86 executive interview questions and answers

86
1
executive
interview questions & answers
FREE EBOOK:

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Based on: Top 10 executive interview questions and answers
Updated To: 86 executive interview questions and answers
On: Mar 2017

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This ebook consists of two parts:
- Part I: 86 executive interview questions and answers (pdf, free download)
- Part II: Top 12 tips to prepare for executive interview

Top materials for job interviews:
In this document, you can refer to materials for a executive interview
such as: executive situational interview, executive behavioral interview,
executive interview thank you letter…
Other useful materials for a successful executive
interview:
1. Ebook: Job Interview Questions &Answers by Bob Firestone
Download link: click here, full ebook review click here
2. https://www.slideshare.net/jobguide247/12-steps-to-prepare-job-
interview
,
3. interviewquestions360.com/free-ebook-145-interview-questions-and-
answers
4. http://interviewquestions68.blogspot.com/p/top-14-mistakes-in-job-
interviews.html
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1. Tell me about yourself?
It seems like an easy interview question. It's open ended: ”I can talk about
whatever I want from the birth canal forward. Right?”
Wrong. What the hiring manager really wants is a quick, two- to three-
minute snapshot of who you are and why you're the best candidate for this
position.
Related post: Tips to answer question: tell me about your self?
5
http://interviewquestions68.blogspot.com/2017/03/tips-to-answer-tell-me-about-
your-self.html
So as you answer this question, talk about what
you've done to prepare yourself to be the very
best candidate for the position. Use an example
or two to back it up. Then ask if they would like
more details. If they do, keep giving them
example after example of your background and
experience. Always point back to an example
when you have the opportunity.
"Tell me about yourself" does not mean tell
me everything. Just tell me what makes you
the best and fit the job requirements

2. Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
What the interviewer really wants is to see that
you’ve thought about your future, and gauge your
ambition. They also want to verify that this isn’t just
a stop gap position.
Although all of your answers should be tailored to
the organization and position you’ve applied for, this
is especially the case with this question. If you’re
going for an entry level position, for example,
Related post: Tips to answer question: what about your career goals?
6http://interviewquestions68.blogspot.com/2017/03/tip-to-answer-what-about-your-
career.html
explain how you’d like your career to progress (e.g. ‘I’d like to progress to a
Senior Software Engineer’ or ‘I see myself being a team leader…’).
If you’re going for a more senior position, explain how you’d be looking to
move the company forward. Have a look at their business strategy or corporate
objectives before the interview, and explain how you can help in achieving
them.

3. What is your greatest weakness?
"What are your weaknesses" is one
of the most popular questions
interviewers ask. It is also the most
dreaded question of all. Handle it by
minimizing your weakness and
emphasizing your strengths. Stay
away from personal qualities and
concentrate on professional traits: "I
am always working on improving
my communication skills to be a
more effective presenter. I recently
joined Toastmasters, which I find
very helpful."
Related post: Tips to answer question: What is your greatest weakness?
7
http://interviewquestions68.blogspot.com/2017/03/tips-to-answer-your-
greatest-weakness.html

3. What is your greatest weakness? (continue…)
Tips to answer this question:
• Show that you are aware of your
weakness and what you have done to
overcome it.
• Show that you are “self-aware” and that
you have the ability to take steps to
improve yourself.
• Don’t you DARE answer with the cliche
“I’m a perfectionist” answer or any other
such answer that the hiring manager can
see right through.
• Don’t highlight a weakness that is a core
competency of the job. (Know the job
description “inside and out”.)
• Don’t dodge this question. 8

4. What is your greatest strength?
This is your time to shine. Just
remember the interviewer is looking
for work related strengths. Mention a
number of them such as being a good
motivator, problem solver, performing
well under pressure, being loyal,
having a positive attitude, eager to
learn, taking initiative and attention to
detail. Whichever you go for, be
prepared to give examples that
illustrate this particular skill.
9
Related post: Tips to answer question: What is your greatest strength?
http://interviewquestions68.blogspot.com/2017/03/tips-to-answer-your-greatest-
strength.html

5. Why did you leave your last job?
Here you will need to be careful as
there are many possible answers you
could use, just remember to NEVER
talk negatively about any prior or
current employer to a potential
employer. No one wants to think that
in a few years’ time you could be
saying the same about them. A
possible reason could be to say you
were looking for better opportunities,
for you to grow professionally, or you
were looking for the chance to work
abroad.
10
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6. Why should we hire you?
This is a differentiation question.
What you want to tell them is:
they'd be crazy not to they hire
you.
Focus on them: You need to only
share how you meet almost all the
criteria they seek, and also have
two to three additional abilities
that they might not even know
they need…yet. They need to
know you are a candidate who can
not only meet their needs now, but
will also be valuable for where
they want to go in the future.
11

6. Why should we hire you? (con…)
Are they likely to need another
skill set as they grow as a
company?
Or maybe you have skills that you
noticed are in another job
description they are looking to
fill?
You can help out with those
deliverables until they find
someone (or be a backup to the
person they hire).
Have you been down a path
already that they are currently
starting? Having “lessons learned”
to offer them is a very strong plus
for a job candidate. 12

7. What is your greatest accomplishment?
This is somewhat similar to the “what
is your greatest strength?” question
and can be handled along the same
lines. You want to pick an
accomplishment that shows you have
the qualities that the company puts
value in and that are desirable for the
position you’re interviewing for.
The fact is you may have several
accomplishments you could pick
from. Pick one that will have the most
impact.
13
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7. What is your greatest accomplishment? (continue)
- Talk about an accomplishment that
exhibits how you will be a perfect fit for the
company and for the position you’re
interviewing for.
- Try and show some genuine passion when
you’re talking about your accomplishment.
- Don’t fall into the trap of thinking your
accomplishment is “too small”. The fact is,
relating a small accomplishment that is
inline with “what the company values” can
be more powerful than an unrelated
accomplishment.
14
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8. What can we expect from you in your first 90 days?
Ideally the answer to this should
come from the employer: they
should have plans and
expectations for you.
But if you're asked, use this
general framework:
• You'll work hard to determine
how your job creates value --
you won't just stay busy, you'll
stay busy doing the right things.
• You'll learn how to serve all
your constituents -- your boss,
your employees, your peers,
your customers and suppliers
and vendors...
15

