One of the keys to successful interviewing is anticipating the questions the interviewer will ask. It's amazing how few job seekers take the time to consider this. Here are some samples of interview questions interviewers might ask. While the terminology and phrasing of the questions will vary depending upon the industry, the reader should get an idea of what to expect. As an added bonus, here are some sample questions job seekers will want to consider asking.

SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

• Tell me about yourself.
• Describe a situation in which you were successful.
• What is your most significant accomplishment?
• What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?
• Describe a conflict you had with a supervisor/co-worker/colleague and the process you used to resolve it.
• What do you consider your greatest strength/weakness?
• If I were to ask your professor/colleague/friends to describe you, what would they say?
• How has your education prepared you for your career?
• Why do you want to work in our industry/company?
• What do you know about our company?
• Why did you leave your last position/Why do you want to leave your current position?
• Describe your last position (likes/dislikes)?
• What type of management style do you prefer to work under?
• How would your last supervisor describe you?
• What three words would you use to describe yourself?
• Why should we hire you?
• What in your mind makes a successful (job title)? What have you done to achieve these results in your past experience?
• Why are you qualified for this position?
• How do you work under pressure?
• What does it mean to you to be a professional?
• How do you interact with people that are older/younger than you?
• Describe a major failure that you experienced and what you learned from it.
• What question did you expect us to ask

SAMPLE QUESTIONS TO ASK IN AN INTERVIEW

•Six months from now, how would you know you hired the right person for this job?
• How would you describe your management/supervisory style? (provided future supervisor is involved in the interview)
• What are the opportunities for growth?
• How is an employee evaluated in this position?
• What do you think is the biggest challenge of this position?
• Why did the person who had this position previously leave?
• What are your goals for this department?
• Do you have any questions or concerns regarding my fit for this position?
• What will be the next step in the hiring process?

Interviewing can be fun if you understand and practice the rule of the game. If you do your work before, during and afterwards, you can expect to see things improve. For assistance, hire a professional career coach.

John P. Carvana has been a career serivce practitioner for almost thirty years. He has worked as a Corporate Recruiter with a Fortune 500 and has held management level positions with some of the most prestigious universities in America. He has helped hundreds of job seekers prepare for and succcessfully enter their desired career path.

John is a certified Career and Life Purpose Coach and specializes in assisting individuals thirty (30) years and older with finding their carer passion, identifying obstacles and beliefs that sabotage success, and with entering (or re-entering)the job market. He specializes in effective resume development and helping others master the skills to conduct interviews that get results.

For more information, visit John's website at http://www.discoveredpurpose.com, send him an email at jcarvana@comcast.net or give him a call at 209.479.2165