Interview Question Database
Common Q's
These are basic and general questions that may be commonly found in any kind of job interview. If you don't know where to start in preparing for your interview, try practicing with these questions.
Preparation for Interview
QUESTION INTENT
Employers will be interested in determining how much interview preparation you have conducted. This assists the interviewer to establish your:
- Initiative and motivation
- Level of interest in the position
- Resourcefulness
The interviewer hopes to understand whether you have done the necessary preparation as an indication of your work ethic and future performance. The amount of effort you invest in researching the company will directly reflect your desire to work for the organization.
TIPS FOR RESPONDING TO INTERVIEW PREPARATION Q'S
- Clearly demonstrate your knowledge of the industry, the sector, the company’s partners, and competitors.
- Research the company’s website and/or print materials (brochures, annual reports).
- Access Co-op resources: work term reports, company profiles, or reach out to your Co-op coordinators.
- Review key industry publications that are available online or through the SFU library.
What do you know about our products?
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The interviewer is trying to discover whether you have done the necessary preparation as an indication of your work ethic and future behaviour. This will also give an indication of your desire to work for the firm.
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The interviewer is trying to discover whether you have done the necessary preparation as an indication of your work ethic and future behaviour. This will also give an indication of your desire to work for the firm.
Answer Tips
Answer Tips
Demonstrate your knowledge of the firm's major products or services and how they fit into the firm's strategy. Some areas where you can learn about the firm's product include the company website, brochures, and trade magazines.
Are you familiar with our organizational vision and mission?
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This is a straightforward question to answer if you have researched the company's industry. Most firms have corporate mission or policy statements that will help you to address this question.
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This is a straightforward question to answer if you have researched the company's industry. Most firms have corporate mission or policy statements that will help you to address this question.
Answer Tips
Answer Tips
This is a straightforward question to answer if you have researched the company's industry. Most firms have corporate mission or policy statements that will help you to address this question.
Based on the job description, you will be focusing on specific tasks/areas. Please provide a creative topic/solution for each of them.
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This question would REALLY vary depending on the job being applied for - in my case it was for creating workshops for youth in care surrounding the following areas: Job hunting/resume creation, basic life skills, parenting.
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This question would REALLY vary depending on the job being applied for - in my case it was for creating workshops for youth in care surrounding the following areas: Job hunting/resume creation, basic life skills, parenting.
Answer Tips
Describe how you prepared for this interview?
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The interviewer wants to how much effort you put towards the interview.
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The interviewer wants to how much effort you put towards the interview.
Answer Tips
Answer Tips
Use this question to inform the interviewer of your desire to work in the company. Try and inject your enthusiasm into the answer. Give an overview on the researches you have done on the company and the industry.
Did you find us alright?
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This is a type of question you'll get as you're being greeted and walked down to the meeting room. It serves as a friendly ice-breaker before the interview begins.
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This is a type of question you'll get as you're being greeted and walked down to the meeting room. It serves as a friendly ice-breaker before the interview begins.
Answer Tips
Answer Tips
Remember, your interview starts the second you walk in the door. It doesn't matter if the taxi driver took you to the wrong suburb, you had to park in a no-standing zone or their receptionist gave you poor directions. The only answer is "Yes, fine thanks."
Having now completed the interview, are there any other steps you would now include if you had a chance to re-interview?
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This question is intended to see your ability to reflect, learn from your experiences and improve your performance.
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This question is intended to see your ability to reflect, learn from your experiences and improve your performance.
Answer Tips
What can you tell us about our company?
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The interviewer is trying to discover whether you have done the necessary preparation as an indication of your work ethic and future behaviour. This will also give an indication of your desire to work for the firm.
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The interviewer is trying to discover whether you have done the necessary preparation as an indication of your work ethic and future behaviour. This will also give an indication of your desire to work for the firm.
Answer Tips
Answer Tips
Researching information about the company before the interview demonstrates to the interviewer that you are interested in the position. Single out a few facts about the company, such as products, recent growth, market share, and innovative breakthroughs. You can also briefly tie in characteristics of the company that also suit what you are looking for in an employer. Some areas where you can learn about the company include the company website, brochures, and trade magazines.
What duties do you think this job entails?
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The employer is interested in finding out how much effort you have put into researching the requirements of this position. Researching the position demonstrates initiative, determination, and good preparation.
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The employer is interested in finding out how much effort you have put into researching the requirements of this position. Researching the position demonstrates initiative, determination, and good preparation.
Answer Tips
Answer Tips
You should gather as much information as possible about the job you're applying for. A firm understanding of the job and it's requirements is a great way to impress the interviewer at the start of the interview. When answering this question make sure to include references to your skills and how they match the requirements of the job.
What separates this company from our competitors?
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This question is intended to find out how much researches you have done prior to the interview and to test your economic sense.
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This question is intended to find out how much researches you have done prior to the interview and to test your economic sense.
Answer Tips
Answer Tips
Don't forget that the interviewer knows the company inside out. You may be lucky enough to escape this question with some general statements that could apply to any company. However, the more pointed your answer, the better the impression you will make. If you've done your homework on this company you should know exactly what separates this company from its competitors.