8. What can we expect from you in your first 90 days?
(con…)
• You'll focus on doing what you do
best -- you'll be hired because you
bring certain skills, and you'll
apply those skills to make things
happen.
• You'll make a difference -- with
customers, with other employees,
to bring enthusiasm and focus and
a sense of commitment and
teamwork...
• Then just layer in specifics that are
applicable to you and the job.
16

9. What are your salary expectations?
When completing your preparations for the interview, always have this
question in the back of your mind.
Have a look at the average salary for someone in this industry, area, and
who possesses similar skills to yourself, and you should get a basic idea.
But remember: this is only the first interview. You haven’t been offered
the job. There’s no need at this stage to be try and begin negotiations.
Giving a broad salary range will usually be enough to move on, but be
prepared to back it up if you need to.
Just don’t be tempted to sell yourself short. If you’re not sure where to
start, take a look at our average salary checker.
Right answer: A broad (but realistic) answer e.g. ‘I‘m looking for a
starting salary somewhere between £25,000 and £30,000’
Wrong answer: ‘I’m not sure. How much are you on?’
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negotiate-your-starting-salary 17

10. Do you have any questions?
Around 75 percent of job seekers will say
“Nope, I think that’s everything” to this
question. Terrible response.
This question gives you a fantastic
opportunity to stand out from the crowd and
show your knowledge and passion for the
company or organization you are interviewing
for. Always have a few questions prepared
and have one based around something you
found during your company research phase.
18
• Focus your questions on the company and what you can do for them.
• Ask about something you’ve discovered in your company research.
This will show your passion and knowledge of the company.
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ask-employer-after-job-interview

10. Do you have any questions? (continue)
• Ask if there is any reason the hiring
manager wouldn’t hire you. (This
can be a little daunting to ask BUT
can really pay off. It allows you to
address something they may be
thinking in their head but haven’t
brought up.)
• Never say “No, I think I’m
good.” Always have questions
ready!
19
• Don’t focus your questions on yourself and what you can get from
them. (i.e.
• Don’t ask questions that you could easily find the answer to.
• Don’t ask about time off and benefits too early in the process.
• Don’t ask how soon you can start applying for other positions in the
company.

11. Are you a team player?
Almost everyone says yes to this question. But it is
not just a yes/no question. You need to provide
behavioral examples to back up your answer.
A sample answer: "Yes, I'm very much a team
player. In fact, I've had opportunities in my work,
school and athletics to develop my skills as a team
player. For example, on a recent project…"
Emphasize teamwork behavioral examples and
focus on your openness to diversity of
backgrounds. Talk about the strength of the team
above the individual. And note that this question
may be used as a lead in to questions around how
you handle conflict within a team, so be prepared.
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12. What challenges are you looking for in this position?
A typical interview question to determine what you
are looking for your in next job, and whether you
would be a good fit for the position being hired for,
is "What challenges are you looking for in a
position?"
The best way to answer questions about the
challenges you are seeking is to discuss how you
would like to be able to effectively utilize your
skills and experience if you were hired for the job.
You can also mention that you are motivated by
challenges, have the ability to effectively meet
challenges, and have the flexibility and skills
necessary to handle a challenging job.
You can continue by describing specific examples
of challenges you have met and goals you have
achieved in the past.
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13. What experience do you have in this field?
Hopefully if you're applying for this
position you have bags of related
experience, and if that's the case you should
mention it all. But if you're switching
careers or trying something a little different,
your experience may initially not look like
it's matching up. That's when you need a
little honest creativity to match the
experiences required with the ones you
have. People skills are people skills after all,
you just need to show how customer service
skills can apply to internal management
positions, and so on.
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14. Why do you want to work with us?
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More likely than not, the interviewer
wishes to see how much you know
about the company culture, and
whether you can identify with the
organization’s values and vision.
Every organization has its strong
points, and these are the ones that
you should highlight in your answer.
For example, if the company
emphasizes on integrity with
customers, then you mention that you
would like to be in such a team
because you yourself believe in
integrity.

15. Tell me a suggestion
you have made that was
implemented in this field?
It's important here to focus on the
word "implemented." There's
nothing wrong with having a
thousand great ideas, but if the only
place they live is on your notepad
what's the point? Better still, you
need a good ending. If your
previous company took your advice
and ended up going bankrupt, that's
not such a great example either. Be
prepared with a story about an idea
of yours that was taken from idea to
implementation, and considered
successful. 24
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16. Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Note that if you say no, most
interviewers will keep drilling deeper to
find a conflict. The key is how you
behaviourally reacted to conflict and
what you did to resolve it.
For example: “Yes, I have had conflicts
in the past. Never major ones, but there
have been disagreements that needed to
be resolved. I've found that when conflict
occurs, it helps to fully understand the
other person’s perspective, so I take time
to listen to their point of view, and then I
seek to work out a collaborative solution.
For example . . .”
Focus your answer on the behavioural
process for resolving the conflict and
working collaboratively. 25

17. Tell me what you know about this company?
Do your homework before you go
to any interview. Whether it's
being the VP of marketing or the
mailroom clerk, you should know
about the company or business
you're going to work for. Has this
company been in the news lately?
Who are the people in the
company you should know about?
Do the background work, it will
make you stand out as someone
who comes prepared, and is
genuinely interested in the
company and the job.
26
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18. What do you know about us?
Follow these three easy research
tips before your next job interview:
1. Visit the company website; look
in the “about us” section and
“careers” sections
2. Visit the company’s LinkedIn
page (note, you must have a
LinkedIn account — its free to sign
up) to view information about the
company
3. Google a keyword search phrase
like “press releases” followed by
the company name; you’ll find the
most recent news stories shared by
the company
27

