Enabling Technology

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Generally speaking there are going to be certain questions that arise at your interview that you can pretty much expect to get asked at any other interview you attend. The great thing about this is the fact that you can rehearse your answers to these questions and with enough practice they will flow off your tongue easier than honey sipping down your throat! These questions are likely to be fired at all candidates applying for the job so although they may sound personal to you and they are to a degree these are pretty standard interview questions. So here goes you have to bear in mind that these are the responses that I would consider giving, they are obviously not set in stone and you will need to adapt answers according to your situation:

Tell Me About Yourself – Sounds a bit like the sort of question you get asked on a date! This isn’t as straight forward to answer as at first it might seem. Don’t start rambling on about how much you love watching the Simpson’s on the TV that isn’t what the interviewer is looking to hear. You probably need to answer this question with a question. Perhaps you could try saying “What would you like to know about me?” This then gives your interviewer the chance to get you to tell him exactly what information he is looking for. If possible try and keep this part of the interview to a minimum, you will know what the interviewer is looking for following his additional question which will probably have been something based around your job. If you can see if you can build into your response positives which relate to the job you are applying for. For example if it’s a sales role you could say “I am a very organised person who enjoys finding a new prospect, working with it and closing the deal, carrying out the completion from start to finish”. Sometimes your interviewer might ask about your hobbies and again you should pick out points that relate to the job your are applying for whether remote or not.

What Is the Most Enjoyable Part Of Your Current Job? - This is a fairly straight forward question but has a bit of a double meaning. Obviously there are going to be parts of your existing job that you don’t like doing – or you wouldn’t be applying for this new position would you, but your job can’t be that great either or you wouldn’t be applying for this job! Don’t get led down this route, just answer something along the lines of “your existing job is great and you can’t really put your finger on any part of your current job that you dislike you are just looking to further your career” and leave it at that. It is possible to use this question to your benefit but you need to make sure you pick something that is going to compliment the job you are applying for.

Tell Us About The Biggest Challenge You’ve Ever Faced In Your Career? - Oh wow, this is a really great question to help you shine! You are more than likely to be asked this question and it is a really great opportunity for you to blow your own trumpet or so to speak. Pick a challenge where you have been successful and explain how you overcame the challenge and the outcome. This question can also be used by the interviewer to gauge what you consider to be a challenge so this is a bit of a crafty one as well.

Why Do You Want To Leave Your Present Job? - This is a bit of a stupid question really as the chances of the interviewer getting a straight answer are fairly limited. Lets face it if the job your in doesn’t pay very well and you want more money you are going to be looking for a new job. It might be that your current boss is a complete idiot and you don’t like him, it could be you can’t stand working with John in accounts, lets face it you aren’t going to say any of these are you. I think a standard response along the lines of “I feel that I have outgrown the company I am in and I feel my contribution as part of a team could be put to much better use with a larger or more focused company where I can expand my skills further. I am really interested in……..but my existing employer doesn’t have the resources to let me advance in this area” and leave it at that. Just try not to be negative about the job you are leaving it doesn’t look good.

What Is Your Present Boss Like? - Another question posed by interviewers to gauge your loyalty and integrity. It is not a good idea to be critical about any of the employers you have ever worked for. Lets face it very few of us actually like our bosses (well most of us just placate them and tell them what they want to hear), after all why would you possibly want to be best buddies with a person who holds you career prospects in their hands! If you get asked this question the most appropriate reply is “I like my boss and get on very well with him, I respect his experience and he is good at his job”. You really don’t need to expand any further on this issue at interview stage. You have to remember that the person interviewing you may well, at some point in the near future, become your boss and they are weighing up your loyalty and integrity.

What Do You Think This Job Entails? - Now when you are applying for a new job the chances are you are going to know something about what your new job would entail. For example, if the job is a secretarial role and you are a secretary you will know what sort of work you are going to be involved with. In any case you will have been given a brief description of the job role and what responsibilities it carries with it so you should be able to make a fairly calculated guess at what the job entails.

What Do You Know This Organisation? - Now if you have taken my earlier advice you will have done your research and read up about what the company is involved in, its products, its turnover and its strategy. You will really impress your interviewer if you are able to show that you have done some research about their company. As previously mentioned people like to think that if you are really eager to work for them you will have done some research about what they do and how they do it. So lets say you are applying for a job with someone like Marks & Spencer you could say something like “I notice that you are one of the leading stores who operate a “Fair Trade Policy” when purchasing your goods from third world countries I have to say that I am very supportive of this and it’s nice to work for an employer who cares about the impact their business has on people in the outside world”.

What Made You Apply For This Job And Why Do You Want It? - This is a bit of a double edged question. Your interviewer isn’t necessarily looking for an answer here that is straight forward – you know you are applying for the job because you think you would enjoy doing it, the package is right and you think you would be able to advance your career with this firm – but the interviewer wants to see if there are some specifics that really attract you to it (other than the £ 50,000 per year and BMW 3 series!). So dependent upon what the role is you could use an answer such as “I am a very well organised person and this role involves exceptional management skills. I thrive under pressure and it makes me perform to my full ability which makes me think that I would really enjoy it”. Obviously you can tailor this answer to whatever role you are applying for.

What Qualities Do You Think You Can Bring To This Job Position? - Again, you know that you can do this job and that is why you have applied for it. Not only do you know that you can do the job, you will do it better than any one else so you will be aware of the qualities you are going to bring to this business. You will have reviewed the job spec and the key responsibilities so you will be able to select several areas where you feel your qualities will stand out. Perhaps you could therefore give an answer along the lines of “I have experience working in the complaints department where a sympathetic touch is required dealing with disgruntled customers. I am very tactful and am able to defuse situations using my personal skills”.

How Long Would You Expect To Work For Our Organisation? - Let’s face it no employer wants to go through the hassle and cost of hiring a new candidate if the candidate only stays with them for 6 months and then decides to apply to another firm. The recruitment process is a long an expensive one especially where agencies are used to introduce the candidate. This could cost your potential employer as much as 30% of your first year’s package! It’s probably a good idea therefore to intimate that you would like to work for this firm for several years minimum and you could provide an answer along the lines of “I like the way your company is continuing to expand and I would like to be part of that on a long term basis. So I would like to think that I could continue to work for you for a lengthy period of time providing my career continues to progress”.

What’s Your Greatest Strength? - Only you can answer this question, but it is a question that will more than likely be asked, after all, the interviewer wants to know what you are good at. This question gives you pretty much an open mandate to really show off, or so to speak. When answering this question try and provide strengths that relate to the role that you are applying for, so if the job requires the need to be organised and a good team leader provide these as strengths within your answer.

