Killer Questions to Help You Nail an Interview is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Never under estimate the power of preparation!! In this current economy jobs are scarce and when you have the opportunity to interview with a company you need to be prepared to nail the interview… because let’s face it, who knows when the next opportunity will present itself.

Below are even more practice interview questions that I gathered from my brilliant friends and colleagues working for Fortune 500 Companies, top national advertising agencies and some of the hottest internet start-ups around the country. Whether you’re a college student just entering the job market and or a seasoned veteran, these interview questions, and more importantly your answers, are critical to shine.

Go get ‘em!!

Social Awareness/Empathy:

• What do you think we expect most from someone in your job? How do you do on those things?

Relationship Management:

• Describe your basic leadership style with examples of how you practice it?

• How do you approach setting direction for your team?

• What’s your favorite activity for team building?

Conflict Management:

• Tell me about a time you disagreed with someone?

• What do you do when people are at each others throats?

• Tell me about a time when you had to work with someone that you didn’t like particularly and how did you handle it?

Character Assessment/Leadership:

• Looking for patterns – where they involved, did they lead something? Leaders can be trained, but instinct, drive and initiative are instilled early on.

• What were your favorite things to do as a kid?

• How did you spend your summers?

• How would you describe your college years?

• What do you do outside of work?

• Where do you see yourself in five years?

• What motivates you?

Character Assessment/Interests and Passions:

• Looking for patterns – do they like to pursue new things, do they have a curious nature, are they passionate and enthusiastic.

• Last non business book you read (and last you would recommend – they may not be the same)?

• What’s the craziest or most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?

• In your ‘out of the office’ time, what are three things you’re really passionate about?

• What do you do outside of work?

• What are your hobbies?

• What have you done recently for fun?

• What do you enjoy doing?

• What are you now interested in pursuing?

Personality Type/Skills:

• Tell me about the process you go through to buy a car? (Gives insight into personality/skills – analytical junkie who does tons of online research and then test drives, etc. versus more impulsive walks in and buys that day, etc.)

Pursuit of Goals – Dreamer versus Doer

Look for patterns – are they taking steps to fulfill their dreams, have they done things in life or only talk about doing them one day.

• If you could work for one company in the world who would it be and why?

• If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be? Why?
• What do you want to be when you grow up?
• Where is your dream vacation?

Commitment Level:

• Are you willing to work overtime? (Just watching body language can provide some insight)
• If you were to get a position, what kind of commitment to the company can you make? Short term? Long term?

Unique Insights:

• If you could choose one super hero power, what would it be and why?
• If you were a fruit, which would you be and why? If you were an animal, which would you be and why?
• Would you rather go to the opera or a baseball game, and why?

General:

• What is it about your background that I may not be knowledgeable enough to ask you about?
• Why did you gravitate towards this Industry?
• Is there anything else I should know?
• Who is the single most influential person in your life and why? (non-traditional answers vs. ‘mom’)
• What work have you enjoyed most, what work are you most proud of?

For More Interview Questions and Help Finding a Job — Keep Reading:

7 Ways to Improve Your Job Security

7 Ways to Kick-Start your Job Search

7  Ways to Get the Scoop on Companies

Seal the Deal with Interview Questions from Top Companies

Seal the Deal with Interview Questions from Top Companies is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

This is Part 1 of 2 in a Series of Sample Interview Questions.

The interview is your time to shine and show employers that you are the ideal candidate for the job. The old saying “practice makes perfect” is very relevant to the interview process. It takes great skill and lots of practice to get prepared, answer interview questions correctly, and improve your interview skills.

To help you master the interview and get a job, I have surveyed the top business leaders that I know throughout the country, from the likes of Disney, AT&T, The Coca-Cola Company, and PepsiCo, to Presidents and CEO’s of some of the largest national ad agencies, and I asked them what their favorite interview questions are. Below you will find a compilation of thought-provoking and insightful sample interview questions from top companies that are their personal favorites.

Review them carefully and give great thought to how you would answer them. They are grouped in different categories based on what employers may be trying to determine by asking you such questions.

These are also great questions for employers to get hold of so that you and your employees are prepared to ask the right interview questions to find your next great employee.

Sample Interview Questions

Self-Awareness/Confidence:

• What are you good at, great at, and where do you need to grow and improve (biggest weakness)?

• Where would you like to see the most development in yourself?

• What is one of the best decisions you ever made?

• What are two or three characteristics a person must possess to be successful? How would you rate yourself in those areas?

• How would others describe you in terms of your job performance (including bosses, subordinates, peers, clients, suppliers)?

Self-Awareness/Emotional Self Awareness:

• What is the most important thing you contribute to any organization?

• What are three things people might say about you at your last company after you have been gone?

• If we hire you, a year from now what will people in this office say they really like about you? And what will those same people say are the things about you that drive them crazy?

• What is the single biggest regret you have had in life?

Self-Management/Emotional Self Control:

• Tell me about a time you were angry or frustrated.

• Tell me about a bad day you had at work and how you dealt with it?

• How do you deal with stress?

Social Awareness/Organizational Awareness:

• What bothers you most and least about people? How do you handle those situations?

• Tell me about a place you worked that had either good or bad morale.

• You’ve been in the office now for a while (or a few visits) – what are your initial observations or recommendations about this workplace–either positive or negative?

Self-Management/Responsibility:

• How do you set priorities in your job?

• What has been the highest pressure situation you’ve faced in recent years? How did you cope with it?

• What is your greatest failure and what did you learn from it?

Always remember that being prepared will make you much more confident during an interview. By practicing your responses to the above sample interview questions you will improve your interview skills – you will have well thought out answers, you won’t be caught off guard, and this will allow you to shine and ultimately get the job offer.

Please add other interesting sample interview questions that you ask candidates or that you have been asked in an interview. Let’s build a great useful list together.

Check back for part 2 for more sample interview questions.

Good luck to you all.