Sample Answers to Typical
Job Interview Questions
1. How would you
describe yourself?
Sample excellent response:
My background to date has been
centered around preparing myself to become the very best financial consultant I
can become. Let me tell you specifically how I've prepared myself. I am an
undergraduate student in finance and accounting at _________ University. My
past experiences has been in retail and higher education. Both aspects have
prepared me well for this career.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
2. What specific
goals, including those related to your occupation, have you established for
your life?
Sample excellent response:
I want to be working for an
excellent company like yours in a job in which I am managing information. I
plan to contribute my leadership, interpersonal, and technical skills. My
long-range career goal is to be the best information systems technician I can
for the company I work for.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
3. How has your
college experience prepared you for a business career?
Sample excellent response:
I have prepared myself to transition
into the the work force through real-world experience involving travel abroad,
internship, and entrepreneurial opportunities. While interning with a private
organization in Ecuador, I developed a 15-page marketing plan composed in
Spanish that recommended more effective ways the company could promote its
services. I also traveled abroad on two other occasions in which I researched
the indigenous culture of the Mayan Indians in Todos Santos, Guatemala, and
participate din a total language immersion program in Costa Rica. As you can
see from my academic, extracurricular, and experiential background, I have
unconditionally committed myself to success as a marketing professional.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
4. Please describe the
ideal job for you following graduation.
Sample excellent response (equates
ideal job with job he's interviewing for):
My ideal job is one that
incorporates both my education and practical work skills to be the best I can
be. Namely combining my education in finance with my working knowledge of
customer service operations, entrepreneurial abilities, computer skills, and
administrative skills. I want to utilize my analytical expertise to help people
meet their financial goals. This is exactly why I am convinced that I would be
a very valuable member of the Merrill Lynch team.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
5. What influenced you
to choose this career?
Sample excellent response:
My past experiences have shown me
that I enjoy facing and overcoming the challenge of making a sale. Without a
doubt, once I have practiced my presentation and prepared myself for
objections, I feel very confident approaching people I don't know and convincing
them that they need my product. Lastly, I like sales because my potential for
success is limited only by how much of myself I dedicate toward my goal. If any
profession is founded on self-determinism, it surely must be sales.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
6. At what point did
you choose this career?
Sample excellent response:
I knew that I wanted to pursue
information systems technology about my sophomore year in college. It was then
that I realized that my that my hobby (computers) was taking up most of my
time. My favorite courses were IT courses. I also realized that I was doing
computer-oriented work-study that I enjoyed so much I would have done it for
free.
7. What specific goals
have you established for your career?
Sample excellent response:
My goals include becoming a
Certified Financial Advisor so I can obtain a better working knowledge of
financial research analysis, which would allow me contribute to my client base
as a better financial consultant since I would have that extra insight into the
companies they are seeking to invest in. Also this is the foundation block to
advancing my career to portfolio manager or even branch office manager.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
8. What will it take
to attain your goals, and what steps have you taken toward attaining them?
Sample excellent response:
I've already done some research on
other workers at Merrill Lynch to see how they achieved similar goals. I know
that Merrill Lynch encourages the pursuit and will reimburse for tuition of a
graduate degree. I plan on pursuing a MBA to give me an even more extensive
knowledge of business and financial analysis.
9. What do you think
it takes to be successful in this career?
Sample excellent response:
I believe successful salespeople put
forth that extra effort that turns potential clients into first-time customers.
Salespeople who attend to the details by doing whatever it takes to win over a
prospective customer distinguish themselves from the countless others who don't
go to any extra effort. Second, I think that if you label success as an
attainable goal, you will never consistently remain successful. You can only
succeed if you learn all there is to learn about your product, your
competitors, and personal selling. Since this learning process is continuous,
it's an unattainable goal. With good reason, salespeople should not consider
success an attainable ending point but an objective that will always linger
slightly beyond their reach.
10. How do you
determine or evaluate success? Give me an example of one of your successful
accomplishments.
Sample excellent response:
Last semester I was hired by by
university's Council for Student Activities. The group negotiates contracts of
entertainers, sets up sound equipment, markets the entertainers to students,
and generally decides what kind of programming should be done. When I got
hired, I didn't know the first thing about how fill any of those
responsibilities. I decided, however, that I wasn't going to fail. Four months
later, I have become the Webmaster for the group. I also write our campus
newsletter and created Game Night, a student competition of table games. That
event yielded the biggest audience ever for a non-concert event.
11. Do you have the
qualifications and personal characteristics necessary for success in your
chosen career?
Sample excellent response:
I believe I have a combination of qualities
to be successful in this career. First, I have a strong interest, backed by a
solid, well-rounded, state-of-the-art education, especially in a career that is
technically oriented. This basic ingredient, backed by love of learning,
problem-solving skills, well-rounded interests, determination to succeed and
excel, strong communication skills, and the ability to work hard, are the most
important qualities that will help me succeed in this career. To succeed, you
also need a natural curiosity about how systems work -- the kind of curiosity I
demonstrated when I upgraded my two computers recently. Technology is
constantly changing, so you must a fast learner just to keep up or you will be
overwhelmed. All of these traits combine to create a solid team member in the
ever-changing field of information systems. I am convinced that I possess these
characteristics and am ready to be a successful team member for your firm.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
12. What has been your
most rewarding accomplishment?
Sample excellent response:
A recent satisfying accomplishment I
was sent to one of our branch banks that was notorious for not growing their
loan base. The branch had logged $75,000 in new loans in an 18-month period
prior to my arrival. Having a reputation as a "hired gun" when it
came to loan production I was successful in the solicitation and booking of
$700,000 in my first six months at the branch.
13. If you could do
so, how would you plan your college career differently?
Sample excellent response:
I wouldn't change anything. All that
I have done was a great learning experience that I will carry forward
throughout the rest of my life.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
14. Are you more
energized by working with data or by collaborating with other individuals?
Sample excellent response:
I like the validity of information
and also like the energy that comes with working with people. The best thing
about working in a group is combining the great minds from different
perspectives and coming up with something extremely great, compared with when
you're working alone. At the same time, information can generate vitality in
the project you're working on. No matter how many heads you've got together,
without information, you can't go very far. The perfect situation would be a
combination of working with information and people, and I'm confident of my
abilities in both areas.
15. How would you
describe yourself in terms of your ability to work as a member of a team?
Sample excellent response:
I have had many opportunities in
both athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team player. My tenure
as a rower with my college's crew team serves as a good example. I learned a
great deal about teamwork while rowing because all the rowers in the boat must
act as one, which meant that we incessantly worked to keep each movement in the
boat synchronized. On an individual basis, we still worked toward group goals
through weightlifting and land-rowing. My experience as a marketing research
team leader also helped me to learn the role of "team player." I
viewed my position as that of group leader and of group member. I ensured that
everyone in the group had equal opportunity to contribute, maintained excellent
communication among group members, and coordinated their energies toward
reaching our team's goal.
16. What motivates you
to put forth you greatest effort?
Sample excellent response:
]You would think that because I am
interested in sales, only financial compensation would motivate me to achieve.
Although monetary rewards are important to me, I am driven to succeed
internally. More than anything, I want to be respected by my friends and
coworkers for being the best at what I do. Whether I am considered to be the
best car detailer in my hometown or the best columnist for my college
newspaper, I want to be recognized as the best.
