Interview Questions
Printed from www.survivingredundancy.ie Copyright © 2012
- Don't let the time you spend researching go to waste. When answering questions in relation to the company add plenty of specific relevant details to show you really know what you're talking about.
- Prepare enough questions: Should your prepared questions be answered over the course of the interview have some back up questions ready and/ or some questions arising from the topics covered during the interview. It is essential to show your enthusiasm.
- At first interview, don't ask about job conditions such as salary, hours of work etc. or embarrassing or confidential questions.
Personality and Interests
- Tell me about yourself.
- How would you describe yourself?
- How would you think a friend would describe you?
- What's the last film you saw/book you read?
- Are you ambitious?
- Are you a leader?
- How would you describe your management style?
- What are your strengths/weaknesses?
- Do you prefer working on your own or as part of a team?
- How do you determine or evaluate success?
- What qualities do you think a successful interviewer has?
- What has been you proudest achievement?
- What is your opinion on ...?
- How do you react to criticism?
- What are your interests outside work?
- What specific goals outside those that relate to your career have you set for your self for the next 5 years?
- Where do you see yourself in five years time?
- In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
- What sized company do you feel you'd be most suited to and why?
- Are you a member of any clubs or societies?
- What are your hobbies?
Academic Record
- Why did you choose accountancy as a career?
- Why did you study commerce at school?
- Why is your exam record so bad?
- Why did you repeat your leaving cert?
- Why did you change courses in college?
- Why did you not pass your exams the first time?
- What skills did university teach you?
- What activities did you participate in while at college?
- What college subjects did you like least/best?
- Why didn't you go to university?
- Do you have any plans for further education?
- What is your opinion on continuous training and upgrading of your existing skills?
Market Knowledge and Business Acumen
- Who do you think our main competitors are?
- How do you think we should gain market share from our competitors?
- How do you think we as a company should deal with the current economic downturn?
- Do you see any positive elements to the economic downturn?
- What advice would you give the Irish government in their current quest to spend less money?
Current/ Previous roles
- Tell me about your present job
- Talk me through your career history, starting with your first job
- What have you achieved in your present job?
- What have you learned in your present job?
- How do you get on with your boss/colleagues/clients/subordinates?
- How do you handle confrontation?
- How do you handle disagreements?
- What do like most/least about your present job?
- Why do you want to leave your present job?
- What was your worst mistake in work?
- How did you correct it?
- What has been your most challenging/responsible work?
- How have you shown initiative in your current role?
- Why were you made redundant?
- Have you ever been fired?
- Why were you unemployed for six months?
- Why did you change jobs so often?
- Why did you stay for so long in your last role?
- Why haven't you found a job yet?
- Why did you leave without having a job to go to?
Research/ Company knowledge
- What do you know about us?
- What do you think our reputation in the market is?
- What do you think of our industry?
- What differentiates us from other companies you have applied to?
- Why do you want to work for this company?
- Have you spoken to anyone in this job/company/location?
- What type of person do you think would fit in with this team/company?
- What impression have you gotten through your research about our company culture?
- What qualities do you think you have that would fit in with our corporate culture?
Future Plans / Ambitions
- How do you see this job fitting in with your career plans?
- What are the biggest problems you would face in this job?
- What are your long range and short range goals and objectives?
- How are you preparing to achieve your goals?
- When and where did you establish your goals?
- Are you willing to travel?
- What makes you stand out from other applicants?
- Is this job too much/too little of a challenge for you?
- What are you looking for in your next job?
- Where do you aim to be in five years time?
- How does this job sound to you?
- Why did you apply for this job?
- What type of work do you like?
- How did you/would you approach the following problem ...?
- What are your long/short term career ambitions?
- What rewards do you anticipate from your business degree?
- How much are you willing to travel?
Negotiations
- What salary are you on?
- What salary do you want?
- How much time have you been off work due to illness?
- Are you prepared to relocate?
- How will you settle in London/Australia/Bermuda?
- Are you attending any other interviews at present?
- How much notice do you have to give?
- Can we check your references?
- Would you accept this job if I offered it to you?
Questions to ask at interview
Ask questions which show your knowledge of the company, its markets and the job itself
- How has the company grown?
- What future plans do you have?
- How has the economic downturn affected your plans, if at all?
- What are the main opportunities/threats that you face?
- What are your general policies towards employee's promotion from within etc?
- A recent article refered to XYZ development, how is that going?
- Ask about the markets and products
Ask about the job.
- To whom would I report?
- Is this a new position?
- What do you want this person to achieve?
Ask about matters outside your area.
- You have given me a good understanding of the (accounting) function and where I would fit in. Could you tell me something about the overall management structure of the company?
Ask about your prospects with the company.
- Where would you see me in two years time, assuming that I performed well in this position?
Ask about any area that the interviewer has shown they enjoyed talking about.
- That successful new product, how does it fit in with the company's image?
- I noticed from my research that you have completed the QFA exams. I am currently studying the QFA's. How did you find they helped you in your work?
Finally, ask how you fit their specification.
I am very interested in this job and feel my experience is appropriate. How do you think I match your requirements?
Books
'Great answers to tough interview questions 7th Edition'-Martin John Yate-2008
