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Here is an article from CollegeJournal.com (a division of the Wall Street Journal) on interview questions and why they are asked.
Recruiters Reveal
Top Interview Questions
By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN
It's always wise to rehearse answers to standard interview questions in advance, but good company recruiters also pitch curveballs that require on-the-spot thinking. It's tough to prepare for these questions since they aren't published in any books or articles.
For a sneak peek at what you might expect, we asked a random group of company recruiters to supply their favorite queries for new college grads. Some are specific to the employer, while others border on bizarre. Here's their list and what they're looking for in your answers:
This line of questioning is appropriate, he says, since analyst jobs are challenging and require intuitive thinking.
"I want to see how candidates in a high-pressure situation think on the fly and what their rationale is for coming up with their answer," he says. Candidates who decline to provide an answer won't get a second look.
"We look at how candidates did something as opposed to how they would handle a situation, " says Colbourn. He recommends coming up with an example that demonstrates you can work well with others. "A good answer would be about an instance where a person has led a group in completing a complex assignment and has had to motivate others to get the work done on time," he says.
The more details an applicant provides, the better, he adds. Many candidates fail to provide valid examples. For instance, a common response is: "When I started the semester, my grades weren't at the level I wanted, and now they are." That kind of answer doesn't impress Colbourn. "All that boils down to is that the person studied harder," he says.
"I want to hear that they've researched us by visiting our Web site and reviewing our history," she says. "I also want to know if they've visited some of our locations, and most importantly, if they've set up informational interviews with existing employees to gain basic knowledge about us and find out what positions might be a strong fit for them."
"It's important for candidates to prove to us that they can work well with others," he explains. "We're looking for people who value the different perspectives that each individual brings to a team."
In your answer, describe a situation you experienced in detail -- for instance, a school or job assignment that involved a group working together to solve a problem.
"Successful candidates tend to show how they got differences out in the open and reached a resolution as a team," says Avey.
"Communication is one of the most important attributes a potential employee can demonstrate," she says. "This question offers a candidate the opportunity to show his or her understanding of it."
In your answer, describe specific examples of challenges you've faced and what you learned from them. "I like to know if a candidate is aware that working with management, subordinates, peers and, most importantly, customers, requires a basic variety of communication skills," she explains.
"Sometimes they've never set foot on a job site, but other times they've done research or have worked as a laborer," she says. "I want to see that they really know what they're getting themselves into."
Candidates who are familiar with the industry tend to make better hires, explains Pierantozzi. "I've found that people who have some exposure or background with the business tend to stay in their jobs longer," she says.
-- Sarah E. Needleman is associate editor at CollegeJournal.com.
Here is an article from CollegeJournal.com (a division of the Wall Street Journal) on interview questions and why they are asked.
Recruiters Reveal
Top Interview Questions
By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN
It's always wise to rehearse answers to standard interview questions in advance, but good company recruiters also pitch curveballs that require on-the-spot thinking. It's tough to prepare for these questions since they aren't published in any books or articles.
For a sneak peek at what you might expect, we asked a random group of company recruiters to supply their favorite queries for new college grads. Some are specific to the employer, while others border on bizarre. Here's their list and what they're looking for in your answers:
- "You have two drums. One is three gallons and the other is five. You have an unlimited supply of water but need to get exactly four gallons. How could you do it?"
This line of questioning is appropriate, he says, since analyst jobs are challenging and require intuitive thinking.
"I want to see how candidates in a high-pressure situation think on the fly and what their rationale is for coming up with their answer," he says. Candidates who decline to provide an answer won't get a second look.
- "Tell me about a complex problem you had to solve and walk me through your thinking as you solved it."
"We look at how candidates did something as opposed to how they would handle a situation, " says Colbourn. He recommends coming up with an example that demonstrates you can work well with others. "A good answer would be about an instance where a person has led a group in completing a complex assignment and has had to motivate others to get the work done on time," he says.
The more details an applicant provides, the better, he adds. Many candidates fail to provide valid examples. For instance, a common response is: "When I started the semester, my grades weren't at the level I wanted, and now they are." That kind of answer doesn't impress Colbourn. "All that boils down to is that the person studied harder," he says.
- "What did you do to prepare yourself for this interview?"
"I want to hear that they've researched us by visiting our Web site and reviewing our history," she says. "I also want to know if they've visited some of our locations, and most importantly, if they've set up informational interviews with existing employees to gain basic knowledge about us and find out what positions might be a strong fit for them."
- "Describe a specific experience working in a group or team situation where there was interpersonal conflict. Describe how you approached the conflict, what worked well, and what didn't. What was the outcome?"
"It's important for candidates to prove to us that they can work well with others," he explains. "We're looking for people who value the different perspectives that each individual brings to a team."
In your answer, describe a situation you experienced in detail -- for instance, a school or job assignment that involved a group working together to solve a problem.
"Successful candidates tend to show how they got differences out in the open and reached a resolution as a team," says Avey.
- "Describe a time when you had to change your communication style to deliver a message or get your point across."
"Communication is one of the most important attributes a potential employee can demonstrate," she says. "This question offers a candidate the opportunity to show his or her understanding of it."
In your answer, describe specific examples of challenges you've faced and what you learned from them. "I like to know if a candidate is aware that working with management, subordinates, peers and, most importantly, customers, requires a basic variety of communication skills," she explains.
- "Why are you interested in the home-building industry?"
"Sometimes they've never set foot on a job site, but other times they've done research or have worked as a laborer," she says. "I want to see that they really know what they're getting themselves into."
Candidates who are familiar with the industry tend to make better hires, explains Pierantozzi. "I've found that people who have some exposure or background with the business tend to stay in their jobs longer," she says.
-- Sarah E. Needleman is associate editor at CollegeJournal.com.
