64 tough java interview questions

8/12/2019 64 Tough JAVA Interview Questions

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THIS BOOK IS DESIGNED TO PO!IDE "##$"TE IN%OM"TION ON THES$B&E#TS #O!EED. HO'E!E( IT IS DONE 'ITH THE $NDEST"NDING TH"TTHE P$B)ISHE IS NOT ENG"GED IN ENDEING )EG")( "##O$NTING OPO%ESSION") SE!I#ES. I% )EG") "D!I#E O OTHE PO%ESSION")

"SSST"N#E IS E*$IED( THE SE!I#ES O% " #OMPETENT( PO%ESSION")PESON SHO$ID BE SO$GHT. "N+ N"MES $SED IN THE TE,T "E %I#TITIO$S

"ND %O I))$ST"TI!E P$POSES ON)+. "N+ ESEMB)"N#E TO "#T$")PESONS O #OMP"NIES IS P$E)+ #OIN#IDENT") "ND $NINTENTION").


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Dedication:

T-s re/ort s dedcated to coura0e and knowled0e(t-e two 1ualtes most needed

to succeed n an2 -uman c-allen0e(es/ecall2 a o4 searc-.


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Table of Contents

General Gudelnes

n "nswern0 Inter5ew *uestons......................................................................3*ueston 6 Tell me a4out 2oursel7. ..................................................................................8*ueston 9 '-at are 2our 0reatest stren0t-s.................................................................;*ueston 3 '-at are 2our 0reatest weaknesses ........................................................... or 7aled to do > t-at 2ou now 7eel a lttle

as-amed o7........................................................................................................ '-at do 2ou t-nk a4out "4ortonT-e

PresdentT-e Deat- Penalt2?or an2 ot-er contro5ersal [email protected];*ueston ; I7 2ou won L6 mllon lotter2( would 2ou stll work...................................3;*ueston ;6 )ookn0 4ack on 2our last /oston( -a5e 2ou done 2our 4est work..........3 7 2ou are un/re/ared 7or t-s 1ueston( 2ou wll /ro4a4l2 not -andlet r0-t and /oss4l2 4low t-e nter5ew. T-ank 0oodness most nter5ewers donFt em/lo2t. ItFs normall2 used 42 t-ose determned to see -ow 2ou res/ond under stress. HereFs-ow t works:

+ou answer an nter5ewerFs 1ueston and t-en( nstead o7 askn0 anot-er( -e ust staresat 2ou n a dea7enn0 slence.

+ou wat( 0rown0 a 4t uneas2( and t-ere -e sts( slent as Mt. us-more( as 7 -edoesnFt 4ele5e w-at 2ouF5e ust sad( or /er-a/s makn0 2ou 7eel t-at 2ouF5e unwttn0l25olated some cardnal rule o7 nter5ew et1uette.

'-en 2ou 0et t-s slent treatment a7ter answern0 a /artcularl2 d77cult 1ueston ( suc-as tell me a4out 2our weaknessesC( ts ntmdatn0 e77ect can 4e most ds1uetn0( e5ento /ols-ed o4 -unters.

Most un/re/ared canddates rus- n to 7ll t-e 5od o7 slence( 5ewn0 /rolon0ed(uncom7orta4le slences as an n5taton to clear u/ t-e /re5ous answer w-c- -aso45ousl2 caused some /ro4lem. "nd t-atFs w-at t-e2 do > ram4le on( s/uttern0 moreand more n7ormaton( sometmes rrele5ant and o7ten dama0n0( 4ecause t-e2 aresuddenl2 /la2n0 t-e role o7 someone w-oFs 0oo7ed and s now tr2n0 to recou/. Butsnce t-e canddate doesnFt know w-ere or -ow -e 0oo7ed( -e ust kee/s talkn0(s-own0 -ow 7lustered and con7used -e s 42 t-e nter5ewerFs unmo5a4le slence.

$%#T A'%!: )ke a /rmt5e tr4al mask( t-e Slent Treatment loses all t /ower to7r0-ten 2ou once 2ou re7use to 4e ntmdated. I7 2our nter5ewer /ulls t( kee/ 1uet2oursel7 7or a w-le and t-en ask( wt- sncere /olteness and not a trace o7 sarcasm( 42sthere anything else 2 can fill in on that oint) T-atFs all t-ere s to t.

'-ate5er 2ou do( donFt let t-e Slent Treatment ntmdate 2ou nto talkn0 a 4lue streak(4ecause 2ou could easl2 talk 2oursel7 out o7 t-e /oston.