18. What do you know about us? (con…)
Remember, just because you have
done your “homework”, it does not
mean you need to share ALL of it
during the interview! Reciting every
fact you’ve learned is almost as
much of a turn off as not knowing
anything at all! At a minimum, you
should include the following in your
answer:
1. What type of product or service
the company sells
2. How long the company has been
in business
3. What the company culture is like
OR what the company mission
statement is, and how the culture
and/or mission relate to your values
or personality
28
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19. If your previous co-workers were here, what would
they say about you?
Ok, this is not the time for full
disclosure. If some people from your
past are going to say you're a boring
A-hole, you don't need to bring that
up. Stay positive, always, and maybe
have a few specific quotes in mind.
"They'd say I was a hard worker" or
even better "John Doe has always
said I was the most reliable, creative
problem-solver he'd ever met."
29
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20. What major challenges
and problems did you
face? How did you handle
them?
With this question, the interviewer
is trying to understand how you
handle issues and problems.
- Can you figure out solutions and
workarounds when there is a
problem?
- How adept are you at problem-
solving?
- Do you enjoy a challenge, or do
you get nervous when there's a
glitch?
30
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21. Describe your management style?
Try to avoid labels. Some of the more
common labels, like progressive,
salesman or consensus, can have
several meanings or descriptions
depending on which management
expert you listen to. The situational
style is safe, because it says you will
manage according to the
Situation, instead of one size fits all.
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31

22. What did you like or
dislike about your previous
job?
What you liked - and what
you didn't like - about your
last job or the company you
worked for is an indicator of
how you might feel about
this position if you were to
be hired. Be careful what you
say when you're interviewing
for a role similar to your last
one. It's important to be
positive and enthusiastic
about the job for which
you're being considered.
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23. What types of people do you find it difficult to get
on with?
When asking this question, an employer isn’t
interested who you find it difficult to work
with. They want to know what you do to
ensure an effective working relationship with
such individuals  communication skills
A possible answer for this question could be:
“I get on with all types of people, but get
frustrated when working with those who don’t
share my work ethic.
In these situations, I find that by developing a
good rapport the person, letting them know
how important their contribution is to getting
the job done, and appealing to their better
nature………things get done.”
33
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24. How are you when
you're working under
pressure?
Once again, there are a
few ways to answer this
but they should all be
positive. You may work
well under pressure, you
may thrive under pressure,
and you may
actually prefer working
under pressure. If you say
you crumble like aged
blue cheese, this is not
going to help you get your
foot in the door.
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25. What have you done to improve your knowledge in
the last year?
Try to include improvement
activities that relate to the job. A
wide
variety of activities can be
mentioned as positive self-
improvement.
Have some good ones handy to
mention.
35
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26. What have you
learned from mistakes
on the job?
Here you have to come up with
something or you strain
credibility. Make
it small, well intentioned
mistake with a positive lesson
learned. An
example would be working too
far ahead of colleagues on a
project and
thus throwing coordination off.
36
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27. Describe your dream job?
Three words describe how you should
answer this question: Relevance,
relevance, relevance.
But that doesn't mean you have to make
up an answer. You can learn something
from every job. You can develop skills in
every job. Work backwards: Identify
things about the job you're interviewing
for that will help you if you do someday
land your dream job, and then describe
how those things apply to what you hope
to someday do.
And don't be afraid to admit that you
might someday move on, whether to
another company or -- better job -- to
start your own business. Employers no
longer expect "forever" employees. 37

28. Tell me about any
issues you've had with a
previous boss?
Arrgh! If you fall for this one
you shouldn't be hired anyway.
The interviewer is testing you to
see if you'll speak badly about
your previous supervisor. Simply
answer this question with
extreme tact, diplomacy and if
necessary, a big fat loss of
memory. In short, you've never
had any issues.
38
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29. How would you describe your work style?
This is the chance for you to impress the
interviewer if such a question like this is
asked. Work style is important to every firm
and you may expect this question in the
interview. So, remember to check this out as
it will do you nothing bad but good.
Impressing the interviewer by your skills and
competencies, and look at these samples
answer below for reference:
- When I work, I focus all my attention to the
work. Thanks to that, I am able to complete
my work very quickly and effectively.
- I am an organizing person. I can organize
my work very effectively. That’s why my
record has proven my efficiency in dealing
with multi-tasks. 39

30. What has been your
biggest professional
disappointment??
Be sure that you refer to
something that was beyond
your control. Show
acceptance and no negative
feelings.
That I did not go back for
further education when I
was younger and had the
chance. It could have made a
big difference in my career. I
was too complacent at the
time and burned out on more
“schooling”.
40
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31. What are the most difficult decisions to make?
This is one of the most typical behavioral questions in an interview. With
this question, the interviewer is planning to examine your behaviors
under a problem and how you handle it. You may answer as sincerely as
you wish, but there is one tip that you should notice: what you did in the
past is not the indication of how you will behave in the future. The key is
learning.
41
First, you address the difficult situation you were
in and describe it. Then, tell the interviewer how
you did resolve it (or acted under such situation).
Remember to keep a positive tone (for example,
when you talked about those who had made
mistakes) and be specific about details of your
solution. Finally, tell the interviewer of what you
have learn from such experience.
You may even scan your memory for many
problems and consider them as challenges and
how you resolved them in a professional manner.
But eventually, don’t forget to tell the
interviewer what you have learn from all of
those.

32. How would you know
you were successful on this
job?
Answer tips
Several ways are good measures:
You set high standards for yourself
and meet them. Your outcomes are a
success. Your boss tell you that you
are successful.
Answer sample
I m sure that I were successful in
the …. because any job offered in
your company is my dream and I
can do anything for my dreams.
another way I am like to do this
from my heart not for money.
so…………
42
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33. How do you deal with conflict?
As everyone knows, conflict is a common issue at workplace. It occurs
in every organization now and then. An employee cannot perform his
duties well all the time if he is unable to deal with the smallest conflict at
work. What about you? Do you have the necessary skills to deal with the
most basic conflict at work? Do you avoid it or face it? what do you
think are the best techniques to deal with conflicts at any time?
43
You should know that there are various
types of conflict at work. It may be a
small disagreement between two
colleagues, or a total misunderstanding
of the boss, or a frustration caused by
other’s behavior. In this question, you
should first state a conflict at your level,
choose an example and adopt your skills
in resolving such conflict. Then
demonstrate how you do it to the
interviewer.

