| INTERVIEW QUESTIONS | WHAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD LISTEN FOR: |
| 1. Let’s start by you telling me something about yourself. (Anything) | Dealing with ambiguity. Uses open-ended question to make a strong, specific, short statement: VS lost/confused. |
| 2. Please give me a 3 minute overview of your background, education through today.(Don’t allow more time.) | Details you can use later. What’s important to them. Ability to follow directions; not ramble. Quality of delivery. Initial energy, eye contact, etc. Checks to ensure that’s enough. |
| "FIRST LET’S TALK ABOUT EDUCATION…" | |
| 3. Why did you choose this school and major? | Having and “working” a plan vs. falling into it. Competency issues; What they are good at. |
| 4. What did you really learn at (your school)? | Undergrad: Learned to think, be logical: study, learn, Broader view of the world. Grad: Focused; deeper into my field. |
| 5. In your school studies, what specific knowledge applies to this job? | Relevance of study to the job. Person’s ability to make the connection. Depth and breadth. |
| NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT JOB EXPERIENCE… (Choose questions relevant to the person) | |
| 6. How did you end up at (your first job)? | Standards, Choice, Other options. Logic |
| 7. What did you learn in your first job? | Self insight. Career insight. Organizational savvy. |
| 8. I will describe 2 or 3 accountabilities of this job. Can you give me examples that demonstrate your ability to do these things? | Self assessment—Relevance of experience. Objective about where accountabilities fit and do not fit (clear about learning curve/will grow). Evidence of been there, done it; or seen it could probably do it. A key part of interview summary! |
| 9. What was your “charter” when you assumed your role? What have you put in place? | Measurable results vs. activities/tasks. Client focus. Clarity of business impact. Concise |
| 10. Of what results are you most proud? | Role, level, tenure fit with expected impact. Individual/Team |
| 11. Describe the organizational structure and how you fit in the structure? (boss, up, down) | Clarity about role. Set up future questions regarding decision making, relationships, influence. |
| 12. What was your reasons for your transitions between each of your jobs? (or pick one). | Logical career progression. Recruited away. Proven performer. VS series of poorly planned choices or not performing or mutual decision, not right fit (fired). |
| INTERVIEW QUESTIONS | WHAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD LISTEN FOR: |
| 13. What parallels do you see between your company and industry and ours? | Trite VS insightful Asks clarifying questions. Makes logical connections. Thinks on the fly. |
| 14. What are trends that effect your business? | Detail business understanding. Breadth. |
| 15. Who are your competitors? How do you rank vs. them? What are you doing about it? | Measurement and competitively focused. Industry knowledge. Strategic thought and action planning. |
| 16. What edges do your competitors have? | Knows the competition well. Derives plans based on that |
| 17. Think of a successful product or service where your competitor beat you to market. Why weren't you first? | Role of innovation. Level of risk. Ownership. Creativity. Level of experimentation. Knowledge of the market and of competitors. |
| 18. What companies do you most admire? | Breadth. Values. Clarity. Logic. |
| 19. Have you ever moved from line to staff or field to corporate? What did you learn from it? | Learning from job assignments. Organizational Agility. Cross functional understanding. Flexibility. |
| 20. What have you done differently from your peers in the organization and why? What makes your work unique? | Renegade vs. Change Agent. Standing Alone. Team orientation. Ability to sell views. Business rationale. |
| 21. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 high, how would you rate your Intellectual Smarts? Your Street Smarts? What leads you to these ratings? | 9 or 10 on both; No reservations. Knows what both terms mean and gives good color commentary to support the rating. |
| 22. Describe your PC and software abilities. | Extensive. Meets job needs. Willing/Able to learn more. |
| 23. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 high, how well do you know your industry? Why “#”? | 9 or 10 and willing to learn. Can describe overlap from current experience. Has been studying up on the industry. |
| NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WHAT MOTIVATES YOU… | Look for fit with job, department company. |
| 1. Why are you considering this employer and this particular position? | Realistic level given where in selection process. Too interested (desperate?); not enough (motivated?). |
