11 Interview Activity II
Description: This activity is combined of question that are commonly asked in an interview settings. You will receive feedback on your responses in order to strengthen your interviewing skills.
Instructions: Please answer the questions as you would if you were in a face-to-face interview. Be sure to answer the complete question.
- What do you look for in a good supervisor?
Be sure to discuss the qualities, traits, characteristics that you look for in a supervisor. Discuss the characteristics, do not just list them.
- If you were hired how could your supervisor help you do the best on the job?
Discuss what you would want to see from your supervisor in the first weeks of your new position… Training, what type of supervision would you expect as you begin, things they could to do assist you in getting acclimated to the position, etc.
- Tell me about your relationship with your current and past supervisors
This question will give the interviewer a sense of your personality and how it relates to the prospective supervisor. How you discuss your past supervisors will give insight to the way you work and any potential problems that may arise. AVOID being negative! Be honest, but try to put a positive spin on it. If you didn’t get along well discuss what you learned about yourself, etc.
- Talk about a work environment that you think would be ineffective for you.
What do you need to have a positive work environment, or things that could have been better at a previous environment? Discuss how it would be ineffective without those things. You could consider the importance of: communication, feedback, ability to infuse a personal touch on projects, etc. Would having these items make the work place more or less effective?
- How would your co-workers describe your working style?
Speak specifically to the working relationships with your co-workers. You want to give
the impression that you easily get along with different types of people, but do not make it sound as though you chat with your co-workers more than work.
- How do you usually go about solving a problem?
Consider the steps you normally take when solving a problem. The key is to display your initiative and ability to logical decisions. What do you base your decisions on? If you can give a specific example of a time when you used your problem solving steps that relates to the position you are applying for, feel free to do so.
- If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would those three words be?
Be sure to choose strong words to describe yourself. Consider the job posting: Consider the company’s mission statement: Consider the company’s published values… what is this company looking for that happens to be one of your strengths?
- If you were hiring someone, what would be the three most important qualities that you would look for in a candidate?
Consider what you believe is important in being an employee. Provide three qualities that you would want in a co-worker, supervisor, or expect from yourself. You can give an example of why those would be important if you would like.
- What personal skill or work habit have you struggled to improve?
Consider your work habits and something that you have to be conscious of. Maybe an inability to say No, even when your plate is full, maybe it is delegating authority (if that is in your position). Discuss whatever the habit or skill is that you struggle to improve, and follow up with what you are doing to improve that, or the progress that you have made towards improving. Be sure to let the interviewer know that it will not leave a negative impact on you as an employee.
- What comes to mind when you consider what you disliked about your last job?
Be careful when discussing past employers, you do not want to give specific information, rather speak globally. Remember, the interviewer is considering you for a position and wants to see how you will respond about a past employer… be sure to discuss things that will not make it look as though you will talk negatively about their company should you leave a position with them later on.