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JOB INTERVIEW SCRIPT 101

Please consider these common interview questions as you prepare for your next interview. An individual cannot plan for every question that may
be asked, but reviewing potential questions and thinking of your responses will certainly help prepare for common questions. Being more prepared
will help ensure a successful interview. You leave a positive impression and increase the chance of
getting a job offer.

Below are some questions interviewers may ask and some ideas for questions you can ask at an interview:

Question Answer
Tell me about yourself. Begin with the present and tell why you fit the position. Remember that the key to all successful interviews is to match
your qualifications with what the interviewer is seeking. In other words, you must sell yourself. This is the single most
important strategy in job hunting.

Hence, before answering this or any question, it's important that you try to know your interviewer's greatest need, want,
problem, or goal. To do so, make you take these two steps:
1. Do all the research you can before the interview to learn this person's wants and needs (not the industry’s or
company’s general needs)
2. Ask for a complete description of the position as early as possible in the interview. You might say: "l have several
accomplishments I'd like to tell you about, but I want to maximize our time together and talk directly about your
needs. To help me do that, could you tell me more about the position’s top priorities? All I know is what I (heard
from the recruiter, read in the classified ad, etc.)"

Why do you want this job?
After uncovering what the employer seeks, describe why the job’s needs bear striking parallels to tasks you've succeeded
at before. Be sure to illustrate with specific examples of your responsibilities and especially your achievements, all of which
are geared to present yourself as a perfect match for the needs he has just described.
This question tests whether you've done any research about the firm. If you haven't, you lose. If you have, you
win big. It is your opportunity to hit the ball out of the park, thanks to the in-depth research you should do
before any interview.

“I’ve researched the job and found that my skills and interests fit the role. I’m good at planning and organizing,
have great attention to detail, and would like to learn new skills. I think I’d be a great match for your company.”
What are you looking for in a The only right answer is to describe what the company offers, ensuring your answer is believable with specific
job? reasons, stated with sincerity, and why each quality represented by this opportunity attracts you.

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“I’m looking for a job where I can work as part of a team and learn from others. And I’ll be happy that I’ve
pushed myself to do something new.”
Where do you see yourself The interviewer wants a sense of how you view career progression and if you understand how advancing at
five years from now? their organization works. Will you only be here for a year before moving on, or are you committed to staying
here for a while? Are you a stable person? Can you set goals for yourself?

Tips: Be aware that they might not want to hire someone who will only be around for a year or two. Be
transparent about your goals, but be vague enough to avoid implying you’re already planning to leave. Feel free
to say that you have one goal at the moment: to be the very best employee for that particular job.
What are your greatest This question seems easy, but be prepared. You don't want to make an impression that you are egotistical or
strengths? arrogant. Neither is this a time to be humble.

As a general guideline, the 10 most desirable traits that all employers love to see in their
employees are:
1. A proven track record as an achiever... especially if your achievements match the employer's greatest
wants and needs.
2. Intelligence... management "savvy."
3. Honesty... integrity... a decent human being.
4. Good fit with corporate culture... someone to feel comfortable with... a team player who meshes well
with the interviewer's team.
5. Likeability... positive attitude... sense of humor.
6. Good communication skills.
7. Dedication... willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve excellence.
8. Definiteness of purpose... clear goals.
9. Enthusiasm... high level of motivation.
10. Confident... healthy... a leader.
What’s your greatest Disguise a strength as a weakness.
weakness?
Examples: "Nobody's perfect, but based on what you've told me about this position, I believe I’d make an
outstanding match. I know that when I hire people, I look for two things most of all. Do they have the
qualifications to do the job well and the motivation to do it well? Everything in my background shows I have the

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qualifications and a strong desire to achieve excellence in whatever I do. So I can say in all honesty that I see
nothing that would cause you even a small concern about my ability or my strong desire to perform this job
with excellence."

“I sometimes act too quickly, but I’ve learned to make a thorough checklist before I start a new task or project,
which means I don’t miss anything or rush into things without thinking them through.”
Have you ever dealt with To prepare for questions, look back on your experiences and their context. Create a mental “library” of stories
being in a team with people that capture you at your best or a moment of significant learning. The key to answering these storytelling
you don’t get along? questions is through the STAR approach:
Situation - Task/Thinking Process – Action – Result/Reflect.

