INTERVIEW QUESTION AND ANSWERS

1. Tell me about yourself. 2. What are your strengths? 3. Why did you choose this major? 4. What are your plans for the future? 5. Why should I hire you? 6. What are your weaknesses? 7. Why did you decide to attend school at Saint Mary’s? 8. What courses did you like the most? The least? Why? 9. Tell me about your grades. Do you feel you have done the best work for which you are capable? 10. Do you have plans for furthering your education? 11. How did you finance your education? 12. Do you feel you received a good general education? 13. How has your education prepared you for your career? 14. What extra-curricular activities are you involved in? What have you gained from these experiences? 15. Describe your study habits.16. If you could start college over, what would you do differently? 17. How would you describe your ideal job? 18. Why did you choose this career field? 19. Are you a leader or a follower? 20. What kind of work interests you t

During the behavioral interview, questions are asked that are aimed at getting you to provide specific examples of how you have developed and utilized the required skill set for the job. This method is relied on to evaluate your experiences and behaviors and use them as indicators of your potential for success. Leadership: 1. Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead. 2. Describe a situation in which you were able to positively influence the actions of others in a desired direction. Problem Solving Skills/Stress Management: 1. Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills. 2. What is your typical way of dealing with a conflict? Give me an example. 3. Tell me about the most challenging or difficult problem you have faced at work, in college or as a volunteer. What decisions did you make and/or what steps did you take to resolve the problem? What were the results? Time Management/Organization: 1.

1. Arriving late. 2. Arriving early. Don’t arrive more than 15 minutes early. 3. Dressing in a rush. If you select your clothes right before you leave, you won’t have time to fix things such as a loose button. Neatness counts. 4. Dressing wrong. Dressing too casually can ruin your chances. The safest choice for any interview is a tailored suit in a conservative color like black, navy, gray, or tan. 5. Not knowing your own strengths. You must be prepared to give strengths and to give specific examples illustrating your strengths. 6. Drinking. Even if others are ordering cocktails, avoid drinking alcohol. 7. Smoking. Smoking makes you look nervous. Tobacco-breath should be avoided at all times. 8. Bringing along a friend or relative. Even being seen saying goodbye to your best friend or your spouse at the building door can make you look as if you didn’t have the nerve to get there on your own. Being picked up afterward also reeks of dependency. 9. Not knowing about the organ

1. Directive Interview: The interviewer will direct the interview by the questions he/she asks you. You are expected to do most of the talking. You may feel as if questions are being “fired” at you constantly. 2. Non-Directive Interview: The interviewer does not provide direction for the interview. He/she may ask you what you would like to discuss and leave it to you to provide the direction of the interview. 3.  Behavioral Interview: The interviewer is seeking specific examples and responses that will give insight into personality traits and critical skills. Questions may focus on intellectual competence, leadership ability, team/personal skills, adjustment/flexibility, motivation, communication skills, administrative skills, and technical skills. An example question is: “Describe a situation when you have been stressed and how you dealt with it”. (See Appendix 4 for more information about Behavioral Interviews) 4.Stress Interview: The interviewer will use a confrontati

There are several types of interviews. The employer may interview you with only one of these types,or all. 1. Phone Interview: This could replace a screening interview or follow up/second interview, especially if the employer is located a distance away. Make arrangements to be alone in your room or apartment for the interview. Have readily available a copy of your resume and questions to ask the employer. Evaluation is based on your responses, tone of voice, enthusiasm, ease of conversation, and adaptability to the circumstances. 2. Follow-up or Second Interview: The purpose of this interview is to identify the finalists for the position. It is on-site at the employer’s location and the candidate is interviewed by several people. More specific questions will be asked in order to reveal certain skills and characteristics that you possess to determine an appropriate match with the organization’s needs. 3. Group Interview: During a group interview, you are interviewed with se