Next week I am going to be part of an interview for another designer that will be working with me. The people from HR sent this to me and I thought it would be of help to those of you going on an interview.
INTERVIEWING TIPS AND SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Prepare a list of standard questions in advance and ask these questions to all candidates so you can compare answers in an “apples to apples” manner. The list will also help you stay on track.
Review the candidate’s resume before the interview.
Take notes during the interview so you can remember the answers each candidate provides.
Help make the candidate feel at ease by starting out with small talk.
Let the candidate do most of the talking and listen attentively. If you don’t understand something, ask the candidate to explain it. If you miss something, ask the candidate to repeat it. Ask follow-up questions for elaboration.
Sample questions:
• Tell me about yourself.
• Walk me through your resume.
• Did you leave any jobs off your resume?
• Why are you changing jobs?
• What is most important to you in a job?
• What are your short and long-term objectives?
• What interests you about this position?
• Why do you want to work for our company?
• What do you know about our organization?
• How does your past experience qualify you for this position?
• What is the most important quality you offer?
• What would previous supervisors say are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
• What do you feel are your strongest and weakest points?
• Can you provide an example that demonstrates your organizational (and/or communications, interpersonal, supervisory, management, leadership, time management, conflict resolution, team-player) skills?
• How do you keep yourself organized?
• How would you help me to be better organized?
• How do you prioritize your work?
• What motivates you to do your best?
• What do you think would be most challenging for you in this position?
• Can you give an example of a time when you did not agree with a colleague and how you handled the situation?
• What frustrates you, and how do you handle that frustration?
• Describe what type of work environment you thrive in.
• How were your performance reviews in past jobs?
• How did you do in school?
• Did you work while attending school?
• How do you like to be managed? Who was your favorite boss and why?
• What was your best employment/career experience? What was your worst?
• What do you like most and least about your current (or most recent) position?
• What do you do when you make a mistake?
• When would you be able to start?
• Do you have any questions?
INTERVIEWING TIPS AND SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Prepare a list of standard questions in advance and ask these questions to all candidates so you can compare answers in an “apples to apples” manner. The list will also help you stay on track.
Review the candidate’s resume before the interview.
Take notes during the interview so you can remember the answers each candidate provides.
Help make the candidate feel at ease by starting out with small talk.
Let the candidate do most of the talking and listen attentively. If you don’t understand something, ask the candidate to explain it. If you miss something, ask the candidate to repeat it. Ask follow-up questions for elaboration.
Sample questions:
• Tell me about yourself.
• Walk me through your resume.
• Did you leave any jobs off your resume?
• Why are you changing jobs?
• What is most important to you in a job?
• What are your short and long-term objectives?
• What interests you about this position?
• Why do you want to work for our company?
• What do you know about our organization?
• How does your past experience qualify you for this position?
• What is the most important quality you offer?
• What would previous supervisors say are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
• What do you feel are your strongest and weakest points?
• Can you provide an example that demonstrates your organizational (and/or communications, interpersonal, supervisory, management, leadership, time management, conflict resolution, team-player) skills?
• How do you keep yourself organized?
• How would you help me to be better organized?
• How do you prioritize your work?
• What motivates you to do your best?
• What do you think would be most challenging for you in this position?
• Can you give an example of a time when you did not agree with a colleague and how you handled the situation?
• What frustrates you, and how do you handle that frustration?
• Describe what type of work environment you thrive in.
• How were your performance reviews in past jobs?
• How did you do in school?
• Did you work while attending school?
• How do you like to be managed? Who was your favorite boss and why?
• What was your best employment/career experience? What was your worst?
• What do you like most and least about your current (or most recent) position?
• What do you do when you make a mistake?
• When would you be able to start?
• Do you have any questions?
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