Job Interview Questions and Answers

Tag: Best answers to the job interview question

  • Why are manhole covers round?

    This question is all about creativity and imagination, with a hint of knowledge. It’s one of the Microsoft interview questions that gained popularity in the 90’s. There is no definitive answer, but there are a number of reasonable ones.

    Matter of fact:
    “Because manholes are round.” This may lead to a follow up question, “why are manholes round.”

    Practical matter:
    “Because no matter how they’re positioned, round covers cannot fall through round manholes.” This isn’t actually true, as there is a whole class of polygons with constant width and diameter, but most interviewers won’t know this, even though the original interviewers at Microsoft did know this.

    One of the reasons most cited by people who deal with manholes leads to this answer.

    “It’s easier for a single person to move them around because, unlike any other shape, they can be rolled.”

    Some answers take a little more imagination than others, but are still based in the real world.

    “Round manhole covers have no edges. If one is dislodged and a car hits it, it won’t flatten the tires.” Still, people would probably not like the results of hitting a dislodged round manhole cover.

    Some lesser used answers will lead to a more positive reaction from the interviewer:

    Cost:
    “It’s cheaper to manufacture a round manhole cover to fit a man sized round hole, than it is to manufacture a square man sized manhole cover that fits a square hole – there’s less surface area needed.” This answer has been mentioned by some engineers.

    Practicality:
    “When workers need to bring equipment, or cables, into the hole, they won’t snag on a round hole like they would on the edges of a square hole.”

    The question has become so common that it often no longer serves its purpose. The original intent was not to get a specific answer, but to see how a person arrived at and explained whatever answer they gave. That included measuring people’s willingness to answer the question. The question was designed to measure logical thinking and open mindedness, more than knowledge of trivia. So if you can explain how you arrived at the answer, almost anything is fine.

    Odd answer:
    “Heavier people may have a harder time fitting into a manhole. They can more easily, and less painfully, squeeze into round holes than square holes or other shapes with corners.”

    The question may seem silly, but avoid answering like this. “Nobody told me I’d have to crawl down manholes for an accountant job.”

  • Why were you late for the interview?

    The best answer for this question is not to have to answer it. An interviewer knows if you can’t manage to make the interview on time, you’re a big risk for being late to work, missing deadlines, and mismanaging time in general. But, if something happens that makes it impossible to be on time, be prepared to explain it well.

    Overslept:
    “The alarm clock didn’t go off. I just overslept. It usually doesn’t happen.” The next thing most interviewers will say to this is “thanks for coming…Next!!!”

    Traffic Accident:
    “There’s a huge accident on the highway, a plane actually crash landed right across all the lanes, and all the alternates routes were jammed as a result. I left on time to get here an hour early, but there was no beating this traffic.”

    Any traffic excuse better relate to very unusual circumstances. Employers don’t want to hear about heavy traffic or accidents, no matter what. But if a bridge crumbles, or there’s a fire, an earthquake, or a real disaster, then there might be an excuse. But if there is, a call ahead is in order.

    “Hello, I’m scheduled for an interview at 9AM this morning. I wonder if we can move that back to 10AM. I’m on the train, and the tracks are blocked by a stalled semi truck. Word is it’s all about 45 minutes behind schedule.”

    In such situations it may even be better, if possible, to move the interview to another day or much later time, such as afternoon when an interview was scheduled for the morning. One important element of time management is respect for the other person’s schedule. Leaving a client hanging, or being late for a sales meeting, destroys sales.

    Miscommunication in time is a decent excuse, as long as the mistake was on the interviewer’s part.

    “I have the email on my phone, you wrote that our interview is for 10AM, not 9AM. I’m sorry we got crossed up.”

    Allowing for others’ mistakes shows a positive attitude, especially in a situation in which you gain by not embarrassing the other person.

    “Darn it, I thought you said 10AM, sorry.” Watch for eye rolling after an answer like this.

    If there isn’t a good reason, something out of the ordinary, this situation can’t be spun. Don’t make up stories, apologize and hope the interview turns better.

    This answer, given on a recent interview, is a loser. “I’m always late, get used to it.”

  • Are you willing to relocate?

    Interviewers ask this question, especially if you currently live far from the new potential job, such as in a different city or state. Sometimes they ask it if you live a long commute away even in the same city. In those cases the answer is obvious – you wouldn’t interview at a job in another state if you weren’t willing to relocate. But, they may have other offices and want to know if relocation is a possibility if needed.

    The first element to this is to have already decided whether or not you’re willing to relocate. If you say yes when you’re really not willing, you’ll find yourself out of a job in a short time. You can categorize your desire into a number of levels of willing or not willing to travel, and express the answer accordingly.

