Sample free Typical interview questions

You've submitted your CV, made it through the initial screening process, now you're ready for the interview. With so much competition in the job market, this is your opportunity to demonstrate you're the best person for the position. The way you handle yourself during the interview is only one of several factors that ultimately determines whether you get the job, but it is one of the most important nonetheless.


The good news is you can generally prepare in advance for questions you may be asked. Following are some typical interview questions, and some insights on what a hiring manager may be looking for in your answers.






"Tell me a little about yourself."


This is the ice-breaker of the interview world, and it's always a challenge to answer because it's so broad. The best approach is to narrow the scope of the question by focusing on those aspects of your background that make you qualified for the position. From there, you can talk about your interest in this particular job and company.






"Tell me about your last job."


Most interviewers are looking for a direct link between your responsibilities in your most recent position and the job they have open. This is your chance to highlight your transferable skills and talk about specifics, including who you reported to, the number of people you managed, how your position fit into the company's big picture and the contributions you made. Make sure you aren't general in your answers. Tell the interviewer what your job entailed day to day and how those responsibilities have prepared you for the current position you're seeking.






"What are your strengths?"


For many positions in today's market, the requirements have changes so it is important to have broad skill sets. While you'll always want to tailor your most applicable skills to the job description, companies also value people who demonstrate flexibility and can fill in where necessary on occasion. You'll also want to mention those strengths that are relevant in almost any position, such as solid communication skills and your ability to work well on a team.






"What are your weaknesses?"


This one can be the bane of the interviewee's existence. After all, it's difficult enough admitting your downfalls to those you know well, much less someone whom you've just met. This isn't the time to beat yourself up: Don't talk about all those projects you started but didn't have time to finish at your last job. Instead, be candid and brief. Maybe planning wasn't your strong suit in the past, but you've found an organisational system that keeps you on track.






"Why should I hire you?"


Don't get caught up in what may appear to be an easy answer ("Because I'm the best person for the job"). Instead, hone in on specific qualities that make you a good fit for this position. Talk about what you know about the job from the description and how you can make a significant contribution. Then relate examples of your skills to back it up.






"What's the biggest problem you faced in your last job, and how did you solve it?"


An interviewer who asks this question is looking for insight into what you consider a challenge and how you would handle a difficult situation. Come prepared with two or three examples of difficulties you overcame on the job that are relevant to the position for which you are interviewing.






"What kind of salary do you require?"


Generally, it's better to postpone discussions about salary until you have a thorough understanding of the job responsibilities and what the employer is willing to pay. But in case it does come up early in the interview process, be sure you know your monetary requirements and market value. Your perceived 'value' is generally the basis of most companies' salary decisions. Use a salary guide to research what you're worth.


The questions covered above are not all encompassing, but you will probably encounter many of them during the interview process. By practicing your answers in advance and knowing what not to say, you'll be well on your way to a successful meeting, and maybe a new job as well.






How to answer competency-based interviewing questions


Many companies now employ a method of interviewing called Competency or Behavioural Based Interviewing. Using this method they will start the interview by asking you to talk about your background. They will then ask you some questions that will require you to give examples from your past. We have included a list of questions below that are representative of the types of questions they may ask. The key to answering these questions is to be as specific as possible and to bring examples out from your past. If you cannot think of an example ask them to rephrase the question.

We also encourage you, as the candidate, to ask as many questions as possible. This should be a give and take conversation.






Sample competency-based interview questions:
Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills.
Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it.
Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree.
Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.
Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you were required to prioritise your tasks.
What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.
Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa).
Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year.
Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.
Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker.
Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem.

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interviews tips - for interviewers

interviews tips - for interviewers

1. You must makes notes of the questions you intend to ask - otherwise you'll forget.
2. Decide the essential things you need to learn and prepare questions to probe them.
3. Plan the environment - privacy, no interruptions, ensure the interviewee is looked after while they wait.
4. Arrange the seating in an informal relaxed way. Don't sit behind a desk directly facing the interviewee - sit around a coffee table or meeting room table.
5. Clear your desk, apart from what you need for the interview, so it shows you've prepared and are organised, which shows you respect the situation and the interviewee.
6. Put the interviewee at ease - it's stressful for them, so don't make it any worse.
7. Begin by explaining clearly and concisely the general details of the organisation and the role.
8. Ask open-ended questions - how, why, tell me, what, (and to a lesser extent where, when, which) to get the interviewee talking.
9. Make sure the interviewee does 90% of the talking.
10. Use 'How?' and 'What?' questions to prompt examples and get to the real motives and feelings. 'Why?' questions place more pressure on people because they suggest that justification or defence is required. 'Why?' questions asked in succession will probe and drill down to root causes and feelings, but use with care as this is a high-pressure form of questioning and will not allow sensitive or nervous people to show you how good they are. Think about how your questions will make the interviewee feel. Your aim and responsibility as an interviewer is to understand the other person - not to intimidate, which does not facilitate understanding.
11. High pressure causes people to clam up and rarely exposes hidden issues - calm, relaxed, gentle, clever questions are far more revealing.
12. Probe the cv/resume/application form to clarify any unclear points.
13. If possible, and particularly for any position above first-line jobs, use some form of psychometric test, or graphology, and have the results available for the interview, so you can discuss them with the interviewee. Always give people the results of their tests. Position the test as a helpful discussion point, not the deciding factor. Take care when giving the test to explain and reassure. Ensure the test is done on your premises - not sent in the post.
14. Give interviewees opportunities to ask their own questions. Questions asked by interviewees are usually very revealing. They also help good candidates to demonstrate their worth, especially if the interviewer has not asked great questions or there is a feeling that a person has for any reason not had the chance to show their real capability and potential.

