50 QUESTIONS YOU HOPE YOU ARE ASKED

All interviewees have their areas of vulnerability and most interviewers have their favourite questions. Unless you go to the meeting confident, you will present yourself inadequately because of your apprehension that the two may coincide – even if they never do!!

The interview office is not an examination room. There are no single ‘right’ answers that you must learn by rote. You treat each question, not as a test to see if whether you can come up with the book answer, but as an opportunity to score points. Look outwards: not inward. Project yourself into the interviewers mind. If you do your homework you will have all the factual data you need at your fingertips and you will be free to concentrate on answering the real questions:- “What response would register most favourably with me if I were sitting in that chair?” “What does he really want to be reassured about?” “What will he see as a benefit to him?”

As you do these exercises, be very careful not to train yourself into becoming so accomplished a question-answerer that you accept this as your role and expect your competence in this area alone to secure job offers. You should not allow the interviewer-question/interviewee-answer pattern to develop as though you were in an examination room. It is important that you also ask questions. Journalists ask Who, What Where, How, When, which are all open ended questions so as to spark the shop talk that wins interviews with people.

But you still have to deal with questions asked, whether or not you think them relevant, and to feel confident that you can deal with them.

What follows is a selection of 50 questions, which have been reported back to us having been found difficult to handle. You will be asked some of them, or variants of them. Welcome them. Your preparedness will give you a substantial advantage over your competitors.

Please do not read straight through, thinking, “how interesting”, as though you were passing time on a place journey. Answer each question before turning to the key. This is not a quiz in your newspaper, it is an important stage of the learning process that is going to help you get the job you want. There are no prizes for a high score here, but very high prizes for scoring in the real-life situation. ‘Failing’ here first time is the route to success when it matters.

You probably have a tape or voice recorder, such as an mp3 player. If not, consider buying one. A cheap one will do: a hi-fi is not necessary. Use it to speak your answers when you’ve worked them out. Play back and re-record until it sounds right. Listen to your voice as well. Tone is very important. Sound confident and relaxed. Keep playing it back until you are happy. The sound will stay in your head and you will hear it when you need it.

How would you answer?

1. What are your strong points?

2. ….. and your weak ones?

3. Do you read much? What was the last book you read?

4. Do you mind travelling a lot?

5. Does you wife/husband/partner mind you being away?

6. What do you look for in a job?

7. What appeals to you about this job?

8. I don’t understand why you think you’re the right person for this job

9. Do you take work home? Daily? Weekends?

10. Do you have any money-making activities outside your job?

11. What action would you take if you disagreed with a decision of a superior?

12.
a. You seem to have moved a lot; how do you account for it?
b. You seem to have stayed put for a long time; is this now a handicap to you?

13.
a. We cannot make a decision in less than 5 weeks
b. We will let you know then…..

14. What would you consider a reasonable time to stay in a job?

15. What salary are you seeking?

16. Why did they select you for redundancy?

17. May we approach your referees?

18. Where do you hope to be in three years time?

19. Why would we choose you in preference to the other candidate?

20. Were you happy in your last job?

21. Would you prefer to be a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond?

22. What was the main weakness of your last boss?

23. How did it affect your work?

24. What did you do to compensate?

25. Why did you not achieve more in your last job?

26. I’m afraid you have not got the right experience we are seeking….

27. To be frank, Mr Smith, you are to old for this position

28. Do you regard it as a weakness to ‘blow your top’?

29. Good morning. Will you have a cup of coffee?

30. Cigarette?

31. Good morning. Mr Jones is not available. I am his assistant – he has asked me to interview you.

32. Now then, Mr Smith, would you like to tell me about yourself?

33.  How much do you know about us?
34. Good afternoon, Mr Smith, did you have any trouble finding us?

35. You have not done this job before have you?

36. What do you see as your greatest personality defect?

37. Do you have any particular expertise outside your business life?

38. What are your long-term career aims?

39. If the interests of your boss and your staff conflict, with whom would you tend to side?

40. What were the major problems in your last job?

41. You do not have much experience in….. How do you think you will be able to cope?

42. Is there any problem about moving house…..schooling….wife’s job?

43. (To a woman)….What happens if you get married?

44. (To a woman)….What happens if you start a family?

45. (To a woman)….If your husband moves, would you go with him?

46. Would you mind taking a psychological test?

47. Do you ever have doubts as to your ability to do a job?

48. Have you continued your education and studies?

49. May I be personal? You seem to be overweight….flustered….short of breath, etc

50. Are you a good manager?


Ideas and Suggested Responses

1. A common question. Think before you go to the interview and make sure they are relevant to the job. Don’t talk about being ‘quick to adopt to new situations’ or ‘good with people’ – This is waffle and suggests you do not match the job.

2. If  you get the strong points question, it is very likely indeed to be followed in this way. Whatever you do, never admit it to the ones you think may be real. Think up something he’ll see as a virtue – ‘I’m sometimes a bit of a workaholic’, I used to be a bit hard on my staff but lately I’ve been better at getting results without the direct pressure’.

