Typical Interview Questions

Question #1: What do you know about our organization? 

The interviewer wants to know if you have researched before coming to the interview. It helps
them assess how interested you are in joining the organization.

How you can answer: 

1. Do your research
2. Prepare notes 
3. Be able to summarize your findings in 30-60 seconds

Example #1: Recreation Assistant

The West End Community Centre is a non-profit organization that has offered high-quality
recreation for seniors in Wellington County since 1993. The organization is deeply committed to
inclusivity, accessibility and respect. At the Kitchener location, I learned that you serve 150
seniors and their families every week. One of the programs that made an impact on me was the
Caregiver Support Group. It seems as though the West End Community Centre does care about
the needs of people in the community, which makes me excited to learn more about the position.

Question #2: What are your strengths?

The interviewer is looking to understand what you could offer the company and if the skills you
possess are a good match for the position. 

How to answer:
1. Focus on key qualities that directly relate to the position 
2. Support them with specific and relevant examples
3. If possible, speak about a skill referenced in the job posting

Example (Skills-based) = Graphic design

My greatest strength is that I have experience with a variety of design, photo-editing, and video
software programs. In my last role, I noticed that the marketing team wasn’t using branded video
and photography to their full potential. Since I had experience with Lightroom and Premiere Pro,
I was able to jump in and teach them how to use the programs, edit their photos, and shoot
professional style videos. Adding internal video and photos saved the company more than
$25,000 per year.

Example (Character trait) = Teamwork

I work well with others. Last year my department reorganized, and I was put on a new team. We
all had different backgrounds and experience levels. There wasn’t a clear hierarchy which
created a bit of tension in the beginning. I suggested that we do a team bonding session at
Montanas. Over dinner, I asked people to share what they liked about their previous role. We
were able to share what our strengths were and brainstormed some ways in which they could fit
together with the new team. I thanked everyone for sharing and made sure to acknowledge their
skills when working on projects in the office. I noticed that we created a culture of celebrating
our strengths, which helped us perform as a unit. By the end of the year, our team hit all of our
sales targets.

Question #3: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In 10 years? 

The interviewer is asking what your career goals are within this position. They want to know that
this position will satisfy you and that you’ll work hard to stay with the company for a long time. 

How to answer:
1. Think about how your goals fit with the job description 
2. Think about the experiences/skills you’d like to have on your resume in 5-10 years
3. Reflect on your interests and how they may differ or grow 

Example #1:
In five years, I would love to be a web designer that others can go to for ideas, help and strategy.
I've had amazing mentors and managers in my past positions, so I would like to be able to do the
same thing and potentially take on a leadership role in the future. Finally, I would like to take
more leadership positions on projects I'm passionate about.

Example #2:
Let me start by saying that I'm excited about this position and what we've been discussing so far.
My number one goal is to do my best work and achieve success in this position. However, in five
years if there is an opportunity to advance in this company and I have proven my skills and
experience then I would be interested in taking on a larger role especially regarding leadership.

Avoid: 
 Talking about your future in a different position than the current employer doesn't have

Question #4: How do you stay organized?

The interviewer wants to know if you can stay organized and manage your time well.

How you can answer: 

1. Explain your organization method, including any tools or practices that you have used in
the past.

Example:
I like to use a variety of digital tools to help me stay organized and focused at work. The
calendar app on Microsoft Outlook is where I add important events, meetings and presentations.
The alert feature reminds me of upcoming deadlines which are helpful when things get busy.
However, the organizational tool I use the most is simply a list of priorities. I keep this handy on
my desk, so I can stay focused on the tasks I am responsible for. I like to break tasks down into
steps so that I can anticipate any challenges or delays that I might encounter. This helps me get a
better understanding of the time I need for a task, which is important in communicating
expectations with my boss.
 Last month, for example, I was responsible for creating a PowerPoint presentation for the
company about online engagement with our brand. The first thing that I did was add the
submission deadline in my calendar. Next, I identified all the tasks that needed to be completed. I
created a folder where I put various reports, spreadsheets and raw data. I clearly labelled each
file so that they were easy to find. This helped me to identify what resources I didn't currently
have and what tasks I needed to complete.

Question #5: What is your biggest weakness? 

The interviewer is looking to see if you are self-aware. They want you to demonstrate how you
have used a weakness as motivation to learn a new skill or grow professionally.

How you can answer:

1. Be honest
2. Explain why this trait can negatively impact you
3. Offer ways in which you are working to improve

Example: My greatest weakness is that I sometimes struggle with saying no. As a result, I can
end up taking on a lot of work-related requests. In the past, this has led me to feel overwhelmed.
To help myself improve in this area, I use a project management app so I can visualize how
much work I have at any given moment. This helps me to understand if I have the capacity to
take on more. 

Question #6: What are your salary expectations? 

The interviewer is keeping in mind the company’s budget however, they want to find out if you
know your worth and whether you're at the appropriate professional level they are looking for. 