interviews tips - for interviewees

1. Research as much as you can about the company - products, services, markets, competitors, trends, current activities, priorities. See the tips about researching before job interviews.
2. Prepare your answers for the type of questions you'll be asked, especially, be able to say why you want the job, what your strengths are, how you'd do the job, what your best achievements are.
3. Prepare good questions to ask at the interview. See the section on questions to ask at job interviews.
4. Related to the above, request a copy of the company's employment terms and conditions or employee handbook before the interview, in order to save time covering routine matters during the interview.
5. Assemble hard evidence (make sure it's clear and concise) of how what you've achieved in the past - proof will put you ahead of those who merely talk about it.
6. Have at least one other interview lined up, or have a recent job offer, or the possibility of receiving one from a recent job interview, and make sure you mention it to the interviewer.
7. Make sure your resume/cv is up to date, looking very good and even if already supplied to the interviewer take three with you (one for the interviewer, one for you and a spare in case the interviewer brings a colleague in to the meeting).
8. Get hold of the following material and read it, and remember the relevant issues, and ask questions about the areas that relate to the organisation and the role. Obtain and research: the company's sales brochures and literature, a trade magazine covering the company's market sector, and a serious newspaper for the few days before the interview so you're informed about world and national news. Also worth getting hold of: company 'in-house' magazines or newsletters, competitor leaflets, local or national newspaper articles featuring the company.
9. Review your personal goals and be able to speak openly and honestly about them and how you plan to achieve them.
10. Ensure you have two or three really good reputable and relevant references, and check they'd each be happy to be contacted.
11. Adopt an enthusiastic, alert, positive mind-set. If you want some help with this try the 'I Am' self-belief page.
12. Particularly think about how to deal positively with any negative aspects - especially from the perspective of telling the truth, instead of evading or distorting facts, which rarely succeeds. See the CV pointers about this - it's very significant.
13. Try to get some experience of personality tests. Discover your personality strengths and weaknesses that would be indicated by a test, and be able to answer questions positively about the results. (Do not be intimidated by personality testing - expose yourself to it and learn about yourself.) To understand more about personality testing and the underpinning theory - and to find out more about yourself in this respect - see the section on personality theories and make time to read and understand it.
14. Think about what to wear. See the guidance about choice of dress, clothes and colours for interviews below.
15. Some jobs invite or offer opportunity to re-define or develop the role itself. It might be a existing role or a new position. If so prepare for this. Most jobs in fact offer this potential, but sometimes it is a stated requirement. See the notes in the CV section aboutapproaching a vacancy for which the role has not yet been fully defined.

PRACTICE PERSONNEL/HR INTERVIEW

Try a practice interview for personnel / HR management, answering typical questions and also getting tips on how you should answer. There are also other questions students have been asked at HR interviews.



PERSONNEL MANAGERS must be good at LISTENING when interviewing people for jobs, and also at WRITING reports. They need to be able to ANALYSE the requirements for a particular job (rather like this!) and to MAKE DECISIONS on who to invite for interview. They must CO-OPERATE with other managers when dealing with staff problems in their particular departments and must be able to PLAN ahead to predict future needs for training and recruitment.

Employers will be looking to see how you can talk about and demonstrate these skills at your interview. The sort of evidence you could offer includes:

MAKING DECISIONS - deciding where to live off campus and who with next year.
SPOKEN COMMUNICATION - campus drama group.
NEGOTIATING - asking for time off from a vacation job.
TACT - resolving an argument between friends.
LISTENING - working as a barman or waitress.

Competency Interview Answers - How To Structure

Competency Based Interviewing is an increasing popular tool used in large organisations such as Banks and Government departments with interviewers now being trained to analyse competency answers as standard.

This format is used in an effort to make the interview process as fair as possible. It is being adopted increasingly where many managers are interviewing for the same type of position at the same time.

Studies have shown this format to be about 5 times more accurate than traditional interviewing in assessing and choosing the right applicant.

Competency Interview Questions Summary

This article deals with how to answer competency questions asked in Interviews. These are commonly Behavioural Based in nature and are used to assess how a candidates past actions can be used as a predictor of future performance.

These questions require you to provide specific examples and usually take the form of:

- Tell me about a time when you....
- Give an example of a situation where....
- Describe a scenario....

Read more about Comptency Interview Questions in this article 

How to Structure Competency Interview Answers

When preparing your Competency Interview Answers, I suggest choosing examples based on real experiences you have had. Avoid the temptation to invent or embellish.

Your response needs to be relevant and sufficiently detailed to show that you understand what is required, that you possess the relevant core competency and can use it effectively.

Your answers will be scored and the quality will depend on the extent of your preparation. Use the job description or advertisement to get an idea of the essential competencies required and prepare example of situations where you used these skills to achieve a successful outcome.

Most Competency Based and Behavioural Questions require you to give an example of a situation you have been involved in. This sounds straightforward however it is very easy to give a long rambling answer resulting in a low score. The key to an effective and top scoring competency answer lies in it's structure and there are two standard formulas we recommend:

1. The STAR technique = This technique is often referred to as the SAR and PAR technique and gives a logical process to create and deliver your answer as follows:

S or T =	Situation or Task Start by describing the SITUATION you were involved in or the TASK that you were asked to complete. This situation can be from a previous job, from a personal experience or from any relevant event. Give enough detail for the interviewer to understand what was involved.
A =	Action Describe the action you took, the process you followed and the steps you completed. Even if you are discussing a group project or task, describe what you did rather than the achievements of the team.
R =	Result This is the most important part of the answer and you will need to show that your actions resulted in a successful outcome. Talk about what you accomplished, what you delivered in terms of benefit and what you learned.

2. The iPAR technique = Similar to the STAR technique and is favoured by us:

i =	Always use I and give an Introduction Always answer in the first person using 'I' rather than 'we' even if your example refers to a team effort. The interviewers want to hear about what you did and if you constantly use 'we' it could weaken your answer. Give an INTRODUCTION consisting a single sentence summarising your achievement for example: "I recently introduced a new system which reduced the time it takes to deal with customer complaints from 4 days to 4 hours." This has the effect of informing the interviewer and heightening their interest as well as being a powerful sales statement for yourself.
P =	Problem Detail the PROBLEM (situation or task) in no more than 2 sentences but giving sufficient details so that the interviewer can get a full grasp of the challenge involved. If you can also show that you identified the problem and initiated the action this will stand in your favour however it is not essential.
A =	Action As with the STAR technique, describe the ACTION you took, the process you followed and the steps you completed being clear about the part you played.
R =	Result As mentioned above the RESULT is the most important part of your answer as a successful outcome proves that your actions were effective. If possible, detail statistics or figures which highlight the magnitude of your success, mention positive feedback you received and talk about what you learned and how this learning will help you in the job being recruited.

While we favour the iPAR technique, feel free to use whichever you are most familiar and comfortable with.

Sample Competency Interview Answers

Remember to tell it like a story as this will better engage the interviewer. Here is a sample competency answer using the iPAR technique above.

Question: Tell me about a difficult project you managed and describe the obstacles you encountered and how you overcame them.

Sample Competency Answer:

i = I have just introduced a system of monitoring and assessing electronic customer feedback which has reduced the time it takes to deal with customer service complaints from 9 days to 48 hours.

P = I saw that we were getting a lot of customer communications, feedback and complaints via email, but we had not developed any structured method to handle these. In addition we were not using them as an opportunity to learn about our customer or to drive process improvement initiatives. I realised very quickly that not only was this an issue for us which I knew I could solve quickly but also I saw the potential to enhance our relationship with our customers.

A = I completed a business case clearly outlining the benefits of this action. I then set up a project group with the goal to deliver a system of processing and managing these emails. I recruited internally as I wanted to give my team exposure to working on such a project. I put regular reporting in place, ensured that all stakeholders were involved and communicated with. Three weeks after starting the project I lost two team members due to sickness - we were on a very tight deadline and I knew that the success of this project lay in my ability to motivate and manage the team I had. I identified key replacements and revised the plan accordingly so that work would not fall behind. I ensured the team knew what had to be delivered and by when and I got staff buy-in from very early on. During the course of the project I managed the team, rescheduled tasks as required, communicated regularly with all interested parties and ultimately delivered the project successfully.

