Interview tips here please....random, unusual, typical questions would be helpful. Only ever done 1 interview and it was a LONNNNGGGG time ago so I need all the help I can get.

[DraculaNeedsArteries]

Tis for an internal position - "project" managementy stuff (I can't say precisely). I haven't even applied for yet - but I am trying to get organised in my mind as I shall be starting to talk to people in teh loop informally to help me prep.

I have (fortunately) only ever applied for and been interviewed for 1 job upon graduation and it was a much more pure knowledge based that I expect this to be.

I need as many of teh off the wall/seemingly random type questions to help me...actually given my interview experience anything would be good!

On my list so far I have the obvious
Why do you want it?
What do you think you will bring to teh role?
What has been the worst experience of your life and whatpositive things came out of this event (that was my previous off the wall one)?

Then I am struggling....

[mynameisluka]

Most obvious for me is What are your strengths/weaknessess?

[iheartdusty]

'can you describe one good relationship and one bad relationship you have had?' (meaning eg work rels, neighbours, not ex boyfriends)

[mynameisluka]

Where do you see yourself in ten years time?

[preggersslaysandchops]

Tell me about a situation where you have changed a process and why did you do it that way?

Give me an example of where you have worked in a team that worked well/didn't work well?

[preggersslaysandchops]

Tell me about a situation where you have changed a process and why did you do it that way?

Give me an example of where you have worked in a team that worked well/didn't work well?

[preggersslaysandchops]

Sorry didn't mean to post twice!

[DraculaNeedsArteries]

No worries I think that could be an important one preggers....

[RuthT]

Is it a line management role? Senior or Middle/Junior?

[DraculaNeedsArteries]

Not line management. Project management. But there will be a lot of team work and probably some transient team leading required - but not formal line management IYSWIM.

[princesspeahead]

give me an example of a situation where you successfully changed someone's mind

and one where you didn't despite your best efforts (THAT was hard to answer!)

how do you keep yourself up to date with developments in the field?

what lessons did you learn from your previous job/last major assignment?

what could you have done better in your previous job/last major assignment?

if your colleagues were to describe you to me, what would they say? or also if your boss were to describe.... and how would this change if it was one of your team members describing you...

[Prufrock]

Be aware that your interviewer may well be looking for STAR answers - Full details of a Situation/Task, your Action and the Result (or some other such nonsensical acronym) A popular interview technique is to say that past performance is the only guide to future performance - so be prepared to give specific examples of what you have actually done rather than what you would do.

[DraculaNeedsArteries]

Tis all v v good advice (as I say I am essentially an interview virgin)....the more advice hte better...I shall be swatting madly....

I already have the candidate profile & required skills - so I am in the process of brainstorming that with examples that fit all of the criteria which come from past examples - so hopefully relevant examples will al be ready to cite. My line managers and collegues are helping me withe hte brainstorming - from their perspective so that will be interesting too.

If there was only 1 candidate I know that I would get the job and am fully capable....it is how stand up against the other applicants....

[flowerybeanbag]

If you get asked the very stupid 'what are your weaknesses' question, don't say anything naff like you are a perfectionist. Identify an area of a job you were in where you felt you wanted some extra knowledge, or to develop your skills a bit, then explain what you did to make that improvement.

That way, it's no longer a 'weakness' because it's been dealt with, you are showing self-awareness, a commitment to improvement and the ability to take the initiative.

Hey presto, a question about weakness has been transformed into an opportunity to demonstrate how marvellous you are.

[flowerybeanbag]

Oh, and past behaviour is the best indicator of future behaviour, so always use examples when answering a question, even if they are not specifically asked for.

Even if the interviewer doesn't know/think past behaviour is best indicator, if you are speaking about an example, you sound more credible. Much more difficult to make stuff up if you're talking about a real life situation, and you can discuss easily what you learned from something, what you would do differently, what the outcome was, all those handy follow up questions.

[DraculaNeedsArteries]

I already have that one covered flowery. I know which are my weaknesses on the list of qualities provided, and I am actively working on them and it is all documented in development reviews and stuff - so backed up by evidence of me doing something about it IYSWIM.

I was going to pedantically say I have no weaknesses to luka on this thread, but thought I would get flamed for it. I would never dream of saying that in an interview.

[katie3677]

Some random ones I've had:
If you were a car what make/model would you be?
Strength/weakness
Proudest achievement (either work or personal)
What would be your dream job

[DraculaNeedsArteries]

You do all know that I will be back with potential answers to all of these in a few days to see that my answers convey the right messages???

Anyone fance conducting a live cyber interview ?

[dollybird]

I was asked what type of biscuit I would be!