How to Answer: 
1. Provide a range 
2. Include negotiation options
3. Explain your reasoning 
4. Deflect the question if it’s too early on in the interview process

Example #1:
While I am flexible, I’m looking to receive between 60,000 to 65,000 annually. Due to my skills
and experience level, I feel that this is an appropriate range for this position.

Example #2:  
My baseline salary requirement is 75,000. I feel that the value and expertise I can bring to this
role supports my compensation expectations. Is this in line with your thoughts?

Avoid: 
 Asking for an amount that is out of the price range of that role 
 Don’t be negative if the amount they offer is low, ask about negotiating 
Question #7: Tell me about yourself  
The interviewer wants to get to know you and see if you are a good fit for the position. Usually,
this question is asked first, so it sets the tone of the interview and allows the interviewer to form
a first impression of you.

How to Answer:
1. Mention past experiences and proven successes as they relate to the position 
2. Consider how your current job or previous jobs relate to the position you’re applying to
3. Focus on strengths and abilities that you can support with examples 
4. Highlight your personality to break the ice at the end

Example:
I am a dedicated salesperson with 5 years of experience recruiting customers and selling products
on behalf of multiple companies. I have spent the last 3 years developing my skills as a
salesperson at Linamar Corporation where I have won multiple performance awards and have
been promoted. I love interacting with customers and answering any questions or concerns. Last
year, I worked with the IT Department to create a more effective online scheduling tool so
employees can schedule appointments with clients efficiently and effectively. In my role, I also
managed marketing and advertising the products the company sold by creating an online market
for the public. I enjoyed creating this online market and I'm especially interested in bringing the
skills I've learned from my previous positions to this company. Outside of the office, I enjoy
reading and hiking. On the weekends, you will usually find me enjoying the outdoors.

Avoid: 
 Mentioning highly personal information (e.g. marital status, politics, religion) 

Behavioural Questions
Question #8: Tell me about a challenge or conflict that you’ve faced at work and
how you’ve dealt with it:
Most jobs require you to work with a range of different people and the employer wants to make
sure you’re able to deal with conflict or a challenge professionally. 

How to Answer:
1. Briefly explain the situation of the conflict that occurred 
2. Talk about the approach you took, so make sure to highlight your key actions
3. Then finish with the outcome of the situation 

Example:
When I was a graphic designer at Charmed Aroma, I was managing the creation of our
company's website with a co-worker. Our team was on a tight deadline since the website had to
be reviewed by our manager before it could officially be launched. To meet the deadline I took
on more work than I was able to handle. This created tension between my co-worker and me as I
became unable to meet certain deadlines we had set for ourselves. Instead of allowing the
frustration to grow, we decided to talk about new approaches we could take to completing the
project on time. We quickly realized that to complete the website to the standard we had set out
the only possible solution within the time constraint was to add another member to our team.
Eventually, we agreed to talk to our manager to let him know how time-consuming and
important this project was and that we needed another person to help to ensure the production of
a high-quality final product. Our manager agreed. As a result, our team was able to complete and
launch the website on time while not compromising the quality of the project. Our website got
over 1,000 hits on the first day and as a result of our hard work, our products were more
accessible for customers to purchase online.

Avoid: 
 Don’t talk about an example that doesn’t have a good resolution 
 Don’t get caught up in minor details 

Question #9: Can you tell me about a time you went above and beyond for work
Are you able to problem-solve and how committed are you to the job?

How to answer: 
1. Think about a project that you completed that had a clear goal
2. Explain what you did to exceed expectations 
3. Share the outcome 

Example: 
I am an assistant manager at the Delta Hotel in Guelph. There was a gentleman that checked in
on a Wednesday evening. He seemed tired after a long drive and explained that he had an
important meeting in the morning. I noticed his room was booked near the conference room and
that we had an event that was about to start that would run until midnight. I expressed my
concerns about noise and asked if I could upgrade him to a room on the third floor. The customer
seemed thrilled that I considered his important meeting. I let the customer know that we also
offer wake-up calls, dry cleaning and an early morning continental breakfast starting at 5 am. I
try to put myself in the customer's shoes and go above and beyond, so they can have an
exceptional experience.

Question #10: What questions do you have?

Asking a question shows that you’re invested and interested in the job position, so interviewers
expect you to ask a question. Also, as the interviewer asks this at the end of the interview it
allows you to leave a memorable impression. 

How to answer: 
1. Resist the urge to say no even if you’re confident the job is a good match for you 
2. Ask a question that shows you’re invested and interested in the position 
3. Ask questions about the job, company, your qualifications or the next steps 
Example #1:
What does a typical day look like for a person in this position? 

Example #2: 
How would you describe the company’s culture? 

Example #3:
I've enjoyed learning more about this opportunity. What are the next steps in the hiring process?

Example #4:
6 months from now if I were to get this position what would I have to accomplish for you to feel
as though you made a good hiring decision?

Avoid: 
 Don’t ask a question that isn’t relevant or is personal