Category: job interview questions

a range of job interview questions and answers designed to help career professionals to pass more job interviews

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Have you ever had a problem with a supervisor?

Commonly asked job interview question

This article will explain how to respond to the ‘problem supervisor’ job interview question.

When asked a question about previous supervisors, don’t fall into the obvious trap of stating the negative characteristics of the previous supervisor.

Instead follow these 3 steps to create a positive structured answer – see the video below for a more detailed explanation

  • State the situation (the reason for the fallout)
  • Explain how you both came to an agreement
  • Give the outcome from the situation and solution

Interview Question Have you ever had a problem with a supervisor?

Explanation of the Question:

This could be a trap-they want to see if you will speak ill of a pass employer.  Start by explaining that “you have always worked well with your supervisors”, if they push this question, continue by giving an answer along the lines of this:

Example Interview Answer and Video Tutorial

“The only thing I can think of is when I was asked by a supervisor to complete a task, and I already had a task that needed completing by a certain deadline. My supervisor was a little stressed but we prioritized the work and got both jobs done on time”

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What kind of person would you refuse to work with?

What kind of person would you refuse to work with?

In this article, we have broken down what the interviewer is looking for in a perfect job interview answer, and to help you create the perfect answer we have recorded an example answer as well as a job interview video tutorial

Interview Question What kind of person would you refuse to work with?

How to approach the interview question “what kind of person would you refuse to work with?”

Start by explaining how you get on well with everyone, and then stop to think.

Continue by saying you would not want to work with someone who was violent or someone who was lazy.

Example Interview Answer

“I always get on well everyone I meet, I am often told how friendly and approachable I am. I like to give everyone a chance but I wouldn’t like to work with someone who is violent or lazy”

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Interview Question “Have You Ever Been Asked To Leave a Job?”

Interview Question “Have You Ever Been Asked To Leave a Job?”

This can be really scary if you have been asked to leave a position.

Don’t be tempted to lie in the job interview as the interviewer, once they find out you have lied, they can ask you to leave the company.

The trick to passing job interviews is to predict the interview question and to prepare a killer interview answer.

Set Up Your Own Coaching Business 

Have You Ever Been Asked to Leave a Job?

Keep the answer brief, stay away from the negatives and if you can state how long ago this situation was and how it had nothing to do with your work ethic.

Example Interview Answer

“Once, several years ago, I had just left university and had started a part-time job. The role didn’t suit me, as I like to keep busy. I think the manager knew I was ready to move on so we both agreed I would go”

Interview Video Tutorial – have you ever been asked to leave a job?

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Interview Question “had you ever had to fire anyone?”

Interview Question “had you ever had to fire anyone?”

This article will help you prepare for a supervisory or managerial job interview by teaching you how to answer the tricky interview question – have you ever had to fir someone?

Don’t worry this is only asked for management positions; Firing someone is always serious, when asked this question you need to answer seriously.

The employer here is looking if you quickly fire people or support and develop your staff/team.

If you have never fired an employee you should answer this question in a future presence.

  • The key here is to say how you new your member of staff did not have the capability to complete the role
  • Explain what steps you took to try and improve the employee’s skills/job duties
  • And how finally after giving the employee every opportunity to progress you had to let them go

Interview Video Tutorial “have you ever had to fire anyone?”

Interview Question Have you ever had to fire anyone? 

Example Generic Interview Answer

“In my last management role, one of my team wasn’t meeting her targets. Through appraisals, we found her strengths and areas of development and from this wrote out an action plan for us both to follow, including putting the member of staff through some needed training.

Over several months we monitored her work and any improvements and continue to have regular meetings with the staff member.

After several months we didn’t notice any significant improvements and from this started the grievance procedures, while continuing to monitor the staff member’s performance and following the action plans.

In the end, we felt we had done all we could to support the member of staff and in the end had to let her go. The member of staff actually agreed this was the best choice and thank us for all the support over the last several months”

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Interview Question “Do You Know Anyone Who Works Here?”

Interview Question “Do You Know Anyone Who Works Here?”

This interview question is becoming more common. Interviewers ask this question to check if there will be any potential conflict between colleagues

Interview Video Tutorial

Example Generic Interview Answer

“Yes, one of my friends, Rick works for you. He has told me all about the organisation, the team and the training and support you put in place for staff. The company sounds like a great place to work and I feel I would fit in perfectly” 

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What Have You Done To Improve Yourself Over the Last 12 Months?

