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Supervision tips and free resources. A good resource for answers to management and supervision situational questions.

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Get the job you interview for -- without ‘interview jitters’, embarrassment, or being stumped by trick interview questions. Matt & Nan DeLuca and the job-interview.net experts will prepare you for your interview with the Complete Interview Guide.

Answers to more than 50 of the Toughest Interview Situations to more than 50 of the Toughest Interview Situations - follow-up calls & letters, illegal questions
Control your nerves and give natural, unrehearsed answers
Questions to ask the interviewers
Review hundreds of skills and abilities questions and answer tips

Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions

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Recommended Reading

Find the Bathrooms First!: Starting Your New Job on the Right Foot, Roy J. Blitzer, 1999
Rules for the Road: Surviving Your First Job Out of School, Eve Luppert, 1998
Your First Thirty Days: Building a Professional Image in a New Job (Fifty-Minute Series.), Elwood N. Chapman, 1998

What is the most attractive aspect of the job you are interviewing for?
What is the least attractive aspect of the job you are interviewing for?
In order to successfully meet the responsibilities of this position, which of your personal qualities will be of the greatest benefit?
What part of the job that you interviewing for do you look forward to the most?
What part of the job that you are interviewing for do you look forward to the least?
What aspect of our organization has the greatest appeal for you?
Knowing our organization and the position that you’re interviewing for, where can you make the greatest contribution?
How will the job you’re interviewing for, fit into your career plans?
Why did you choose this profession and this specific job?
What do you think your responsibilities will be if you’re hired?
Why are you interested in the position?
What are you seeking from this job?
What challenges do you think that you will face in moving from your current position to this position?
What aspect of the job announcement interested you the most?
In comparision to your current position, what do you think will be different in your new position?
Our company is more widely recognized than the current company that you're working for, why do you think that is?
Tell us why you believe you are ready to promote to the next level of management.
What can you contribute to our company?
What do you know about our company?
What interests you about a career in (field of new job)?
Why should we give you a chance to perform in this job?
Why should we hire you instead of the the other candidates?
We have 24 candidates. A number of the candidates have more experience than you do. Why should we hire you instead of one of the other candidates?
Why do you want this job and how does it fit you?
What do you intend to accomplish as a (title of new job) with our company?
Why should we hire you?
What additional training or development will you need to perform in this position?

For more interview questions and answer tips, order the Complete Interview Guide.

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INTERVIEW IN DEPTH
A detailed answer and analysis of a tough interview question from Matt & Nan DeLuca, authors of the best selling "Best Answers to the 201 Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions" and "More Best Answers to the 201 Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions"

What do you know about our company?

If you can relate your knowledge to the area that you would be involved in, it would show that already you have an active interest in the organization. For example, if you were interested in marketing, "I understand that you are one of the top 10 companies in sales to Europe but are currently interested in expanding your market into Asia. Competition is keen in that area but you have an advantage in that you product offers features that others do not, such as....."

It is not only showing that you have done the research but also that you like/know what you have learned about the company and have applied it to how you can add value in the position.

Why do you want to leave this job after only four months?

Well, why did you? What is the closest to the truth:

1. Job was not as it was described to me
2. Organization changed its focus/goals
3. Organization could not effectively use my talents/skills
4. Change in management...wanted to bring in own staff
5. Downsizing, reorganization

All of these will probably prompt a follow-up question. Do not fabricate...but most interviewers have heard these stories before and really are not interested in all the gory details. (Note that this job need not be included on your resume since it was of such a short duration but may have to be included in a application form if it looks to account for all your time.)

Circumstances also come to play...did you leave your other job to take this 4 month job? or did you 'try' it while already unemployed...hoping for the best? If you were recruited to change jobs, there is a lot of room for exaggeration in a sales pitch, and many employees have been misled.

If you have held other jobs for substantial periods and you took the other job in good faith, stress your past performance. You are not a capricious person---job hopping. You have skills to offer and want to put them into good use.

What do you wish to gain from our company?

Excellent question! Research is the answer (know everyone is tired of hearing this but we feel this is one great way for applicants to make a difference in their candidacy). Determine some of the key elements in the corporate structure, product base, employees/management team or recent history. What appeals to you about working at this company? Go with what you know.

"In the past, I have had opportunities to work on new products being launched. I am very excited about your plans to start an entire new line of products. With my prior experience I know I can provide insights and make contributions immediately and I will also learn so much from the excellent team you have in place. Having done single products, I would love to be in on the give-and-take meetings planning the new line...there is much I can offer but also much for me to learn."

Finding something specific...the opportunity to use a new technology, a new skill, to work with 'experts on their team"...are ways for you to find job satisfaction, which is another way of asking this question

What do you think the employee's responsibilities are to the company?

As an employee you have several responsibilities to your employer. They are as follows:

to perform a good day's work
to be loyal
to act as part of the team
to value the relationship
to earn the employer's trust
to grow with a passion for the product/service.

Why do you want to change jobs?

When asked on an application, "If presently employed, why do you wish to change positions", what do you put down. The reason I am changing positions because the company I am applying at is known nationwide I want to work for a company with their background and one that I can retire from.

This same question is sometimes asked on interviews as well so it is important to have a good answer. Additionally, if you decide to leave your current employer, it is also wise to have consensus as to the reasons that you are leaving.

It already sounds like you have positive reasons for wanting to work for the national company---go with that. Use your research to put forth several points about the company that you feel will be a great match (for the company) and suit your particular skills and experiences. Emphasize the fact that this opportunity to work for them is 'just what you have been looking for' because....and then go into several ways you can add value to the organization.

Remember, when asked why you left, do not downgrade in any way your prior/current employer...leave the interviewer with the feeling that you have only been associated with winners! Do not go into the 'I can retire from this job' aspect; it can have negative connotations. Present yourself as a vital, enthusiastic employee that can offer experience to their organization...for many years to come. Note: If appropriate, point out that you are not just 'looking around' but are sincerely interested in working for this particular company and that you are not a 'job-hopper' but are interested in a long-term career move.