Sample Interview Questions

• In what ways have you benefited from your university education?
• How has your educational experience prepared you for your chosen occupation?
• Do you think that your grades are a good reflection of your ability to do the job?
• How does your education in ____ relate specifically to this position?

• What work experiences have been most valuable to you and why?
• In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested, and why?
• What previous experience have you had in this area?
• What experiences do you have working with others whose backgrounds differ from yours?
• What have you learned from previous jobs?
• If I were to call your last employer, what would they tell me?
• What is the most rewarding assignment you have completed?
• How have you motivated others to work with or for you?
• How did your position at _____ prepare you for this position?
• What did you learn in your last position that will help you in this job?
• Describe three skills you have that would benefit our organization.
• What did you like/dislike about your last job?
• Explain the transitions between the items on your resume.

Leadership

• Give me an example of a time when you were the leader of a group.
• How do you motivate people?
• Give me an example of your leadership skills.
• Describe a leadership role of yours and tell why you committed your time to it.
• In a particular leadership role, what was your greatest challenge?
• Can you describe for me a situation in which you exemplified leadership?
• Name two management skills that you think you have.
• What characteristics are most important in a good manager? How have you displayed one of them?

Teamwork

• Describe an example where you worked as part of a team.
• What are your team-player qualities? Give examples.
• Tell me about a team project of which you are particularly proud of and your contribution to that project.
• When you take on a project do you like to attack the project in a group or individually?
• What would you do if members of your team weren’t doing their share of the work?
  Decision Making & Problem Solving
• Give me an example of a tough decision you faced. How did you tackle it?
• Give me an example of a problem you solved and the process you used.
• Give me an example of your problem-solving abilities.
• Describe how you would go about making a decision.
• If you could change a decision you made, what would you change and why?
• If you have a choice between two job offers, what would you base your decision upon?

Interpersonal

• What have the experiences on your resume taught you about managing and working with people?
• Describe a situation where you had to work with someone who was difficult to work with. How did you handle it?
• What major challenge have you encountered and how did you deal with it?
• What have you learned from your mistakes?
• Describe the most difficult situation you have been in and how you coped.
• Describe a goal you set for yourself and what you did to meet it.
• Can you give me an example where you successfully dealt with conflict?
• What types of situations put you under pressure?
• What major problem have you encountered and how did you 
  deal with it?
• How do you handle pressure? Criticism?
• How do you handle stressful situations? Give me an example.
• What kinds of people really annoy you?
• How would you describe your ideal supervisor?
• Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and those reporting to him or her.

Strengths & Accomplishments

• What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction, and why?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your best attributes?
• Give me an example that demonstrates your ability to organize.
• To what activity outside of work have you made the greatest contribution? Please describe.
• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• Describe a project or situation that best demonstrates your analytical abilities.
• Give me an example of an idea that has come to you and what you did with it.
• Give me an example of the most creative project that you haveworked on.
• Tell me about a project you initiated.
• What qualifications do you have that make you think that you will be successful in this business?
• What have you done that shows initiative?
• What are the key skills and qualifications you bring to this position?
• For someone with little work experience: How does your previous experience prepare you for this position?
• Tell me what you consider to be your greatest assets.
• What qualifications do you have that make you think that you will be successful in this field?
• Give me an example that demonstrates your creativity.
• Give me an example that demonstrates your assertiveness.

Career Goals

• What do you expect to have achieved in your career in five years?
• What type of position are you seeking?
• Why have you chosen this particular profession?
• What goals have you set for yourself?
• Why do you want this job? Why did you apply?
• What are your plans for your own professional development in the next five years?
• How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
• What are the most important rewards you expect in your career?
• What do you expect to be earning in five years?
• How would you describe the ideal job for you?
• What are your long-range and short-range goals and objectives?
• When and why did you establish your goals and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?
• How does this position fit with your long-term career plans?
• How did you decide on your career path?
• Why have you chosen this particular field of work?

• Why are you interested in our organization/company?
• Why should the company I represent be interested in you?
• In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization/company?
• What do you know about our organization/company?
• Why did you seek a position with this organization/company?
• Can you tell me about our company, our products and our mission statement?
• What do you think or know about the field and future trends?
• What do you know about the position, organization/company?
• What do you see as the most challenging aspect of this job?
• What do you believe to be the “down side” of this type of work?
• What do you know about the position I’m interviewing you for?
• What makes you stand out from the crowd?
• Why should I consider you a strong candidate for this position?
• What challenges are you looking for in a position?
• What makes you think you can handle this position?
• What characteristics do you think are important for this position?
• We are looking at a lot of great candidates, why are you the best person for this position?
• In what significant ways do you think you can contribute to our organization?
• How/why do you think you will be a valuable employee in this environment?
• What can you do for us?
• What distinguishes you from all the other candidates?
• Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee?