17. Given the investment our company will make
in hiring and training you, can you give us a reason to hire you?
Sample excellent response:
I sincerely believe that I'm the
best person for the job. I realize that there are many other college students
who have the ability to do this job. I also have that ability. But I also bring
an additional quality that makes me the very best person for the job -- my
attitude for excellence. Not just giving lip service to excellence, but putting
every part of myself into achieving it. In college and at my previous jobs, I
have consistently reached for becoming the very best I can become. I think my
leadership awards from my college, and my management positions are the result
of possessing the qualities you're looking for in an employee.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
18. Would you describe yourself as
goal-driven?
Sample excellent response:
Yes, and I demonstrated my goal
orientation as president of the local Jaycees, a community service
organization. I am very proud of the fact that I set a goal of signing 50 new
members by the end of the year, and I accomplished that.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
19. Describe what you've
accomplished toward reaching a recent goal for yourself.
Sample excellent response:
My first few years in banking had me
on the fast track to branch management. I realized at some point along the way
that my true passion was in offering financial advice not limited to checking
accounts and loans. It was at that point that I made the necessary arrangements
to go back to school full-time to pursue my goal, which I am just about to
achieve.
20. What short-term goals and
objectives have you established for yourself?
Sample excellent response:
My short-term objectives are to
graduate from the Professional Development Program before the standard two
years and begin developing a clientele. As an intern, I prepared ahead of time
by studying for the Series 7 and Series 64 exams that constitute a majority of
a beginning financial consultant's time. I'd like to make make the company that
hires me wonder what it ever did without me.
21. Can you describe your long-range
goals and objectives?
Sample excellent response:
My primary objectives are to learn
as much as possible about your company's product offering, organizational
structure, and professional sales techniques so that I may become the most
productive member of your sales team.
22. What do you expect to be doing
in five years?
Sample excellent response:
Although it is hard to predict the
future, I sincerely believe that I will become a very good financial
consultant. I believe that my abilities will allow me to excel to the point
that I can seek other opportunities as a portfolio manager (the next step) and
possibly even higher. My ultimate goal continues to be -- and will always be --
to be the best at whatever level I am working at within Merrill Lynch's
corporate structure.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
23. What do you see yourself doing
in ten years?
Sample excellent response:
Ten years from now I see myself as a
successful consultant for a world-class firm like yours. I want to have
developed a wonderful bond with my employer I will have proven myself a highly
competent systems analyst and will represent my company in helping others find
solutions to their information-systems needs in a professional and timely
manner.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
24. How would you evaluate your
ability to deal with conflict?
Sample excellent response:
I believe I am quite good at
handling conflict. Working in retail and in the residence halls required that I
make many unpopular decisions at times, whether it was terminating an associate
or taking judicial action on a resident. Often the person in conflict with me
would be upset and sometimes physically outraged. I would always make sure that
I fully explained the situation, the policies behind my decision, and why those
policies exist. Usually by the end of the conversation, the person could see
the other side of the situation.
25. Have you ever had difficulty
with a supervisor or instructor? How did you resolve the conflict?
Sample excellent response:
Yes, I had an incident with my
Spanish professor. I turned in an essay that she said was too good to be mine.
I was honest with her; I told her that I had a native speaker review the essay,
but he made very few corrections. However, I had broken the Golden Rule of
Spanish Composition -- the essay must not even touch the hands of a native
speaker. To prove to her that I was capable of producing an essay that exceeded
her expectations of a non-native speaker, I offered to re-write another essay
in her office. I earned an A-minus.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
26. Tell me about a major problem
you recently handled. Were you successful in resolving it?
Sample excellent response:
While working at K-mart, I was one
of three people to work in the electronics department. One day upon arriving at
work, I was told the district manager was coming the next day to do a store
inspection. The two other people who worked in electronics were both over 55.
Neither could lift heavy objects, and one refused to work at all. As a result,
the electronics department was usually left to me to keep stocked with product
and kept in order. I had about five hours of work time to get the entire
department in order. Those five hours passed around, and there was still a
substantial amount of work to be done. I asked the store manager if I could
stay and work after hours while the overnight stockers were there. He said that
because of the employment budget, he could not let me. I was faced with
bringing the entire store's rating down, so I suggested a creative staffing
solution, allowing me to work the extra hours while temporarily reducing the
hours of the other two members of the department. Because of this solution, in
a matter of hours, the department was in tip-top shape -- and still under
budget. And the results? The electronics department got a score of 95 out of
100.
27. Would you say that you can
easily deal with high-pressure situations?
Sample excellent response:
Yes. My past experience as an
Administrative Coordinator required me to deal with many serious situations
since I held emergency on-call duties as a supervisor. One example was when I
was called by a Resident Assistant to deal with an attempted suicide on her
residence hall floor. The situation required that I think clearly and quickly
in this life-and-death situation. I had to weigh the many tasks that needed to
be completed. I had to assign RAs to call 911, make sure that EMS could get
into the locked building, while at the same time applying first aid, and
ensuring that the rest of the residents on the floor were OK. I also had to
make sure the privacy of the resident in need was respected. I basically
prioritized and dealt with each task by its importance. I delegated
responsibility to RAs for things that they were capable of handling because I
could not physically be in many places at once. Once the resident was taken to
the hospital, I was responsible for paperwork and follow up to make sure the
staff members, residents, and the resident-in-need adjusted back to
"normal" life. I know this is an extreme example not found in the
financial consulting field; however, it shows just how well I can deal with
extreme pressure.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
28. What quality or attribute do you
feel will most contribute to your career success?
Sample excellent response:
My greatest strength is my
flexibility. I have learned that work conditions change from day to day and
throughout the day, as well, no matter where I have worked in the past. I also
have realized that certain projects require individual attention and others
involve a teamwork approach. These are just a few examples of the changes that
happen in the financial consulting field, as you are well aware. My flexibility
to adapt to the different demands of the job has allowed me to surpass my
supervisor's expectations.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
29. What personal weakness has
caused you the greatest difficulty in school or on the job?
Sample excellent response (shows how
he recognized his weakness and worked to improve):
My greatest weakness had been
delegation. I would take it upon myself to do many small projects throughout my
shift as a manager that could have been done by others in an attempt to improve
my workers' efficiency. Once I realized that I was doing more work than the
other assistant managers, and they were achieving better results, I reevaluated
what I was doing. I quickly realized that if I assigned each person just one
small project at the beginning of their shift, clearly state expectations for
the project, and then follow up that everything would get done, and I could
manage much more efficiently and actually accomplish much more.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
30. What were your reasons for
selecting your college or university?
Sample excellent response (tells how
education specifically will benefit the employer):
My college has always had a
reputation as having an excellent accounting department, so I knew that if I
enrolled there, I would achieve first-class preparation for my chosen career
field. It is also a highly accredited school known for satisfying employers
with the preparation of its graduates -- that's why companies like yours
recruit at my school -- the school produces top graduates. The school offers an
excellent liberal-arts background, which research shows equips graduates with
numerous qualities, such as versatility and strong critical-thinking skills.
Finally, having visited the campus before enrolling, I knew that the business
school emphasized group projects. During my four years in the school, I
participated in more than 35 group projects, which taught me invaluable
teamwork, communication, and interpersonal skills.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
31. If you could change or improve
anything about your college, what would it be?
