The Dirty Dozen Traditional Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.
 2. What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?
 3. Why did you leave your old job? Or, why do you want to leave your current job?
 4. Why do you want to work for us? 5. How did you like your old job? 6. What kind of salary are you looking for?
 7. What do you know about our company?
 8. Why should we hire you? 9. What did you think of your old boss? What would your previous boss say about you?
 10. Where do you see yourself in five years? 11. You seem over-qualified/under-qualified? 12. Are you able to work overtime?

Adapted from Darryn DiFrancesco – Simon Fraser University

1. Tell me about yourself. Question Intent: When the interviewer asks this question, he or she is testing your ability to think on your feet, and to hear what you believe to be your most valuable assets and qualities. Maximize the opportunity to sell yourself. Also remember that there are no “free” questions, and this is a way for employers to see if you can relate your interests and experience to the job you’ve applied to. Answer Tips: This might sound intimidating, but it is actually an excellent opportunity to sell yourself and your skills and abilities - maximize on it! You might explain to your employer how you have deep roots in athletics or sports medicine, if you're being interviewed for a position in Kinesiology. A good rule of thumb is to typically limit this to a one-minute explanation, including some personal details, but ones your employer will be able to relate to within the organization. 2. What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses? Question Intent: The interviewer is looking to see how honest you are with yourself, with him/her, and how you deal with your weaknesses. It always helps if you can back up your answers by stating, “based on feedback I’ve received from….” as this identifies you accept feedback, etc, etc, etc… Answer Tips: Strengths: This is the easy part. It’s recommended that you list three points for this question. If you’ve read the job description, try to list skills/qualities the employer is looking for. Don't undersell yourself, but make sure what you say is true. Lying won’t get you anywhere if you do receive the job in the future. Weaknesses: Be honest. We all have weaknesses, so be sure to identify them. Most employers have heard the "I'm a perfectionist/workaholic answer" too many times. Try to be original. Perhaps you overbook yourself, or you tend to arrive a few minutes late for work. These are realistic weaknesses, and stating them will probably not make or break your interview. When you think about it, it's better that the employer finds them out in the interview than later on the job, where they could cause problems. When explaining your weaknesses, try to turn them into strengths. For example, you might say, “Sometimes it takes me a while to do a task, because I like to make sure it’s done right.” Also indicate that you’re attempting to improve upon your weaknesses. For example, you might state that you've started to keep a detailed schedule for task completion to help with your habit of overbooking yourself. 3. Why did you leave your old job? Or, why do you want to leave your current job? Question Intent: The employer may be looking to see if there are any "red flag" (e.g., being fired) reasons you are leaving your job. Asking this question is also a good indicator of where you want to go with the job you're applying for. Answer Tips: Again, try to make this answer reflect positively on you. If you left due to personal conflict with your boss, you might point out that your values were not in line with his or hers. Reflect upon the decision you made and ensure you’re able to justify it properly. Remember, only state the truth. Other positive and acceptable reasons for leaving include: changes in the industry or organization (caused by technology, changing markets, downsizing), a desire to move to a new location, and professional development. Take care with how you position the last option. "I had learned all that I could in that role" may suggest to the interviewer that you get bored easily. An alternative way to phrase it is to say "I had progressed as far as I could within the organization. My manager is settled in her job and there's no path for me to develop further." This is a particularly strong response if you have been working for a family run company. Luckily, co-op students rarely have to deal with this question, since our work terms are limited in nature, but it is still a good idea to have answers on hand for the future. 4. Why do you want to work for us? Question Intent The interviewer is testing your research and knowledge of the company, and whether or not you're prepared to give what it takes to contribute to the company. This question also alludes to your understanding of the organization’s culture and how well you will fit in. Answer Tips We don’t recommend that you state, “Because my rent is too high,” regardless of how true this may be! Instead, do some research on the company, so you can inform the employer as to why working for his/her organization is particularly of interest to you. Use this question to highlight the aspects of the company that you are most interested in and the qualities that you will bring to the firm. For example, you might respond by stating that you are interested in working for the company because it is an industry leader and you are passionate about working with and learning from the best in your particular field. 5. How did you like you old job? Question Intent: In effect, the interviewer is asking: What will he/she say about me/this company to others? The interviewer is trying to anticipate problems you may present based on your previous employment. This is also another way of analyzing your reasons for leaving your last position. Answer Tips: Again, it’s all about the honesty. Tell the employer what worked for you, and what didn’t. Be descriptive, not evaluative. For example, instead of saying that your boss was “bad” or “Satan himself”, phrase it in a more respectful manner: “my boss didn’t give enough notice on deadlines.” It helps if you attribute it to specific actions, and not necessarily personality. 6. What kind of salary are you looking for? Question Intent: This could be called the absolute worst interview question. It's somewhat cruel the employer may be trying to assess your "worth" - what you believe you should be paid based on your skills, or they may be trying to test your ability to handle awkward situations. Aside from that, we're really not sure why employers ask this question. Answer Tips: As aforementioned, this is a tricky one. Try to avoid numbers here. A better route is to say something along the lines of, “I know the going rate for this kind of work, and your company has an excellent reputation. I have no doubts that you would supply a reasonable salary.” Monster.ca recommends that you turn it around by asking them, if you are unsure, "What is the salary range for similar jobs in your company?" Answering without numbers or expectations is simply the best way to handle this question.

