Interview Preparation and Checklist
Here are some of the questions an interviewer might ask and which you should have the answers to:
Family Background
1. What does your father do for a living?
2. Does your mother have a job as well? Where?
3. How many brothers and sisters do you have? What do they do?
4. In what towns have you stayed? Which towns did you like? Which did you not like? Why?
5. What was life like at home?
6. Are you planning to move out of home?
7. Are you planning to move out of town?
8. Are you planning to get married? When?
Education
1. How did you like school? Why did you change schools?
2. Did you like the school? Why?
3. Why did you go to ‘X’ College?
4. Why did you choose these subjects?
5. Do you think that your grades reflect your correct ability?
6. What games did you play? How proficiently?
7. What extra curricular activities did you participate in at college?
8. How will your qualifications help in the job you are applying for?
9. If you were to live again, would you go through the same educational process?
10. Which subjects did you like most? And least?
11. Did you do any courses outside regular hours?
12. Did you pursue studies while you worked?
Work Experience
1. Why did you take up this kind of job?
2. Why did you join and leave these companies?
3. What do you like most and least about your job?
4. What was your major contribution to your company? Was there anything significant that you did?
5. How many people reported to you? Who did you report to?
6. How did you get on with your staff and colleagues?
7. What are the problems you face in your industry or company?
8. Why are you looking for a job change?
9. What kind of contribution do you think you can make?
10. Why do you think you are suitable for this position?
A Real Situation
Romy had spent twenty-four years in the engineering industry. He was at the Vice President level. But he was now keen on changing the industry focus. He wanted to get into the automobile industry, which he felt was a ‘sunrise’ industry.
Romy spent four months reading all he could about automobiles - the market in Europe, India and US; the market shares; the strengths and weaknesses of each brand; the problems of infrastructure, et al. Then he applied to the two new automobile entrants into India.
Romy was surprised; he was called for an interview by both companies. He came through with flying colours. It seemed he knew more about the automobile industry than some of those on the panel.
He was offered a good assignment - and he accepted the offer. Good preparation had led to a predictable result!
Aspirations/Attitudes/Opinions
1. How do you judge the progress you have made so far?
2. Has it been an increasing learning process? In what way?
3. What are your aspirations?
4. Where do you expect to go in the next five years?
5. What growth opportunities do you anticipate in your present organisation? Why?
6. What growth opportunities do you expect here? Why?
7. What do you know about this organisation – its management, style, products, and policies?
8. What circumstances have gone against you in the past?
9. Have you been under much stress? How have you handled it?
10. How did you get on with your boss?
11. Why have you not named him as your referee?
12. What is your connection with the referees named?
13. May we refer to them next week?
14. Do you feel comfortable working with figures and with computers?
15. Are you an outdoor person or an office person?
16. Do you prefer a staff function (more mental-planning) or a line function (more active-outdoor)?
17. Do you consider yourself a good communicator? Why?
18. Would you be better at verbal or written communication?
19. List one failure in your job. How did it help you?
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