The Top Questions most Often Asked By Interviewers with Suggested Answers
The Top Questions Most Often Asked By Interviewers
To be prepared for an interview it is helpful to have an understanding of the questions you may be asked and to have prepared answers for them. As you read the questions below, think of adaptations to these and then answer them. You may want to say your answers out load while looking in a mirror to see how you look and sound. Another great tip is to record your answers into a tape recorder and then play it back and see what it sounds like. Practice your answers and then go take charge of your career and get the job you want and find the employer you want to work for! You never have a chance to make a second first impression. And that is what the interview is all about-making good first impressions. Better still, are you prepared to answer these basic knee benders? Got some good answers? They better be good, because these are some of the most important questions interviewers pose either directly or indirectly.
They don't expect you to have all the answers
"Employers are more interested in how you find answers to things you don't know than in having you pretend to know something you don't," In some cases, the interviewer may ask a question that he or she doesn't expect you to be able to answer simply to see how you handle it. If you ever find that you don't know the answer to an interviewer's question, the best thing to do is to admit that you don't know, but either add that you could give an educated guess or provide a way you might go about finding the answer. Most importantly, if you don't know, don't try to fake it. "Not knowing is OK. Making something up or pretending to know is not,"
The Top Questions most Often Asked By Interviewers
1."Which supervisors have you found easiest to work with and which have been the most difficult?"
This is to judge your adaptability.
Suggested answer: Like any social situation; a professional environment is bound to have its good and bad apples. There is no rule that says that once you find a job, you will enjoy working with each of your coworkers. In fact, you are bound to run into a colleague who irritates or even offends you. In these situations, it often becomes your responsibility to maintain a professional attitude to keep your reputation intact, no matter what.
2. "What did you like best and least about your previous job?"
Checking your administration and management skills
Suggested answer: I've given this question some though, and overall I've been very satisfied with my jobs. I've been able to work with some really interesting people. I have to admit I did have a job where there was an inordinate amount of paper work. Because working with people is my strength, the paperwork really bogged me down. I performed the assignment well and I learned something useful. I enjoyed the camaraderie of being part of a team. It was an excellent company that afforded me many fine experiences and challenges, but it is gone now.
3. "What do you like most/least about your present job?"
Suggested answer: The thing that I most disliked about my past job was the lack of opportunity to learn new skills or to take on new challenges. I enjoy my work and feel I make a positive contribution to my job, but I've been able to master the major duties and now seek greater responsibility and opportunity.
4."Have you ever had to get a point across to different types of people?" Give me an example and tell me what approach did you take?
Finding out about your communication skills.
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5."Describe a time when you were faced with a challenging situation and how you handled it?"
Describe a work related problem you had to face recently. What did you do to deal with it?
Decision making skills tested.
Suggested answer: The office thief typically is not known for stealing pens and pencils, but for stealing credit and ideas. I found out that this individual later presented an idea that I brought up casually formally, with no reference to my input. Unfortunately, it wouldn't do myself much good by yelling: that was my idea!" I steered clear of this person, particularly when it came to brainstorming or sharing ideas and materials. I was professional, but also guarded in my interactions with this employee.
6. "Give me an example of a time you did more than what was required in your job.
Seeking initiative."
Suggested answer: ???????
7. "Give me an example of a time you found it necessary to make an exception to the rules in order to get something done. How is your integrity?"
Suggested answer: In my last job I dealt with a customer who had a repair problem. The customer had purchased the unit from one of our dealers. The customer sent the unit in for repair and without cost to the customer, I repaired the unit and I returned the repaired unit to the customer. Several weeks later the customer called in and said the unit was not working again. The customer wanted to return the unit for a refund and it was obviously purchased several years ago, which was against our warranty policy. I spoke to the customer calmly and explained our policies to the customer and then encouraged the customer to return the unit to the dealer from whom they had purchased the unit and if the dealer would refund or exchange the unit that I would credit the dealer's account, however, I could not give the dealers' customer a refund.
8."What was the best decision you ever made? What were the alternatives? "How did you go about making it? Checking your judgment."
Suggested answer: Misery loves company, and some individuals are just not happy in any situation. These employees are not afraid to complain, and do it often and vocally. But in an office environment, negativity often means lower productivity and company morale. Companies typically seek out others who will share their grief. My best bet was to listen respectfully if someone approached me to vent, but not to join in. Sooner or later, the complainer stopped using me as a sounding board and I didn't have to risk being a negative employee.
9. "Tell me about a time you had to gain the cooperation of a group over which you had little or no authority. What did you do?"How effectivity were you? Leadership.
Suggested answer: Look, you and I bothe know it's not always easy to manage estimators and project managers. I did my best to convince them of the importance of deadlines and let them know what it cost us when we miss them. I also pointed out how unfair it is to others in the department, and the entire operation, when things are help up unnecessarily. "I usually find some way to get along with all of the people in the department, some way to convince them that timeliness and accuracy are absolute musts. It's not always easy. But a lot of times it's fun. When we are rushed because another department is late, I use this as an object lesson. The most important ting is to distribute the work fairly and let everyone know that you expect them to do their share.
10. Have you ever had a troble learning a new method or procedure? How did you deal with that sitation? Investigating your learning ability.
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11. Tell me about a problem you have had that would arrect more than one department. How did you try to solve it? For organizational cooperation.
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12. "Why did you leave your last job?"
Suggested answer: I am looking for a situation, which will more completely utilize my skills and experences in purchasing.
Suggested answer: "The Company just wasn't a good fit for my creativity, but I learned that organizations have distinct personalities just like people do. Now I know where I'll be a better fit. After two years, I made a decision to look for a company that is team-focused,where I can add my experence and skills."
13. "Why have you changed jobs so often?"
Suggested answer: While I was not in any one position for an extended period, I did gain a broad range of skills. I am now focused on where I want to go professionally and am seeking a long term commitment.
14. Why did you leave your previous employer, or why are you leaving your present job?"
Suggested answer: I'm looking fpr greater challenges, more opportunity and finally (but don't play this up, except as a natural consequnce of the previous "mores"), more money. I am seeking greater opportunity, challenges and responsibility.
Suggested answer: After a review of their operations and business needs, management, made the difficult but necessary decision to effect a reorganization of it's workforce. Unfortunately their decision made it nessary to terminate my employment.
15. "What are your weaknesses?"
Suggested answer: I am detail-oriented, a workaholic and sometimes I neglect friends and family when working on important projects. I am very meticulous and remain involved in projects until I've ironed out all the problems, even if it means working overtime.