Permission to use allowed with www.usworkworld.com subscription	
U.S. Work World’s Job Hunt Tips
How to Answer Interview Questions
Tell me about yourself.  Do not talk about your personal life or hobbies.  Answer with statements about 
your experience, skills, and qualifications for the job.  In fact, prepare for an interview by memorizing a 
30-second statement about your experience and skills.  Think of this 30-second statement as a 
mini-commercial about you to an employer.
What do you want this job?   Before the interview, read the company's website to learn about the 
company and the products or services it sells.  Then, prepare to say something special about the company 
such as: "Jamba Juice provides great tasting smoothies that are also healthy .  I agree with this goal and 
would like to join the Jamba Juice team"; "Food For Less helps people buy quality food for low prices.  I 
would feel proud to be part of the Food For Less team"; "I want to learn the retail business, and I think 
that Target is an excellent retail business plus Target offers opportunity for promotion."  Do not say "For 
the money," or "Because I need a job" or "Because my mom wants me to get a job."
What did you like most about your last job?  Talk about the responsibilities you had, the skills you 
learned, and the way the "team" (that is, your coworkers and supervisors) worked together to improve 
customer satisfaction and to get tasks done on time.  
How soon can you start?  Answer that you have to give one to two weeks notice so that you can train 
a replacement for your employer.  Show the new employer that you are responsible and do not want to 
leave your present employer without notice.
What are your plans for the future?  Answer with a plan.  It is best if the job blends into the plan so that 
the employer sees that the job will help your future.  It is acceptable to have a goal that does not include 
the company, such as going to college to become a lawyer, as long as it appears that you will need this job 
for a year.  Even if you plan on quitting in three months, don’t say this.  You never know what the future 
may bring, and you may need the job longer than expected.  Employers don’ t hire job hoppers. 
What do you want to be paid?   You may say, "I would like a fair starting salary and an opportunity for 
promotions."  Or, say how much you want to be paid and that you are open to discussion about the pay.
What are your weaknesses?  Turn your weakness into a strength for the company:  "I like to talk so I 
enjoy talking to customers."  "I can get bored with routine so I like to learn new things at work."  "Some 
people have told me that I have too much energy, but I get a lot of things done during the day." 
Do you like school?  Why or why not?  The interviewer wants to hear that you enjoy learning because 
learning skills are important to job success.  In the work world, jobs improve and change.   Therefore, 
workers must like to learn new skills and change also.
Do you have any questions?   "What would be the job duties?"  "What are the opportunities for 
advancement?"  Do not ask about pay or vacations.  You 
may ask questions about fringe benefits when you are 
offered the job.  If you do not like the answers, you may 
turn down the job offer at that time.