21. Why did you apply for this job?
Why do you want this position?
What interests you about this position?
Answer :I’ve worked in the travel industry for five years and I’ve enjoyed every minute. I’d like to work for XYZ Corp because they are industry leaders and I want to work with the best people and the best products I can. There are exciting times ahead for the firm, particularly in light of the firm’s recent announcement that it was expanding it’s product range by 25% over the next 24 months. I feel that my drive, creativity and determination will be an asset to the firm and will enable me to succeed in this role. This position would enable me to apply my skills in an exciting and challenging environment. I think this position is a perfect match for my talents and my career goals.

22. What separates this company from our competitors?
Answer :ABC Corp spent much of the eighties and nineties among the top seven engineering companies in the state. It is now the undisputed leader in five states with aspirations to become the leading company in the sector countrywide. That tells me that the company is highly ambitious, with a commitment to excellence in every department that enables it to meet, and indeed surpass, its aspirations. ABC Corp is now the company that its competitors aspire to become. That is what separates this company from its competitors.

23. What attracts you to this company?
What interests you about this company?
Answer :ABC Corp is a leading national software vendor. It has set itself aggressive targets to achieve in the near to medium term. In particular, the firm aims to become the leading vendor on the Internet within three years. I respect the history of the firm from a small start-up to one of the largest employers in the state. I also respect the principles upon which it has grown. The firm has achieved magnificent results to date and I would like to help it achieve its goals in the future.

24. Do you feel overqualified for this job?
Answer :I don’t think there’s such a thing as being over-qualified for a job. Every position brings with it a new environment, new people and new challenges. I feel that the skills I would bring to a new job can only help me to do a better job, and would in no way hinder the challenges I would face.

25. Do you feel underqualified for this job?
Answer :I attended weekend computer courses at my local district college for three years. It has changed me from someone who was scared of using a computer into a very competent computer user. My training has enabled me to gain promotion into a senior administrative role in my current job.

26. What courses/classes have you taken to stay ahead in your field?
Answer :I attended weekend computer courses at my local district college for three years. It has changed me from someone who was scared of using a computer into a very competent computer user. My training has enabled me to gain promotion into a senior administrative role in my current job.

27. What educational goals do you currently have?
Answer :I enjoy sailing very much. In the near future I plan to begin studying in order to become a qualified yachtsman. My ultimate goal is to become sufficiently experienced that I could skipper a crew in a competitive race.

28. Have you completed your education?
Answer :I believe that I’ve finished my formal school and college education. Right now I’m focusing on my career and on being as good at my job as I possibly can. I enjoy learning and I think it’s essential in both personal and career development. Ideally, I hope that the firm I join will encourage growth and learning through in-house and/or external training. I strongly believe that the most important component of learning occurs ‘on the job’ where you learn from your peers, manager and others around you. In summary, my answer is ‘No’, I very much hope that my education is not over.

29. What did you like most about college?
Answer :I enjoyed many things about college. It was a new challenge and an opportunity for me to expand my horizons both educationally and personally. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect was the chance to meet new people from different backgrounds. Of course the social aspect of college was immense fun, but I also relished collaborating with other people with different specializations from me.

30. What did you like least about college?
Answer :It may seem a bit premature, but I would very much like to develop my project management and team leadership skills. I would very much like to take responsibility for a project or team in the next twelve months and I think developing those skills now would make the transition easier.

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11. What concerns you about this job?
Answer:I have no concerns about this job. I believe it closely matches my skill set and is a natural progression in my career. I look forward to the challenge but am confident that I can make a success of this role.

12. What concerns you about this company?
Answer:I have no concerns about this company. My research has shown that ABC Corp is dedicated to the development and advancement of its staff. I’ve also learnt that the benefits package is one of the best within the industry.

13. How long would it take before you could contribute to this company?
Answer:I’d need to get a better idea of the full responsibilities associated with this job, along with an idea of the complexities of each.

