Common Interview Questions
GENERAL QUESTIONS
What do you do for fun?
A variety of different things. Time with family & friends is always time well spent.
Learning new things, travel, playing sports, being outdoors, 4 wheel driving, and
motorcycle rides!
What do you like to do when you are not at work?
I like to have fun!
What is your favorite TV program?
I'm not much in to TV but I would have to say that I am a bit of a Sci-Fi geek!
Why did you leave your last job?
After two restructuring’s and still unacceptable profit margins. It was time to wipe
the slate clean so we closed the doors.
ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE
Describe the job you have held in the past that was most gratifying.
I got the most gratification from knowing that I was able to give my clients such
superior products & services. And to still have this brought to my attention even now
from clients contacting me & thanking me for my work.
Describe your previous job experience.
It would have to be classified a lot like a Renaissance man. I have managed many
different areas and in doing so I have been forced to learn so many different things
that it is hard to describe my experience, it is almost as though I have to be a jack of
all trades. I have had to learn & understand so many different areas in order to
manage those departments. Officially I can say: Management, production
Management, Project Coordinator, Project Manager, HR, Imaging, Graphics
Department Mgr, Seminar Coordinator, Seminar Speaker, Customer Service
Manager, Warehouse Management, Lifeguard, Swim Instructor, Swim Coach, and
Parts Driver
How can you help our company be more profitable?
I have been responsible in part for making two companies that I have been with grow
anywhere from 25% to 100% growth 2 years in a row. Productivity has been a great
part of that. At Aspire we were able to increase our production facilities output by
almost 375%.
Tell me how you would handle multiple projects in the job.
Every job is unique & therefore would be handled differently. At Data Services/
Orange Legal I successfully managed 3 & 4 different production facilities
simultaneously that were in different states. At Nichols/Moss our normal work load
included 20-30 unique projects.
What aspects of your job do you consider most crucial?
To develop the people around me, so that we can reach the common goals of the
company.
What did you like most about your last job?
There is nothing more satisfying about being put into a situation that you need to start
from scratch & develop everything from root products all the way through to shipping
labels and everything in between. Aspire's business model was flawed however the two
areas that I was in charge of were not only the first to be up & functioning they were
also the areas that used the least ongoing resources.
ABOUT MY SKILLS
Describe a professional skill you have developed in your most recent job.
Adaptation. With any conceptual business idea you run into barriers. Some avoidable
some immovable. What made our team so great was the ability we had to adapt to the
barriers that were put in front of our path.
Describe a situation in which you've applied your skills to solve a problem.
We were on a job where we had 3 stations to finish a job and 1 station went down. We
had a deadline that could not be moved and the 2 stations could not finish the job on
time. So the only way that we could finish on time was to start a second shift. & do this
in 3 days. I was able to get the employees from a local University, train them & get
production up to speed in 2 days thus finishing the job in what turned out to be 3 days
early.
Describe your ability to solve problems in the workplace.
I have always believed that there is never only one way to finish a job correctly. If
anything happens to hinder the end result I quickly look for another route to finish
the job on task & on schedule.
How have your technical skills been an asset?
I am such an advocate of knowledge & continued learning. With the rapid change that
is so prevalent in any computer related job. I can not stress how knowing about the
equipment & the IT knowledge has not only saved me so many times but also
increased our total productivity.
How much experience have you had with computers?
I was very fortunate to be introduced to computers back in the early 80s, from there I
added the knowledge of different platforms & also added knowledge of different types
of applications from the basic OFFICE programs to the GRAPHIC applications to
other job specific applications.
How well can you multi-task?
This seems to be a favorite topic! I think that you can see that I believe that I can
multi-task very well. Above average than most.
How would you rate your communication skills?
Communication skills are a necessity. I could not have managed 4 different job sites in
3 different states without being able to communicate well with my site managers.
What new skills or ideas do you bring to the job that other candidates aren't likely to offer?
I would have to say that it's the way that I use all the skills that I have together that
will benefit the company I work for. If i was asked to give only one word, it would be
Organization.
What would your colleagues tell me about your attention to detail?
I believe that it is the attention to the details NOW that make things work smoother
LATER. So they would probably say that I am dead on.
ABOUT MY WORK STYLE
Can you work under pressure?
Yes. Some of my best work is done under severe pressure.
Do you like working alone or in a team environment?
I think that everyone can work best in a team environment. But some work I prefer
doing on my own.
Do you like working in large groups?
I feel very comfortable working in a large group. I have worked in large groups for
many years where we were all part of the larger team effort.
Do you prefer continuity in structure or frequent change in your daily work?
I like to know what the structure of the work environment is. But like to get new
challenges sent my way.
Do you work well alone?
Yes. I can work very well alone it allows me to get very focused on my tasks & really
get into my zone.
Do you work well under pressure?
Yes. Some of my best work is done under severe pressure.
How do you go about making important decisions?
By evaluating all the options & weighing the outcome.
How do you handle change?
As Evan Frost said: "The only constant in the Universe is CHANGE!" So we have
learned to handle it all our life. So for someone not to be able to handle change is for
someone not to be able to live.
How do you measure the success of your work?
The easiest way is profits for the company.
Tell me about the way you work.
I work until the job is done & done right.
ABOUT MY RESUME
Tell me something about yourself that I didn't know from reading your resume.
In the time I was at my last job our company grew over 400%, & I believe that I had a
large part of that growth.
Why are you currently unemployed?
