Tough Interview Questions

Interview Principles - read that first

Why should we hire you?

Tell me about yourself

Interview Mistakes

What is your greatest weakness?

Links to Interview Questions

Interview questions reported by Portnov students

eXtremeTesting
Tech Interview (non-QA)
Quick Thinking Tests
Software QA/Test
GeekInterview
Testing Computer Software Book Questions

SQL questions for Testers

More Interview Questions

• Are there any aspects of my skills or background that you would like to hear more about?
• Are you more energized by working with data or by collaborating with other individuals?
• Are you more of a task-oriented or project-oriented worker?
• Are you the type of student for whom conducting independent research has been a positive experience?
• Before you can make a productive contribution to the company, what degree of training do you feel you will require?
• By providing examples, convince me that you can adapt to a wide variety of people, situations and environments
• By what criteria will you select the person for this job?
• Can you describe your long-range goals and objectives?
• Can you describe your organizational culture?
• Can you sell me on our product/service?
• Can you work under pressure and deal with deadlines?
• Compare and contrast the times when you did work which was above the standard with times your work was below the standard.
• Describe a situation in which you disagreed with your supervisor. How did you handle it?
• Describe a situation in which you found that your results were not up to your professor's or supervisor's expectations. What happened? What action did you take?
• Describe a situation in which you had to arrive at a compromise or guide others to a compromise
• Describe a situation in which you had to deal with a difficult person. How did you handle the situation?
• Describe a situation in which you had to use reference materials to write a research paper. What was the topic? What journals did you read?
• Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way?
• Describe a situation that required a number of things to be done at the same timeHow did you handle it? What was the result?
• Describe a situation where others you were working with on a project disagreed with your ideas. What did you do?
• Describe a situation where the person you were dealing with enabled you to be more effective.
• Describe a situation where the team fell apart. What was your role in the outcome?
• Describe a situation where you found yourself dealing with someone who didn't like you. How did you handle it?
• Describe a specific problem you solved for your employer or professor. How did you approach the problem? What role did others play? What was the outcome?
• Describe a time when you got co-workers or classmates who dislike each other to work together. How did you accomplish this? What was the outcome?
• Describe a time when you had to use your written communication skills to get an important point across
• Describe a time when you put your needs aside to help a co-worker or classmate understand a task. How did you assist him or her? What was the result?
• Describe a time when you were faced with problems or stresses that tested your coping skills
• Describe an instance when you had to think on your feet to extricate yourself from a difficult situation
• Describe some projects or ideas (not necessarily your own) that were implemented, or carried out successfully primarily because of your efforts
• Describe some times when you were not very satisfied or pleased with your performance. What did you do about it?
• Describe the characteristics of a successful manager
• Describe the most significant or creative presentation that you have had to complete
• Describe the performance evaluation procedures you use.
• Describe the system you use for keeping track of multiple projects. How do you track your progress so that you can meet deadlines? How do you stay focused?
• Describe the type of professor that has created the most beneficial learning experience for you
• Describe what you've accomplished toward reaching a recent goal for yourself
• Describe your “dream” job.
• Did you think of leaving your present position before? If so, what do you think held you there?
• Do you have a geographic preference?
• Do you have the qualifications and personal characteristics necessary for success in your chosen career?
• Do you prefer to communicate in person, by phone or via e-mail?
• Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others?
• Do you set performance standards for yourself? Do these evolve over time?
• Do you think that your grades are an indication of your academic achievement?
• Do you want this job? Then why during our entire conversation haven’t you asked for it?
• Do you work well on a team?
• Give an example of a time in which you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision
• Give an example of how you applied knowledge from previous coursework to a project in another class
• Give an example of when you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. Why was this person difficult? How did you handle that person?
• Give examples of your experiences at school or in a job that were satisfying. Give examples of your experiences that were dissatisfying
• Give me a specific example of a time when a co-worker or classmate criticized your work in front of others. How did you respond? How has that event shaped the way you communicate with others?
• Give me a specific example of a time when you sold your supervisor or professor on an idea or concept. How did you proceed? What was the result?
• Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem
• Give me a specific occasion in which you conformed to a policy with which you did not agree
• Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa)
• Give me an example of a time you had to make an important decision. How did you make the decision? How does it affect you today?
• Give me an example of a time you had to persuade other people to take actionWere you successful?
• Give me an example of an important goal which you had set in the past and tell me about your success in reaching it
• Given the investment our company will make in hiring and training you, can you give us a reason to hire you?
• Has this company experienced a downsizing at any time in its history, and if so, when?
• Have you done the best work you’re capable of?
• Have you ever had difficulty with a supervisor or instructor? How did you resolve the conflict?
• Have you ever needed to reinvent or redefine your job in order to meet your company’s expanding needs?
• Have you found any ways to make school or a job easier or more rewarding or to make yourself more effective?
• How (where) do you see yourself 3 years from now (in five years)
• How can we best reward you for doing a good job?
• How can you contribute to this organization?