What Is Your Biggest Weakness? - Bit of a tricky question this, after all no one wants to show their weaknesses but we all have them. The most comprehensive way of dealing with this question is to try and turn it into a “positive” from a “negative”. So you could perhaps say “my biggest weakness is buying the kids sweets when they ask for them in the shop” or “I really dislike washing the car at the weekend but once I have done it I always feel a real sense of satisfaction”.

Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years Time? - Don’t say as I have heard so many times “sitting in your job!” although I have a sense of humour most interviewers don’t. The remark often has an element of truth hanging in the background and you don’t want your interviewer thinking you are potentially a threat to his or her job in the future. I am sure you will have ideas about where you want to be in a few years most people, whether they put them down on paper or not, have a good idea of their long term career objectives. Try and answer the question positively but not too arrogantly – perhaps you could say offer an answer such as “I have always been very career minded and ambitious. I would like to keep progressing up the career ladder and feel that your organisation will be able to offer me that opportunity”.

What Would Your Work Colleagues Say About You? - This question provides another opportunity for you to demonstrate that you are easy to get on with, a team player and a generally amenable person who works well with other people. You could answer this question with a quote such as “I am an organised, approachable, dependable, easy to get on with team member who is always willing to offer my advice or assistance to colleagues where needed”. Don’t go over board with your answer making out you are something you are not – you may get away with stretching the truth but if you are not a “natural team leader” don’t say you are!

What Would Your Friends Say About You? - Obviously this question is similar to the one above. If you are a popular, kind, caring person who can be counted on and would help a friend out at the drop of a hat then let your interviewer know.

What Interests Do You Have Outside Of Your Work? - This will be a definite question (in my opinion) and is posed by your interviewer to try and ascertain what you are like outside of your working environment. If you don’t like football or snooker don’t say that you do, just provide honest answers. There is nothing worse than saying you follow a sport and then it turning out that the interviewer is mad about the subject and starts asking you questions you can’t answer you will look a fool and your honesty will be under scrutiny!

What Type Of Books Or Publications Do You Like? - This question needs and honest answer। Just because you think the interviewer is looking to hear you tell them that you have just finished “Marketing Skills Made Easy” and that it was the best read of your life it isn’t a good idea to make it up. If you have genuinely read “David Jason’s” autobiography or “Stephen Kings” latest books then tell the employer what you enjoyed about them. Of course if you work within certain industries, read the trade publications and have recently read an interesting article about the latest “blue widget release” then by all means use this as an example.The ‘STAR’ Approach for Answering a Question.S: Situation – describe the situation.T: Task or problem – what dilemma or problem did you face?A: Action – what action did you take?
R: Result – what was the result of your action?

If you have been invited back for a second interview then things are looking good! You have obviously managed to impress your interviewer in the first place or else you wouldn’t have been invited back for another go. Don’t get complacent here though; it is just as important to do your preparation prior to the second interview as it was your first. Your interviewer has probably invited you back to get a little more information about you or it may be that at second interview stage a more senior member of staff wants to meet you to ask you some questions. It may have been that the interviewer has decided that you are the best candidate in his opinion but needs his superior to meet up with you and Vito his decision – who knows. Many employers use recruitment agencies to carry out the first set of interviews on their behalf to save them time and get a pre-qualified shortlist of candidates, they will have briefed the agency as to what type of candidate they are looking for, qualifications, interpersonal skills etc, etc so this interview may be the first opportunity you have actually had to meet your potential new boss. If you have not already sat a psychometric test or aptitude test then it may be that this will be a requirement at the second interview although, again, if this is to be the case then the chances are that you will have been briefed about it before you attend your second interview. Sometimes time may have been against an interviewer at the first meeting and there may well have been more questions that needed to be asked so this could be another reason you have been invited back for a second interview to clarify any outstanding points that your interviewer couldn’t ascertain in the first place. Remember that the second interview shortlist may have several other candidates on it and you’re your interviewer may want to explore your experience or interpersonal skills in a more in depth manner. One thing is for sure though if you have got this far things are looking positive so you will want to be giving this next meeting your very best.

Your second interview therefore is unlikely to follow the same format as the first. If another more senior member of staff is attending this second interview then the chances are that the interviewer will have already briefed them as to your background and shared any thoughts or concerns with them however there may be one or two questions asked that you answered at the first interview. It could be that there are certain specific areas of concern that your interviewer has and it may well be that they will address these questions in a straight manner. There are going to be specific questions your interviewer is looking to find answers to or clarification of and they are likely to be questions aimed at your ability to do the job should they offer it you or questions based around your past performance with your present or previous employers. So it’s a fair assumption that some of the questions will be along the lines of “give me an example of a project you have undertaken to increase your sales turnover” or “how did you manage to increase your weekly output from x to x”. These questions as mentioned are likely to be aimed at specifics.

It is fair to say that most second interviews usually follow a more informal approach than the first interview। In addition, the chances are you will already have met your interviewer once and you therefore may feel a little less nervous than on the first occasion so if you didn’t accept a beverage when it was offered the first time because you were worried you would throw the cup up in the air 6 foot whenever you were asked a question, you may feel confident to accept one in a less informal environment. Sometimes your interviewer may decide to conduct the second interview outside of the office in either a pub or restaurant. This can be done for a couple of reasons – it may be that the interviewer feels if you are in a more relaxed environment you will let your guard down and he feels that any questions he asks you may attract answers that are more truthful as it appears you are now his friend. Secondly, it could be that your interviewer wants to assess your interpersonal and communication skills outside of an office environment – something that may be relevant to the interviewer if the job role is going to entail entertaining clients socially. Whatever happens don’t get lured into a false sense of security, keep professionalism at the forefront of your mind and only say something you would be prepared to say if the interview was being conducted back at the office. If you are offered an alcoholic drink by all means accept one if you think the circumstances are right (obviously if you don’t drink you can say so) but try and keep it to one – alcohol is a natural relaxant and if you do drink too much you may let your guard down and you might end up saying something you regret – like telling a joke that was perhaps not really suitable for the occasion!

The ‘STAR’ Approach for Answering a Question.

S: Situation – describe the situation.

T: Task or problem – what dilemma or problem did you face?

A: Action – what action did you take?

R: Result – what was the result of your action?