Sample excellent response:
My major department had a wonderful
internship program, and I was able to complete three valuable internships with
my department's guidance. Some other departments in the business school don't
have internship programs that are as strong as my department's. I'd like to see
all the departments have strong internship programs so all my school's business
grads would have the same opportunities that I had.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
32. How will the academic program
and coursework you've taken benefit your career?
Sample excellent response (response
is very specific to the job he is interviewing for):
As you will note on my resume, I've
taken not only the required core classes for the finance field, I've also gone
above and beyond by double majoring in accounting. I doubled majored since I
knew that the financial consulting field requires much knowledge of portfolio
analysis and understanding of the tax laws. I believe that my success in both
areas of study have specifically prepared me for this area. But it's not just
taking the classes in these two areas that allows me to offer Merrill Lynch
clients more. I minored in Spanish to understand the growing hispanic clientele
in the Central Florida area, which as you are well aware is a growing source of
revenue for the industry. If you like, I can elaborate on other aspects of my
education further.
33. Which college classes or
subjects did you like best? Why?
Sample excellent response:
My favorite classes have been the
ones pertaining to my major, which is marketing. These classes have laid the
groundwork for my career in marketing. They have also taught me skills that I
can bring to my employer, ranging from communication skills to interacting with
others.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
34. Are you the type of student for
whom conducting independent research has been a positive experience?
Sample excellent response:
Yes, I love it. I thoroughly enjoyed
my senior research in college while many others in my class were miserable. I
was never tired of learning more about my topic and found it exhilarating to be
researching something that had not been studied before.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
35. Describe the type of professor
that has created the most beneficial learning experience for you.
Sample excellent response:
My favorite professors were the ones
who gave me hands-on learning experiences that I can apply to my career. Any
person can make you memorize the quadratic equation, but someone who can show
you how to use it, and why, were the professors I liked. I liked teachers who
realized that sometimes there is more then one answer and everyone thinks
differently.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
36. Do you think that your grades
are a indication of your academic achievement?
Sample excellent response:
I have focused much of my energy on
work and obtaining real-world experience. I commend my classmates who have
earned high GPAs, but I also feel it's important to be well-rounded. In
addition to work experience, I participated in sports and extracurricular
activities in school. These activities taught me leadership, communication, and
teamwork skills. Sometimes my heavy load has not allowed me to keep up with
some of my studies, but I have learned an enormous amount that I can apply in
my future industry. As you will discover if you talk to my supervisors, my
ability to work effectively is much more reflective of my future potential than
is my GPA.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
37. What plans do you have for
continued study? An advanced degree?
Sample excellent response:
I plan to continue my education for
the rest of my life. In any technology-related field, keeping up to date
through continuing education is of the utmost importance. Continuing education
can include on-the-job training, courses sponsored by the employer, and courses
taken in new technologies as they emerge. I plan to be not only a career
employee but a career student so that I can be the best information systems
analyst I can be. I will ensure, however, that any education I pursue not only
doesn't interfere with my job or the company's policies, but will enhance my
value as an employee.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
38. Before you can make a productive
contribution to the company, what degree of training do you feel you will
require?
Sample excellent response:
My background has been focused on
preparing me for the financial consulting industry, so I can be productive
right away. I already have obtained the educational credentials and skills to
allow me to become an immediate asset to Merrill Lynch. After interning for a
semester, I am well aware of the shared beliefs of the organization and its
corporate values. I already have a very good working knowledge of the financial
consulting business. I am confident of my ability to get up to speed quickly in
any assignment with which I'm not familiar.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
39. Describe the characteristics of
a successful manager.
Sample excellent response:
A successful manager should have the
vision and capabilities to formulate strategies to reach his or her objectives
and communicate these ideas to his or her team members. In addition to serving
as a positive role model for co-workers, successful managers must also be
capable of inspiring others to recognize, develop, and apply their talents to
their utmost potential to reach a common goal. These are the traits I hope to
demonstrate when I'm a manager.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
40. Why did you decide to seek a
position in this field?
Sample excellent response:
I want to work in the marketing and
PR industry because ever since I took my first marketing course in college, I
have felt very passionate toward the industry and cannot imagine myself doing
anything else.
41. Tell me what you know about our
company.
Sample excellent response:
You're large and respected
worldwide. You're both a clinical and teaching hospital. Over the last 60 to 70
years you've produced award-winning research. In reviewing your Web site, I've
familiarized myself with many of your corporate goals and objectives.
[Submitted by "Judy"]
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
42. Why did you decide to seek a
position in this company?
Sample excellent response:
I am convinced that there would be
no better place to work than Accenture. You are the top consulting firm in the
United States. You provide your employees with the tools they need to stay
competitive and sharpen their skills while working in an open, team-based
environment. I am also aware that you provide a mentor for all new employees,
and I would embrace any opportunity to work with a mentor and eventually become
one myself.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
43. Do you have a geographic
preference?
Sample excellent response:
Although I would prefer to stay in
the Mid-Atlantic area, I would not rule out other possibilities.
44. Why do you think you might like
to live in the community in which our company is located?
Sample excellent response:
Just a few weeks ago, I had the
opportunity to spend several days in your community, and I fell in love with
it. I love the fact that you have a thriving riverfront. I'm impressed with the
many cultural opportunities here -- opera, theater, art, and independent films.
I've also already become a fan of the Saints and the other sports teams based
here. I have conducted significant Internet research on this city, so I am
quite comfortable with your location.
45. Would it be a problem for you to
relocate?
Sample excellent response:
I'm open to opportunities within the
company; if those opportunities involve relocation, I would certainly consider
it.
46. To what extent would you be
willing to travel for the job?
Sample excellent response:
I am more than willing to travel. I
understand the importance of going above and beyond the call of duty to satisfy
customer requests is sometimes required and that Merrill Lynch's customer focus
belief means that travel is expected in some circumstances. I am willing to
make this commitment to do whatever it takes to develop that long-term
relationship with a small business or client. It is only through this
relationship that loyalty can be maintained and financial gains and growth can
occur for both the client and Merrill Lynch. It is my understanding from other
financial consultants that I have interviewed at Merrill Lynch that this occurs
maybe one or two times a month.
47. Which is more important to you,
the job itself or your salary?
Sample excellent response:
A salary commensurate with my
experience and skills is important, but it's only one piece of the package.
Many other elements go into making up a compensation package, but more
importantly, it's critical to me to enjoy what I'm doing, fit into the
corporate culture, and feel I'm making a genuine contribution.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
48. What level of compensation would
it take to make you happy?
Sample excellent response:
I am not depending on money to make
me happy. What makes me happy is having a satisfying job that provides
challenge and new situations daily.
49. Tell me about the salary range
you're seeking.
Sample excellent response:
I am sure that I am the candidate
you are looking for. If you feel the same, the I'm sure your offer will be fair
and commensurate with the value I can bring the company.
See also this page of our Job
Interviewing Tutorial.
50. Describe a situation in which
you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things
your way?
Sample excellent response:
Recently my company asked for bids
on a phone system for our new college campus. Two companies came in very close
with their bids, and most of my department wanted to go with a vendor that we
have used in the past. After I looked over the proposals, it was clear that
this was the wrong decision. So, I talked individually with each member of our
staff and was able to change their minds and get the best product that would
save money and provide the highest quality.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
51. Describe an instance when you
had to think on your feet to extricate yourself from a difficult situation.
