Did you forget something? The interview, of course. Your resume only gets you a foot in the door. It makes you shine on paper. You still have to shine in real life (Yes, I know – real life can be such an inconvenience sometimes.)

How will you answer their questions? And what type of questions do they plan to ask, anyway? Well, it’s a good thing you came here, because we have a list of practice questions you can take for a spin. Have a friend ask them and practice what answers you might give. Whether it’s the HR manager or a headhunter, you’ll be prepared and ready to win!
Tricky Job Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself. (This is that universal question that is always hardest to answer.)

Are you a self-starter? (Do you work well on your own?)

Are you a team player? (Do you work well with other people?)

Do you prefer to work alone or in a group? (Be careful…this could be a trick question.)

Are you satisfied with your career to date?

If you could have any job in the world, what would it be like?

What would your co-workers say about you?

Paint me a picture of you in 10 years.

How did you prepare for this interview? (You could tell them that you read this article…but a better response would be that you reflected on how you’ve grown over the past few years….but be prepared than to answer…) (One good answer is that you reflected on how you’ve grown in your previous job. But, be ready for the obvious follow-up question…)

Tell me how you feel you grew in your previous position.

What five words would you say describe you best?

Describe a time when you had to take initiative.

What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with?

Describe a time when you had to deal with problem you had with a co-worker.

Why did you leave your last job?

Describe a time when you had to face a conflict of interest at work.

How much were you absent from your last job?

Tell me about a suggestion you have made.

What are your strengths?

What are your weaknesses?

What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held?

Explain how you would be an asset to this organization.

What kind of machines/software/tools can you operate?

What are your long-term and short-termcareer goals?

What have your achievements been to date?

What has been your biggest professional disappointment?

What are you looking for in a job?

What motivates you to do your best on the job?

What qualities do you look for in a boss?

What do you enjoy about this industry?

Have you ever done this kind of work before? (This is easy; your resume already says this.)

Why have you applied for this particular job?

Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job.

What is your salary expectation for this job?

What parts of a job do you find most satisfying?

How long would you expect to work for us if hired?

What do you like about your present job?

Do you have any questions for me? (If you don’t, how will you know if you really want to work there?)

Those are some of the many questions you might face in a real life interview. These certainly are not all the possible questions, but it’s a good start. Once you know what you are up against, it’s not that frightening. You have the questions. You’ve practiced the answers. Now go out and impress them.

Approach this challenge like a Boy Scout would.

Don’t be nervous.
Don’t be scared…
Be prepared!

You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression’ and it’s very true of the job market. If you want to ‘nail’ your first impression when you apply for a job, there are some simple things that you can do.

First, be professional. That means you should dress for the interview, not in old jeans and ratty sneakers. Don’t chew gum or bring a soda. Put your cell phone on vibrate, turn it off, or leave it in the car. Give the prospective employer your undivided attention.

Second, remember your manners. Clean up your language, don’t sit unless invited, shake hands, and don’t act bored or fidget, even if you’re nervous or the hiring manager has droned on for twenty minutes about his kid’s little league game.

No matter how you look and how good your manners are, the most important thing that you can do to nail your first impression is to be honest. If you lie to the interviewer or if you lie on your resume and it’s found out, you’ve just lost any and all credibility – even if you were hired, have been working there for a year, and have been doing a great job. People don’t like to be lied to. You don’t have to spill every secret you have, but make sure there is nothing blatantly untrue on your resume and answer the interviewer’s questions honestly. It will go a long way toward a great first impression.

Just like any modern person, I’ve been through plenty of job interviews for all sorts of employment opportunities.  I’ve been overqualified and under qualified, and everywhere in between.  At the same time I’ve observed plenty of interviewing styles, and skills be them strong or weak.

One question seems to stand out.  I’ve gotten hit with it more often than not, and I find  its best to just be prepared for it.  It has been worded a thousand ways, and it’s the most important question, to ask or be asked, in any job interview:

Question: Where do you see yourself? What are your ultimate goals?  5 years? 10 years?

Like I said, it comes in many forms.   I’ve personally been asked this question 100 different ways.  If you want the job,  the answer is always the same:

Answer:  “Quite frankly, where you’re sitting.  Running a company”

The last thing an employer wants is an unmotivated employee.  No one stays with one company forever, so there is no need to pretend to be a sad-sack subservient.  No one wants a “yes man”,” they offer no hope for progress.

The smartest thing a smart company can do, is hire ambitious people.  Companies like Google have proven this theory by only hiring the best of the best and encouraging and in some cases paying employees to pursue side projects and ambitions.

The first step to negotiating a higher salary, is establishing yourself in the eyes of your employer as the go-getting, determined best man or woman for the job.  Don’t be afraid to show a little vigor.

The next time you’re asked in an interview “Where do you see yourself in 5 years.”

Look the interviewer right in the eye and say, “I’d like to be where you are, interviewing prospective employees and running the company.”

You’ll get the job.  Trust me.

Once you have been invited for an interview, chances are that the company is interested in you. So you have to make an extra effort to know who your prospective employer is.  Before rushing to the interview, get to know something about the company. Find out how long they have been around, what they do and their general business. Today, we have the internet and there is absolutely no excuse for not knowing before hand something about the company.

When you arrive for the interview you will often be asked “What do you know about the company” and saying “Nothing” is not a great answer. You have to say some thing better than nothing. T

he other thing important for the interview is the dressing. Unless you are going for an interview at a fast food store, you need proper attire. Look decent; wear appropriate clothes- coming to an interview in wrinkled  clothes shows that you do not care much about the job- and the feelings will quickly become mutual. Always carry copies of your resume and a pen. The more effort you make, the greater are the chances that you will get the job

Here are a few questions that you can expect in most job interviews

“Where do you see yourself in five years?”
This questioned has turned into a cliché, however many employer still ask it, so you need to be prepared for it. Think it over and give an honest answer. Employers don’t necessarily want you to say what everyone else does.

“Name two characteristics about yourself that you think are admirable.”
You have a lot of choices with this one. If you find that you are little stumped, it may help to talk with people that are close to you and ask their opinion.

“Name something about yourself that you would change and why?”
This is the perfect opportunity to say something that you may not like about yourself but your employer will. Don’t forget to smile and make a lot of eye contact. With a little preparation you can get any job you want.