34. Have you ever had a
problem with your peer? Can
you give us an example?
44
Yes, it happened once. I was quite
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from the other department. While
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about. He mentioned it to his boss
and that caused a lot of confusion
between the two departments. This
taught me a lesson that you must
not discuss any departmental
strategies with anyone from other
department unless you have been
authorised by your boss.
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35. How will you achieve your goals?
Basing on this question the interviewer wants
to know how you plan on achieving your
goals for the future and what you are going to
accomplish. In order to respond to it you
could see examples of good responses
included:
• I have intention to acquire additional skills
by taking part in relevant class to the job
and keeping my involvement with various
professional associations.
45
• I see myself that FFA Corporation is going to offer in-house training
for employees and I would prefer to attend related classes to enhance
my skills.
• Taking participation in conferences, seminars, meetings and upholding
my education will be effective ways to continue my professional
development.

36. Who was your best
boss?
Answer tips/answer samples: The
interviewer wants to know that
whether you blame or judge badly
about your previous boss by asking
the question “Who was your best
boss and who was the worst?”
Best Answer: Each boss that I
worked for taught me a good lesson.
What to do from the advice of good
ones and what not to do from the
challenging ones.
From the beginning of my job, a
mentor assisted me a lot, and now we
still keep in touch. Truly speaking, I
have learned something from each 46
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37. What negative thing would your last boss say about you?
This question is about your weaknesses. In fact, it is a very hard question
for a candidate to answer as it is very difficult to be honest with oneself
and say out loud about negative comments on himself.
The method here is to approach the weaknesses, or particularly the
comments on those weaknesses, in a positive manner. For example, your
weaknesses are working too hard, or tend to perfection at work… those,
in fact, are strengths, but negative sometimes, and that “sometimes”
should be included in the examples following your answer.
47
For example: “My old boss told me I was
such a workaholic. But I didn’t think that
was a weakness, though there was
sometimes it caused me quite a ruckus
when I took over too many tasks at the
same time. Anyway, I have learn since then
the skill to delegate and cooperate with
others to complete the job more effectively.

38. Are you willing to
relocate?
Relocation is usually inevitable
and almost always a condition
of employment. This is
completely up to you.
Be honest, but you should
probe the interviewer for more
details. Maybe the office
location you will be working at
is planned to be moved in the
next two years and that is the
reason for this question.
Find out the details and make
an informed decision.
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39. Explain what has disappointed you most about a
previous job?
Answer tips: No matter the response, don’t get too negative. Possible
answers: not enough of a challenge, not given enough responsibilities for
your qualifications, unable to continue developing skills in environment,
etc. Don’t get trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can include: Not
enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction Company did not
win a contract, which would have given you more responsibility.
49
Answer samples: Lack of
challenge. How many hours I
have to commit. I focused on
pay and benefits when I took
my job. I didn’t fully realize
how much time is our
greatest and only asset. I
would definitely consider
this if ever looking for
another one.

40. How long would you expect
to work for us if hired?
Some tips for this question:
- It is not right to be specific; else
you are giving them the impression
that you are not going to stay if
hired.
- Specifics here are not good.
Something like this should work: I’d
like it to be a long time. Or As long
as we both feel I’m doing a good
job.
Sample answers
- I’d like it to be here a long time; as
much as you permit me and believe
that I am doing a good job to remain
in your company. 50
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41. What motivates you to do your best on the job?
Tips to answer:
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition
For any person motivation is the main factor which should make him
work in an efficient manner.
And that motivation could be done my some rewards for doing good job,
some encouragements etc. Moreover an employees good work must be
acknowledged by his employer, which would definately boost him to
work more harder to get more acknowledgements.
Answer samples
- I was motivated both by the challenge of finishing the projects on time
and by managing the teams that achieved our goals.
- I want to be successful in my job, both for my own personal satisfaction
and for my employer.
51

42. What is the most
difficult situation you have
faced?
Here you should be ready with
your real life story. The question
looks for information on two
fronts: How do you define
difficulty and how did you handle
the situation? You should be able
to clearly lay down the road map
for solving the problem, your
ability to perform task
management and maintain good
interaction with your team
members and other peers. It is
advisable to close by highlighting
the lesson learnt out of the
incident. 52
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43. Explain how you would be an asset to this organization?
You should be anxious for this question. It gives
you a chance to highlight your best points as they
relate to the position being discussed. Give a
little advance thought to this relationship.
Every organization wants to grow better and me
also wants to make my carrier a great success and
that if i could join here then i could get chances
to explore my ideas for the growth of your
reputed organization with my professional
knowledge and experience i am having till
now…
The best way to approach this question is to
restate your strengths and emphasize the different
ways they can be applied to the job being
discussed. 53

44. Have you worked with
someone you didn't like? If
so, how did you handle it?
Tips to answer:
This is a trap question!
Speaking negatively about other
people will show you as an
unreliable character.
Stay professional and be
diplomatic.
Sample answer:
Not really. I believe that when
disagreements occur, the matters
can be taken up with the
concerned person and be
immediately solved. 54
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45. Tell me about the most difficult or complex idea you
have had to explain to someone?
Once again, the employer is more interested in the tools you use to
effectively communicate a complex idea, rather than the idea itself.
Points to bear in mind when explaining your methodology:
- When communicating complex ideas, you keep your message simple
and straightforward – avoiding technical jargon and overusing statistics.
- You don’t expect people to have the same background knowledge as
you and are careful to introduce your idea in clear, concise terms.
- You find that giving examples, using pictures and graphs helps clarify
difficult concepts and can be useful as people have different learning
styles.
- You always encourage questions and if somebody is having difficulty
understanding, you are quick to adapt your style.
55

46. Do you prefer to work
Independently or on a team?
Answer tips/answer samples:
You should pay special attention to this
question if your potential employer is
one that requires much teamwork such
as those working in sales & marketing
areas.
Best answer:
I can work well both individually and
in a team. I believe your company is
recruiting just exact candidates as I
have read from the job descriptions,
there are some duties that require
teamwork while others require
individual skills to complete.
Therefore, I totally believe that I can
do the job well. 56
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47. What kind of person would you refuse to work with?
There is nothing like NOT able to work with.
Organizations are made of teams; therefore one
team member may be a notch slower than other
members of the team. It is the responsibility of
“other” team mates to help the slow team mate
to match-up.
Do not be trivial. It would take disloyalty to the
organization, violence or lawbreaking to get you
to object. Minor objections will label you as a
whiner.
Well I am a person who can work with all kinds
of people. However I feel bit uncomfortable to
work with persons of selfish and ingratitude in
nature.
57

