Selection of the employees – questions at a job interview

Written by: Divna Jović, psychologist.

When we are engaging in an adventure known as „job hunting“ the biggest problem s writing a CV. We are rummaging through certificates confirming our participation in various education courses, looking for recommendations, trying to turn this piece of paper into something that will set us apart from all the other job hunters and make us unique. When we have finally finished writing it, we send it to all the job offers listed keeping our „fingers crossed“ that the employer will realize we are the right person for him. And then it happens. We are called in for an interview. Then we realize that writing the CV, which we were writing for days, read and re-read hundreds of times, polished into perfection, was nothing when compared to the interview. And the interview – the horror! You are standing scaffold, you stomach cramping up, resisting all the never-ending questions, while at the same time trying to think of the right answer which will catapult you into your new workplace from the unemployment office. And in your head – nothing.

Luckily, there is a solution for that problem, as well There are some questions frequently asked in the job interviews and if you prepare, you will without a problem be able to wear the Miss Employment Candidate sash. I’ve found them for you and grouped into areas they refer to:

EDUCATION:

1. How much time did you spend studying, per day?
2. Have you participated in any other educational activities after finishing your formal education, and if yes, how successful were you?
3. Have you been an active member of a student organization?
4. How do your experience and knowledge make you qualified for this work position?

WORK EXPERIENCE:

1. What was expected from you in your previous work positions? Did you have to work overtime and what is your opinion on overtime?
2. Did you work with a college?
3. How often were you trusted with difficult and complicated tasks in your previous work positions?
4. What workload are you ready to do without asking to be considered as overtime work and in which circumstances?
5. Would your colleagues come to you for help in getting work done?
6. What would you say is your biggest accomplishment in your job?
7. Which employer would give you the worst recommendation and why? And which one the best?

ACTIVITIES IN YOUR FREE TIME:

1. How do you spend your free time?
2. Do you have any hobbies?

LEAVING YOUR PREVIOUS WORKPLACE, COMING TO THE NEW WORKPLACE:

1. Why do you want to leave your current job? Why did you leave your last workplace where you were employed?
2. Why are you applying for this job position?

PERCEPTION ABOUT THE NEW WORKPLACE:

1. What do you think are our company’s main activities?
2. What is in this workplace that appeals to you the most*
3. What appeals to you the least?

PERSONALITY:

1. What is the worst thing you ever did?
2. How competitive do you think you are? Do you like competitive sports? In what extent do winning or losing influence our wish to participate in the competition?
3. How do you react to losing in a certain game?
4. How often do you start an argument with your colleagues, professors and similar?
5. Describe a situation in which you felt extremely frustrated and powerless. How did you react?
6. Describe the least mature thing you ever did.
7. What do you think about the possibility of doing more tasks at the same time? How do you feel when you know you will not be able to finish a project on time?
8. How do you plan a certain activity before you start doing it? How much attention do you pay to details, writing reports, etc?
9. In which circumstances did someone rely on you in a high degree? How did you respond to that?
10. In what degree did you volunteer at certain jobs in the past? Why?
11. Describe the thing you did and which challenged you the most intellectually.
12. How would your best friend describe you? And your enemy?
13. How often do you rely on other people? And they on you?
14. To which extent do you believe that people want to use you?
15. How would you react when your superior would have a different opinion on performing a certain aspect of your task?
16. How do you usually feel after a hard day’s work? In the last two years, how many days have you missed work because you were sick?
17. Describe yourself.

COMMUNICATION

1. How would others describe your communication skills?
2. What do you think is your biggest advantage when communicating with other people?
3. Do you like to communicate with people?
4. Is it difficult for you to put your thoughts on paper?
5. How often have you had the opportunity to speak in front a large group of people?

QUESTIONS FOR PEOPLE IN THE FINAL SELECTION

1. What are you going to do if you don’t get this job?
2. If we offered this job to you, now, how would you react?
3. If you get this job and say this to your current co-workers, how will they react?
4. If they offer you more money in the old workplace to stay and work there, what would you do?
5. What else could you say and that could help us make this decision?
6. What do you think, what kind of mistakes did you do during this interview?