Interviewing FAQ

(Frequently Asked Questions)

This chapter presents sample questions an interviewer might ask and suggested responses—for recent graduates and experienced candidates. They’re to increase your confidence, not to memorize; remember, you may be asked a totally different set of questions! We also include ideas for questions you might ask.

For Recent Graduates

If you’re a new graduate just entering the workforce, you probably don’t have work experience for the interviewer to evaluate. Therefore, they will tend to focus on your performance in school, how open you are to learning, and how well you can translate what you’ve learned to apply it at work. As always, your goal is to stand out from all the other graduates. This means avoiding ordinary responses such as, “I’m a people person” or “I’ll do anything.”

Q. Would you tell me something about yourself?

A. The interviewer doesn’t want to hear a long, rambling answer. You will need their help in narrowing the scope of this broad question so you can give a satisfactory response. Ask, “What area of my background are you most interested in?” so the interviewer can be more specific and help you avoid giving irrelevant information.

Q. Why did you choose chemistry as a field of study? Why did you select (name of college) to obtain your degree?

A. These questions are attempts to determine how you reason. Therefore, you should say you went into chemistry because it was your favorite subject, for example—not because all your friends majored in chemistry. Likewise, you want to emphasize that you chose a certain institution because of the quality of the program or the presence of a particular faculty member—not that your parents wanted you to or that your friend was going there. Your responses should emphasize that these decisions involved your careful thought.

Q. Have you had a chance to work on any group projects?

A. This question is an invitation to talk about what you learned in school that could be used on the job. You could say you learned about teamwork and interacting with others, or describe a project you did from start to finish and what you assimilated in the process. Concentrate on what you got out of the experience that has prepared you for real-world situations.

Q. Have your career plans changed since you began your studies?

A. An interviewer may ask this question to determine how focused you are and whether you’re drifting along without a game plan. If your career plans did change, be prepared to provide an acceptable reason, for example, “I really liked being in a lab—hands-on work was my greatest strength, and I never thought about working anywhere but in the lab. Still, I like to read and enjoy being in libraries. In school, I had a great senior seminar that involved library research. Then I talked to someone who’s working in chemical information science and decided to give it a try; I’ve been happy ever since.”

Q. If I were to call your references, how do you think they would describe you?

A. The interviewer is looking for clues to what kind of person you are. Your answer will reflect how you feel about yourself and what it would be like to work with you. Don’t rattle off a list of adjectives; select 1-2 traits, and be ready to back up your answer with concrete examples. Stick with positive characteristics, such as “goal oriented,” “enthusiastic,” “able to speak and write effectively,” “team leader,” “goes the extra mile to get things done,” or “someone who likes challenges.”

Q. What are your short-term goals? Long-term goals?

A. The interviewer wants to see whether you’ve thought about what you want to do with your life. Your short-term goal might be “To learn everything you can about the organization and the industry, to identify the opportunities.” By that time, you should have a better feeling for your long-range goals. It’s difficult to form true long-term goals before you have some work experience as a basis. You can be honest about that.

Q. We have many people applying for this position. What makes you more qualified than the other applicants?

A. In one sense, this question seems unfair; the interviewer is asking you to compare yourself with the competition, which you know nothing about. Don’t let that tactic intimidate you; instead, consider this an opportunity for you to sell yourself and your skills. Stress your positive personality traits (drive, motivation, communication skills), your desire to learn, and your ambition. Summarize the job description, and match each point with your skills.

Q. Tell me about your research.

A. This is not an invitation to launch into a seminar. The interviewer is looking for a short (probably 5 minutes) overview of what you have done. Hit the highlights of your undergraduate research, thesis work, or summer/co-op experience. Provide sufficient detail so the interviewer can understand your personal contributions and results— where you added value—but don’t go into excessive descriptions. Bring a 1–2 page handout to help get your points across quickly and leave with the interviewer for recalling the details.

For Experienced Candidates

If you are an experienced candidate, you already have a track record for the interviewer to evaluate. You’ll be asked in-depth questions about your professional experience and career successes. Give some thought to the questions, and frame your responses in a way that stresses your attributes.