    Location restrictions can be as simple as setting a maximum commute time or mileage for a company with many branches in the same city. “I want to stay in the city, but I’m willing to commute up to 30 miles.” That closes the possibility of far away branches, but leaves open the possibility of working at a few branches around the city. Your range might be larger – “I can handle up to 100 miles, even if I have to stay in a hotel but can return home on the weekends.” A larger range is better, but make sure you’re really willing to travel that far. Some people commute daily from city to city on a train or even by airplane.

    Another restriction you can place on relocation is financial. Maybe you aren’t willing to relocate for one position, but are for another that pays more. “I can’t relocate for a position like this one, it just doesn’t pay enough, but if a promotion is possible down the line, I’d relocate.” Or, maybe you can relocate with a little financial help – “If the company pays relocation costs, then yes, I can relocate out of the city.”

    You can say no for now, but leave the possibility open for the future. Express this answer in general terms.

    “Relocation isn’t an option now, but who knows what the future brings.”

    If you’re completely open, make it known in direct terms. But be sure you can really do it.

    “I’ll work wherever the job is. So if a move is needed, let me know.”

    This answer, given at a recent interview, could have come from a politician. “I’m not able to relocate, but I’m willing.”

  • What were your favorite subjects in school and why?

    Be honest as much as possible, but face it, an answer that doesn’t include something to do with your career and the job you’re seeking is a useless answer to this question. Hopefully you’re interviewing for jobs that have to do with your career, and thus with subjects you enjoy. But even if not, relate the subject to the job.

    Some tips for this answer:

    • Mention subjects directly connected with the job. For example if the job is at a bank, mention you enjoyed accounting and finance classes.
    • Mention special projects outside of school work as these show a keen interest in the subject and field. For example, maybe you won an award at a science fair, and are now an engineer.
    • Mention subjects related to the main subject or job. For example, if you’re interviewing at a consulting firm mention part time classes you took in communications, or any activity or class that had something to do with interacting with people.
    • Mention subjects or activities related to general job skills. “I’m President of our home owner’s association” shows leadership, as well as responsibility to the community, and by extension to a boss or company.

    Engineer/Math:
    “I always loved math, from the time I first learned numbers. The more advanced the classes, the more I loved the challenge, and the feeling after learning something new or solving a problem. That’s why I’m a good engineer, because for me it’s not the comfort of having the solution, but the challenge of finding it. I teach an adult education math class at the junior college as a way to keep up my skills and to help other people learn what I love.”

    Florist/Art:
    “Art was my favorite subject. I remember finger painting in preschool, and I hand made all the decorations for our senior prom in HS – they were a big hit. I volunteer as a gardener at a local retirement home – I even take care of their inside flowers and plants to help bring some beauty to the people who can’t get out.”

    Salesman/Science:
    “I was always curious about how things work, which is why I liked science so much. But I love to talk to – I was captain of the debate team in College. Sales is the perfect combination for me – psychology, knowing how people think and react, and communication, talking but also listening. They’re all important skills.”

    For some jobs, this man’s answer might be important. “Recess!” We just can’t think of any.

  • What were your responsibilities in your last position?

    With this job interview question the interviewer wants an idea of what you’ve done at a previous job as a measure of whether you can handle the responsibilities on the new job. Here are some keys to answering this question well.

    Be honest, don’t make something up for this answer. The interviewer or hiring manager may check with someone at your last job, and they may ask them about your responsibilities. You can be honest while selling your responsibilities as important – they were important to the company or they wouldn’t have had someone in the job.

    For example, if you did something as simple as bring the morning paper to the boss’ desk, here are some answers you might give.

    “I provided daily reports to my boss about the current business conditions” is technically true, but someone asking about it and hearing “he brought me the morning paper” won’t be impressed.

    A better answer is “One of the things I did was to bring the boss the paper every morning. She liked to read up on current events, so that got her day started on the right foot.”

    Be specific and positive about what you did whenever answering questions about previous positions.

    “I ran overnight reports that weren’t ever read by anyone, it was a waste of time.” Maybe it’s true, but why mention it if it was meaningless?

    “There were reports that needed babysitting every night to make sure they completed. It wasn’t glamorous work, but it was necessary. Sometimes the reports weren’t read, but if they were needed, I made sure they were run and were accurate.” The same situation, expressed that way, paints you as a dependable person who doesn’t question the boss or consider some work “beneath” you.

    Tie previous responsibilities to the new position. This shows that you understand the potential job, and have experience for it.

    “I maintained a mailing list and wrote a weekly newsletter to all our customers. It was an important part of our overall marketing and customer retention efforts. I see you have a weekly newsletter, I look forward to working on it too.”

    One job applicant seemed to not want the new job, and to not like work in general. “I started out with a lot of responsibilities, but over time I would fail so badly they’d give them to someone else. I loved that job – I ended up getting paid for doing nothing.”