Sample excellent response:
When I was a resident assistant at
my college, a student I did not know asked me if he could use my phone to call
another room. Although I did not know the student, I allowed him into my room.
He used the phone and in the course of his conversation, he stated that he had
just come from a fraternity party and was high from taking some drugs. Well
after his conversation, I had to enforce the student conduct code by writing
him up. He became very hostile towards me and would not give me any
identification or information. I stood in the doorway to prevent him from
leaving. I noted the serial numbers on his keys, so when the situation got to
the point where I felt unsafe, I allowed the him to leave. I still preformed my
job without jeopardizing my or his physical welfare.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
52. Give me a specific example of a
time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
Sample excellent response:
I had a client come into the bank
where I worked and request a $5,000 personal loan to "pay off some
bills." In the customary review process, I determined that what was really
needed was a $25,000 debt-consolidation loan. Rather than giving the customer a
"quick-fix" to the problem, I logically solved the problem in a way
that was in the best interest of both the bank and the client.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
53. By providing examples, convince
me that you can adapt to a wide variety of people, situations and environments.
Sample excellent response:
I've shown my ability to adapt by
successfully working in several very different jobs. For example, I lived with
a native family in Costa Rica. I worked as a nanny for a famous writer in Cape
Cod. I was responsible for dealing with Drug Court participants. And I catered
to elite country-club clientele. I did it all well and had no trouble adapting.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
54. Describe a time when you were
faced with problems or stresses that tested your coping skills.
Sample excellent response:
Arriving at the language school I
was attending in Costa Rica in the middle of the night with very minimal
Spanish-language skills, I found my way to a very small town with no street
addresses or names and found my temporary residence. I was scared, but I
handled the situation very well, very calmly. In very stressful situations, I
am always the one in the group to stay calm and focused. My friends, family,
and professors have always said that I am an oasis of calm in a storm.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
55. Give an example of a time in
which you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision.
Sample excellent response:
This happens often in the IT
industry, but one recent example was when we had a core backbone switch die. It
died at the worst possible time -- during exams -- as they always seem to do,
and I needed to get it back up and running quickly. I analyzed the logs and
system status, and using my previous experience,I made some quick decisions
that rectified problem and got the equipment back up only minutes later.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
56. Describe a time when you had to
use your written communication skills to get an important point across.
Sample excellent response:
As an Administrative Coordinator, I
had a staff of 27 students. Having such a large student staff all working
different shifts and having varying class schedules meant that meetings could
not be held with everyone at one time. I needed to communicate with everyone
about important policies and information often, so I came up with the idea of
designing a Web page for my staff with written announcements. Each Desk
Assistant was required to check the Web page daily at the beginning of his/her
shift. I also sent email communications by a distribution list that allowed
each Desk Assistant to keep informed about anything. The one situation that
stands out in my mind is a last-minute summer camp that decided to come in a
day early with only one day's notice. I had no staff scheduled to check in the
camps or to organize the keys. I posted an update to the Web page and sent an
email. Within four hours, I had the following day completely staffed and desk
assistants there to organize room keys for the campers that night.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
57. Give me a specific occasion in
which you conformed to a policy with which you did not agree.
Sample excellent response:
When I worked at Home Depot as an assistant
manager, I was always looking for way to boost my employees' morale. Unloading
trucks is a very routine and physical job and can become very boring and
exhausting, so to improve the unloaders' attitude toward their duties and make
the best of the situation, I put a radio in the receiving dock. It worked;
however, the district manager did not approve of the radio in the workplace
even though it did not interfere with any set policy of company objectives. The
radio was also out of any areas where customers would hear the music. I did not
agree with my DMs decision to remove the radio; however, I understood his point
of view once he explained it to me and promptly complied to his request. The
employees were not happy that their radio was gone, so I found an alternative
method of reward and morale boosting by implementing a program in which we
provided lunch for the unloaders from any restaurant of their choice if they
unloaded the trucks faster than normal. This program succeeded by increasing
their unloading time from 2 1/2 hours to only 1 1/2, a savings in payroll of 8
percent of sales for that shift.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
58. Give me an example of an
important goal which you had set in the past and tell me about your success in
reaching it.
Sample excellent response:
As a senior in high school, my goal
was to attend college and play college golf. But I was nowhere near the player
I needed to be to play or even get on the team. So over that summer I worked on
my golf game to the point where I won almost every tournament I entered. I
spent every hour I had during the day to make myself a better all-around
player. I eventually walked on my freshmen year and was exempted from qualifying
because I played so well in my first outing.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
59. Describe the most significant or
creative presentation that you have had to complete.
Sample excellent response:
The most significant presentation I
have ever had to present was at a national research symposium. I was presenting
research I had completed on digital analysis of mammograms and had to present
to a panel of more than 100 judges who were at the top of their field. I
focused on the research, which could sell itself, and just let the information
flow. It went over very well, and I received many more invitations to present
the research, including on national television.
Also, remember the S-A-R (situation-action-result)
technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
60. Tell me about a time when you
had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.
Sample excellent response:
Although I had already punched out,
I stayed behind to help a colleague solve a problem. A customer was very angry
as he had waited very long for his coffee. My colleague was new, she was quite
slow. I came out and explained things to the customer. Although he was very
angry at first, I just listened to him and told him that we try to bring our
best out to each customer who walks in to our store. After a one-hour
discussion, he left with a happy face and was satisfied.
[Submitted by "Fizah."]
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
61. Give me an example of a time
when you were able to successfully communicate with another person even when
that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa).
Sample excellent response:
During my time in the theater, I had
one director with whom I absolutely did not work well. However, because of my
track record, she would assign me as stage director and/or assistant director.
I was usually involved in the day-to-day operations of the play and the details
of how the play would be performed. I handled the operation for the play by
directing scenes the best way I could and then showing them to her for
approval. If she did not like the way a scene worked, I gave her my opinion as
to why it should be my way. If we still could not compromise, I would follow
her directions to the best of my ability. Understanding that people don't
usually have malicious intentions is key, and understanding that you will never
be able to convince some people that your way is right is the best way to avoid
conflict and still get the job done.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
62. Sometimes it's easy to get in
"over your head." Describe a situation where you had to request help
or assistance on a project or assignment.
Sample excellent response:
It's impossible to know everything
in the IT field because of rapidly changing technology, so recently when we
were having troubles with our circuit emulation over our ATM network, I had to
call in some engineers from North Carolina to come help me out. The nice thing
about asking for help is that when you get the assistance, you can learn from
what you are told and apply it to future situations.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
63. Give an example of how you
applied knowledge from previous coursework to a project in another class.
Sample excellent response:
Last semester I was taking a
microeconomics and a statistics course. One of the microeconomics projects
dealt with showing the relationship between the probability that customers
would stop buying a product if the price was raised a certain amount. Through
what I learned in statistics I could find the median where the price was the
highest and still kept most of the customers happy.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
64. Describe a situation where
others you were working with on a project disagreed with your ideas. What did
you do?
Sample excellent response:
I was on a project team in a
business class in my freshman year in college, The group brainstormed ideas for
the video we were assigned to produce, and everyone but me was leaning toward
an idea that would be easy. I suggested instead an idea that would be more
difficult but would be something different that no other group would be doing.
