Sample Questions
Personal Assessment
Tell me about yourself.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work?
How do you react to criticism?
How would your best friend describe you?
Describe your ideal job.
Define success. Define failure.
What can you offer us?
Who are your role models? Why?
What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
What kind of people do you enjoy working with?
What motivates you in a job?
What types of people rub you the wrong way?
What frustrates you? (makes you angry?)
Are you a joiner or a loner? A leader or follower? A committee member or an
executive?
How do you spend your spare time? What are your hobbies?
Talk about a time when you had trouble getting along with a professor/
co-worker/ supervisor. How did you handle it?
Have you ever spoken in front of a group of people? How large?
Tell me about a leadership role you have had. What makes a good leader?
Where do you want to be in five years? Ten years?
Education and Experience
Can you summarize your educational background for me?
Why did you decide to attend school at M.I.T.?
Do you think you received a good education? Why or why not?
Why did you choose the major you did?
What courses did you like the most? The least?
Describe for me the most rewarding accomplishment since you've started college.
Describe your study habits. How do you balance study with personal life?
In which campus activities did you participate?
What job-related skills have you developed?
How do you spend college vacations?
What extra-curricular activities are you involved in? What have you gained from
those experiences?
Have you plans for furthering your education?
If you could start college over, what would you do differently?
Tell me about a class in which you were part of a study group. What role did
you play?
Did you work while going to school? In what positions?
Tell me about the most satisfying job you ever held? The least?
Have you had any work experience related to this position?
What kind of boss do you prefer?
What kind of work interests you the most?
Have you had any supervisory experience?
What frustrates you on the job?
Have you ever quit a job? Why?
Give an example of a situation where you provided a solution to an employer.
Give an example of a time when you worked under deadline pressure.
Have you ever done any volunteer work? What kind?
How would a former supervisor describe your work?
Describe a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty to get the
job done.
Describe a time when a team member came to you for help. What was the
situation? How did you respond?
Career Ambition and Plans
Why did you choose this career field?
What type of position are you looking for?
What are your long-range and short-range goals and objectives; when and why did
you establish these goals; how are you preparing to achieve them?
What specific goals, other than those related to your occupation, have you
established for yourself in the next five years?
What qualities does a successful manager possess? does a successful team player
possess?
What do you know about opportunities in your field?
What are the most important rewards you expect from your career?
What kind of challenge are you looking for?
What do you think determines a person's progress in a good company?
How do you determine or evaluate success?
What are your ideas on salary?
How much money do you hope to earn five years from now?
What personal characteristics are necessary for success in your field?
Do you prefer to work on your own or under a supervisor?
Company or Organization
Why do you want to work for this organization?
What do you know about our organization?
What section (service or product) are you most interested in?
Do you prefer large or small companies? Why?
How do you feel about working in a structured environment? A non-structured
environment?
What do you think it takes to be successful in a company such as ours?
In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?
How long would you expect to work here?
Are you willing to work overtime?
Are you willing to work flextime?
Are you willing to go where the company sends you?
What type of work environment are you most comfortable with?
Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which our company
is located?
Why should I hire you?
The Close
When could you start work?
Is there anything else I should know about you?
Do you have any other questions?
Last updated on Friday, November 04, 05 at 11:01:30 AM EST.