48. Tell me about a
suggestion you have made?
Have a good one ready. Be
sure and use a suggestion that
was accepted and was then
considered successful. One
related to the type of work
applied for is a real plus.
This is a behavioral question
that is exploring your
initiative. You need to think
about a situation when you
came up with an improvement
or change to an existing
system or work process.
58
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49. Describe a typical work week?
When an interviewer asks you about your previous job, he may raise
such a question as “please describe a typical work week of yours”.
Hearing the answer and the interviewer may have an overview about you
and your performance at work. So, it is very useful to look at this
question beforehand if you have stated some related experience in your
CV as to the current job.
59
First thing to remember is you have to prepare
the answer before so that there is no non-related
activities included in your answer. You may talk
about what happened with your behavior or
skills at work, such as the times when you were
late due to some reasons or how well you
communicated with other employees in the
former company, how much you focused on the
work, and so on. But don’t mention anything
technically such as how you process an order,
supervise a work…. If such is not related to your
current application job.

50. Do you prefer to work
Independently or on a team?
Answer tips/answer samples:
You should pay special attention to
this question if your potential
employer is one that requires much
teamwork such as those working in
sales & marketing areas.
Best answer:
I can work well both individually and
in a team. I believe your company is
recruiting just exact candidates as I
have read from the job descriptions,
there are some duties that require
teamwork while others require
individual skills to complete.
Therefore, I totally believe that I can
do the job well. 60
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51. Have there been instances, when your decision was
challenged by your colleague or manager?
Yes, there have been many such
instances. I like people who
challenge my decisions rather than
following me blindly. This keeps
me ensured that I am surrounded by
thinking brains rather than just a set
of dumb followers.
g
When someone challenges your
decisions, you are bound to rethink
over it and the chances of reaching
the best option are brighter.
61

52. Describe a time when your workload was heavy?
I remembered when I was still
working for ABC company, the time
when it was planning to take over
another company. there was much
work to do, dealing with internal
workforce, workforce of the acquired
company, cultural differences,
maintaining the relationship with
clients. That was quite a stressful
situation, however, we managed to get
over it very successfully.
62

53. How long can you
commit to work with us?
I like new challenges and a chance
to grow. As long I keeping getting
these, I don’t think I’ll need to
switch over. I’d like to believe that
this relationship lasts for many
years. However, I haven’t set a
time limit as such.
63
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54. Do you have any blind spots?
Answer tips
Trick question. If you know about blind spots, they are no longer blind
spots. Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here. Let them do
their own discovery on your bad points. Do not hand it to them.
Don’t be too specific of your actual weakness.. But instead try to bring
out that you are very team oriented.
64
Answer samples
I would say everyone has
blind spots and i would too.
And that is why I believe in
teamwork because when you
are a team you can point out
other people’s blind spots
and they will do the same
for you.

55. What do you do to
improve your knowledge?
Your field is very revolutionary.
It is extremely important to keep
yourself abreast with the new
technological developments and
this needs you to take some time
out of your work schedule so that
you can keep sharpening your
saw.
.
To answer this question, you can
tell the recruiter about the forums
which you keep visiting, blogs
which you keep reading. It will
be an advantage if you are a
member of some local user
group. 65
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56. Have you ever fired anyone? How would you go about
firing a person, if required?
The basic purpose of asking this question
is to check your EQ and see if you have
the guts to make tough decisions. If you
have fired anyone in the past, discuss
your experience and approach. If you
have never done so in the past, discuss
the approach you would take to make
and implement such a decision. Keep the
focus of your answer on the fact that you
would try to do your best to ensure that
your team performs to its best but if a
particular member is not able to perform
even after you taking all the steps to help
him, you would make the tough decision
to ensure that the project doesn’t suffer.
66

57. How do you rate your
communication skills?
Again, your job is about dealing
with people within and out of
the company. So, it is important
to have good communication
skills. By good communication
skills we mean, ability to
understand and explain in a
common language. So, if you
believe that your
communication skills are
weaker, you need to work on
them.
,
Anything less than average or
good is not acceptable here.
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58. What irritates you about co-workers?
The purpose of this question is to see
how well you can fit into a team.
Basically, you should not have a
problem with a person, although you
can have a problem with the style of
working.
.
So, to answer this question you can
simply say, “I understand that IT is
about team work, so we can’t afford
to problems with co-workers but if
someone is not serious about their
work or does a low quality work
affecting the whole project, I
definitely do not like it”
68

59. What are the most
important things for you
as a manager?
The two things which
should be most important
for a manager to succeed in
his role are:
.
a.) His team should be
happy and keep performing
b.) The project he is
working on with his team is
successfully finished with
minimum problems.
69
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60. For how long do you expect to stay with our
organization?
You should ensure that you give an
impression that you will pay back
more than what you take from the
company:
.
- You can say I will stay here as far as
I see an opportunity for growth, as I
am looking for a stability in work
place.
.
- If they stress on number of years
say 3-4 years, and more if I can
explore new challenges/growth
opportunities.
70

61. Tell us something about your hobbies
Answer it with honesty, as they can
go deeper into this discussion. You
can include:
- Browsing the internet
- Blogging,
- Listening to music,
- Chatting with friends,
- Reading newspapers,
- Reading books,
- Shopping,
- Watching movies….
71

62. What is more important to you money or success?
This is tricky question, as money and
success both are important and you
cannot outweigh the importance of
one over the other. Personally you
might prefer money over success or
success over money, but it is better to
be neutral when answering this
question in an interview:
You can say, that money and success
both are important for you, but if you
have to choose you would choose
success. The reason being, if one is
successful money often follows and
you need not focus on money over
success..
72

63. If you had enough money to retire right now, would
you?
Answer yes if you would. But since you need to work, this is the type of
work you prefer. Do not say yes if you do not mean it.
73

