Logo

Questions to Expect: Work Experience

Published: Mar 10, 2009

 Job Search       
The quality search

Interviewers, inevitably, seek the ideal candidate. To become this perfect hire, put yourself in the mind of the interviewer. Take a good look at yourself. What does this person look like? How does this person dress, and carry him or herself? Which qualities does this interviewee demonstrate in his or her answers? Increasingly, interviewers will ask behavioral questions -- questions that seek to understand you through the prism of your past behavior and accomplishments. Here's a look at some questions you might receive. These questions are designed to understand how your work experience has shaped you as an employee.

Where you've been and what you've done

What you've done in the past serves as the clearest indication of what you'll be able to do in the future. If you can portray yourself in your interview as someone with a string of past successes by telling honest anecdotes in which you emerge as the hero, you're on your way to winning the job at hand.

Remember, however, that an experienced interviewer will be on to you like your first grade teacher if you try to snow him or her. Here are some questions you should know how to answer in the category of past performance:

  1. Describe your duties at [this particular position].

  2. Of which of your past accomplishments are you most proud?

  3. What, based on your experience, have you found to be your optimal work conditions?

  4. What are the most valuable lessons you've learned from past work experiences?

  5. Which of the skills you've picked up at the positions listed on your resume do you feel will best translate into this position and why?

  6. What are your long-term goals in this industry and at this company?

  7. Describe a problem you encountered at one of your jobs and how you handled it.

***