I used my communications skills to persuade the rest of the group to use my
idea. During the project, we really learned what teamwork was all about, became
a close team, and ended up putting a lot of hard work into the project. All the
team members ended up feeling very proud of the video, and they thanked me for
the idea -- for which we earned an A.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
65. Describe a situation in which
you found that your results were not up to your professor's or supervisor's
expectations. What happened? What action did you take?
Sample excellent response:
Recently I was asked to put together
a proposal for a migration of network systems. Misunderstanding my boss, I
thought it was just an informal paper. When I presented it to him days later,
he was upset with the quality since it had to be presented to our VP. I
explained my misunderstanding, apologized, reworked the paper, and had it back
to him with enough time for him to review it before he presented it
successfully at the meeting.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
66. Tell of a time when you worked
with a colleague who was not completing his or her share of the work. Who, if
anyone, did you tell or talk to about it? Did the manager take any steps to
correct your colleague? Did you agree or disagree with the manager's actions?
Sample excellent response:
During a group project in college,
we had one member who would do no work whatsoever. The project was to compare
and contrast four companies in a single industry, so his work was vital. We
first discussed the situation and asked for the bare-bones minimum of what we
needed from him. We got just below that. As a result we as a group went to the
professor and told her our situation -- not expecting or requesting action --
just informing her the situation we were dealing with. Then we as a group split
up the non-contributor's work, and completed our work collectively on his
share. In phase two in which we analyzed the information and reported how each
of our companies fared compared to the others, we did not get a paper from the
group member. As a result, we told the teacher that we had our work done, and
were willing to do the extra paper but that we would rather spend time
polishing our own work, and not picking up slack. She agreed and said to focus on
the three companies we had compiled the most info on while not entirely
neglecting the fourth. The papers came out very well, but were understandably
weak when comparing the fourth company. The professor understood, and we
received the grades we deserved. I was pleased with our teamwork and the way we
handled the situation.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
67. Describe a situation in which
you had to arrive at a compromise or guide others to a compromise.
Sample excellent response:
My first semester in college, I was
a political-science major. My introductory government class professor had a
differing political view then I. We disagreed on everything, and many classes
were filled with criticizing each others' view. However, on one test I answered
a question with the view I believe in, and she marked it wrong. So I asked her
how an opinion can be wrong, and she said because her opinion is the way she
taught it in class. I pointed out that my answer showed I understood the
concepts of the question. She agreed, and I also agreed not be so combative in
answers on tests. Compromise is the key to problem resolution.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
68. What steps do you follow to
study a problem before making a decision.
Sample excellent response:
Following standard models for
problem-solving and decision-making can be very helpful. Here are the steps and
how they helped me solve a problem with a group project:
Define the problem to be solved and
decision to be made. For a project in an introductory management class the
assignment was to report on the corporate structure and financial situation of
a couple of companies. The decision to be made was what companies to profile
and how to present the information.
Gather the necessary information.
Some group members wanted to report on automakers, while others wanted to do
electronics firms. We gathered information on both types of company.
List all possible choices. We made
lists of companies in both categories.
Consider possible outcomes for each
choice. We decided that a report about car companies could have a positive
outcome, but one about electronics firms might be more futuristic with high-tech
products such as HDTV, video game consoles, and DVD players.
Check out how you feel about each of
the choices. Given that this was a group project, we had to consider the
feelings of all group members.
Relate the choices to your values
and priorities. Again, all group members weighed in on their values and
priorities.
From the possible alternatives,
choose one. We decided that we'd do electronics companies because we could
bring in products from each company and show what lies ahead.
Commit yourself to your chosen
decision and disregard the others. Concentrate your energies in one direction.
Once we made our decision, we focused all our work on electronics forms.
Take steps to turn your decision
into positive action. All group members got interested in how the companies
were doing.
Evaluate your progress from time to
time. Change your decision if necessary. We were pleased with our progress and
didn't feel a need to change our decision. We got an A on the project.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
69. We can sometimes identify a
small problem and fix it before it becomes a major problem. Give an example(s)
of how you have done this.
Sample excellent response:
When I worked in a large retail
store, the standard procedure was to leave a product on the shelf until it ran
out, then place more items out. This practice obviously wasted a lot of
man-hours. Of interest particularly to me were the air conditioners. Not only
did I have to put the heavy thing on the shelves, but they were selling at a
very high rate. So if somehow AC units ran out on a day in which I could not
restock them, they would not be available to customers. As a result I started
making a list of products (including the AC units) that the overnight stock
people could put on the shelves. As a result, the people on duty always had a
job to do, so labor hours were not wasted, and the shelves were always stocked
full of product.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
70. In a supervisory or group leader
role, have you ever had to discipline or counsel an employee or group member?
What was the nature of the discipline? What steps did you take? How did that
make you feel? How did you prepare yourself?
Sample excellent response:
As president of a community-service
organization, I was faced with a board member not carrying out his duties as
management development vice president. I consulted with him as to what we could
do together to fix the problem. We agreed that he really couldn't devote the
time that it took to carry out certain projects, and he ended up resigning his
position, but he also stated he would help his replacement in whatever capacity
he could. It made me feel as though we had come to the conclusion together,
rather than him thinking I was criticizing his performance, which was not the
case. I had a plan of action and carried it out successfully.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
71. Recall a time from your work
experience when your manager or supervisor was unavailable and a problem arose.
What was the nature of the problem? How did you handle that situation? How did
that make you feel?
Sample excellent response:
My supervisor was absent once when I
was in charge of a soccer game. An actual assault took place at the game. A
player hit the referee. With no supervisor to turn to, I immediately called the
police, who quickly restored order to the situation. I felt I made an effective
decision.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
72. Recall a time when you were
assigned what you considered to be a complex project. Specifically, what steps
did you take to prepare for and finish the project? Were you happy with the
outcome? What one step would you have done differently if given the chance?
Sample excellent response:
I had to give a marketing
presentation while attending community college. The project was about
Anheuser-Busch. We were assigned to report on key management personnel (CEO,
Chairman of the Board, President, key VPs), divisions and subsidiaries, major
products/brands/services, key financials for the most recent year (sales
revenue, expenses, total income, net income, sales growth or loss for the last
year), market share, key competitors, mission statement, product positioning,
and number of employees. Among the steps I took were visiting the company's
Miami branch to interview employees and gather visual aids for the project. I
spent a lot of time organizing and writing the presentation. Then I spent time
reviewing my speech over a period of several days. As a result I was calm while
giving the presentation and received an "A" for the project. The one
additional step I perhaps wish I'd taken would have been to talk to some
consumers and store owners about the product.
73. What was the most complex
assignment you have had? What was your role?
Sample excellent response:
My senior research was my most
complex assignment. It took two semesters to complete and was made up of many
components. I had to make many critical decisions along the way that would
affect the outcome of my research. I made these decisions independently with
minimal influence from my professor. I was very successful and happy with my
final product.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
74. How was your transition from
high school to college? Did you face any particular problems?
Sample excellent response:
The transition was somewhat
challenging for me because I traveled a great distance to attend college. To
help myself adapt, I got involved with as many organizations as I could. I also
made it a point to get to know my professors. I used my interpersonal and
communication skills to the best of my ability to make a lot of friends, and
college became one of the best experiences of my life despite a beginning that
seemed a bit overwhelming.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
75. Tell of some situations in which
you have had to adjust quickly to changes over which you had no control. What
was the impact of the change on you?
