Beyond Basic Interview Questions
Here are some serious, thought-provoking questions that will prepare you for anything your interviewer may ask. Give these some deep thought and think of more than one example if you can. Remember, keep your potential employer's perspective in mind when preparing your examples.
You may not be able to answer or come up with an example for every single one of these prompts but as you work through each one, they will spark your memory. Some of your examples will answer more than one of these statements or questions and some questions will not apply to your situation at all.
Think of real life examples based on your own experience. There is no rule that says each of your examples has to describe you in a leotard and big S on your chest saving the world. Your examples do, however, help draw the picture of who you are for your employer.
Answering the following questions will prepare you for success in the interview process.
Questions Reveal Character
Describe a time when you were able to influence another person or group to your way of thinking.
How have you used your personal charm to lead others?
Tell me about a time when you changed a person's behavior. With power? With charm? By persuasion? By reason? With facts? With guilt?
Give me an example of a time when you served as a positive role model to your peers.
When have you used delegation as a strategy for success?
Give me an example of a time where you used your authority to get a job done.
Tell me about a situation where your education and experience really paid off.
When has your patience won out over the strong urge to jump to a conclusion?
Give me an example of a time when your own participation in a group or team meeting directly supported the team because of your comments and participation.
When have you confronted a negative person about their attitude and had a positive outcome as a result?
Tell me about a time when you used your awareness of the political climate in the work place to: generate change. make decisions. avoid problems.
Give me an example of a time when your ability to adapt was really challenged.
When have you been successful at working with and for difficult people?
When haven't you been successful working with and for difficult people?
Give me an example of a time when you were successful doing routine work, day after day.
Tell me about a situation where your "head's up" awareness resulted in avoiding a major problem.
When have you been successful at monitoring or recording detailed data that was "mission critical"?
When have rules and regulations made your job very difficult? When have they been used to your advantage?
Give me an example of a time you were particularly innovative or used creativity to solve a problem.
What would you consider as your most monumental victory at problem solving?
Tell me about a time when your performance was really challenged because of continuous interruptions or unplanned "emergencies"?
When was the last time your hard work and goal setting really paid off?
-How about hard work and dedication?
Give me an example of a time when you were able to stay motivated, over a sustained period of time, even though you were only accountable to yourself.
Tell me about a time you were unsuccessful at meeting your goals because of circumstances that were out of your control.
When have you been able to prioritize your goals and stick to them successfully?
Give me an example of a time when you were able to use your analytical skills to systematically solve a problem at work.
When have you been successful at motivating others? What methods have you used to be successful at this?
Tell me about a time when your enthusiasm and energy was used to motivate others.
What is your biggest secret for motivating others and when were you the most successful using this secret?
Give me an example of a time when you were successful at "selling" your idea to an authority figure.
Describe a time when you were able to express your opinions or perceptions maturely despite being in the "heat of the battle" and dealing with objections and disagreements.
Tell me about a time when your listening skills were instrumental in your ability to communicate.
However big or small, describe your biggest triumph at making a speech or presentation.
Have you ever stood your ground in the face of violent opposition? Describe it?
Have you ever had to respond instantly to avoid a major catastrophe? Describe it?
Give me an example of a time when you were able to patiently wait for enough information to make a wise decision.
When have you found yourself in a fast-moving, rapidly changing environment at work? How did you handle it?
Sometime in your career you will have to live with a problem or situation that never gets taken care of. It can be a nagging pain with no end in sight. Give me an example when this has happened to you.
Some people prefer a very structured, task-oriented position while others prefer a more ambiguous work environment. What do you prefer and why? When have you been successful at both? When have you failed at both?
When have you had to deal with strict deadlines and time demands?
Tell me the last time you had to deal with what you considered were expectations that were above and beyond the call of duty.
Describe a time when you were able to avoid a potentially difficult situation because of your ability to "read" another person's body language, expressions or changes in their voice.
Tell me about a time when another person commented on your "teamwork" approach.
Give me an example of a time when you were particularly proud of your ability to build a relationship with someone.
When was the last time someone commented on your tendency to put other people first?
Chapter 10 Review
- Answer questions in a way that demonstrates past performance and conveys positive, desirable behavior.
- Answer all questions with your interviewer's perspective in mind.
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