"What do you do when you have a problem with a co-worker?"

Usually when two co-workers have a problem, then they will just hate each other and try to be better than the other. You can’t say this because it is the wrong way to handle it. I would probably not deal with the problem and hate the other person, but that is not what I would say in an interview. You can mention that you believe having to deal with a problem with a co-worker is difficult because competitiveness comes into factor. Along with this statement, follow up with how you would try to look beyond that to make your relationship better.

"If I have a problem with a co-worker, I believe it’s so important to talk to them. Even if I’m the one with the problem, I want to know so I can be a better team mate."

"If I have a problem, I try to approach my co-worker and let them know as professionally as possible. If I’m the one with the problem, I’ll politely ask what I can do to improve the relationship. I found that proper communication solves many problems."

"I’ve always been told that I’m a great person to work with, but if I were in a situation where I was having a problem, I believe I would work on our relationship by being more understanding."

"Well it all depends on if it’s a personality conflict or an issue that is causing the problem. An issue is easy to deal with. I think I’d go and talk with the co-worker saying something like, ‘If you have some time, I think it will be good for us if we talk about this issue.’ Starting a conversation to deal with the problem with a co-worker is the hardest step, and if it’s done properly, then the issue can easily be resolved. If it is a personality issue, then I would try to be more understanding and at worst deal with the problem by anticipating conflicts ahead of time to put myself in a position to either avoid it or to make it less of a problem."

This is showing answers by using scenarios. It is a solid answer but if you disagree, feel free to think of a good scenario that will fit you better.

6."How do you handle conflict?"

This is a general question. It doesn’t ask if you are the one with the conflict, if it is a conflict with another person, if it is a conflict of schedule, or if it is a conflict with changes at work. If you want, you can ask a question to clarify. But if you want to answer in a general way, try to think of an answer that will work for all types of conflict.

"I treat most conflicts the same. I analyze the conflict and create a list of steps I can take to resolve it. By thinking about these steps and taking action, I found that most conflicts are easy to handle."

"I handle conflicts by analyzing them. I’m a very analytical person and I feel all problems have a solution. I usually think about the conflict and find ways to deal with it."

"Whenever I’m confronted with a conflict, I always follow a simple process. I think about what the current conflict is, think of several ways I can deal with this conflict, and then take the best action after my analysis."

"Whenever I have a conflict I have to deal with, I like to follow a simple process. I first identify the problem causing the conflict, think about solutions or ideas that will solve the problem, and then try to implement a solution. Although it’s very simple, it makes sure that I’m not panicking, losing my temper or losing control of the situation. And it prevents me from rushing into a decision that might make the problem worse."

This is an answer that could be applied to all types of conflicts. It doesn’t state the exact situations of each conflict, but it does state why following a process is good. The interviewer will not think this is an original idea. However, the answer provides reasons why it helps. These reasons are the key to the answer and it shows that you are organized and in control. This answer, without the last sentence is just mediocre. But the last sentence makes is very strong.
7."Have you fired anyone? And if so, why?"

If you fired someone before, then that means you are a manager or hire. If your answer is no, then this is an easy question. But if you answer yes, then you have to give a reason why. If you say I fired one of our employees because he or she couldn’t do the work properly, then this is a regular answer that will not help you. Large corporations have a procedure they follow to fire someone. If you can incorporate using the process of firing into your own experience, then the answer will be stronger. Here is an example.

"I’ve never had to fire anyone yet, but if I’m in this situation, I would follow company policy and do it professionally."

"I had to fire one employee who continually failed to complete projects. Before firing this employee, I tried to work with him by motivating, encouraging, and even providing different work. In the end, nothing worked and I had no choice but to let him go."

"The only time I had to fire someone was when an employee was continually late. We have a company policy of giving a verbal warning for the first three offenses, and then a written warning after the 3rd offense. I had many discussions about this problem with this employee, but it didn’t help. In the end, we had to let him go."

"When I was a managing a group of 4 people in my last position, I unfortunately had to fire one of them. The person was unable to perform at an acceptable level for a long period of time. Our company has a process in place of trying to grow our employees, empower them, and help them find their strengths, but nothing helped. I put the person on probation and explained that he will have to try harder. But after seeing bad performance due to a lack of effort for a long time, I had to fire him."

Another approach to this question is to take a strong stance on performance. As I said before, if the answer is different and creative, the interviewer will remember it more and that means they will remember you more. Then your chances of getting the job increase more than others. Here is an example of an answer that the interviewer will remember.

