.:: Associated Recruitment & Management Services

Well, your resume worked and now you have an appointment for the all important Job Interview.

Ever wonder why you don't get called back after that first interview? What's holding you back from that great job while others are getting hired after shorter job searches?

Therefore; what are the traits of a good candidate? How can you make a good impression? Here are few sample questions to win over your interviewer and get a leg up on the competition.

Questions to be Answered -

PERSONAL

Tell me about yourself.
What do you consider to be your greatest strengths?
Can you name some weaknesses?
Define Success and Failure
Have you ever had any failures? What did you learn from them?
Of which three accomplishments are you most proud?
Who are your role models? Why?
How does your college education or work experience relate to this job?
What motivates you most in a job?
Have you had difficulty getting along with a former professor/supervisor/co-worker and how did you handle it?
What are your hobbies?
Why did you choose to interview with our organization?
Describe your ideal job.
What can you offer us?

EDUCATION

Why did you choose your major/specialization?
Why did you choose to attend your college or university?
Do you think you received a good education? In what ways?
In which campus activities did you participate?
In what ways do your college education or work experience relate to this job?
Which classes in your major did you like best? Least?
Which elective classes did you like best? Least? Why?
If you were to start over, what would you change about your education?
Do you plan to return to school for further education?

TECHNICAL

Please describe any technical hobbies or interests you have.
How do you approach a technical problem? Give an example.
What exposure have you had to (software, hardware, product marketing, budgeting, etc.)?
Briefly describe a technical project that you found challenging or rewarding.
What have you done above and beyond class or course work especially in an area related to your major?
Have you published any papers or projects?
Have you ever been in a situation where you found yourself without the specific technical knowledge to perform a task essential to your project? What did you do?

EXPERIENCE

What job related skills have you developed?
Did you work while going to school?
What did you learn from these work experiences?
What did you enjoy most about your last employment? Least?
Have you ever quit a job? Why?
Give an example of a situation in which you worked under deadline pressure.
Have you ever done any volunteer work? What kind?
How do you think a former supervisor would describe your work?

CAREER GOALS

Do you prefer to work under supervision or on your own?
What kind of boss do you prefer?
Would you be successful working with a team?
Do you prefer large or small organizations? Why?
What other types of positions/options are you considering?
How do you feel about working in a structured environment?
Are you able to work on several assignments at once?
How do you feel about working overtime?
How do you feel about travel?
How do you feel about the possibility of relocating?
Are you willing to work flextime?

GENERAL

What motivates you most in a job?
Have you had difficulty getting along with a former professor/ supervisor/co-worker and how did you handle it?
Have you ever spoken before a group of people? How large?
Why should we hire you rather than another candidate?
What do you know about our organization (products or services)?
Where do you want to be in five years? Ten years?

Questions to be Asked -

Please describe the duties of the job for me.
What kinds of assignments might I expect the first six months on the job?
Does your company encourage further education?
What products (or services) are in the development stage now?
Do you have plans for expansion?
What are your growth projections for next year?
Have you cut your staff in the last three years?
How do you feel about creativity and individuality?
Is your company environmentally conscious? In what ways?
In what ways is a career with your company better than one with your competitors?
Is this a new position or am I replacing someone?
May I talk with the last person who held this position?
What is the usual promotional time frame?
Does your company offer either single or dual career-track programs?
What do you like best about your job/company?
Once the probation period is completed, how much authority will I have over decisions?
Do you fill positions from the outside or promote from within first?
What qualities are you looking for in the candidate who fills this position?
What skills are especially important for someone in this position?
What characteristics do the achievers in this company seem to share?
Will I have the opportunity to work on special projects?
Where does this position fit into the organizational structure?
Who was the last person that filled this position, what made them successful at it, where are they today, and how may I contact them?