;= Tou0-est *uestons Pa0e


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Question 7 'hy should 2 hire you)

T!A"#: Bele5e t or not( t-s s a kller 1ueston 4ecause so man2 canddates areun/re/ared 7or t. I7 2ou stammer or adl4 2ouF5e 4lown t.

$%#T A'%!: B2 now 2ou can see -ow crtcal t s to a//l2 t-e o5erall strate02 o7unco5ern0 t-e em/lo2erFs needs before2ou answer 1uestons. I7 2ou know t-eem/lo2erFs 0reatest needs and desres( t-s 1ueston wll 05e 2ou a 40 le0 u/ o5er ot-ercanddates 4ecause 2ou wll 05e -m 4etter reasons 7or -rn0 2ou t-an an2one else slkel2 toreasons ted drectl2 to -s needs.

'-et-er 2our nter5ewer asks 2ou t-s 1ueston exlicitlyor not( t-s s t-e mostm/ortant 1ueston o7 2our nter5ew 4ecause -e must answer t-s 1ueston 7a5ora4l2 ns own mnd 4e7ore 2ou wll 4e -red. So hel him out5 'alk t-rou0- eac- o7 t-e/ostonFs re1urements as 2ou understand t-em( and 7ollow eac- wt- a reason w-2 2oumeet t-at re1urement so well.

Examle+ "s I understand 2our needs( 2ou are 7rst and 7oremost lookn0 7or someonew-o can mana0e t-e sales and marketn0 o7 2our 4ook /u4ls-n0 d5son. "s 2ouF5esad 2ou need someone wt- a stron0 4ack0round n trade 4ook sales. T-s s w-ereIF5e s/ent almost all o7 m2 career( so IF5e c-alked u/ 6A 2ears o7 e/erence eactl2 nt-s area. I 4ele5e t-at I know t-e r0-t contacts( met-ods( /rnc/les( and success7ulmana0ement tec-n1ues as well as an2 /erson can n our ndustr2.C

+ou also need someone w-o can e/and 2our 4ook dstr4uton c-annels. In m2 /ror/ost( m2 nno5at5e /romotonal deas dou4led( t-en tr/led( t-e num4er o7 outlets selln0our 4ooks. IFm con7dent I can do t-e same 7or 2ou.C

+ou need someone to 05e a new s-ot n t-e arm to 2our mal order sales( someone

w-o knows -ow to sell n s/ace and drect mal meda. Here( too( I 4ele5e I -a5eeactl2 t-e e/erence 2ou need. In t-e last 75e 2ears( IF5e ncreased our mal order4ook sales 7rom L;( to L9(A(( and now weFre t-e countr2Fs second leadn0marketer o7 scent7c and medcal 4ooks 42 mal.C Etc.! etc.! etc.!

E5er2 one o7 t-ese selln0 cou/letsC ?-s need matc-ed 42 2our 1ual7catons@ s atouc-down t-at runs u/ 2our score. IT s 2our 4est o//ortunt2 to outsell 2ourcom/etton.

Question 8 %ren3t you overualified for this osition)

T!A"#: T-e em/lo2er ma2 4e concerned t-at 2ouFll 0row dssats7ed and lea5e.

$%#T A'%!: "s wt- an2 o4ecton( donFt 5ew t-s as a s0n o7 mmnent de7eat.ItFs an n5taton to teac- t-e nter5ewer a new wa2 to t-nk a4out t-s stuaton( seen0ad5anta0es nstead o7 draw4acks.

Examle+ I reco0ne t-e o4 market 7or w-at t s > a market/lace. )ke an2market/lace( tFs su4ect to t-e laws o7 su//l2 and demand. So Ro5er1ual7edF can 4e a

;= Tou0-est *uestons Pa0e 6


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relat5e term( de/endn0 on -ow t0-t t-e o4 market s. "nd r0-t now( tFs 5er2 t0-t. Iunderstand and acce/t t-at.C

I also 4ele5e t-at t-ere could 4e 5er2 /ost5e 4ene7ts 7or 4ot- o7 us n t-s matc-.C

Because o7 m2 unusuall2 stron0 e/erence n ( I could start tocontr4ute r0-t awa2( /er-a/s muc- 7aster t-an someone w-oFd -a5e to 4e 4rou0-talon0 more slowl2.C

