Career Services: Common Interview Questions

• Tell me about yourself. This is when you should use your "60-second commercial". Talk about your professional aspirations and some poignant skills you have that make you a match to this position.

 

• What is your greatest strength? Be prepared with what professional skills you have that will benefit the organization you are applying with. Be careful - if they only ask for one; give them one, not two or three! It could be a test to see if you're paying attention.

 

• What is your greatest weakness? This is an opportunity for you to identify some areas where you are challenged. Make sure that you are honest and focused on how you are correcting any issues.

 

• What are you most proud of? A potential employer may be trying to get a sense of what motivates you to succeed and what you use the most of your energy on. Make sure that you stick to an example that is professional, not personal.

 

• What is your best quality? While your hair or eyes may be beautiful, focus on your skills; particularly those that are related to the position at hand. Are you very organized? Energetic? Dedicated?

 

• Give me an example of how you handled stressful situation? Keep this to your education or professional experiences. Be honest and talk about how you were able to make the best of the situation. The potential employer is trying to get a sense of how you handle yourself.

 

• Why should I hire you? Keep in mind that an employer is typically trying to "weed out" candidates in an interview. It is up to you to identify all the reasons you would be a fit for the company.

 

• Do you have any questions for me? It is important that you have questions prepared. Ask questions about the company based on what you have learned from researching the company. It shows that you've done your "homework" and that you are vested in the process. Feel free to ask about the search process and when you can expect to hear from them. Do NOT ask about salary or benefits. That will come later.

 

For more information about interviewing and sample questions, visit Interview Stream.