Although this is by no means a complete list, you should review the following questions and think about how you would answer them.  Whenever possible, support your answers with specific examples from your own experience.  Keep in mind that all these questions are designed to answer one thing for the employer:  what can you do for the organization that the other candidates cannot?  Although technical questions are not listed, you will always be asked questions specific to your field.

1. Tell me about yourself (this question or some variation of it begins 

almost 80% of all interviews).

2. What do you see yourself doing five years from now?

3. What are your long-range career objectives, and how does this position fir into them?

4. How did you become interested in this career?

5. What are your most important strengths and weaknesses - give me a specific example of each.

6. How would you describe yourself?

7. How would a professor or friend describe you?

8. Describe a specific time when you used your leadership skills.

9. Why should I hire you?

10. In what ways can you make a contribution to our organization?

11. Describe your ideal relationship with a supervisor.

12. What accomplishment have you been most proud of, and why?

13. What has been your greatest professional disappointment, and why?

14. How did you choose Ferrum College/your academic major?

15. Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teacher or supervisor.  What was it in regard to, and what happened?

16. What academic subjects did you like best? Least?

17. Are your grades a good indication of your ability to succeed?

18. Do you have plans for continuing your education?

19. In what type of work environment are you most comfortable?

20. Why did you decide to seek a position with this organization?

21. What do you know about this organization?

22. Are you willing to relocate?  To travel?  If so, what percentage of the time would you consider traveling?

23. Tell me about a specific time you screwed up a project.  What exactly happened, and what did you learn from it?

24. Tell me about (something on your resume)

25. What did you like/dislike about your last supervisor/job?

26. What three words best describes you?

27. Do you prefer working with others or alone?

28. What type of person/situation frustrates you most?

29. What are the broad responsibilities of a (e.g.) Market Analyst?

30. Tell me about the last major project you planned.  What was it, how did you plan it, what was the outcome?

31. How do you deal with stressful situations?

32. If you were going to be stranded on a desert island, what three books would you bring?

33. Do you have any questions?

If you are unsure about how to answer any of these questions to your advantage, let us know!  We can give you some ideas.

Source: Interview to Win. Planning Job Choices, 1996, 54-60

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