Here are some Paul -
In my piling system I found the latest document that our Career Counselling people are using as a guide for mock interviews.
- Michele
Questions developed by Michele Jaakson
1. "Tell me about yourself".
This is supposed to be a relaxing opener, on the theory that most people know the answer. Some interviewers are looking for a judicious mix of professional and personal here.
2. "What makes you different from all the other people who applied for this job?"
Asking who all the others are, on the grounds that you cannot answer until you know this vital information, is frowned upon. Rather, the candidate is supposed to briefly extol their major virtues, while still smiling and remaining in a relaxed yet confident body posture.
3. "Why do you want to leave your current work?"
This assumes that you are currently working. The candidate is supposed to say encouraging things about personal growth and new challenges, and never, ever, ever bad-mouth the current job or the current employer.
4. "What type of environment do you prefer?" We hope that the candidate has researched the work environment at the desired workplace so that there is some semblance of a fit here.
5. "What is the most difficult situation you have faced in your career and how did you handle it?"
It is better to stay away from interpersonal challenges here and concentrate on technical issues. This is where the candidate gets to demonstrate their creativity and initiative, if they possess any.
6. "What do you think it takes to succeed in business today?"
Here it helps if the candidate is familiar with the Mission, Mandate, etc., of the target company.
7. " What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?"
A situational response is a good idea here. It is not enough simply to reply, I am imaginative" without giving concrete examples of how this trait has served you well. In terms of weaknesses, one is on sounder ground discussing some technical weakness that can be overcome with study and practice than one is to talk about one's uncontrollable drinking and subsequent urges to beat up on people with unruly mustaches or ugly coats
8. "What has been your greatest challenge?"
(See question 5 above)
9. "How would your co-workers and your boss describe you?"
Here we have another valuable opportunity to extol one's own virtues in an anecdotal way. "When I volunteered to take notes at the team meeting, my boss commented on my initiative and team spirit." We sometimes need to coach candidates not to volunteer any negativity at this point. If Sarah in Filing has not spoken to you for five months and wishes you could be at the centre of a nuclear explosion, do not share this information.
10. " What are your plans for the future?"
We are all supposed to have a Grand Vision and some Life Goals. These may include an overall career goal, such as "Contribute to the continuous learning culture of the country" and a personal goal, such as "attain the rank of black belt by age 50".
11. " What type of employee are you?"
See number 7 above.
12. "What work-related activities do you find most interesting and how does that apply to this particular position?"
Once again, let us hope that the candidate has done enough homework about the position to be in a position to reply intelligently.
13. "Tell me about a time when you decided the best decision was not to do anything about a situation."
This is obviously a trick question, as we are all supposed to be highly motivated little do-bees. One acceptable answer is to delay action temporarily in order to get enough information to make a decision and take action. Whining about how it is somebody else' job / authority / responsibility gets the candidate no points at all.
14. "What motivates you?"
This question is intended to elicit information about your values. "Money" is rarely an acceptable response, even if it is true.
15. " How do you define 'stress'?"
This is also a trick question, as the candidate is NOT being asked what stresses them to the max and need not volunteer this information here.
16. "How does controversy or conflict affect your work?"
This question is often used to see how honest people are. If the candidate answers that controversy and conflict have no effect on them at all, it is assumed that they are sociopaths, liars or robots. Every is affected by workplace conflict. The trick is not to show that it disables you, but that you would (of course!) take immediate steps to resolve the conflict before it crippled anyone permanently.
17. "Describe your flexibility by using a real work related situation."
Fairly self explanitory.
18. "What was your greatest on-the-job accomplishment?"
Be careful not to duplicate your answers to # 8 or # 5 here.
19. "How do you feel about work situations that change unpredictably from day to day?"
We love them, of course, because they give us such wonderful opportunities to show our flexibility, our resilience, our creativity. It helps if the candidate can keep a straight face and smile convincingly here.
20. "How do you like to organize your desk and your work area?"
The point is to show that there is method in your madness.
21. "Tell me about the last time you decided to withhold information from someone."
Good Team Players NEVER withhold information from each other. They are, however, discrete, and know when to hold their tongues in regards to confidential information and draft policies and such.
22. "Give an example of a time when you used your authority to influence another individual."
Paraphrased, this means roughly, "Tell us how you delegate work." You define the task and desired outcomes, negotiate the time lines and the method, provide proper encouragement and tools, and stick to a follow-up schedule.
23. "What work situations irritate or upset you?"
*sigh* This is another potential powder keg. The trick is not to whine, blame, or otherwise sound like a victim here.
24. "How do you stay current?"
We read, we network, we take courses, we surf the net, we take on new assignments, we keep learning something new every day. WE do not waste our time with Dilbert cartoons.
25. "How would you rate your communications skills?"
It is an amazing fact that 0% of the population is below average, 25% is average, 50% is above average, and 25% is exceptional. We can break down communications skills into verbal skills, presentation skills, interviewing skills and writing skills.
26. "Do you have something to add that was not covered during the interview? or, This is your 30 second commercial. What else do you want to tell me"
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Doing this interview and debriefing it runs about two hours. I don't know if you have easy access to foreign CDs. If so, you may want to look up "Angel Food For Thought" by Meryn Cadell. It contains a little gem, a spoken piece with background music, called, "The Interview". It had me rolling on the floor. She does speak very quickly, so one really must listen intently. If you can't find it and would like it, send snail-mail info and I will make a bootleg cassette for you. I hope this will compliment what you are already doing. Please let me know how it all works out. And feel free to drop another line any time at all.
Cheers!
Marion