R= I overcame the challenges as presented and I delivered the new system on time and within budget. As a result of this system my team can address 100% of customer service emails within 48 hours, we have reduced the volume of complaints received by 35% and we have a suite of reports that can help us deliver further improved customer service. It’s a great achievement and one which I am very proud of.

Note the use of "I" throughout and note too the use of a powerful lead sentence which summarises the achievement and sets up the rest of the answer to come. This is a great selling tool and designed to get the attention of the interviewer.

How to Prepare Your Answers

A word of caution: While you may be tempted to use a sample competency answer such as that above, we caution against this. It is much better to use the structures and guides to create your own answer in your own words. In that way you will avoid being caught out in the interview.

We advise preparing competency answers in advance relating to all the achievements on your resume/cv. By doing so, you will find that you have a sufficient stock of information which will help you answer any competency question irrespective of the style used.

Even if you simply jot down bullet points rather than a full answer you will keep this content fresh in your mind and on the tip of your tongue when you go to the interview.

Competency Based Interview Questions and Answers

In Brief: “Competency based questions have long been considered tricky questions that are hurled at a prospective interviewee when the interviewer seems to have nothing else to inquire. However, nothing can be farther from the truth. The competency based answers during a job interview are quite an intelligent and quick way to find out about the attitude and mindset of the individual who has applied for the job. “
These competency based interviews give the HR and other departments a brief idea as to how the individual performs (i.e. behavioral interview). The answers to the competency based interview questions also provide a graphic portrayal of his or her attitude towards work, people and life in general.

Competency based interviewing is the best way to uncover the behavioral aspects of an individual in a quick and precise manner.

Competency based interview questions

Your initiative to solve problems
The interviewer can ask about how you had used your initiative to solve any difficult problem at the workplace. The question may also ask you about any situation in which you were supposed to solve a problem without being informed of the complete details.
Your achievements
The interviewer can also ask about the achievement which you think was the most important for you, professionally and personally speaking. If you think that there were two different achievements on the professional level as well as on the personal level, the interviewer may ask you to elaborate on the reasons.
The most difficult incident and other difficulties
The Interviewer can also ask about the most difficult incident you have ever had to handle. Also, the interviewer may ask you about the person whom you have found to be the most difficult to work with, in addition to the reasons why. The interviewer may also ask you whether your differences with the person were resolved in an amicable manner or in any other manner.
Your leadership 
Depending on the job that you are seeking, you may also be asked to give an example of a case in which you demonstrated any leadership qualities. These questions areteam leader interview questions but are often asked of any individual.

Competency based interview answers

The questions that are asked are quite significant, and it is essential that you answer them in the best way possible:
1. The best way to answer these questions is to be concise, crisp and to the point.
2. You should not meander away from the point while answering these questions, because meandering way from the question will imply that you are inventing an answer at best, or would mean that you are a person who has no integrity at worst.
3. Firstly, ascertain that you make the interviewer understand the problem that you were facing.
4. Do not place the blame on anybody, or crib/complain about anything.
5. Let the interviewer decide whose side he or she should be on.
6. Make sure that you inform the interviewer about the steps that you took as an individual and as a team to ensure that the problem was sorted out without any hitches.
7. You may also tell the interviewer about the success that you experienced with these steps.
8. You can also inform the interviewer as to how you would presently handle the situation as opposed to your handling method employed in the past.
The difference between skill, competency and behavioral:
Skill is a part of competency. Competency consists of three parameters- Knowledge (K), Attitude (A) and Skills(S).
For example- I might be having very good interpersonal skills or people skills, but I will not be competent to join a company as HR Professional unless I possess adequate education/experience (Knowledge) and the right temperament/ behavior (attitude).
While rating skills, you have to determine what abilities are required to perform a job practically but while rating competency, you have to determine the set of abilities/ skills required along with the knowledge and attitude needed for the said job.
Read further at examples of competency based interview questions and answers.

Frequent HR Interview Questions & Answers

Questions & Answers

1.) How much salary Your Expecting?

    Answer1: I would expect a salary which reflects the experience and qualifications that I bring to the role.

    Answer 2: I’ve got a strong background in this industry and my skills are a perfect match for this role. I would expect my compensation to be at the upper end of the position’s salary band.

    Answer 3: Based on the information I have about the position, a salary in the range 15,000 - 18,000 would reflect the experience and expertise that I would bring to the role.

2.) Why did you take HR as a specialization?

    Basically i am a peoples person and enjoy interacting with different levels of people which is a basic requisite for any HR Personnel.Even i belive i can excel in people management too and hence for me HR is the right field where i can utilise my skills

3.) What kind of person would you refuse to work with?

    This is a very tricky question to test your attitude to others. So you must start the answer in a positive note.Eg., Well, I am a person, who can work with all kinds of people. However, I feel bit uncomfortable to work with persons of selfish and ingratitude in nature.

4.) What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?

    Every should learn from his mistake. I always try to consult my mistakes with my kith and kin especially with elderly and experienced person.

5.) What is more important to you: the money or the work?

    Money and work both are like siblings. But I believe when you work hard; money will flow to you. So work is more important than money. Only hard work can help you put another feather in your success cap.

6.) Why do you want to join in industry?

    industry is a place where the gradutes have the opportunity to apply thier skills n knowledge which they learn from their respective institutions.so feel industry is a best way for a person to applying their practical knowledge.

7.) Are you a team player?

    while answering this question, try to keep yourself on both sides. For example, if the interviewer asks if you prefer to work alone or on a team, he may be trying to get you to say you are one way or the other. But you don't have to play this game. The reality is that most jobs require us to work both independently and in teams. Your response to this question should show that you have been successful in both situations or (In case you dont find yourself comfy with team work say this) - I beleive in individual work recognition [this would not put your weakness in front of others that strongly, Remember people who take interviews are super masters, do not fool them

How to Answer 23 of the Most Common Interview Questions

Let's face it; no one likes the interview process. Well, certainly not the people being interviewed anyway. You have to be on your best behavior, you only get one chance to get it right, and it's like taking your driving test all over again. Over the years I've been to countless interviews. To get my first job out of college I attended some 15-20 interviews a week. Whether it was in Britain or over here in the States, the questions never really seemed to change from job to job. Not only that, but the answers to them are usually the same, with your own personal interpretation of course. Here I present 23 questions you're likely to be asked, and how I have learned to answer them. Why 23? Because I had more than 20 and less than 25. Remember, being interviewed is a skill, and if you do the preparation you should ace it every time. (See also: 12 Unique Ways to Score a Job Interview)

1. So, tell me a little about yourself.

I'd be very surprised if you haven't been asked this one at every interview. It's probably the most asked question because it sets the stage for the interview and it gets you talking. Be careful not to give the interviewer your life story here. You don't need to explain everything from birth to present day. Relevant facts about education, your career and your current life situation are fine.

