1. Interviewing Tips and Skills Workshop
Sample Interview Questions
Remember, employers want to know how your experiences, personality,
skills, knowledge, and ideas are going to better their business. Keep this
in mind when answering questions.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Give an example of a time when you did something that saved your employer
money, improved or streamlined a process, or increased sales. If you cannot think
of an example like this, use an example from school, volunteering, or extra-
curricular activities that shows initiative, leadership, or decision making.
Why should we hire you?
The employer will most likely have several interviews planned for the position.
You have to make yourself stand out from the others. Talk about ways that your
previous experience, accomplishments, talents, or training and education have
prepared you for the job.
Why do you want to make a change now?
NEVER bring up negative information. Even if you are wishing to leave an
undesirable situation, don’t bring up negative information or opinions about your
current employer. Always answer this question in terms of developing your
potential or exploring new opportunities. If your company is downsizing, or you
have been notified of a pending layoff, be honest about that. This shows that you
have initiative and you are willing to get back to work as soon as possible.
Tell me about a problem you had in your last job and how you resolved it.
An employer asks this question to find out how well you solve problems and work
with a team. To prepare for this question, write out experiences at previous jobs
where you solved a problem that occurred, especially with the help and
cooperation of others. This may take some brainstorming, but remember,
2. sometimes even what seems like the smallest problems take a lot of cooperation
and planning to solve.
Why do you want to work for our company?
This is where your research comes in! Use examples from what you learned about
the company and your transferable skills to answer this question. For example:
“Customer Service is very important to me. As you can see by looking at my
resume, I’ve gone through extensive customer service training programs, and I
think it’s really the key to a successful business. When I read that your restaurant
won “The Best Customer Service Award” three years running in the Ruidoso News,
I was very impressed.”
What kind of person are you?
Again, employers want to know how you are going to use your personal qualities
to benefit their business. Go back to your list of Job Description traits and your
Transferable Skills. Refer to the keywords list, attached.
What interests you most about this position?
Be sincere about this question, and answer enthusiastically. If you can’t come up
with an answer to this question, evaluate whether you should be interviewing for
the position. You shouldn’t have to fake enthusiasm. Keep your key words in
mind. “I’m really interested in working with small children. I’m excited about the
opportunity to work for a day care center that has such a stellar reputation”.
What are your greatest strengths?
Again, the real question here is “What are your best qualities, and how can our
business can gain from them?” Use your key words as they pertain to past
experience and knowledge, especially if there is a particular training, experience,
or honor you’ve received. Try to use specific examples to back up your keywords.
For example: “I am very knowledgeable when it comes to safety training-I have
attended advanced CPR training for six years consecutively…………I’m very
3. dedicated to customer service--my performance reviews have been the highest in
the company for accuracy, sales, and customer service, for the last two
years…………I’m a team player—I helped with a major project involving three other
departments, which helped our company to increase sales by 25%”.
Can you name some of your weaknesses?
The employer doesn’t necessarily want to hear that you have an uncontrollable
weakness for chocolate cake, or that you hate getting up in the morning. Try to
turn this into a positive, as well. For example: “I sometimes take on too much
work—I need to learn to delegate.” Or, “Sometimes I get lost in the details of a
project and have a problem focusing on the big picture”. This is a tough question
(and an unfair one!) Beware of sounding “fake” when you are answering this
question. “I think I’m too good at my job. It sometimes can make people jealous”
is probably not a good answer to this one.
What do you know about our organization?
Again, this is the time to show off all the research you did. Use specific examples
and reiterate how the company’s best qualities align with yours.
What did you enjoy most about your last job? Least?
Keywords, again! Look for those keywords in the job description and describe your
favorite or least favorite previous job attributes in those terms. For example, “I
liked working with customers. It was very fulfilling to know that you’ve provided
great service to someone and have brightened your day.” Or, “I would have liked
a little more organization when it came to the staff’s daily duties. The
management sometimes discouraged task lists, and it sometimes caused
confusion among employees.”
Where do you see yourself in five years
“Living in Costa Rica, off of my lottery winnings.” Again, one of these unfair
questions that is very difficult to answer. Keep in mind that the employer is
always thinking of how hiring you will improve their business, and that you have
4. aspirations for personal and professional growth. If you don’t have a specific plan,
it’s okay. A good way to answer this question is: “I definitely will have advanced
in my career, whether it’s through a promotion or perhaps expanded
responsibilities. Ideally, I will have learned a great deal and will be in a position to
be performing to the best of my abilities and have the opportunity to mentor and
train new employees”.
5. Resume and Interviewing Key Words
Communication and People Skills
Addressed Debated Interviewed Publicized
Advertised Defined Involved Reconciled
Arbitrated Developed Joined Recruited
Arranged Directed Judged Referred
Articulated Discussed Lectured Reinforced
Authored Drafted Listened Reported
Clarified Edited Marketed Resolved
Collaborated Elicited Mediated Responded
Communicated Enlisted Moderated Solicited
Composed Explained Negotiated Specified
Condensed Expressed Observed Spoke
Conferred Formulated Outlined Suggested
Consulted Furnished Participated Summarized
Contacted Incorporated Persuaded Synthesized
Conveyed Influenced Presented Translated
Convinced Interacted Promoted Wrote
Corresponded Interpreted Proposed
Creative Skills
Acted Customized Formulated Modified
Adapted Designed Founded Originated
Addressed Developed Illustrated Performed