| 2. Characterize the work environment in which you are the most productive. | Characteristics that fit your unique situation, e.g. individual vs. team; interfunctional; projects; type of work, etc. |
| 3. Describe the work environment where you are now. What do you like/dislike about it? | Have they thought about it? Running from something? Grass is greener? Fit with our environment. |
| INTERVIEW QUESTIONS | WHAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD LISTEN FOR: |
| 4. Describe your relationship with your current boss and one-up manager. | Relationship with both; work both for correct roles. One-up for vision, strategy; boss for resources, day to day. |
| 5. Think about the best boss relationship you ever had. What made it so good? | Fit with hiring manager and work team; appropriate challenge up and level of independence. |
| 6. Tell me about a time when you identified a business opportunity and ran with it. | Individual, self driving initiative. Bias for action. Proactive. Gets results. Has personal impact. |
| 7. This job requires relocation. What are your thought on that? Any concerns? | Thought through impact on them, family, etc. Identifies relevant issues. No insurmountable issues. |
| 8. What do you like about (current city)? | Enthusiasm vs. concern relative to relocation. |
| 9. How do you structure your time to get your work completed? | Tactical vs. Strategic (day, week, month, year focus?; Tactical vs. Strategic (day, week, month, year focus?; |
| 10. In your function or role, how do you measure success? | Measures and how they value them. Effort vs. results. Technical/Functional, Quality, customer measurement. |
| 11. What specific kinds of things do you want to do or learn over the next 24 months. | Specific plan, goals, objectives. Professional development. Fit with our on-job opportunities. |
| with our on-job opportunities. your hands; when you have nothing else to do? | Depends on job; something “constructive.” Can get at: Action oriented; drive; active. Work/Life balance. |
| 13. What do you expect to be the biggest change you’d have to if you join us? | Self insight. Sees the issues. Wrestles with it a bit (not a pat answer). Asks for your insight on the same question. |
| 14. What do you consider to be the most negative aspects of this position for you? | Recognition of issues and willingness to deal with it. Realizing where the significant adjustments will be. |
| 15. Can you give me an example where you quickly drove to closure on something important? Is this your usual style? | Action Style. Decisiveness. Aware that different situations require different timing. Insight into how they handle risk and uncertainty. |
| 16. Can you give me one good example of: small team, large group, and individual work? | Flexible. Place for all. Choose wisely based on situations to deliver best results. Balance. Can do all ways. No one best. |
| 17. What barriers to productivity have you seen and how have you overcome them? | Quick study. Finds ways to get things done. Energized, not frustrated or scapegoating. |
| 18. Can you think of a dumb (org./school) policy? Have you done anything about it? | Candor. Values. Willing to get involved and lead. Aware of political issues but not acting politically. Managerial courage |
| INTERVIEW QUESTIONS | WHAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD LISTEN FOR: |
| 19. Tell me about a time when you had to overcome resistance to get something done. | Positive, can-do attitude. Perseverance. Political Savvy. Read the situation; not surprised. Thinks ahead, anticipates. |
| 20. In your professional area, what have you done to get better at predicting the future? | Strong future oriented, creative perspective. Identifies themes and opportunities. Avid reader, stays current. Applies it. |
| 21. Describe the best & worst teams you ever worked on. Characterize how they differed | Group process awareness. Recognizes leadership and followship issues. Has led effective teams. |
| 22. How do you define and identify talent? | Clear, Energetic, Specific, Has model, process. Hired some! |
| 23. Observe: How prepared were they? Employer’s details and insight about the issues. | Analytical ability and interest in us. Ability to generalize and recognize our issues. Done their homework on us. |
| MANAGEMENT POTENTIAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS | WHAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD LISTEN FOR: |
| 1. Would you say you make personal sacrifices for the good of the business? Like what? | Commitment. No real big decision. Had to do it. Wanted to. Did the right thing. Has multiple examples. Real sacrifice. |
| 2. Have you ever had to rally work hard to understand someone who was different than you? | Gets the question. Has a specific example. Adaptable. Aware. Sensitive to differences. Works for inclusion. Appreciates and values diversity. |
