Traditional Interview Questions

  1. What are your long-range and short-range goals and objectives? When and why did you establish these goals and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?
  2. What specific goals, other than those related to your occupation, have you established for yourself for the next ten years?
  3. What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
  4. What do you really want to do in life?
  5. What are your long-range career objectives?
  6. How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
  7. What are the most important rewards you expect in your business career?
  8. What do you expect to be earning in five years?
  9. Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?
  10. Which is more important to you: the money or the type of job?
  11. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
  12. How would you describe yourself?
  13. How do you think a friend or professor who knows you would describe you?
  14. What motivates you to put forth your greatest efforts?
  15. How has your college experience prepared you for a business career?
  16. Why should I hire you?
  17. What qualifications do you have that make you think that you will be successful in business?
  18. How do you determine or evaluate success?
  19. What do you think it takes to be successful in a company like ours?
  20. In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?
  21. What qualities should a successful manager possess?
  22. Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and those reporting to him or her.
  23. What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
  24. Describe your most rewarding college experience.
  25. If you were hiring a graduate for this position, what qualities would you look for?
  26. Why did you select your college or university?
  27. What led you to choose your field of major study?
  28. What college subjects did you like best? Why?
  29. What college subjects did you like least? Why?
  30. If you could do so, how would you plan your academic study different? Why?
  31. What changes would you make in your college or university?
  32. Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?
  33. Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?
  34. What have you learned from participation in extracurricular activity?
  35. In what kind of a work environment are you most comfortable?
  36. How do you work under pressure?
  37. In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested? Why?
  38. How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation?
  39. Why did you decide to seek a position with this company?
  40. What do you know about our company?
  41. What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
  42. Are you seeking employment in a company of a certain size?
  43. What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work?
  44. Do you have a geographical preference? Why?
  45. Will you relocate? Does relocation bother you?
  46. Are you willing to travel?
  47. Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee?
  48. Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which the company is located?
  49. What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?
  50. What have you learned from your mistakes?
  51. Tell me about yourself.
  52. How would you describe yourself?
  53. How would a close friend describe you?
  54. Are you creative?
  55. What do you consider to be your major strengths?
  56. What do you consider to be your major weaknesses?
  57. What is the most difficult work-related situation you have ever faced?
  58. What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
  59. Can you give me an example of a time when you took the initiative at work?
  60. Think of a crisis situation, during which things got out of control. Why did it happen, and what role did you play?
  61. If you had your life to live over again, what would you do differently?
  62. What was your most rewarding college experience?
  63. Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?
  64. What do you think determines an individual's progress within a company?
  65. What relationship should exist between a supervisor and those reporting to him or her?
  66. What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work?
  67. What do you know about our company?
  68. What extracurricular activities did you pursue?
  69. Did you hold positions of leadership in any organizations?
  70. How has your college experience prepared you for a professional career?
  71. How would working evenings affect you?
  72. How important is communication and interaction with others on the job?
  73. How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation?