The Bridge Connection

TOUGH  INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

Sample interview questions  are:

I. Industry related Questions:

1. Why are you interested in this industry?

2. What kind of research have you done on this industry?

3. What, in your opinion, is the industry's biggest problem or problems?

4.  What, in the short-term, is the future for this industry?

5. What, in the long-term, is the future for this industry?    

6. Where, in your opinion, is the greatest growth?

7. Where is the industry weakest?

8. How do you view the competition in this industry?

9. What do you consider to be the most important skill necessary to achieve

     success in this industry?

II. Company Related Questions:

1. What do you know about this company?

2. Why would you like to work for this company?

3. In what way can you make a contribution to our company?

4. How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm?  Why?

5. How long would you stay with us?

6. Wouldn't be happier in a smaller (larger) company or different type of company?

7. What kind of research have you done on our company?

8. What kind of measures do you use to evaluate a company?

9. Why would you like to live in this community?

10. What does it take to be successful in a company like this?

III. Present Position Questions:

1. In your current job, what problems have you identified?

2. In your present job, what problems have you identified that were previously

    overlooked?

3. What do you think of your present manager?

4. Why are you leaving your present job?

5. How would you evaluate your present firm?

6. Have you helped increase sales? Profits? How?

7. Have you helped reduce costs? How?

8. How large a budget have you been responsible?

9.  How many people do you supervise?

10. What do your subordinates think of you?

11. What do you like most about your current job?

12.  What do you like least about your current job?

13.  What have been your five most significant accomplishments in your job?

14. What do you think of your boss?

15. Describe a few situation in which your work was criticized.

16. How have you changed the nature of your job?

17. Why aren't you earning more?

18. What are some of the most important lessons you learned in your job?

19. Describe some situations in which your efforts have been praised.

20. What are the most important contributions you have made to your present

       employer?

21. Why did you accept each of the positions listed on your resume?

IV. New Position Questions:

1. What position in our company are you applying for? Why?

2. What interests you most about the product? Why?

3. Name five unique contributions you can make to our company.

4.What is your greatest potential area for contributing to our company? Why?

5.Which is more important to you: money or position?

6. What kind of relationship should exist between managers and those reporting to

     them?

7. What qualities and personal characteristics must a successful manager have?

8. Why should I hire you?

9. Describe what you feel to be an ideal working environment.

10. Aren't you overqualified for this position?

11. What do you look for in a job?

12. What is your philosophy of management?

13.  What is your management style?

14. What do you see as the most difficult task in being a manager?

15. Why haven't you found a new position?

16. Do you prefer staff or line work?

17. What do you feel this position should pay?

18. What kind of salary are you worth?

19. How much do you expect, if we offer this position to you?

20. Will you be out to take your boss's job?

21. What position do you expect in five years?

V. Personal and Professional Life Questions:

1.Tell me about yourself.

2. As a manager, what do you look for when you hire people?

3. Have you ever fired anyone? How did you handle it and what were the reasons

     for firing?

4. Are you a good manager?

5. Why do you feel you have top management potential?

6. What are the "frontier" issues of your profession?

7. What was the last book you read? Movie you saw?

8. How do you describe your personality?

9. Are you a leader? Give examples.

10. What are your goals?

11. What are your strong points?

12. What are your weak points?

13. What are your long-range (5 years plus) objectives?

14.What are your short-range objectives?

15. What are you doing to reach these objectives?

16. What career options do you have at the moment?

17. How would you describe success? According to your description, how

       successful have you been so far?

18. What are some of the new goals you recently established?

19. What are your most important concerns when seeking a position?

20. What are your greatest accomplishments?

21. What are five unique features about you that contribute to your success?

22. What does "cooperation" mean to you?

23. What are some examples of initiative you have used in your personal life?

Interested in Behavior based interviews?  Am-South Bank provides the following information on the topic:

Here's a good way to prepare for behavior-based interviews :

1. Identify six to eight examples from your past experience where you demonstrated behaviors and skills that employers typically seek.  Think in terms of examples that will exploit your top selling points,

2. Half your examples should be totally positive, such as accomplishments or meeting goals,

3. The other half should be situations that started out negatively but either ended positively or you made the best of the out come,

4. Vary your examples: do not take them all from just one area of your life,

5. Use fairly recent examples.  Some companies will specify that the candidate give examples of behaviors within the last year,

6. Try to describe examples in the SAR format:

Situation->Action->Result

Sample Behavioral Interview Questions:

* Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.

* Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills.

* Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgement and logic in solving a problem.

*Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it.

* Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion.

* Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree.

* Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete.

*Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.

* Tell me about a time when you had to many things to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks.

* Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision.

* What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.

* Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa).

* Tell me about a difficult decision you've made last year.

* Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish failed.

* Give me an example of a time when you showed initiative and took the lead.

* Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker.

* Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.

* Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.

* Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem.

* Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.

* Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventative measures.

* Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision.

* Please tell me about a time you had to fire a friend.

* Describe a ime when you set your sights to high (or to low).