Sample excellent response:
The bank in which I worked
instituted a policy that centralized the lending process. An application was to
be taken from the client and sent off to be approved/declined, processed,
prepared, and returned to the branch to be signed by the client. While the
process was streamlined, it also took away valuable face-to-face knowledge
about the client and the loan. If the employee did not have any prior lending
experience, he or she couldn't answer simple loan questions from the client.
While I appreciated the newly created time on my schedule, I felt that the
clients were being slighted. I did adjust quickly to the new procedure and did
my best to help those around me by sharing my knowledge.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
76. Compare and contrast the times
when you did work which was above the standard with times your work was below
the standard.
Sample excellent response:
I was involved in two group projects
in a psychology class. In the first, we had to decide on a research experiment
to conduct and garner results from it. The group I was in was not very
motivated, and the members wanted to do a simplistic comparison on color
preferences of men and women. I felt that project was below the standard I was
capable of. For the second project, I proposed a study in which we compared how
people of different age ranges valued money. I knew the project would go over
well with the teacher and would not be difficult to conduct. I proposed the
idea in a way that sounded fun. Instead of collecting data in someplace boring,
I suggested we could go to the mall. The group agreed and worked relatively
well on the project. Discussion is the key to mediation, and the key to my
achieving a second project that I felt was above the standard.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
77. Describe some times when you
were not very satisfied or pleased with your performance. What did you do about
it?
Sample excellent response:
I failed my first business calculus
test, which made me very unhappy. I wasn't going to let this incident set the
trend for the rest of the semester. I went to my counselor and arranged to meet
with a tutor once a week. My tutor helped me out incredibly. My grades soon
improved, and I went on to redeem myself from my one slip-up on the first test.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
78. What are your standards of
success in school? What have you done to meet these standards?
Sample excellent response:
I don't believe in trying to get by
with the least possible effort, and I am always willing to ask questions to
learn how to perform an assignment successfully. In my human-resources
management class, for example, we were assigned a paper on "Why corporate
culture is a practical way to increase income and productivity." All of
the literature on the subject was written in the language of PhDs. I asked some
other students what they were doing, and they said just writing their opinions
and not doing any research to back up the claims. I felt I could do better. So
I worked closely with my professor, who "translated" the academic literature
for me, and over time I understood what was being written. Working with the
professor's guidance, I turned in a very good paper. Asking questions is one
thing I am not afraid to do and realize that without them I will be turning in
work that is not as beneficial as it could be.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
79. How have you differed from your
professors in evaluating your performance? How did you handle the situation?
Sample excellent response:
After I wrote a paper for an English
class, my professor told me that I was not doing the paper in the proper format
or with the proper content. I went to him and asked if he would help me learn
the correct way so that I could succeed with the paper. He did help me, and I
ended up doing well in the course.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
80. Give examples of your
experiences at school or in a job that were satisfying. Give examples of your
experiences that were dissatisfying.
Sample excellent response:
I turned a dissatisfying experience
into a satisfying one when I was on the cross-country team in college and had
never run the whole race in under 30 minutes. With only a month left in the
season, I decided that I would run the race in 25 minutes. I ran every day to
build up my stamina, and in that last race I achieved my goal time of 25
minutes, which was a very satisfying experience.
81. What kind of supervisor do you
work best for? Provide examples.
Sample excellent response:
I like to work for a supervisor who
allows me the autonomy to perform my job to the best of my abilities. I also
like constructive criticism and feedback so I can improve myself and the
organization. One example was my boss at a university. He hired me as an
administrative coordinator because of my administrative and organizational
skills. He knew that I had many new ideas and allowed me the opportunity to
implement many new programs. Of course, I kept him constantly informed and
sought advice when needed. I improved communications in the department by
implementing a departmental Web page. I also streamlined the check-in process
by preparing the amount of work that could be done the day before. I improved
staff morale by implementing a desk-assistant-of-the-month, which led to lower
turnover. These are just a few examples. I was given the Recognizing
Outstanding Student Employees Award for my efforts and unique ideas. I gained
not only my boss's confidence and support but his respect as well.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
82. Describe some projects or ideas
(not necessarily your own) that were implemented, or carried out successfully
primarily because of your efforts.
Sample excellent response:
I had been recently given the duty
of being the head swim team coach for the YMCA I was employed with. A swim meet
was just around the corner, but only five swimmers had enrolled for the
program, none of whom had ever been a part of an organized team. Funding would
be cut for the team if more interest could not be generated. So I decided that
I would take action and actively recruit people to join. Not only did I have to
run the practices and correct any technical mistakes the swimmers were making,
but I had to contact other local swim teams to invite then to join the meet. I
had to meet with the parents and the children separately and organize a way to
help pay for t-shirts, swimsuits, goggles, and swim caps. By the third week of
the program, I had gained 15 more swimmers and every single one had beat his or
her own time in practice. When the meet came, I organized the events, ordered
ribbons, and recruited volunteers. At the end of the meet, my team had come in
first place among four other teams. The parents were delighted, and the profits
from the swim team had skyrocketed to the approval of the board of directors.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
83. Describe a situation that
required a number of things to be done at the same time. How did you handle it?
What was the result?
Sample excellent response:
In my current job, I have to handle
multiple responsibilities in developing new projects, maintaining existing
ones, and maintaining good client relations. I allocate a certain amount of
time for each area daily. That way clients can see very clearly that projects
are progressing, and I have more satisfaction in accomplishing multiple tasks
under pressure.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
84. Have you found any ways to make
school or a job easier or more rewarding or to make yourself more effective?
Sample excellent response:
I find that taking a proactive
mindset to recognizing and solving problems before they happen make any job
more rewarding. It not only saves time and effort but gives me a sense of
accomplishment and ownership in my job. I demonstrated my proactiveness when I
worked with Food Lion. As a bookkeeper, I was responsible for the offices. The
safe was kept outside of the office in front of the cash registers, where
anyone could get inside of it if I or another office associate had it open to
drop a deposit or get money in and out. I realized that the situation was a
security hazard. Although we could not move the safe to the inside of the
office where it was more secure, I ordered a timelock compartment and had it
installed, and the safe could be opened only at a specific time when the store
closed each day. Only money could be dropped through a slot in the compartment
door. We kept large sums of money in that compartment. We kept operating cash
on hand since we needed some excess money to perform daily functions. One month
after I left that store to attend college, I learned that it was robbed.
Because of my efforts and foresight, the robbers only got a small amount of
cash. My previous supervisor thanked me for my efforts, which gave me a great
feeling, and I carried this proactive mindset to my other jobs thereafter.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
85. How do you determine priorities
in scheduling your time? Give examples.
Sample excellent response:
I took a time-management course in
which I learned to prioritize all tasks on A, B, or C lists. I always try to
tackle the A list first. In every working situation, co-workers have always
complimented me on how well I manage my time. I enjoy the social atmosphere of
the office, but I make it a point not to waste much time on chitchat with
colleagues. I've also learned that the average office worker spends about an
hour a day handling e-mail. I make it a point not to deal with my e-mail more
than once or twice a day, and I filter my messages into folders so I can
prioritize the way I deal with them.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
86. Tell of a time when your active
listening skills really paid off for you -- maybe a time when other people
missed the key idea being expressed.