Adapted from Darryn DiFrancesco – Simon Fraser University

7. What do you know about our company? Question Intent: The interviewer is trying to discover whether you have done the necessary preparation as an indication of your work ethic and future behaviour. This will also give an indication of your desire to work for the company. Answer Tips: This is one of the places in which preparation and research is so important. Demonstrate your knowledge of the company's major products or services and how they fit into the company's strategy. Some areas where you can learn about the company include its website, brochures, and trade magazines. You can also go on to tell the employer why it is that their company is your kind of place, and give him/her valid reasons why. For example, if you were applying to a nonprofit organization, you might tell them you had a friend who truly benefited from their services in the past (if it's true), and that working for the organization would truly make you feel like you were doing something positive for the community. 8. Why should we hire you? Question Intent: When an employer asks you this question, he/she is giving you the opportunity to make your final mark. Maximize on it! Answer Tips: You can relate back to your personality traits, education and experience, or you can simply tell them how valuable you will be as a part of their team. Sample 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." 9. What did you think of your old boss? What would your previous boss say about you? Question Intent: The employer is attempting to gauge your relationship with your previous boss, and to get honest answers about you, your working habits and relationships. Answer Tips: Even if your previous boss wasn't exactly your favourite person, try to package it positively. Again, be descriptive and not evaluative. Emphasize your skills, and don't be overly negative about your weaknesses. It's always safer to identify a lack of a skill as an area for improvement rather than a shortcoming. Try and point out positive things you know your boss has noticed about you (e.g., you were very punctual and detail-oriented). Remember, if your boss is listed as a reference, your employer could call them to compare your answers. Honestly is especially vital when answering this question. 10. Where do you see yourself in five years? Question Intent: The interviewer wants to make sure you are appropriate for the specific position for which you are applying. Answer Tips: This answer obviously depends on your situation. If it’s a co-op interview, you might want to state your long-term career goal. If it’s a permanent position, you might want to say, “Here, in a position of responsibility.” 11. You seem over-qualified/under-qualified. Question Intent: The interviewer is challenging you. This type of question allows the employer to see how well you respond to challenges or criticisms. Answer Tips: Over-qualified: You could state, “Yes, I’m very qualified, but I want to be here because…” Under-qualified: Show them that you’re willing to invest the time and effort into upgrading your current skill-set. For example: “I’m kind of rusty, but I’d love to take a couple of courses in "___.” 12. Are you able to work overtime? Question Intent: The employer is attempting to measure your level of commitment to a project. Perhaps the company has major overtime work; either way, this is a good indication of how much you want the job. Answer Tips: If you really cannot work overtime, don’t lie. Tell them this! Again, it’s better the employer finds this out earlier, rather than later. If you can, but don’t want to be working too much, you can say, “Definitely, as long as I am given sufficient notice.” If you would love to work overtime, feel free to tell the employer, “Absolutely!” Keep in mind, in most jobs the overtime may be unexpected and sporadic (not a typical work day). As a result, you may find that overtime can be beneficial in that it contains an educational aspect. Overtime means more hours on the job, which in turn means more hours expanding and building on your skills. With that said, however, no one should feel that they need to be working 50-60 hours per week instead of the regular 3540 of full-time work. Overtime can be a great opportunity, but remember that your employer's requests must be within reason.

Adapted from Darryn DiFrancesco – Simon Fraser University