Thump! – The post has arrived – you open your letter and YES, you have been offered the job! However, it might be that you have decided that you don’t want this job after all and that you couldn’t stand the interviewer or the company. If that is the case then you should let the employer know politely and turn them down in a professional manner and as soon as possible – after all there may be someone out there that really does want the job. It is always prudent to remember that you never know when or if you and your interviewers paths might cross again and the last thing you want is to find you’ve happily settled into your new job and six months down the line your new manager happens to be the interviewer who has now joined your company! A lot happens in industry, takeovers, mergers, reverse takeovers, you name it, and most industries are very incestuous. So it’s not a good idea to tell them to shove their job “where the sun don’t shine” or anything else along these lines – so if you have changed your mind and don’t fancy the job anymore just decline it professionally and you then don’t have to worry about “what goes around comes around!”

Life is never simple, if it were, we would all be living in mud huts feeding our children by living off the land and never worrying about a thing - no complications, decisions to make or anything else. But that isn’t the case. The problem you may have is if you have applied for several jobs and attended several interviews and then you get offered a job it may not be your preferred choice. It may be that you are still waiting on an answer, from another company (which is the job you would really like) but have not yet had a reply from them. You don’t want to accept the first job and then find out a couple of days later that you’ve been offered the second one it would be a disaster. Well there’s a couple of ways you can play this. The first thing you need to do in this position should be to try an create yourself some breathing space – buy a bit of time. You could contact the employer and say to them that you’re really pleased that they have chosen to offer you the job you’d just like a day to make your mind up for certain or discuss it with your wife - after all changing jobs is a big decision, one that you are not going to make lightly. This isn’t an unreasonable request and as long as you keep the time extension short then they wont think anything of it. If you start asking for a week to think about it then your potential new employer is going to start getting suspicious and you could be risking the offer – don’t forget they’ve been around the block a few times and know their job. No one wants to play second best and if they think you’re looking for a better offer with another company you could blow your chances – once and for all!

Now you really are in the driving seat! You have a job offer on the table for a job that you really wouldn’t mind doing at all because you know you could do it well – you have little to lose providing you play your cards right. So what do you do next. A good idea would be to contact the company whose decision you are waiting on and explain the situation. Chances are they will be glad to hear that they are your first choice and it always looks good if every one else wants to employ you and that you are in demand – wow what a catch you would be! However just because you are the next Gordon Gecco it’s fairly unlikely that they will give you an answer there and then but it may be that they will get back to you the following day with their decision – it really doesn’t matter if its no because all of your doors are open! It isn’t a good idea to play this game if you haven’t been offered another job (although it seems tempting) because the end result could be disastrous – you don’t want to lose the chances of getting this job by being over zealous if time is just a matter of course.

Negotiating Your Salary & Benefits Package:

Lets get down to business now comes the really important part! It’s always wise to leave negotiating salary and any benefits package until you’ve been offered the job. The reason being once your future employer has decided that you’re the employee for them your are in a great position to negotiate a mutually acceptable package. Negotiating a deal is not just about money and benefits, its about negotiating your whole contract (which includes salary, benefits, holiday entitlement, working hours and of course those free season tickets to your favourite football team or use of the corporate hospitality box!!). By negotiating your deal it will give the perception that you know what your you are actually worth (of course this isn’t necessarily what you are going to get) but that you are not prepared to settle for just any old offer (without being over the top). This might not be exactly what your employer wants, on the basis that they will be paying you more than they really want to, but it will show that you have good negotiating qualities, a strong personality and good negotiation skills (something that will have a good bearing should you be entering a sales orientated role) which you will be able to apply to the job once your in it – it’s a good quality to have. There’s little point in trying to squeeze them like a lemon with unrealistic sums, at the end of the day they can only pay you what they can afford and you might end up losing the job at the last minute – something you won’t want to do due to greed.

So the big question here is how are you going to determine how much they value you and what are they willing to pay you? Well in all honesty it’s no good just plucking a figure out of the air. When you applied for the position the chances are that there would have been an indicative offer in salary whether that being an “Salary In The Region Of X” or “Basic Salary In The Region Of X With On Target Earnings Of X” or “Salary Between X and X Subject To Experience”. Aim for the top end of the scale or if you are really cheeky you could try and squeeze them for 5% – 15% more than the quoted figure, they can only say no and the chances are you will end up getting more than they would have offered you in the first place! Remember that if you can prove to your future employer that you are better than the average “Joe” you will have a far better chance of negotiating your way to the higher level of the salary bracket. So how do you prove this? Well your qualifications are always a good start. If you have more qualifications than were originally advertised for the position then that’s a plus point. You will definitely need to prepare some justifications for asking for the top dollar rate but you could say something like “I’m not only ACII qualified but am four parts FCII qualified and you were originally looking for candidates who were working towards completing their FCII” or “The advertisement for the job stated that the candidate must have two years sales experience for the position whereas I have five years including 12 months experience in pure new business lead generation”.

At the end of the day you have been offered the job based on your experience along with other attributes and because you were an overall better candidate than the other applicants so all you really need to do is point out these qualities and use them in your negotiation techniques.

Additional Employment Benefits:

There are other package benefits that may apply that are not necessarily salary orientated. They are things such as holiday entitlement, luncheon vouchers or expenses, performance related bonuses, commission, overtime, profit sharing, private health insurance, share options, childcare contribution, sports / gym facilities, company car, mobile phone, rail or travel ticket and non contributory pension. This list is not exhaustive and it would be unrealistic to ask for all of these benefits, the best thing to do is choose maybe two or three and see how you get on. It may be that your employer doesn’t want to provide a company car but he may be prepared to finance your travel to and from work so compromise is as always the golden rule.

Hey lets face it some hard ball managers (whether they be HR Managers or Heads of Department) are going to try and get you as cheep as possible so there could be some dirty tactics at play at negotiation stage. You can just bet your bottom dollar that they will be holding a card up their sleeve to try and get you to agree to a lesser package or make you take on more responsibilities that the job role originally stated. Generally speaking this is a little bit “Un British” and ruthless and the chances are they will pull this one out of the hat just when you have almost struck your salary deal. A good example of this is where your employer tells you his right hand man is off sick and is likely to be off for at least six months and would you therefore mind taking over his work. Its not that you don’t want to demonstrate what a hard working person you are or that you can’t do the job but you’ve basically agreed on a salary that was acceptable and now you’re finding out the job is twice as involved – it’s now much harder to go back and negotiate and your employer knows this! All is not lost however. You can prevent this situation happening by you both laying down your cards at the start. All you might say is “We need to talk about my salary, benefits package and holiday entitlement. Are there any other areas of issues concerning the job role or workload that you feel we could do with discussing at whilst we talk about my salary and benefits package?” You have now made it extremely difficult for your employer not to mention the fact that his right hand man is off sick and you will be required to do his job as well as your own for the next six months – hence you can use this in your salary negotiation.