| 3. Can you give me an example of when you stepped in to motivate a person or group. | Taking charge. Recognizing the need to help motivate people when they are down. |
| 4. Have you ever taken a huge risk on the job? | Courage. Takes a position. Perseveres. Values. |
| 5. Do you prefer slow and cautious or quick and decisive? | Trusts instincts. Situations vary. After all, prefer quick and decisive; can’t stand waiting around. |
| 6. Tell me about a time you had a big disagreement with your boss. | Ethics and values. Standards. Standing Alone. Managerial Courage. Change Resistance. |
| 7. Can you think of time when your someone came to you midway through a project and changed significant things? Your reaction? | Naturally, a little frustrating, but: To be expected. Life’s like that. That’s what we’re here for. Dealing with Ambiguity. Regrouped. Some chaos is OK. |
| 8. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 high, how Courageous are you? | 9 or 10; no reservations. |
| 9. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 high, rate your Drive for Results. | 9 or 10; no reservations. |
| INTERVIEW QUESTIONS | WHAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD LISTEN FOR: |
| 10. What outside professional societies do you belong to? Held any leadership positions? | Continuing professional development. Leadership. Peer recognition; asked to speak, present a paper, etc. |
| 11. Is your off-work personality or style different than at work? (If yes) How so? | Basically the same. Able to switch styles as appropriate. More intense at work. |
| 12. What does “Valuing Diversity” mean to you? Any examples of it in your life? | People. Ideas. Styles. Approaches. Beyond gender/race. Has personal example; heart-felt. |
| 13. What is your definition of integrity? Ever had it tested? | Depth of thought, experience, and belief. Standing Alone. Maturity of perspective. Not a hollow excuse for resigning. |
| 14. What values to you hold most dearly? | Has values. Knows them. Deeply held; not canned. Maturity. |
| Has values. Knows them. Deeply held; not canned. Maturity decision based on values or ethics? What? | Articulation of personal values. Acts in line with them, even in tough times. |
| 16. Have you ever gotten in trouble for acting too quickly? Were you right? | Willing to take the heat and plow forward to get something done. Not too impulsive; not leaping before thinking! |
| 17. Think of a time you were challenged in public. How did you react? | Listen to understand. Stands up for position. Doesn't take it Personally. Concentrates on the situation or problem. |
| 18. Think of a time when you had to take an unpopular stand. Describe the situation. | Takes charge. Doesn't need to be liked. Balance of Command and Team orientation. |
| 19. Have you ever started something from scratch? Tell me about it. | Yes. Specific. Success. Pride. Learned from it. Is good at it. Enjoys it. |
| 20. How do you “unwind”? | Alone-internally focused. Active/others-extremely focused. |
| 21. Have you ever had a mentor? What were the qualities of the person? | Has had. Someone admired/special. Has qualities they aspire to: Successful, Caring, Listening, Coaching. |
| 22. Have you ever been a mentor? What types of people and what did you do? | Has been. High potential, talented people. Showed caring Listening, Coaching; focused on their development. |
| Observe: “Suck up” vs. Natural Style. | Genuineness. Believability. Credibility. Relationship builder. |
| Do they ask about our standards of Performance and professional expectations? | High performers want to know what high performance is. More than a casual reference. Taking ownership. |
| Observe: Do they make the interview an Observe: Do they make the interview an enjoyable experience? | Relationship building. Ability to connect, energize. |
| GROWTH POTENTIAL | |
| INTERVIEW QUESTIONS | WHAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD LISTEN FOR: |
| 1. How are you different today than you were two years ago? | Self reflective. Insightful. Candid. Deep. Complex. May wrestle with it, but answers the question. |
| 2. What is the biggest mistake you have ever made? What did you learn from it? | Self insight. Note if answer comes too fast (canned; not reflective), or too slow (doesn't get it or won’t tell you). |
| 3. Do you admit to mistakes? | Open. Willing to reflect honestly on failures. |
| 4. Who has made a big impact in your life? | Aware of impact and describes change to self. |
| 5. Do you believe in the saying “If it ain't broken, don’t fix it”? Why/Why not? | No. Is a “tinkerer” Always possible to get better. Avoid complacency. Break it and force change. Challenge others. |
| 6. Is there anything you dislike about yourself? | At peace with self. Uses humor. Has an example. Not heavy. |
