Top 50 Interview Questions and their answers for Freshers ( Q1 to 10)

1. 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. tart with the item farthest back and work up to the present. 2. hy did you leave your last !ob"

tay positive regardless of the circumstances. !ever refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors" co-workers or the organi#ation. $ f you do" you will be the one looking bad. %eep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity" a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons. #. hat e$perien%e do you have in this field"

peak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. $f you do not have specific e&perience" get as close as you can. &. 'o you %onsider yourself su%%essful" You should always answer yes and briefly e&plain why. ' good e&planation is that you have set goals" and you have met some and are on track to achieve the others. 5. hat do %o(wor)ers say about you"

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. (ither a specific statement or a paraphrase will work. )ill *lark" a co-worker at mith *ompany" always said $ was the hardest workers she had ever known. $t is as powerful as )ill having said it at the interview herself. *. hat do you )now about this or+ani,ation"

This question is one reason to do some research on the organi#ation before the interview. +ind out where they have been and where they are going. ,hat are the current issues and who are the major players-. hat have you done to improve your )nowled+e in the last year"

Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. ' wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. .ave some good ones handy to mention. .. /re you applyin+ for other !obs" Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area. %eep the focus on this job and what you can do for this organi#ation. 'nything else is a distraction. 0. hy do you want to wor) for this or+ani,ation"

This may take some thought and certainly" should be based on the research you have done on the organi#ation. incerity is e&tremely important here and will easily be used. /elate it to your longterm career goals. 10. 'o you )now anyone who wor)s for us" Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the organi#ation. 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. 11. hat )ind of salary do you need"

' loaded question. ' nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first. o" do not answer it. $nstead" say something like" that"s a tough question. *an you tell me the range for this position- $n most cases" the interviewer" taken off guard" will tell you. $f not" say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range. 12. /re you a team player" You are" of course" a team player. Be sure to have e&amples ready. pecifics that show you often perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself is good evidence of your team attitude. 0o not brag1 just say it in a matter-of-fact tone- This is a key point. 1#. 1ow lon+ would you e$pe%t to wor) for us if hired" pecifics here are not good. omething like this should work2 $"d like it to be a long time. 3r 's long as we both feel $"m doing a good job. 1&. 1ave you ever had to fire anyone" 1ow did you feel about that" This is serious. 0o not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to fire people. 't the same time" you will do it when it is the right thing to do. ,hen it comes to the organi#ation versus the individual who has created a harmful situation" you will protect the organi#ation. /emember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in force. 15. hat is your philosophy towards wor)"

The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery dissertation here. 0o you have strong feelings that the job gets done- Yes. That"s the type of answer were that works best here. hort and positive" showing a benefit to the organi#ation. 1*. If you had enou+h money to retire ri+ht now2 would you"

'nswer yes if you would. But since you need to work" this is the type of work you prefer. 0o not say yes if you do not mean it. 1-. 1ave you ever been as)ed to leave a position" $f you have not" say no. $f you have" be honest" brief and avoid saying negative things about the people or organi#ation involved. 1.. 3$plain how you would be an asset to this or+ani,ation" You should be an&ious for this question. $t gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position being discussed. 4ive a little advance thought to this relationship. 10. hy should we hire you"

5oint out how your assets meet what the organi#ation needs. 0o not mention any other candidates to make a comparison. 20. Tell me about a su++estion you have made" .ave a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered successful. 3ne related to the type of work applied for is a real plus. 21. hat irritates you about %o(wor)ers"

This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. ' short statement that you seem to get along with folks is great. 22. hat is your +reatest stren+th"

!umerous answers are good" just stay positive. ' few good e&amples2 Your ability to prioriti#e" Your problem-solving skills" Your ability to work under pressure" Your ability to focus on projects" Your professional e&pertise" Your leadership skills" Your positive attitude 2#. Tell me about your dream !ob. tay away from a specific job. You cannot win. $f you say the job you are contending for is it" you strain credibility. $f 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 genetic and say something like2 ' job where $ love the work" like the people" can contribute and can"t wait to get to work. 2&. hy do you thin) you would do well at this !ob"

4ive several reasons and include skills" e&perience and interest. 25. hat are you loo)in+ for in a !ob"

tay away from a specific job. You cannot win. $f you say the job you are contending for is it" you strain credibility. $f 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 genetic and say something like2 ' job where $ love the work" like the people" can contribute and can"t wait to get to work. 2*. hat )ind of person would you refuse to wor) with"

