Interview Question Round-Up # 1

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Interview Question Round-Up # 1

Posted by Rob on May 13, 2013

This month on our Facebook page, we asked you a couple of simulated interview questions and received some great responses. I decided to reflect on some of your answers, plus give some pointers for those of you who may not have known what to say.

Interview Question 1 – Why are you interested in this field?

This is a particularly interesting question. It’s more personal than it is professional, yet what the employer is really looking for is your “professional story”. One respondent on Facebook had a great response: “I started at a young age. I liked to read, draw and do number puzzles. My parents saw my interest and encouraged me.” She continued saying that her skills in math were always above average. This experience and talent from a young age led her to a job as a Certified General Accountant. This is a great way to include a personal anecdote that is still relevant to your professional development.

I definitely recommend a similar approach. Discuss what passions, ideas or experiences led you to the field. Why are you so passionate about it? What inspires you about it?

Interview Question 2 – Do you have any questions for us?

I cannot stress enough the importance of this question. Essentially, you could make or break your interview depending on how you respond to this. I don’t want to scare you, but please come prepared with thoughtful questions.

One user on Facebook said he liked the question “what’s the work environment like?” This is an excellent question and you could ask any variation of it, such as “describe the team dynamic.” Sometimes it’s easy to forget that interviews are not just about employers interviewing you, but also about you interviewing them. They might want to hire you on the spot, but if you don’t see the position as a good fit, you’re perfectly within your rights to say “thanks, but no thanks.”

You can also use opportunities like these to probe more into the type of work you would be doing, the team dynamics, opportunities for growth, etc. It will show that you are interested in the position and take your career seriously.

Interview Question 3 – How would former colleagues describe you?

This question is a delicate balance between tooting your own horn and being as honest as you would with a “weakness question.” One of our respondents on Facebook did a pretty good job. She said, “they would describe me as: generally pretty positive, involved, great at cribbage.” Throwing in a little tidbit of personality is definitely something to consider, but make sure you have a good feel for the interviewer. If they seem to be a stern person who appears totally business-like, you might want to keep it very professional. I have been in interviews where the employer has tried very hard to bring out my personality. In that case, little quirks or anecdotes are definitely welcome, but it’s always best to be prepared and think of some in advance.

Well, until next time! I hope these responses will be helpful.

Great job all around!