Preparing for a Job Interview: Questions, Answers, and Tips

Questions Asked By Employers

Education

1. How has your college experience prepared you for this career?

2. Describe your most rewarding college experience.

3. Why did you select Muhlenberg?

4. What led you to choose your college major?

5. What college subjects did you like best/least? Why?

6. If you could do so, how would you plan your academic study differently? Why?

7. What changes would you make in your college? Why?

8. Do you have any plans for continued study? An advanced degree?

9. Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?

10. In what school activities have you participated? Why? Which did you enjoy the most? What offices have you held?

11. What have you learned from participation in extracurricular activities?

1. What qualifications do you have that make you think you will be successful in this position?

2. What two or three accomplishments are you most proud of? Why?

3. Tell me a time when you gave a presentation to a group.

4. Give me an example of a time you needed to work under pressure.

5. In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested? Why?

6. Describe a group project you were a part of. (What was your role?)

7. Explain a time you had a difficult time getting along with a professor/co-worker/student/supervisor. (How did you handle it?)

8. What did you enjoy most about your last employment? Least?

9. Give an example of a situation in which you provided a solution to an employer or supervisor.

10. What kind of supervision do you prefer?

11. Describe a time when you had to juggle multiple projects.

1. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

2. How would you describe yourself?

3. How do you think a friend or professor who knows you well would describe you?

4. What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?

5. How do you spend your spare time?

6. In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?

7. What two or three things are most important to you in your job?

8. What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?

9. Describe a time you failed. (What did you learn from it?)

10. Who are your role models?

11. What was the most difficult decision you ever had to make?

12. What was the last book you read?

Career Goal

1. What are your long and short range goals, when and why did you establish these goals?

2. How do you plan to achieve your career goals?

3. What are the most important rewards you expect from your career?

4. What do you expect to be earning in five years?

5. Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?

6. How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation?

7. What other types of positions are you considering?

Preparation/Knowledge of the Organization

1. Why should I hire you?

2. What do you think it takes to be successful in an organization like ours?

3. In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization?

4. What qualities should a successful manager possess?

5. What qualities do you think are important to be successful in this position?

6. Why did you decide to seek a position with this organization?

7. What do you know about our organization?

8. What criteria are you using to evaluate the organizations with whom you are interviewing?

9. Do you have a geographical preference?

10. Will you relocate?

11. Are you willing to travel?

12. Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which our organization is located?