One day a friend and I were talking, and the subject of interviewing questions came up. My friend, also in personnel, argued that the question, "Where do you expect to be five years from now?" wasn't a very good one. He gave several reasons to support his viewpoint. First of all, he claimed, no one really knows where they'll be or hope to be five years from now. Secondly, most candidates would provide you with an answer that showed they'd be promoted and most likely be high up in the organization in a responsible position.
I agreed with him on both points. However, I disagreed on the value of the question itself. I've always used that question to set the stage for the second and third questions in order to get deeper into the subject. For example, I ask, "Where do you expect to be five years from now?" Then I follow up with, "And what are you doing to prepare yourself for that position?" And, "What if you don't achieve your goal?" To win in a job interview, you must be prepared to deal with this line of in-depth questioning.
The following examples should help you to prepare for in-depth questions. As you read them, formulate your own responses. These have been divided into distinct categories so that you can focus on one area at a time. Let's begin with your work pattern.
Work Pattern
- Tell me about your work history.
- How did you happen to get the job?
- I'd be interested in knowing the kinds of work you did.
- Would you explain your reasons for leaving?
- Tell me more about what you found disappointing or frustrating in your work.
- Would you explain why?
- Would you tell me about what criticism was made of your work by your employers?
- I'm not certain I understand what kind of criticism.
- To what do you attribute the criticism?
- I'd be interested in knowing what is most important to you in a job.
- Would you explain what you care least about in a job?
- What do you mean by that?
- Tell me about your usual reaction when a superior corrects you for doing something wrong.
- If you were in a position to make changes on your previous jobs, tell me what you would have done.
- Would you explain that in more detail?
- How do you feel about relocating and travel away from home?
- Perhaps you could clarify ... when would you be able to relocate?
Educational and Social Pattern
- Tell me about your scholastic performance in college. In other schools?
- What was there about the extracurricular activities you participated in that appealed to you, and what offices did you hold in high school? In college?
- Has there been an opportunity for you to pay back a portion of your educational expenses?
- What prompted your decision to do that?
- Would you tell me about the experience during your school days that stands out as meaning the most to you?
- To what do you attribute the importance of that experience?
- Would you explain how old you were when you earned your first money on a steady job?
- How did you happen to do that?
- Tell me about your participation in outside activities.
Personality
- Would you tell me about what you believe to be your strong points as a person?
- What do you mean by that?
- I'd be interested in knowing what you believe to be your weak points as a person.
- What do you mean by that?
- Would you tell me about qualities you admire in other people?
- Perhaps you could clarify why you admire these qualities.
- Tell me about what irritates or displeases you most in other people.
- I would be interested in knowing about the last incident that made you angry.
- Would you explain what you did about it?
Ambitions
- I'd be interested in knowing what position you want to hold several years from now.
- Would you tell me about why you believe you will be qualified for that position?
- I'm not certain I understand your plans to qualify yourself.
- Tell me about the reputation you like to enjoy as an employee.
- What do you mean by that?
- What prompted your decision to apply for this job with our company?
- Would you explain why we should hire you?
Granted, these are tough questions, but there is a strategy behind such queries. As you take the time to review these questions and formulate concrete responses to them, you will be much better prepared for your next interview.