"Oh yeah, I fired a lot of people. All of the reasons were the same. They were not performing their jobs. I believe in good management. I believe I should mentor and help grow our employees. This is a business and we need to do whatever we can to help our company grow. One of the biggest factors on the success of a company is having great employees. So I won’t hesitate to fire someone that isn’t performing their job. It leaves more room to bring in someone who will benefit the company."

This is an answer I would be willing to use. But before using this answer, you must first look at the type of person asking this question and determine if he or she will like it. If the person is a strong person that shows no emotion, then it might be good. But if a person is very friendly, then that person might not like it. Even though it is a good answer, a friendly person might not like it because it could indicate that you are a cold person. Basically friendly people don’t like cold people and if you have to work together, they might not want to work with you. So be careful on using this type of answer.
8."What do you do when a worker is giving the team more problems then helping?"

If you have a lot of team work experience, you know that there are a lot of people like this. It is a fact that some people actually slow down the work than help the work. That is why this is a good question to ask. A good employee will know how to handle this situation. A bad employee will do all the work themselves. Although doing the work is good, it doesn’t show that you can deal with different types of people.

"I follow a process of helping my coworker out in any way I can. This can include assistance in their portion of the work or by encouragement. If that doesn’t work, then we redistribute the work to make sure everything is covered. I believe it’s important to let my manager know of the problem as well."

"If the problem is related to a difficult task that a coworker cannot solve, then I’ll get all the team members to help out. But if the problem is due to laziness or unwillingness to work, then I’ll inform my manager of the problem."

"It’s hard to deal with a worker that puts in great effort but slows down the team. I noticed it is best to tackle the problem early. One way I found that was helpful was to be more firm. This way, the project continues to move forward without so many interruptions due to small arguments."

"I’ve been in this situation a couple of times. One time, we organized and distributed easier work to the worker with problems. But this is only a short term solution. Most of the time, I end up spending a lot of time helping the person out. It might have been quicker if the rest of the team members did all the work, but I figure helping this person now will benefit us in our next project. Although this method doesn’t work all the time, I really get excited when it does work. Then I know I really helped another person succeed and this in turn helps the company."

This answer will also work if you leave out the last two sentences. But I included the last two sentences to emphasize that helping other people succeed is really the truth instead of just words. If you choose the right way to say something, it sounds much more believable.
9."When do you know enough is enough when dealing with a subordinate that doesn’t seem to be helping?"

This is another good management question. The best way to answer this question is with a procedure in mind. Basically after you tried everything, then enough is enough. But what exactly is everything. You can’t use everything because that shows you really don’t know. Instead of the word everything, list out all the steps so the interviewer believes you know what to do in this situation.

"I know enough is enough when I’ve exhausted all measures to help this employee grow. I would do my part by providing encouragement, giving extra instructions, mentoring, and giving different types of work. If I exhaust all of these steps, then I know I can’t do anything further and that is when enough is enough."

10."Do you like to work by yourself or with others?"

Even if you have a strong preference to work alone or with others, the best answer is to say both. Even if a job is mostly about working alone, there might be some team work involved. Most employers want someone who can work well in a team and work well alone.

"That’s a tough question… I like the combination of the two. It’s great working in teams while getting and sharing ideas with each other, but it’s also nice to sit at your desk and work hard productively. I like to do both so it’s hard to choose one over the other."

If they insist on choosing one, then choose the one that is relevant to the job you are interviewing for. Make sure you pause a little before saying so.

"If I had to choose just one, then… I’d probably choose to work alone."

11.How do you get along…

This isn’t a very popular question because it’s hard to learn about the person answering. The answers are all going to be the same. It’s just a matter of how you say it. Because there isn’t anything exciting to say here, you should show friendly characteristics so it is believable. These answers can be short. It really doesn’t matter how long the answer is but you have to make sure you show your friendliness through your voice.

"How do you get along with your subordinates?"

"My relationship with my directs is very good. They’re very open and honest with me and I’m sure they feel they can come to me with any problems."

"How do you get along with your co-workers?"

"I’ve always had an easy time getting along with different types of people. So I never had a problem getting along with my co-workers. I consider many of them my friends."

"How do you get along with your superiors?"

"I’ve had my share of great managers and mediocre managers, but I’ve always gotten along with all of them very well. I’ve rarely had conflicts with them and if there was an issue, I always talked it over with them."

Miscellaneous Interview Questions

1."What do you do to stay in shape?"

Staying in physical shape also helps the brain function better. It really doesn’t matter if you are completely in shape or not. But being active indicates that you are not a lazy couch potato.

"I like to take long walks with my dog on a regular basis, and I also go on weekly hikes at a trail near my house."

