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Introduction

 

Note

Questions you might be asked in a job interview.

This site was created for student/ instructor communications 

 This page has no official connection to Morehead University
or
Midway College,
 but is a private site paid for by
 Dr. Larry C. Bobbert
 who is solely responsible for content

 All communications regarding Morehead University
or
Midway College
should be directed through the office listed below.

Classes taught by Dr. Bobbert in other venues.

Kentucky
Counties

Dr. Larry C. Bobbert

Adjunct Professor

mOREHEAD uNIVERSITY
Midway College
eASTERN kENTUCKY
uNIVERSITY

---International----
 Media Consultant - Speaker - Trainer 
TV, CD, DVD  Video Producer 





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DON'T TALK!   COMMUNICATE!

 Don't Talk! Communicate
 is "conversational
...easy to read...FUN and  informative." 
           - Lois Miller
--------------------

Other DVDs

Bluegrass
Who Dun it
THE MOVIE
Available on DVD
 

Tai Chi Elements

Ron Dori Aikido
 by Ron Boyd

Tai Chi Elements

Job Interview Questions

http://tools.monster.com/virtualinterviews/random/

What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?

What is your greatest fear?

Are you willing to relocate?

How do you feel about taking no for an answer?

What do you do in your spare time?

Use Your Hobbies and Interests  by Peter Vogt   MonsterTRAK Career Coach

If you read enough how-to books about job hunting, you'll eventually discern an apparent rule that goes something like this: "Don't mention your interests or hobbies on your resume or in job interviews. They're irrelevant to the employer."

But like many other job search rules career experts have come up with, this one is ripe to be broken in certain situations, particularly when your specific interests or hobbies could set you apart from the other candidates who are competing for the job you want.

When might you want to break the no-interests-and-hobbies rule? In situations like these:

It Creates a Bond with the Employer

A career-counseling colleague of mine has covered her walls with pictures of the good times she's had on the golf course. You can tell within seconds of stepping into her office that she's an inveterate golf junkie.

What's the last book you read?

Why is there fuzz on a tennis ball?

Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty in your previous employment.

What attracted you to this company?

How do you think I rate as an interviewer?

What is your greatest failure and what did you learn from it?

Tell me a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback. How did you handle it?

What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?

List five words that describe your character?

What kind of car do you drive?

Do you have any questions for me?

What irritates you about other people and how do you deal with it?

What are you most proud of?

Do you think a leader should be feared or liked?

Who has most impacted you in your career and how?

What's the most important thing you've learned in school?

Why are you leaving your present job?

"What did you like least about your last job?" is something of a trap, because it's asking you for a negative answer. If you haven't given the subject some thought, you may blurt out something about your boss or the company, and talk yourself right out of a job.

One of the purposes of this question is to find out if you're going to be satisfied in the job for which you're interviewing. If you were dissatisfied before, you may be dissatisfied again if the circumstances are similar. Here's how three different candidates might answer this question:

"I didn't have enough challenges. After a while, all the projects became repetitive. I thrive on challenge."

Interviewer's thoughts: A lot of the tasks here are repetitive. What makes this candidate think he will like it here any better? Will we be able to keep him challenged?

"Lack of stability. After three company acquisitions, I had five bosses in three years. I couldn't take it any longer. What I am looking for is stability in a job and company."

Interviewer's thoughts: While our company is stable now, there are no guarantees about the future. This guy sounds like he may have some burnout and flexibility issues.

"In my last job, my boss was overbearing and wouldn't let me do my job. If she didn't like the way I was doing something, she'd criticize me."

Interviewer's thoughts: Could he work with me as a supervisor? How would he react if I had to critique his work? He sounds like he could be a problem to supervise.

Stay on Task

When you answer this question, it's best to focus on tasks rather than company politics or people. A good response would be:

I've given this question some thought, and overall I've been very satisfied with my jobs. I've been able to work with some really interesting people. I have to say that I did have a job where there was an inordinate amount of paperwork. Because working with people is my strength, the paperwork really bogged me down at times.

Notice the word "inordinate." Not a normal load paperwork, but an unusually large amount, which kept you from doing what you do best: Working with people.

Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight, and how did you handle the situation?

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

What do you like to do for fun?

What do you like to do?   (try to make it job related)

Do you have children, and if so, how will you handle daycare?

An appropriate answer from the candidate might have been, "Whether or not I plan to have children in the future is not really relevant to my career. I plan to work and have a career no matter what happens in my personal life."

Why is this type of question asked in an interview? Why are interviewers concerned about your plans to reproduce, your marital status and your retirement plans? It's simple; they want to make sure you are the solution to a problem, not the source of more headaches.

When the female candidate was asked her plans regarding future motherhood, the interviewer may have been trying to determine whether she was in for the long-term or just until the company could pay for the birth of her firstborn. It is clearly a discriminatory question, one that would probably never be asked of a male candidate, and it is illegal to make hiring decisions based on it.

Technically, it is illegal for an interviewer to make hiring decisions based on anything personal that is not directly job-related. Off-limit questions include (but are not limited to): information regarding your age, marital status, country of origin, religion, sexual orientation and health status. Almost any legal information about you is illegal in the job interview.

There are some exceptions to this rule, which might be confusing. Personal questions considered to be job-related usually are permissible in the interview or on the job application.

Legal Personal Questions:

Have you ever been convicted of a crime?    Depending on the type of job you are applying for, this could be critical.

Can you show proof of your eligibility to work in the US?    Every new employee, regardless of place of origin, must provide such documentation during the first days on the job.

Can you perform the job's essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation?   This question must be accompanied by a job description covering the essential functions