64. What are your aspirations beyond this job?
Again, don't fall into the trap of specifying job titles.
Stick to a natural progression you see as plausible. How
should this job grow for the good of the organization?
Then turn your attention once again to the job at hand.
If you seem too interested in what lies beyond this job,
the interviewer will fear that you won't stick around for
long.
Sample Answer: Beyond this job as a marketing
assistant, I see myself moving up through marketing
analysis into brand management and eventually running
a category. I'm aware that there are several skills I need
to develop in the interval, and I believe with your
continuing-education program and my own motivation
for self-improvement, I'll have those skills when the
opportunities arise for greater responsibility. That's why
I'm determined to learn from the ground up, starting as
a marketing assistant. 74

65. Tell me about a special contribution you have made to
your employer?
Before an employer makes his/her
decision to hire you, they will need to
know how you have performed in the
past and any other special contributions
that you can bring to the company
"In my last job, I ran the fund raiser
campaign for three consecutive years. I
believed it was an important cause, and I
knew it was difficult for the company to
find volunteers."
Advice: Don’t give long boring answers,
instead focus you answers on the actions
you took and the positive results that
you obtained.
75

66. Tell me about a time when you failed?
It is certainly that anyone fails sometime, especially at work. For
example, fail to comply with the regulations, fail to meet the deadline,
fail to persuade others, fail to meet the goals….What matters more is
what you learn from such failure, and the interviewer is planning to
investigate that.
,
There are various reasons to failure: objective or subjective, a fraud, a
wrong action, an omission or a lack of capacity…you don’t need to be
too cautious about these, as if you learn from your failure, then there is
nothing to worry about.
In answering this question, first, state a situation when you fail to do
something (It is better if the reason is not your subjective intention).
Then state how you realized that and dealt with that. And finally, how
you learn from that.
76

67. If you are allowed to change one thing about your last
job, what would it be?
I have been working at a senior level since last many years. These roles
have always needed me to make real time decisions. Sometimes the
facts, figures and other information in real time cases are not complete &
still we have to make a decision. In such cases, there exists a probability
of making inaccurate decisions.
77
Knowing this, I usually run down my
old decisions to see the outcome. It
makes sure that I don’t repeat a mistake
ever again in future. While carrying out
one such exercise, I realised that the
product promotion strategy that I
recommended would have been
different, if I had had the complete data
and figures but there was no way to get
them in real time.

68. If you are allowed to change one thing about your last
job, what would it be?
I have been working at a senior level since
last many years. These roles have always
needed me to make real time decisions.
Sometimes the facts, figures and other
information in real time cases are not
complete & still we have to make a decision.
In such cases, there exists a probability of
making inaccurate decisions.44
Knowing this, I usually run down my old
decisions to see the outcome. It makes sure
that I don’t repeat a mistake ever again in
future. While carrying out one such exercise,
I realised that the product promotion strategy
that I recommended would have been
different, if I had had the complete data and
figures but there was no way to get them in
real time. 78

69. Describe a situation where you disagreed with a
supervisor.
Standard interview tips and techniques still
apply. Do not speak negatively about any
supervisors, coworkers or former jobs. It is
acceptable to share a specific situation that
occurred with a former boss, but do not go into
detail about the disagreement. Focus instead on
what you did to help the supervisor see your
point of view.
You may be asked a follow up question, such as
“Did they ultimately see your point of view?”
Be honest. Did they follow your advice or
didn’t they? The answer is not as important as
the presentation. Do not sound bitter in your
response if they did not. “They did see my point
of view. They chose a different path, but they
understood my concerns and beliefs in the end.”79

70. Describe a time where you needed to present complex
information in a simplified way.
This question is common for customer
service, sales, marketing, management
and IT jobs. Provide specific, job
related examples. Did you create any
documents? Did you practice its
presentation? Did you run it by another
employee? Remember to discuss all of
the methods you used to simplify the
information.
80

71. Describe a time you had to adapt your style?
Questions about your ability to change
your mind will be very common
during behavioral interviews. The
employer is going to be testing your
decision making skills. They also are
seeing if you are rigid in your beliefs.
Share a time during your past
employment where you needed to
change your mind or adjust a process.
No employer wants someone that is
rigid in their beliefs.
81

72. Describe a time where you were wrong?
Companies do not want to hire
someone that is always right. They
want to hire someone that makes
mistakes and learns from these
mistakes. Questions about mistakes or
errors in judgment are common.
Come up with a few mistakes you can
discuss if requested. Always make
sure that you are able to follow up
with what you learned from the
experience and how it has affected
your current decision making
strategies.
82

73. Describe a time where you had to delegate tasks?
Questions about managing others are not
limited to management jobs. Businesses
want to see examples of leadership in their
employees. There are a variety of
behavioral interview questions that are
designed to see how well you handle a
leadership role. The best way to answer
this is to highlight why you delegated each
task to its recipient. “I focused on the staff
member’s strength. I delegated the tougher
IT tasks to Todd because he was more
experienced. Jeff had an eye for accuracy,
so I had him run data check. I handled the
overall QA since I had the most
experience with the details of the project.”
83

74. Describe a Time Where You Were Unsure of the Next
Steps.
Many jobs require a motivated self-
starter that will seek out tasks and
ensure they are on the right track.
Employers are not looking for
someone that gets confused and does
not look for help. Many questions will
focus on your own personal
responsibility and how you handled
issues that arose while you were
working alone.
84

75. Describe a time where you were blamed for a mistake
you did not make?
Personality plays a role in behavioral interviews.
Employers want to see that you are well balanced
person that knows how to handle themselves.
These types of questions are designed to see how
you handled situations that can be very
personally stressful. Try to share examples that
reflect positively on all parties involved. “Once I
was blamed for not double checking marketing
data, which drastically impacted one of our
campaigns. Though I was not the staff member in
charge of the data collection and analysis, I knew
it would be unproductive to try to pass blame, so
I simply asked what steps I could take to help
resolve the problem. Afterward I spoke with the
staff member in charge of checking data and let
them know of the error so that both of us could
ensure it would not be repeated.” 85

76. Are you people oriented?
If you are, than describe how well you
communicate with others (colleagues,
teammates and co-workers) during
your day to day work. Sell some of
you positive traits, for example: How
good listener you are, how well you
give an help to others when needed,
how you share thoughts and ideas,
how you maintain a positive
discussion, how you organize &
prioritize people work, how well you
convince others, how supportive you
are, how you interact/consult with
others when solving problems, and
how you show an interest to what
others are saying.
86