3. A simple question that often seems to bowl people over, but a lovely way to score points if you’ve thought about it in advance.

4. “No” is a conversational stopper. “I rather enjoy it” suggests you like escaping. Perhaps “It is part of the job and I’m used to it. I find I can get work done on trains and driving gives me a chance to think about current problems2.

5. A beautiful opportunity of showing your ‘togetherness’. Team work all the way….trust…..self-reliance.

6. If this comes late in the interview, you know enough about this job to know the answer that again emphasises your suitability. If it comes early, do not plunge into tired old clinches about ‘challenge’ etc. Never try to answer this generally. A swift – something I can get my teeth into, followed by a question on what he sees as the most important factors.

7. The company, its reputation, fine products, etc. Flattery is acceptable spread much more generously than you think.

8. A needle statement you treat as a question and deal with by counter-questioning: “Would you be more specific / Where are your doubts?” Salesmen love these negatives; they regard them as appeals for reassurance on specifics, which helps them close the sale.

9. Only when necessary. I believe in hard work at work.

10. No. (Don’t confuse the facts; the answer is NO. If there is something he is likely to know about, your wife/husband/partner runs it).

11. “I believe in being civilised about this. I make a point of working closely with my superiors and communicating continually. As long as it is not a question of ethics I would go along with him after making sure he understood the reasons for my views”. (Don’t gag on the word ‘superior’; just consider it jargon for ‘further up the hierarchical table’).

12. Heads I win; tails you lose. Let’s make you feel guilty either way. Don’t put up with it. If:-

a.  The move shown on your career history are totally justified by your having got the job done effectively before you went to something more demanding and rewarding.
b. The job changed and grew, it was simply within the one company. You genuinely have fifteen years’ experience, not one years’ experience fifteen times.

13. If you are servile now, they will not want you in five weeks time, or ten.  “Perhaps we can keep each other informed. I like the job very much, but I will let you know if a decision on my other applications is forced on me, and perhaps you will let me know if you can advance your timetable”

14. “Three or four years before the real edge of enthusiasm begins to do – and that’s a vital ingredient, of course I mean in the same job, not the same company, or even sometimes the same job-title”. Give him some leeway, especially if he is personnel – he may have been stuck in the same job and need room to rationalise that you are not telling him he is less than competent!

15. If very early and you have no indicators “I’d like to discuss that later if we may, when I’ve a clearer idea of the parameters of the job. You were saying that…..” and lead into a question.

If a figure has been floated, perhaps in an advertisement, up to 10% above. You may get it; at least you make sure that they are getting a bargain.

If late in the proceedings, and still no indicator, try cross-questioning, with no preamble; “What salary brackets/range have you provisionally budgeted for the job Mr Jones?” (Use his name, make sure you do not ask for just one precise figure).

16. You were never selected. The job was no longer viable and you certainly were not going to stay in any not-real job they offered.  Or, if  a local or nationally publicised, situation has given data that implies an element of selectivity, you must provide an inflexible formula (“everyone working on the A21, which is now going to be produced in Eastern Europe”, or “last in, first out, with no exceptions”) in a few instantly understandable words.

17.  “Of course they will naturally say the nicest things; but you’ve been in their position yourself and you’ll recognise I wouldn’t want them bothered until we’re closer to agreeing on each other”.

18. A common question. There will be a sensible answer in the context of the job you are discussing. But please NOT “Sitting in your chair”.

19. NEVER “I think I am the best man for the job….” Etc. You do not know the other candidates or their qualifications. Counter-question: “Would you agree that your main problems in this area are….?”

20. Of course. Paint a happy picture to your interviewer. Never bore other people with your problems.

21. For some reason a favourable question with interviewers. If you are not surprised to hear it, you will not be tempted to look inside yourself for the answer. Your own thoughts are irrelevant. What matches the job situation?

22. Keep it simple and short and not too savage, and of course, as unlike the person you are looking at as you can contrive.

23. It did not. You help to compensate for it.

24. This is a typical ‘train of questions’ which you may meet in a number of guises. Follow the essential rule – rely on your imagination; do not be distracted by memory.

25. It is generally a sin to repeat a question you are asked. (It amounts to saying that you cannot think of an answer and are trying to but time). This is a rare exception. Read it back with an emphasis of incredulity on ‘achieve’ or ‘more’. Then “perhaps there just weren’t enough hours in the day to do more”. Do not, here or elsewhere, accept the assumption of guilt.

26. This is not the END. Again, counter-question: “Could you tell me in which areas….?” Courage and persistence can get you through. You would not have got this far without a degree of experience they thought relevant; you can achieve a re-emphasis and further discussion will lead them to see that your background is appropriate to their real needs.

