101 Job Interview Questions You'll Never Fear Again

Author: James Reed

Review

Coming Feb 1st week.

Notes

3G Mindset

Global (vantage point)	Good (bedrock)	Grit (fuel cell)
adaptability flexibility relationship building collaborative focus openness innovativeness	honesty trustworthiness loyalty sincerity fairness kindness	commitment accountability determination drive energy

Types of Interviewers

1. Unicorn Hunter: "The perfect candidate does not exist."
   Tactic - Get them to specify competencies required and show how you meet them
2. Late-running Runaway Train: Disorganized, nervous, ill-prepared.
   Tactic - Be effusive & expansive. Talk lots.
3. Method Man / Woman: Asks all candidates same questions (competency).
   Tactics - Point our your relevant ones - twice.
4. Napolean: Show-off, talks, asks few questions.
   Tactic - Offer praise where possible, else silence.
5. Suitor: Hires attractive people.
   Tactic - Move on.
6. B Player: Likes to hire C players.
   Tactic - Highlight your strengths & achievements. You probably won't get hired.
7. Dues-payer: Defines success in terms of their career path; their path only. Doesn't like career-switchers.
   Tactic - Show how your skills are another manifestation of theirs.
8. RHINO (Really Here in Name Only): Not engaged during interview.
   Tactic - Be gracious, put on the best show you can.
9. Entrepreneur: Founder & sole owner of the company.
   Tactic - Play up work ethic, loyalty & flexibility.
10. Poker Player: A warm & genuine exterior conceals steely interior.
    Tactic - Focus on showing what you can do for them.
11. Goldilocks (Note: I didn't understand this one.): Neither too cold, nor too hot.
    Tactic - Pat yourself on the back for bringing out the best in people.

Classic Interview Questions

1. Tell Me About Yourself

Who do you think you are? And will you know what to leave in & what to leave out?

Tactic: Break it down, rehearse, breeze it.

• Show a logical progression or underlying theme.
• Indicate that you know exactly what you're going to say & it won't take long.
• No more than 10% personal stuff.
• What you've been up to lately, how that feeds into your skills & experience, and in turn, how skills & experience feed into this position.
• Close clearly - indicate that you're done. Don't leave it hanging.
• Can bounce around chronologically, but show logical progression.
• Can use current job title to start off with the answer.
• Avoid talking explicitly about strengths & weaknesses - this should flow from results you've achieved. Stick to achievements & passions (I'm not so sure about the passions bit).

2. Why are You Applying?

What can you do that we need you to do? Do you even know what we need you to do?

Tactic: Reflect the job spec in every line of your answer. Talk about their needs before you mention your own.

• I'm applying because my skills, experience and motivation are the best fit for the job.
• Imply long term satisfaction.
• A person's values tend to be stable & enduring - so, point out that your personal values align with the firm's values.

3. What are Your Greatest Strengths?

Do you really know yourself? Do you know what our problem is here?

Tactic: Answer with the job description uppermost in mind. Go easy on the adjectives & heavy on the hard data.

• Map the key requirements of the job against your best achievements to date.
• Mandatory: solve the employer's problems.
  Necessary but insufficient: be perceived as smart & professional.
• Showcase aspects that show progression & development over time.
• What was the impact of your strength in context? Who acknowledged it and how?

4. What are Your Greatest Weaknesses?

Am I right in thinking X about you? Are you going to give me the same old evasive & lame answers that everybody else did, or are you going to level with me?

Tactic: Interviewer is probably seeking affirmation of predicted weaknesses, not info about new ones.

• Don't give cliched answers; don't trivialize your weaknesses.
• Stick to weaknesses that are apparent, don't introduce a new monster-under-the-bed that the interviewer hasn't spotted.
• Be clear that you know your weaknesses & that they don't perturb you.
• Show evidence that you're working on your weaknesses.
• If possible, directly reference your key performance indicators (KPIs) - make it a less important KPI.

5. What will Your Skills & Ideas Bring to this Company?

What will be buying from you?

Tactic: Appear generous, no one wants a miser.

• Be open & enthusiastic about your ideas, even if they're not a perfect match - your errors will be attributed to your outsider status, insufficient info / context.
• Present ideas in terms of work executed personally.

6. What's Your Preferred Management Style?

Are you and I going to get along?

Tactic: Aim to be the boss & subordinate you always wanted for yourself.

• Show that you can work under your own steam, but also that you know there's a hierarchy.
• Bosses want to provide course correction, not spell out details.
• Show you can take both good & bad news gracefully.
• Show that you can give out bad news with respect & humility.
• Show you can give off good energy to enthuse troops.
• May help to talk about key experiences as a subordinate or manager w.r.t. conflicts, success, goal setting & staff performance.