0o not be trivial. $t would take disloyalty to the organi#ation" violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. 6inor objections will label you as a whiner. 2-. hat is more important to you4 the money or the wor)"

6oney is always important" but the work is the most important. There is no better answer. 2.. hat would your previous supervisor say your stron+est point is"

There are numerous good possibilities2 Loyalty" (nergy" 5ositive attitude" Leadership" Team player" (&pertise" $nitiative" 5atience" .ard work" *reativity" 5roblem solver 20. 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. $f you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former boss" you may well below the interview right there. tay positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor. #0. hat has disappointed you about a !ob"

0on"t get trivial or negative. afe areas are few but can include2 !ot enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction *ompany did not win a contract" which would have given you more responsibility

#1. Tell me about your ability to wor) under pressure" You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. 4ive an e&ample that relates to the type of position applied for. #2. 'o your s)ills mat%h this !ob or another !ob more %losely" 5robably this one. 0o not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one. ##. hat motivates you to do your best on the !ob"

This is a personal trait that only you can say" but good e&amples are2 *hallenge" 'chievement and /ecognition. #&. /re you willin+ to wor) overtime" 5i+hts" This is up to you. Be totally honest. #5. 1ow would you )now you were su%%essful on this !ob" everal ways are good measures2 You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your outcomes are a success. Your boss tells you that you are successful. #*. ould you be willin+ to relo%ate if re6uired" ee)ends"

You should be clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may come up. 0o 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.

#-. /re you willin+ to put the interests of the or+ani,ation ahead of your own" This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. 0o not worry about the deep ethical and philosophical implications. )ust say yes. #.. 'es%ribe your mana+ement style. Try to avoid labels. ome of the more common labels" like progressive" salesman or consensus" can have several meanings or descriptions depending on which management e&pert you listen to. The situational style is safe" because it says you will manage according to the situation" instead of one si#e fits all. #0. hat have you learned from mista)es on the !ob"

.ere you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. 6ake it small" well-intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. 'n e&ample would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off. &0. 'o you have any blind spots" Trick question. $f you know about blind spots" they are no longer blind spots. 0o not reveal any personal areas of concern here. Let them do their own discovery on your bad points. 0o not hand it to them. &1. If you were hirin+ a person for this !ob2 what would you loo) for" Be careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have. &2. 'o you thin) you are over6ualified for this position" /egardless of your qualifications" state that you are very well qualified for the position. &#. 1ow do you propose to %ompensate for your la%) of e$perien%e" +irst" if you have e&perience that the interviewer does not know about" bring that up2 Then" point out 7if true8 that you are a hard working quick learner. &&. hat 6ualities do you loo) for in a boss"

Be generic and positive. afe qualities are knowledgeable" a sense of humor" fair" loyal to subordinates and holder of high standards. 'll bosses think they have these traits. &5. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute between others" 5ick a specific incident. *oncentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you settled. &*. hat position do you prefer on a team wor)in+ on a pro!e%t"

Be honest. $f you are comfortable in different roles" point that out.

&-. 'es%ribe your wor) ethi%. (mphasi#e benefits to the organi#ation. Things like" determination to get the job done and work hard but enjoy your work are good. &.. hat has been your bi++est professional disappointment"78

Be sure that you refer to something that was beyond your control. how acceptance and no negative feelings. &0. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the !ob. Talk about having fun by accomplishing something for the organi#ation. 50. 'o you have any 6uestions for me" 'lways have some questions prepared. 9uestions prepared where you will be an asset to the organi#ation are good. .ow soon will $ be able to be productive- 'nd what type of projects will $ be able to assist on- are e&amples.

19 Interview Questions For Freshers 1. Tell me about yourself" $ am down-to-earth" sweet" smart" creative" industrious" and thorough. 2. 1ow has your e$perien%e prepared you for your %areer" :oursewor)4 'side from the discipline and engineering foundation learning that $ have gained from my courses" $ think the design projects" reports" and presentations have prepared me most for my career. or) 3$perien%e4 Through internships" $ have gained self-esteem" confidence" and problem-solving skills. $ also refined my technical writing and learned to prepare professional documents for clients. ;tudent <r+ani,ations4 By working on multiple projects for different student organi#ations while keeping up my grades" $:ve built time management and efficiency skills. 'dditionally" $:ve developed leadership" communication" and teamwork abilities. =ife 3$perien%e4 $n general" life has taught me determination and the importance of maintaining my ethical standards. #. 'es%ribe the ideal !ob. $deally" $ would like to work in a fun" warm environment with individuals working independently towards team goals or individual goals. $ am not concerned about minor elements" such as dress codes" cubicles" and the level of formality. 6ost important to me is an atmosphere that fosters

attention to quality" honesty" and integrity. &. hat type of supervisor have you found to be the best"