Confirmation Of Your Employers Job Offer:

When you have agreed everything with your employer, salary and benefits package, working hours, holiday entitlement etc, etc and both you and your employer have agreed on the final points of the deal then your employer should issue you with a letter of confirmation of the offer, this should encompass all of the agreed areas such as your salary and benefits package, the title of the job being offered, working hours, the date in which your contract will commence and any conditions that apply to the job offer. Once you receive this confirmation and are satisfied that everything is correct that you should formally respond to your new employer agreeing the terms and conditions outlined in the offer letter and off you go!
The ‘STAR’ Approach for Answering a Question.

S: Situation – describe the situation.

R: Result – what was the result of your action?

Some of the things you should ask at the time include:-

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Don’t:

1. Crossing Your Arms: Makes you look defensive.

2. Sit on the edge of your seat.

3. Mess with your face or play with your jewellery or hair.

4. Rock on the seat.

5. Interrupt when being asked a question.

6. Give one word answers (unless the answer dictates a one word answer!)

Do:

1. Smile as frequently as possible (especially when you are asked a question and respond to the person who has asked the question) but don’t over do it!

2. Keep your hands in your lap don’t wave them around all over the place.

3. Keep eye contact at all times (I don’t mean stare out your interviewer). If there is more than one interviewer flick from person to person.

4. Be articulate and listen carefully to each question before giving your answer.

5. Keep calm and don’t panic!
The ‘STAR’ Approach for Answering a Question.

S: Situation – describe the situation.
T: Task or problem – what dilemma or problem did you face?

A: Action – what action did you take?

R: Result – what was the result of your action?

We know all interview questions are tough but these are the real hard ones! Generally these questions aren’t asked to make your life difficult or to make you squirm they are simply asked so that the interviewer can find out what he wants to know in the best possible way. When you are posed with a difficult question which you find awkward to answer it puts you under pressure. Therefore there may be certain questions that are delivered to you to see how well you deal with that pressure – not an unreasonable request if the new job you are applying for is likely to carry and element of pressure. Just remember there is no need to get worked up or frightened, as I keep saying, if you have done your research and prepared properly for the interview these questions won’t be half as difficult as you think. When a question is posed to you try and keep calm, think about the question for a few moments and deliver your answer accordingly. So here we go!

Are You A Good Leader? - Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with the people who work under you. Perhaps you could answer this question along the lines of “I feel that my team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm but fair with the people who work for me and find that I get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner”.

How Do You Feel About Taking Direction From Your Superiors? - This is a very valid question from any potential employer. If you have a boss who is delegating work to you your boss will want to know that you are able to deal with his requests and execute them in the manner dictated. You will therefore want to be answering this question along the lines of “I take direction from my superiors well. After all no team can work properly unless they are able to accept instructions from their superior”.

How Do You Feel About Carrying Out Mundane or Repetitive Work? - Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this could well be a frequently asked “difficult” question. The answer could be something like “I understand all jobs have some element of repetitiveness but I take all aspects of my job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or not and I always give 100% to my job”.

Are You A Natural Born Leader? - Some of us are natural born leaders and they are usually the people heading up teams or managing departments. Natural born leaders are chosen for the role of management or leadership because of their ability to guide and deal with people. They are usually people who possess enthusiasm, confidence and good leadership qualities. Try and build something into your answer that shows these qualities, it hasn’t necessarily got to include areas of your work life, however it’s better if it does, but you could use and example of something in your personal life such as being “head of the local under 16’s football team” or “head of your local cricket team” but whatever you choose try and choose something that makes your leadership qualities stand out.

How Well Do You Handle Criticism? - Everyone gets criticised in the job they do at some point in their career whether you feel that the criticism is right or wrong there are always two sides to every situation. An ideal answer to this question might be “We all at some point make mistakes and I am more than happy to take on board any constructive criticism that is given to me as it helps me understand and learn from the situation”.

How Well Do You Work Within A Team Environment? - Teamwork is very important to an employer. A properly functioning team will create a happy workplace and smooth, efficient production regardless of the product or service involved. Everyone has a different approach to how they deal with their colleagues so you will need to tailor the answer to this question to your own approach. Perhaps you could offer an answer like “I really enjoy working as a member of a team. There is a feeling of comradeship in that we are all working towards the same goal and that when we meet our objective we all benefit from the feeling of success”.

What Motivates You? - Your interviewer is not looking for an answer along the lines of “£ 100,000 per year and a Bentley Turbo!” lets face it that’s what we would all like! Try and give a constructive answer such as “I get a real kick out of completing a project. This drives me along the way and I get satisfaction at each stage of the project knowing that I will have made a contribution to the end result”.

Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of Your Team? - An interviewer asking this question is looking for an answer that shows how you manage and run your team that work for you in order to achieve the best performance out of them. Your answer should include areas that show your leadership qualities and how they benefit the people that work for you such as communication skills and praise.

You Have Only Been With Your Employer A Very Short Time - Why? - As I have mentioned before the recruitment process is a long and expensive one. Where recruitment agencies are used to source candidates their fee may be as much as 30% of your first years annual package let alone the costs associated with any additional training you may need so the last thing an employer wants to do is employ a candidate who is only going to work for them for five minutes and then look for another job! If you have been with previous employer for a short period of time then you need to find an answer that is going to reassure the interviewer’s doubts and put his mind at rest. It is possible in this situation that you could use a line such as “Yes I have only been with my existing employer a relatively short period of time and have found that I have had to more to gain more experience and enhance my career but I feel that I am now ready to settle down in a position I am comfortable with for a long period of time”.

How Do You Deal With Interpersonal Problems Within Your Team? - Nothing runs smoothly all the time and from time to time there will be disputes amongst members of your team. Obviously your answer will probably come from your own experience here but areas such as being fair by hearing both sides of the dispute, dealing with the problem in private and not causing embarrassment in front of others and looking for a compromise between the individuals may all come into play.

