100 PotentiaI Interview Questions

By Thad Peterson, Monster Staff Writer

While there are as many different possible interview questions as there are interviewers, it always helps to be ready for
anything. So we've prepared a list of 100 potential interview questions. Will you face them all? We pray no interviewer would be
that cruel. Will you face a few? Probably. Will you be well-served by being ready even if you're not asked these exact
questions? Absolutely.

Basic Interview Questions:
O Tell me about yourself.
O What are your strengths?
O What are your weaknesses?
O Why do you want this job?
O Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?
O What's your ideal company?
O What attracted you to this company?
O Why should we hire you?
O What did you like least about your last job?
O When were you most satisfied in your job?
O What can you do for us that other candidates can't?
O What were the responsibilities of your last position?
O Why are you leaving your present job?
O What do you know about this industry?
O What do you know about our company?
O Are you willing to relocate?
O Do you have any questions for me?
BehavioraI Interview Questions:
O What was the last project you headed up, and what was its outcome?
O Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work.
O Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?
O Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?
O Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback. How did you handle it?
O What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?
O What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
O f were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?
O What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?
O Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it?
O What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
O Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job.
O f you were at a business lunch and you ordered a rare steak and they brought it to you well done, what would you
do?
O f you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?
O What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue?
O What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years and how did you come to that decision?
O Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and
there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.
$aIary Questions:
O What salary are you seeking?
O What's your salary history?
O f were to give you this salary you requested but let you write your job description for the next year, what would it
say?
areer DeveIopment Questions:
O What are you looking for in terms of career development?
O How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?
O What kind of goals would you have in mind if you got this job?
O f were to ask your last supervisor to provide you additional training or exposure, what would she suggest?
etting $tarted Questions:
O How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly with the team?
O How long will it take for you to make a significant contribution?
O What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days of this job?
O f selected for this position, can you describe your strategy for the first 90 days?
ore About You:
O How would you describe your work style?
O What would be your ideal working situation?
O What do you look for in terms of culture -- structured or entrepreneurial?
O Give examples of ideas you've had or implemented.
O What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?
O f you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?
O Tell me about your proudest achievement.
O Who was your favorite manager and why?
O What do you think of your previous boss?
O Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?
O What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
O What are you most proud of?
O What do you like to do?
O What are your lifelong dreams?
O What do you ultimately want to become?
O What is your personal mission statement?
O What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
O What negative thing would your last boss say about you?
O What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?
O What are three positive character traits you don't have?
O f you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for?
O List five words that describe your character.
O Who has impacted you most in your career and how?
O What is your greatest fear?
O What is your biggest regret and why?
O What's the most important thing you learned in school?
O Why did you choose your major?
O What will you miss about your present/last job?
O What is your greatest achievement outside of work?
O What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?
O Do you think a leader should be feared or liked?
O How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
O How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?
O How do you think rate as an interviewer?
O Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want me to know.
O Tell me the difference between good and exceptional.
O What kind of car do you drive?
O There's no right or wrong answer, but if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
O What's the last book you read?
O What magazines do you subscribe to?
O What's the best movie you've seen in the last year?
O What would you do if you won the lottery?
O Who are your heroes?
O What do you like to do for fun?
O What do you do in your spare time?
O What is your favorite memory from childhood?
Brainteaser Questions:
O How many times do a clock's hands overlap in a day?
O How would you weigh a plane without scales?
O Tell me 10 ways to use a pencil other than writing.
O Sell me this pencil.
O f you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
O Why is there fuzz on a tennis ball?
O f you could choose one superhero power, what would it be and why?
O f you could get rid of any one of the US states, which one would you get rid of and why?
O With your eyes closed, tell me step-by-step how to tie my shoes.