  • There’s a fire, and you can only save three things. What are they?

    Short of starting a fire to see what you’d carry out with you, this is the one of the best ways the interviewer has of determining your values and priorities. It’s a similar question to “if you could choose one thing to have while stranded on a desert island, what would it be?”

    Two elements are important when answering this question in a way that reflects positively on you.

    • Items with more than monetary value
    • Explain the reason you’d save these items

    Some items are self explanatory:
    “I’d save my baby, my husband and my dog. My dog is part of the family.” Maybe something else would be more important than the family pet, but if an interviewer needs an explanation for why you’d save your baby or spouse, you might be looking for a job in the wrong place.

    Be prepared for a follow up if you mention people, like “Let’s say people and pets can make it out on their own, what things would you grab?”

    Here again, it’s best to mention items with more than just a hard dollar value.

    Heirloom:
    “My important files, a sweater, and the painting my mother gave us when we were married. It’s not worth much, and it’s not much to look at, but we always keep it in a prominent place because I loved my mother, god rest her soul.”

    Sometimes sheer practicality is the best answer.

    “Even if I could save three things, I wouldn’t. My priority is my family and myself. That’s what they say in fire safety courses, don’t worry about things, get yourself and your family out of there.” It may not stick to the spirit of the question, but with the explanation it shows preparedness and attention to expert advice.

    Some other good answers include:

    Good Health:
    “If I could save three items I’d grab my son’s medicine, his jacket, and a blanket for my wife and I.” Talk about a father thinking about the family.

    Nothing in the question suggests the fire has to be at home. For a fire at the office this answer works:

    “I’d grab my laptop, my business cards and the morning’s printed reports.”

    It’s OK to mention work items like a laptop in a home fire scenario, but unless the interviewer is a pretty callous work-a-holic they’ll consider personal things important over a 100% focus on work.

    Nobody’s sure if this guy got the job, but his answer made his hobby, or obsession, clear. “My easy chair, the big screen TV and the cable box, I don’t want to miss any games.”

  • What was your greatest professional accomplishment?

    There are a number of keys to answering this question well. Knowing the company and new job is important, so that you can choose the right accomplishment and relate it to the position. Elements include:

    • Be honest, it’s fine to spin a little, but choose a real accomplishment.
    • Provide details – what you did, how you did it, and the results.
    • Relate it to the position you’re seeking.
    • Keys interviewers like to hear – reduced expenses, increased revenue, solved a problem or multiple problems, increased the company’s reputation.
    • If there’s proof, even better, provide it.

    Even mundane accomplishments might be big ones, so keep track of what you accomplish on the job for the next job search.

    General relation to new job:
    “I was in charge of the weekly newsletter, emailed to our mailing list of 1000 users. We built the email by hand, then sent it out using our own mail server – it was really slow and didn’t allow tracking except for who opened the email. I found a service that charged only $100 per month, had automated tools that cut the build time in half, and allowed us to track clicks on specific items. Our sales went up 10% after a few months of using that service – it was well worth the money. I always keep an eye out for methods to increase results beyond a small initial cost. You can read about it in the May Business Journal, they did a case study on it, I brought a copy.”

    Online store:
    “My last company spent over $2 million dollars building their online store, and stocking it with all their products. When I started work there, our new team realized Amazon had all the same items, and a store front for a small % of each sale. It was a bottom line deal – the Amazon fee per item came out to less than the incremental maintenance costs. So we switched to Amazon – the added bonus is the system was easier so we were able to list items more quickly. Raw sales increased, profits increased, and cost decreased. That may not be the specific solution for your company, but it’s one of the options I have in mind. I emailed the Amazon merchant URL to you.”

    If the accomplishment was all you, then mention it as all you. But don’t hesitate to mention working with a group, as employers love team work.

    Some accomplishments don’t impress no matter how they’re spun. “I found a sale on baloney, and suggested to everyone at the office they should eat sandwiches to save money.” That is baloney.

  • What book is on your nightstand?

    With this question the interviewer isn’t trying to butt into your private life or into your cleaning habits, they’re trying to get an idea of what interests you. This question may be better phrased “What book are you currently reading?” or “What books do you read?” Be honest, but consider that even if you aren’t reading a book, answer by relating the types of books you read.

    A good answer involves reading that has to do with the job, company or profession. This could be specific books about the career or field, or business books in general. Some examples:

    Medical:
    “Some medical journal or another. I’m not a doctor, but working in the field I like to keep up with it.”

    General:
    “Forbes, there’s a lot of good material in there.”

    General:
    “100 Habits of Highly Successful People. I’ve already read it, but I like to re-read it once in awhile to refresh my mind and practice those habits.”

