The Job Interview :: The Phone Interview :: Preparation Pays Off

Example Interview Questions :: Questions for You to Ask Them

The Job Interview

The job interview is the precious period in which you are sized up by a person who may well decide whether or not you get the position you want. You can prepare for the interview just as you do for many another tests and enhance your chances of winning an offer.

Your goal in the interview is to stand out from the crowd of applicants. So, when you're preparing, learn all you can about the employer, its market and competitors.

The greater your knowledge, the more confident you will be. The more confident you are, the greater your interview success.  The greater your interview success, the greater your potential for getting that job.
Before the interview you must pay attention to every detail, even something as specific as your e-mail address. "The initial impression that the potential employer receives begins with your e-mail address. Do not use one that is adolescent or plain silly. Also check your outgoing phone message(s); make sure they are concise and professional.

If you use a person as a reference, let him or her know beforehand. In the interview itself, avoid tired words such as "like," "you know" and "cool."  They annoy some interviewers so much that they automatically reject the applicant.

Preparation pays off

On the other hand, being prepared can really pay off. You can guess in advance what certain questions will be, and you have on-target, rehearsed responses. 

When the interviewer inevitably asks you to describe yourself, limit your response to 60 to 90 seconds. If you are too verbose, the interviewer tunes out.

Be a good listener and be patient. Let the interviewer do the bulk of the questioning if possible (an 80/20 balance is ideal.)

Also, do not attempt to interrupt, correct a comment or show an attitude.

The interview is also the best time to score points -- slip in some comments on the importance of teamwork and work ethics.

Do not initially risk turning off an employer by asking questions that pertain to salary, time off or office hours. There will be ample time to do so later, assuming your interview goes well. 

If the question of salary is thrown in your lap, and you are uncertain what the job pays, a good response is: "My primary objective is to work for the XYZ Company; while money is important, it is a secondary consideration -- I am sure that I will be treated fairly."

If you were able to research the salary range, you can begin by saying, "I understand the industry is paying $00,000-$00,000 for this type of position.  However, my primary objective is to work for the XYZ Corp."

Come to the interview prepared with questions of your own to ask. Questions for which the answers are important to you in understanding the position and that reflect your knowledge and skills. A well-asked question is always impressive.

The Phone Interview

Job hunters often mistakenly believe that phone interviews are less formal than face-to-face meetings. Yet they're a critical first hurdle in landing a job.

For applicants, the goal of a phone interview is to secure an in-person meeting. For the hiring authority, it's to narrow their list of prospects. You can increase the odds of passing this initial screening if you follow the advice in these four tips:

1. Minimize distractions.
Flushing toilets, clamoring dishes and barking dogs sometimes interrupt phone interviews. If you have scheduled a conversation, plan to be in a quiet place.

Avoid using a cell phone, if possible. You never know when a signal is going to be problematic. Sometimes it is hard to hear a cell phone, and calls can end prematurely.

2. Sharpen your verbal skills.
Given a phone interview's lack of eye contact and body language, candidates are evaluated largely by what they say and how they say it. Interviewers listen for clues indicating such qualities as passion for the job, professionalism and whether the person might be a good cultural fit. Unpolished speech should be avoided.

3. Prepare in advance.
If you've scheduled or are anticipating a phone interview, keep notes and your resume at hand. Be prepared to talk about yourself; what you have accomplished in each position, your knowledge and experience, why you are interested in the position, and have some questions ready that you want to ask. Questions that will help you determine your interest in the position.

A bit of homework can go a long way so find out as much as you can about the position before the interview.

4. Follow up.
After a phone interview, send a thank-you that recaps your best selling points. Let the interviewer know that you are interested in talking further.

EXAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

Situational Questions (can be especially difficult if you haven't practiced.)

• Tell me about a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.
• Tell me about an ethical dilemma that you faced and how you resolved it.
• Tell me about an innovative approach that you took to accomplish something.
• Tell me about a work situation involving a team where there was a conflict, and how you solved it.
• Tell me how you dealt with a particularly difficult co-worker.
• Tell me about a group project in one of your classes that went badly. How did you get things back on track?
• Tell me the most difficult thing you ever had to do.
• A coworker continually gossips about others. How would you handle it?
• Your boss has treated you unfairly. How would you handle it?
• Describe a major obstacle you've encountered? How did you overcome it?
• Tell me about a time when you were given bad information (or misinformation). How did you handle it?
• Did you ever have a problem with a supervisor/co-worker? How did you handle it?
• What was the toughest job challenge you faced and how did you deal with it?
• What has been your biggest accomplishment in the workplace?
• Tell me about a situation at your job where you hit a wall and felt like you were stuck. What did you do?
• Have you had to discipline workers as a supervisor, and if so, how did you discipline them?
• Tell me about a controversy you have been involved in at your job or in your life and tell me how it made you a better person.
• Give me an example of how you exhibited leadership.
• Give me an example of when you needed to collect additional information to make a decision.
• Give me an example when you had to share your knowledge and how you did it.
• Give me an example of when you need to prioritize your tasks and how you go about it.

