Recent job interviewing questions and our responses to the great people who visit My Writing Resources.

Click the link to see recent questions on the topic of Job Resignations.

Q: Is it bad if you blow the "tell me about yourself" interview question?

The question usually comes up at the beginning of your interview and sets the stage for how well you will do. If you do poorly on this question you will have to work hard to save the interview. So yes, it is bad if you do not have a good answer for the question. It is important in your answer to stress on personal background, education, growing up in a certain environment or your job function with a list of core responsibilities and bulleted list of accomplishments.

What I find revealing is how much detail is included in the answer. Does the answer attempt to be vague or does the candidate give concrete details, dates, and the type of description that draws out the interviewer's curiosity making them want to know more. The more intriguing the response the deeper the questioning can go. There is of course, no 'correct' answer. Skillful handling of the question demonstrates the way a person conceptualizes his or her professional and personal identity, notions of self-worth, confidence, sense of purpose, and yes, political judgment and decision making skills.

Q: What is the best way to answer this interview question: Tell me about a time when you were part of a disorganized team how did you cope with this environment what was the outcome?

A: This can be a trap if you fall into being critical of the people you worked with. Don't fall into it.

My suggestion is to focus on how you worked to build confidence and synergy among the members. You looked for strengths and made sure that people were able to feel part of what was going on. You also made sure everyone had an opportunity to speak and kept the team on target. The focus was on results and a solid presentation. If there was disagreement, you made sure everyone weighed in and included the opinions that not everyone in the group shared. In summary you made the best of what you had to work with.

Q: What is an interviewer looking for when they ask, "Tell me about a time that you had a lot of work to do in a short time. How did you manage the situation?"

A: The interviewer wants to know how effective you can be under deadline pressure. For example, you can say, I took steps to remove myself from all distractions including e-mail and the telephone. I asked to be excused from several routine status meetings and delegated the responsibility for several time consuming tasks to another person in our department. In order to ensure that I could meet my deadline, I cut my lunch time from an hour to 30 minutes during the week I had to get the project done and handed in. I put in a couple of Saturdays when it got down to "crunch time." I pride myself on delivering my projects on time and within my budget constraints.

Q: If you are being interviewed for a new position at your job, should you tell them you were going to resign?

A: No that is really not a good idea. It may send the unintended signal that you are still considering leaving. The interviewer would be wondering, why would you be a good candidate if you have no loyalty?

Q: Is it possible to recover during an interview, if I realize that I gave a wrong answer?

A: Yes it is possible and it can demonstrate how you think on your feet. There is a risk, however, that you might muddy an already acceptable answer. Obviously, it depends on what question you feel you missed. The trick is to say just enough to clarify your answer. One example:

"Earlier you asked me if I preferred working alone or on a team. On reflection, I have been on some pretty good teams and I really enjoyed the results we were able to get. So, I guess a better answer for me is that I genuinely like working alone to get my work done, but I also enjoy the synergy that comes from teamwork."

More on interview recovery

Q: Can I get sued for putting on a job application my reason for leaving my last job was an ethical reason?

A: No you cannot be sued for stating this on an application. However, it is not a good idea to indicate that you had ethical concerns with a previous employer. The interviewer is likely to ask you about the issue and that puts you at risk for sharing negative information about a conflict. It is better to indicate that you resigned to seek other firms which could offer a better fit for your skills. This answer is also truthful.

Q: Do I tell my interviewer that I had an on-the- job injury?

A: Ask yourself this question: Does the injury you suffered still pose a challenge if you are hired and expected to perform certain tasks on the job? Lifting 30 lb items for example.

If the answer is no, then the information need not be disclosed.

If the answer is yes, you will probably need to let the interviewer know that you suffered an injury, but you are recovered (or well on the way to recovery) and fully capable of doing all the assigned tasks.

Q: Is asking whether or not you drink alcohol illegal in an interview?

A: The best test for an illegal question is to see if it is job related. For example, if you are working for a drug and alcohol recovery clinic, the question might be one that has a bearing on your ability to counsel people with dependency problems. However, in most jobs, this question has little relationship with a person's actual job duties. I consider it not job related and not legal. It is a bad question since one glass of wine with dinner is not the same as downing a six-pack of beer while driving home at night.

If such a question comes up during your interview, you can and should ask the interviewer, what does drinking alcohol have to do with performing the job duties? Let the interviewer explain the purpose of such a question. More on the topic of illegal Questions

Q: Is it legal to ask interview questions about my martial status?

