or her. say so and tell why. If you donAt li-e him or her. find something positive to say.
-8% W+y do you want to work in a (om*any of t+is si1e/ Or t+is ty*e/
)8plain how this si"e or type of company wor-s well for you. using e8amples from the past if possible.
PP! HProduct and Price !ptimi"ationI groupAs si"e is bigger than my current one. I will enjoy team wor-ing
here.
09% If you +ad your (+oi(e of :o&s and (om*anies4 w+ere would you .o/
This job and this company are very close to what best suits you.
0$% W+y do you want to work for us/
@ou feel you can help achieve the companyAs objectives. especially in the short run. @ou li-e what youAve
learned about the company. its policies. goals and management: LIAve researched the company and people tell
me itAs a good place to wor-.K
I can help the group maintain the data driven approach. I will help develop more effective tools to enable and
implement product assortment and price optimi"ation.
0-% W+at was t+e last &ook you read/ >ovie you saw/ S*ortin. event you attended/
Thin- this through. @our answer should be compatible with accepted norms.
#oo-: PreyC Timeline = 'ichael Crichton
'ovie: CarsC &tar %ate
&ports: FedererAs tennis
00% W+at are you doin.4 or w+at +ave you done to rea(+ your (areer o&:e(tives/
Tal- about formal courses and training programs.
I too- a lot of statistic and software courses.
I was involved in many chances. even including some volunteer opportunities.
I -ept building web sites
<now people in *3 and as-
02% W+at was wron. wit+ your last (om*any/
?o company is perfectC it had both strengths and wea-nesses.
05% W+at kind of +ours are you used to workin./
Hoes the person match job and criteriaPI
I will say. as many hours as it ta-es to get the job done.
05% W+at would you do for us/
$elate past success in accomplishing the objectives which are similar to those of the prospective employer.
= <now data sources B 2ub analyst
= Programming B :#;:C;+ava
= ata driven optimi"ation B I) post=doc and Ph
= Team wor-ingC Inspiring and motivating
I can lead the team
= &upport them. Train them and %uide them
= Integrate '*P. store. and forecast
= '*P D.5 upgrade B close connected with C's
06% W+at +as your e3*erien(e &een in su*ervisin. *eo*le/
%ive e8amples from accomplishments.
Cleveland manufacturing productivity project
Find the problem in the manufacturing system
Collected the data ; *naly"e the data ; &tatistical testing ; 'anage / master student
Increase the productivity
Projects B &P*$-. &ynch6p. emand forecast
07% Are you a .ood su*ervisor/
@es. my people li-e and respect me personally and professionally. They often comment on how much they
learn and develop under my supervision. For e8ample. a do"en of students even wrote letters to than- me for
instructing their programming.
08% Did you ever fire anyone/ If so4 w+at were t+e reasons and +ow did you +andle it/
If you havenAt. say so. but add that you could do it. if necessary.
29% !ow +ave you +el*ed your (om*any/
Finished Q projectsC Q applications.
DD projects since ecember
2$% W+at is t+e most money you ever a((ounted for/ Lar.est &ud.et res*onsi&ility/
$efer to accomplishments. If you havenAt had budget responsibility. say so. but refer to an accomplishment that
demonstrates the same s-ill.
2-% W+at<s t+e most diffi(ult situation you ever fa(ed on t+e :o&/
'PI techni,ues computing load
!rder fill rates B Call the stores
&ynchroni"ation
emand forecast
* forecast stabili"ation
20% Des(ri&e some situations in w+i(+ you +ave worked under *ressure or met deadlines/
2ong <ong. multiple projects with different s-ill sets
etailed and systematical project plansC !rgani"ed teams
&ynch6p B pressure from other department. IT. and technical issues
22% !ow do you +andle re:e(tion/
I see rejection as an opportunity. I learn from it. 9hen a customer ta-es a pass. I as- him what we could do to
the product. price or service to ma-e it possible for him to say yes. onAt get me wrong: @ouAve got to ma-es
sales. #ut rejection is valuable. too. ItAs a good teacher.K
25% In your *resent *osition4 w+at *ro&lems +ave you identified t+at +ad *reviously &een overlooked/
(oad force profile B ?onlinarC bl=e8ponential curve
Curve fitting B Polynomial functions
:P ontime HdelayI
2ub 6T rate
2ub driver hours
?ew hub proforma
* cople of projects I am wor-ing on will be the future development of the group: &ynch6p. Forecast. '*P D.5
25% ?ive an e3am*le of your (reativity%
2uman lung simulation
&tatistical B &ave huge computing load
$oute analysis B 'apPoint :# programming
2ub $eport B 'acro &*& programming
:P :P $eport B )8cel charts
2ub test B :#*
Include web into '*P
emand forecasting
26% ?ive e3am*les of your leaders+i* a&ilities%
$esearch project of neural fu""y tool development at Cincinnati
27% W+at are your (areer .oals/
Tal- first about doing the job for which you are applying.
@our career goals should mesh with the hiring company goals.
2ub networ- performance R= 2ub wee-ly report
Product *ssortment HFast and *ccurateI and Price !ptimi"ation HProfit and &tableI
28% W+at *osition do you e3*e(t to +ave in two years/
+ust say you wish to e8ceed objectives so well that you will be on a promotable trac-.
59% W+at are your o&:e(tives/
H2ow does the person handle stressP 9hat is their confidence levelPI
5$% W+y s+ould we +ire you/
This may sound suspicious. negative. or just plain harsh. *ctually. itAs a call for help. The employer wants you
to help him;her hire you. <eep your response brief. $ecap any job re,uirements the interviewer may have
mentioned earlier in the interview. then. point by point. match your s-ills. abilities and ,ualifications to those
items. $elate a past e8perience which represents success in achieving objectives which may be similar to those
of the prospective employer.
I possess the s-ills re,uired for this job. *nd I am ready to start the wor-.
ata driven application. :#;:#*. Programming. 9eb S I have all of these with outstanding records.
#ecause I am the right person you are loo-ing for.
5-% ;ou may &e over=qualified or too e3*erien(ed for t+e *osition we +ave to offer%
L* strong company needs a strong person.K *n employer will get faster return on investment because you have
more e8perience than re,uired.
9hen I joined the hub analyst. I was told as over ,ualified too. #ut they are so happy now.
I am sure you will find it too if I ta-e this '* position.
%reat people generate great service.
50% W+y +aven<t you found a new *osition &efore now/
LFinding the right job ta-es time. IAm not loo-ing for just any job.K
52% If you (ould start a.ain4 w+at would you do differently/
?o need to be self=revealing. L2indsight is D5;D5C everyone would ma-e some changes. but IAve learned and
grown from all my decisions.K
I am ,uite satisfied with my records.
55% !ow mu(+ do you e3*e(t if we offer t+is *osition to you/
I would e8pect a fair salary based on the job responsibilities. my e8perience and s-ills and the mar-et value of
the job.
I am just e8pecting to get a fair salary. I -now this PP! group re,uires the most high level s-ills and
-nowledge. I would love to join your e8traordinary wor- and ma-e outstanding contribution li-e I did before. I
am sure in a short time. I will be a -ey assert in your group.