    There may be a particular hot book for your profession, or that pertains to business in general. If so, buy a copy and put it on the nightstand if you’re worried about not telling a fib.

    But a good answer doesn’t have to involve a business book, even though that’s the safest choice. If reading is a hobby, and you read interesting books instead of something like comic books, mention the latest thriller or non fiction.

    History:
    “I’m reading History of the Western World. You’d be amazed how our social and business practices today come from what people did thousands of years ago.”

    If you have children, maybe the book on the nightstand is a children’s book. Don’t worry about mentioning it, as long as you give the right explanation – you don’t want the interviewer to think you consider Dr. Seuss serious reading.

    “Outside of work my children take up a lot of my time, so usually their favorite book is on the nightstand, waiting for me to read their bed time story.”

    The rules of thumb for this question:

    • Business books or publications are best.
    • Answer what books you like to read if nothing is on the night stand.
    • If reading is a hobby, or if you have children, mention the title with a short explanation.

    Some books you shouldn’t mention, even if you do read them:

    • Avoid Work for Dummies
    • 1001 Ways to Steal Office Supplies
    • Funny Web Site Browsing at Work

  • What did you dislike most about your last job?

    It’s best to be honest, so it’s best if you liked your last job so much there was nothing to dislike. That leads to an excellent answer.

    “I hated having to leave, but they had to downsize so a lot of key people were released.”

    Most people can find something they don’t like about a job, but now isn’t the time to expound on it, or even to mention it. Honesty includes steering the answer towards positives rather than negatives which reflect badly during an interview.

    Good boss:
    “I really can’t say I disliked anything about the job enough to talk about it, but I really learned a lot from my boss. I see the person I’d be working for here is a real pro too.”

    Liked Coworkers:
    “I never really thought about bad things there. It was an enjoyable experience to work with the people at that job. Everyone got along, knew their jobs, helped each other when someone needed help. I look forward to a similar experience here.

    The best answer to this question has a number of key elements:

    • Avoid negatives, mention dislikes to acknowledge the question while giving a reasonable explanation for not expounding on a dislike.
    • Include something positive in the answer.
    • Tie in the positive to the new potential job – research helps.

    If the last job was so bad that there’s nothing positive about it, look harder. Unless you worked under the whip, literally, every day, there must be something good, or at least not so bad about the job.

    Boss was a jerk, so spin it to having learned about management through observing what not to do.

    “I don’t take time to dwell about bad things, but I have to say I learned a lot about management at the last job. I intend to apply those lessons here.”

    Pay was too low, and often not on time. Spin it to lessons about the importance of enjoying work.

    “I can’t say there were a lot of negatives, at least nothing that stands out now that I think about it. What I do know is that the job taught me how important it is to enjoy work. Sure it’s a job to collect a check, but I can’t work for just money. One of the reasons I’m interested in this job is it’s something I’ll enjoy.”

    This answer, recently given at a job interview, is an example of what not to say. “I hate work in general, but a pay check is a pay check.”

  • What did you learn from your previous job (or school?)

    The interviewer asks this question for insight into your skills and job attitude, as these are based on the lessons you’ve taken from other experiences. If the job is customer service, but you talk about learning how to bake a pie, it won’t highlight you as a hot hire prospect.

    Stick to the qualities that fit the job, and include how your experience relates to the new position. For example:

    General Lessons:
    “My last boss told me experience isn’t doing the same thing over and over, it’s meeting new challenges or addressing the old ones in new ways. That’s how improvement happens. I strive to get the job done, but always have an eye out for a way to finish the job faster or better.”

    Effective Management:
    “I started out as a junior assistant, and through many bosses learned that I did my job better when they clearly defined goals, let me reach the goals with my skills, but stepped in when I asked for help – such as with removing a roadblock like red tape. As a manager I don’t want people who are hands, working as my brain directs them. I want people who can do the job, do it well, but who recognize when my experience, position or authority is needed to help them get things done.”

    Be ready for a follow up question, keeping in mind that your initial answer steers the discussion.

    Follow Up: You say hire people who can do the job, but what if you’re saddled with someone who can’t?

    Answer: “When I come in as a new manager I interview all the people in the department to get a good idea of their strengths and weaknesses. That helps avoid any surprises – I can assign work or shuffle people around based on their strengths and weaknesses. I’ll be more involved for the first few weeks, or projects, then give people more space as I become comfortable with their abilities.”

    Follow Up: It’s nice to say always look for new ways to do things, but this company has solid procedures based on long experience, I wrote some of those procedures myself.

    Answer: “It’s important to watch and listen. New suggestions or ideas have to be based on experience and respect for what works. If it’s not broken don’t fix it, but if it can be improved 10% without pain, improve it.”

    This woman may have made an answer that made sense to her, but it didn’t land her the job. “I learned not to answer silly questions.”