A Few Tips for Answering Tough Interview Questions
"Tell me about yourself."
Talk briefly about your academic and work history. Identify the strengths and skills you possess that qualify you for the position.
"What is it about this job that interests you?"
Talk about which responsibilities of the job are attractive and how you would be an asset to the company.
"What are your weaknesses?"
Use this question as an opportunity to highlight effective strategies for overcoming a challenge, rather than emphasizing your shortcomings. Present an example of an area that you have identified and are improving upon. For example, "I have received feedback that I need to be more assertive when working on projects, and I am asking more questions and requesting assistance when I need it." Again, an example can be very useful! Don't use examples that are very negative - being late for work, conflict with co-workers, etc.
"Tell me about a time when you had multiple tasks to complete and how you accomplished them."
Think about what skills and attributes the employer wants to see in a successful candidate. Can you prioritize? Do you meet deadlines? Can you work with other people and elicit help? Your research on which skills they are looking for will help you to prepare for questions like these.
"What motivates you at work?"
Review experiences that have motivated you in the past. These could include managing information, helping people, being creative, speaking publicly, etc. Then determine which of these would be useful in the job for which you are interviewing.
"Why do you want to work here?"
Articulate clearly what a good company it is, or that the work will be challenging and interesting or that you have a commitment to the type of work you wish to do. Do not emphasize the time off, fringe benefits or free employer tuition.
"Why did you leave (or wish to leave) your past (present) employer?"
There are many legitimate reasons to leave a job. You may have had a lack of promotional opportunities or you were looking fornew challenges. During interviews, never speak badly of a present or previous employer. Even if your boss was awful or the company didn't treat you fairly, you do not want to tell a possible future employer about it in an interview. It will concern them that you may be a complainer or a difficult employee.
"What are your goals?"
Respond with goals appropriate to work and company. For example, "I hope to begin in this position, demonstrate my abilities and do quality work. After a year (two, three) I would like to seek other appropriate challenges in the company with more responsibility." Longer-term goals to continue your education or plan for management or advance positions are appropriate as well.
"What areas in school or work have been of greatest challenge to you?"
Think of a challenging college assignment (an end of the year group assignment required you to work with other students, some of whom did not do their fair share; or a big project at work or an internship site such as a report was due and you could not easily get the info you needed). How did you accomplish the task and what success did you have. Successes might include an "A " on the assignment or meeting an important deadline.