Q. What did you like (or dislike) about your last job?

A. The best answer to this question is that you liked everything about it. Never, under any circumstances, criticize your former employer. It’s a red flag that you might be a problem employee. Make your answer short and positive, then state your goals for future positions. If you worked for a large company, for example, you might be looking for a job in a smaller company, where you can make a greater contribution. If you worked for a small employer, you might be looking for a job with a large organization, so you can focus on a few major areas.

Q. What have been some of your more significant contributions or accomplishments in your current job?

A. If you’ve thought carefully about your skills and accomplishments, several examples should come to mind. Emphasize that you anticipate making significant contributions to your future employer as well based on your past performance; don’t leave the impression that your greatest achievements are behind you.

Q. What skills would you like to improve or develop?

A. With this question, the interviewer may be trying to uncover your weaknesses. Avoid admitting something that could damage your candidacy. One approach is to put any issue into a developmental perspective: “I haven’t had an opportunity to use that software, but given my proficiency in the others we’ve discussed, I anticipate no problems in picking it up.” Another way to answer the question would be to reemphasize you have all the skills necessary to do the job but that because you believe in continual professional development, you’re always trying to improve.

Q. Where do you relate best—up a level, down, or with your peers?

A. In answering this question, your goal is to come across as a team player—indicating you interact well with all levels and kinds of people. For example, you:

Keep your supervisors updated regularly, seek their input, and get them to support you

Motivate those who work for you and delegate based on their strengths and weaknesses

Coordinate projects with your peers and work together to meet deadlines.

Q. Do you prefer to work in teams or alone?

A. Again, the interviewer wants to determine whether you’re a team player. If your résumé highlights positions where you did most of your work on your own, don’t say you prefer to work in teams. Instead, confirm you can work independently when necessary, without a lot of direction or reassurance, yet can be part of a team because of the feeling of accomplishment when people pull together on a project.

Q. What are you looking for in a new job?

A. Be careful with this question, emphasizing what you can do for the organization. Talk about the contributions you anticipate making to the employer.

Q. Why were you unemployed?

A. If there are any gaps in your résumé, be prepared to explain them. Don’t complain about the tight job market or how you feel you were a victim of discrimination. Such comments alert the interviewer that you may be a disruptive employee who acts as if your situation is everybody else’s fault. Emphasize that you’re looking for a place where you can make a long-term contribution, not for just another paycheck. Indicate that you like the organization, the job sounds like what you want to be doing, and you want to be part of the team.

How to Handle Illegal Questions

Perhaps the questions that stump most candidates—and cause the most stress—are illegal…questions that probe into personal lives and backgrounds. These questions are rarely intentional; it’s more likely the interviewer is inexperienced or unfamiliar with the laws governing employment interviews. Rather than assume the worst, remain polite and shift the focus from your personal life to your skills and accomplishments.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against any person based on race, sex, age, national origin, or religion. Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 covers employment of persons with disabilities. In addition, many states, such as New York and California, have laws that protect people against discrimination in interviews. What constitutes an illegal question? Here’s a guide to what interviewers may or may not ask:

As a candidate, you may feel caught between a rock and a hard place when asked an inappropriate question. If you do answer, you could be providing information that results in not getting an offer; if you don’t answer, you appear uncooperative; if you challenge the question, you risk appearing argumentative.

If you begin to feel that the line of questioning has become too personal, ask the interviewer to explain the relevance of such questions.

Questions You Might Ask

This opportunity is your invitation to demonstrate you’ve done your homework on the organization. It also will help you understand the position’s responsibilities and clarify your feelings about whether you want the job. Don’t ask a question just for the sake of asking one; an astute interviewer may ask why you’re interested in that information and what it has to do with whether or not you take the job. Here are some suggestions:

• How long has the position existed?
• How long has the position been open?
• Why is the position open now?
• What is the time frame for filling the position?
• What do you consider the most important daily responsibilities of this job, and why?
• Who would be my coworkers?
• What are the department’s goals over the next few years?
• What are the department’s strengths?
• What are the reporting channels?
• Who would be my supervisor? Would I have more than one boss?
• What are my potential career paths within the organization?
• How much overtime is involved? How much travel is involved?
• How frequent are the salary reviews?
• Are reviews based on merit and performance?
• How does the performance appraisal and reward system work?
• Do you have an orientation program for new employees?
• Does the organization encourage outside professional development and training? What portion of costs do you cover?
• Would there be opportunities for increased responsibility and broader experience?