Sample excellent response:
When I presented my senior research
in college, I was questioned by the members of my major department as a
"panel." My grade was determined largely on my ability to answer the
questions effectively and smoothly, which depended very much on my ability to
listen carefully to what was being asked. I had seen other students slip up
when they misunderstood what the panel was asking because they didn't listen
well enough. I succeeded in listening well and did well on my presentation.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
87. What has been your experience in
giving presentations? What has been your most successful experience in speech
making?
Sample excellent response:
I have grown to be a confident
presenter. My most successful presentation took place at my university when I
was responsible for presenting a leadership-development program for a class of
Resident Assistants. The point of my program was to teach each RA his/her
leadership style, so he/she knew how to interact on his/her floor as a student
leader. The most significant aspect of this program is that it taught them
about their leadership styles without their knowing it. Each student filled out
a general questionnaire that asked about preferences. Each person according to
his/her responses were assigned to a group with a general name. I then gave
each group a book to read. Each group had to read it aloud. After each group
read each book, I then explained how each group tackled the task. They all had
handled the task differently. Each student successfully understood how they
approached tasks and from that how they would approach their job as a RA. Not
only did I engage the audience in what was being presented, I have since seen
the program adapted in other presentations by RAs in that class. Not only did
they enjoy it, they learned something about themselves that would help them
help their residents.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
88. Tell of the most difficult
customer service experience that you have ever had to handle -- perhaps an
angry or irate customer. Be specific and tell what you did and what was the
outcome.
Sample excellent response:
I was making business phone calls
behind the membership office at the YMCA when an angry man came up to the
counter demanding a refund. He began yelling at the membership workers and
complaining about the swimming program, saying that it was a rip-off. The other
workers were flustered, and even though membership services were not my
department, I calmly asked the man what was wrong. He that his son had been in
swimming lessons for four weeks and was still afraid of the water. Instead of
instantly giving him the refund, I offered to personally give his son private
swim lessons for a week, explaining to him that sometimes children react
differently to each instructor's teaching techniques. He finally agreed to
accept without the refund. After a week of private lessons, his son was no
longer afraid of the water and he could swim nearly a lap of the pool. At the
end of the lessons, not only did he sign his child up for another paid session
of private lessons, but he bought a family membership and apologized to me for his
behavior the week before.
89. Give an example of when you had
to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. Why was this person
difficult? How did you handle that person?
Sample excellent response:
As a Resident Advisor, I had another
RA who often sought me as a person to confide her complaints to and shared
quite a bit of information about activities she'd engaged in that violated the
rules. Although I did not mind being a resource for this person, I knew that I
could not compromise my integrity or her residents' safety. Although she became
very outraged and angry with me, I talked to her about the situation and and
told her that I would have to tell my supervisor. She eventually understood my
responsibility and why I had to come forward with information. She knew that
what she had done was against the rules, but never realized before I talked to
her that she had jeopardized her residents' safety.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
90. Describe a situation where you
found yourself dealing with someone who didn't like you. How did you handle it?
Sample excellent response:
When I first began working at the
YMCA, I was the youngest member of the staff. An older woman really "knew
the ropes" of the place. When I first got there she barely acknowledged my
presence, and through word of mouth I discovered that she thought that I was
too young to successfully fulfill my duties because I was so inexperienced. She
assumed I was immature. I did my job and took every opportunity to make a good
impression. I was a very diligent worker and behaved in a highly professional
manner at all times, learning quickly the best way to do things. After about
two weeks of the silent treatment from her, she came up to me and told me how
impressed she was with me. She told me that I had done an excellent job and was
the fastest learner that she had ever seen. She apologized to me for ignoring
me and took me under her wing and shared what she knew with me.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
91. Give me a specific example of
something you did that helped build enthusiasm in others.
Sample excellent response:
When I was coaching my swim team at
their first swim meet, the swimmers on my team were intimidated by the other
team because they were bigger and obviously more experienced. The other team
members looked like pros in their matching swimsuits, unlike my swimmers'
mismatched suits. I encouraged them and told them that they had practiced for
so long and so hard that they deserved just as much respect as those other
teams. I told them that it didn't matter whether we had matching swimsuits or
not and that I would stand behind them 100 percent no matter what. They were so
excited and pumped after my speech. They cheered each other on, and not only
did every child break his or her own record, but my team won first place in the
meet among four other teams that had been together for a much longer time.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
92. Tell me about a difficult
situation when it was desirable for you to keep a positive attitude. What did
you do?
Sample excellent response:
While directing a play, I was faced
with numerous problems. The sets were not coming together; the performers were
fighting and not working hard; the technical aspects of the play were far from
complete, and in general it was a mess. I was the "stage manager,"
which means that I tell people when to go on stage and tell the crew when to
bring pieces of the set on stage. So I organized everything and told people to
do specific jobs and asked them in a firm yet positive manner. People began to
have fun, and the production went on extremely well (all performances sold
out). The play was regarded as one of the smoothest shows to have been produced
by the group.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
93. Give me an example of a time you
had to make an important decision. How did you make the decision? How does it
affect you today?
Sample excellent response:
My sophomore year was about to begin
and I had to decide on a major. I could not waste any more credits figuring out
what I was interested in. I took some personality and career assessments to get
a better handle on my interests, skills, and values. I talked to faculty in
several departments to decide which faculty members I was most comfortable
with. I studied the course offerings to see which courses appealed to me the
most. I decided on communications studies and feel it is the best decision I
ever could have made.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
94. Give me an example of a time you
had to persuade other people to take action. Were you successful?
Sample excellent response:
I was the leader of my
macroeconomics group in college. As leader, I had to delegate parts of the
assignment to other group members. Not only did I do a written part for each
paper, but I gathered all of the props we needed for our oral presentation, and
I typed all of the five papers assigned. I was also taking four other classes
at the time. By the fourth paper, I decided to persuade some of the other group
members to edit and finalize it. I learned a lot about delegation and
leadership when I discovered that they were happy to help out.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
95. Tell me about a time when you
had to deal with a difficult person. How did you handle the situation?
Sample excellent response:
I have participated in several
groups throughout my academic career. Recently, I had to work with a group in
my statistics class and I had some personality clashes with one of the group
members. However, I realized the importance of completing the assignment in a
prompt and efficient manner. I made it a point to put my differences aside and
complete my part, along with offering assistance to the other group members. As
a result, we finished our assignment without any conflict.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
96. Tell me about a time you had to
handle multiple responsibilities. How did you organize the work you needed to
do?
Sample excellent response:
While attending college, I also
worked at a law firm. I was successful because I practiced good time-management
skills and I made a to-do list every day. As I completed each task, I checked
it off the list. It is funny how something so simple can keep you so organized.
As a result of my to-do lists, I was able to visualize my daily progress.
97. Tell me about a time when you
had to make a decision, but didn't have all the information you needed.
Sample excellent response:
I had to make a decision recently
between two configurations on one of our routers. Time was quickly moving away
from me, and I had to have all the equipment back up in a matter of minutes. I
chose the configuration that I had the most data on because I knew at least
that I could better troubleshoot it if there was a problem. My decision was the
right one.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
98. What suggestions do you have for
our organization?
Sample excellent response:
After examining several sources,
including your company's annual report and Web site, as well as some of your
competitors' sources, I see that you have a strong product line with good
demographic segments, in a growing industry. I did notice that your competitors
seem to direct more of their efforts to the baby boom market, and while that is
certainly a large market for your products, I think you have a great
opportunity to expand your target market and increase your market share by
marketing your product line to the Baby Boomers' kids -- Generation Y. These
teens and preteens are extremely brand conscious and have a high discretionary
income -- and you are in a great position to attract them to your product and
build a very large core of brand loyal consumers on top of your existing
customer base.
