Commonly Asked Questions in an

Interview
Before anything else~!
What is Interviewing?

Interviewing is an Interviews reveal

important method for information about:
collecting data on ● Interviewee
human and/or opinions
system information. ● Interviewee feelings
● Goals (Personal and
Organizational)
Interview Preparation (Company)

1.Reading background material

2.Establishing interview objectives
3.Deciding whom to interview
4.Preparing the interviewee
5.Deciding on question types and structure
Interview Preparation (Interviewee)

1. Research the Organization

2. Compare your Skills and Qualifications to the
Job Requirements
3. Prepare Responses
4. Plan what to Wear/Bring
5. Pay attention to Nonverbal Communication
6. Follow Up
Types of Questions

● Open-ended

● Closed
 Open-ended Closed
● Open-ended interview questions allow ● Closed interview questions limit the
interviewees to respond how they wish, number of possible responses.
and to what length they wish.
● Closed interview questions are
appropriate for generating precise,
● Open-ended interview questions are reliable data that is easy to analyze.
appropriate when the analyst is interested
in breadth and depth of reply. ● Closed interview questions are efficient,
and requires little skill for interviewers to
administer.
Arranging Questions
● Pyramid
○ Starting with closed questions and working toward open-ended
questions
● Funnel
○ Starting with open-ended questions and working toward closed
questions
● Diamond
○ Starting with closed, moving toward to open-ended, and ending with
closed questions
Pyramid
● Begins with very detailed, often closed questions

● Expands by allowing open-ended questions and more generalized

responses

● Is useful if interviewees need to be warmed up to the topic or seem

reluctant to address the topic
Funnel
● Begins with generalized, open-ended questions

● Concludes by narrowing the possible responses using closed questions

● Provides an easy, non threatening way to begin an interview

● Is useful when the interviewee feels emotionally about the topic and needs
freedom to express those emotions
Diamond
● A diamond-shaped structure begins in a very specific way.

● In the middle, more general issues are examined

● Concludes with specific questions

● Combines the strength of both the pyramid and funnel structures

● Takes longer than the other structures

Commonly Asked Questions in an
Interview
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● What can you tell me about yourself? ● Explain why you took and left certain
jobs.
● Share why you went into grad school.

● Make your strengths apparent.

● What is your greatest strength? ● Prove that you have the characteristics.

Personal
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● What is your greatest weakness? ● Show willingness to improve the
weakness
● Be sincere with the answer.

● Out of all the other candidates, why should ● Describe your passion and commitment
I consider hiring you? to the job.
● If there are missed point about yourself,
answer it here for an advantage.

Personal
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● Where do you see yourself five years from ● Tell your ambitions and dreams from a
now? business point of view
● Show optimism.

● What motivates you? ● Show them you can fit in with the
company culture.
● Reinforce your strengths here.

Personal
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● Hobbies, routines and entertainment.
● What do you do outside of work?
● Be Honest

● How do you lead your team?

● Share leadership experiences on certain
crises
● This could also highlight a few of your
successes

Personal
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● Say positive answers
● Why do you want to leave your current job? ● Be honest

● What impression do other people usually

get from you?
● This determines how you impact the
company’s work environment

Personal
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● What can you consider as your biggest ● Answer in complete honesty
achievement? ● State an achievement that the company
could possibly be interested with

● Philosophy in life
● Can you describe to us your dream job?
● What you really want do do in your life

Personal
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● How do you accept criticism? ● Companies like employees who accept
constructive criticism, answer with
honesty and say that you acknowledge
feedback.

● Do you prefer working with others or

● Hiring managers want to hear that you
alone?
are comfortable with working
independently and yet willing to work
and share responsibility with others.

Personal
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● What makes you a good team player? ● Think of how the strengths that you
could contribute when you are in groups.

● Show a flexible and adaptable

personality.
● How do you get along with different types
of people?

Personal
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● Tell me about the toughest decision that ● This determines your decision-making
you have done in the past three months. skills, show professionalism with a clear
and honest answer.

● What kind of work environment do you like

● Flexibility/Adaptation
best?

Personal
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● What is your salary expectation? ● Before the interview you should know
your digits
● Think of your financial needs

● Answer in complete honesty

● Are you willing to take extra work time ● Do not be to greedy
for more salary?

