The list of job interview questions you may be asked is virtually endless. However there are some questions that are likely to be asked in one form or another.
If you know the answers to the job interview questions you may be asked, then you will present yourself in a much better light than a candidate who has not done their homework.
In many respects an interview is an examination. The employer is trying to find out if you are the right person for the job and for their company. As an interviewee you should be giving the information asked for in a confident and convincing manner. You will feel much more confident if you are aware of the interview questions you may be asked and in turn perform better at interviews.
Preparation before the interview is crucial, so at the Personal Development Cafe we have compiled a list of job interview questions and answers you may need to know.
Forewarned is forearmed so take your time to look over them, consider how you would answer them and if necessary practise answering them in mock interview situations or by taking a virtual job interview.
Sample Job Interview Questions You May Be Asked
-
- Tell me about yourself?
- What are your greatest strengths?
- What is your greatest weakness?
- Why do you want to work for us/this company?
- If a former boss/co-worker was asked to describe you, what do you think they would say?
- Why do you want this job?
- What do you know about this company?
- Why should we employ you?
- How ambitious are you?
- Would you compete for my job?
-
- What do you think of your last company?
- How would you describe yourself?
- How would others describe you?
- Do you consider yourself successful?
- What would your ideal job be?
- Do you prefer working in a small, medium or large company?
- Are you considering any other job offers at present?
- What was your greatest success and how did you achieve it?
- What has been your biggest failure?
- What sort of manager are you?
-
- Are you a good leader?
- What do you think makes a good leader/manager?
- Do you work well with others?
- How could you improve yourself?
- How do you handle criticism?
- What management style gets the best out of you?
- What motivates you?
- How do you motivate others?
- Are you competitive?
- Are you aggressive?
-
- What do you dislike doing?
- Are you a perfectionist?
- What problems did you come across in your last job?
- What annoyed you about your last job?
- Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibility?
- Do you work well under pressure?
- How many hours are you prepared to work?
- Do you feel over qualified for this job?
- Do you think you are under qualified for this job?
- How would you feel being managed by someone younger than you?
- How would you manage someone older than you?
-
- Are you prepared to relocate?
- How far are you willing to travel (as part of this job)?
- Why have you changed jobs so often?
- How long have you been unemployed?
- Why do you want to leave your current job?
- Why were you made redundant from your last job?
- How often were you off sick in your last job?
- What did you earn in your last job?
- What salary are you expecting if we offered you the job?
-
- Where do you see yourself in 5/10 years time?
- What will your references say about you?
- What are your short/long term goals?
- Have you ever recruited anyone? If so what did you look for?
- What would be your ideal job?
- Why did you study ……. at university/college?
- Why didn’t you finish university/college?
- How do you spend your leisure time?
- Why have you been unemployed for so long?
- When was the last time you lost your temper?
- Do you ever get angry?
Need more help with job interview questions
This is a brief list of all the available job interview questions and answers. You can find difficult interview questions and popular interview questions here at The Personal Development Cafe.
Using a Professional Interview Coach
Many people find the interview process a nerve wracking experience. As a result they may suffer from interview nerves and may not do themselves justice during the interview. A simple way of tacking interview nerves is to use the services of a good professional interview coach.
Working with your coach, you can put in place a plan of acion to address your personal needs. You can practice specific questions and unique answers that won’t sound prepared – because they are true. Most importantly, they will give you coping strategies that will help you deal with interview nerves and anxiety.
If you would like to share any interview tips you think others could benefit from (for example an interview question you found difficult, funny or puzzling), or have an interview question you would like answered, then use our comment form below and we will add them to The Personal Development Cafe.
