General Guidelines in Answering Interview Questions

#01 Tell me about yourself.

#02 What are your greatest strengths?

#03 What are your greatest weaknesses?

#04 Tell me about something you did – or failed to do – that you now feel a little ashamed of.

#05 Why are you leaving (or did you leave) this position?

#06 The “Silent Treatment”

#07 Why should I hire you?

#08 Aren’t you overqualified for this position?

#09 Where do you see yourself five years from now?

#10 Describe your ideal company, location and job.

#11 Why do you want to work at our company?

#12 What are your career options right now?

#13 Why have you been out of work so long?

#14 Tell me honestly about the strong points and weak points of your boss (company, management team, etc.)…

#15 What good books have you read lately?

#16 Tell me about a situation when your work was criticized.

#17 What are your outside interest?

#18 The “Fatal Flaw” question

#19 How do you feel about reporting to a younger person (minority, woman, etc)?

#20 On confidential matters…

#21 Would you lie for the company?

#22 Looking back, what would you do differently in your life?

#23 Could you have done better in your last job?

#24 Can you work under pressure?

#25 What makes you angry?

#26 Why aren’t you earning more money at this stage of your career?

#27 Who has inspired you in your life and why?

#28 What was the toughest decision you ever had to make?

#29 Tell me about the most boring job you’ve ever had.

#30 Have you been absent from work more than a few days in any previous position?

#31 What changes would you make if you came on board?

#32 I’m concerned that you don’t have as much experience as we’d like in…

#33 How do you feel about working nights and weekends?

#34 Are you willing to relocate or travel?

#35 Do you have the stomach to fire people? Have you had experience firing many people?

#36 Why have you had so many jobs?

#37 What do you see as the proper role/mission of… …a good (job title you’re seeking); …a good manager; …an executive in serving the community; …a leading company in our industry; etc.

#38 What would you say to your boss if he’s crazy about an idea, but you think it stinks?

#39 How could you have improved your career progress?

#40 What would you do if a fellow executive on your own corporate level wasn’t pulling his/her weight…and this was hurting your department?

#41 You’ve been with your firm a long time. Won’t it be hard switching to a new company?

#42 May I contact your present employer for a reference?

#43 Give me an example of your creativity (analytical skill…managing ability, etc.)

#44 Where could you use some improvement?

#45 What do you worry about?

#46 How many hours a week do you normally work?

#47 What’s the most difficult part of being a (job title)?

#48 The “Hypothetical Problem”

#49 What was the toughest challenge you’ve ever faced?

#50 Have you consider starting your own business?

#51 What are your goals?

#52 What do you for when you hire people?

#53 Sell me this stapler…(this pencil…this clock…or some other object on interviewer’s desk).

#54 “The Salary Question” – How much money do you want?

#55 The Illegal Question

#56 The “Secret” Illegal Question

#57 What was the toughest part of your last job?

#58 How do you define success…and how do you measure up to your own definition?

#59 “The Opinion Question” – What do you think about …Abortion…The President…The Death Penalty…(or any other controversial subject)?

#60 If you won $10 million lottery, would you still work?

#61 Looking back on your last position, have you done your best work?

#62 Why should I hire you from the outside when I could promote someone from within?

#63 Tell me something negative you’ve heard about our company…

#64 On a scale of one to ten, rate me as an interviewer.