Job- or company-related
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● What other companies are you ● Show equal interest within these
interviewing with? companies and determine which
department you are working for.

● How did you hear about the position? ● Answer in complete honesty, this
determines the companies recruitment
and selection.

Job- or company-related
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● What type of work environment do you ● Ideally, the same one that the
prefer? company has.
● Be specific

● Take advantage of this question to

● Is there anything that you would like to ask know more if the job is for you.
me? ● You can ask the interviewer about his
experience in the company

Job- or company-related
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● What can you bring to the company in the ● Do prior research
next three months? ● Outline Goals

● What can you contribute for the growth of ● Relate to other accomplishments
the company? ● Connect accomplishments to
organizational goals

Job- or company-related
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● Discuss your stress-reduction
● How do you deal with pressure or stress
strategies
situations in the workplace? ● Supplement the strategy with
an experience

● Why do you want to work here? ● Not only you can do the work,
but you can drive the great
results
● Sell that you are better than
the other candidates

Job- or company-related
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● What are your expectations from the job
● Be reasonable
and the company?
● Be specific

● Show quantifiable examples

● Do you have work experience in this field?
● Transferable experience

Job- or company-related
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● How do you deal with disagreements with ● Show professionalism with regards to
the authority? the decision made
● Show concerns in a productive way.

● What led to your chosen profession? ● Past experience in related with how
your career path is driven.
● If there is, keep the sentimental story to
a minimal

Job- or company-related
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● What mistakes would we make in hiring ● Similar to the weaknesses question
you? ● Asks more about an ongoing issue but
show willingness to improve

● What are the company’s highest priority ● Research on their latest projects and
goals this year and how would your role programs
contribute? ● Assert that your role is as important as
the manager

Job- or company-related
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● "A snail is at the bottom of a 30-foot well. ● Use your logical reasoning to answer
Each day he climbs up three feet, but at ● Assesses how you deal with failure
night he slips back two feet. How many
days will it take him to climb out of the
well?"

● Tell me about the last time you got angry ● Narrate on how the problem was solved
with a co-worker or customer and what ● Avoid mentioning who was supposed to
be blamed

Job- or company-related
 Common
Tips in answering
Questions
● Avoid negativity
● Why did you leave your last job? ● Be honest

● Why do you want this job? ● Express Enthusiasm for the Company
● Show how your skills match

Job- or company-related
 Common Tips in
Questions answering
● What do you know about the ● Research about the company
company? ● Compliment them

● What are your goals for the future? ● Focus on the position and the company you
are interviewing with
● Don’t discuss your personal goals outside of
work, such as having a family or traveling
around the world, in response to this question.

Job- or company-related
 Common Tips in Answering
Questions ● Talk about values that the company has
● What attracted you to our company? that match up with yours.
● Don’t give a general answer that could
fit with any company.
● Do not bash your previous employer or
any other companies. Keep it positive.

● Start with your skills

● What are the most important things you
● Explain your motivation
are looking for in your next role?
● Connect With Your Long-Term Goals

Job- or company-related
References:
Biron, C. (n.d.) What do you know about our company? Sample Interview Questions. Retrieved November 4, 2018 from:
https://careersidekick.com/what-do-you-know-about-our-company/

Common interview questions. (n.d.) Job Interview Tips. Retrieved November 4, 2018 from:
https://www.roberthalf.com.au/career-advice/interview/common-questions

Conlan, C. (n.d.) How to answer the interview question 'Why do you want this job?'. Retrieved November 4, 2018 from:
https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/how-to-answer-question-why-do-i-want-this-job

What attracted you to this company. (n.d.). Interview Questions. Retrieved November 4, 2018 from:
https://www.livecareer.com/interview/questions/what-attracted-you-to-this-company

Zhang, L. (n.d.). 4 Steps for Answering "What Are You Looking for in a New Position?". Retrieved November 4, 2018 from:
https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-steps-for-answering-what-are-you-looking-for-in-a-new-position

Haden, J. (2016, June 20). 27 Most Common Job Interview Questions and Answers. Retrieved November 4, 2018, from
https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/27-most-common-job-interview-questions-and-answers.html