Questions Frequently Asked During Employment Interviews

1. Tell me about a time when you had to change someone's mind.

2. What specific goals have you established for yourself for the next 10 years?
3. Describe how you dealt with a major problem at a recent job.
4. What do you really want to do in life?
5. What are the most important rewards you expect in your career?
6. What do you expect to be earning in five years?
7. Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?
8. Which is more important to you, money or type of job?
9. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses and how will
they affect your job performance?
10. Describe a situation where a presentation or speech didn't go well.
11. How do you think a friend or a professor who knows you well would describe you?
12. Describe a situation where you were criticized. What was your response? What
did you do?
13. Do you prefer working with others or by yourself? Why?
14. How has your education prepared you for your career?
15. Why should I hire you?
16. Describe the most difficult person you've had to work with and how you dealt with
him or her.
17. How do you determine or evaluate success?
18. What do you think it takes to be successful in an organization like ours?
19. How do you feel about competition?
20. Can you take instructions/criticism without feeling upset?
21. What qualities should a successful manager possess?
22. What do you think determines a person's progress in a good organization?
23. What kind of supervisor do you prefer?
24. Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and subordinates.
25. Which accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
26. What kinds of problems do you like to solve?
27. If you were hiring a graduate for this position, what qualities would you look for?
28. Do you feel that you had good general training?
29. How did you rank in your graduation class in high school? Where will you probably
rank in college?
30. Why did you select your college or university?
31. How did you happen to go to college?
32. In what way do you feel this job fits into your overall career objectives?
33. What have you done that demonstrates initiative and willingness to work?
34. Which of your college years was the most difficult? Why?
35. Did you enjoy your years at this university?
36. Do you enjoy doing independent research?
37. If you could do so, would you plan your academic study differently?
38. What changes would you make in your college or university?
39. Can you forget your education and start from scratch?
40. Do you like to travel?
41. In which extracurricular activities have you participated? What have you learned
from participation in these extracurricular activities? What did you enjoy the most?
42. Do you have plans for continued study? (Graduate students may be asked: Why
did you decide to pursue an advanced degree?)
43. What is your idea of how industry operates?
44. How do you work under pressure? Give an example.
45. In which type of part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested? Why?
46. How would you describe your ideal position?
47. What are your special abilities?
48. What type of position are you most interested in?
49. What jobs have you enjoyed the most? The least? Why?
50. What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
51. Are you seeking employment in an organization of a certain size? Why?
52. What criteria are you using to evaluate the organization for which you hope to
work?
53. Have you ever tutored an underclassman?
54. Do you enjoy sports as a participant?
55. What types of books have you read?
56. Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee?
57. What are your ideas on salary?
58. Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which our organization
is located?
59. What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?
60. What have you learned from your mistakes?
61. What types of people seem to "rub you the wrong way"?
62. What jobs have you held? How did you get them and why did you leave?
63. What percentage of your college expenses did you earn?
64. How did you spend your vacations while in school?
65. Tell me a story.
66. How did previous employers treat you?
67. What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held?
68. What do you know about opportunities in the field in which you are trained?
69. How long do you expect to work?
70. Have you ever had any difficulty getting along with fellow students, faculty, or
employees?
71. Do you like routine work?
72. Tell me what you know about our company.
73. What size city do you prefer?
74. Define cooperation.
75. Will you fight to get ahead?
76. Do you demand attention?
77. Do you have an analytical mind?
78. Are you eager to please?
79. How do you keep in good physical condition?
80. What job in our organization would you choose if you were entirely free to do so?
81. What job in our organization do you want to work toward?
82. Is it an effort for you to be tolerant of persons with a background and interests
different from your own?
83. Do you have any questions?