How Would Your Current Boss Describe You? - “Your useless and should look for another job before I fire you!!”. Just kidding (or maybe not in some cases!!). Remember at some point in the future the man or woman sitting in the chair opposite you could well be your future employer. When you answer this question provide an answer in a way that you think you would like your boss to actually think of you. So perhaps you can say something like “I get on very well with my boss and we have an excellent working relationship. I think that the reason we get on well is due to the fact that we have mutual respect for each other. My boss considers me as a hard working, loyal and efficient employee who is able to work well using my own initiative and can trust me to carry out the work given to me without having to bother him”. It’s not a terribly good idea to blatantly lie about your relationship with your boss if it’s horrendous as it may come out in references that are taken later however under the employment law past employers have to be very careful how they word references and are not allowed to tear your personality apart!

What Part Of Your Job Do You Dislike The Most? - Well the answer to this can’t be “I am completely happy with my job and I enjoy every aspect of it as it fulfils my daily working hours with joy and happiness and I just wish I could do it 24 hours a day 365 days a year!!”. Why not? Because you wouldn’t be applying for this job if it was would you!? Don’t give answers that are purely motivated by money and benefits – even if that is the case. You might genuinely love your job but the money is crap but that isn’t what the interviewer wants to hear. Perhaps you could use a line like “I really do enjoy my current job and quite frankly there aren’t really any areas of my work that I can honestly say I dislike. However, the company I work for is small and I don’t get much chance to deal with new business very often which is an area I really find exciting and feel that this job would be able to offer me that opportunity”. Of course there may be an area you dislike in your job but if you decide to bring it up then try and create a positive out of it. For example “I used to find doing my filing at the end of the day a bit time consuming as I would always get distracted by more important issues to deal with so I decided that I would come in a bit earlier each morning to deal with this enabling me to start the day fresh and be left with a bit of spare time at the end of each day should something really important come up”.

If You Were Starting Out Again In Your Career Are There Any Decisions You Would Choose Differently? - Hey come on what a nonsense question really. No one can turn back the clock so it’s completely irrelevant isn’t it but this is one of those questions some interviewers like to pose. The only answer I can think of giving is “I wouldn’t change anything. I have been more than happy with all of the decisions I have made in my career and don’t feel that I can gain any benefit out of looking back and analysing something I cannot change”.

You Have Been With Your Employer A Long Time - Why? - To be honest I think this question is a bit unfair. There could be many reasons why you have shown loyalty to your existing employer for a lengthy period of time – it may be that you just liked your job and the people you have worked for but circumstances have changed or it might be that you have had a wide and varied career working in different parts of the company doing different job roles or you may have worked overseas for the same company. People don’t generally stay with the same employer in this day and age predominantly because it isn’t always easy to get promoted internally within an organisation so it could look to an interviewer that you have been unable to get another job. Of course this probably isn’t the case so build your answer around the facts.

Do You Feel That Your Career Has Been A Success To Date? - Again, another no brainer question that really has no bearing on whether you are capable of doing the job you are applying for or whether or not you are the right person for the job! Success can only really be measured by the person who it applies to, what one person thinks is successful another may think is unsuccessful and I genuinely think very few people actually feel that their career has been a failure. The only way to address this question is to say “Yes I feel my career has been successful to date and I have been more than happy with my career progression. I have always put emphasis on enjoying the job I do and not how much it pays or what benefits I can gain from it and have found so far that this strategy has worked well for me”.

We Think You Might Be Overqualified For This Job! - If you were overqualified for this job would you be applying for it? Well I guess in an interviewers mind it could be that you are desperate, or it may be that you are desperate! A future employer doesn’t want to think he is going to take you on if you are going to get bored in five minutes because the job is too easy and then start looking elsewhere again. This is a difficult question to answer but you could intimate that you have a very low boredom threshold and that everything you do, you do to the best of your ability.

If You Were Appointed To This Position How Long Would It Be Before You Would Expect To Be Promoted? - Lets face it most of us want promotion as soon as possible. Promotion usually leads to more money and better employment benefits (of course it also usually entails more work and stress!) but you should consider your answer to this question carefully. If you answer “I’d expect promotion within 12 months of being appointed” you allocate a timescale which of course may not be acceptable to your future employer – they may not be looking to promote you for a good few years and they may feel that you would become despondent and leave if you didn’t achieve what you want. In all honesty the right kind of answer to this question is going to be something like “I couldn’t give a timescale in which I would expect to be promoted as I feel I would need to prove myself to the company in terms of my ability, leadership skills and experience I would bring to the business. I feel that promotion is a reward, not a right and as with all rewards I am a great believer in that you have to earn them”.

How Have You Managed To Attend This Interview In Works Time? - Another naughty question often posed by interviewers but at the same time it does bear some relevance. If you are attending an interview when you would normally expect to be in work then your potential employer wants to know what type of excuse you have come up with to blag your existing employer. Really this is a question of honesty and the reality is that you won’t have asked your existing boss for time off to attend an interview for another job. It may well be that you have blagged the time by telling your boss that you have had to take your pet anaconda to the vets or you might have thrown a sicky but that isn’t what your future employer wants to hear. One straight forward answer to this question is “I have taken some holiday to take part in this interview”. If you are feeling really clever and you want to impress your interviewer you could say “Unfortunately I didn’t have any holiday left so I asked my employer if I could take a days unpaid leave because I had a personal issue I needed to deal with. I preferred to take that action as I don’t feel it fair on my existing employer to attend this interview whilst he was paying me – I do not think its right to cheat”.

You Have Read The Job Description And A Summary Of The Job Role So What Areas Of This Job Appeal To You The Least? - Hmm….It’s a nasty one this isn’t it! At this point in your interview you don’t want to go and start making out that there is anything at all that you don’t fancy doing in this new job. I am not one for one sentence answers but if you get this one dropped on you I think it’s good to get off the subject as quickly as possible and use the damage limitation technique. I think a simple “Having reviewed the job summary and description I have to say that I can’t find anything that doesn’t appeal to me in this job at all”. If you do find something about the job that looks less than appealing make sure it isn’t a major part of role and if you can’t find anyway of turning the duty from a negative to a positive leave it well alone.

What Sort Of People Do You Find It Difficult To Work With? - There’s always someone in the office that doesn’t work with the team and the rest of the team ends up carrying but that’s life at the end of the day and it’s up to your boss to sort that problem out. This often causes bad feeling amongst the team and irritates the other members. However, when you are attending an interview you really don’t want to be seen to be moaning about individuals in your current organisation. The easiest way to deal with this interview question then is to give your answer based on the fact that although you are a very amenable and easy to get on with person, you are very much a team player and the most difficult people to work with are the ones that do not carry the same high standards in their work that you do.