Personal Traits

• Tell me about yourself.
• How would you describe yourself?
• What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
• What motivates you?
• How would people who know you well describe you? What three words would they use?
• How would you describe yourself?
• If I asked people who know you for one reason why I should not hire you what would they say?
• To what do you owe your present success?
• How do you think a friend or professor who knows you well would describe you?
• What three words best describe you?
• At this time in your life, what do you value most?
• What characteristics or qualities do you value most in people?
• What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in life?
• Describe your personality to me.
• What one characteristic best describes you?
• Who are your role models?
• How do you determine or evaluate success?

Extracurricular Activities

• Of the hobbies and interests listed on your resume what is your favourite and tell me why?
• What have you learned from participation in extracurricular activities?
• Are you active in any outside groups or organizations? What is your role in the group? What have you contributed to the organization?
• What do you do in your leisure time?

Position & Work Environment

• What type of work environment appeals to you most?
• What do you look for in a job?
• What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
• What do you find most attractive about this position? Least attractive?
• Do you prefer a large or small organization? Why?
• In what type of environment do you flourish?
• What are the key aspects of workplace cooperation?
• What interests you about this job?
• What are your expectations surrounding salary and benefits?
• Are you prepared to relocate?
• Are you willing to travel?
• Why do you think you might want to live in the community in which our company is located?

Accountability

• Give me an example of a time when you were in charge of a task or project. What was the result? What would you have done differently?
• Tell me about a time when you were complimented on your work.
• Describe an occasion when you did not put in your best effort and failed. What was the outcome and what did you learn?
• Give an example of a time when someone challenged the quality or integrity of your work. What did you do?

Adaptability/Flexibility

• In your past work experience, how have you adapted to collaborating with someone who has a different working style than yours?
• Tell me about a time when you had to go forward with a task with very little information.
• Tell me about a time when you had to juggle a number of tasks at one time.
• Describe a situation where you had to complete a task that someone else had started.
• Tell me about a time when you had to learn something fast in order to complete regular tasks at work.

Assertiveness

• Tell me about a time when you had to take charge of a situation that was lacking leadership.
• In your past experience in a team environment, how did you ensure that your ideas were brought to the table?
• Describe an occasion when you had to clarify your position on an issue. What was the response?
• Tell me about a time when you went ahead with a decision even though you were lacking confidence. What was the outcome?
• Tell me about a time when you wanted to move forward with a task or an idea but were lacking the ability to convince others.

Interpersonal Skills

• Give an example of a time when you used your communication skills effectively.
• Tell me about a time when poor communication skills resulted in an undesirable outcome. What did you learn?
• Tell me about a time when there was a conflict in the workplace and how you handled it.
• Tell me about a time when you had to provide criticism of a colleagues’ work.
• Describe a time when your listening skills enhanced your ability to communicate.

Coping

• Describe some personal stress-management techniques you have used effectively in the past.
• Tell me about a time when you had to manage an extensive or overwhelming workload.
• Tell me about a time when you put extra effort into a project but received little recognition for your contribution.
• Has there ever been a time when you felt overwhelmed by a task. What did you do about it?
• Give an example of a time when you had to teach yourself as you progressed through a project.

Creativity

• Tell me about a time when your ideas or suggestions helped improve some aspect of your workplace.
• Describe any creative problem solving techniques you have used that have worked effectively. How did you measure the outcome?
• Tell me about a time in your work experience when you felt your creativity was stifled. What did you do about it?
• How have you “left your mark” in previous jobs? Give an example of one innovative contribution you have made in the past.

Decision Making

• Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision based on very little information.
• Tell me about a time when a decision you made directly affected someone else in your workplace negatively/positively.
• Give an example of a time when your indecisiveness resulted in a missed opportunity.
• What measures have you used for evaluating past decisions?  How do you determine if you made the right decision?

Goal Setting

• Describe a personal goal that you achieved and the steps you took to meet that goal.
• Describe an effective time management strategy that you have previously used.
• Give an example of the steps you have taken to accomplish major projects.
• Describe some “baby steps” you have made towards accomplishing a larger goal.