Questions About School

• Why did you choose your major? (Hint: Show your interest in the field. Explain why you like it.)
• Which classes did you like the most/least? (Auditing, of course J)  
• Why did you select your college? How have you liked it? (Hint: Stress your college's ability to teach your specific major)
• Has your college experience prepared you for a career? (Hint: Describe classes that were specifically related to what you will be doing in this particular job.)
• Describe your most rewarding college experience.
• Describe your most significant college accomplishment.
• If you could do it over, how would you plan your education differently?
• Who was your favorite teacher? Why?
• Do you plan to go to graduate school?
• Are your grades a good indicator of your potential?
• What have you learned from your extracurricular activities?

Questions About You

• Tell me about yourself. Or, how would you describe yourself? (Hint: Keep your answer away to one or two minutes; don't ramble. Stick to what you've written in your resume summary. To answer this question well, you'll need to start with a solid and concise resume summary.)
• What are three adjectives that describe you?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses? (Hint: For weaknesses stay away from the answer "I work too hard." It is the most commonly given answer, and the most hated by interviewers.)
• Why should we hire you? (Hint: Because of your knowledge, perseverance, abilities, and skills)
• What got you interested in accounting?
• Why do you want to become an accountant?
• What would your last boss/coworkers/references say about you?
• What motivates you to work hard?
• What does success mean to you?
• What are you most proud of?
• What kind of environment do you work best in? (Hint: In teams, alone, with structure, w/o structure)
• How do you handle pressure?
• Would you be willing to work overtime?
• What have you learned from mistakes you've made?
• What to you see yourself doing in five years from now? Ten? Fifteen?
• What do you really want out of life?
• What would you do if you won the lottery?
• Who's your hero?
• What else should I know about you?
• Tell me about your jobs/internships. (Hint: Give specific examples.)
• Written and oral communication skills are very important in accounting. What have you done that shows you have strong communication skills. For example, papers that you have written, etc.

Questions To See If You Know What You're Getting Into

• What do you know about this organization? (Hint: Do your homework before the interview! Spend some time online or at the library researching the company. Find out as much as you can, including products, size, income, reputation, image, management talent, people, skills, history, and philosophy. Project an informed interest; let the interviewer tell you about the company.)
• What do you think it takes to be successful in this organization?
• Why do you want to work for us? (Hint: Don't talk about what you want; first, talk about their needs; You would like to be part of a specific company project; you would like to solve a company problem; you can make a definite contribution to specific company goals.)
• What would you do for us? (Hint: What they really want to know is. . . What can you do for us that someone else can't? Relate past experiences that show you've had success in solving previous employer problem(s) that may be similar to those of the prospective employer. Make sure you have a strongly worded Employment History section in your resume that you can refer to.)
• What about the job offered do you find the most attractive? Least attractive? (Hint: List three or more attractive factors and only one minor unattractive factor.)
• Why do you want to work in this industry?
• Where do you think this industry is headed?
• What do you look for in a job? (Hint: An opportunity to use your skills, to perform, and to be recognized)
• How can you make a contribution to our organization?
• How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm? (Hint: Not long at all -- you expect only a brief period of adjustment to the learning curve.)
• How long would you stay with us? (Hint: hopefully, until I am a partner (of CFO or CEO, etc.).)

Questions for You to Ask During the Interview

Often during the interview, especially at the end, the interviewer will ask if you have any questions.  You can use this opportunity to show how well you have researched the company. People who have researched the company, its direction, and the industry are well prepared and will stand out in the interviewer's mind. The amount of time you spend getting to know the company will translate into a perception of interest and enthusiasm. It will also help you to correlate your skills to the position in question. Your knowledge of current events will prove to the employer that you are a curious will-informed professional who keeps on top of the latest happenings, which may impact your profession. Other questions are:

• As you look at those who have succeeded at this company, what characteristics do you see they share common?
• Why is your firm one of the best to work for; what separates your firm apart
  from the others?
• What are the opportunities your organization (or industry) is facing? 
• What are the challenges your organization (or industry) is facing?
• What would you expect out of me over the next 3 to 5 years and what do you
  view as a "stretch"?
• What has changed the most in your Firm since you joined?  What do you think
  you would say if I asked the same question five years from now?
• What have you found most rewarding about working at the company?
• What kind of training do you give?
• What are the company's plans for future growth?
• How would you describe the corporate culture?
• What percentage of my time would be spent in the various functions you described that this job involves?
• Is it organizational policy to promote from within?
• What is a typical career path for people in this position