How Do You Evaluate Success
What They Want to Know: Your answer to this question will give the interviewer a sense of your work ethic, your career goals, and your life goals. Tailor your response to fit what you expect to achieve if you were to be hired by this employer.
When I wake up each morning enthusiastic about going to work, then lock the clinic at night knowing that weve made a difference in peoples lives, I figure the day has been a success.
More Answers: Job Interview Question: How Do You Define Success?
What Fictional Character Are You And Why
What fictional character do you feel best represents you, and why?
When new hires answer this question, they are demonstrating quick and analytical thinking, creativity, and the ability to have a little fun. Their answer also provides insight into how they see themselves and their personality.
Claire Shaner manages the HR Software Blog at BestCompany.com.
Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job
Let’s start with what you shouldn’t say .
Don’t talk about how your boss is difficult. Don’t talk about how you can’t get along with other employees. Don’t bad-mouth your company.
Instead, focus on the positives a move will bring. Talk about what you want to achieve. Talk about what you want to learn. Talk about ways you want to grow, about things you want to accomplish explain how a move will be great for you and for your new company.
Complaining about your current employer is a little like people who gossip: If you’re willing to speak badly of someone else, you’ll probably do the same to me.
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How Would Your Boss Describe You
This may give you a sense of the candidates relationship with previous managers. Reliable? Prompt? Efficient? Keep in mind, though, who youre asking. The answer will be simply their opinion of what the boss might have said. Thats why its still critical to check references. Request a list of contacts and give former employers a call to hear how their impressions align with the candidates.
Can I See Your Calendar For The Week
Perhaps one of the most unique questions on our list comes from Anna Binder of Asana, but shes got a pretty compelling argument for why this unconventional approach could unlock a vault of insights. Time is your most valuable asset as a worker, and how your team leaders spend their time will tell you what they value, she says.
I believe theres truth in calendars. If someone tells you in an interview that they really care about the learning, development and mentorship of their employees, their calendar should reflect that.
Ive seen a CEO who blocked off time for parent-teacher conferences. Ive seen a different CEO who was booked starting at 6am to 10pm every single day. When I interviewed with Asanas CEO, something that really stuck out to me was the time he blocked off just for thinking and writing. He was diligent about creating the space to do the critical reflecting and strategic work thats necessary to run a company effectively, for the long term.
The key to making sure this question lands, according to Binder, is prefacing it with what youd like to glean. For example, you could phrase this, Im really looking for a company that values learning and coaching, and makes space for those opportunities. Can I see your calendar and understand how much time youre able to devote to working with your reports? says Binder.
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How Would You Deal With A Difficult Coworker
Looking at the big picture, behavioral questions look for examples of things youve experienced in the past, while situational questions are seeking examples of how you would do something given a specific scenario.
How would you deal with a difficult coworker? In this situational question, the interviewer is attempting to find out if you have the ability to diffuse and prevent potential drama among team members. A good answer would be I would refrain from engaging in harmful activities such as gossip and negativity and remain positive in all dealings with that individual. If the situation became difficult to manage personally, I would seek advice from my supervisor on what to do specifically.
What Are The Top Three Customers That Youve Won And The Top Three Customers That Youve Lost
We love that this question from Max Branzburg requires a more specific answer than overly-sanitized marketing speak: You get a real sense of how they’re doing in the market, what’s working well and what’s not, he says. Key here is to also dig in with your follow-up questions: What are they doing to replicate their biggest wins, and what are the most valuable takeaways from the losses?
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How Do You Personally Learn How To Be More Inclusive What’s An Example Of A Situation In Which These Learnings Have Changed The Way You Do Your Job
Aubrey Blanche, Director of Equitable Design and Impact at Culture Amp, and a self-described Mathpath is laser focused on building a more equitable future. This interview question for candidates goes beyond the birds eye view of the companys diversity and inclusion efforts as a whole, and zooms in on the individual commitment to moving the needle on these goals.
She also dives into how the team is folding DEI principles into everyday work with this follow-up question: How do you ensure that your team isnt just building for themselves and their needs?
How Do You See This Position Evolving As The Company Grows
Ruchi Desai, Director of Operations at XCLAIM, likes that this question packs a one-two punch: It shows that you as the candidate are thinking about the big picture, are ambitious and care about more than just the immediate tasks in front of you, she says. Conversely, it gives you insight into how the manager views the position is the team merely filling an immediate need and piling on unwanted tasks, or is it critical to achieving the companys vision and mission?