T-ereFs also t-e 5alue o7 all t-e trann0 and 2ears o7 e/erence t-at ot-er com/anes-a5e n5ested tens o7 t-ousands o7 dollars to 05e me. +ouFd 4e 0ettn0 all t-e 5alue o7t-at wt-out -a5n0 to /a2 an etra dme 7or t. 't- someone w-o -as 2et to ac1uret-at e/erence( -eFd -a5e to 0an t on yournic*el.C

I could also -el/ 2ou n man2 t-n0s t-e2 donFt teac- at t-e Har5ard Busness Sc-ool.%or eam/le?-ow to -re( tran( mot5ate( etc.@ '-en t comes to known0 -ow to workwell wt- /eo/le and 0ettn0 t-e most out o7 t-em( t-ereFs ust no su4sttute 7or w-at 2oulearn o5er man2 2ears o7 7rontlne e/erence. +ou com/an2 would 0an all t-s( too.C

%rom m2 sde( t-ere are stron0 4ene7ts( as well. 0-t now( I am unem/lo2ed. I wantto work( very much( and t-e /oston 2ou -a5e -ere s eactl2 w-at I lo5e to do and am4est at. IFll 4e -a//2 don0 t-s work and t-atFs w-at matters most to me( a lot more t-atmone2 or ttle.C

Most m/ortant( IFm lookn0 to make a lon0 term commtment n m2 career now. IF5e -adenou0- o7 o4-untn0 and want a /ermanent s/ot at t-s /ont n m2 career. I also knowt-at 7 I /er7orm t-s o4 wt- ecellence( ot-er o//ortuntes cannot -el/ 4ut o/en u/ 7orme r0-t -ere. In tme( IFll 7nd man2 ot-er wa2s to -el/ t-s com/an2 and n so don0(-el/ m2sel7. I reall2 am lookn0 to make a lon0term commtment.C

NOTE: T-e man concern 4e-nd t-e o5er1ual7edC 1ueston s t-at 2ou wll lea5e 2ournew em/lo2er as soon as somet-n0 4etter comes 2our wa2. "n2t-n0 2ou can sa2 todemonstrate t-e sncert2 o7 2our commtment to t-e em/lo2er and reassure -m t-at2ouFre lookn0 to sta2 7or t-e lon0term wll -el/ 2ou o5ercome t-s o4ecton.

Question 9 'here do you see yourself five years from now)

T!A"#: One reason nter5ewers ask t-s 1ueston s to see 7 2ouFre settln0 7or t-s/oston( usn0 t merel2 as a sto/o5er untl somet-n0 4etter comes alon0. Or t-e2could 4e tr2n0 to 0au0e 2our le5el o7 am4ton.

I7 2ouFre too s/ec7c( .e.( namn0 t-e /romotons 2ou someda2 -o/e to wn( 2ouFll sound/resum/tuous. I7 2ouFre too 5a0ue( 2ouFll seem rudderless.

$%#T A'%!: eassure 2our nter5ewer t-at 2ouFre lookn0 to make a lon0termcommtmentt-at t-s /oston entals eactl2 w-at 2ouFre lookn0 to do and w-at 2ou doetremel2 well. "s 7or 2our 7uture( 2ou 4ele5e t-at 7 2ou /er7orm eac- o4 at -and wt-ecellence( 7uture o//ortuntes wll take care o7 t-emsel5es.



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Examle+ I am de7ntel2 nterested n makn0 a lon0term commtment to m2 net/oston. &ud0n0 42 w-at 2ouF5e told me a4out t-s /oston( tFs eactl2 w-at IFm lookn07or and w-at I am 5er2 well 1ual7ed to do. In terms o7 m2 7uture career /at-( IFmcon7dent t-at 7 I do m2 work wt- ecellence( o//ortuntes wll ne5ta4le o/en u/ 7orme. ItFs alwa2s 4een t-at wa2 n m2 career( and IFm con7dent IFll -a5e smlaro//ortuntes -ere.C

Question 1 ,escribe your ideal comany! location and #ob.

T!A"#: T-s s o7ten asked 42 an e/erenced nter5ewer w-o t-nks 2ou ma2 4eo5er1ual7ed( 4ut knows 4etter t-an to s-ow -s -and 42 /osn0 -s o4ecton drectl2.So -eFll use t-s 1ueston nstead( w-c- o7ten 0ets a canddate to re5eal t-at( ndeed( -eor s-e s lookn0 7or somet-n0 ot-er t-an t-e /oston at -and.

