Sample Questions for the Interview
QUESTIONS REGARDING APPLICATION
WORK EXPERIENCE
FEELINGS ABOUT JOB
FEELINGS ABOUT PEOPLE
JOB OBJECTIVES
APPLICANT REGARD OF SELFQUESTIONS REGARDING APPLICATION
Inquire About:
· Gaps in employment
· Reasons for leaving previous employment - "Personal" - "Will explain" - "Layoff"
· Incomplete sections
· Education - Kinds of classes - Graduate
· Clarify date they can start - "If you were offered a position, when could you start?"
· Salary expectations (may be done over the phone)
· If salary/wage is commensurate with experience, find out about their requirements
· If wage is a flat starting rate, let them know what it is1. One of the things we want to talk about today is your work experience; would you tell me about your present job?
2. What do you feel were your major responsibilities in your last job?
3. In your last job, what were some of the things you spent most time on, and how much time did you spend on each?
4. What job duties were you totally responsible?
5. What are some of the things on your job you feel you have done particularly well, or in which you have achieved the greatest success, and why do you feel this way?
6. What were some of the things about your job that you found difficult to do, and why do you feel this way about them?
1. How do you feel about your present job?
2. What are some of the day-to-day problems you encounter doing your job? Which frustrates you the most? What do you do about them?
3. How do you feel about the progress you have made with your present company?
4. In what ways do you feel your present job has developed you to take on even greater responsibilities?
5. What would you say was the most, or least, promising job you ever had, and what are your reasons for feeling this way?
6. What do you feel has been your greatest frustration or disappointment on your present job and why do you feel this way?
7. What are some of the reasons you had for leaving your last job? (Always look for more than one reason for a voluntary resignation.)
8. What is your general impression of the last company for which you have worked?
9. What were some things you particularly liked about your last job?
10. Most jobs have pluses and minuses--what are some of the minuses in your last job?
11. Where would you rank this job with other jobs you have held? What are some of your reasons for so ranking it?
12. What do you feel is a satisfactory attendance record?
1. What kind of person is your supervisor?
2. What are some of the things about which you and your supervisor disagree?
3. What do you feel were your supervisor's greatest strengths?
4. In what areas do you feel your supervisor could have done an even better job?
5. How do you feel about the way you or others in the department were treated by your supervisor?
6. In what ways has your supervisor helped you to further develop your capabilities?
7. What are some of the things your supervisor did that you particularly liked or disliked?
8. How do you feel your supervisor rated your job performance? What evidence do you have to support this conclusion?
9. What did he/she feel you do particularly well? What were his major criticisms of your work? How do you feel about those criticisms?
10. What kinds of people do you like working with? What kind of people do you find it most difficult to work with? How have you successfully worked with this type of person?
1. What are some of the things in a job that are important to you?
2. What are some of the things you would like to avoid in a job?
3. What do you want from your next job that you are not getting from your present job?
4. What is your overall career objective? What are some of the things, outside your job, that you have done, or that you plan to do, that will assist you in reaching this objective?
5. What kind of position would you expect to progress to in five years? Ten years?
6. What are your current salary expectations? How have you arrived at this figure? What would you consider satisfactory salary progression from this point?
7. What are some of the reasons you applied for this position?
8. If you could describe the perfect job for yourself, what would you include?
1. How would you describe yourself?
2. As a person, what would you consider your greatest strength?
3. As a person, what do you feel you could most improve upon?
4. Are there certain things you feel more confident in doing than others? What are they and why do you feel the way you do?
5. What are some of the things that motivate you?