• How could you have improved your performance in your last position?
• How did you get your last job?
• How did you learn about this position?
• How did you prepare for this interview?
• How do you cope with stress on the job?
• How do you determine or evaluate success? Give me an example of one of your successful accomplishments
• How do you determine priorities in scheduling your time? Give examples
• How do you feel about looking for a new job?
• How do you feel about your present workload?
• How do you go about making important decisions?
• How do you handle interruptions, breaks in routine and last minute changes?
• How do you keep professionally informed?
• How do you measure personal success?
• How do you prioritize your time?
• How do you typically stay in the information loop?
• How do you usually confront subordinates when results are less than acceptable?
• How do you work under pressure?
• How does your position relate to the overall goals of your current company?
• How has your college experience prepared you for a business career?
• How have previous jobs prepared you for greater responsibility?
• How have you differed from your professors in evaluating your performance? How did you handle the situation?
• How long does the average employee remain with your company?
• How long has this company been in business?
• How long have you worked for this company?
• How long will you stay with us?
• How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm?
• How many hours a week do you need in order to complete your work?
• How many people do you employ?
• How many projects can you handle at one time?
• How much do outside influences play a role in your job performance?
• How successful do you think you’ve been so far?
• How was your transition from high school to college? Did you face any particular problems?
• How will the academic program and coursework you've taken benefit your career?
• How would my performance be measured and how is successful performance usually rewarded?
• How would you compare your verbal skills to your written skills?
• How would you define a conducive work environment?
• How would you define success?
• How would you describe the type of structure, feedback and direction you need in order to excel?
• How would you describe yourself in terms of your ability to work as a member of a team?
• How would you evaluate your ability to deal with conflict?
• How would you gauge your ability to predict needs before they arise?
• How would you grade your ability to communicate with peers, subordinates, customers, competitors and upper-level management?
• How would you handle a situation in which meeting a deadline was impossible?
• How, if at all, do you see these responsibilities changing over time?
• How, specifically, do you contribute toward a team environment?
• I’ve interviewed several very good candidates, and you’re certainly one of them. What single message would you like me to remember that will convince me that you are the right person for this job?
• If there were two things you could change in your last or present job, what would they be and how would you change them?
• If you could change or improve anything about your college, what would it be?
• If you could choose any company, where would you go?
• If you could do so, how would you plan your college career differently?
• If you could eliminate one responsibility from your last job, what would it be?
• If you could start your career over again what would you do differently?
• If you’re hired for this job, how will you approach the first 30 days?
• In what areas do you typically have the least amount of patience at work?
• In your current (last) position, what features do (did) you like the most? The least?
• In your current (last) position, what have been (were) your five most significant accomplishments?
• In your present (last) position, what problems did you identify that had previously been overlooked?
• Is there a job description? May I see it?
• Is there anything else I should know about this company?
• Is your leadership style one of comfortably delegating responsibilities, or do you expect your reports to come to you for added responsibilities?
• Job Interview Question:
• Of all the work you have done, where have you been the most successful?
• Please describe the ideal job for you following graduation
• Please give me the definition of the position for which you are being interviewed
• Please rank the following from most important to least: job duties, hours, distance to work, pay, work environment.
• Recall a time when you were assigned what you considered to be a complex project. Specifically, what steps did you take to prepare for and finish the project? Were you happy with the outcome? What one step would you have done differently if given the chance?
• See also this page of our Job Interviewing Tutorial
• Tell me about a difficult situation when it was desirable for you to keep a positive attitude. What did you do?
• Tell me about a major problem you recently handledWere you successful in resolving it?
• Tell me about a situation or position where you assumed responsibilities that were beyond your written or understood job description.
• Tell me about a time when you came up with an innovative solution to a challenge your company/class/organization was facing. What was the challenge? What role did others play?
• Tell me about a time when you failed to meet a deadline. What things did you fail to do? What were the repercussions? What did you learn?
• Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult person. How did you handle the situation?
• Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done
• Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision, but didn't have all the information you needed
• Tell me about a time you had to handle multiple responsibilities. How did you organize the work you needed to do?
• Tell me about promotions and advancement in this company.
• Tell me about the last time you failed to meet a goal or objective. What plan of action did you take to get you back on track?
• Tell me about the last time you inherited a problem.
• Tell me about the salary range you're seeking
• Tell me about yourself
• Tell me how you’ve added value to your job over time.
• Tell me what you know about our company
• Tell of a time when your active listening skills really paid off for you -- maybe a time when other people missed the key idea being expressed
• Tell of some situations in which you have had to adjust quickly to changes over which you had no control. What was the impact of the change on you?
• Tell of the most difficult customer service experience that you have ever had to handle -- perhaps an angry or irate customer. Be specific and tell what you did and what the outcome was.
• Tell us why you want to work for us?
• There appears to be a gap of _____months/years on you resume. What were you doing during this time?