Integrity/Honesty

• Tell me about a time when you questioned a colleague’s integrity/honesty/ethics.
• Tell me about a time when you made a significant mistake at work. What was the outcome and how did you deal with it?
• Tell me about a time when your assumptions resulted in poor judgment.
• Give an example of an occasion when you demonstrated genuineness with a client or customer. What did you say/do, and what was the outcome?

Leadership/Initiative

• Describe an occasion when you had to take control in a team setting and get the group back on task.
• Tell me about a time when you took the initiative to complete a project.
• Give an example of a workplace setting in which you have performed your best.
• Describe how you have set an example for success in the workplace. What did you do and how did it influence your work environment?

Motivation

• What steps have you taken to recognize employees’ work and abilities?
• Give an example of how you handle criticism from employees.
• Describe how you would negotiate feasible time constraints and delegate responsibilities for several tasks going on at once.
• Give an example of how you keep employees motivated.
• Give an example of something that has motivated you to persevere through difficult work situations.

Organization/Planning

• Give an example of a time when you had to give a presentation and were not comfortably prepared.
• Give an example of a time when you were poorly organized. What did you learn?
• Tell me about a time when you missed an important deadline due to poor planning. What did you learn?
• Give an example of a time when your organizational skills increased your efficiency at work.

Problem Solving

• Give an example of a problem you have dealt with in the past that had more than one solution.
• Tell me about a time when you had to quickly adapt to unexpected events in your work.
• Describe a project that you completed and any difficulties you encountered along the way. Explain the difficulties you had: What, why, where, when, how?
• When planning a project, what initial considerations have you made before going ahead? Give examples.

Team Building

• Explain a technique that you have used to effectively motivate others.
• How have you dealt with conflicts in the workplace (with managers/employees) in the past?
• Tell me about a time when you had to teach a co-worker something new in order to proceed with a collaborative project.
• Tell me about a time when you volunteered to take a project off someone else’s hands.

Technical Skills

• Describe how you have used technology to enhance your work.
• Give an example of a time when technology hindered your ability to perform well on the job.
• Tell me about a time when you used technology to improve your communication skills or get your point across.
• Describe your experience with audio/visual equipment.
• Describe how you have implemented troubleshooting strategies with equipment when you do not have the appropriate support available.

• Tell me more about your meeting/interaction with that person.
• What steps / actions did you take?
• What happened after that?
• What did you say?
• What was your reaction?
• How did the person react?
• How did you handle that?
• How do you feel about that?
• What was the outcome?
• Were you happy with the outcome/result?
• What did you wish you had done differently?
• What did you learn?
• How did you resolve the issue?
• Why did you decide to do that?
• What was your logic / reasoning?
• Lead me through your decision making process.
• Who do you think was at fault?
• Who else was involved?
• How did you prepare?
• What was your role?
• What obstacles did you face?
• What were you thinking at that point?
• Who, What, Where, When, Why, How?

• Do you have any questions for us?
• When would you be available to begin work?
• Would you leave a list of references with us?

Employee Characteristics

• What characteristics would the ideal job candidate have for this position?
• What skills and attributes, if any, are you seeking in a candidate that I have not addressed?
• What are the characteristics of your most outstanding employees in a similar position?

Position

• Can you describe the type of work I would be doing or the types of projects I will be working on?
• What do you see as the most challenging aspects of the position?
• What would a normal day be like?
• How much travel is expected?
• What percentage of time would be devoted to each of the responsibilities of the position?

Organization – Structure

• Can you tell me about the people/positions to whom/which I would be reporting?
• Will I be able to work with the person whom I am replacing, before he/she vacate the position?
• How does this position contribute to the whole picture of your organization?
• How long have you been with the organization and what are the highlights for you?
• How many interns are typically employed by the company at one time?
• What percentage of your employees are hired immediately after graduation?

Organization – Direction and Mandate

• What makes this organization unique?
• What are the short-term and long-term objectives of the organization?
• What are the areas of anticipated growth for the company?
• Why was the position created?
• Does the organization have any plans for expansion?
• What are the company’s values and how do you incorporate them into your business practices?

Training/Employee Education

• How is the training or orientation program for new employees structured?
• What is the nature of the training program and supervision provided to new employees?
• What kind of training will be provided? How long is the training period?
• What opportunities exist for employee education or professional development?
• Are employees encouraged to be active in professional organizations?

Opportunities for Advancement

• How much decision-making authority is granted after one year?
• Does the organization promote from within?
• What opportunities exist for advancement? Evaluation
• How does the company measure performance? When are evaluations scheduled?
• How often are performance reviews given?
• When and how will job evaluations take place?