7. Where do You See Yourself in Five Years' Time?

Are you after this job or just any job? How soon will you need a new challenge? Do you have a realistic sense of what we can offer you?

Tactic: If you don't know, calmly say so, as if not knowing were the most natural thing in the world - because it is.

• If you have a well-mapped-out career plan, use it.
• Acknowledge that you're there to talk about the job at hand, not the next job it leads to - express hope that you'll be successful at the company.
• Be honest about drive & ambition, but temper it and demonstrate that you're realistic.
• You can make it about the journey, rather than the destination.

8. How would You Approach This Job?

How well do you know us? What's your take on what we need? What's your preferred style of working?

Tactic: Talk about diplomacy before talking about your plans.

• Don't make sweeping statements - you don't know how the company works.
• Talk about your work style & achievements at previous jobs, draw lines to job on offer.
• Show your ability to adapt to the new environment.
• Remember "The First Ninety Days" book - first few weeks to learn systems, culture & colleagues, then create departmental plan. This shows you can plan, but don't have rigid ideas.

9. What have You Achieved Elsewhere?

What's the very best that we can expect from you? Is that what we need?

Tactic: Keep it recent, work-related & well-rehearsed. Be confident - it's expected.

• Think of this as story time and a chance to toot your horn.
• Graceful self-promotion is the key - it's the difference between career stagnation & progression.

10. What did You Like and Dislike About Your Last Job?

What do you want from them that the last lot couldn't give you? Can we give it to you?

Tactic: Start with a long list of what makes you happy, then let them knwo that you don't expect perfection in any job.

• First, talk about a few things you didn't enjoy, but demonstrate grit & strong work ethic, one that can power through difficulties.
• Prepare for this question in advance. Tip: Does you current job offer the following? (Note: not all of these may apply.)
  • meet interesting people
  • opportunities for progress
  • work independently
  • atmosphere of trust, honesty & integrity
  • overseas travel
  • varied tasks
  • constant learning
  • requires or rewards creativity
  • likable co-workers
  • face-to-face contact
  • caring for others
  • customer interaction
  • clearly defined role
  • close to management
  • developing people
  • positive impact on the community
  • supportive culture
  • playing with cool technology

11. Tell me About a Time You Worked in a Team

No one achieves anything on their own - and you know that, right?

Tactic: Find a recent real-world example where you've played successfully with others.

• Be concrete, specific, recent & focused on your actions. End with a positive outcome.
• Assign credit where due.
• Illustrate key traits of a team player: communication, adaptability, empathy, appreciative of others, humor(?).

12. What do Your Co-workers Say About You?

Do you sound calm or wary about this question? Are you self-aware or just self-conscious?

Tactic: Testimonials, not adjectives.

• Use real examples, not generic adjectives like hardworking and reliable.
• Answer tailored for the boss:
  • You can do the job.
  • You're not a burden to manage.
  • You're hungry for what the firm is offering.
• Answer tailored to colleagues:
  • You're fun(?), positive & fair.
  • You're a good cultural fit.

13. How do You Deal with Stress and Failure?

When the pressure increases, will you turn into a monster, a useless blob of jelly or someone who sets a good example?

Tactic: Don't pretend you live in a stress-free bubble. Instead, give concrete examples of the steps you take to handle pressure.

• You need to convince the interviewer that you won't crumble under pressure.
• What specific practices did you use to cope with stress? e.g.
  • exercise
  • analyzing the source of the stress
  • prioritizing tasks
  • delegating
  • re-conceptualizing pressure as motivating
  • deep breathing
  • taking short breaks
  • laughter / letting loose after work
• Show that you're not stranger to stress & have figured out a constructive way to handle stress.

14. How Much Money do You Want?

Can we afford you? Are you value for money?

Tactic: Avoid until as late as possible in the interview process.

• See dedicated salary negotiation section below.

15. Show Me Your Creativity

No hidden agenda here - are you creative?

Tactic: Show that a blank sheet of paper doesn't scare you - the future is full of blank sheets.

• See dedicated creativity section below.

Career Goal Questions

16. Please Describe the Job You've Applied For

We know you know, else you wouldn't be here - but how well can you sum it up?

Tactic: Have the confidence to give them the briefest of answers.

• The question tests your ability to summarize information correctly.
• Pick the essence of the job, usually something to do with making a profit or keeping stakeholders happy, then add in 1-2 everyday tasks.
• Add KPIs for yourself, the team or product.
• 1-2 key challenges to be overcome in the industry.

17. How did You Hear About the Position?

How plugged in to the company are you?

Tactic: If possible, take this opportunity to highlight your personal connection to, or passion for, the company.

• Likely testing whether you sought out this particular firm or type of employer and fell strongly about what they do or if you just stumbled upon the job opening.
• If you heard about the job from a contact / friend, mention that without sounding like an obnoxious name-dropper.
• If via a job board / agency, add details about why this opportunity got you excited and fits your skill / experience.