A: Years ago, interviewers would ask the married, single or divorced question because they felt it would help to establish a candidate's reliability. Married candidates were thought to be more stable. But today, the question has absolutely nothing to do with a candidate's ability to perform his or her job duties. The courts also found that employers could be discriminating against women of child-bearing age with this line of questioning. My opinion is that it is illegal to ask this question.

As with the question directly above, if such a question comes up during your interview (and particularly if you are female), you should ask the interviewer, what does marital status have to do with performing the job duties? Let the interviewer explain the purpose of such a question. More on the topic of illegal Questions

Q: Is it ethical for people in Human Resources to share age information about a candidate with a hiring manager?

A: No it is not ethical and it is also illegal. But sadly a person's age is still often used as a way to eliminate otherwise qualified candidates.

Do not answer questions about age beyond stating that you are over the age of 18. Interviewers shouldn't’t ask how close you are to retirement but can ask what your long-term career goals are.

There is a great illustration of the consequences of this type of discrimination on the Illegal questions page.

Q: If I go for an interview, do they call to let me know I have been hired the same day? If I don't get a call, does it mean I did poorly on my interview?

A: It isn't likely that you will get a call immediately following your interview. Don't be discouraged. If you were selected for an interview, it is one step in a process that can take some time. Here is how most mid-sized and large companies operate:

1. Someone from the human resources (HR) department interviews and screens out all but the top (five or six) applicants.

2. The immediate supervisor interviews the top five or six people and may make a decision or may ask his/her staff to also interview the top three.

3. In some companies, a panel (composed of other supervisors or key people who will be working with the selected person) interviews the top two or three candidates. For some high-level positions, the senior executive over the area interviews the best candidate before the person is hired.

4. Once a choice is made, HR is notified and may do a background check.

5. If the applicant passes the check, HR calls the selected person and makes a verbal offer. These steps can take a number of days and in government jobs, several weeks.

Q: Should I write a clarification e-mail if I messed up on a question during my promotional interview?

A: I don't recommend it and here is why: You could drawing extra and unwanted attention to a mistake you feel you made. It is possible that the interviewer did not notice the gaffe or your less-than-ideal answer was not as important as the answers you did well on. Avoid shooting yourself in the foot if you did a pretty good job otherwise. Having said that, be sure to send a follow up e-mail thanking the interviewer for his/her time and the opportunity to interview for the position.

Q: What if a interviewer tells you that you will be contacted by mail for a second interview.

A: It sounds odd to me. Phone contact is more typical. Some companies will notify people who interviewed by mail but it is usually a rather cold post card letting applicants know that they were not selected.

Q: I just found out there will be a job fair near me. I have been out of work since being laid off and getting kind of desperate. Are these worthwhile? How should I prepare?

A: Yes going to a job fair is a good idea. It gives you and opportunity to meet employers face to face. Men should wear a suit and tie or sport jacket and slacks with a tie. Women should wear conservative business attire. Here are some tips to consider:

1. Give a firm handshake and collect a business card from every person you talk to.

2. Ideally, with each contact: you meet and feel you have connected with, leave a folder that contains a resume, a cover letter and a list of employment references.

2. If it was a good conversation (or even if was just a hello), follow up with an e-mail thanking them for their time and express your interest in being employed by their firm. Make sure you mention how you are interested in them because of their reputation in the industry. Let them know that you looked at and were impressed with their web site.

3. Stand tall and make eye contact. Smile when they make a joke. Use "use sir" or "yes ma'm" when you respond to their questions.

4. Use the experience to sharpen your interview skills.

5. Thank them for taking their time to speak with you before you leave their table.

Q: Is it a good thing if an interviewer tells you they will keep your resume on file?

A: This false statement is meant to soften the blow of "We decided not to bring you in for an interview; or we elected not to forward your resume to the hiring supervisor; or the supervisor saw your resume but has selected other candidates to interview.

I don't expect anyone in a busy HR department to spend their time in the future searching through a pile of resumes to locate and forward yours. It is more likely that your resume is now in the trash.

Q: I was just notified that I was not selected for the promotion in my department. Why didn't I get the promotion?

