10 Interview Activity I
- Tell me about yourself.
This is your opportunity to discuss who you are as a professional. Be sure to mention your education, experience, skills, possibly even why you chose this career path. Keep your response focused on who you are as a professional.
For example:
I am expecting to receive my Associate of Applied Science Degree in ____ from Mountain Empire Community College in May of this year. Through my studies I have found I really enjoy ___, ___, and ___ about this career field. I am a driven person and want to continually learn and grow in the field. I am not one to become stressed easily, however, when I do find myself in a stressful situation, I am able to manage my stress level by ____.
- What are three of your greatest strengths?
Be thoughtful and honest in your response. Describe the skills you have that are most relevant to the position. Be prepared to back up your response with an example. You can provide examples of how your strengths have worked for you in the past and discuss the ways the skills could benefit you in the position you are interviewing for.
- What are three of your weaknesses?
Be honest, but be cautious of stating that your weakness is what they are looking for an employee… Think about the job duties described in the job postings and try not to point out weaknesses that would be a major obstacle should you be hired. It is also wise to discuss how you are working on the weakness.
Do not respond with “I can’t really think of anything”.
- Why should we hire you?
Be sure to point out qualities/skills/attributes that you possess that may set you apart from other candidates. Do you have certifications that others may not? Demonstrate confidence without sounding conceited. Illustrate your worth as an employee by talking about what past and present supervisors would say about you. Make sure you highlight your uniqueness to show you would be the best candidate for the position.
- Describe a leader you admire.
You do not have to know the person in order imitate their leadership, but it may be more
realistic if you do. Be sure you list someone that you believe has effective leadership and know why you feel they are successful in leading. Refrain from choosing a controversial leader. Discuss why you admire this person, what is it about their leadership that made you choose them. What are some of the lessons you learned from this person and how could you incorporate that into your life.
- Tell me about a time when you had to extend a deadline.
You do not want to give a negative view of your accountability. Your answer should not indicate that you have poor time management skills or poor work ethic. Discuss your willingness to adjust a deadline if you think it will add to the overall quality of the project. What could happen if you had not adjusted the deadline. What steps did you take to extend the deadline?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
This is one question you would not answer specifically. If you would like to see yourself in management, it is fine to say so, but you may not want to list a specific title you would like to hold. Be realistic. Consider the company you are interviewing with, their opportunities for advancement and how that will fit into your five year plan.
- Why are you leaving your current job?
Give two or three reasons why you are looking for a new position. Regardless of your feelings towards your supervisor and co-workers, refrain from talking negatively about them. This is a good opportunity to discuss the fact that you will be obtaining (recently obtained) a degree and you are looking for an opportunity to use the knowledge you gained through your education.
- Why do you feel you would be a good fit for this position?
Consider the skills and characteristics that you possess that could help you succeed in the position you are interviewing for. Think about the kind of person that would be perfectly compatible with the job duties. Discuss how you stay current in the field.
- Do you have any questions for me?