• To what extent would you be willing to travel for the job?
• To whom would I report?
• What activities do you / did you perform in your last position, and what was the approximate time devoted to each of these activities?
• What are some additional aspects of this position that are unique to your company?
• What are the advantages of diversity in the workplace?
• What are the three most significant things that need to be accomplished in this position in the first year and what do you foresee as the major hurdles?
• What are this company’s current challenges?
• What are your expectations of the person hired for this position?
• What are your standards of success in school? What have you done to meet these standards?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• What area of your skills would you like to improve in the next year?
• What can you do for us that some else can’t?
• What decisions are easiest for you to make?
• What decisions are the most difficult for you to make?
• What did you enjoy least about your last job?
• What did you enjoy most about your last job?
• What do like the most about your position here?
• What do you do to make the people around you feel important, appreciated, and respected?
• What do you do when things are slow at work?
• What do you expect to be doing in five years?
• What do you feel are the most important responsibilities of this position?
• What do you find most attractive about this position? What seems least attractive about it?
• What do you know about our organization?
• What do you look for in a job and a company?
• What do you look for in a job?
• What do you see as this position's responsibilities on a daily basis? Weekly? Monthly?
• What do you see yourself doing in ten years?
• What do you think it takes for a person to be successful in your field?
• What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?
• What do you think makes this position different from your current or last position?
• What do you think of your (former) boss?
• What do you view as this company’s greatest goals and missions?
• What does “challenge” mean to you?
• What does “growth” mean to you?
• What does the word “failure” mean to you?
• What good or bad work habits did you pick up from your first job?
• What happened to the last person holding this position?
• What has been your experience in giving presentations? What has been your most successful experience in speech making?
• What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
• What have been your greatest accomplishments?
• What have you learned from your mistakes?
• What influenced you to choose this career?
• What is the biggest mistake you've made?
• What is the most creatively challenging thing you are looking for in a job?
• What is the most important feature to you in a job?
• What is the most intellectually challenging thing you are looking for in a job and why?
• What is the most recent skill you’ve learned?
• What is the most significant contribution you made to the company during a past job or internship?
• What is the most useful criticism you’ve ever received?
• What is the reason you’re leaving your current / left your last position?
• What is the work environment like day to day?
• What is your learning style? Hands on, research, by example?
• What kind of people do you prefer to work with?
• What kind of person are you looking for?
• What kind of supervisor do you work best for? Provide examples
• What kinds of people do you find difficult it to work with?
• What level of compensation would it take to make you happy?
• What motivates you to put forth you greatest effort?
• What motivates you? (What inspires you in a job?)
• What organizations do you see as this company’s major competitors? Can you compare and contrast the organizations?
• What other jobs are you considering?
• What pace do you prefer: steady, controlled, and predictable; fast-paced and deadline pressured; or electricity charged?
• What personal weakness has caused you the greatest difficulty in school or on the job?
• What plans do you have for continued study? An advanced degree? 
• What proactive steps have you taken to increase the output of your position?
• What problems might I expect to encounter on this job?
• What project methodologies have you found most effective?
• What quality or attribute do you feel will most contribute to your career success?
• What salary are you expecting?
• What salary range has been budgeted for this position?
• What short-term goals and objectives have you established for yourself?
• What specific goals have you established for your career?
• What specific goals, including those related to your occupation, have you established for your life?
• What steps do you follow to study a problem before making a decision
• What suggestions do you have for our organization?
• What tasks will occupy the majority of my time?
• What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction?
• What was most/least rewarding about your last job?
• What was the most complex assignment you have had? What was your role?
• What was the reason for this position's vacancy?
• What were your reasons for selecting your college or university?
• What will be my first assignment?
• What will it take to attain your goals, and what steps have you taken toward attaining them?
• What would be your next logical move in progression at your current company?
• What would have to change in your present position in order for you to want to continue working there?
• What would you like to have done more of in your job?
• What’s more important to you, truth or comfort?
• When can I expect to hear from you about the next stage in the interviewing process?
• When you’re assigned to work with new people, how do you go about getting to know them; who they are, how they work and what their strengths and weakness are?
• Where does this position fit into the organization?
• Which college classes or subjects did you like best? Why?
• Which is more important to you, the job itself or your salary?
• Why are you leaving (did leave) your present (last) position?
• Why did you decide to seek a position in this company?
• Why did you decide to seek a position in this field?
• Why did you leave your last job?
• Why did you select your field?
• Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which our company is located?
• Why do you think you’ll be successful in this job?
• Why do you want to work here?
• Why haven’t you found a job before now?
• Why is this position open?
• Why should we hire you
• Would it be a problem for you to relocate?
• Would you describe a few situations in which your work was criticized?
• Would you describe yourself as goal-driven?
• Would you say that you can easily deal with high-pressure situations?
• Your resume suggests that you may be overqualified or too experienced for this position. What do you think?