18. Why do you want to work at this company?

Have you been following us for a long time, or have you just read about us?

Tactic: Show that you are familiar with the company's regular outputs, not just its "About Us" page.

• It's about showing that you want to commit to that company, and it's not just a job.
• Do research and tailor your answer accordingly.
• If the interviewer is your boss, and then focus on your personal contribution.

19. What motivates you?

Will this job, specifically, motivate you to do great work? Are you in it for just a paycheck?

Tactic: Put all that preparation you did to good use.

• Show how this job has intrinsic motivation for you and that you'll enjoy it in some way.
• Avoid excessive flattery, trivial motivations (e.g. Shorter commute) and the appearance of random chance.
• When talking about career oxidation, emphasize a rational progression from job to job - a coherent career story.
• A thoughtful answer lays out how your personal motivations and the specific characteristics of the job line up.

20. Would you stay with your current employer if they offered you a pay raise?

Doyou what the job or not? Am I being played off against your current boss?

Tactic: There would be no dilemma; you want progress much more than you want money.

21. Would you be OK with the commute to this job?

Nobody likes a long commute; you know other candidates live closer than you, right?

Tactic: If you're not prepared to move, say so. And if you genuinely don't mind the commute say that too - and don't wait to be asked.

22. How does this job fit in with your career plan?

How much do you really want to solve your immediate problem? What about after that?

Tactic: Interview for the job, not the employer.

• The message you want to get across is, "I plan to do this job well enough that you'll tell me where you want me next."
• The question tests your commitment to the employer's immediate problem.
• Focus on the job at hand, not the next step in your career.

23. Give me the names of three companies you would like to work for.

We want you here - buy will you love it here? Do you understand the competitive terrain?

Tactic: Use your research to draw distinctions between the usual suspects in your industry vs. the new kids on the block.

• Talk about the (1) the hiring firm (2) the hiring firm's closest rival & (3) the upstart newcomer.
• E.g. I would work for a new vertical group (Expedia, Healthvault) at Microsoft, Hotwire (if they were in Bellevue), or the east coast startup that sells custom shirts.
• Talking about an upstart challenger who could turn the industry on its head will show that you're aware of what's going on in their industry.

24. Where else have you applied? Who else are you interviewing with?

Is a competitor about to snap you up?

Tactic: Sound as though you're in demand.

• Be brief, leave them wanting more information.
• Mention close competitors or well-regarded firms if you can.
• Talk bout similarities of the roles you've applied for - this shows that you're conducting a small, targeted search.

25. Why have you changed jobs so frequently?

Will you leave this job mere months after we hire you?

Tactic: Explain each move in terms employers can sympathize with.

• Acceptable explanations:
  • Short-term contract / project-oriented work.
  • Relocation
  • Career advancement
  • Change of employer type
  • Structural changes at the company

26. What is your dream job?

Can we help you on your way, or is this the wrong job for you? Do you really want to work here at all?

Tactic: Play down the dream, play up the things your dreams are made of.

• Respond in good humor and move on quickly.
• Refer to the role by its specification, not its title.

27. What is your ideal work environment?

Are your preferences compatible with how we do business here?

Tactic: Say that what you want is what they're offering.

• Goal is to determine the fit between how you like to work and how things get done at this company.
• Questions like this are really about the company's needs - they just appear to be about your preferences.
• Choose aspects of your ideal atmosphere that match up with the company.
• Skip preferences that this company cannot meet.

28. Why do you want to leave your current job?

Do you know what this job is? And, to be a little paranoid, do you have some murky problem that I can't see now? Are you about to get fired? Help me out here.

Tactic: It's not about you. Link your answer to what the company needs.

• Even if there is a negative reason for leaving, give a sincere and positive answer.
• Play this from the front foot, not the back foot.
• Show that you're running towards something, not away.
• There are 2 skeleton answers:
  • In my current job I do X. You do X here too, but this is a better place to do X. Here's how I would do X for you.
  • My employer does X, but you do Y, and Y is what I want. You is also what I'm good at & enjoy. Here's how my resume relates to Y.
• Your terrible boss was never going to solve your interviewer's problems, so why bring him into the room?

29. Talk me through (the gaps in) your resume / career history.

Did you stay at home watching TV for six months? Were you in jail? Is there something wrong with your mindset?

Tactic: The best defense is offense use your time productively when you're out of work. If you have a gap, be prepared to explain it.

• Managers would rather hire someone with no relevant experience that someone who has been out of work for longer than six months.
• Acceptable reasons for gaps:
  • taking time out to raise children
  • caring for an ill family member.
  • a medical issue or accident.
  • education or further training.
  • traveling.

Character Questions