Muskingum College - Center for Advancement and Learning (CAL)

The Interview

Interviewing Tips

Handling Difficult Questions

Questions Most commonly Asked At Interviews

Interviewing Tips

Prior to the interview, thoroughly research the company to learn such things as:
- Products or services offered
- Company history
- Management structure
- The company's competitors
- Salary ranges
- Education opportunities

Practice your answers to possible questions with a tape recorder or video recorder
Take an extra copy or your resume to the interview.
Select clothes that will create an image of professionalism.
Be approximately 10 minutes early.
Smile, be polite, and have a firm handshake.
Make frequent eye contact.
Do not slouch or chew gum.
Speak clearly and with enthusiasm.
Answer questions thoroughly, using more than one word answers.
Give examples to demonstrate your strengths and accomplishments.
Listen closely.
Do not interrupt the interviewer.
Let the potential employer bring up the topic of salary.
Ask any questions you have prepared.
Send a thank you letter afterwards.

Handling Difficult Questions

Questions regarding weaknesses in your resume

Example: I note from your resume that: a) you have a three year gap in your work history; b) you have held six jobs over the last three years; c)you have no experience in one area crucial to success in this job; or d) you have not listed your grade point average. Please explain.

Most interviewers will identify a weakness or potential problem in your background, experience, or education. Anticipate your weaknesses) and prepare a response.

Be honest. If you do not have a high grade point average, admit this, but offer to explain why it is not better. Perhaps you worked 20 hours a week to pay for personal or educational expenses. Perhaps you lacked motivation when you started school and thus failed to study during your freshman and sophomore years. You then saw the importance of education and became more committed to academics. In this case, you should point to your current grade point average as evidence.
There may be a problem that you cannot explain. In this case, you need to convince the interviewer that you are aware of the problem, have dealt with it (or are currently dealing with it) successfully, and believe that it will not affect your job performance.
You may also turn a weakness into a potential benefit. For example, "You're correct in noting that I have jumped from job to job over the past three years. The problem was that I had no focus on what kind of work I wanted to do. I was searching. I think that time is behind me now. I have given a lot of thought to working in law enforcement. In fact, I have learned from my past experience that I take great pleasure and pride in helping people."

Personal Questions

Examples: Are you married? Are you pregnant? Does your spouse work? Are you divorced? Are you planning to have a family? How many children do you have?

If these questions are not directly job related, they may be considered unlawful to ask under state, federal, and/or local law. Although these questions are generally not job related and asking them may be unlawful, some interviewers will not let that deter them from poking into your personal life.

Whether you choose to answer such questions is your decision. The issue should be resolved in your mind before you attend an interview.
If you do have serious moral or ethical qualms about answering such questions, you could respond to them by expressing your point of view in a diplomatic and tactful manner. For example, "I don't mean to be difficult, but I know that legally I am not obliged to answer question about my religion/personal life for a job of this nature. I would prefer to go on to other questions."
The problem with not answering the interviewer's questions is that this could decrease your chances of getting the job. But then the workplace is not always fair or rational.

50 Questions Most commonly Asked At Interviews

From: The Endicott Survey, published by the Placement Center of Northwestern University, periodically updates its original list of questions most commonly asked of college graduates at interviews. Variations of that list have appeared in many publications.

1. What are your long-range and short-range goals and objectives, when and how did you establish these goals, and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them.

2. What specific goals, other than those related to your occupation, have you established for yourself for the next 10 years?

3. What do you see yourself doing five years from now?

4. What do you really want to do in life?

5. What are your long-range career objectives?

6. How do you plan to achieve your career goals?

7. What are the most important rewards you expect in your career?

8. What do you expect to be earning in five years?

9. Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?

10. Which is more important to you, the money or the type of job?

11. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

12. How would you describe yourself?

13. How do you think a friend or a professor who knows you well would describe you?

14. What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?

15. How has your education prepared you for a career?

16. Why should I hire you?

17. What qualifications do you you have that make you think that you will be successful?

18. How do you determine or evaluate success?

19. What do you think it takes to be successful in a company like ours?

20. In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?

21. What qualities should a successful manager possess?

22. Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and subordinates.

23. What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?

24. Describe you most rewarding college experience.

25. If you were hiring a graduate for this position, what qualities would you look for?

26. Why did you select your college or university?

27. What led you to choose your field of major study?

28. What academic subjects did you like best? Least?

29. Do you enjoy doing independent research?

30. If you could do so, would you plan you academic study differently?

31. What changes would you make in your college or university?

32. Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?

33. What have you learned from participation in extracurricular activities?

34. Do yo have plans for continued study? (Graduate students may be asked: Why did you decide to pursue an advanced degree?)

35. In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?

36. How do you work under pressure?

37. In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested? Why?

38. How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation?

39. Why did you decide to seek a position with this company?

40. What do you know about our company?

41. What two or three things are most important to you in your job?

42. Are you seeking employment in a company of a certain size? Why?

43. What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work?

44. Do you have a geographical preference? Why?

45. Will you relocate? Does relocation bother you?

46. Are you willing to travel?

47. Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee?

48. Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which our company is located?

49. What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?

50. What have you learned from you mistakes?



		The Interview Interviewing Tips Handling Difficult Questions Questions Most commonly Asked At Interviews Interviewing Tips Prior to the interview, thoroughly research the company to learn such things as: Products or services offered Company history Management structure The company's competitors Salary ranges Education opportunities Practice your answers to possible questions with a tape recorder or video recorder Take an extra copy or your resume to the interview. Select clothes that will create an image of professionalism. Be approximately 10 minutes early. Smile, be polite, and have a firm handshake. Make frequent eye contact. Do not slouch or chew gum. Speak clearly and with enthusiasm. Answer questions thoroughly, using more than one word answers. Give examples to demonstrate your strengths and accomplishments. Listen closely. Do not interrupt the interviewer. Let the potential employer bring up the topic of salary. Ask any questions you have prepared. Send a thank you letter afterwards. Handling Difficult Questions Questions regarding weaknesses in your resume Example: I note from your resume that: a) you have a three year gap in your work history; b) you have held six jobs over the last three years; c)you have no experience in one area crucial to success in this job; or d) you have not listed your grade point average. Please explain. Most interviewers will identify a weakness or potential problem in your background, experience, or education. Anticipate your weaknesses) and prepare a response. Be honest. If you do not have a high grade point average, admit this, but offer to explain why it is not better. Perhaps you worked 20 hours a week to pay for personal or educational expenses. Perhaps you lacked motivation when you started school and thus failed to study during your freshman and sophomore years. You then saw the importance of education and became more committed to academics. In this case, you should point to your current grade point average as evidence. There may be a problem that you cannot explain. In this case, you need to convince the interviewer that you are aware of the problem, have dealt with it (or are currently dealing with it) successfully, and believe that it will not affect your job performance. You may also turn a weakness into a potential benefit. For example, "You're correct in noting that I have jumped from job to job over the past three years. The problem was that I had no focus on what kind of work I wanted to do. I was searching. I think that time is behind me now. I have given a lot of thought to working in law enforcement. In fact, I have learned from my past experience that I take great pleasure and pride in helping people." Personal Questions Examples: Are you married? Are you pregnant? Does your spouse work? Are you divorced? Are you planning to have a family? How many children do you have? If these questions are not directly job related, they may be considered unlawful to ask under state, federal, and/or local law. Although these questions are generally not job related and asking them may be unlawful, some interviewers will not let that deter them from poking into your personal life. Whether you choose to answer such questions is your decision. The issue should be resolved in your mind before you attend an interview. If you do have serious moral or ethical qualms about answering such questions, you could respond to them by expressing your point of view in a diplomatic and tactful manner. For example, "I don't mean to be difficult, but I know that legally I am not obliged to answer question about my religion/personal life for a job of this nature. I would prefer to go on to other questions." The problem with not answering the interviewer's questions is that this could decrease your chances of getting the job. But then the workplace is not always fair or rational. 50 Questions Most commonly Asked At Interviews From: The Endicott Survey, published by the Placement Center of Northwestern University, periodically updates its original list of questions most commonly asked of college graduates at interviews. Variations of that list have appeared in many publications. 1. What are your long-range and short-range goals and objectives, when and how did you establish these goals, and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them. 2. What specific goals, other than those related to your occupation, have you established for yourself for the next 10 years? 3. What do you see yourself doing five years from now? 4. What do you really want to do in life? 5. What are your long-range career objectives? 6. How do you plan to achieve your career goals? 7. What are the most important rewards you expect in your career? 8. What do you expect to be earning in five years? 9. Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing? 10. Which is more important to you, the money or the type of job? 11. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses? 12. How would you describe yourself? 13. How do you think a friend or a professor who knows you well would describe you? 14. What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort? 15. How has your education prepared you for a career? 16. Why should I hire you? 17. What qualifications do you you have that make you think that you will be successful? 18. How do you determine or evaluate success? 19. What do you think it takes to be successful in a company like ours? 20. In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company? 21. What qualities should a successful manager possess? 22. Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and subordinates. 23. What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why? 24. Describe you most rewarding college experience. 25. If you were hiring a graduate for this position, what qualities would you look for? 26. Why did you select your college or university? 27. What led you to choose your field of major study? 28. What academic subjects did you like best? Least? 29. Do you enjoy doing independent research? 30. If you could do so, would you plan you academic study differently? 31. What changes would you make in your college or university? 32. Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement? 33. What have you learned from participation in extracurricular activities? 34. Do yo have plans for continued study? (Graduate students may be asked: Why did you decide to pursue an advanced degree?) 35. In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable? 36. How do you work under pressure? 37. In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested? Why? 38. How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation? 39. Why did you decide to seek a position with this company? 40. What do you know about our company? 41. What two or three things are most important to you in your job? 42. Are you seeking employment in a company of a certain size? Why? 43. What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work? 44. Do you have a geographical preference? Why? 45. Will you relocate? Does relocation bother you? 46. Are you willing to travel? 47. Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee? 48. Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which our company is located? 49. What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it? 50. What have you learned from you mistakes?