99. What is the most significant
contribution you made to the company during a past job or internship?
Sample excellent response:
My organization was undergoing an
accreditation process. I developed two detailed accreditation self-evaluation
reports that documented how the organization met accreditation standards. These
self-evaluations served as basis for accreditation site visits and enabled all
eligible programs to be accredited in record time.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
100. What is the biggest mistake
you've made?
Sample excellent response:
The biggest mistake in my life that
I have made is taking for granted the sacrifices my parents endured for me. I
look back and realize that everything they did for me was so that I could
succeed in life. I am thankful now and do everything to my best ability to make
them proud because I am so thankful that they have been there for me so that I
can give back to society and to my job the opportunities that they never had.
Also, remember the S-A-R (situation-action-result)
technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
101. Describe a situation in which
you had to use reference materials to write a research paper. What was the
topic? What journals did you read?
Sample excellent response:
In my academic career I have had to
write several research papers. The most recent one I wrote was on whether
zero-tolerance policies about drugs and weapons in high schools are reasonable.
To answer this question, I went to several high schools and interviewed their
principal or top-level employees. I also interviewed students and parents. I
visited the Health Department to gather data. Finally, I conducted the
remainder of my research on the Internet. As a result, I was able to get
perspective from every group this topic would effect.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
102. Give me a specific example of a
time when a co-worker or classmate criticized your work in front of others. How
did you respond? How has that event shaped the way you communicate with others?
Sample excellent response:
Another manager became upset with me
since some projects were not being completed. Without discussing the situation
with me first, she criticized me in front of one of the employees I directly
supervised. I was upset that she made me look bad in front of my workers, but I
remained calm and asked her to step into the office so that we could talk about
it in more detail. We discussed the problem, and she learned that the
non-completion of the tasks was not my fault. Another manager did not receive
his instructions telling him the tasks he needed to complete. After that I
learned not to jump to conclusions when dealing with others that I work and
that sometimes a miscommunication can lead to a much larger problem. I've
learned to get the complete facts.
Also, remember the S-A-R (situation-action-result)
technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
103. Give me a specific example of a
time when you sold your supervisor or professor on an idea or concept. How did
you proceed? What was the result?
Sample excellent response:
Last summer, I wanted to help
organize a summer camp for local low-income children. My supervisor knew the
demand would be there but feared we would not have enough staff. I convinced
her that since I went to the facility daily, I could network with acquaintances
and convince them of the importance of this camp. My supervisor trusted me. We
had hundreds of children sign up for the program, and I had reached so many
people that we were able fully staff the camp, as well as have a backup supply
of people who were willing to volunteer their time and services to the
organization.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
104. Describe the system you use for
keeping track of multiple projects. How do you track your progress so that you
can meet deadlines? How do you stay focused?
Sample excellent response:
I keep an electronic hand-held
organizer that I synchronize with a schedule on my computer. I keep track of
each task in order of priority and due date. I use an electronic organizer
because it is very portable and has an alarm to remind me of about what is due
so I don't have to waste time by looking at my organizer every hour. I start
with the projects with the closest due date and the highest priority. I take
these tasks and then schedule times in my calendar for me to work on them to
ensure I meet deadlines. I stay focused by going over my organizer each night
before bed so I know immediately what I have accomplished and where I need to
start the next day. Here let me show you...
105. Tell me about a time when you
came up with an innovative solution to a challenge your
company/class/organization was facing. What was the challenge? What role did
others play?
Sample excellent response:
The trucks at Wal-Mart come loaded
by personnel at by a distribution center, box-by-box. After receiving a few
trucks, I noticed that my employees were unloading broken merchandise that took
a lot of time to clean up before the rest of the truck could be finished. The
broken glass, paint, or whatever material it was prevented the employees from
preceding farther into the truck, causing more person-hours than normal. I
noticed that the merchandise was broken because heavier boxes were on top of
lighter boxes. After a couple of days of this situation, productivity
decreasing, I learned that the rest of the stores in my district faced the same
problem. As a result, I asked each store to take pictures of the mess so the
distribution centers could see exactly what was happening. I also asked each
one to write down how many additional person-hours it took to clean up the
mess. After we gathered this information for a four-week period, we had a
pretty a good estimate of how much the company was losing, approximately $9.50
per person-hour...an average of $125 per store times 15 stores times 30 nights
a month amounted to a substantial sum. We took the information as a group to
our district manager. Once he realized how much money his district was losing
each month because of broken merchandise in the trucks, he contacted his
regional manager, and the trucks after that were loaded more carefully. The
district made our Profit and Loss the next month by a 9 percent increase.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
106. Describe a specific problem you
solved for your employer or professor. How did you approach the problem? What
role did others play? What was the outcome?
Sample excellent response:
When I was working as a receptionist
at an apartment complex, a tenant argued that he had turned in his rent payment
the day it was due. He stated that he had slipped it under the door because our
office was closed for the day. I decided to consult my manager because I
realized that maybe the office needed a sign that stated that we did not accept
rent money that is slipped under the door. My boss agreed, and we posted the
sign. We never again had a problem with tenants who claimed they'd paid their
rent that way.
107. Describe a time when you got
co-workers or classmates who dislike each other to work together. How did you
accomplish this? What was the outcome?
Sample excellent response:
When I worked for a law firm, my
co-workers and I had a huge mailing to complete. We had the choice of working
more efficiently as a team -- or individually in a much more time-consuming
manner. My two co-workers did not care for each other and they wanted to
complete the mail-out on an individual level. When I presented them with the
evidence that we would finish at least an hour earlier by working together,
they decided that working together was the right path to take. As a result, we
finished the mail-out in a short period of time and could work on other tasks
that day.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
108. Tell me about a time when you
failed to meet a deadline. What things did you fail to do? What were the
repercussions? What did you learn?
Sample excellent response:
I recently failed to meet a deadline
in my communications course with a project I had to do on the Internet. I did
not meet the deadline because I underestimated the amount of time the
assignment would take me to complete. Therefore, the assignment was incomplete
when I turned it in. As a result I lost points on my final grade.I learned the
importance of examining tasks more carefully so I can better estimate the
amount of time required to complete them. I also learned to build some flex
time into projects so that if my estimates are wrong, I'll still have time to
complete the tasks.
Also, remember the S-A-R
(situation-action-result) technique and see a sample S-A-R story.
109. Describe a time when you put
your needs aside to help a co-worker or classmate understand a task. How did
you assist him or her? What was the result?
Sample excellent response:
I was studying right before a major
finance test. As the class came into the classroom a couple of students
indicated that did not understand a concept that I did. Although there was a
small section of material that I had not completely mastered, I realized that I
knew enough about that section that I could perform well enough to earn a good
grade. I knew that the section that the other students did not understand was a
major portion of the exam since the professor had an interest in this
particular subject. I stopped what I was doing to explain to the small group
about the Multiplier Effect of Bank Reserves on the overall supply of money.
Those students learned enough from what I taught them that they did well on the
exam. I missed a few points on the section of material that I had not mastered,
but I did well enough to get an A, and the satisfaction I got from teaching
others the concept made me feel proud.
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