$ have been fortunate enough to work under wonderful supervisors who have provided limited supervision" while answering thoughtful questions and guiding learning. $n my e&perience" the best supervisors give positive feedback and tactful criticism. 5. hat do you plan to be doin+ in five years8 time"

Taking the 5( e&am and serving in supervisory;leadership roles both at work and in professional;community organi#ation7s8. *. hat %ontributions %ould you ma)e in this or+ani,ation that would help you to stand out

from other appli%ants" $n previous internships" my industriousness and ability to teach myself have been valuable assets to the company. 6y self-teaching abilities will minimi#e overhead costs" and my industriousness at targeting needs without prompting will set me apart from others. 'dditionally" one thing that has always set me apart from my scientific;engineering peers are my broad interests and strong writing abilities. $ am not your typical <left-brained< engineer" and with my broad talents" $ am likely to provide diverse viewpoints. -. hat sort of %riteria are you usin+ to de%ide the or+ani,ation you will wor) for"

6ost importantly" $ am looking for a company that values quality" ethics" and teamwork. $ would like to work for a company that hires overachievers. .. hat made you %hoose your ma!or"

6y academic interests are broad" so $ sought civil engineering to achieve a great balance of mathematics" chemistry" biology" physics" and writing. 0. 1ave your university and ma!or met your e$pe%tations" The *ollege of (ngineering at 6 = has e&ceeded my e&pectations by providing group activities" career resources" individual attention" and professors with genuine interest in teaching. 6y major has met my e&pectations by about >?@. $ would have enjoyed more choices in environmental courses" and would have preferred more calculus-based learning. 10. hat made you %hoose this %olle+e"

$ chose this college for the following reasons2 my budget limited me to in-state schools" $ was seeking an area with dog-friendly apartments" the 6 = web site impressed me" $ saw active student groups" and the people were very friendly. 11. =ist 2(# of your +reatest a%hievements sin%e you8ve been in %olle+e and why" 9e%eivin+ the ; 3 <utstandin+ >ember /ward and :olle+e of 3n+ineerin+ ;tudent ;ervi%e /ward

$ got involved with student activities to overcome my debilitating shyness. /eceiving these awards signified that $ had accomplished a transition from dragging myself to participate to feeling energi#ed by it. 9e%eivin+ the ; 3 eb ;ite /ward

,ithout training in web design" $ competed against not only the other student sections" but professional sections around the nation. 0espite competing with more .T6L-e&perienced people" $ brought this award to my section. 'fter getting so much from ,(" $ was able to give something back. (arning the highest grade in an organic chemistry class of AB?? people $ worked very hard for this grade and loved the subject" so it was a great feeling to see that the hard work paid off. 12. hi%h sub!e%ts have you en!oyed studyin+ the most and why"

$ have enjoyed hydrology" fluids" solid C ha#ardous waste management" water and wastewater treatment" and oceanography because $ love water and environmental topics. *alculus and linear algebra e&cite me because $ love logic. $ enjoyed the writing and analysis in economic history. Business law thrilled me because $ have a strong interest in legal matters. 1#. hi%h sub!e%ts did you disli)e and why"

$ntroductory soil elicited little interest in me" most likely because the professor was ine&perienced" the book was ineffective" and $ had little spare time that semester to look into other resources. 1&. 'o you have plans to %ontinue your edu%ation" Yes" but not immediately. $ plan to continue part time with either an 6B' or an environmental engineering masters" depending on which will be more beneficial to my work. 15. 1ow would a professor who )nows you well des%ribe you" <ne who does not )now you well" ' professor who knows me well would likely describe my personal qualities2 sweet" down-to-earth" smart" hard-working" and conscientious. 's specific e&amples of those who did not know me well" my soils professor and soils teaching assistant each considered me smart and respectful" and both thought that $ must have enjoyed the class a lot" due to my performance. 1*. ?iven the %han%e2 how would you alter your edu%ation"

%nowing now what $ like the most" $ would have used my electives for e&tra math and psychology classes" since $ tend to be well-rounded enough that a variety of classes are unnecessary1 my personal reading is diverse enough. $ have found that mathematics and psychology are helpful to all career and life paths. 1-. hi%h part(time !ob did you en!oy the most and why"

