Cleveland State University
Career Services Center
2121 Euclid Avenue
Rhodes Tower West 280
Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
Campus Location
Rhodes Tower West 280
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone: 216.687.2233
Fax: 216.687.9313
careers@csuohio.edu
Web Content Contact
John Scanlan
j.scanlan@csuohio.edu
216.687.2233
Interviewing
Questions Recruiters Often Ask
One
of the main purposes of an interview is for the interviewer to find
out about you, the prospective employee. The employer wants to know
about you in order to make a hiring decision and you want that decision
to be a favorable. The interviewer may not be looking for the "right
answer" from you as much as they want to see how well you articulate
answers to the questions put before you. A good interview can often
be the determining factor in whether or not an individual is hired for
a position. When it comes to the interview, nothing beats proper preparation!
Take the time to review/formulate responses to this list of commonly
asked questions during the screening/initial stage of the interview
process.
Self-Awareness: Tell me a little about yourself (standard,
ice-breaking statement/question). / Why did you choose the career for
which you are preparing? / What do you consider to be your greatest
strengths? weaknesses? / How would you describe yourself? / How do you
think a friend or professor who knows you well would describe you? /
What do you see yourself doing five years from now? ten years from now?
Collegiate Experience: Why did you select your college
or university? / What led you to choose your field or major study? /
Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?
/ Describe your most rewarding college experience.
Work Expectations What two or three things are most important to you
in your job? / What are the most important rewards you expect from your
career? / What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort? / How
do you determine or evaluate success? / How do you work under pressure?
Interview Preparedness: What do you think it takes
to be successful in a company like ours? / In what ways do you think
you can make a contribution to our company? / What criteria are you
using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work? / What qualities
should a successful manager possess? / Why should I hire you?
Behavioral Situations: Tell me about a time when
you worked on an assignment/project that was new to you. / Tell me about
a time when you worked on a complex project. / Tell me about a time
when you worked with a difficult person. / Tell me about a time when
you were asked to complete a project that you had no interest in. /
Tell me about a time when you were asked to provide feedback to a supervisor.