77. Are you a social person? What are you interpersonal
skills?
Whether you are a social person or nor
is one of the first interview questions on
communication skills that are asked.
Being social does not mean just making
profiles on social networks, but actually
getting down and have healthy
professional and personal social
relationships with most people. Being
social can be positive trait, but being too
social can be detrimental to you and the
company. Therefore, when answering,
you should say that while you are social
and do take out time to interact with
others, you ensure that it does not
disturb other important missions in you
professional life. 87

78. How do you usually start a fresh relationship with a
client? Do you consider this important?
When you answer this question, do try
and portray yourself as someone who
is very sociable and enjoys meeting
new people. Establishing new lines of
communications and a fresh new
relationship is something that you
always look forward to. You like
meeting new people and fostering new
methods of communication. But you
always like to ensure that the clients
you are meeting will benefit your
company in the long run.
88

79. When people criticize you, what do they mention the
most?
This is one question you should be careful
of. You could say something like “I have
always been accused of being a
perfectionist. I have high expectations from
my co workers and it is something most of
them can’t handle”. Or “It was very
difficult for me to make presentations a
decade ago. I was unable to do so at high
school as well. But I have started to take a
few classes where I am learning about
public speaking. And recently I was
awarded for my excellent presentation at
this year’s award ceremony”. If you think
humor would be a good way to intrigue the
interviewer, try something good. But make
sure it is really good. 89

80. What do you think is customer service?
When the interviewer asks you a
question like this, he is basically tried
to know if you are aware of this term
or not. So when you answer this
question you could mention something
like “Customer service according to
me is far more than just helping out
customers in need. It is also about
ensuring that the customer is satisfied
with the information provided to them”
or “Customer service is about handling
all doubts and queries of customers
without being aggresive. The tone
should always be cordial and friendly.
Patience is the key to handling
customers online”.
90

81. Give an example of a time you handled conflict in the
workplace
Your interviewer will assess your
adaptability and gauge
the constructiveness of your approach
towards conflict, tension and
differences of opinion. Your
example(s) should highlight the
importance of your role in resolving
these issues.
91

82. Give an example of a challenge you faced in the
workplace, and how you overcame it?
If you are entering the workplace
direct from school, college or
university, this question will be geared
towards your academic experiences.
Provide a great example of a task that
involved using as many skills and
abilities as possible. An ideal answer to
this question enables you to
demonstrate your ability to work in a
team, display leadership skills and
handle pressure.
92

83. How did you reach the decision that you wanted to
change your job and work for us?
Make time for detailed research of the
company and vacancy. Your answer
should encompass analysis of the
company and role attributes and
the wide range of qualities you bring.
In terms of competencies, the
interviewer is ensuring you can make
well-informed and timely decisions,
and that you perceive the impact and
implication of decisions you may
make.
93

84. Tell me about a time your communication skills
improved a situation?
You will be assessed on your abilities
to communicate effectively and
sensitively and should use an
appropriate work-related example,
possibly entailing handling disgruntled
customers or colleagues and
highlighting your excellent listening
skills as well as verbal communication
skills
94

85. Give an example of change in the workplace and how
you handled this?
If you have managed change in the
workplace, this is an ideal question to
illustrate all your skills and abilities. If
not, answer in a way which
demonstrates your flexibility and the
positive manner in which you meet
challenges.
95

86. Give an example of a time you identified a new approach
to a workplace problem
This question is a test of your
analytical skills and likely to be asked
of management candidates who
need to prepare a great example which
illustrates key skills such as analysis,
problem solving, innovation and
practicality. Candidates for
administration-type posts asked
questions of this nature might use
simple work-based examples such as
when their budgeting skills caused
substantial savings in areas such as
postal charges, stationery purchases,
etc.
96

Top 12 job tips for executive interview
(details in next page)
97

Tip 1: Do your homework
You'll likely be asked difficult questions during the interview. Preparing
the list of likely questions in advance will help you easily transition from
question to question.
You'll likely be asked difficult questions during the interview. Preparing
the list of likely questions in advance will help you easily transition from
question to question.
98
Spend time researching the company. Look at its site to
understand its mission statement, product offerings, and
management team. A few hours spent researching
before your interview can impress the hiring manager
greatly. Read the company's annual report (often posted
on the site), review the employee's LinkedIn profiles,
and search the company on Google News, to see if
they've been mentioned in the media lately.
Related material: http://interviewquestionsaz.blogspot.com/2013/07/job-interview-
checklist-40-points.html

Tip 2: First impressions
When meeting someone for the first time, we instantaneously make our minds
about various aspects of their personality.
Prepare and plan that first impression long before you walk in the door.
Continue that excellent impression in the days following, and that job could be
yours.
Therefore:
• Never arrive late.
• Use positive body language and turn on your charm right from the start.
• Switch off your mobile before you step into the room.
• Look fabulous; dress sharp and make sure you look your best.
• Start the interview with a handshake; give a nice firm press and then some
up and down movement.
• Determine to establish a rapport with the interviewer right from the start.
• Always let the interviewer finish speaking before giving your response.
• Express yourself fluently with clarity and precision.
99

Tip 3: The “Hidden” Job Market
Many of us don’t recognize that hidden job market is a huge one and
accounts for 2/3 of total job demand from enterprises. This means that
if you know how to exploit a hidden job market, you can increase your
chance of getting the job up to 300%.
In this section, the author shares his experience and useful tips to
exploit hidden job market.
100
Here are some sources to get
penetrating into a hidden job market:
Friends; Family; Ex-coworkers;
Referral; HR communities; Field
communities; Social networks such as
Facebook, Twitter…; Last recruitment
ads from recruiters; HR emails of
potential recruiters…
Related material: https://www.slideshare.net/jobsearchtipsa2z/9-tips-to-tap-into-the-
hidden-job-market

Tip 4: Overcome “job interview nervous“
Job interview nervous is
one of the first reasons why
you fail in job interviews.
101
Related material: https://www.slideshare.net/jobsearchtipsa2z/top-11-ways-you-can-
zap-your-job-interview-nerves

Tip 5: Do-It-Yourself Interviewing Practice
There are a number of
ways to prepare for an
interview at home
without the help of a
professional career
counselor or coach or a
fee-based service.
You can practice
interviews all by
yourself or recruit
friends and family to
assist you.
102

Tip 6: Tailor your story to the job
Applying your story to a specific employer or job is the next step. Lining
up the stories that apply to the opportunity at hand is critical. Put
yourself in the interviewer’s shoes and pose the questions you would ask.
Which stories are relevant to this job interview? Think about personal
stories that show how you handled change, made choices under pressure,
or learned lessons from mistakes and failures. You should also think
about stories you can tell in the interview that reveal your skill set.
103
Learning and appreciating your story
is a prerequisite to any interview
process. Don’t rely on your ability to
think on your feet. Anticipate the
questions and have answers at the
ready. In the end, this is about
making a great and memorable
impression that demonstrates
competency and ability.