“I work in a shop, and some people in my team weren’t getting on. I spoke to my boss about it, and she called
for a meeting to discuss the problems. In the end, we talked them through with the team. Things got a lot better
after that.”
“Can you describe a time Like other negative questions, interviewers try to gauge your reaction and response. Most roles are colleague-
when your work was unfairly or client-facing, so accepting and responding to criticism is not uncommon in the workplace.
criticized?”
Describe the situation, the critique, and the circumstances around it. Show that you recognize why the critique
happened, how it might have gone differently, or what you learned from it. Avoid harsh criticisms or personal
judgments of others.
What do you like to do in your You want to be well-rounded, not a drone. But your potential employer would be even more turned off if he
spare time? suspects your heavy extracurricular load will interfere with your commitment to work. Try to gauge how the
company's culture would look upon your favorite outside activities and be guided accordingly.

“I’m part of a tennis team, as I said, and I enjoy it. As well as loving to play, it’s meant I’ve made some good
friends and been part of a team. We have been helping each other improve some skills we needed to work on,
and we’ve been playing much better. I also like to write for the school paper and have to do research and
interview people, which is fun. I also like being with my friends, and we go out together.”
What is your expected salary? Never bring up salary. Let the interviewer do it first. Good salespeople sell their products thoroughly before
talking about price. So should you. Make the interviewer want you first, and your bargaining position will be
much stronger. If your interviewer raises the salary question way before you've had a chance to create the
desire for your qualifications, set the question aside, saying something like, "Money is important to me, but not

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my main concern. Opportunity and growth are far more important. What I'd rather do, if you don't mind, is
explore if I'm right for the position and then talk about money. Would that be okay?"

The #1 rule of any negotiation is: the side with more information wins. After you've done a thorough job of
selling the interviewer and it's time to talk salary, the secret is to get the employer talking about what he's
willing to pay before you reveal what you're willing to accept. So, when asked about salary, respond by asking,
"I'm sure the company has already established a salary range for this position. Could you tell me what that is?"
Or want an income commensurate with my ability and qualifications. I trust you'll be fair With me. What does
the position pay?" Or, more simply, "What does this position pay?"
Can you work under This an easy question, but you have to make your answer believable.
pressure?
Example: Absolutely. (then prove it with vivid examples of a goal or project accomplished under severe
pressure.) Provide a concrete example to demonstrate how you have handled working under pressure.
Why should I hire you? Answer this question thoroughly, focusing on how you will apply your personality traits, skills, and experience
to the job. A good answer focuses on how you can benefit the company. You can best do this by researching a
company before the interview and being ready with examples of how your skills, talent, etc., might help tackle
some of the challenges that the company faces. Do you have a unique selling point to make you stand out from
the other candidates?

“I’d like to think I’ve shown you I’ve got the skills and experience required for this job. I’m good at
communicating and working in teams. I’m good at solving problems; I’m flexible and enjoy
learning new things. From what I know and what you’ve told me about the job, I think I’d be an asset to your
company.”
Do you have any questions for This is to gauge if you have researched the organization and to assess your listening skills during the interview.
us? Are you prepared to ask questions? How interested are you in this position?

Tips: Ask questions to which you genuinely seek an answer. Use your questions to convey your enthusiasm for
the role or organization. Ask for your interviewer’s contact information, the next step in the hiring process, and
the expected recruitment timeline. Ask at least one question, even if all of your prepared questions have been
answered. Never say, “No, you’ve answered all of my questions.”

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Examples:
• What skills/qualities do the most effective people in the department/organization have?
• What do you hope the person you hire will accomplish in the first year?
• How would you describe the work culture?
• What do you most enjoy about your job?
• What is the largest challenge facing the department right now?
• Are there any anticipated major new developments or changes that will impact this position?
• What is your hiring timeframe for this position?
• Has there been many turnovers in this department, and if so, why do you think that is?

References:
Aberystwyth University. (2014). All about Interviews. Retrieved from https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/media/departmental/careers/pdf/interviews_en.pdf
California State University. (n.d.). Interview Handbook. Retrieved from https://www.csuci.edu/careerdevelopment/services/documents/interviewhandbook.pdf
Sargent. A. (2017). The First Job Interview. Florida State University
Harvard T.H. Chan. (2016). Guide to Acing the Interview. Retrieved from https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2020/03/Guide-to-Acing-
the-Interviewing.pdf
Pophal, L. (2023, February 22). What is Your Body Language Telling Your Interviewer? Retrieved from https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7678-body-language-
mistakes.html
Princeton University. (n.d.). Interview Guide. Retrieved from
https://careerdevelopment.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf1041/files/media/interview_guide_5.pdf
Oglethorpe University. (n.d.). Interviewing Successfully. Retrieved from https://alab.oglethorpe.edu/files/2014/09/Interviewing-Succesfully.pdf
University of Dubai. (n.d.). Interview Technique Tips: Building Your Career Tools. Retrieved from https://ud.ac.ae/files/icdc_interview.pdf

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