2. Why are you looking (or why did you leave you last job)?

This should be a straightforward question to answer, but it can trip you up. Presumably you are looking for a new job (or any job) because you want to advance your career and get a position that allows you to grow as a person and an employee. It's not a good idea to mention money here, it can make you sound mercenary. And if you are in the unfortunate situation of having been downsized, stay positive and be as brief as possible about it. If you were fired, you'll need a good explanation. But once again, stay positive.

3. Tell me what you know about this company.

Do your homework before you go to any interview. Whether it's being the VP of marketing or the mailroom clerk, you should know about the company or business you're going to work for. Has this company been in the news lately? Who are the people in the company you should know about? Do the background work, it will make you stand out as someone who comes prepared, and is genuinely interested in the company and the job.

4. Why do you want to work at X Company?

This should be directly related to the last question. Any research you've done on the company should have led you to the conclusion that you'd want to work there. After all, you're at the interview, right? Put some thought into this answer before you have your interview, mention your career goals and highlight forward-thinking goals and career plans.

5. What relevant experience do you have?

Hopefully if you're applying for this position you have bags of related experience, and if that's the case you should mention it all. But if you're switching careers or trying something a little different, your experience may initially not look like it's matching up. That's when you need a little honest creativity to match the experiences required with the ones you have. People skills are people skills after all, you just need to show how customer service skills can apply to internal management positions, and so on.

6. If your previous co-workers were here, what would they say about you?

Ok, this is not the time for full disclosure. If some people from your past are going to say you're a boring A-hole, you don't need to bring that up. Stay positive, always, and maybe have a few specific quotes in mind. "They'd say I was a hard worker" or even better "John Doe has always said I was the most reliable, creative problem-solver he'd ever met."

7. Have you done anything to further your experience?

This could include anything from night classes to hobbies and sports. If it's related, it's worth mentioning. Obviously anything to do with further education is great, but maybe you're spending time on a home improvement project to work on skills such as self-sufficiency, time management and motivation.

8. Where else have you applied?

This is a good way to hint that you're in demand, without sounding like you're whoring yourself all over town. So, be honest and mention a few other companies but don't go into detail. The fact that you're seriously looking and keeping your options open is what the interviewer is driving at.

9. How are you when you're working under pressure?

Once again, there are a few ways to answer this but they should all be positive. You may work well under pressure, you may thrive under pressure, and you may actually PREFER working under pressure. If you say you crumble like aged blue cheese, this is not going to help you get your foot in the door.

10. What motivates you to do a good job?

The answer to this one is not money, even if it is. You should be motivated by life's noble pursuits. You want recognition for a job well done. You want to become better at your job. You want to help others or be a leader in your field.

11. What's your greatest strength?

This is your chance to shine. You're being asked to explain why you are a great employee, so don't hold back and stay do stay positive. You could be someone who thrives under pressure, a great motivator, an amazing problem solver or someone with extraordinary attention to detail. If your greatest strength, however, is to drink anyone under the table or get a top score on Mario Kart, keep it to yourself. The interviewer is looking for work-related strengths.

12. What's your biggest weakness?

If you're completely honest, you may be kicking yourself in the butt. If you say you don't have one, you're obviously lying. This is a horrible question and one that politicians have become masters at answering. They say things like "I'm perhaps too committed to my work and don't spend enough time with my family." Oh, there's a fireable offense. I've even heard "I think I'm too good at my job, it can often make people jealous." Please, let's keep our feet on the ground. If you're asked this question, give a small, work-related flaw that you're working hard to improve. Example: "I've been told I occasionally focus on details and miss the bigger picture, so I've been spending time laying out the complete project every day to see my overall progress."

13. Let's talk about salary. What are you looking for?

Run for cover! This is one tricky game to play in an interview. Even if you know the salary range for the job, if you answer first you're already showing all your cards. You want as much as possible, the employer wants you for as little as you're willing to take. Before you apply, take a look at salary.com for a good idea of what someone with your specific experience should be paid. You may want to say, "well, that's something I've thought long and hard about and I think someone with my experience should get between X & Y." Or, you could be sly and say, "right now, I'm more interested in talking more about what the position can offer my career." That could at least buy you a little time to scope out the situation. But if you do have a specific figure in mind and you are confident that you can get it, I'd say go for it. I have on many occasions, and every time I got very close to that figure (both below and sometimes above).

14. Are you good at working in a team?

Unless you have the I.Q. of a houseplant, you'll always answer YES to this one. It's the only answer. How can anyone function inside an organization if they are a loner? You may want to mention what part you like to play in a team though; it's a great chance to explain that you're a natural leader.

15. Tell me a suggestion you have made that was implemented.

It's important here to focus on the word "implemented." There's nothing wrong with having a thousand great ideas, but if the only place they live is on your notepad what's the point? Better still, you need a good ending. If your previous company took your advice and ended up going bankrupt, that's not such a great example either. Be prepared with a story about an idea of yours that was taken from idea to implementation, and considered successful.

16. Has anything ever irritated you about people you've worked with?

Of course, you have a list as long as your arm. But you can't say that, it shows you as being negative and difficult to work with. The best way to answer this one is to think for a while and then say something like "I've always got on just fine with my co-workers actually."

17. Is there anyone you just could not work with?

No. Well, unless you're talking about murderers, racists, rapists, thieves or other dastardly characters, you can work with anyone. Otherwise you could be flagged as someone who's picky and difficult if you say, "I can't work with anyone who's a Bronco's fan. Sorry."

18. Tell me about any issues you've had with a previous boss.

Arrgh! If you fall for this one you shouldn't be hired anyway. The interviewer is testing you to see if you'll speak badly about your previous supervisor. Simply answer this question with extreme tact, diplomacy and if necessary, a big fat loss of memory. In short, you've never had any issues.

19. Would you rather work for money or job satisfaction?

It's not a very fair question is it? We'd all love to get paid a Trump-like salary doing a job we love but that's rare indeed. It's fine to say money is important, but remember that NOTHING is more important to you than the job. Otherwise, you're just someone looking for a bigger paycheck.

20. Would you rather be liked or feared?

I have been asked this a lot, in various incarnations. The first time I just drew a blank and said, "I don't know." That went over badly, but it was right at the start of my career when I had little to no experience. Since then I've realized that my genuine answer is "Neither, I'd rather be respected." You don't want to be feared because fear is no way to motivate a team. You may got the job done but at what cost? Similarly, if you're everyone's best friend you'll find it difficult to make tough decisions or hit deadlines. But when you're respected, you don't have to be a complete bastard or a lame duck to get the job done.

21. Are you willing to put the interests of X Company ahead of your own?

Again, another nasty question. If you say yes, you're a corporate whore who doesn't care about family. If you say no, you're disloyal to the company. I'm afraid that you'll probably have to say yes to this one though, because you're trying to be the perfect employee at this point, and perfect employees don't cut out early for Jimmy's baseball game.

