1. Tell me
about yourself.
2. What are
your greatest strengths?
3. What are
your greatest weaknesses?
4. Tell me
about something you did – or failed to do – that you now feel a little ashamed
of.
5. Why are
you leaving (or did you leave) this position?
6. Why
should I hire you?
7. Aren’t
you overqualified for this position?
8. Where do
you see yourself five years from now?
9. Describe
your ideal company, location and job.
10. Why do you
want to work at our company?
11. What are
your career options right now?
12. Why have
you been out of work so long?
13. Tell me honestly about the strong
points and weak points of your boss (company, management team,etc.)…
14. What good
books have you read lately?
15. Tell me
about a situation when your work was criticized.
16. What are
your outside interest?
17. How do you
feel about reporting to a younger person (minority, woman, etc)?
18. Looking
back, what would you do differently in your life?
19. Could you
have done better in your last job?
20. Can you
work under pressure?
21. What makes
you angry?
22. Why aren’t
you earning more money at this stage of your career?
23. Who has
inspired you in your life and why?
24. What was
the toughest decision you ever had to make?
25. Tell me
about the most boring job you’ve ever had.
26. Have you
been absent from work more than a few days in any previous position?
27. What
changes would you make if you came on board?
28. How do you
feel about working nights and weekends?
29. Are you willing
to relocate or travel?
30. Why have
you had so many jobs?
31. What do you see as the proper
role/mission of… …a good (job title you’re seeking); …a good manager;
32. How could
you have improved your career progress?
33. You’ve
been with your firm a long time. Won’t
it be hard switching to a new company?
34. What was
the toughest challenge you’ve ever faced?
35. Have you
consider starting your own business?
36. What are
your goals?
37. What do you
for when you hire people?
38. Sell me
this stapler…(this pencil…this clock…or some other object on interviewer’s
desk)
39. What was
the toughest part of your last job?
40. How do you
define success…and how do you measure up to your own definition?.
41. “The Opinion Question” – What do you
think about …Abortion…The President…The Death Penalty…(or any other
controversial subject)?
42. If you won
$10 million lottery, would you still work?
43. Looking
back on your last position, have you done your best work?
44. Why should
I hire you from the outside when I could promote someone from within?
45. Tell me
something negative you’ve heard about our company…
46. On a scale
of one to ten, rate me as an interviewer.