27. “Why do you say that? You have pension problems?” “Some of the assets I will bring to the job come from experience gained since I was (appropriate age)”. Many applicants will crumble when faced with this statement. You will not, because you know (a) that he knew your age when he asked to see you, and (b) that YOU ARE NOT TOO OLD. But if you have it daid to you more than once, you should think again about the impression you are giving. Perhaps you need to demonstrate more enthusiasm / energy.

28. “No”. In moderation and under control is a good thing. It ensures no-one settles down to a contented existence”.

29. “Yes please. Milk but no sugar” (or whatever). If you just say “Yes please”, they will then have to ask you about milk, sugar and it all becomes fussy and indecisive – poor start to the interview. (Only say “No thanks”, if you think you cannot control the nervous hand-tremble!) 

30. “No”. This is the only answer here whether you smoke or not.

31. Never be interviewed by inferiors – you cannot win. Be very, very charming about it, but arrange another date. (It will not be difficult; he has no more desire to interview you than you have to be interviewed by him).

32. The classic trap. You have to seem to begin to answer the question, but get the dialogue going as soon as possible. You cannot sell your service until you know his needs. Anything you tell irrelevant to his needs will be seen as both self-centred and boring. But do not ask: “What areas would you like me to concentrate on?” The chances are that if he has asked this general question, and thus dropped the problem in your lap, then either he wants to see how decisively you handle it, or more probably, he has not done his homework and is unprepared for the interview. If he is simply fishing and does not know where he wants you to begin, you will discomfort him by asking. Not a good idea.

33. If you cannot say: “In the past few days I have been bringing myself up to date with your products and activities and looking at your competitors”, or specifically for the medical field, “ I have had a look at your web-pages and studied the services and facilities available here” etc,  then you have not done your homework and deserve to be ranked with the majority who will say: “Well, not much, really,” and be relegated accordingly as not having enough interest or gumption to find out.

34. You never had any trouble, even if you have spent the last half-hour in a tizzy wondering if you would ever find them. “Your secretary’s directions were very clear”, might be appropriate.

35. “No. A lot of my experience is relevant of course, but I wouldn’t go for a job the same as my last one. Most people do better with new challenges and new enthusiasms, and employers benefit from new ideas and approaches”.

36. Now you see it; but you don’t say it. Try something general: “One learns to compensate over the years, don’t you find? Certainly there’s nothing major I’m conscious of”.

37. Watch it. “I used to be something of an authority on …. But I’ve rather lost touch” is OK. Anything that suggests that your interest might lie there rather than in your work, is obviously a mistake. (This applies equally to ‘hobbies’ questions, on forms or at interviews)

38. You worked these out before you came to this particular interview. They clearly match the future of the job you are discussing.

39. Softly, softly; no dogmatic assertions; all sweet reason and concern, both for the welfare of your flock and for the bottom-line profit. But come down on the side of your boss in the end. Your staff are not children wholly dependent on you.

40. The problems you will think of first are the ones, which did not go away or were not satisfactorily resolved. Most interviewees will start to talk about these. You will not. You will only talk about the problems you were able to solve. You should see this as a splendid opportunity to discuss your successes.

41. Do not allow yourself to feel vulnerable. You are not a ‘con-man’; you would not be there if you did not think you would be able to do the job. “I think you’ll agree it is more a matter of ability than specific experience. I’ll need to some hard work initially, of course, familiarising myself with the details, but after that it’s a  help not to have solved the same problem the same way so often it doesn’t get re-thought, don’t you find?” Do not say “No problem”. To him it is, and he will think you are too thick or too arrogant to see it.

42. Do not dither. Say one-word. “No”. Then “You were saying that…” and ask a question. Get him off the subject now and talk about it at a later stage when you have eliminated your competition. (Unless there is really is no problem, then you will naturally wish to spend time on the point so that it registers fully).

43. “It would be very unlikely that marriage would interfere with my work. Waiting at home is not my idea of marriage – I need to exercise my abilities”

44. “I don’t have any plans to do that. Anyway, I could give you at least six months’ notice”.

45. “Naturally, but he is well established and there is no prospect of a move”. (This is the effective answer, even if your job is better than his and the outcome is by no means as clear-cut, and however strongly you feel that it should not be the acceptable response. If the interviewer is a woman, you might consider changing the first word to ‘probably’).

46. Of course not.

47. You have had, yes; you are not an idiot. This gives you an opportunity to relate a success story of overcoming initial concern about how to deal with a difficulty.

48. The answer is obvious, but you must have examples ready.

49. You are not accustomed to strangers making personal comments like this. They are not in themselves difficult to deal with, it is the shock of hearing them that puts out of countenance. Be prepared.

50. A bad question, (does he expect you to say “No?”) but quite common. Help him out. Tell him about your style of management and how well it worked after you had taken over a demoralised or unruly team etc.

We reiterate: There are no simple ‘right’ answers to these or any other questions. Think along the lines of selling your services in the positive way you would sell anything else and not in the passive mode of ‘being interviewed’. You will find individual effective responses to match the circumstances and your own and the interviewers’ personalities.