22. So, explain why I should hire you.

As I'm sure you know, "because I'm great" or "I really need a job" are not good answers here. This is a time to give the employer a laundry list of your greatest talents that just so happen to match the job description. It's also good to avoid taking potshots at other potential candidates here. Focus on yourself and your talents, not other people's flaws.

23. Finally, do you have any questions to ask me?

I'll finish the way I started, with one of the most common questions asked in interviews. This directly relates to the research you've done on the company and also gives you a chance to show how eager and prepared you are. You'll probably want to ask about benefits if they haven't been covered already. A good generic one is "how soon could I start, if I were offered the job of course." You may also ask what you'd be working on. Specifically, in the role you're applying for and how that affects the rest of the company. Always have questions ready, greeting this one with a blank stare is a rotten way to finish your interview. Good luck and happy job hunting.

1. Tell us something about yourself. This is the first question, you can expect during any interview you face. This usually is a question to start the communication and set the ball rolling for the interview. You can answer this question by providing some information about your work experience, technologies you have worked upon, educational qualifications. If you are a fresh graduate, you can provide some information about your family also. The trick is to put the full stop at the right place to provoke the next question you want. For e.g. “Recently I developed a website using Drupal. It was quite an interesting but challenging job which I enjoyed.” 2. Why do you consider yourself a suitable candidate for this position? The answer to this question lies in the preparation you did before the interview. It is extremely important that you research the requirements of the position well and match them with your skills. For e.g. if the position requires an Asp.net developer with good knowledge of health care domain, tell the interviewer about your technical skills and your domain knowledge. Fresh graduates can talk about their technical skills, ability to learn and grasp things quickly. 3. Why do you want to leave your present job or company? You may want to leave your present job for any reason but make sure that you do not talk bad about your manager, company or job. It reflects your complaining attitude. Provide a sincere reason for e.g. “I think, I have grown up with my last employer as much as I could. I want to grow further and I believe that is possible with a new employer.” 4. You have stayed in your current job for quite a long time, why? There are many people who do not change their jobs for years and when they go out looking for a new employer, this is one of the most important questions they are asked. Some people might look upon staying with the same employer for long as “lack of ambition”. A good answer to this question can be something like, “Yes, you are right. I stayed with my last employer for almost 5 years but I was continuously growing in the company, doing new things, handling bigger challenges. So, I was quite happy working with them for these many years.” You can then talk about how you grew with your last employer. 5. What do you know about us? Research the company and its business a bit before appearing for the interview. Also, find out a bit about the technologies they work upon. You don’t need to know everything inside out but having a fair idea about the company makes you appear interested in the position, to be taken seriously. For e.g. I see that your company does a lot of projects based on OpenSource platforms like Joomla, Drupal, Magento which is quite interesting as I have a similar kind of experience. 6. What do you do to improve your knowledge? The field of IT is very revolutionary. It is extremely important to keep yourself abreast with the new technological developments and this needs you to take some time out of your work schedule so that you can keep sharpening your saw. To answer this question, you can tell the recruiter about the forums which you keep visiting, blogs which you keep reading. It will be an advantage if you are a member of some local user group. 7. Can you perform under pressure? Most of the times, the job of software development is that of working under pressure. Sometimes, it will be the pressure of delivering on time while it can be that of a bug that has sprung all of a sudden in your code. So, expect pressure in everything you do. It is important to maintain your performance and develop strategies to deliver under pressure. You can then go ahead an talk about your way of dealing with pressure and performing under it. 8. Tell us some of your strengths. Again, it is important to study the requirements of the position before you appear for the interview. List out your strengths and offer the ones that this role demands. For e.g. if you are appearing for the position of a Tech Lead – VB.net, talk about your VB.net skills, any extra knowledge which you have about coding with VB.net in comparison to other candidates, your team management skills etc. 9. Tell us some of your weaknesses. You have to be careful while answering this question. Do not offer a weakness which will directly affect your selection but at the same time saying that you do not have any weakness will not be right too. Every human being has weaknesses, so it is perfectly OK for you to have some too. The best way to answer this question will be to turn one of your strengths as a weakness and say that others accuse you of having this weakness but you think it is important to work in this manner. For e.g.: “My colleagues accuse me of paying to much attention to syntaxes but I believe it is important when you are writing the code to avoid spending too much time on finding and fixing the bugs later on.” Another way to answer this question is to offer a totally un-related weakness for e.g. “I have been staying alone for so many years now but I still can’t cook independently.” 10. Are you comfortable working in a team? The whole work of software development or IT is a team work. So, the only answer to this question can be: “Yes, I am comfortable working in a team.” If you have any problems in working as a team, it is important to work on them and develop yourself as a team player. 11. How do you rate your communication skills? Again, IT is about dealing with people within and out of the company. So, it is important to have good communication skills. By good communication skills we mean, ability to understand and explain in a common language. So, if you believe that your communication skills are weaker, you need to work on them. Anything less than average or good is not acceptable here. 12. You do not have all the experience we need for this position? It is not possible for a candidate to have all the experience an employer requires. Even if you match yourself up to the expectations on technical front, there will be some difference in the work environment. And, it is absolutely fine. The best way to deal with this question is to analyse the requirements of the position well and match your skills as close to them as possible. If something is still left untouched, offer your quick grasping power and ability to learn quickly as a solution & back it up with an example from the past. 13. How would you compensate for the lack of experience you have for this position? As we discussed in the last question, your ability to understand and pick up new things quickly should be able to compensate for the lack of work experience you have. 14. If you were hiring for this position, what qualities would you look for in a potential candidate? Closely understand the qualities and skills a person holding the position would need and match them with the qualities you have. If you believe that you are missing a big quality required for the position under discussion, say that, “I understand that this is an important quality required in the person holding this position but given a chance, I will inculcate it in me.” Back it up with a confident body language. 15. Do you know anyone who works for us? Offer some one’s name if they really know you well and can offer a positive feedback about you. 16. What is your style of management? In today’s scenario, everything needs customization, so here also, one size can’t fit all i.e. one management style won’t work in all situations. So, offer “situational” as your style of management. 17. Have you ever fired anyone? How would you go about firing a person, if required? The basic purpose of asking this question is to check your EQ and see if you have the guts to make tough decisions. If you have fired anyone in the past, discuss your experience and approach. If you have never done so in the past, discuss the approach you would take to make and implement such a decision. Keep the focus of your answer on the fact that you would try to do your best to ensure that your team performs to its best but if a particular member is not able to perform even after you taking all the steps to help him, you would make the tough decision to ensure that the project doesn’t suffer. 18. What irritates you about co-workers? The purpose of this question is to see how well you can fit into a team. Basically, you should not have a problem with a person, although you can have a problem with the style of working. So, to answer this question you can simply say, “I understand that IT is about team work, so we can’t afford to problems with co-workers but if someone is not serious about their work or does a low quality work affecting the whole project, I definitely do not like it” 19. Is there any particular kind of person you can not work with? For the reason given in the above questions, the answer to this question should be a “No”. This is basically a different way of putting up the last question. 20. What qualities would you look for in your senior? You can mention some generic qualities like intelligence, good sense of humour, dedicated to his team etc., which all the managers think that they have in abundance. 21. What motivates you at work? To answer this question, you can mention things like – new challenges, good environment which all employers think that they offer. 