Types Of Interview Questions
Learn the types of questions employers may ask and what they are looking for below.
Traditional Questions often start an interview to establish rapport, i.e.:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What interests you in our organization?
Open-ended/Behavioral Questions call for description of your qualifications often through examples of how you have acted in the past in specific situations to reveal how you may act in similar situations in the future, i.e.:
- What are your strengths and areas in need of growth?
- Describe a time you set and met a goal.
Case/Problem Questions require you to analyze and offer a solution to a specific situation or puzzle in the interview to reveal your critical thinking skills and ability to articulate your thoughts under pressure, i.e.:
- Your client asks for account credit as their sales have been declining despite your support services. What do you do?
- How many footballs fit in a school bus?
Can you do the Job?
- Describe your experience and how it has prepared you for this position.
- Tell me about a challenge you faced in a previous role and how you handled it.
- Tell me about a creative solution you developed for a problem at work.
- What skills would you bring to the position?
- Describe a class that challenged you, in what ways, and how you handled it.
- Describe a time when you were facing multiple projects and deadlines and how you handled it.
Are you a fit for us?
- What interests you in our organization?
- What three words would you use to describe yourself?
- How would a former supervisor describe you?
- What projects are you working on outside of school/work?
- Tell me about a project you worked on as part of a team and what your role was.
- Tell me about a time you went beyond what was expected of you.
Are we a fit for you?
- What interests you in this field?
- Where do you see your career in five years?
- How do you like to be coached and receive feedback?
- What is an area you would like to learn more about in the next year?
- What types of projects motivate you most?
- Why did you choose your major/field of study?
While there is no one right way to answer this question, one strong approach is to share your Near Past or Present and your Future as they connect with the position which may include:
- Strengths, interests, and/or work style
- Major field of study and concentrations
- Experiences which reinforced strengths and interest in the field
- Why the position is of interest
End with a clear, positive summary statement which includes your strengths for the position.