Question

What ideas did you bring to your previous employers that helped make it a successful enterprise?

Comments and Suggested Answer

This question probes whether you are a contributor, someone who looks for ways to improve the business.

The interviewer is attempting to determine your level of involvement, participation, and confidence with your previous employers.

Be forthright and state clearly any contributions you have made in the past. Be sure that your example of initiative does not show a disregard for company policies and procedures.

Question

Tell me about any honors or awards that you have received in the past.

Comments and Suggested Answer

The interviewer is interested in the specific skills you can bring to the company.

Discuss one or more important attributes of the type of job you are interviewing for, and draw upon your previous work experience to show where and how you shine in this area.

Question

What makes you unique and why should we hire you over any of our other candidates?

Comments and Suggested Answer

Use this question as an opportunity to stress your strengths, experience, education, and skills. Emphasize a few of your strongest qualifications and relate them to the position in question.

Prepare at least three key reasons to show how you are better than the other candidates.

Use specific examples to illustrate your reasons, something unusual or unique that will help them remember you.

Question

Tell me about one of your projects that failed.

Comments and Suggested Answer

Demonstrate the ability here to be humble and to learn from your mistakes.

Explain what you are now aware of, what you could have done differently, and how that awareness has brought you growth and development.

Question

If I hired you today, what would you accomplish first?

Comments and Suggested Answer

Give the interviewer clear, tangible evidence that the company will benefit immediately upon hiring you. Focus your answer on the action you would take, and make sure your goals are realistic.

Demonstrate specific knowledge about the company and industry and how it relates to the role of your department and job.