Standard question

Recommended answers

Interviewer purpose

Q1)Tell me about yourself?

1. Briefly communicate where you were born and raised.

2. Focus on your academics and experience.

3.Ask yourself, what are the top five things I want this

person to know about me?

4.Do not tell things like I was a clown or a black sheep

of the family or a naughty child etc.

The interviewer tries to break

the ice and wants to have some idea

about your profile.

Q2) Where do you see yourself

five years from now?

1. Be relevant (e.g: if applying for a job in system

analyst mention- handling the System department or a

large project.)

• Avoid answers like a renowned film actor or a

cricket star.

The question is designed to help the

Interviewer know if the job seeker is

serious for a long term or wants to

work in it as time pass.

Q3) How do you make yourself

indispensable to a company?

What is your greatest

strength?

1. Tell about your skills, qualities and unique selling

proposition and relate it to the job position.

2. Give evidence of it by freely quoting your

contributions, achievements in your earlier job or

through real life incidents.

Interviewer is looking for both technical

and interpersonal competencies and

wants to know whether the candidate

is qualified for the job.

Q4) What is your greatest

weakness?

Mention your weaknesses and what are you doing about it?

Or Mention a weakness and stress the positive aspects.

The interviewer is trying to know if you

have any major flaw, which would

impact your output or performance

or will not jell with the culture of the

organization.

Q5) How do you cope with

a tightand heavy schedule?

What is your typical day

alike?

Mention that you do the time planning and prioritize

the activities.

The interviewer is trying to find out

whether you manage your timework in

organized manner or just take as it comes.

Q6) Why should we hire

you?

Sum up your work experience and emphasize your

strengths and achievements and relate to the job

requirement.

Wants to know do you meet the job

Requirement.

.

Q 7) How much money do

you expect?

Mention what are you earning currently?

If you are a fresher mention the salary currently

prevalent.

Interviewer wants to know what are

your expectations; are you affordable?

Q8) What are some

examples of activities and

surroundings that motivate

you?

Mention the activities and surrounding and relate to

the position applied for. E.g: - if you are applying

for a company like Nokia; you could say to gain

knowledge about the innovative latest technology

motivates me or in a sales job you can say that traveling

and meeting different people motivates me.

The interviewer is trying to know that

will you be happy doing this job or

it is just the time gap arrangement.

Q9) Tell me how you

handled an ethical dilemma.

You have to give examples where you followed both

the personal values and the corporate policy.

The interviewer is trying to know how

strong is your value system and integrity

Q10) Tell me about a time

when you had to resolve a

problem with no Rules or

guidelines in place.

Explain then background and how by analysis you

arrived at a decision. Give examples of your skills and

USP in explaining

the decision making process.

Interviewer is looking for initiatives,

ability to overcome obstacles and

decision-making ability.

Q11) Tell me about a time

when you had to accomplish

a task withsomeone who

was particularly difficult to

get along with.

.

You should mention that you are sensitive and

empathize with other persons and keeping that in

mind you achieved the desired objective by

influencing them .Do not mention that I avoided them

or became disturbed or confronted them.

.

The interviewer is trying to assess

your Emotional quotient and people

management skills