1. Tell me about yourself. (Be prepared for this question! You will surely receive it worded in one way or another. Work up a short statement describing how your academic preparation coupled with your experiences got you interested in this industry. Focus on how you are unique).
2. Describe your weaknesses. Describe your strengths. Describe your skills. (Try to do this to your best advantage. Make it relevant to the job you're applying for and directed to the person with whom you are talking.)
3. What do you judge your major successes or accomplishments to have been? Your failures? Your major disappointments? (You have to have answers. You do not have to expose any of your personal life!)
4. What were the three most important events/decisions of your life? What decisions have you most regretted? Why?
5. Are you a leader? Why do you say you are a leader? (Give examples!)
6. How did you like your summer (previous) job? What did you get out of it? What did you learn about yourself? What was the most rewarding thing about this (these) job(s)? Why did you decide to leave it?
7. What makes you want to be a __________?
Education
1. Why did you choose Minjiang University? Were you satisfied with your education?
2. What did you major in? Given your career interests, why didn't you major in __________? How has this field of study prepared you for this position?
3. How are you doing in school? What courses are you doing best in? The worst in? What have you gotten out of your courses?
4. What courses have you liked the most? The least?
5. Tell me about your high school/college years. (These general questions are the tough ones. Prepare brief structured answers.)
Job – Company – Industry
1. Why are you interested in this field? This particular organization?
2. What do you think you'll be doing in the position you're applying for? What do you think this job requires and how do you match those requirements? What do you think the responsibilities of a __________ are? Why do you think you're suited for __________?
Note: Many of the interviewer's questions may sound like a musical theme with
variations. They may repeat themes to see if you're consistent or because you need to expand your answers.
4. How do you judge a company when you are looking for a job?
5. In addition to the company literature we sent out, what sources did you use to find out about us? What have you actually read? To whom have you spoken?
6. What have you read about our company and products lately, outside of information in our material—in magazines, on TV, etc.?
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7. In your research on our company, a) Do you see any specific problems we have? b) Is there any division in our organization that you are most interested in?
Location
1. Why do you want to stay in __________ / relocate to ________, etc.?
2. Are you free to relocate? What constraints do you have about relocation?
3. How do you feel about traveling? Do you mind the prospect of working abroad?
1. What are the most relevant and specific items in your background, which show you are uniquely qualified for this job?
2. What do you think you could present that would be a stronger asset than other candidates?
3. Why should we hire you?
4. What makes you want to be a_____________?
5. How are you doing in your present job search?
6. What other organizations are you looking into?
7. What do you expect to get out of your career?
8. What aspects of a job are most important to you?
9. What are your goals for the next 4-5 years or ten years from today?
10. What is your greatest accomplishment to date, and why?
11. What do you consider to be your weakness?
12. What do you consider to be your strength?
13. How would you define success?
14. Describe a situation in which someone was unhappy with your performance and how you responded?
15. Do you read, speak, or write a foreign language?
16. How do you spend your spare time?
17. Tell me about the way you work under pressure.
18. Describe a team experience and your role on that team.
Interpersonal Skills
1. Describe a time when you were able to effectively communicate with a co-worker even though you may not have had a positive, personal relationship.
2. Tell me about a time when you needed to defend your ideas/projects in the face of opposition?
3. Describe a time when you and a good friend/co-worker were in a competitive situation. What happened?
4. How would you describe your work style?
5. How well do you work independently? With others?
6. How do you feel about routine work? Regular hours? Overtime work?
Drive, Ambition and Motivation
1. Give me an example when you were exceptionally motivated. Describe this experience.
2. Tell me about a time when you were told that a goal that you set was unattainable. What was your
reaction?
3. We often have very long hours and we expect a great deal from your people. Describe a time when you went above and beyond the “call of duty”
Independence, Maturity, Stress
1. Describe a time when others looked to you for leadership and guidance. What was the situation and how did you conduct yourself?
2. Tell me about a situation in which you needed to juggle several high-priority tasks. What was the outcome?
Educational Background
1. Why did you decide on this course of study?
2. What quantitative courses did you take?
3. Which did you enjoy?
4. What elements of your major program appealed to you the most?
5. What areas of interest will you continue to pursue on your own?
6. How effectively do you balance your course load at school with any jobs or extracurricular activities that
you may have?
7. Why did you choose Minjiang University?
8. How has your field of study prepared you for this position?
9. Do you plan for further education?
10. Describe a time when you were faced with challenge and you developed an innovative way to meet that
challenge.
11. Tell me about an innovative response to challenging work or client situation.
12. Describe a time when your analytical skills were put to the test. What was the challenge, how did you
react, what was the outcome?
13. What project provided you with the greatest challenge?
14. How do you analyze information and arrive at decision? Give me an example.
Co-curricular Related
1. What activities have you been involved in?
2. Which one do you find most rewarding and why?
3. What is the most important thing you’ve learned from you co-curricular activities?
4. Tell me about a challenging situation you faced in _________, how did you deal with it?
5. Describe a situation where you had to take the initiative to start and begin a project, and what you learned
from it?
Work Experience Related
1. How did you like your summer jobs, or internship?
2. What did you learn about yourself?
3. What was the most rewarding thing about this job?
4. What kind of boss would you prefer?
Industry Questions
1. What do you consider to be the most important skills for this position?
2. What personal characteristics are necessary for success in this field?
3. What is your understanding of this industry?
4. Where do you see our industry heading?
Specific Firm Questions
1. What contribution could you make to our firm?
2. Why are you interested in this organization?
3. What interests you about our products/services?
4. What do you know about our organization?
5. How do you judge a company when you’re looking for a job?
6. What sources did you use to find out about us?
7. Why do you want to work for a large/ small firm?
8. Why do you want to work for an international/ local company?
9. What do you think you’ll be doing in this position?
10. What do you think this job requires, and how do you match those
requirements? Are you free to relocate? How do you feel about traveling?