Interview top20
Career goal
Characters
Curveball & creativity
Competence
Motivation?
Question behind: Will this job motivate you to do great job or just for money?
- Find the enjoyable part and passion from this job
- Find intrinsic part or value from this job which drives your passion. e.g help people, make change, keep learning
NOT: excessive flattery, desperately like it.
NOT: trivial motivations e.g free coffee, gym, close to home, etc
NOT: appearance of random chance, frequently change jobs. But rather mention the rational move from job to job.
Why leave current job?
Question behind: Do you know about this job? Are you about lay-off? or some personal issue with current employ
Link your answers to the job/company needs, what you can offer etc show you are ACTIVELY looking for something like this
This question is NOT about you, it is about company and job needs.
Example, I do X in current job, and it is similar to this job, but I can do better in this company.
Example, I do x now, your company does Y. Y is something I like, and link the reasons with your CV. show how you can leverage your current knowledge and experience
NOT: personal problem with current boss, or company culture
Commute
Question behind: how long you'll stick around this job? Long commute can be a problem.
Example: ready to move family close to company, and willing to do so
Example: You can bear with long commute, and you have plan to deal with potential issues.
Biz trips
Does job require travelling? Do you like it?
You have plan to deal with travelling
You can have good rest during trip
Frequent changes
Be honest and be open, e.g current company plan lay-off,
Flaky: little preservance
mercenary: only look at money
incompetent
Avoid 3 following impressions
Core values
Question behind: How your personal values line up with company? e.g Innovation, safety, sustainability etc.
Come up with personal examples, stories
Work/life balance
Why choose you
Question behind: How you keep your life and stress away from your work?
Question behind: Do you know our company? What values our company has? Again, it is ALL about our company, not about you!
Tell your plan how to handle the life, e.g daily schedule, routine, relief stress, do sports etc.
Reassure you have plan or systems in place to deal with stress and scheduling conflicts
Question behind: What kind of person you are, or what intangibles you bring to company?
Focus on personal characteristics
Example: like learning, curiosity, willing to go out of comfort zone, flexible, quickly adapt to needs.
Can also mention special skill, competences
Example: putting complex technical concepts into everyday language
People's feedback
Question behind: What's your track record? Are you self-aware?
Tell what you have done, NOT who you are!!!
Avoid general words: hard-working, creative, responsible, patient etc. to describe your personal characters
Others
work related experience: customer service, or other things help to increase soft competence
Other hobbies which help work e.g marathon, sports, volunteer job
click to edit
How have you improved?
Question behind: Are you willing to be challenged and learn from mistakes?
Show you are always looking for improvement.
Example: setting up goals and stretch yourself out
It is all about how you set up GOAL and PLAN to reach it.
Why are you a good fit?
Question behind: Do you just want a job or are you specifically interested in us?
Solid motivation: about this industry or product
Do study about the company and position, and show your interest
What was the last thing you taught?
Question behind: will you be a good coach?
Show you bring not only your skill but also help to increase performance of team.
Make examples are truthful, detailed and positive actions.
How you maximize value when managing resources?
Question behind: Money is tight. Do you know how to squeeze a dollar for all it's worth?
Show you skill of reducing cost.
STAR method
Situation, Task, Action and Result
Approach your current employer for reference?
Question behind: Do you have anything to hide?
Ask somebody who is willing to support you.
Example: it is OK if I'm offered the position, or you let me know before speaking to referees
You are in control of timing, do NOT to risk current position
Overqualification?
Concern behind: You get bored or change in few months
Reassure you really want this job and will stick around it.
Make rationale
Motivation
Maybe commute is a reason
Prioritize the reasons
When can you start?
Refer to contractual notice period.
Tell about a time you went against company policy.
Are you independent thinking?
Show you handle it via proper channel or process
Be careful that you show you are "yes-man" or "trouble maker"