Interviewing Tips: Employer Questions with Possible Responses

20. Are you continuing your education?
    If you are not actually attending or planning to attend formal classes, be ready to explain what sort of outside reading or attendance at professional seminars you undertake in order to keep yourself fresh in your chosen field.
    
    
21. What important trends do you see coming in our industry?
    Pick out two or three things that you see coming down the road big picture stuff. This is your chance to show that you have thought about the future, the economics, the markets and the technology of your industry.
    
    
22. Why are you leaving your present job?
    This is one of those sensitive questions that must be handled crisply and briefly. If it was a forced reduction due to economic circumstances, make that clear. If possible, explain how your termination was part of a larger movement. When you have finished answering, let it go. Stay away from analyzing your friction points with your boss.
    
    
23. How do you feel about leaving all your benefits at Ajax?
    Concerned, but confident that you will make it up when you are established in your new company.
    
    
24. Describe what you feel would be an ideal working environment.
    This is a place where you can bring in some of the satisfiers and ideal job performances, but don't make it sound too sublime or impractical. Otherwise, they may conclude that you are not ready for the realities of old Ajax. Downplay the dissatisfiers.
    
    
25. Looking back, how do you perceive you're past employer?
    It is an excellent company, which has given me a lot of good experience and opportunities to perform.
    
    
26. What have you done that helped increase sales or profit? How did you go about it?
    This is your chance to describe in some detail a business accomplishment that is relevant to the proposed new job. Feel free to dwell on this.
    
    
27. How much financial responsibility have you had to account for?
    You can answer this in terms of your budget or head-count or the size of the project or sales that you directed.
    
    
28. How many people have you supervised on your recent job? Be specific - and feel free to refer to those over which you had influence, such as a task force or a matrix organization.
    
    
29. Which do you like better, working with figures or words? Answer honestly.
    
    
30. How do you think your subordinates perceive you?
    Be as positive as you can, but remember to be honest too. They can check your references easily.
    
    
31. In your last position, what were the things that you liked most? Liked least?
    Be careful on this one. Emphasize the positive and don't carry on at length about the negatives.
    
    
32. In your recent position, what were some of your most significant accomplishments?
    Be ready to describe three or four of them in detail. Where possible, try to relate to the nature of the new challenges you might be facing.
    
    
33. Why haven't you found a new position after these many months?
    Finding just any job is not too difficult: but finding the right job takes care and time.
    
    
34. What do you think of your previous boss?
    Be as positive as you can, and avoid getting in too deep. This is a loaded question, because most bosses shy away from a contentious or difficult subordinate.
    
    
35. Describe a situation in which your work was criticized.
    Be specific and brief, avoid getting emotional or defensive about it.
    
    
36. If I spoke with your previous boss, what would he/she say are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
    Be honest about this one, but do not emphasize the negative. Your old boss will probably want to give you a good send‑off. Recount some of the good things you did for him/her.
    
    
37. How do you hold up under pressure or deadlines?
    I can handle it. It is a way of life in the business world.
    
    
38. What are 3 positive things your last Boss would  say about you?
    This is prime time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss’s quotes. It’s time to brag about yourself in someone else’s words. “My boss has told me that I am the best sales person he/she has ever had. He knows he can rely on me and my professionalism. He can give me a project and know that it will be completed on time and perfectly.”