In part 1 of Top 20 Job Interview Questions that we posted recently, we covered our top picks for most common interview questions. This post is part 2 in the 2 part series. The questions below have been chosen by us based on our hiring experience as corporate recruiters, working with our recruitment and staffing partners, and as a professional job interview coach.
Ethics
Describe a situation in which you demonstrated a strong ethical stance at work, despite pressure to do otherwise?
The is what the interviewer is looking for:
- Encouraging ethical conduct and analysis and judgment
In your response, ensure you answer the following questions:
- What were the risks involved in taking the strong stance that you did?
- How did you overcome the pressure to change or weaken your stance?
- How did the position you took affect the relationships that you have with the others involved?
Prioritize
Give us an example a time when it was necessary that you manage multiple priorities while maintaining focus on the overall strategic goals?
The is what the interviewer is looking for:
- Thinking ahead and actively integrating multiple priorities.
In your response, ensure you answer the following questions:
- What process do you use to determine the priorities?
- How did the priorities support (or not) the strategic goals?
- How did you consider/incorporate other priorities?
Strategy
Tell us about a time when it was necessary for you to re-evaluate the day-to-day tasks in order to support the long-term strategic objectives of the department or company?
The is what the interviewer is looking for:
- Ability to balance strategic and long-term planning with day-to-day requirements.
In your response, ensure you answer the following questions:
- How was it recognized that a re-evaluation of the day-to-day operations was required?
- What process was used to ensure that the long-term strategic objectives were supported by the day-to-day operations?
- Were obstacles encountered?
- How were the obstacles overcome?
Judgment
Give us an example of a time when you applied good judgment in coming up with a solution to a complex problem or issue?
The is what the interviewer is looking for:
- Approaching issues with clear problem analysis and alternative solutions
- Forming sound conclusions that can be implemented
In your response, ensure you answer the following questions:
- Describe the problem. What made it complex?
- What was the process you used to identify the issue, analyze it and determine appropriate solutions?
- How did you weigh the alternative solutions?
- How was the solution implemented?
Decision Making
Tell us about a time when you persisted in making and implementing a decision and measured achievements?
The is what the interviewer is looking for:
- Process of making choices or reaching conclusions, especially on important business matters.
In your response, ensure you answer the following questions:
- How did you attain effective time management with regard to implementing and measuring the value of the decision?
- How was the decision implemented?
- What obstacles did you face? How were they overcome?
Change Implementation
Tell us about a time when you introduced a new procedure that changed an existing fundamental process?
The is what the interviewer is looking for:
- Find common ground among differing areas and to build reason for change.
In your response, ensure you answer the following questions:
- How did you determine the value of the new procedure?
- What steps did you take to communicate the change?
- How did you build support for the change?
- How did you deal with criticism to changes/improvements?
Leadership
Tell us about a time when you assessed internal and external factors in order to initiate a change?
The is what the interviewer is looking for:
- Lead an internal and external view and balance multiple needs and perspectives to move forward.
In your response, ensure you answer the following questions:
- How did you assess the external environment?
- How did assessing the external environment assist you in initiating change?
- What process did you use to evaluate the needs?
Assertiveness
Tell us about a time when you took a risk to introduce a new idea or approach?
The is what the interviewer is looking for:
- Engaging in continuous assessment and improvement of processes
- Taking risks in promoting new ideas and approaches
In your response, ensure you answer the following questions:
- What kind of risk did you take to introduce the new idea or approach?
- Was there resistance to your idea? If so, how did you deal with it?
- How did your assertiveness benefit the outcome?
Creativity
Give an example of how you have created a learning environment in your department?
The is what the interviewer is looking for:
- Encourage the development of understanding and learning
- Assists others to improve and develop
In your response, ensure you answer the following questions:
- How did you encourage the creativity of others?
- What did you do to facilitate the creativity process for others?
Goal Setting
Tell us about a time when you were involved in planning for the future requirements of the department or company?
The is what the interviewer is looking for:
- Anticipate and plan for future requirements and to evaluate new methods for meeting them.
In your response, ensure you answer the following questions:
- How were the future requirements identified and examined?
- What process was used to examine the future requirements and potential solutions to meeting them?
Remember to review your resume since most recruiters will ask you questinos based on your resume. So be sure to refresh yourself with your job history. For information on how you should answer, see our post “Soft Skills Sells in Interviews“. Also, see our online job interview and resume writing courses. So until our next post, we wish you much luck and success in your career search.
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