14. When would you expect your next promotion?
Answer:It’s difficult to give an exact time without knowing the personnel structure within XYZ Corp and specifically the line of responsibility associated with this position. However, I’m an ambitious person and through hard work, dedication, and with the guidance of a good manager, I aim to gain my next promotion as soon as possible, ideally ahead of ‘normal’ timeframes.

15. Why are you seeking a new job?
Answer:I’ve worked with ABC & Co for three years. During that time I’ve achieved all of the goals I set myself and I’ve enjoyed every minute. Now, however, my aspirations extend beyond those of ABC & Co. I would like to tackle a new challenge in a different environment.

16. Where do you see this company going?
Answer:XYZ Corp is the number three firm in the corporate security sector. The company does not hide the fact that it wants to lead the sector within two years. I believe that the firm can achieve this. It’s a young company with a dynamic workforce and a tremendous growth rate. XYZ Corp’s bright future make it a very attractive place to work.

17. If you were offered this job, what factors will dictate whether you accept it or not?
Answer:I’m at various stages of the interview process with a number of firms at the moment. My preferred position will be in a company that offers a challenging environment, a prospect for promotion, and a rewarding working experience. It’s important to me that I work for a company with bright prospects and strong desire for success. Obviously XYZ Corp is one of my preferred companies.

18. This is a much bigger company than you’ve ever worked at. How do you feel about that?
Answer:I’m very excited. I’ve worked at three small or medium sized companies during my career and while there have been different challenges at each, I’ve always been successful. I’m looking for a new challenge in a large organization where I can apply my talents. This position in XYZ Corp certainly matches what I’m looking for

19. This is a much smaller company than you’ve ever worked at. How do you feel about that?
Answer:It’s great. I’ve learnt a lot working in a large organization and I’m looking forward to applying my knowledge and experience in a smaller arena. I’m under no illusions that the task ahead will be every bit as challenging as my previous role, if not more so, but it’s a challenge that I’d relish.

20. What do you know about our products?
Answer:I know that XYZ Soft specialize in the development of software solutions for small and medium sized businesses. The firm’s best-selling products are leaders in the field – the XYZ Project Management Tool and the XYZ Personnel Management Tool. I feel that XYZ Soft has a solid product and customer base upon which it can build in the future. I understand that the firm’s aim is to develop existing and new products with the aim of breaking into the Corporate sector. It’s an ambitious aim but one that I believe XYZ Soft are more than capable of achieving. A major attraction of this position is the opportunity it offers to be a part of the challenging and exciting times ahead at XYZ Soft.

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The sample interview questions offers possible interview questions. Based on the requirements/duties of the job, identify possible interview questions:

The sample interview questions for each interview are based on the knowledges, skills and abilities required to perform the job. The key knowledges, skills and abilities from the job description of the job that you’re interviewing for.

Review each interview question and notice how small changes in the interview question will change your answer. Review each interview question to give you the confidence to answer any interview question that may be asked.

1. If offered to you, how long do you plan to stay in this role?
Answer :I approach every new job with a long-term view. I would like to think that I can make a positive contribution to XYZ Corp for the foreseeable future.

2. What kind of salary are you seeking?
Answer1 : I would expect a salary which reflects the experience and qualifications that I bring to the role. What range do you have in mind?
Answer2 : I’ve got a strong background in this industry and my skills are a perfect match for this role. I would expect my compensation to be at the upper end of the position’s salary band. Can you tell me what that salary band is?
Answer3 : Based on the information I have about the position, a salary in the range 28,000-32,000 would reflect the experience and expertise that I would bring to the role.

3. What do you think it takes to be successful in an organization like this?
Answer :I think that determination, a willingness to work hard and a desire to excel in everything you do are key attributes for a successful employee in a company like XYZ Corp. A successful employee would also need to handle pressure well, be a great communicator and an excellent team member. These are attributes that have helped me succeed in my past positions and ones that I would like to apply in XYZ Corp..

