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Interview Tips

Common interview questions can be about your experience, character, goals, and other qualities. It's a good idea to think about possible answers ahead of time, so you're not caught off guard during the interview.
However, memorising each interview answer is generally not advisable as it might make you sound robotic. Just jot down a few key points instead, so you're able to respond quickly and effectively.
Being prepared in this way can help increase your chances of success in the interview process.
Work Experience

  • Describe your typical working day in your previous/current job?

  • What was the most important project you have participated in so far?

  • What was your role in this project?

  • What was the most satisfying job in your career?

  • What did you not like about your previous job?

  • Have you been promoted in your previous job?

  • What was the biggest responsibility you have had in your career?

  • Who was your superior?

  • Why did you choose a career in this area?

  • Did you increase sales/profits in your previous job?

  • Did you reduce costs?

Jobs of Interest

  • What was your biggest failure in your professional experience?

  • Why are you interested in this job?

  • What qualities/experience do you believe are necessary for this job?

  • Why do you want to work for this company?

  • What interests you about the products/services of this company?

  • What is it that you think this company can offer to you and your previous/current employer could not?

  • How long do you think it would be before you were making a significant contribution to the team/company?

  • What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing?

  • Why should we offer the job to you?

  • What do you think you can contribute that the other applicants cannot?

Leadership Skills & Experience

  • What managerial/supervisory experience do you have?

  • Do you consider yourself to be a successful leader? Why/why not?

  • What is your leadership style?

  • What do you like about managing people? What do you dislike about it?

  • What do you think is the hardest part of managing people?

  • What do you think can threaten the success of a team?

  • What does responsibility mean for you and how do you cope with it?

  • What type of people do you consider most difficult to manage?

  • How do you motivate people?

  • What was the most difficult situation for you in the role of a manager/supervisor?

Character Questions

  • How do you generally behave in a critical situation?

  • Have you been in a situation at work when you could not control yourself? What happened?

  • Have you ever been in an open conflict with a colleague/superior? Why? Did you resolve it? How?

  • How do you accept criticism from your colleagues/superiors?

  • Did you ever initiate some important change in your previous jobs? What means did you choose? What was the change and how did it affect the running of the company?

  • What motivates you at work?

Other Questions

  • What are your salary expectations?

  • What did you earn in your last job?

  • How long have you been looking for a new job?

  • Are you willing to relocate?

  • Are you willing to work abroad?

  • Are you willing to travel?

  • Where do you see yourself in three/five years? What are your long-term goals?

  • What are your hobbies?

  • How many hours are you prepared to work?

  • If you have changed jobs a lot, you may be asked how long you would stay in the new job.

  • How often are you off sick?

  • What will your referees say about you?

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

  • What training do you provide?

  • How did the position arise?

  • When are you looking for someone to start?

  • Can you describe a typical day?

  • Where will I fit into the overall organisational structure?

  • Who will I report to? Where does he/she fit in the structure?

  • How many people are in the team?

  • Who will report to me? How experienced are they?

  • What do you expect me to do in the first 6 months?

  • What level of performance do you expect from me?

  • What will be my targets?

  • When will you make a decision?

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