ast-inute Interview Preparation

By Doug Hardy, Monster Staff Writer
Adapted from Monster Careers: Interviewing
Even if you have less than a day before your job interview, you can outshine the competition with a little interview preparation.
The following four tasks will take you about four hours (plus five minutes) to complete, and you'll walk into the interview
confident you'll be successful.
onduct Basic Interview Research
To prepare for an interview, find out as much as you can beforehand. Call the person who scheduled your interview and ask:
O Who will you be talking to? Will you meet the manager you'd work for, or will you just talk to HR? What are the
interviewer's expectations?
O What's the dress code? Dress better than suggested. Most times, it's best to wear a professional suit. You'd be
amazed how many candidates show up looking like they're going to class, not presenting a professional demeanor.
O Get directions to the office. Plan to leave early. Keep a phone number to call if you get stuck on the bus or in traffic. f
you arrive late and stressed, the interview will not go well.
O f you don't have a detailed job description, ask for one.
That's a five-minute phone call.
earn About the ompany OnIine
Do some fast Web research, which will give you something to talk about in addition to the job description. Go to the employer's
Web site, or search the Web for information such as:
O How big is the company in terms of annual sales or employees?
O What does the company say about its products or services?
O What recent news (such as a new product, a press release, an interview with the CEO) can you discuss?
O f the company is public, the boilerplate at the bottom of its press releases will tell you a lot.
Basic research should take you about an hour.
%hink of $ome $tories
Be ready to answer typical interview questions with a story about yourself. To prepare, write down and memorize three
achievement stories. Tell about times you've really felt proud of an achievement at work or school. These stories demonstrate
all those hard-to-measure qualities like judgment, initiative, teamwork or leadership. Wherever possible, quantify what you've
done, e.g., "increased sales by 20 percent," "cut customer call waiting time in half," "streamlined delivery so that most
customers had their job done in two days."
By the way, nonwork achievement stories are good too; if you volunteer for the local food pantry, write down a time you
overcame a big challenge or a crisis there.
Achievement stories make you memorable, which is what you want. There's an exercise in Monster Careers: Interviewing
called "Mastering the Freestyle nterview," which helps you develop these stories into compelling sales points.
Take the time you need -- at least three hours on this task.
Pick Your Outfit, and o to Bed EarIy
Lay out your interview outfit the night before, get a good night's rest, and always get an early start. The last thing you want is to
waste all of your interview preparation by arriving flustered and panicked because you couldn't find a parking space.

Prep for the %op 10 Interview Questions

By Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer
Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field. But many interview questions
are to be expected. Study this list and plan your answers ahead of time so you'll be ready to deliver them with confidence.
1. What Are Your Weaknesses?
This is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Stay away
from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: " am always working on improving my communication skills to
be a more effective presenter. recently joined Toastmasters, which find very helpful."
2. Why $houId We Hire You?
Summarize your experiences: "With five years' experience working in the financial industry and my proven record of saving the
company money, could make a big difference in your company. 'm confident would be a great addition to your team."
3. Why Do You Want to Work Here?
The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you've given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just
because there is an opening. For example, "'ve selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values,
where know could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices."
4. What Are Your oaIs?
Sometimes it's best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. For
example, "My immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-oriented company. My long-term goal will depend on where the
company goes. hope to eventually grow into a position of responsibility."
5. Why Did You eave (Or Why Are You eaving) Your Job?
f you're unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: " managed to survive two rounds of corporate
downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me."
f you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: "After two years, made the decision to look for a company that
is team-focused, where can add my experience."
6. When Were You ost $atisfied in Your Job?
The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. f you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the
interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. " was very satisfied in my last job, because worked directly with the
customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me."
7. What an You Do for Us %hat Other andidates an't?
What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: " have a
unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my
knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly."
8. What Are %hree Positive %hings Your ast Boss WouId $ay About You?
t's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss's quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through
someone else's words: "My boss has told me that am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he
likes my sense of humor."
9. What $aIary Are You $eeking?
t is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom
line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: " am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable
amount. n what range do you typically pay someone with my background?"
10. If You Were an AnimaI, Which One WouId You Want to Be?
nterviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. f you answer "a bunny," you will make a
soft, passive impression. f you answer "a lion," you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the
job done? What impression do you want to make?
%hree Ways to FiII Your Resume aps
By NicoleWilliams.com staff
You've got a stellar resume, impeccable references and a ton of experience. You also have an eight-month gap in your
employment history. And while that time you spent cliff jumping and swimming with dolphins was personally enriching for you, it
may signal total slacker to prospective employees -- if you don't spin it the right way. Here are ways to explain your time off.