Have You Attended Other Interviews As Well As This One? - This is a great question and one that you can manipulate to your advantage. If the interviewer thinks that one of their competitors is after you it makes you a much better catch should they get you. You have to remember many (not all) employers are like sheep and the bigger the company the more likely it will be that they are after a stereotypical candidate – but one that’s just a little bit better than the last. If you give the impression that you are talking to other firms as well and that you have made the last batch of interviews with them you are going to be a far more attractive prospect. So whether you are or are not talking to other companies make sure you give the impression that you are in demand.

What Do You Think About The War In Iraq, Privatization (or something that has a social political bearing) - The idea behind this question is for your interviewer to see if you take an interest in what goes on in the world, current affairs and so on and to show that your interest in the world doesn’t stop when you shut your front door at night. Your answer is likely to give your interviewer an insight into your values whether they be moral or otherwise and how you address life itself. Politically correct answers aren’t always the right ones, what you need to do is show the interviewer that you have the ability to see recognise all sides of a debate, that you don’t see things simply in black and white and that you have the ability to debate a subject properly and at the same time that you are open minded enough to form your own opinion on a subject. What you don’t want to do is jump on your high horse and fire off with your own political views without being able to show that you understand the subject. This question can be particularly relevant to certain industries, for example if you are applying to work for an oil company you may be asked your opinion on global warming and whether the work green peace does is right or wrong alternatively if you are applying for a job working for a company that manufactures for example make up you may be asked for your views on whether the work that animal rights campaigners carry out is justified – you get the picture.

What Sort Of Decisions Do You Find The Most Difficult To Make? - “Should I have prawn or beef sandwiches for lunch!” or “Should I buy the 28 or 32 inch flat screen TV!” Most of us at some point have had to make difficult decisions whether in our personal or work lives. If you have ever had to fire someone or make them redundant it’s not a nice decision to make, or job to carry out for that matter, not from the point of view that you don’t really like the person but most people have a conscience and realise that if they take away a persons job it will have a direct impact on their whole life. This is therefore a good example to use as an answer to this question.

What Is Your Current Bosses Biggest Weakness? - Wouldn’t you just love to say it - “Lunchtime Binge Drinking!” You must remember regardless of what a dick you think your boss is the person that is sitting in front of you may one day be the same boss you are criticising and anyway it wouldn’t achieve anything and would only make you look cheap. So if you get this one thrown at you why not try something like “My boss is great really and we get on very well, he is pretty damn good at his job, one which he wouldn’t have got it in the first place if he wasn’t, and I respect him for that. I am sure he may have weaknesses but I have to say that if he has I haven’t picked up on them”.

What Do You Think Of Your Existing Company? - Now you might think that your existing company are cheap skates, run old machinery, never want to invest in the plant or the future of the business, use every spare amount of cash they have to improve the cars parked in the Directors car park and so on and so forth. However that just isn’t the right answer! Your standard response to a question such as this should be that you have really enjoyed working for your current company and that you are thankful for the opportunities, training and career progression that they have afforded you to date.

What Is Your Current Salary? - It’s a bit of a cheeky question this one and you want to give a non committal answer. You must try and remember that all companies want to save as much money on salaries as they can and if you are offered the job the chances are they are going to indicate a package either similar or slightly more than the one your on. If you go straight in with “I earn £ 23,000.00 plus expenses plus a BMW 318I and free weekend tickets to the Manchester United games” you are setting a bench mark that you may find difficult to the negotiate around. Therefore an appropriate answer to this interview question might be “it’s not really the salary that is important to me it’s the whole package that I would be more interested in”. By saying this you are being non committal and it will make negotiating an acceptable package far more easy.

What Salary Would You Be Expecting For This Position? - Again another cheeky one which, ideally, you don’t want to be too committal over. If you commit to a salary at this stage you wont be able to negotiate later on and if you ask for too much they will think they cant afford you! If you don’t know what level of salary a position pays you can do some research on the internet there are several sites that collect data about average industry and job role remunerations. So you could ask the interviewer a question in response to his question such as “What level of salary would you be expecting to pay for this position?” If the interviewer doesn’t want to divulge this then it’s not unreasonable for you to decline to answer too. If your interviewer quotes you a salary of say £ 19,000 then try and come back with something like “Well I was looking for a salary in the region of £ 22,000 to £ 24,000. Your employer will always start with their bottom figure first so by asking for a little more it sets you a slightly higher bench mark. It may be that your interviewer can only go to the level he quotes but it’s fairly unlikely.

I have A Pen Here – Sell It Me! - I’ve been on loads of sales courses and this has always been a question posed to me to see how good I am at selling the benefits of a product – not just the product itself. This is an interesting question and some employers will ask you to do this even if you aren’t applying for a job that involves selling. As I have said the reason behind this is to see if you can sell the benefits of the pen rather than the object itself. For example as a pen itself – it is just a Bic biro with a roller ball and plastic coating. However, its benefits would be – it’s a Bic biro and the roller ball is really smooth and gives excellent presentation, it is leak proof and slim and sits discretely in your pocket. This is all about the bigger picture. If you are able to outline the benefits of the pen you will impress your interviewer. Obviously if you are applying for a sales role the chances are your interviewer will definitely ask you this question, however, it might not necessarily be a pen it could be something else sitting on your interviewers desk.

How Well Do You Work In A Stressful Environment? - Most jobs carry an element of stress whether its working to very tight deadlines or your in a position where by you are handling lots of different projects and having to manage your time effectively। Your answer to this question should encompass examples of situations where you have operated well under stress and also point out that you get a buzz out of a working in stressful environment as it keeps you mind focused and it assists you in your performance.
The ‘STAR’ Approach for Answering a Question.

S: Situation – describe the situation.
T: Task or problem – what dilemma or problem did you face?

A: Action – what action did you take?

R: Result – what was the result of your action?

• What are your short-range goals and objectives?
• How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
• What are the most important rewards you expect in your career?
• Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?
• What are your strengths, weaknesses, and interests?
• How do you think a friend or professor who knows you well would describe you?
• Describe a situation in which you had to work with a difficult person (another student, co-worker, customer, supervisor, etc.). How did you handle the situation? Is there anything you would have done differently in hindsight?
• What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort? Describe a situation in which you did so.
• In what ways have your college experiences prepared you for a career?
• How do you determine or evaluate success?
• In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization?
• Describe a contribution you have made to a project on which you worked.
• What qualities should a successful manager possess?
• Was there an occasion when you disagreed with a supervisor’s decision or company policy? Describe how you handled the situation.
• What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
• Describe your most rewarding college experience.
• What interests you about our product or service?
• Why did you select your college or university?
• What led you to choose your major or field of study?
• What college subjects did you like best? Why?
• What college subjects did you like least? Why?
• If you could do so, how would you plan your academic studies differently?
• Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?
• What have you learned from participation in extracurricular activities?
• In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
• How do you work under pressure?
• Describe a situation in which you worked as part of a team. What role did you take on? What went well and what didn’t?
• In what part-time, co-op, or summer jobs have you been most interested? Why?
• How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation?
• Why did you decide to seek a position with this organization?
• What two or three things would be most important to you in your job?
• What criteria are you using to evaluate the organization for which you hope to work?
• Will you relocate? Does relocation bother you?
• Are you willing to travel?
• Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee?

