Practice Interview Questions

What can you tell me about yourself?

Why do you want to work for this company?

Why have you chosen this field as your career?

Why did you leave your last job?

What salary do you expect?

now?
What are your career objectives five years from now? Ten years from
What do you feel your strong points are? Your weak points?

Which courses did you enjoy most in school?

Have you had trouble with any courses in school? Why?

How would you describe yourself?

How has your education prepared you for this posicion?

How do you define success?

In what way do you think you can make a contribution to this company?

What type of relationship do you feel should exist between a supervisor and subordinates?

What was your most rewarding experience during school?

Do you have plans to continue your education?

What have you gained from your extracurricular activities?

Are you more comfortable working in a large group or with just a few people?

How do you think you work under pressure?

What do you know about this company/job?

What do you feel is the most important aspect of a job?

Are you willing to relocate? Travel? Work overtime?

How do you spend your spare time?

How well do you get along with other people?

Why should I hire you?

 INTERVIEW RATING SHEET

Listed below are some qualities used to rate potential employees during
ACTIVITY
an
AcTv
interview. After practicing an interview, how do you think you rate on these?

Above Average Average Below Average

5 3 1

Ability to Talk

Aggressiveness

Appearance

Courtesy
Enthusiasm

Intelligence
Maturity
Personality
Poise

Using the values given under each category, add the score for your answers and
determine your rating on the following scale:

36 45 Ready for the interview

27-35 Might handle it; could use more

practice
9- 26 Definitely need more practice
 MOCK INTERVIEW EVALUATION

INTERVIEWER:
STUDENT:
DATE OF INTERVIEW:

areas ot
Kate the student interviewee on a
interviewing skill.
scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) in the following

NONVERBAL BEHAVIORS
1. Dressed appropriately 1

2. Firmly shook hands of interviewer before and after 2 3

3. Maintained eye contact with interviewer 2 3 5
4. Maintained good posture 2 3
5. Did not fidget 2 3 4 5
6. Used hands for emphasis where appropriate 2 3 5

VERBAL BEHAVIORS
1. Listened closely to questions
2. Answered questions completely, yet briefly 2
3. Greeted interviewer by name 2 5
4. Thanked interviewer 2 4 5
5. Emphasized qualifications 2 4

6. Pointed out work-related skills 2 4

7. Displayed enthusiasm 2 4 5
8. Focused on strengths; avoided weaknesses 2 4
9. Acted in polite manner 2 4
10. Stayed calm 2 3 4
11. Responded to questions promptly, but not 2
hurriedly
12. Knows when a decision will be made 2 3 4
13. Asked appropriate questions of the interviewer 2 3 4
14. Spoke clearly and at a reasonable volume 2
15. Demonstrated knowledge of the field/company 2
16. Avoided use of phrases such as "um" & "you 2 3
know
17. Stated career goal(s) and related it to
position 3 A 5

LP6 Interviewing Skills

 SUMMARY

To Do Or Not To Do, That Is The Difference

DO

Prepare a complete, attractive résumé that stresses your qualifications in a

positive nmanner.
Get permission from people you plan to use as references.
Write an effective cover letter that really sells "you."
Fill out the application completely, accurately, and legibly.
Use the completed résumé as a reference for filling
Arrive for the interview a few minutes early.
out the application.
Dress appropriately for the interview.
G o to the interview alone.
Bring résum, social security card, work permits and licenses to the interview.
Greet the receptionist and the interviewer courteously.
Present yourself wich confidence.
Research the company.
B e prepared to answer questions about yourself and your qualifications.
B e prepared to ask questions about the
company.
Smile.
Follow the interview with a thank-you letter.

DO NOTT

Do not present a résumé that was hastily put together or has typographical
errors and smudges.
D o not use a general, all-purpose résumé.
D o not give inaccurate information.
D o not presentan application that is unreadable or incomplete.
D o not arrive late for an interview.
E Do not wear jeans, wrinkled clothing, or outrageous jewelry to an interview.
D o not overdo perfume or aftershave.
D o not take friends or family to an interview.
D o not act as ifthe receptionist and interviewer are doing themselves a favor by
seeing you.
D o not forget your manners.
 THINK ABOUT
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS TO
Applicants
Questions Often Asked By
or
Questions Often Asked By Employers the organization
What are the strengths of
1.
Tell about yourself.
1 me department?
for someone
opportunities
What arethe c a r e e r
2.
2.
What are your short-range and long-range entering this position?
to
career goals, and how are you preparing
achieve them? and training
is available
orientation
3. What kind of
3. Why did you choose this career? to new employeess?
How large is
company/college?
4. How large is the
What do you consider to be your greatest this particular department/major?
4 what kind of
strengths? Weaknesses?
be reporting and
5 To whom would I
How channels a r e there?
5. How would you describe yourself? communication

describe you?
Would a friend or professor
What are the long-range plans for this
prepared 6.
6 How has your college experience organization?
you for your
career?? in this position?
7. How long was my predecessor
Why should I hire you? he/she leave?
7. Why did
evaluated? How often?
success? 8. How will I be
How do you determine or evaluate from one
8.
9. Is there an opportunity to transfer
make a
In what ways do you think you
can
9 division to another?
contribution to our company? in the
10. What are prospects for promotion
e
Describe the relationship
that should exist the qualities or
10. future? What are some of
and those reporting to consider important
between a supervisor accomplishments you would
him/her. for promotion?
of this
11. What is the management philosophy
Describe your most rewarding high
11. organization? What is the general philosophy?
school/college experience.
what 12 In what areas of the organization do you expect
12. If you were hiring for this position,
growth?
qualities would you look for?
tuition
What led you to choose your field or major? 13. s continuing education encouraged? Is
13 reimbursement offered?

14 Can you tell me about the history of this positioon

14. What have you learned from participation in
extracurricular activities? and changes anticipated?
15. What are your expectations of the person in this
15. How do you work under pressure?
position?
16. Describe the ideal job/college. 16 Is overtime the norm in this office?
17. Why did you decide to seek a position with 17. What kind of support staff is available? What is
this organization and what do you know the ratio of support staff to professionals, and how
about us? is work distributed?
18. What major problems have you encountered 18. Generally, what percentage of time will be
and how did you deal with it? devoted to each of my responsibilities?
19. What criteria are you using to evaluate the 19 Do you work with daily, weekly, monthly, or
company/college for which you hope to annual deadlines?
work/attend?
20 What salary do you want? 20. Does the organization have a process for sharing
creative ideas?
MOST COMMON REASONS WHY PEOPLE ARE NOT HIRED

Bad personal appearance

Too aggressive

Unable to express self clearly

Poor interest and enthusiasm

No career planning, no goals

Overly nervous, under confident

Too much emphasis on money

Not willing to start at the bottom

Discourteous
Immature

Speaks ill of former employers

Cannot make eye contact with interviewer

Messy application form

Late arrival for interview

Did not show appreciation for interviewer's time

Asked no questions about the company

Could not give direct answers when questioned

 INTERVIEW?
DURING THE
HOW ARE YOU RATED

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

10%

ATTITUDE
40%

COMMUNICATION

SKILLS
25%

APPEARANCE
25%