"I work out at a gym a couple times a week. I like to stay active."

"I play for a co-ed softball team. It’s fun and it gives me a little exercise."

All these examples will work. It doesn’t have to be long but you should answer with something that indicates that you are active.

This is another question where they want to find out some of your hobbies. Basically, you can answer this question similar to how you would answer, what are your hobbies.

"When I’m not in the office, I like to play golf, read magazines, and spend time with my wife."

"Well, I like the piano so I have piano lessons on a weekly basis. I also like gardening, so I work on my yard a lot. But if I want to relax, I like to watch videos at night."

Something short and simple is the best answer. No need to elaborate on why.
3."What’s the most recent book you read?"

If you are interviewing for a marketing position, don’t say you are reading a book called International Marketing Strategies. Rather, answer with a novel such as Michael Crichton books or John Grisham books. It is more realistic and shows other interests that you have.

"I just finished The Runaway Jury by John Grisham. I find all of his books very entertaining."

"I have a strong interest in World War II, so I was reading a book about Hitler. It’s quite interesting to see how he grew up and what lead him to his hatred towards the Jews."

Something simple like this will be good enough.
4."What is the most recent movie you saw?"

You can either answer by using a similar answer to the recent book question, or you can say that you don’t watch movies that much.

"The last movie I saw was The Last Samurai. I thought it was great."

"Oh gosh… it’s been a while since I’ve seen a movie. I think it was Spider Man. I like to spend my time outside, so I don’t see movies that often."

Both of these answers are fine. Whether you like to see movies or not, just tell them exactly what you think. Your answers will be more natural. If you answer these types of questions awkwardly, they might get the impression that you are uncomfortable or that you are not capable of small talk. So answer without thinking too much about these questions.
5."Did you have any trouble finding this place?"

This question is not an interview question, but a question usually asked by an interviewer right when you see them. This is especially common if the building location is hard to find. Here is another question you should tell exactly what happened.

"No problem at all. I checked for directions on the Internet and found it pretty easily."

"A little bit. I didn’t realize that there was another building back here, so I drove by a couple times, but that’s ok, I eventually found it."

With the first answer, they will say something like, that’s good. Then they will move on to other questions. If you answer with the second question, they will probably talk a little more about how he or she agrees that this building is hard to find. Either answers are acceptable.

6."Will working on weekends be a problem?"

If the interviewer is asking this question, then this position is probably going to requires some weekend work. Maybe it’s not a lot, but they want to make sure that if something goes wrong and more work is required, you will be able to work on weekends. I recommend answer by saying it will not be a problem. If you want to find out how often you will have to work weekends, you can ask it after answering the question.

"It shouldn’t be a problem at all. I frequently worked on weekends in my other position, especially during tax season. How often is weekend work required here on average?"

This answer is stating that it is no problem. It also supports the answer by saying I have worked on weekends in my previous group. And the last sentence is an example how you can ask them about weekend work.

If this is an hourly job, then pay is given to employees working extra hours. If it is a salary position, most of the time they will not ask this question because they expect you to work overtime. But expect this position to have some overtime requirements if the interviewer is asking this question.

"I don’t mind working overtime at all. I know during busy times people are expected to work more, and I’m flexible with my hours so I won’t have a problem."

8."Have you filed for bankruptcy?"

This question is for positions that deal with finance and money. You might see this question if you are interviewing for a banker position, a financial analyst position, or a stock broker. If money is a factor, then they want someone who is responsible with money. Just simply tell them the truth. If you have filed for bankruptcy, then you probably shouldn’t be applying for this job anyway. So I’m going to give only one answer of no.

"No. I’m very responsible with money and I have great credit."
9."Do you own or rent your home?"

Renting or owning a home sometimes indicates your financial status. Renters are usually people who do not have enough down payment for a house or people with bad credit who cannot get a loan. So it is best to have your own home, but if you don’t, then give them an answer that shows you are preparing to buy a home.

"I’m currently renting, but I plan on buying my own place next year."

"I’m renting right now, but I’ll probably buy a house when I get married."

If you own your house, then a simple, "I own my house" will be a good enough answer.

10."Do you have any outside income?"

This might be a job interview question, or it could be a question when you are talking to a creditor. In either case, you can simply reply with a yes or no. If it is a yes, then briefly tell them the other source of income.

"I get paid child support from my ex-husband."
"I have a rental property."

"No. I do not."

If you are active in the stock market, then you can mention something like that. Another income from investment is from your savings account or mutual funds. Whatever it is, simply tell them what it is.

