Ten Common Interview Questions

Tell me a little about yourself Keep it relevant to the job or position you are applying for. Keep it relevant to the job or position you are applying for. Do not give the interviewer your life story (time is money, yo!) Do not give the interviewer your life story (time is money, yo!) DO tell relevant facts about your education, your experience, and your goals DO tell relevant facts about your education, your experience, and your goals

What would you consider your greatest strengths? Stay positive Stay positive This is your opportunity to convince the employer that you are the PERFECT candidate for the job. This is your opportunity to convince the employer that you are the PERFECT candidate for the job. Highlight your best qualities. Are you loyal? Hard-working? Honest? Don’t lie, but look for the good in yourself. It’s there. I promise. (I’ve seen it for myself. Seriously.) Highlight your best qualities. Are you loyal? Hard-working? Honest? Don’t lie, but look for the good in yourself. It’s there. I promise. (I’ve seen it for myself. Seriously.)

What would you consider your greatest weakness? Be honest, but not TOO honest. Be honest, but not TOO honest. This is a tricky one, you don’t want to make the employer doubt you’re right for the job, but if you fail to answer, you will seem like a liar. Choose something that you know you struggle with but are working to remedy. This is a tricky one, you don’t want to make the employer doubt you’re right for the job, but if you fail to answer, you will seem like a liar. Choose something that you know you struggle with but are working to remedy. My example? I lack organizational skills, but I’m working on improving in this area by filing papers each day after school. I am also taking care of my work as soon as I can so that it doesn’t get lost in the mix of papers I deal with each day. My example? I lack organizational skills, but I’m working on improving in this area by filing papers each day after school. I am also taking care of my work as soon as I can so that it doesn’t get lost in the mix of papers I deal with each day. Other examples (that aren’t mine): Other examples (that aren’t mine): I am a perfectionist (give an example of this) I am a perfectionist (give an example of this) I used to have a tendency to put things off to the last minute, but am working on this (describe how). I used to have a tendency to put things off to the last minute, but am working on this (describe how). I used to have difficulty working on more than one project at a time, but am in the process of learning how to multi-task effectively (give an example of how you’re learning this skill. How about in my class when I’ve got you working on three things at the same time?! Building mad skills!) I used to have difficulty working on more than one project at a time, but am in the process of learning how to multi-task effectively (give an example of how you’re learning this skill. How about in my class when I’ve got you working on three things at the same time?! Building mad skills!)

What Motivates You? Do NOT say the weekend!!!! Do NOT say the weekend!!!! Do NOT say the money! (Even if it’s 100% true!) Do NOT say the money! (Even if it’s 100% true!) You want to give your employer the sense that you’re there because you want to be, because you get something out of the job. You want to give your employer the sense that you’re there because you want to be, because you get something out of the job. What motivates me? There’s an incredible feeling I get from witnessing students grow as writers, readers, and as people. Nothing I’ve experienced in my life has been so satisfying as the interactions I get to have on a daily basis with you. That’s right, you, first block. I couldn’t do a job this demanding for money alone. (See? I sound like I WANT to be here! (Because I do.) What motivates me? There’s an incredible feeling I get from witnessing students grow as writers, readers, and as people. Nothing I’ve experienced in my life has been so satisfying as the interactions I get to have on a daily basis with you. That’s right, you, first block. I couldn’t do a job this demanding for money alone. (See? I sound like I WANT to be here! (Because I do.)

What do you know about this organization? Better know SOMETHING! Better know SOMETHING! Mission statement or corporate philosophy Mission statement or corporate philosophy The requirements and responsibilities of the job The requirements and responsibilities of the job A little history A little history News about the company News about the company Policies, strategies, and other information readily available online. Policies, strategies, and other information readily available online. Relate your answer to your long term career goals Relate your answer to your long term career goals

Are you good at working on a team? The obvious answer is YES! The obvious answer is YES! But go deeper, describe a time you have been an effective part of a team and what your role was. But go deeper, describe a time you have been an effective part of a team and what your role was.

What is your philosophy towards work? Keep it short and positive. Keep it short and positive. Do you take satisfaction in a job well done? Do you take satisfaction in a job well done? Are you ambitious? Are you ambitious? Do you set goals and then strive to accomplish them? Do you set goals and then strive to accomplish them? Avoid saying you don’t have one, don’t care about work, or that you just want to get paid. Avoid saying you don’t have one, don’t care about work, or that you just want to get paid.

Why do you want this job? Again, relate this question to your long term career goals. You want this job because it will give you experience that will help you (fill in the blank) in the future. Again, relate this question to your long term career goals. You want this job because it will give you experience that will help you (fill in the blank) in the future. You want this job because you want to make a career in whatever field you’re talking about You want this job because you want to make a career in whatever field you’re talking about You want this job because you’ve researched the company or organization and you want to be a part of it because… You want this job because you’ve researched the company or organization and you want to be a part of it because…

Why should we hire you? What will YOU bring to the company that separates you from the fifty other applicants applying for this job? What will YOU bring to the company that separates you from the fifty other applicants applying for this job? Point out how your personal qualities meet the employer’s or organization’s particular needs. Point out how your personal qualities meet the employer’s or organization’s particular needs. This is another opportunity to sell yourself. This is another opportunity to sell yourself.

Do you have any questions for me? Yes. You NEED to have some questions prepared. Yes. You NEED to have some questions prepared. What type of projects will you be working? What type of projects will you be working? What is the work environment like? What is the work environment like? What training will be provided? What training will be provided? How can you help the company achieve their goals? How can you help the company achieve their goals? Ask questions that make you look good and seem well-prepared. Come up with at least three questions right now. Ask questions that make you look good and seem well-prepared. Come up with at least three questions right now.

Job Interviews are all about IMAGE IMAGE Make it seem like you have a lot to bring to the table, but room to learn and grow. Make the interviewer feel that you will be an asset to the company. Make it seem like you have a lot to bring to the table, but room to learn and grow. Make the interviewer feel that you will be an asset to the company.

Reminders Firm handshake Firm handshake Friendly greeting Friendly greeting Eye contact Eye contact Be respectful Be respectful Be polite Be polite Be on time Be on time Be prepared (wait...these sound like our classroom rules. Why would that be? BECAUSE the way things SHOULD operate here are the ways to get things done in the real world.) Be prepared (wait...these sound like our classroom rules. Why would that be? BECAUSE the way things SHOULD operate here are the ways to get things done in the real world.)