After we concluded that Aspire was not going to be profitable I wanted to take care of
come of the things around my home that could be improved & spend a great Holiday
season with my family before really engrossing myself into finding the right company
to work for.
Why have you held so many jobs in recent times?
I think that I have an excellent track history for staying at a job for a long period of
time. Seven years working for the same boss & before that five years before he bought
me out. Since moving to the Salt Lake Vally my average is about 5 years per job. I
would love to find the right company that I could stay at for the duration of my career
if possible.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Everyone has a favorite class in college. What was yours?
Physics & Pre Med classes. I love knowing how things work. And after all our bodies
are almost a perfect machine.
Have you taken any classes since college to bring your skills up to date?
I try to stay up on things as I am able, even if it is not in a classroom. My last class
room experience was learning more about a computer program.
Is there anything you would change about your college education?
Sticking with one major rather than skipping around undecided.
Were you involved in any other activities during college?
Student Teaching, Student Teaching & Outdoor Recreation, Volleyball & Outdoor
Recreation.
SOME ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Have you ever managed a project for your previous employer? & What was the result?
Many! & All were profitable.
Tell me about a contribution you have made to a team.
Bouncing ideas around and asking: What if? Not being afraid that it was a silly idea.
Some of the silliest ideas sprout int the most profitable results.
Tell me about a past achievement that you attained in your last job.
The biggest thing that I can say that I did for the company is that I trained the people
under me to be able to do their very best. In fact I trained them to the point that I
could leave & the company would not suffer at all by not having me gone.
Tell me about a project you completed ahead of schedule.
At Data Services there was a short one that was scheduled for 2 weeks in St Louis that
we were able to finish 4 days ahead of schedule because I was able to get all of my best
employees that I had personally trained. They were my best.
What makes you unique and why should we hire you over any of our other candidates?
My vast experience & extreme dedication to the company. As well as my commitment
to teaching the people under me to reach their highest potential.
What were the most rewarding aspects of your most recent job?
Seeing what a difference I could make in the lives & attitudes of the new young people
that we hired straight out of high school & looking at the difference that myself & the
company had on their lives.
What would you like to accomplish that you weren't able to accomplish in your last position?
It usually always goes back to knowledge. Learn anything & everything that I can.
With each new position I am able to learn more.
Which of your accomplishments have brought you the greatest satisfaction?
My employees. I always go into a new position looking for the people that are willing
to teach me what they can. As I try to do for my employees and it is hard some times
to find individuals that are willing to teach what they know. Most fear that if they
teach me what they know they will be out of a job. My thought is that I want to train
my employees right into my position so I can move into another.
ABOUT MY CHARACTER
How do you maintain your composure when you are in the hot seat?
By keeping calm
How do you usually handle criticism?
I look forward to it. I think that it is a very good way to learn. You can learn more
from one failure than you can from fifty accomplishments.
Tell me one of your pet peeves.
People that take advantage of other people! & people that say that they are going to
do something but never do.
What are some of the things that motivate you?
Praise & acknowledgement for a job well done.
What are your top strengths?
Organizational & People skills.
What are your weaknesses?
I am very Detail oriented. I like to do things the right way the first time. Some times
this might be a problem due to time restraints.
What do you do in your spare time?
Family, computer stuff or outdoor activities.
What is your definition of success? How have you been successful in the past?
Personal happiness.
What makes you tick?
My drive for Perfection. If something is not done right, it eats at me till it is fixed. So I
would have to say my desire to have everything done right, so that I don’t have
anything weighing on my mind.
What one word best describes you?
Dedicated
CAREER GOAL QUESTIONS
Describe your ideal job.
One that challenges me to learn new things or find solutions to problems.
What are your work-related goals for the next few years?
I am looking for a company that can give me a place to grow & learn.
MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS
Describe a situation in which you demonstrated independent initiative.
In my last job Most every problem that came up I made the decisions on what was to
be done. I was the person that made all the decisions without going to anyone else.
That was my job. To keep things running.
Describe a time when you had to alter your leadership style to be more effective.
I believe that I had to alter my style with every new employee that we hired. Every
person is different & needs to be treated in a little different way than any other
employee.
Describe the situation in which you are most comfortable as a leader.
I am the most comfortable once I know that my employees have the knowledge that
they need to do their job.
Describe your management style.
Mentoring! I like to teach my employees what they need to do & know. Then be their
for any questions that they may have. Yet all the time holding them accountable for
their assigned duties.
Have you ever hired anyone?
I did the hiring reviews and terminations for all my employees.
Have you managed people in any of the positions you have held?
Most of my professional career has been in management. Anywhere from 3
employees. All the way up to 80+ employees.
How do you deal with difficult people?
I first listen to their side to get a feel for why they would be disgruntled. Then I try to
let them see management’s point of view. Then make what changes need to be made,
for or against the employee.
How would you define "leadership"? How would you rate yourself as a leader?
A person that gives direction to a group of people. Thus making the group more
organized & productive. I would have to say that I have proven myself to be a good
leader.
How would you describe your philosophy about management?
First learning the capabilities of my employees then pushing them to the best job that
they can. And if that is not good enough for the position that they are in then I have to
make a position change.
Tell me about a time that you made a critical decision without supervision?
In the last 2 positions that I have been in, I was the last point of supervision so all the
decisions that were made I had to weigh the options & make the final decision.
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a challenging project in your job.
I truly feel that the job & what needed to get done were never the most challenging for
me. It was always the employees that threw me for a loop or two.