In interviews, employers often ask leading questions designed to determine whether or not you have the right “chemistry” to fit within their company’s mission and culture. Sharing your C.A.R. (Challenge, Action and Result) stories helps you demonstrate the specific qualities and characteristics employers seek.
In addition to sharing personable C.A.R. stories, always be prepared to answer technical questions related to your areas of expertise. Finally, to be ready for a variety of question styles, practice your answers to the following typical interview questions: Positive, Negative and Neutral.
It doesn’t take much to turn negative and neutral questions into positive opportunities to shine. Recover from challenging questions by offering specific, upbeat examples describing your career experiences and skills.
Positive Questions
- What are your strengths?
- Why should we hire you?
- What can you contribute to our organization?
- What are your most significant accomplishments?
- Why do you feel you are qualified for this position?
- How have you been successful in your career and why?
- Tell me about job responsibilities you enjoy.
- Describe your ideal job.
- Tell me about a situation when you felt very effective on the job.
- What type of business environment do you find the most challenging?
Negative Questions
- Tell me about a work situation when you felt ineffective.
- What didn’t you like about your last position, supervisor or company?
- What is the biggest mistake you’ve made in your career?
- Tell me how you’ve handled a difficult coworker, supervisor or junior peer.
- What criticisms have supervisors had about your work style?
- Why did you leave your last position?
Neutral Questions
- What will your references, including former supervisors and coworkers, say about you? (Emphasize the positive feedback you’ve received, not the negative. Quote affirmative statements and praise that your references have said or written about your work performance.)
- How would you describe your communication style with supervisors, peers and assistants?
- How do you handle working under pressure?
- What are your salary requirements and expectations? (It is better to offer a range, not a specific figure. Often candidates opt to negotiate pay following a formal offer for the position. Although important, salary shouldn’t be the sole deciding factor in whether or not you accept a job.)
- Why are you interested in this position?
- What is important for me to know about you?
- What are the key lessons you have learned in your career?
- How do you set priorities?
- How do you feel about relocation?
- What do you want to be doing in five years? IBI
