Top Interview Questions:
Get Ready with Us!
The top interview questions hiring managers ask will usually be the same, regardless of
the particular position they are trying to fill. Yes, they will ask some questions related
to the technical skills you have, but they will also have pet questions that they believe will
give them insight into what makes you tick. How do I know? From conducting countless interviews
with mid-senior level candidates. From prepping my candidates to get them ready for the interview
and then debriefing them on what questions they were asked.
It's not unusual for candidates to share advice with me that they have picked up elsewhere. Some of it is great.
And sometimes, I totally disagree with what some other recruiter told them. In the contingency recruiting
space, there are few barriers to entry. Many contingency recruiters are very good. Some are downright
dangerous in terms of the advice they dish out. Get your information from a reliable source. We have 100
top interview questions and suggested answers in this section of our site. Use these questions as a
resource. Take not of how we suggest you answer the questions. You won't find a better, more practical
resource guide anywhere on the internet.
WALK ME THROUGH YOUR SALES PROCESS (OR A TYPICAL PROJECT, OR DEVELOPING
CODE FOR A NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTION, DEVELOPING A MARKETING PLAN, ETC.) FROM START TO FINISH.
Similar to the "walk me through your background"
question that I'm fond of asking, this question gives me
a sense of how you approach the the technical side of your job. I want to
know how you approach each new assignment, how you identify the component parts
of what needs to be done, whether someone else is really doing the work for you.
How do you use the internal resources available to you?
If you're in sales, how do you handle the gate keeper? Hearing your responses gives me some
insight into your ability to get the job done.
Candidates will often represent that they have a consultative,
relationship driven style. But when we talk about how
they go about working with a committee or with people who report to them, they often revert to very
transactional responses. There's nothing wrong with candidates
with transactional experience. However, it's a very
different style. Sometimes position requirements are very
specific on this point.
Think about how this top interview question fits your discipline. For example, if
you're a lawyer interviewing for a new job, think about how you approach
a new case. Or how you prepare for a deposition. The important take away
here is to be able to conceptually explain your approach to getting your job done.
WHAT'S YOUR CLOSING RATE?
This one is pretty sales specific. This question ties back
into knowing your numbers if you're a sales professional. You'll
want to have an answer ready that looks at every step in the
process. For example, how many phone calls do you need to
get an appointment; how many appointments do you need
to make a sale; etc.
TELL ME ABOUT THE BIGGEST PROJECT YOU'VE EVER
WORKED ON. WHAT WAS YOUR ROLE IN THE PROCESS?
This is an opportunity to share your greatest success story.
Be prepared to talk specifically about what led to your success and
more importantly, your role in the process. In many cases,
big projects are often worked on in a team environment.
Pick an experience where you had the lead on the project. It's
perfectly fine to talk about the contribution of other team
members as appropriate. But make sure that your contribution
comes through loud and clear.