Camille Ricketts of Notion also thinks a powerful way to stand out from the candidate pool is with this variation of the question: If I were to succeed in this role, what would be true for the company? It makes it clear that you as the candidate want to connect your work to meaningful impact and have an authentic desire to understand what the company needs. It sends the signal that you want to be accountable for making real things happen, she says.
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Does Your Company Track Diversity And Pay Equity Among Different Races Or Gender Groups
Woodruff-Santos recommends saving this question for your first official interview, whether its with the hiring manager or with someone from human resources, rather than a screening phone call with a recruiter. As a career expert who is especially passionate about advocating for women of color, this is one of her favorite questions to ask.
At this stage in my career, where Im coming in at a senior level, I feel like I can be more direct without having any social penalties in an interview process than someone whos entry-level, Woodruff-Santos says. But if youre interviewing for an entry- or mid-level role and are feeling nervous about broaching this topic , she suggests expressing how excited you are about not only the role itself, then noting that youre looking for opportunities specifically at a company that values diversity in various ways. After that, you can ask about the companys demographic breakdowns and what they do to support workers of different identities. According to Woodruff-Santos, that information speaks volumes about the company as a whole.
So does the hiring manager or HR representatives response. If they act defensive, refuse to answer, or change the subject, thats a sign that they likely are not transparent with employees, Salemi says. It can also tell you a lot about how they treat issues of diversity and equity as a whole, Woodruff-Santos adds.
What Questions Do You Have For Me
A question that youll often forget is coming, what questions do you have for me? is a staple of any interview. Interviewers will want to know what ideas or concerns you have about the role and/or the business, so responding with no or nothing right now suggests you may not be as leaned into the opportunity as management would want you to be.
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What Would : 1’s Be Like With My Direct Manager What Types Of Topics Would We Discuss
While on its face, this might not seem to be a question specifically about DEI, Howard Ekundayo, Engineering Manager at Netflix, finds it can reveal how much leadership makes the effort to include every voice and show up for employees especially when folks on their team cant set aside external stressors when they sit down at their desks in the morning. This question can provide insight into the degree to which a manager is inclusive, empathetic and transparent, he says. Our manager’s style of leadership can significantly impact our overall success and growth in a specific role. Given the impact of COVID-19, the heightened coverage of systemic injustices, and anxiety stemming from the political climate , it’s important now more than ever that we can depend on the necessary level of support from leadership.
Prepare Your Questions To Ask During An Interview In Advance
Read through the list below to get ideas about questions that are typically asked and choose the ones that seem to be most important to you. Choose at least 10 good questions that are the most important to you and relevant to the opportunity. Write your questions on a list you take with you to the interview.
You will likely not ask even half of the questions listed below, but they are a good starting point for developing your own, depending on what is most important to you.
The best way to avoid taking a job you will hate is to learn as much as you can about the job, the organization, your boss, your coworkers, and the environment before you accept the job offer.
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Good Questions To Ask At An Interview
To make sure the employer knows you’re prepared and interested in the role make sure you have some questions ready to ask at the end of the interview
Your interview is going well. You’ve answered all the recruiters questions confidently and the session is coming to a close. One of the final things you’ll be asked will be, ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ To have a chance of securing the job, always say yes.
Having a list of questions to ask an interviewer makes you look interested, enthusiastic and engaged – all qualities that the employer will be looking for. It also gives you one final chance to further highlight your relevant qualities and experience.
Try to come up with at least four or five questions to ask the interviewer. That way, if one or two of them are answered during the earlier discussion, you have backups in place.
Avoid asking questions that focus too much on what the organisation can do for you. Save questions about salary and holiday allowance for when you’ve got a job offer. Also, stay away from questions that require a yes or no answer, as you’re likely to find this information on the company’s website.
While it’s ok to ask your interviewer to clarify certain points, avoid asking about anything that has previously been covered. You don’t want them to think that you haven’t been paying attention. If you need some inspiration here are some good questions to ask at an interview
What Do You Think We Could Do Better Or Differently
This question can really do a number on you. How do you give a meaty answer without insulting the company or, worse, the person youre speaking with? Well first, take a deep breath. Then start your response with something positive about the company or specific product youve been asked to discuss. When youre ready to give your constructive feedback, give some background on the perspective youre bringing to the table and explain why youd make the change youre suggesting . And if you end with a question, you can show them youre curious about the company or product and open to other points of view. Try: Did you consider that approach here? Id love to know more about your process.
