Sample Interview Questions

You can never prepare for every question. The key to effectively answering a job interview question is to understand the purpose of the question.

No matter how irrelevant or ridiculous an interview question may sound, it generally has a purpose behind it. For example, interviewers may ask questions such as "If you could be an animal which animal would you choose to be?" They aren't really interested in what animal you choose; they want to see how you handle an unexpected situation.

Most interview questions can be grouped into five categories.

1. Questions About You and Your Skills

Sample Questions:

Tell me (us) about yourself?
What do you consider your most important abilities?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
Why should we hire you?
What five words would you say describe you best?
Have you had any experience in this type of work?

The employer wants to know what makes you different from other applicants, and how well your qualifications match the requirements of the job. Describe your skills and abilities, and how they relate to the job you are being interviewed for. Emphasize the appropriate aspects of your background, experience, accomplishments, and characteristics.

For example, if you know the job requires patience (to deal with dissatisfied customers) or persistence (to solve problems) focus on those characteristics and describe situations in which you have demonstrated them.

2. Questions About Your Interest in the Job and the Company

Sample Questions:

What is it about our services or products that interests you?
What is your understanding of the nature of the job and the company?
What do you know about our company?
Why do you want to work for our company?
Why did you apply for this job?

The employer is trying to find out what you know about the job and the company, and if you understand the organization. You will certainly stand out from other applicants if you can answer this type of question well! This is where your research on the company and the job really pays off.

Summarize what you know about the company and its operations. Tell the employer that what you are looking for in a job seems to be what this company is offering. Emphasize again how your skills would meet the company's needs.

3. Questions About Previous Employment

Sample Questions:

Why did you leave your last job? or Why do you want to leave your present job?
Why were you fired?
What was your last employer ‘s opinion of you?
What is your opinion of your boss/previous employer?

The interviewer is fishing to find out if you were incompetent or had problems with previous employers. If you have had problems, the interviewer may become concerned that you would have similar problems in this job.

Focus on the positive ‑ your desire to learn new skills, assume more responsibility, seek new opportunities, grow and develop. If there is something negative about your work history, acknowledge the facts briefly, then describe any circumstances or the behaviour of others that were beyond your control. If you were responsible for being fired, tell the interviewer about the positive things you learned from the experience.

Avoid getting emotional. Don't apologize or make negative remarks about salary, overtime, former employers or co‑workers.

4. Questions About Your Commitment to the job

Sample Questions:

What are your long range goals?
Are you thinking of going back to school or to college?
Why have you changed jobs so many times?
Don’t you think you are over qualified for this job?

The employer wants to know if you are prepared to stick around. Talk about your career plans, but show that this job is not just a short stopping point to your long‑range goals. Mention the challenge of the position and its relation to your career plans. Let the employer know you won't quit after a short time.

If you have changed jobs many times, explain why you felt it was necessary and emphasize that you expect to stay longer in this job (if that's true).

If you are over qualified for the position, stress your adaptability and flexibility, and your willingness to assume more responsibility.

5. Questions About Your Ability to Fulfil Specific Requirements

Sample Questions:

How do you react to instructions and criticism?
Would you prefer to relocate? Take retraining?
Do you prefer to work with others or by yourself?
Can you work under pressure?
Do you like routine work?
What kind of boss do you prefer?
What salary are you looking for?

If the interviewer asks you about your preferences or ability to cope with certain types of situations, the job probably involves those situations.

Answer the question tactfully and honestly. Talk about your willingness to fulfil the job requirements and give examples of your ability, if it's the truth. But if you don't like routine work, would not be willing to relocate, say so. There is no point in being offered work if it would not satisfy your requirements and you would not accept it.

The salary question requires special attention. If possible, avoid discussing salary until a job offer has been made. You are in a much stronger negotiating position then. If the interviewer persists and you know the typical salary range for this type of position, you can mention a figure that is reasonable for someone with your qualifications. Let the employer know that you would be open to negotiation depending upon the benefits offered.

If you don't know the typical salary range say that you would like to research the pay and benefits for similar jobs before you commit yourself to a figure, or that you are sure the company has a range and you are willing to negotiate within that range.

Know Your Rights

Generally, questions pertaining to: Race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, record of offences, marital status, family status and handicap are prohibited by law.

However there are exceptions.

It is worthwhile to say that questions about the above raises the issue of the interviewer’s need for more information about a person’s suitability for a job and the person’s right not to be unfairly discriminated against.

If you are asked a question of this nature, it is important to know your rights, and to answer the question is such a way as not to ‘put off’ the interviewer.

Source: Job Seekers’ Handbook, An Introductory Guide to Finding Work by Information and Development Marketing Career and Labour Market Information, Alberta Advanced Education and Career Development, p.p. 65-68

Once your job search has ended and you find a job, there are things you can do to make your working life successful.

Communication skills
Working well with others requires effective communication skills, which can be learned on the job. Listening well to what is being said and asking for clarification when necessary are two particularly important skills in the workplace.

People skills
Good people skills are essential in the workplace and take time to develop. Here are a few pointers to get you started:

Practise patience. In the workplace, you often have to depend on others to get the job done, just as others may have to rely on you. The modern workplace relies on teamwork, so you need to stay calm under pressure and respect your co-workers.

Learn to accept criticism. When your supervisor hands something back to you for corrections, or suggests a different way of doing something, don't get upset; constructive criticism is part of the learning process.

Give others space to do their jobs. Ask questions if you need to, but learn to trust in your own ability to make decisions. When first training for a job, everyone will understand if you have questions about how to do things. After you settle in, try to solve problems on your own before going to your boss. That will show the employer and the other employees that you have the resources and initiative to find things out for yourself.

Forgive the mistakes of others as well as your own. Everyone has days when things don't go the right way. Being able to forgive yourself and others when mistakes are made will make you a better team member.

Learning styles
When you start a new job, there is a lot to learn about the organization, your employer, other employees and your position. That’s why it’s important to know how you learn best. For example:

Are you more likely to turn a computer on and start playing with it, or would you read the manual first?
Do you learn best by hearing about tasks, reading about tasks or performing tasks?

Let your employer know how you learn best and ask for what you need if necessary. It’s also important to look at how you can add different techniques to your learning style, like slowing down before jumping into a task or asking someone to show you how best to perform a task.

The power of knowledge
Knowledge gives you more choices. The more you learn, the more valuable you become to employers. You may be able to apply for higher positions within your organization or to transfer into another job with more responsibility.

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