Interview Questions-Effective Business Communication-Lecture Handout, Exercises of Effective Business Communication

Download Interview Questions-Effective Business Communication-Lecture Handout and more Exercises Effective Business Communication in PDF only on Docsity!

Business and Professional Speech Communications

Sample Interview Questions & Answers

1. Tell me something about yourself?

A. After my Matriculation/Intermediate from ABC, I decided to make my career in business. So I got enrolled at MNO University. I have done my BBA/MBA from MNO University. Currently I am a student of MBA/PhD. at XYZ. During my studies at MNO, I learned a lot about my abilities. So I started using them. I started learning some different but useful computer skills. Now I am very knowledgeable of MS-Office, Flash, Swish, Adobe PhotoShop, and graphic designing. I have got a lot of experience using these tools. I have been working for PQR Enterprises till now.

2. Why are you applying for this job?

A. Now that I have completed/am about to complete my MBA, I thought it to be the best time to do this type of job. The job that I am applying for requires the skills, which I have. It is not only now that I have thought to do some job in your company but I have always idealized this type of a job in this kind of organization. As I have told you that I have been working for PQR Enterprises, I have gathered enough knowledge of currently leading market players. Your company is one of those.

3. Why do you want to work here?

A. The strongest reason for I being interested in working here is that I find this to be the job that I always wanted to have. I find myself best suited here. I can work in Islamabad freely with my full capacity.

4. How much do you know about this company?

A. Very important: Prepare for interview seriously and vigorously before going for interview. You must know the following:  Full name of organization  Nature of corporation like; partnership firm, government, semi-government, subsidiary of what?, in case of Pvt. Ltd. Company or semi-government what is the ratio of ownership  Nature of business  Market share, standing; potential or target market  Direct and indirect competitors and their position  Computer and IS implementations in the organization  Number and names of department with knowledge of department in which you are applying  Nature of job and its importance

5. What contributions do you see yourself making to this job/company?

A. The level I am applying for needs this, this and this ( very important: count the concerned skills) skills. I have excellent hand on these technicalities. Moreover, this position needs excellent interpersonal skills that I do have. I am really easy in working with teams. So I am sure I have a lot to contribute to this organization.

6. Why did you leave your last job?

A. The only reason for leaving that job was that I had less room for using my abilities otherwise it was an excellent organization. I had very good relations with my boss at that organization. He has been very kind to me. He often asked me to utilize the skills that I have. He guided me to apply for this job.

7. Why have you changed so many jobs?

A. I have always been trying to get a job in which I have full exposure of my skills. This has been my main motive for changing a few jobs.

8. Describe your personality?

A. I am a flexible, hardworking person. I always try to adjust myself in any environment. I love to manage working in different teams. Being an optimistic by nature, I always take positive and constructive angles of things in my view. I have a great urge to learn.

9. What is your greatest strength?

A. My greatest strength is the knowledge of this, this and this (tell something related to the prospective job). I have good hand on these things. My knowledge is not bound to this only; I am a very quick learner, which is why I am always ready to increase my knowledge.

10. What is your greatest weakness?

A. My greatest weakness is that I used to be a shy person. This was so serious problem for me that I could not talk to anybody like I am talking right now. But I pay a bunch of thanks to almighty Allah and then to Muhammad Ali Jinnah University that my speaking power was improved so much during my MBA that now I am in front of you. Or My greatest weakness is that I do not understand programming languages that I want to learn. I have tried but I could not. I find that it is just because of the fact that I believe in doing less but with excellence. That is why I give more time to improving my professional abilities.

11. Would you be willing to relocate?

A. Well, this is no problem for me. Because I have knowledge of marketing that I have to use. I had it in my mind that I would have to relocate. So I am mentally prepared to relocate. The other determinant factor for my willingness to travel and to relocate is the monetary aspect. I am sure that you will make such arrangements, which would make my tasks easy.

