Common Interview Questions

Every interview compiles of the interviewer asking you a great deal of questions. Many of them are standard questions that every interviewer asks. I’ve listed the most common questions that you will encounter during an interview to help you get a handle on them before you go to one. It is always good to be prepared.

By reading these common questions that interviewers ask, you will have a leg up on the competition. You will also have time to prepare your answers so that you don’t get stumped.

So here is your key to acing a job interview.

• 1. Tell me something about yourself. Remember, say something positive.
• 2. How do handle stressful situations?
• 3. How do you deal with criticism and stress?
• 4. What is your definition of success?
• 5. Why do you think that you would fit in with this company? (This is where your research comes in handy)
• 6. Have you ever been fired, and why?
• 7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• 8. Do you prefer to work on your own or as a team?
• 9. Why are you interested in working for this company?
• 10. How do you handle a difference of opinion with your colleagues or superiors?
• 11. Why should I hire you?

Common Questions When Applying for Your First Job After College Graduation

• 1. Tell me what your most rewarding college experience was.
• 2. What extra curricular activities did you participate in?
• 3. What have you learned in college that applies directly to this job?
• 4. How have you prepared yourself for the transition from college to the workplace?
• 5. Are you going to graduate school? If so, do you plan to continue working as well?
• 6. How do you plan to manage graduate school and working?
• 7. Did you get any hands on experience in College?
• 8. How do you feel that college has prepared you for this job?
• 9. Have you ever done an internship that helped to prepare you for this type of work?
• 10. What do you think is the best asset that you could bring to the company?

Questions That You Should Ask Your Interviewer

Just like you will be fielding questions from your interviewer, it is best to ask a few of your own. It shows that you are genuinely interested in working there, and that you have some concerns of your own. It also shows that you feel relatively certain that this is the place for you.
Asking the right questions to your prospective employer will show him/her that you are serious in you efforts to work for their company, and that you are an organized individual. You should steer clear of asking any personal questions or any questions that are not directly job related. If you wish, you may jot down some of the answers that you are given for reference later on. Keep your questions simple and polite. Make sure that you are asking direct questions about the job and/or work environment.
Here are some questions that you should ask your prospective employer:

• 1. Why is this position available right now?
• 2. How many times has this position been filled in the past 5 years?
• 3. What should the new person do that is different from the last person that had this position?
• 4. What would you most like to see done in the next 6 months?
• 5. What are the most difficult problems that this job entails?
• 6. How much freedom do I have in the decision making process?
• 7. What are my options for advancement?
• 8. How has this company succeeded in the past?
• 9. What changes do you envision in near future for this company?
• 10. What do you think constitutes success in this job?

Questions Employers Cannot Ask

Just like there are many questions that an interviewer can ask, there are many that he cannot ask. Some questions are illegal to ask. Many people don’t realize that there are off limit questions for employers. That is why I felt that it was important to include them.
When or if you do encounter some of these questions there are ways that you can choose to respond to them. Since some people would probably answer them, it is good to know that you don’t have to answer those kinds of questions. You can simply ask how those questions pertain to the job you’re applying for.

Here is a list of the questions that are illegal for an interviewer to ask.

• 1. Questions about your age are not allowed during an interview because it should not be a factor upon hiring you.
• 2. Questions about your marital status are inappropriate and can easily be mistaken for sexual harassment. This question also applies to whether or not you have children, your child care plans etc. This type of question also includes any other aspect of your personal life that should not affect your chances of being hired.
• 3. Questions about your personal health are also off limits.
• 4. Questions about your ethnicity should not be asked by an interviewer or answered by the person being given the interview.
• 5. Your sexual preference cannot be a factor in your chances of being hired either. This type of question should not be asked.
• 6. Whether or not you have disabilities is a question that should not be asked either.
• 7. Your arrest record is information that doesn’t have to be answered. All an interviewer can ask you is if you have ever been convicted of a crime, they cannot ask you what for or how many times.
• 8. Basically, personal information cannot be asked by an interviewer. It is illegal, and you do not have to respond.