Have an answer ready: nterviewers will want to know why there is a gap in your employment history and what, if anything,
you did during that time. When applying for a job, acknowledge the gap in your cover letter and briefly explain the reasons for
the period of unemployment. n the interview, you can talk more about it at length. Don't go in unprepared, hoping the employer
will gloss over it. Not having a reason for your employment gap only leaves it to the employer's imagination.

Put a positive spin on it: Not all employment gaps are due to layoffs or getting fired. You may have taken time off to take
courses, freelance or travel -- all of which can make you a better candidate for the job. List the courses you've taken and
explain how they will help in this new position. Talk about your freelancing experience and what you learned and accomplished
during that time. Share your travels with your prospective employer. At the very least, they may find comfort in knowing you've
"been there, done that and won't be taking off any time soon to travel the world again! Adding in this kind of detail to your
resume will also supply the additional details that Monster's search-and-match technologies use to find you several great
options that are the most tailored to what you're looking for.

AIways be honest: While a gap in your resume isn't a surefire reason to reject you, being dishonest is. f you were laid off from
a company, don't omit it from your resume. List the dates you worked, and if interviewers want more details, they'll ask for
them. f you chose to leave your previous job, let the employer know. You can then say that you were fortunate enough to take
time off to figure out your next move and apply for jobs you want to do, not just what you can do. Unemployment happens.
Being honest about your situation gives the employer a sense of your integrity and confidence -- two characteristics every
employer is looking for.

About NicoIe:

Career expert and best-selling author of irl on Top, Nicole Williams is redefining the world of work -- making it glamorous,
entertaining and relevant to modern women. Nicole founded WORKS by Nicole Williams in 2006 with the vision of building the
first media and content company focused on career development specifically for the highly dynamic and powerful market of
young professional women. Her Web site, Nicolewilliams.com, is the go-to destination site for modern working women.
over etters to Recruiters
By Kim saacs, Monster Resume Expert
n the world of recruiters and executive search firms, resumes rule. But this doesn't mean you should ignore or forgo sending
cover letters.
"f a candidate's resume is a good fit to what 'm looking for, then 'm going to take a look at the cover letter," says Dan
Anderson, a partner in St. Paul-based executive search and recruitment services firm C. Anderson & Associates. At Anderson's
firm, both the resume and cover letter are filed for future reference.
Your $ituation Dictates Your over etter Approach
So what do recruiters look for in a cover letter? t depends on which of these three scenarios you're dealing with:
O Ad-Response over etters: f a search firm is handling a job opening, gear your cover letter to the ad's desired
qualifications.

"Let's say 'm reviewing responses to a Monster posting," says Anderson. "f the candidate has taken the time to tailor
the cover letter and bring out how their background meets the qualifications want, my impression is going to be that
they're a sharp individual.

"One of the best cover letters ever saw was written by a gentleman who took each point from the ad requirements
section and answered every single one with a precise summary of how he fit my client's needs," he adds. "When
read it, thought, 'Finally! Somebody answered the question.'"

O ReferraI over etters: " always read a cover letter if it begins with something like 'You worked with my friend so-
and-so on a recent search, and he told me about your service,'" says Anderson. "f you've been referred to me by a
source, this should be mentioned in the first line of your cover letter."

O oId over etters: These accompany unsolicited resumes. Recruiters receive dozens of these on any given day,
so be brief. "Think 'meat and potatoes' in terms of communicating only your top qualifications, and eliminate any
additional fluff," says Diane Oates, founder and director of Corporate Diversity Search, a Webster, New York, firm
that places women and minorities in Fortune 500 companies. Anderson adds that for this kind of cover letter, it's also
a good idea to tell the recruiter your salary requirements, your target position and industry, and your availability for
relocation or travel.
Eight RuIes for over etters
Regardless of what kind of letter you're writing, use this advice from recruiters to guide your efforts and maximize your chances
for success:
O Remember Your Purpose: "Candidates need to ask themselves why they're writing to the recruiter in the first
place," Anderson says. "Are you answering an ad? ntroducing yourself? Or just spamming some generic letter out,
which is never going to be very effective."

O Be Brief: "Brevity is extremely important on any cover letter to a recruiter," says Anderson, who prefers cover letters
be a half-page or shorter.

