Job Interview Questions for New Grads

As each different job is different, most interviewers ask different

questions. Below are examples of questions that could be asked in an
interview.

 How would you describe yourself?

 What do you see yourself doing in five years?
 What do you really want to do in life?
 Why did you choose your college - and are you happy with the
choice?
 Why are your long-term career objectives - and how do you
plan to achieve them?
 What’s more important to you – the work itself or how much
you’re paid for doing it
 What are the most important rewards you expect to gain from
your career?
 What do you expect to be earning in five years?
 What do you expect to be earning after you graduate?
 Why do you choose this career?
 What are your majors and minors?
 Why did you choose the course you took?
 What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and
weaknesses?
 How do you think your favorite professor would describe you?
Your least favorite professor?
 What motivates you to go the extra mile on a project or job?
 What was your most memorable classroom experience?
 How has your college experience prepared you for your career?
 Why should I here you?
 How would you describe the ideal job for you following
graduation?
 How do you define success?
 What qualifications do you have that will make you successful?
 What do you think it takes to be successful in this company?
 How are you going to make a contribution to our company?
 What are two or three accomplishments that have given you
that most satisfaction - and why?
 What was your favorite class – and why?
 What was your least favorite class – and why?
 What changes would you make in your college?
 Do you have plans to continue your education?
 What skills have you acquired from your in internships and part
– time jobs?
 Describe your favorite professor or favorite supervisor.
 Do you think your grades are a good indication of the type of
employee you’ll make?
 What’s your GP? Are you happy with it?
 What have you learned from your experiences outside the
classroom?
 Do you feel you work well under pressure?
 Why are you interviewing for this position?
 What can you tell us about our company?
 What interests you about our products?
 What do you know about our competitors?
 What criteria are you using to choose companies to interview
with?
 What are you expectations regarding promotions and salary
increases?
 Are you willing to relocate?
 Are you willing to travel for the job?
 How much training do you think you need before you can make
a contribution to the company?
 Describe one of the biggest mistakes you made in college.
 What did you learn from your mistakes?
 What other jobs/companies are you considering?
 If you were hiring for this position, what qualities would you look
for in a new college grad?
 How well do you work with people? Do you prefer working alone
or in teams?
 Have you ever been in a group project where there were
difficulties? How were these issues resolved?
 How would you describe your leadership skills?
 How well do you adapt to new situations?
 Which is more important: creativity or efficiency? Why?
 What’s the most recent book you’ve read that’s not been a class
assignment?
 What kinds of things or skills did you learn from these activities?
 Do you think college changed you as a person? If so, how?
 What have you accomplished that shows your initiative and
willingness to work?
Additional Questions:

 Why did you select your college or university?

 What changes would you make in your college or university?
Why?
 How has your college experience prepared you for this particular
career?
 If you could do so, how would you plan your academic study
differently? Why?
 What college subjects did you like the best? Why?
 What college subjects did you like the least? Why?
 What have you learned from participation in extracurricular
activities?
 How would your professors describe you?
 Describe you most rewarding college experience.
 Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your
academic achievement?
 Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?
 How did you learn of this position?
 How will you prepare for the transition from college to the
workplace?
 What type of work environment do you prefer?
 Are you willing to travel or relocate?
 Are you seeking a position with an organization of a certain size?
Why?
 Do you prefer to work alone or in a group?
 Tell me about your experiences working as part of a team.
 In what ways have you been a leader?
 How do you organize and manage your time?
 What motivates you to put forth your best effort?
 How do you work under pressure? Give me an example of when
you dealt with pressure?
 What are your long range and short range goals?
 What do you think it takes to be successful in an organization?
 What qualifications do you have that make you think that you
will be successful in this career?
 How do you define success?
 What two or three accomplishments have given you the most
satisfaction?
 How do you respond to criticism?
 What have you learned from mistakes?
 Describe a situation where you were in charge of organizing
something.
 How would a co – worker or supervisor describe you?
 In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our
organization?
 What other types of jobs/organizations are you considering?
 When could you start work?
 Is there anything else you would like to ask us?

Behavioral Questions

 What can you do for us that other candidates can’t?

 What do you know about this industry?
 Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling
their own weight, and how did you handle the situation?
 How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
 Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?
 What has impacted you most in your life?
 What is your greatest failure and what did you learn from it?
 What are you looking for in terms of career satisfaction?
 What do you like to do for fun?
 What are your lifelong dreams _________ and what do you
ultimately want to become?
 Why are you leaving your present job?
 How would you go about establishing your credibility with your
team?
 How would you feel working for someone who knows less than
you?
 What’s the most difficult decision you have made in the last two
years?
 What’s the most important thing you have learned in your
college?
 What is your greatest fear?
 What would you do if you won 10 crores in a lottery?
 What irritates you about other people and how do you deal with
it?
 List 5 words that describe your character.
 If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
 If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that
you disagreed with, what would you do?
 Sell me this pencil.
 What is your personal mission statement?
 What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days of the
job?
 What magazines do you subscribe to?
 How do you think I rate as a n interviewers?
 How many quarters stacked one on the other would it take to
reach the moon?
 What will you miss about your last job?
 What is your greatest achievement outside of work?
 What’s your salary history?
 What are the three positive things your last boss would say
about you?
 What’s the last book you read?
 What attracted you to this company?
 How would you describe your work style?
 Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?
 How long will it take for you to make a significant contribution?