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Tell Me About A Time You Made A Mistake
Youre probably not too eager to dig into past blunders when youre trying to impress an interviewer and land a job. But talking about a mistake and winning someone over arent mutually exclusive, Moy says. In fact, if you do it right, it can help you. The key is to be honest without placing blame on other people, then explain what you learned from your mistake and what actions you took to ensure it didnt happen again. At the end of the day, employers are looking for folks who are self-aware, can take feedback, and care about doing better.
Walmart Interview Questions And Answers
1. Tell me about yourself?
- Its okay to talk about your hobbies and interests but keep it brief. Try and focus on related work experience. Remember having related work experience will put you ahead of the competition.
2. What can you tell us about Walmart?
About Walmart
- Their motto is Save Money, Live Better.
- They sell quality fashion clothing called George. George is considered fashionable yet affordable.
- They offer customers a Walmart Credit Card.
- Try our Walmart Interview Preparation Quiz and see how well you know Walmart.
3. Why do you want to work for Walmart?
- Talk about how the prices at Walmart are lower than at most department stores and how they offer their customers great value.
- Mention how impressed you are that the company creates so many jobs, reduces inflation, and provides great products for families in all income ranges.
- With Walmart being a Fortune 500 company, say that you feel you can learn a lot about the retail industry.
- State that you want to work in a fast-paced environment.
4. What hours can you work?
- The more flexible you are with your hours, the better chance you have of getting hired, so be flexible!
- If possible, let the interviewer know that you can work on weekends and/or holidays.
5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- Take a look at other Walmart jobs and find a position you can see yourself doing in 5 years and use this as your answer. If you sound committed to Walmart, they wont mind spending the time to train you.
Dont Say
Do Say
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At Times You Will Be Asked To Do Many Things At Once How Do You Prioritise Your Tasks
Why employers ask this: This question aims to reveal your time management and decision-making skills, Shepard says. Employers want to understand how you prioritise things and the way you engage with people during that process.
How to respond well: Be prepared to give an example of how you prioritised things in a previous role, Shepard says. Can you talk about how you schedule your day to ensure the most important things get done? Or a time where you were able to handle an urgent priority by reorganising other tasks? Its also worth considering how you communicate with others about deadlines or how you keep track of your workload via to-do lists or other organisational tools.
Tell Me About A Time You Failed To Reach Your Goal
I like to ask questions that uncover people with high potential, which is very important for our line of work.
What this question does is show whether the candidate is working from a victim mentality or whether they will do whatever needs to be done to keep going, even when things seem incredibly challenging.
Some examples of poor answers:
- It wasnt my fault
- I had to quit because family/life/job got in the way.
- I couldnt do it because of XYZ
All of these answers to me say that given enough obstacles, the person will quit before even attempting to find a new path.
Good answers are:
- Although I hit the wall, I still kept trying to find a solution.
- Everyone told me it couldnt be done, but I kept on going.
- I dont give up easily, and I am certain I will find a solution one day.
What Im really looking for when I ask this question is to see if the person is visibly uncomfortable, but they never resort to blaming other elements for the failure. This is a great indicator of high potential. These individuals also frequently never admit defeat but rather see the failure as a temporary obstacle that will be resolved at some point in the future.
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How Would Your Boss Or Coworkers Describe You
This question is pretty much the same as what are your greatest strengths, the only difference is that it should be from the point of view from your boss or coworkers.
Here, you want to focus on your traits and achievements that youve previously been praised for .
There are at least 2 ways to answer this question:
1) Describe a specific situation where you excelled at work
Sample Answer
Theyd say Im super hard working. During my weekend-off, not one, but three of my coworkers got sick, and I had to spot for them.
The weekend was peak season in Nantucket, so the restaurant was getting seriously overwhelmed. All of a sudden, we went from being very prepared for the season, to complete panic.
Had to jump between serving, bussing, and line-cooking, but overall, managed to survive through the weekend successfully.
2) Quote a performance review
If youve previously worked in an office job, youre probably all too familiar with these.
Did your boss give you a glowing performance review? Make sure to mention it here!
Sample answer:
Well, in my last performance review in September, my boss described me as someone who takes initiative.
My position as a PR manager involves constantly keeping track of our clients brand reputation, and if something goes wrong, dealing with it as fast as possible.
In a lot of cases, you need to be very proactive – if you wait for your entire team to have a meeting on how to deal with the issue, it might already be too late.