Dan Johnston from PPR Career shared the following list of frequently asked questions on a job interview, as well as advice on what to be prepared for.

1. Tell me about yourself. Use “Picture Frame Approach”

Answer in about two minutes. Avoid details, don’t ramble. Touch on these four areas:

* How many years, doing what function
* Education – credentials
* Major responsibility and accomplishments
* Personal summary of work style (plus career goals if applicable)

Prepare in advance using this formula:

1. “My name is…”
2. “I’ve worked for X years as a [title]”
3. “Currently, I’m a [title] at [company]”
4. “Before that, I was a [title] at [company]”
5. “I love the challenge of my work, especially the major strengths it allows me to offer, including [A, B, and C]”.
6. Second, help the interviewer by focusing the question with a question of your own: “What about me would be most relevant to you and what this company needs?”

2. Did you bring your resume?

Yes. Be prepared with two or three extra copies. Do not offer them unless you’re asked for one.

3. What do you know about our organization?

Research the target company before the interview. Basic research is the only way to prepare for this question. Do your homework, and you’ll score big on this question. Talk about products, services, history and people, especially any friends that work there. “But I would love to know more, particularly from your point of view. Do we have time to cover that now?

4. What experience do you have?

Pre-interview research and PPR Career will help you here. Try to cite experience relevant to the company’s concerns. Also, try answering this questions with a question: “Are you looking for overall experience or experience in some specific area of special interest to you?” Let the interviewer’s response guide your answer.

5. According to your definition of success, how successful have you been so far?

(Is this person mature and self aware?)
Be prepared to define success, and then respond (consistent record of responsibility)

6. In your current or last position, what were your most significant accomplishments? In your career so far?

Give one or two accomplishment statements

7. Had you thought of leaving your present position before? If yes, what do you think held you there?

Refer to positive aspects of the job, advancement opportunities, and what you learned.

8. Would you describe a few situations in which your work was criticized?

Give only one, and tell how you have corrected or plan to correct your work.

9. If I spoke with your previous boss, what would he or she say are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

Be consistent with what you think the boss would say. Position the weakness in a positive way (refer to #12)

10. How would you describe your personality?

Keep your answer short and relevant to the job and the organization’s culture.

11. What are your strong points?

Present three. Relate them to that particular company and job opening.

12. What are your weak points?

Don’t say you have one, but give one that is really a “positive in disguise.” I am sometimes impatient and do to much work myself when we are working against tight deadlines.” Or “I compliment and praise my staff, but feel I can improve.”

13. How did you do in school?

(Is the person motivated? What are his/her values, attitudes? Is there a fit?)
Emphasize your best and favorite subjects. If grades were average, talk about leadership or jobs you took to finance your education. Talk about extra-curricular activities (clubs, sports, volunteer work)

14. In your current or last position, what features did you like most? Least?

Refer to your satisfiers for likes. Be careful with dislikes, give only one (if any) and make it brief. Refuse to answer negatively. Respond that you “like everything about my current position and have acquired and developed a great many skills, but I’m now ready for a new set of challenges and greater responsibilities.”

15. What do you look for in a job?

Flip this one over. Despite the question, the employer isn’t really interested in what you are looking for. He’s interested in what he is looking for. Address his interests, rather than yours. Use words like “contribute,” “enhance,” “improve,” and “team environment.” Fit your answer to their needs Relate your preferences and satisfiers/dissatisfiers to the job opening.

16. How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm?

“Not long, because of my experience, transferable skills and ability to learn.”

17. How long would you stay with us?

“As long as I feel that I’m contributing, and that my contribution is recognized. I’m looking to make a long term commitment.”

18. If you have never supervised, how do you feel about assuming those responsibilities?

If you want to supervise, say so, and be enthusiastic.

19. Why do you want to become a supervisor?

“To grow and develop professionally, to help others develop, to build a team and to share what I have learned.”

20. What do you see as the most difficult task in being a supervisor?

“Getting things planned and done through others and dealing with different personalities.” Show how you have done this in the past.

21. You’ve been with your current employer quite a while. Why haven’t you advanced with him?

Let’s assume the interviewer has a point here. That doesn’t mean you have to agree with the negative terms of the question. Answer: “What I like about my present position is that it’s both stable and challenging. But it’s true that I’ve grown about as much as I can in my current position. (This response also turns the issue of salary on its head, transforming it from What more can I get? to What more can I offer?)

22. Why are you leaving your present position?

Never answer with negative reasons, even if they are true. However, some companies have financial problems which may preclude you from staying with them. Frame your answer positively by answering why you want to move to the target company instead of why you left or want to leave your most recent job. For example, instead of answering, “I don’t get enough challenges at [company],” respond, “I am eager to take on more challenges, and I believe I will find them at [hiring company]. ”I’m not unhappy (at my present employer). However, this opportunity seems to be particularly interesting and I am interested in pursuing it further. Never personalize or be negative. Keep it short, give a “group” answer (e.g. our office is closing, the whole organization is being reduced in size). Stick to one response; don’t change answers during the interview. When applicable; best response is: I was not on the market when PPR Career contacted me and explained what you are doing, it peaked my interest.

23. Describe what would be an ideal working environment?

Team work is the key.

24. How would you evaluate your present firm?

Be positive. Refer to the valuable experience you have gained. Don’t mention negatives.

25. Do you prefer working with figures, or with words?

Be aware of what the job requires and position your answer in that context. In many cases it would be both.

26. What kinds of people do you find difficult to work with?

Use this question as a chance to show that you are a team player: “The only people I have trouble with are those who aren’t team players, who just don’t perform, who complain constantly, and who fail to respond to any efforts to motivate them.” The interviewer is expecting a response focused on personality and personal dislikes. Surprise her by delivering an answer that reflects company values.

27. How would your co-workers describe you?

Refer to your strengths and skills.