12. Would you prefer working alone or with people?

A. I can work in any circumstances without compromising on the efficiency or effectiveness of my work. Let me tell you my preferences specifically. I know that it would be difficult to manage working in teams when the work is more technical; it is always difficult to work in teams. But this does not mean that I cannot work in teams when the project is technology based. In such circumstances I would have a clear strategy to concentrate on my responsibilities and I will accomplish them with balance in efficiency and effectiveness. This I call working alone in team. Supposedly, if my team gets a project, and the knowledge base of every team member is equal to others, the success of the team will mainly depend upon the interpersonal skills of the team members. In that case I am sure of getting 100% results towards the collective missions of the team. This I call real teamwork. This will be an ideal opportunity for me to work in teams.

13. How well has your performance in the classroom prepared you for this job?

A. I have done my MBA with a practical approach. I have done my MBA from Muhammad Ali Jinnah University. There, all of the instructors have enough market exposure. So they haven’t just taught us, but they have made us learn. That is why I have done my MBA in a different manner than all other MBAs. The job I am currently applying for is directly related to that I have learnt in this, this and this courses (list some courses that are related to the job you are applying for). I have successfully worked on and completed this, this and this projects during my MBA. You see these projects are almost the same as the responsibilities of this job that you have listed in the job description.

14. What are the qualities of an ideal boss?

A. An ideal boss for me is a person who knows me very well. He/she knows my strengths and weaknesses. He/she knows my limitations and shortcomings and assigns me according to that. He/she judges my work according to the circumstances in which I had to perform my duties. He/she also gives enough weightage to the monetary elements of my life. My boss must also know the job that I am performing so that I can explain my requirements/parameters to do that job. Being a common human I expect courtesy the most.

15. Describe your role as a team player.

A. My role is dependent upon the various factors but one thing is for sure that I always play a role that is in the best interests of my team in regard of the assignment given. Sometimes, for achieving the best in teamwork I have to play a leader’s role. Sometimes, I follow the framework set by the team members as a whole. When in team, I am always very careful in taking and fulfilling responsibilities. I normally avoid taking responsibilities that can collide with the working of another member because I suppose it to be against the true spirit of teamwork. I am an easygoing and easy to work with team player.

16. How do you handle/respond criticism?

A. I am always ready to change myself for the betterment. That is why I am always ready to face and accept constructive criticism. It’s alright if somebody guides me to the right thing. But if I feel that somebody is just trying to disturb my working by criticizing wrongly or by interfering in my work, working can be affected. In such a case I thoroughly scan his/her view and my performance by my own judgment or by consulting my seniors. If I find the criticism true, I resolve the problem otherwise I simply ignore it so that it does not affect my performance.

17. How do you manage stress?

A. Life is not a bed of roses. I don’t expect ease during my work. Sometimes I get such assignments that are almost impossible to do within a specific period of time. Sometimes I may have work stress because of any other reason. In such cases, I sit back, relax for a few moments and then start thinking over to find the starting point of the problem. Then I try to know the reason of mismanagement on my part. I note these things down and strategize for the next time. I maintain a day planner. I also get help from Microsoft Project to plan things. So I use these resources and plan at my best to workout the current problems and avoid any future stress.

18. What motivates you?

A. Challenging and competitive environment, monetary factors like rewards and incentives, working conditions and self-esteem.

19. What are your salary expectations?

A. I have been getting this amount from my previous employer. But the price index has risen fastly. That is why I was having monetary problems in that salary. You normally pay this amount to the employees holding this job. Now, based upon the fact of rising inflation, I expect more than this around that. (You must prepare yourself for this question. You must have enough knowledge about the company and its salary packages so that you can bargain well.)

Ask Your Employer at the end of Interview

Be sure to prepare at least 4 or 5 insightful questions to ask the employer after the interview. Focus your questions on the job and the organization itself, and save questions about salary, benefits, overtime etc. until the employer actually makes you an offer.

1. What are the major responsibilities for this position?
2. Are there any changes expected in the responsibilities of this job?
3. What personal qualities would you expect the successful candidate to possess?
4. What are the greatest challenges facing the person in this position?
5. What are the prospects for future growth and expansion of the company/organization?
6. What new products/services is your organization thinking of implementing?
7. What organizational changes do you anticipate?
8. Why is this position open?
9. Who would I be interacting with the most in this position?
10. How does this position fit in with the structure of this organization?
11. Are there opportunities for advancement within the organization?
12. Do you have an employee-training program?
13. When can I expect to know your decision?