22. Will you be happy to work in night shifts or over the weekends? You need to answer this question taking into consideration what is suitable for you. Say that you can work in the night shifts, only if you can really do it. 23. Have you ever committed a mistake at work? To err is human. So, it is perfectly OK if you committed a mistake at work but before answering the question analyse the magnitude of mistake you did and the effect it had on the company. What is more important is – what did you do to rectify the mistake and make sure that you don’t do it again? So, mention the mistake you committed and keep the focus of the answer on the steps you took to rectify it. 24. What position would you prefer while working on a project? This question is for you to answer based on the skills and qualities you have. If you have the capability to handle different positions, discuss that also in the interview. 25. What are the most important things for you as a manager? The two things which should be most important for a manager to succeed in his role are: a.) His team should be happy and keep performing b.) The project he is working on with his team is successfully finished with minimum problems. 26. Will you be happy to re-locate, if required? Again, a question for you to answer based on your position. If you are anticipating this question in the interview, it is better to discuss this with your family also before you go to face the interview. 27. What kind of a salary are you looking for? Try to put the ball back in interviewer’s court by asking him about the salary they offer for a position like this. Most of the big companies will have a fixed remuneration for each level. However, if this is negotiable, you will have more negotiation power if you have some work experience. So, know your lower limit (amount below which you can’t go) and also know the maximum salary in the industry for the position then put forward a figure which is not very exact. It is better to mention a range. For e.g. if you are expecting something around 55 K, say that you expect something in mid fifties. Don’t keep the range to broad otherwise you will be offered something towards the lower end. If you are a fresher, most of the times you will have to accept the company’s offering for the position. However, if you find it too less, you can definitely discuss that during the interview. 28. Do you have any questions for us? This is usually the last question you can expect during an interview. It is extremely important to have some intelligent questions to ask the interviewer otherwise you may just sound dull and un-interested. Research the company a bit and discuss if they have been in news recently. You can also discuss about the growth prospects for you within the company etc. 29. Discuss the most stressful situation you came across in your previous job. Here you should discuss a stressful situation that you were able to overcome and keep a positive tone, do not say you never came across a stressful situation. Typical answers can be: -Our team’s targets were increased three fold and initially everyone was overwhelmed by the number, but we discussed it with our manager and he was co-operative and understood the situation. But he wanted us to give it a try and was ready to reduce the targets to a more realistic number. -You can also talk about a very demanding project where you worked for long hours/2 shifts and had to sacrifice on family time, but once the project was done you got recognition for the hard work and you were over the stress. 30. For how long do you expect to stay with our organization? You should ensure that you give an impression that you will pay back more than what you take from the company: -You can say I will stay here as far as I see an opportunity for growth, as I am looking for a stability in work place -If they stress on number of years say 3-4 years, and more if I can explore new challenges/growth opportunities 31. Why should we hire you? -Here you should discuss the profile you have applied for and your strengths/experience with which you can add value to the job -Discuss your achievements at your previous job, and say that I have developed my skills to suit my current profile, but I want to develop myself futher and face new challenges, and for that I need to change my job. - I will always be willing to change roles share responsibilities to suit company requirements 32. Discuss your strengths Discuss strengths that show your professional expertise, some of the answers could be: -Multi tasking: Say I have been working on mulitple project and I am required to keep tabs on each project and co-ordinate with a lot of teams, and I am able to do it efficiently. -Problem Solving: You can say that in my current job role I have spent a good time to know how to solve problems. My team members see me as a go-to person to solve issues. -Communication -Team player -Quick learner Support each point with your examples 33. Discuss your weaknesses and how do you plan to overcome it Discuss weaknesses in positive light always discuss how you plan to overcome it, some of the answers could be: -I am always willing to take up additional responsibilities, but I end up being over worked so now I am realistic about what I can do, so that I do work to the required standards -If you lack certain technical skill, which is not crucial for the job you can state that and say you are planning to take up a training course/certification to get over it -If you do not wish to discuss your weakness, you can say, I cannot compete with Rajnikant :P 34. What is your idea of an ideal company? Do not go over board and ask for , it might give an impression that you are too demanding, some of the answers could be: -An ideal company provides maximum opportunities for growth of employees. -They provide comfortable and flexible work environment, so that employees can perform at their best and work towards company’s benefit. -A company that encourages learning -A company that encourages open culture 35. Why are you leaving your previous job? Do not go around defaming your company, it will give a bad impression about you. Give reasons such as: -Professional Growth -New challenges -Change in profile -Planning to relocate (if applicable) -With time I found my job was becoming monotonous and I didn’t want this to have any impact on the job I was doing for my employer -I am not actively looking for a job change but, I saw this opening and it looked interesting. 36. Tell us something about your achievements at your previous job. -Talk about your professional acheivements, if you were recognised as a high performer or you got good feedback from your manager -You can also discuss you annual ratings -Discuss your promotions/appraisals 37. Tell us what do you know about our company -Browse through the company website and make sure you know what the company does and make sure you do so in short -Discuss the positives aspects of the company, the interviewer should feel that you have done your home work 10. Why do you want to work for us? -Start by discussing the profile you have applied for and go on to say that the organization would provide an opportunity to enhance your knowledge and help you to grow professionally -Discuss how you would be of use to the organization and how you plan to develop your professional competencies 38. Are you willing to relocate/travel? -Always say yes if you need the job -You can ask whether they will compensate for relocation costs 39. Are you a good team player? Companies look for team players as well as those who are self starters and can work independently, so you need to be versatile: -You should show that you enjoy working in a team. Say that you are open to suggestions from team members and seniors. -It is always good to work in a team as one can get the support of other members and in times of crisis everyone can work together to achieve the goal. 40. Can you work independently? -Yes, I can work independently without supervision or support from a team Do not emphasize on working independently as that will be seen as an inability to work with others. 41. Do you have any questions for us? Always have a question ready to answer this one: -You can ask whether the company allows for lateral and vertical role changes -You can also ask whether the company encourages learning and development of employees -Ask whether the company has plans for expansion -You can also discuss your role in detail 42. Are you willing to work for long hours, if the project demands that from you? -Discuss situations when you must have done so to fulfill project requirements in the past 43. What is your current CTC and what are your expectations? -Be honest about your CTC, as you will have to produce you salary slip as a proof of emplyment -Be realistic when you state your expected CTC, you can ask for a 30-40% hike -If you are underpaid at your current company you can look for the standard salary paid for the experience you have and ask for that amount 44. Are you planning to go for further studies? Be transparent in your answer. -If you are pursuing further studies, say so. Tell them why you want to go for that course -If you are taking up a distance education course or a part time course, they should know, as you will need to take leaves when you appear for exams 45. Tell us something about yourself, discuss 5 characteristics List down points that will help you professionally: -Independent -Responsible -Hard working -Multi tasker -Prompt -Add your characteristcs 46. Tell us something about your hobbies Answer it with honesty, as they can go deeper into this discussion. You can include: -Browsing the internet -Blogging, -Listening to music, -Chatting with friends -Reading newspapers, -Reading books, -Shopping, -Watching movies…. 47. What is more important to you money or success? This is tricky question, as money and success both are important and you cannot outweigh the importance of one over the other. Personally you might prefer money over success or success over money, but it is better to be neutral when answering this question in an interview: You can say, that money and success both are important for you, but if you have to choose you would choose success. The reason being, if one is successful money often follows and you need not focus on money over success..