O Narrow Your Focus: When replying to an advertised opening, your cover letter will focus on a specific opportunity.
But when writing a referral or cold cover letter, many candidates are too broad in their job targets. "Don't try to make
yourself all things to all people in your cover letter," Anderson advises. "As a recruiter, 'm looking for specialists with
certain sets of expertise, not generalists."

O $et ReaIistic oaIs: Don't use the cover letter to try to secure a position several steps above your current level.
"Recruiters can only place people into positions that are the next logical step for them," Anderson explains.

O Emphasize Your ain $eIIing Points: " like to see cover letters that profile a candidate's top qualifications," says
Oates. "Whether that's a high GPA, a unique skill set or a strong record of professional advancement, write it down."

O ExpIain UnempIoyment or aps in Your Work History: Otherwise-qualified candidates who don't articulate good
reasons for being out of a job or for a gap in their employment run a high risk of being screened out.

O Never Overstate Your QuaIifications: Oates advises candidates to avoid exaggerating qualifications in order to be
seen as a perfect match to an advertised opening. "Your cover letter, like your resume, should be completely truthful
and accurate," Oates says. "Never falsify or misrepresent your background."

O FoIIow the RuIes of Business Writing: " like to see coherency, fluid sentences and concise writing," Anderson
says. "Leave out the flowery language and generic descriptions, don't include personal details like your marital status,
don't forget to include your contact information and of course, make sure you spell-check." Consult business-writing
references for guidance.
What Am I Worth?
By Valerie Lipow, Monster Contributing Writer
n some cultures, bargaining is the norm. A buyer or seller makes an offer, and the other party either accepts or counters the
offer. The two negotiate until they strike a deal or one party walks away.
When you're negotiating your salary with an employer, do you know what you're doing? Do you have any idea of what you're
truly worth?
How Do I Find Out y Worth?
To be a good salary negotiator, you must know what a good deal looks like. First, research your fair market value. One easy
way to do this is by using Monster's Salary Wizard. You can also compare notes with other Monster members using Career
Benchmarking. Also look to recruiters, competitors and the US Department of Labor's ..:pational :tlook Handbook to get a
good idea of what others in similar positions are earning.
Networking is the key to getting fresh information. There's no better way to assess how you're doing than to schmooze with
professionals in similar fields. dentify people who have the same position you have or want. Attend professional association
meetings or trade shows, and connect with other job seekers online to compare duties and responsibilities, staff size, etc.
nvestigate the opportunities for job seekers with your skill set in the same company, different companies, different sectors and
even different industries.
When networking, don't ask people what they make and expect a civil answer. nstead, ask, "Does this range sound right for
this kind of job in this kind of company?" Chances are they'll reply either, "Wow! Where do you work, and how can join you?"
or "Well, that seems low for someone with your experience and level of responsibility." When you combine their comments with
the salary information you already have, you'll have a better idea of how you want to approach your salary offer.
How uch to Ask For
Many companies have salary structures for their organizations. Each has a range in mind for any specific job. f you have a
target salary within a realistic range, you'll negotiate from a stronger position.
RuIes for Negotiating Your $aIary
O Don't be greedy. Seek a win-win agreement with a new employer. This cements good relations for you and the
interviewer, and could save you from a lost offer if you hold out for the maximum.
O When an employer asks for your salary requirements in an ad or on a job application, indicate that you are
negotiable. f you're asked to provide current salary, respond with, "Will discuss during interview.
O Never initiate salary discussions in an interview. Wait for the interviewer to bring the subject up, even if it's postponed
to a second interview.
O Avoid explicit comparisons to your current salary. You're negotiating the strengths you'll bring to the new position, not
past salary.
O Always assume the offer is negotiable.
O Never accept an offer at the interview. Express your strong interest, but state that you always evaluate important
decisions carefully. Negotiate a date when you'll contact the interviewer with your decision.
O Discuss benefits separately from salary. Your list of benefits can include insurance, tuition reimbursement, relocation
payments, stock options, bonuses and outplacement upon termination.
anagement vs. HourIy Wage $taff
Jack Chapman, author of egotiating Yo:r Salary: How to Make $1,000 a Min:te, advises that negotiating isn't just for
executives. "t's easier to negotiate more at the hourly wage level than practically anywhere else," he says. "An extra 50 cents,
dollar or even a $3 to $5 an hour increase seldom exceeds a company's phone bill."