50 Great Interview Questions

Hiring decisions are among the most important businessdecisions you'll ever make. And in the hiring process, nothing is morecrucial than the employment interview. Within the space of a briefinterview, you must learn about the background, skills and experiencesyour job candidate is bringing to the table. You've got to discoverwhether the candidate is able to work effectively with a variety ofpeople and whether he or she possesses the aptitudes that fit the needsof the position.

Here are 50 of the best interview questions. When it comestime to hire, use these questions to help you make the right decision.

The candidate's background

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What adjectives would you use to describe yourself?
3. Why are you here?
4. Describe the duties and responsibilities of each of yourlast two (or three) positions.
5. Why do you want to leave your present job?
6. Would you explain the reasons for each of your last two(or three, or four) job changes?
7. Would you elaborate on this particular activity (note theactivity) you mention in your resume?
8. What are your most significant accomplishments?
9. How do you see this position in relation to your overallcareer plan?
10. Summarize your present salary and benefit package.
11. What salary and benefits would you require if you'reemployed here?

1. If you could start your last job (or your career) all overagain, what would you do differently?
2. What's the most difficult problem you've faced in the lasttwo years? How did you handle it?
3. Describe a crucial responsibility that you held in yourlast position.
4. What did you learn from your last job?
5. Give me a few examples of your initiative.
6. What were the biggest mistakes that you made in your lastjob (or career)?
7. How do you evaluate yourself?
8. What would you say are your most important and valuableskills? Why do you believe these are important?
9. What steps are you taking these days to upgrade yourskills or learn new ones?
10. Show me a sample of your work.
11. How can you contribute to our bottom line?
12. What concerns do you have about working in this positionor for this organization?
13. What are your weakest skills? How have you addressed theseweaknesses in the past?
14. What criticisms about your work have you received over thelast several years? How have you responded to these criticisms?
15. What academic strengths did you show when you attendedschool?

1. Describe your relationship with your supervisor, yourpeers, or your subordinates (if applicable).
2. What would your present supervisor say about you? Howabout your peers? How about your subordinates (if applicable)?
3. What was the most difficult work relationship youencountered during your last job (or career)? How did you handle thisdifficulty?
4. Without using names, describe two or three of the worstpeople you've ever worked with. Why were they so hard to work with? Howdid you manage to work with them?
5. What do you look for in a supervisor? In co-workers?
6. What kind of supervision do you need?
7. How did your supervisor give you feedback in your lastjob? How did your peers assess your work?
8. Give me an example or two of your teamwork skills.

1. What did you like about your last job? What did youdislike?
2. What challenges are you seeking?
3. How do you make decisions?
4. What kind of organization do you like to work for?
5. Describe your ideal employer.
6. Describe an ideal workday for yourself.
7. What kind of earning power do you want to have five yearsfrom now?
8. What motivates you?
9. Why do you think you'd do well here?
10. What would you do your first day on the job?
11. What would be your top priorities during your first week(or month, or year)?
12. How would you spend the bulk of your time on the job?
13. How will you transfer skills from your last job to thisjob if you're hired?
14. Why should we hire you?
15. What other positions are you considering right now?
16. If you're hired, how long would you see yourself staying inthis position? Why?

Source: Office Solutions.Powered by Yellowbrix.