Searching for a job can be a full time job in itself. Networking, scouring the help wanted ads, and filling out applications can sometimes seem like more effort than it's worth, especially when contemplating how to answer interview questions. But don't give up -- you never know when you'll get a call from the human resources department of a wonderful company asking to schedulea face-to-face interview. 

When that call does come, you can delight in the idea that you are only one step away from your dream job. So shine your shoes and start giving some thought to the best way to answer the interviewer's questions! 

Here are a few job interview tips to learn how to answer human resource jobinterview questions:

·              Be honest. You are giving the interviewer their very first impression of you. Be sure that you present yourself as honest, trustworthy, and forthcoming when answering questions.

·              Display a positive attitude. Everyone prefers to work with upbeat people; no matter what the questions are, try to answer them in an optimistic, upbeat and enthusiastic way.

·              Highlight your skills and abilities at every opportunity. If you have previously worked in the same job field, emphasize your advancements and achievements. If you haven’t, be sure to relate the skills you do have to the job for which you are applying. Give examples of any successes you may have had at other jobs that might be similar.

·              Point out your education and training if it is applicable. If you have attended conferences, seminars or other job-related professional development or training sessions, be sure to mention what you have gained from those experiences.

·              Give credit to others when appropriate. If your last employer or manager was a great motivator or made the work environment comfortable and productive, mention it. Speaking well of others can reflect well on you during an process.

·              Never point out the shortcomings of others.Avoid talking about any personal issues you may have had with past employment situations, managers, bosses, or coworkers when being asked interview questions, because the interviewer will assume that you may have these same issues with coworkers or managers at a new company over time.

·              Highlight particular life events that have given you skills that might apply to this position. For example, volunteering in the past may have increased your ability to communicate well with a variety of people and/or developed your time management skills. This can apply likewise even to those who have extensive job experience.

·              Be open and friendly, but not too chatty! Directly answer the questions, but do so in a calm, friendly and complete manner.

·              Prepare ahead and ask questions. Most interviewers will ask if you have any questions for them, so it is best to prepare these ahead of time as best you can. Ask what type of potential growth or advancement exists for the person who will be hired. You can even ask why the prior employee, if there was one, left the position. These types of questions let the interviewer know that you are interested. Present yourself as though you've done your homework about the company's history (You have, haven't you?!) and that you hope to play a part in its continued growth and success.

·              Focus the interview on what you can offer the company, not on your limitations. You may have limitations as to what you can offer the new company. These are best avoided during the interview. For example, it is best to avoid a discussion about needing to leave the office promptly at 5:00 every day due to your daycare situation. Wait until you are actually offered the job before bringing these types of issues up. Your initial interview is not the time to approach these types of subjects!

Interview Questions

In this competitive market, you should be well prepared to answer some typical interview questions. They might include:

1) Tell me something about yourself.
2) Why do you want to work for our company?
3) What interests you about the position for which you are applying?
4) What are some of your strengths?
5) What are some of your weaknesses?
6) Have you ever had conflict with someone at a job? How did you resolve it?
7) Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
8) Why did you leave your last place of employment?
9) How would a co-worker describe you?
10) What do you think you can contribute to this company?
11) Do you work better alone or as a team?
12) Do you have any questions for us?

Remember that you are interviewing them as well. Always have some questions for your prospective employer. Questions you might ask may include:

       1) What types of opportunities for advancement exist within your company?

2) Do you provide staff training and development? If so, ask for specific examples.

3) Why did the person who had this position leave? (Ask this if it is not a newly created position.)
4) Are there regular performance reviews for employees?

Avoid asking questions about salary, vacation time, benefits, the 401k plan, and how many holidays you get until you have been narrowed down as a finalist for the position or have been offered the job directly. Do your homework and be sure you are clear about the salary that you are able to accept.

You may even try interviewing for a few jobs that you don't really want so that you get comfortable with the actual interview process. Then, when the perfect job comes along, you will be calm, cool, and collected during your interview. As the saying goes... practice makes perfect!

With this advice on how to prepare for a job interview, you will be on your way to landing quality employment. All it takes is some of your time to think through the best answers to interview questions and that, along with a top-notch, error-free application and maybe even a few continuing education courses under your belt, will have a paycheck deposited in your bank account in no time at all.

