Tough Questions

1. Tell me about yourself - Mention the following work related factors:

• Your interest, skills, and experience related to the job for which you are interviewing.
• Your past work experience. Think of one good example you could use to support a skill needed to do this job well.
• Your training or your education.
• Your strong interest, dedication to attendance, and enjoyment of work.

2. Why do you want to work here? - Research the company before you go to an interview. Mention as many positive features as you can about the company, such as:

• The good reputation of the company.
• You heard that the company is very fair and appreciates hard working employees.
• Your desire to work for the company because it has a great future and can offer you a chance to grow.
• The company has the kind of job that you are good at and like to do.
• You like this type of work and feel you can do a good job.
• "I've talked with some of your employees and they feel this is a good company to work for."

3. What is important to you in a job? - First, impress the interviewer with your desire to do a good job and the personal pleasure you get from doing a good job. Do not mention the pay or the salary.

4. Do you have any questions? - The employer asks this as a common courtesy, and as one more test. Only ask for information that will be useful to you. You might ask:

• "When will the decision be made?"
• "May I see the area where I would be working?"
• "What qualities would you like to see in your employees that would make your job easier?"
• "Did my resume or application raise any questions I might need to clarify for you?"

If you do not have any questions, respond to his/her question in this manner:

• "No, I have no questions. You've done a complete job describing the company and the job requirements,"    or say 
• "I have no questions except for one, when do I start working?"

5. What are your major weaknesses? - "I have no weaknesses that will prevent me from being a very good employee" or a realistic negative point with remedy or solution to the problem.

6. What do you hope to be doing in five years? (are you motivated?) - Be prepared for this question. Have some career goals in mind. Don't respond by mentioning salary or personal possessions.

7. How did you get along with your former supervisor and co-workers? - Always be positive. If you didn't get along well, say something like, "We sometimes had our differences, but worked together to get the job done."

8. Your application states you have never worked - I have not been employed before, but I have just completed my certificate in_____________ at Lone Star College-North Harris. With a little more training I am sure I could handle the position.

9. What are your greatest strengths? - Mention all your positive aspects: your skills and qualifications, ability to learn, experience, reliability, efficiency, pride in a job well done, ability to get along with others, and communication skills.

10. What kind of equipment (office), machines, or computers have You worked with? What kind of equipment can you operate?- Be specific. List equipment by exact names of the machines you have operated. If the interviewer asks specifically about your
ability to operate a machine you haven't had experience with, do not say you haven't had experience, but describe what types of similar machines you can operate and express your confidence that you can learn quickly.