Cooperative Education Program Favorite Interviewing Questions

PERSONAL AND MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Why should our organization hire you? For you, what are some of the pros and cons of working on a team project? Have you ever supervised someone in a similar position with another organization? How would you describe your supervisory style? Who was the most difficult person you have ever dealt with, and how did you respond?

How did you organize your time in school/work/play? What are your major strengths and weaknesses? What personal factors do you consider most important when evaluating yourself? In what organizational structure do you function best? What organizational techniques do you use on a daily basis to accomplish your academic, work, and social goals?

Please tell me about your communication skills, your personal skills relevant to work experiences, and your problem-solving abilities. Please describe your leadership style. What skills and/or special qualities do you possess for this job that would make you stand out from other candidates? How well do you work with others? What skills and abilities do you bring to this job? Please list three personal attributes that you would like to improve, and tell me any efforts you've made to make improvements in these areas.

What do you see as your greatest challenge when starting a new career? How would your friends describe you? What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort? In what areas are you working to improve? Who are two people you admire and respect the most, and why? What aspects of your job at the XYZ organization were most frustrating?

If you could create the perfect job for yourself, what would you be doing? What is special about you that you feel would make you an attractive candidate for our organization? How would others describe your weaknesses? How do you organize your time?

CAREER GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Why do you think you would be good at this profession (sales, retailing, marketing, etc.)? Please describe your ideal job. Why are you interested in this industry/ profession/ occupation? What are your career interests? What work would you like to do that really interests you? In what environment do you want to work?

What geographical location interests you most when working? Please tell me about your plans for the future. What is your timetable for achievement of your current career goals?

Do you prefer theoretical or practical problems? Why do you want to work for XYZ company? In this organization, where do you see yourself in five years? Please tell me five things about yourself that would make you an asset to any organization that hired you.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND COLLEGE EXPERIENCES

If you could relive your college experiences, what would you do differently? What changes would you make in your overall campus life? During your campus activities, what positions did you hold? What were your major responsibilities in these organizations? What did you like best/least about these positions? Did you have an opportunity to work as a member of a team? If so, please explain. What were some of the problems you encountered?

HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS

Please look at this photograph of an electronic gadget, because you would be working with others to enhance its capabilities. It operates a helicopter hovering over an ocean platform. What are some concerns that you would place on your checklist to consider before you started this project?

What could you see as the major objectives of this job? If you were hired by our organization, how would you identity the major roles and responsibilities of your new position?

What roles and responsibilities have you accepted in work, social, and other activities? What is your purpose in life? For what companies have you worked, and were they good or bad, and why? What have you admired in people who have previously supervised your work? What haven't you admired in these individuals? (In general, questions related to work ethic and value systems might also be posed.)

In your opinion, what does it take to be effective in sales or marketing? What are your personal motivational techniques? How would you resolve conflict in a group situation? If you were given this assignment, how would you proceed?

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

What is your grade point average (GPA)? How do you feel about this? Should grades be used as an indicator of future career potential when an organization is considering new college graduates? What were your reactions to instructors or college faculty during your academic program? How would you relate your academic accomplishments to future career aspirations? How satisfied are you with your accomplishments in this academic program?

What electives did you take outside of your major? Why did you choose these courses? What was the most difficult aspect of obtaining a college degree? What are your academic strengths? What courses gave you the most difficulty? If you could, what changes would you make in your school's academic program?

WORK EXPERIENCES

What projects were accomplished during your time on the job? How were these accomplished? What experiences did you have when meeting deadlines for project completion? Explain. What can you tell me that you enjoyed most about your previous job experiences? Least?

Can you tell me about your toughest job assignment? Please tell me about a conflict situation and how you resolved it.

What life experiences have given you the greatest reward? What one experience proved to you that you would be a capable manager? Please elaborate on one of the work experiences listed on your resume. Please tell me about the duties/requirements of your last job. What did you see as your major strengths and/or weaknesses on this job?

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

How did you finance your education? What are your greatest achievements at this point in your life? Of what accomplishments are you most proud?

RELOCATION/TRAVEL

KNOWLEDGE OF THE ORGANIZATION

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Source: Scheetz, L. Patrick. 1989. Recruiting Trends 1989-90. East Lansing, MI.: Collegiate Employment Research Institute, Michigan State University, p. 27-30. $25.