Most Common HR Interview Questions

• Tell me about yourself: - The most often asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start with the item farthest back and work up to the present.
• Why did you leave your last job? - Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.
• What experience do you have in this field? - Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.
• Do you consider yourself successful? - You should always answer yes and briefly explain why. A good explanation is that you have set goals, and you have met some and are on track to achieve the others.
• What do co-workers say about you? - Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specific statement or a paraphrase will work. Jill Clark, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was the hardest workers she had ever known. It is as powerful as Jill having said it at the interview herself.
• What do you know about this organization? - This question is one reason to do some research on the organization before the interview. Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who are the major players?
• What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year? - Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.
• Are you applying for other jobs? - Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area. Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for this organization. Anything else is a distraction.
• Why do you want to work for this organization? - This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on the research you have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.
• Do you know anyone who works for us? - Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the organization. This can affect your answer even though they asked about friends not relatives. Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well thought of.
• What kind of salary do you need? - A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, That’s a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position? In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range.
• Are you a team player? - You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just say it in a matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point.
• How long would you expect to work for us if hired? - Specifics here are not good. Something like this should work: I’d like it to be a long time. Or As long as we both feel I’m doing a good job.
• Have you ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about that? - This is serious. Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to fire people. At the same time, you will do it when it is the right thing to do. When it comes to the organization versus the individual who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the organization. Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in force.
• What is your philosophy towards work? - The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery dissertation here. Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes. That’s the type of answer that works best here. Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.
• If you had enough money to retire right now, would you? - Answer yes if you would. But since you need to work, this is the type of work you prefer. Do not say yes if you do not mean it.
• Have you ever been asked to leave a position? - If you have not, say no. If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying negative things about the people or organization involved.
• Explain how you would be an asset to this organization - You should be anxious for this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.
• Why should we hire you? - Point out how your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates to make a comparison.
• Tell me about a suggestion you have made - Have a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered successful. One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.
• What irritates you about co-workers? - This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. A short statement that you seem to get along with folks is great.
• What is your greatest strength? - Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples: Your ability to prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positive attitude .
• Tell me about your dream job. - Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay genetic and say something like: A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and can’t wait to get to work.
• Why do you think you would do well at this job? - Give several reasons and include skills, experience and interest.
• What kind of person would you refuse to work with? - Do not be trivial. It would take disloyalty to the organization, violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.
• What is more important to you: the money or the work? - Money is always important, but the work is the most important. There is no better answer.
• What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is? - There are numerous good possibilities: Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard work, Creativity, Problem solver
• Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor - Biggest trap of all. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss. If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former boss, you may well below the interview right there. Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor.
• What has disappointed you about a job? - Don’t get trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can include: Not enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction Company did not win a contract, which would have given you more responsibility.
• Tell me about your ability to work under pressure. - You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for.
• Do your skills match this job or another job more closely? - Probably this one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one.
• What motivates you to do your best on the job? - This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are: Challenge, Achievement, Recognition
• Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends? - This is up to you. Be totally honest.
• How would you know you were successful on this job? - Several ways are good measures: You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your outcomes are a success.Your boss tell you that you are successful
• Would you be willing to relocate if required? - You should be clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may come up. Do not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is no. This can create a lot of problems later on in your career. Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.
• Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead of your own? - This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. Do not worry about the deep ethical and philosophical implications. Just say yes.
• Describe your management style. - Try to avoid labels. Some of the more common labels, like progressive, salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or descriptions depending on which management expert you listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you will manage according to the situation, instead of one size fits all.
• What have you learned from mistakes on the job? - Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off.
• Do you have any blind spots? - Trick question. If you know about blind spots, they are no longer blind spots. Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here. Let them do their own discovery on your bad points. Do not hand it to them.
• If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for? - Be careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have.
• Do you think you are overqualified for this position? - Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the position.
• How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience? - First, if you have experience that the interviewer does not know about, bring that up: Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard working quick learner.
• What qualities do you look for in a boss? - Be generic and positive. Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of high standards. All bosses think they have these traits.
• Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute between others. - Pick a specific incident. Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you settled.
• What position do you prefer on a team working on a project? - Be honest. If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out.
• Describe your work ethic. - Emphasize benefits to the organization. Things like, determination to get the job done and work hard but enjoy your work are good.
• What has been your biggest professional disappointment? - Be sure that you refer to something that was beyond your control. Show acceptance and no negative feelings.
• Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job. - Talk about having fun by accomplishing something for the organization.
• Do you have any questions for me? - Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive? and What type of projects will I be able to assist on? are examples.

HR Interview - Most Popular HR Interview Questions With Generic Answer Formats

Most Popular HR Interview Questions With Generic Answer Formats

While it is impossible to know exactly what you will be asked during a job interview, there are a number of generic questions that most companies will ask you.

In this article, I will present you with some questions that are commonly asked during the job interview process, and I will give you some good responses that you will want to use. It is not necessary for you to use the exact answers that are found in this article. However, it is important for you to understand the the principle behind them.

1. How do you handle stress or pressure?

You could answer this question by saying that stress is an important issue to you. While high levels of stress can be negative, I use stress in a productive way that can allow me to work harder. It is important for me to make sure I have the correct balance of positive stress and negative stress. You could also answer this question by saying you perform better when you are under reasonable levels of stress.

2. What do you find motivates you the most?

This is a question that does not require an answer that is right or wrong. The employer is trying to see how you are motivated. It is also a method they will use to determine if you are compatible for the job. It doesn't make much sense to put you in a position where you will not be motivated by the work you do. The best way to answer this question is to be honest. Let the interviewer know what motivates you the most. Don't tell them what they want to hear because you are trying to get the job. While this may help you in the short term, it can hurt you in the long run.

3. Do you prefer to work alone, or do you work better in groups?

This is a question that you will want to answer carefully. If the position you are applying for requires you to work alone, it doesn't make much sense to answer it by saying you enjoy working in groups. If the position requires you to work in groups, telling the interviewer you like working alone can keep you from being hired. However, the answer you give should be an honest one.

4. Give us an example of a challenging situation you've overcome.

This is a request that will require you to know a lot about yourself. If you've prepared for the interview beforehand, you should be able to answer this question without any problems. You should reflect on your past work experience. You must quickly be able to think about any challenges you've overcome. It doesn't have to be something that is related to employment. If you were in the military, you could describe a challenge you overcame. If you are a college graduate, you can give an example of an academic challenge you successfully overcame.

5. What do you find interesting about this job?

The answer that you give better be more than just the salary. You should be able to give detailed reasons for why you are interested in being hired for a certain position. Answering this question correctly may require you to do your research on the company. This is something that must be done before the interview starts.

6. Why should we hire you?

This is one of the most difficult questions in the interview process. However, it is a good question, especially if you are competing for a position against people who are equally qualified. To answer this question, describe how your skills can be valuable to the company. Not only will you want to direct the towards your accomplishments, but you will also want to demonstrate your personality and desire. Explain that you are impressed with the history of the company, and you want to play a role in the success of the organization.

7. In what ways can you contribute to our company?

You will want to answer this question by selling yourself. Explain how your skills, personality, and experience can allow you to contribute to the company. This is a question that you may want to prepare for in advance. You will want to answer it with a powerful statement. You don't want to be uneasy of hesitant. If the employer suspects this, you may lose your chance to be employed with the company.

Top 5 Common HR Interview Questions

Dear Reader, most of you would be facing HR interviews often conducted by companies following tech interview rounds. Especially in HR round where questions are often unpredictable, going readily prepared is a tedious task. However, there are some common questions which you can often always expect. Let us lay out what these questions and some good ways to answer those.
1. Tell me about yourself
When asked about yourself, the panel generally would want to check your communication , interpersonal skills ,fluency etc and not your personal details like families,hobbies,interest, etc. However information about your education, strengths and weaknesses can be noted by the panel as they directly indicate your readiness to take a job. Hence you should really focus on important aspects like education while taking care of your clarity in communicating.
2. Why Should I hire you?
The panel expects to know about your capability for the position, self-confidence, willingness in learning new technologies, ability to work hard, participation in organization's growth etc. Hence your answer should convince them that you are a confident team player and you could fit their organization well.
3.Where do you want to be five years from now?
Generally this question could be an indirect way to check if you would be ready to work for a good term rather than a short temporary term.
4. What salary do you want for this job?
One of the best response would be figure out the value you could expect as per the industrial standards. This will give them an impression that you have done your homework and not overshooting the industry standards. (Generally freshers will not be asked this question.)
5. Do you have questions for me?
First thank him for giving you the opportunity. Then you might ask your genuine questions about companies current projects, organizational culture etc. (But be sure not to post questions just for the sake of asking questions.