"I have a savings account that I earn a little extra income from."
"I have some mutual funds that perform about 8% a year."
"I have some investments in the stock market."
12."Are you able to make frequent business trips?"
"Are you willing to travel?"

If they are asking this, then this position probably requires some traveling. If you say no, then you probably won’t get hired because they want someone who is able to travel. But depending on your job, you will already know if it requires traveling or not.

"I know as an auditor that I’ll have to make business trips. So I’m definitely willing to travel."

"I don’t have any problems with traveling."

This is a tough question because relocating means moving to a completely new area. It might be ok to answer with a no, but I would answer with a maybe. Here is an example.

"I guess it would depend on the location and the pay. If everything is the same, I would rather stay here because this is where I grew up. But I would be willing to consider it."

This answer is not saying yes or no. This is saying maybe in a polite way. Don’t answer with a direct maybe. That is bad. Instead use something similar to my example. If you are willing to relocate, it is an easy answer.

"I love change and I’d definitely be willing to relocate."

14."May I contact your current employer?"

This all depends on if your current employer knows that you are searching for another job. If you are not employeed, they might ask if they can contact your former employer. Regardless, the best answer is to say yes. If not, then they will think you have something to hide.

"Yes. Do you have their contact information?"

15."May I contact your references?"

The only correct answer to this question is a yes. If they have your references, then a simple yes will be enough. If they do not, then answer yes and offer them a list.

"Sure. After the interview, I can email or fax you a list of references. Will that be ok?"
16."Is there anything else I should know?"
"Is there anything else you want to add?"

Adding one more sentence to state one more thing never hurts. But choose carefully because it is their last impression of you. If you felt you didn’t show that much enthusiasm, here is your chance. Or if you feel that they didn’t ask you about one of your strong traits, you have a chance to state it.

"I don’t know if I expressed it that well, but I’m very excited about this position. I’m confident that I can do very well here."

"One final trait that I have that would be perfect for this position is my organizational skills. I’m very detailed and plan very well."

There are a couple of ways to answer this. If you state a figure, you risk stating something that is too high, or something that is too low. Either case, you will not benefit from this question. A lot of people suggest saying something like, "I’m sure whatever I’m offered will be a fair price." But I don’t agree. It is a safe answer, but if I was the interviewer, I would appreciate numbers instead of a safe answer. So I recommend answering this question with a range. I’ll explain this more in the negotiation portion, but just in case you skip that section, here are some examples.

"I’m expecting somewhere between $50,000 - $60,000."

If you know the pay for the position you are applying for. Then giving a figure is not that bad. Just state something a little higher with a small range included

"I know that the average pay for this position is roughly around $45,000, but because I have a couple years more experience, I would want something around $48,000 to $50,000."

If the salary range is already included in the job description, then you can answer that you are willing to consider any offers stated in the job description.

"The job description says that the salary will be around $45,000 to $53,000. I think it’s a fair range."

18."That’s a high salary for this position! Where did you come up with that figure?"

If you said a figure that was too high, you might here this question from the interviewer. This is not good because they would only ask this if the figure you stated was too high. So I would first justify the larger figure and explain that would consider a little less.

"I have three more years of experience that will help a lot. I also have a college degree that is not stated as a requirement. But if the figure is too high, I would consider something a little less."

20."When are you able to start?"

If you are not working, then you are able to start immediately. But saying immediately sounds too desperate so tell them next Monday or something. If you are currently employed, then you have to show that you are responsible by giving your current employer a two week notice.

"I’ll be able to start as early as next Monday."

"I have to give my current employer a two week notice so I could start immediately after that."

This question is not asking if you got an offer or not. It is asking if you are considering it. Regardless, you can tell them the truth.

"I’m not considering any of my offers right now."

"I was considering an offer I received last week, but I don’t think I will be accepting that position."

"I’m thinking about an offer I have, but I want to keep my options open."

19."How much do you currently get paid?"

I don’t think you can lie about this question. It’s easy to find out the truth. I would recommend saying exactly how much you made.

"I was paid $50,000 a year plus an 8% bonus."

"I received $27.50 an hour at my last position."

Most of the time, the person interviewing you will ask if you have any questions. It is important that you ask intelligent and relevant questions. Make sure you prepare some questions before you interview so you can learn more about the company and the position. Here is a small list of questions you can ask. Feel free to create more of your own.

"Do you have any questions?"

"Does this job usually lead to other positions at the company?"

"How is this company doing in comparison with competitors?"

"What has been the company’s layoff history in recent years?"

"What do you like best about this company?"

"How long is the training program?"

"How long has this position been available?"

"What type of hardware and software will I be working with?"