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	ð Questions they might ask you and how to respond ð Questions you should ask them ð Additional questions and responses online Sample Common Interview Questions & Responses: You may be interviewed by one or more people. If you are being interviewed by more than one person be sure to address your responses to the whole group but focus more of your attention on the specific person who asked the question. Typically, you will be the only person being interviewed for the job, but some companies do group interviews where there will be several applicants in the room at the same time. In general, the best strategy for answering interview questions is to listen carefully, summarize your answer to their question (or give a general overview), and then give an example of a situation in which you demonstrated whatever skill, experience, or behavior they are interested in and how the situation turned out well (and how you helped it turn out that way). In addition to question specific to the type of job you are applying for (for example, whether you have experience using a specific computer program), some common types of interview questions include: · Tell me about yourself. You should be prepared to give a brief statement about yourself. The employer is interested in you as an employee, so you should focus on employment-related information like education and work history, although it is also good to include an interesting, positive fact about yourself (such as where you grew up or your hobby). · Why do you want this job? If you are changing careers, explain why you decided to make the change in a positive way (for example, instead of saying that your last job was boring, say why you choose this new field over other possible fields). Explain why you want this particular job for this particular company. Describe which of the duties you would have that you especially enjoy doing (such as helping customers). Explain why you want to work for this company over others, or in this type of setting (small office versus large, for example). Explain that you want it because you think that you would be good at it and you get satisfaction from doing a job well. · Why should we hire you for this job? What qualifies you for this job? Describe you previous jobs, education and training, volunteering, and other experience that will make you good at this job. Don’t just list them as you did on your resume – Give specific example that show that you really do know how to do what you will have to do in this job (and that you have done it successfully in the past, even if it was just as part of a class assignment). · What is your greatest strength? Describe your greatest strength and give an example of how it has been helpful while on the job in the past. If your greatest strength could not help you in the job you are applying for, choose another one of your strengths that would be helpful in the job to tell the interviewer about. · What is your greatest weakness? This ca be a tricky question. Don’t say that you don’t have any weaknesses, because everyone can improve on something. And, don’t tell the interviewer about a weakness that is going to make you sound like a bad employee (like “I have a hard time getting up on time”). Describe a weakness that you have been working to improve (“I used to have a hard time with… But I have been changing this by… And now it is no longer a problem, although, of course, I am still working to improve even more”) or that was a weakness for a different kind of job but that is actually helpful for this job (for example, if you are changing from a customer service position to a “back office” position like billing or accounting, a preference for numbers over people and being very detail oriented and precise would have been a negative in your last job but a positive in this one). · Where do you see yourself in five years? You should have a general idea of the type of job you want to have in five years. If you do not know exactly, you can say that you hope to have a position of “greater responsibility” in whatever field you are applying to work in. Unless it is not true (for example, you are in school and you will be getting a job in a new field when you graduate), it is good to mention that you hope to still be with the same company in five years. · How do you handle [difficult customers / More work than you can get done / A boss or co-worker you don’t get along with]? Give a general answer and then describe a difficult situation you have been in (at work, school, or volunteering) of the kind they are asking about. Tell them how you handled the situation, including the important steps you took, and then what the positive outcome was in the end. · Can you work well as part of a team with diverse people. Describe a situation (in work, school, or volunteering) in which you were part of a team that had to get a project done. Describe your role on the team and how you worked with the other members. Describe how your team accomplished the goal at the end. · I’m worried about [this gap in your work history / that you haven’t worked for a long time / that you change jobs often / that you have a criminal record]. Is this still a problem? Tell them that it is no longer a problem and that you would be a reliable, productive, and committed employee for them. You do not need to go into detail, but you should briefly state the past problem (for example, you did not work because you were caring for your family, or that you made a mistake) and then explain why it is no longer a problem (for example, what you did to change, what you are doing now that is different). Say again that you are ready and able to do the job and that they will be pleased with your work if they hire you. Sample Questions You Can Ask Your Interviewer(s): It is important to always ask at least one question of your interviewer. This shows you are paying attention and thinking and trying to find a job that is a good fit for you (not just any job that you might leave in a week). And, it helps you identify the job that will be best for you. Some common types of questions that you can ask include: · Can you describe a typical day/week for a person in this position? Although they will have probably told you the basic responsibilities of the position, it is good to ask a question like this to get a better feel for what the job is actually like (and if you would want to do it). For example, a job that is responsible for telephones and filing is very different if it is 90% telephones or 90% filing. · What type of person typically does well in this position? Let them know you are happy to hear that people with those qualities/backgrounds do well and describe how/why you are that type of person (give an example). · Can you describe the opportunities for professional growth and advancement at this company? Employers want people who are committed to their company and who are interested in growing with it – this question shows that you are. And, employees want the opportunity to get promoted – this will help you learn if it is possible to get promoted from this position, and if so, how. · What is your timeline for filling this position? It is very important that you find out if they are going to be doing second interviews, when they will have made a hiring decision, and when they want the new person to start. This way, if you have not heard from them when you should have (if they have not called you to offer you the job by the time they planned to make a hiring decision, for example), you can follow up with them. It will be less stressful for you, and it shows that you are organized. · What direction would you like to see this department/program/company more in over the next year? This shows that you are interested in the interviewers ideas and values and improving the company you work for. After they tell you Bout changes, you can discuss why you think they sound like a good idea or how similar changes worked out well somewhere you worked (or volunteered) and how you were involved in making them happen. The information that will be helpful if you do end up getting the job. More sample interview questions and responses on other websites: · http://www.quintcareers.com/intvres.html · http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/interview/questions.htm · http://www.job-interview-questions.com/list.htm · http://interview.monster.com/archives/interviewquestions/ · http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/interview/l/blt_interviews.htm						Hot New Job Opening
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	::: The SSCC Job Development Program ::: A Project of the Workforce Development Department & on-campus WorkSource Affiliate ::: 2005 :::