What Questions Do Employers Ask In Interviews

Tips to prepare on how to answer employers questions

• Know your skills or provide examples of your skills and successes related to the position
• Know why you want the job.
• Know why you chose the particular career field.
• Know the company.
• Have a clear understanding of the job and the company.
• Any research you have done will show, but do not hesitate to ask additional questions.
• If the interviewer only vaguely describes the position and you want more specific information, ask questions.
• Know your transferable skills.
• Identify skills and abilities that you developed in experiences that may not be directly related to the job.
• Identify specific examples.

The Weakness Question

Often interviewers will ask about a weakness that you bring to the position. This is not a personal disclosure of some character flaw. Respond to this question as a weakness that you would like to improve upon. State the weakness and emphasize the strategy you use to overcome it.

Personal Questions

• Tell me about yourself.
• What do you consider to be your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
• What are your goals?
• What motivates you most?
• Describe your ideal job?
• Describe a situation in which you recognized a potential problem as an opportunity, what did you do?
• Where do you want to be in five years? Ten years?
• Tell me about a time when you came up with an innovative solution to a challenge you were facing.
• What was the challenge?
• What roles did others play?
• What kind of problems are frustrating you?
• How do you deal with those problems?
• Have you had difficulty getting along with a former professor/supervisor/co-worker and how did you handle it?
• Define success. Define failure.
• Of which accomplishments are you most proud?
• What are your hobbies?

Educational Questions

• Describe your education?
• Do you plan to return to school for further education?
• Why did you choose your major?
• In which campus activities did you participate?
• Which classes in your major did you like best? Least?
• Which elective classes did you like best? Least?
• Do your grades accurately reflect your ability?
• Were you financially responsible for any portion of your college education?
• Did you drop out of school? If so, why?

Work History & Experience Questions

• Tell me about your most recent job or internship. What were your responsibilities at that job or internship?
• What was the best part of your last position? What did you like the least?
• What job-related skills have you developed?
• Did you work while going to school? In what positions?
• What did you learn from these work experiences?
• Have you ever quit a job? Why?
• You have not worked before or not worked in several years. Explain why?
• Give an example of a situation in which you provided a solution to an employer.
• Give an example of a time in which you worked under deadline pressure?
• Have you ever done any volunteer work?
• How do you think a former supervisor would describe your work?
• Are you comfortable with public speaking? Give us an example of groups you have spoken to.
• Have you ever supervised a group of employees?
• Describe your supervisory style?
• Give an example of how you prioritize workload.
• Describe a situation when you worked on a team.
• Tell us about your computer skills.
• Have you ever been convicted of a felony or mis-demeanor?

Career Goals Questions

• Do you prefer to work under supervision or on your own?
• What kind of boss do you prefer?
• Would you be successful working with a team?
• Do you prefer large or small organizations? Why?
• How do you feel about working in a structured environment?
• Are you able to work on several assignments at once?
• How do you feel about working overtime?
• How do feel about traveling in your job?
• Would you be willing to relocate?
• Are you willing to work on different schedules?

About the Job Questions

• How does your college education or work experience relate to this job?
• Why do you want to work with our organization?
• What do you know about our organization?
• Why should you be the one hired for this job?
• Why do you want to change jobs now? (if applicable)

Stay Upbeat!

The interviewer may control the question, but you can influence the atmosphere and the experiences as a whole. Focus on your positive attributes that fit the position and maintain a positive atmosphere during the interview.

Hope this can help you get prepared for any questions the interviewer will throw at you, if there is anything you would like to add please comment below.