28. What do you think of your boss?

If you like him or her, say so and tell why. If you don’t like him or her, find something positive to say.

29. Why do you want to work in a company of this size. Or this type?

Explain how this size or type of company works well for you, using examples from the past if possible.

30. If you had your choice of jobs and companies, where would you go?

Refer to job preferences. Say that this job and this company are very close to what best suits you.

31. Why do you want to work for us?

You feel you can help achieve the companies objectives, especially in the short run. You like what you’ve learned about the company, its policies, goals and management: “I’ve researched the company and people tell me it’s a good place to work.”

32. What was the last book you read? Movie you saw? Sporting event you attended?

Think this through. Your answer should be compatible with accepted norms.

33. What are you doing, or what have you done to reach your career objectives?

Talk about formal courses and training programs.

34. What was wrong with your last company?

Again, choose your words carefully. Don’t be negative. Say that no company is perfect, it had both strengths and weaknesses.

35. What kind of hours are you used to working?

(Does the person match job and criteria?)

“As many hours as it takes to get the job done.”

36. What would you do for us?

Relate past success in accomplishing the objectives which are similar to those of the prospective employer.

37. What has your experience been in supervising people?

Give examples from accomplishments.

38. Are you a good supervisor?

Draw from your successes. Yes, my people like and respect me personally and professionally. They often comment on how much they learn and develop under my supervision.

39. Did you ever fire anyone? If so, what were the reasons and how did you handle it?

If you haven’t, say so, but add that you could do it, if necessary.

40. How have you helped your company?

Refer to accomplishments.

41. What is the most money you ever accounted for? Largest budget responsibility?

Refer to accomplishments. If you haven’t had budget responsibility, say so, but refer to an accomplishment that demonstrates the same skill.

42. What’s the most difficult situation you ever faced on the job?

Remember, you’re talking to a prospective employer, not your best friend. Don’t dredge up a catastrophe that resulted in a personal or corporate failure. Be ready for this question by thinking of a story that has a happy ending – happy for you and your company. Never digress into personal or family difficulties, and don’t talk about problems you’ve had with supervisors or peers. You might discuss a difficult situation with a subordinate, provided that the issues were resolved inventively and to everyone’s satisfaction.

43. Describe some situations in which you have worked under pressure or met deadlines?

Refer to accomplishments. Everyone has had a few of these pressure situations in a career. Behavior-related questions aim at assessing a candidate’s character, attitude, and personality traits by asking for an account of how the candidate handled certain challenging situations. Plan for such questions by making a list of the desirable traits relevant to the needs of the industry or prospective employer and by preparing some job-related stories about your experience that demonstrate a range of those traits and habits of conduct. Before answering the questions, listen carefully and ask any clarifying questions you think necessary. Tell your story and conclude by explaining what you intended your story to illustrate. Finally, ask for feedback: “Does this tell you what you need to know?”

44. How do you handle rejection?

Rejection is part of business. People don’t always buy what you sell. The tick here is to separate rejection of your product from rejection of yourself: “I see rejection as an opportunity. I learn from it. When a customer takes a pass, I ask him what we could do to the product, price or service to make it possible for him to say yes. Don’t get me wrong: You’ve got to makes sales. But rejection is valuable, too. It’s a good teacher.”

45. In your present position, what problems have you identified that had previously been overlooked?

Refer to accomplishments

46. Give an example of your creativity.

Refer to accomplishments.

47. Give examples of your leadership abilities.

Draw examples from accomplishments.

48. What are your career goals?

Talk first about doing the job for which you are applying. Your career goals should mesh with the hiring company goals.

49. What position do you expect to have in two years?

Just say you wish to exceed objectives so well that you will be on a promotable track.

50. What are your objectives?

(How does the person handle stress? What is their confidence level?)
Refer back to question #48 on goals.

51. Why should we hire you?

This may sound suspicious, negative, or just plain harsh. Actually, it’s a call for help. The employer wants you to help him/her hire you. Keep your response brief. Recap any job requirements the interviewer may have mentioned earlier in the interview, then, point by point, match your skills, abilities and qualifications to those items. Relate a past experience which represents success in achieving objectives which may be similar to those of the prospective employer.

52. You may be over-qualified or too experienced for the position we have to offer.

“A strong company needs a strong person.” An employer will get faster return on investment because you have more experience than required.

53. Why haven’t you found a new position before now?

“Finding the right job takes time. I’m not looking for just any job.”

54. If you could start again, what would you do differently?

No need to be self-revealing. “Hindsight is 20/20; everyone would make some changes, but I’ve learned and grown from all my decisions.”

55. How much do you expect if we offer this position to you?

Be careful. If you don’t know the market value, return the question by saying that you would expect a fair salary based on the job responsibilities, your experience and skills and the market value of the job. Express your interest in the job because it fits your career goals – Receptive to a reasonable and competitive offer – don’t talk $’s. It’s always best to put off discussing salary and let PPR Career handle that. ANSWER: I’m open to a competitive offer. I’d prefer to discuss the opportunity and allow my recruiter to handle any salary questions.

General interview questions

1. What is an interrupt?
2. Which are the hardware and software interrupts in 8086?
3. Mention the priority of interrupts in8086.
4. What is int1, int2, int3?
5. What is NMI interrupt?
6. What is IVT in 8086?

7. What is the size of IVT?
8. Where IVT is located?
9. Which steps 8086 follows to handle any interrupt?
10. What are the types of interfacing?
11. Compare memory interfacing and IO interfacing.
12. What are the types of IO interfacing?
13. What is the difference between direct and indirect IO interfacing?
14. What is the difference between memory mapped IO and IO mapped IO interfacing?
15. What is the difference between DOS and BIOS?
16. What do u mean by handle in simulation of dos copy command?
17. Which functions of INT 21 are used for performing following operations on file- opening, creating, reading, writing & closing the file?
18. Explain the logic of simulation of DOS COPY COMMAND program.
19. What is the difference between .com &.exe programs?
20. What is directive org 100h? Where it is required?
21. What is the size of .com program?
22. How to convert .exe programs to .com programs?
23. What is TSR?
24. How TSR programs are different than normal programs?
25. What is PSP? What is its significance?
26. What is type 0 or divide by 0 error?
27. In TSR what is the significance of the following functions of INT 21h: 35h, 25h, 31h?
28. What are the applications of TSR program?
29. Explain the logic of real time clock TSR program.
30. Explain the logic of ‘div by zero’ TSR program
31. Which parts is transient & residence part of your program?
32. Which are the functions used in RTC & divide by 0 screen saver explain?