Tip 7: Dress for Success
Plan out a wardrobe that fits the
organization and its culture, striving for
the most professional appearance you
can accomplish. Remember that it's
always better to be overdressed than
under -- and to wear clothing that fits
and is clean and pressed. Keep
accessories and jewelry to a minimum.
Try not to smoke or eat right before the
interview -- and if possible, brush your
teeth or use mouthwash.
104
Related material: https://www.slideshare.net/jobsearchtipsa2z/top-10-
tips-to-dress-for-job-interview-success

Tip 8: Arrive on Time for the Interview -- and Prepared for Success
There is no excuse for ever arriving late for an interview -- other than
some sort of disaster. Strive to arrive about 15 minutes before your
scheduled interview to complete additional paperwork and allow
yourself time to get settled. Arriving a bit early is also a chance to
observe the dynamics of the workplace.
105
The day before the interview, pack
up extra copies of your resume or
CV and reference list. If you have a
portfolio or samples of your work,
bring those along too. Finally,
remember to pack several pens and
a pad of paper to jot notes.
Finally, as you get to the offices,
shut off your cell phone. (And if
you were chewing gum, get rid of
it.)

Tip 9: Focus more on what you can do for the company, rather
than what they can do for you
At the beginning of the job interview process, someone has to assume the
role of the seller, and someone has to be the buyer.
You're the seller at this early stage of the process.
As the interview progresses you will eventually be asked: Do you have
any questions for us?
It’s a bad idea to say, no, I can’t think of anything. It’s also a bad idea to
have a grocery list of interview questions a mile long.
Appropriate Job Interview Questions to Ask Your Interviewers
• How would you describe a typical day in this position?
• In my first 90 days on the job, what’s my first priority?
• What is one of the most difficult challenges facing your department?
• Is this a new position, or am I replacing someone?
• What’s the company’s strategy for generating new business?
• What is your management style like? 106

Tip 10: Bring examples of your work
Use the power of the printed word to your advantage. As an executive
recruiter, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been called by a hiring
manager after an interview, and told how impressed they were with one
of my candidates who brought examples of their work.
Most job seekers fail to do this in preparing for a job interview. This one
job interview tip alone will set you apart from other candidates.
Idea: Some job seekers bring a copy of their most recent written
evaluation to the interview. Obviously, you should only do this if your
evaluation is outstanding.
The power of the printed word applies here as well. If you share your
strengths with your interviewers, it's duly noted. If one of your bosses
said those same things about you...it's gospel.
Another great example of your work is any chart or graph that illustrates
specifically how you saved the company time or money...or how you
made the company money.
107

Tip 11: Ask questions
Do not leave the interview without
ensuring that you know all that you want
to know about the position. Once the
interview is over, your chance to have
important questions answered has ended.
Asking questions also can show that you
are interested in the job. Be specific with
your questions. Ask about the company
and the industry. Avoid asking personal
questions of the interviewer and avoid
asking questions pertaining to politics,
religion and the like.
108
Useful material: https://www.slideshare.net/jobsearchtipsa2z/top-questions-to-
ask-employer-after-job-interview

Tip 12: Follow up and send a thank-you note
Following up after an interview can help you
make a lasting impression and set you apart
from the crowd.
Philip Farina, CPP, a security career expert at
Manta Security Management Recruiters, says:
"Send both an email as well as a hard-copy
thank-you note, expressing excitement,
qualifications and further interest in the
position. Invite the hiring manager to contact
you for additional information. This is also an
excellent time to send a strategic follow-up
letter of interest."
109
Related material: http://interviewquestionsaz.blogspot.com/p/top-interview-thank-
you-letter-samples.html and
http://interviewquestionsaz.blogspot.com/p/10-things-to-do-after-job-interview.html

Other job interview materials:
Below are other useful materials from: topinterviewquestions.info
• 440 behavioral interview questions
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• Top 30 phone interview questions with answers
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• 45 internship interview questions
• Top free 14 cover letter samples
• Top free 16 resume sample
• Top 15 ways to search new jobs
• Second interview
• Job interview checklist 40 points
• Top 15 tips for interview preparation
• Top questions to ask employer during interview
• Top 58 interview written test examples
• Top 38 job interview best best practices
• Top 12 job interview case study samples
• 15 interview followup email examples
• 28 job interview guide, interview thank letter samples and job interview process
• 14 job interview tips for candidate with no experience 110

Other job interview materials:
Below are other useful materials from: topinterviewquestions.info
• 29 powerpoint presentation examples, 15 interview role play examples
• Free ebook: 145 interview questions and answers pdf download
• Top 10 biggest/strengths weaknesses in job interview
• How to answer question: tell me about your self?
• Top 12 tips for dress code (clothes, attire)
• 25 job interview do's and don'ts
• 7 interview assessment forms, 27 interview advices
• Top 20 closing questions/ closing statements
• 9 interview evaluation forms/interview rating forms
• 12 interview group/panel discussion tips
• How to do interview introduction?
• 18 scenario questions, 23 screening questions
• Top 4 common interview rounds and how to prepare
• 45 Fresher executive interview questions and answers
111

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The above interview questions can be used for fields such as:
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maintenance, manufacturing, market, marketing, materials, media, merchandising, mining, mortgage,
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operations, outbound, outlet, overseas, parts, payroll, executive, executive, plant, procurement,
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shipping, social media, software, sourcing, spa, staffing, store, studio, supply chain
112

86 executive interview questions and answers

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