,orking for 56 (nvironmental was most enjoyable to me" since $ felt like $ was significantly contributing to the company" and $ enjoyed learning on my own. 1.. Interests4 ome of my interests include dogs" hiking" snow-shoeing" water sports" writing" reading 7especially *harles 0ickens: novels8" skiing" drawing" crafts" and computers. 10. hat are your stren+ths"

6y strongest strength is the ability to teach myself difficult material" regardless of the subject 7with the e&ception of theater and drawing blood from dogs" which $ have no talent for8. 'dditionally" $ have always e&celled verbally and look forward to writing opportunities. 20. hat are your wea)nesses"

$ tend to try to do too many things" leaving little time for myself. $ have worked on balancing myself for the last several months. $ am also working on improving my public speaking skills. 21. hat sort of serious problems have you e$perien%ed2 and how have you handled them"

6y apartment building burned down at the end of )anuary during one of my semesters at 6 =. Before the fire got too bad" $ was able to rescue my pets and the neighbor:s dog" as well as my te&tbooks and backpack" but $ lost most of my mementos and possessions. ,hile the firemen were preparing their hoses" $ drove to school 7with the animals in the car8 to meet my lab partners" who were waiting for me. $ e&plained the situation" emailed my professors" and rushed back to the apartment. +ortunately" $ had renter:s insurance. $ missed about a week of school to deal with the insurance matters and find a new place to live. $n order to salvage my grades and sanity" $ dropped a course and honored my e&isting student group and research commitments. taying active socially and keeping myself well-rounded were the best healing tools for me. ,ithin a few weeks" $ was caught up and had recovered reasonably from the loss of sentimental items. 22. 'o you or have you in the past e$perimented with ille+al dru+s" !o. 6y only addictions are caffeine and sugar. 2#. ould you be willin+ to ta)e a dru+ test"

3f course.

2&. 'o you drin) al%ohol so%ially" !o" but $ enjoy hirley Temples quite a bit. 25. If you had your whole life to live over2 what would you do differently and why" $ was always good in math" but $ wish that $ would have focused on math more. $ feel that mathematics can lead one anywhere" and is the basis of most disciplines. 3n a personal level" $ would have ensured that" despite pre-teen angst and insecurity" $ would have been nice to everyone" even on especially bad days. 2*. hi%h is more important to you2 your salary or your !ob"

alary is important" but $ couldn:t stay with a job that brought me misery when $ could support myself doing something else1 hence" my job is more important. 2-. hat have you found to be the bi++est sour%e of motivation in your life"

Taking advantage of my strengths so that they are not wasted. ince nobody is lucky enough to be strong in every area" $ think it is important to make good use of one:s strengths. 2.. hat sorts of thin+s %ause you stress2 and how do you deal with them"

Lack of organi#ation throws me off. To deal with this" $ come up with some kind of system to organi#e things" even if it is only in my head" in the case when chaos is desirable. 20. hat is your definition of su%%ess"

Being a good person by improving the quality of the lives of others" whether it be through work" doing sweet things" improving the environment;community" taking care of one:s family" etc. uperficially" $ tend to measure success by level of education and abilities within one:s career1 however" $ try to remind myself of the things that are more important. #0. hat 6ualities should a su%%essful supervisor possess in re+ard to !ob re6uirements and

those who report to him@her" ' successful supervisor should be able to tactfully give criticism" guide" motivate" encourage and foster a positive work environment. #1. 1ow would you develop team spirit amon+ the people that you supervise" 6y e&perience in student groups has taught me that people work best when their friends 7teammates8 are counting on them to do well1 therefore" $ believe that bonding motivates people. $ would also foster team pride by promoting our team:s assets. #2. 'o you li)e to wor) independently or as a team" $ like to work independently towards a team goal. ##. hat )ind of wor) environment do you li)e the best"

$ enjoy working with friendly co-workers who can share a laugh while working hard and overachieving. #&. 1ow would you resolve %onfli%ts with employees2 %owor)ers2 and supervisors" $f possible" $ would refresh my memory on what $:ve learned about conflict communication" and then $ would discuss things" honestly and tactfully. $ am a big fan of kind sincerity and honesty" as well as humility 7when appropriate8. #5. In what ways have you learned from your mista)es" =pon getting myself overwhelmed with involvement in too many projects" $ changed my approach. ,hen possible" $ now start with less than $ can handle and add more only as time allows" and in small increments. #*. In what areas do you need to improve your s)ills" $ would like to improve my public speaking skills.