What Have You Done To Improve Yourself Over the Last 12 Months?

The world is changing at a rapid rate and all businesses need to recruit staff who like and want to develop themselves, they need staff who can learn and embed new processes easily and quickly.

Interview Video Tutorial

Example Generic Interview Answer 

“As the industry and technology changes at a rapid rate in our sector, I constantly keep myself updated. Since graduating from university and I have self-funded several short courses to improve my expertise on the ICT systems relevant to our industry” 

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Interview Question What Do You Know About This Company?

What Do You Know About This Company?

Interview Question Help.

What Do You Know About This Company? Interview Question

This article will teach you how to answer the interview question ” What Do You Know About This Company?”

This is the most commonly asked interview question which is asked at the interview start, so it goes without saying that you need a well-rehearsed answer, as this will increase your interview confidence from the start of the job interview.

The trick to passing job interviews is to predict the interview question and to prepare a killer interview answer.

Set Up Your Own Coaching Business 

What do you know about this organisation?

Often one of the first questions you will be asked during the interview, employers want employees who will stay with the company, this question and answer will show the employer that you know the company’s history and feel they will be a good employer to work for.

It also shows the employer that you think ahead and carries out research.

Answer this question with:

  • The length the organisation has been operating for.
  • How the company started
  • What services/products the company offers
  • Where they are going (have they won any new contracts)

All this information is normally found on the internet; on the company home page or about us page.

Example Interview Answer

“I know a great deal about your organisation, before I applied for the job position I researched the company.

I really like how the company started as a partnership company 10 years ago and has grown to a company of 70 staff working throughout 18 countries.

You started by operating in a niche market and have now expanded this to working in several areas of the same sector this highlights creatively and forward planning, this was one of the reasons why I applied for the position”

Interview Video Tutorial – what do you know about this company?

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If You Were What Type Of Person Would You Hire?

Interview Question If You Were Me What Type Of Person Would You Hire?

This article will teach you how to answer the interview question “If You Were What Type Of Person Would You Hire?”

This answer comes in two parts, first, you state the required skills (recorded on the job specification) and secondly, you mention your work ethic

The trick to passing job interviews is to predict the interview question and to prepare a killer interview answer.

Set Up Your Own Coaching Business

How to approach the interview question.

Mention the skills they are looking for, you will know them by now as this question is often asked in the middle of the job interview.

Follow this up with a sentence about your work ethic. This interview question explains two things, first you understand the job role and second, you possess the required job criteria

Example Interview Answer

“someone with the experience and more importantly the knowledge to ensure that all targets are met, they would have to have excellent communication skills as they will be working with a wide range of indiviuals from various backgrounds. You want someone, like me, who is hardworking and reliable.”

Interview Video Tutorial – If You Were What Type Of Person Would You Hire?

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Interview Question What Would Your Last Manager Say About You?

Interview Question What Would Your Last Manager Say About You?

This article will teach you how to answer the interview question “What would your last manager say about you?”

Be confident with this question and really praise yourself by stating how wonderful your previous manager thought you were. Start by stating how they would want you back, discuss your work ethic and end with your key strengths.

The trick to passing job interviews is to predict the interview question and to prepare a killer interview answer.

Set Up Your Own Coaching Business 

How to approach the interview question

Many people in job interviews don’t like to state how great they are – but this is what you have to do in the job interview?

This is question is great, as you can state comments that others have positively said  about you (this way it’s not you being big-headed)

Example Interview Answer

“I think they would say would want me back, as I always got on with my work and they use to say that I was the type of person who would go far in this industry”

Interview Video Tutorial – what would your previous manager say about you?

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Interview Question What Is Your Dream Job?

What is your dream job? Interview Question

This article will teach you how to answer the interview question “what is your dream job?”

This question is designed to uncover if you want a job because you are passionate about what you do or because you simply want a salary.

The trick to passing job interviews is to predict the interview question and to prepare a killer interview answer.

Set Up Your Own Coaching Business 

What is Your Dream Job Interview Question

Rather than just mentioning the job title, explain the duties you preference relevant to the job criteria.

Also, you can state how your dream job would be somewhere with a good work ethic and commitment to staff development. 

Example Interview Answer

“I have always wanted to work within an organisation with a reputation for excellence, like this one. My dream job has been in a role where I can solve business problems and make a difference with other organisations. What is really important to me, is to work within a good team in a company that is moving forward”

Interview Video Tutorial – what is your dream job?