4. What do you know about this organization?
Answer :I know that XYZ Corp. has been in existence for four years. It was founded by John Rush in his garage and he has built it into the third largest office supplies firm in the state with aspirations to make it number one within two years. It’s renowned as an ambitious and highly progressive company and I believe it has a very bright future. I also like the fact that XYZ Corp isn’t a company that rests on its laurels.

5. What do you know about the position you’ve applied for?
What duties do you think this job entails?
Answer :The Media Marketing Co-ordinator reports to the Marketing Director. Her role is to co-ordinate all media advertising, particularly print, radio, and television. The Co-ordinator works with Media agencies to profile advertising opportunities, then, working within a strict budget, she organizes cross-media advertising campaigns. An important aspect of the role is to disseminate the customer response to the adverts in order to measure its success and thus improve future campaigns.

At my last job in ABC & Co I worked closely with several different media agencies, including some that specialized in new media platforms such as the Internet. I also gained invaluable experience as a member of the team that established ABC & Co as a national brand by launching ABC DooDaa nationwide. I feel that I can bring this expertise to the Media Marketing Co-ordinator role and help XYZ Corp achieve it’s goal of doubling it’s customer base every year for the next three years.

6.What do you know about this industry?
Answer :The telecommunications industry is currently going through a period of rapid expansion. The major industry players are positioning themselves for the delivery of the next generation of telecommunication services. New developments in mobile, broadband and satellite communications mean that it’s an incredibly exciting time to be in the industry. I’ve no doubt that the telecommunications industry will be a driving force of the worldwide economy in the 21st century. I know that XYZ Corp intends to be a frontrunner in that expansion. For that reason, this job is highly attractive.

7. Why would you like to work for me?
Answer :I’ve been aware of your reputation for some time. You’re regarded as an innovator within the industry and beyond. I appreciate that your team’s success is due to a number of factors, not least of which is hard work. I’m an excellent team player, I’m a very good problem solver, and I work hard to get the job done. For these reasons, I’m confident I’d be an asset to your group. I hope that my experience shows I’m suitably qualified to fulfill the position.

I know that your position within this firm speaks for itself. My ideal manager is someone that fosters excellence, innovation, and success, as well as personal and professional growth. It’s widely recognized that XYZ Corp’s strongest asset is its staff thanks to its strong belief in training and development. For these reasons, this is a highly desirable role.

8. What challenges do you think you’ll face in this job?
What problems do you think you’ll face in this job?
Answer :Having worked in a similar role at ABC & Co, I expect that this job will present regular deadlines to meet, strains on resource availability, conflicting priorities, and budgetary concerns to name but a few issues. These are challenges that I’ve successfully tackled in the past and I’m sure that record would continue here. I relish a challenge and there’s nothing that I’ve seen in this job that intimidates me in any way.

9. What salary do you think you deserve?
Answer :Having worked in the advertising industry for seven years, I bring a valuable combination of expertise, experience and dedication to each new job. I expect that a compensation towards the top of the salary range for this position would adequately reflect the value of my skills.

10. What is your salary history? Do you expect that pattern to continue?
Answer 1 :(Candidate with good salary increases)
In the four years of my employment at ABC & Co I was very happy with my salary growth. My most recent increase was a 15% rise after the successful completion of a year-long project. I feel that the increase reflected my performance and the extra responsibilities I assumed during the course of the project. I hope XYZ Corp is an organization that rewards excellent performances in a similar fashion. Is it?

Answer 2 :(Candidate with disappointing salary increases)
My average salary increase during the course of my career has been 6%, although as I moved jobs and assumed extra responsibilities that increase has invariably been higher. Unfortunately I was disappointed with the salary increases at my last job, which averaged 2.5% . This was due to a firm-wide rigid salary structure that I felt did not reward excellent employees over those that made a significantly worse effort. This is one of the reasons that I have decided to look for a job with a more ambitious company where I will be rewarded according to my performance.

• HR Guideline Questions