| 7. Have you ever made an education or career decision simply because you wanted to learn something different? Tell me about it. | Has an example. Real and deeply felt. Experience changed them. Learned something new. Developed skills. Dealt with fear. |
| 8. Have you formally asked others for feedback on your performance? Example? | Has a real example. Constantly asking “how am I doing” and aware of impact. Responds to feedback. Non-defensive. |
| 9. For what do you get criticized? | Non-defensive. Specific. Insightful. Candid. |
| 10. What do you read? | Business OK; but listen for broader Perspective point of view. |
| 11. To what mags/journals do you subscribe? | Business acumen. Professionally current. Broad perspective. |
| 12. How much change in your organization going through? How are people reacting? | Role in change. Level of frustration with change. Generally Role in change. Level of frustration with change. Generally positive or negative? Knows change never stops. |
| 13. Tell me about the craziest idea your current employer ever tried to pull off. | Change resistance. Passive victim vs. active champion. Level of frustration. |
| 14. Do you have a mission in life? What? | Internalized mission. Self insight. Deeply held; not canned. |
| 15. Do you plan everything through very thoroughly or manage things more on the fly? | Organized person; but when necessary, can act quickly without Organized person; but when necessary, can act quickly without a lot of planning. Willing to learn on the fly. |
| 16. What kind of experiments or “skunkworks” go on in your department? | Willingness to experiment, have “skunkworks”. Open to ideas. |
| INTERVIEW QUESTIONS | WHAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD LISTEN FOR: |
| 17. Have you ever developed a new product or service? What process did you use? | Understands how to involve others in the creative process. Many experiences. Idea Champion. |
| 18. What do you least like about our selection process so far? Critique it for me. | Thoughtful. Insightful. Candid. Picks big issues we can learn from; not trite. |
| 19. Have you ever been disappointed by someone you thought well of and trusted? | Clear, level headed assessment. With feelings. With learnings. Clear, level headed assessment. With feelings. With learnings. |
| 20. How do you handle the unforeseen? Give me a specific example. | Flexibility. Managing on the fly. Stays on commitments. No problem, can handle anything with no attitude about it. Has a “Plan B.” |
| 21. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 high, rate your Listening and People Sensitivity skills. | 9 or 10; no reservations. No elements of egotistical, abrasive, intimidating, bullying style throughout the interview. |
| ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS: | |
| For any question, complete the PROBE with "What did you learn" and "How have you applied those learnings in other situations". | Learning Agility. Seeking meaning. Aware of environment Self learner. Curious |
| Also, note whether the thinking is Also, note whether the thinking is business perspective. | Sees how all parts of the business fit and work together. Not tied to one functional viewpoint. Has learned the financial aspect and ties it in. |
| How insightful vs. canned are the questions asked by the person. | Intellect. Creativity. Perspective Sophistication. |
| Note the listening skills of the person. | Listens, Paraphrases. Engaged. Natural. |
| Follow-up from any question: Why do you Think I asked that question? | Insight, understanding; analytical ability. Candid. Complexity presented clearly. |
| ADDITIONAL SITUATIONS TO USE IN ADDITION TO THE INTERVIEW | |
| PROJECT: | WHAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD LOOK FOR: |
| Describe a situation and give the person 20 minutes to prepare a flipchart presentation. | Organizing, planning presentation preparation. Knowledge of the subject area. Ability to present convincingly and defend a point of view when challenged. |
| Present a realistic hypothetical situation that requires analytical, problem solving and decision making. Ask: What would you do? | Analytical, problem solving and decision making ability. Knowledge of that type situation. Awareness of complexity and when to involve others, get more information. etc. |
| PROJECT: | WHAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD LOOK FOR: |
| In the next 30 minutes, please summarize in writing your interview performance during the day today; including your strong points and anything you wish you had done differently. | Written communications ability. Organizing. Planning. Written communications ability. Organizing. Planning. Insight. Self-awareness. |
| Here is a pen ( or anything…). Sell it to me. | Here is a pen ( or anything…). Sell it to me. compelling reason; asking for the sale; closing the sale. |