A: Good question. The manager decided that someone else was better qualified, or socially was a better fit on the team, or was the son of the owner's wife. Without the facts of how the decision was reached, it is hard to know. If you feel you did well on the interview, have good rapport with the hiring manager and are shocked by not being selected, you might want to consider asking the manager why you did not get the promotion. You can do this over coffee or in a polite and friendly e-mail. To keep him or her from being defensive, you can say that you appreciated the opportunity to compete for the promotion, felt the interview went well and want to be the best candidate should another position be available in the future. Ask, can you give me some ideas for how I can improve?

Q: What are the best interview techniques when you hate talking about yourself? Another frequent question is: How to do a good interview when you are very shy?

A: My advice is to do a couple of things: 1. Study the position being advertised. What skills, experience and training do you have that fits the needs the job ad states? As you get ready for the interview, focus on the things you are capable of and how you can do the job. 2. Practice interviewing with someone. Practice giving real-life examples of what you have done, problems you solved, people your trained, sales quotas you exceeded, etc. The more you focus on matching your current skills to the job, the less hindrance being shy will cause. If the questions come up, hopefully you will be able to replay your practice examples. During the interview, be sure to talk about the specifics of how your background matches the job as you understand it.

Q: Can I say "I have bad handwriting" as a weakness during my interview?

A: It probably isn't the best example of a weakness an employer would care about. I suggest instead using an example that is more work related, such as time management or computer skills. If you give an example, always include an explanation of what you are doing to improve on your weakness. Example: I purchased a time management book and now manage my time using a day planner. Example: I'm taking a basic computer skills course in the evening at the high school.

Q: During a job interview, what reason can I give for why I resigned from a previous company if it was because my on-the-job performance was bad?

A: You can say, truthfully that you resigned because the job was not a good fit. You do better in a more team-oriented culture. You can explain that you are looking for an employer and a position that is a better fit for your skills and need to grow with the company.

Q: I was a temp at my previous job. What do I say if I am asked why the company did hire me to be a full-time employee?

A: Candor is a good way to deal with such a question. You could say, I honestly don't know. I really enjoyed working for them. Perhaps they had a limited staffing budget in the department I was tempting for. That is the reason I am hoping to get on board with a good firm, such as yours, so I can be a a more permanent part of the team.

Q: At interviews, why do companies always say they have another person to interview?

A: Simply stated, it is probably true. It is also a way of saying, we are engaged in a process of making a decision. Interviewing all eligible candidates is the first part of that process. For the the interviewer it is a way to say (perhaps to all candidates), "I've not made my mind up yet on who I will select."

Q: I interviewed three times at a company yet I have not received an offer or even a call. Should I call them?

.A: This is a good question. It could be that the process is delayed by a manager who is out of town or an executive needs to schedule time to interview the top applicants. On the other hand, the selected choice needs to be sent an official offer and he/she needs to accept it before the HR department can notify others (possibly including you) about their decision.

I would agree that a follow up call is a reasonable action to take after more than two weeks have passed. However, you still may not get any information or you may get some bad news. It is a good idea to be prepared for any contingency before picking up the phone.

Q: What if, during the interview process for a promotion, my manager dislikes me and gives a bad reference?

A: Chances are, you won't be informed if this happens. But managers being human and subject to pettiness, can give an applicant a bad rap. Perhaps they don't want to lose you. But giving out bad information is unfortunate because it can bias a hiring supervisor. If you suspect that this is possible, you might want to provide the hiring manager with a list of favorable references, the people who you typically deal with.

If you do find out from a hiring manager that your boss is saying negative things about you (that are not true), it might be a good idea to report the incident to your human resources department. They should follow up with your current supervisor.

Q: In an interview, how do I tell a future employer that I quit due to unethical behavior at my former company?

A: If you left the company and are about to join (or are now with) a new company, you do not need to share the reason you left with anyone. You made a decision based on your sense of ethics. If the question comes up during an interview concerning why you left a former employer, you might respond that, the company did not meet the career objectives you had in mind, and that you felt it was time to move on to something better. This vague answer does not trap you into talking negatively about a former employer. For additional insight on how to frame your own ethics in the workplace, check out this link More

Q: How do I prepare for doing a writing sample at an interview?

A: The answer depends on how this challenge is presented. If you are a writer or your field demands writing as a job skill, you should be ready to take on this assignment. If you are new to the business (just out of college, for example) you too should be able to write a short paragraph. But if you have little or no writing experience, It is a good idea to practice writing on a topic and then let someone else look over your effort for: flow of ideas, clarity of thought, spelling errors, punctuation, etc. Keep practicing this skill and you will improve.

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