$%#T A'%!: T-e onl2 r0-t answer s to descr4e w-at t-s com/an2 s o77ern0(4en0 sure to make 2our answer 4ele5a4le wt- s/ec7c reasons( stated wt- sncert2(w-2 eac- 1ualt2 re/resented 42 t-s o//ortunt2 s attract5e to 2ou.

emem4er t-at 7 2ouFre comn0 7rom a com/an2 t-atFs t-e leader n ts 7eld or 7rom a0lamorous or muc- admred com/an2( ndustr2( ct2 or /oston( 2our nter5ewer and -scom/an2 ma2 well -a5e an "5sC com/le. T-at s( t-e2 ma2 7eel a 4t de7ens5e a4out4en0 second 4estC to t-e /lace 2ouFre comn0 7rom( worred t-at 2ou ma2 consdert-em 4us- lea0ue.

T-s anet2 could well 4e t-ere e5en t-ou0- 2ouF5e done not-n0 to ns/re t. +ou must0o out o7 2our wa2 to assua0e suc- anet2( e5en 7 tFs not e/ressed( 42 /uttn0 their5rtues -0- on t-e lst o7 eactl2 w-at 2ouFre lookn0 7or( /ro5dn0 cred4le reason 7orwantn0 t-ese 1ualtes.

I7 2ou do not e/ress 0enune ent-usasm 7or t-e 7rm( ts culture( locaton( ndustr2( etc.(2ou ma2 7al to answer t-s "5sC com/le o4ecton and( as a result( lea5e t-enter5ewer sus/ectn0 t-at a -ot s-ot lke 2ou( comn0 7rom a %ortune 8 com/an2 nNew +ork( ust wouldnFt 4e -a//2 at an unknown manu7acturer 4ased n To/eka(Kansas.

Question 11 'hy do you want to wor* at our comany)

T!A"#: T-s 1ueston tests w-et-er 2ouF5e done an2 -omework a4out t-e 7rm. I7 2ou-a5enFt( 2ou lose. I7 2ou -a5e( 2ou wn 40.

$%#T A'%!: T-s 1ueston s 2our o//ortunt2 to -t t-e 4all out o7 t-e /ark( t-anksto t-e nde/t- researc- 2ou s-ould do 4e7ore an2 nter5ew.

Best sources 7or researc-n0 2our tar0et com/an2: annual re/orts( t-e cor/oratenewsletter( contacts 2ou know at t-e com/an2 or ts su//lers( ad5ertsements( artclesa4out t-e com/an2 n t-e trade /ress.



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Question 12 'hat are your career otions right now)

T!A"#: T-e nter5ewer s tr2n0 to 7nd out( 46ow deserate are you)

$%#T A'%!: Pre/are 7or t-s 1ueston 42 t-nkn0 o7 -ow 2ou can /oston 2oursel7

as a desred commodt2. I7 2ou are stll workn0( descr4e t-e /oss4ltes at 2our/resent 7rm and w-2( t-ou0- 2ouFre 0reatl2 a//recated t-ere( 2ouFre lookn0 7orsomet-n0 more ?c-allen0e( mone2( res/ons4lt2( etc.@. "lso menton t-at 2ouFreserousl2 e/lorn0 o//ortuntes wt- one or two ot-er 7rms.

I7 2ouFre not workn0( 2ou can talk a4out ot-er em/lo2ment /oss4ltes 2ouFre actuall2e/lorn0. But do t-s wt- a l0-t touc-( s/eakn0 onl2 n 0eneral terms. +ou donFt wantto seem man/ulat5e or co2.

Question 13 'hy have you been out of wor* so long)

T!A"#: " tou0- 1ueston 7 2ouF5e 4een on t-e 4eac- a lon0 tme. +ou donFt want to

seem lke dama0ed 0oods.

$%#T A'%!: +ou want to em/-ase 7actors w-c- -a5e /rolon0ed 2our o4 searc-42 2our own c-oce.

Examle+"7ter m2 o4 was termnated( I made a conscous decson not to um/ on t-e7rst o//ortuntes to come alon0. In m2 l7e( IF5e 7ound out t-at 2ou can alwa2s turn ane0at5e nto a /ost5e I% 2ou tr2 -ard enou0-. T-s s w-at I determned to do. Idecded to take w-ate5er tme I needed to t-nk t-rou0- w-at I do 4est( w-at I most wantto do( w-ere IFd lke to do tand t-en dent72 t-ose com/anes t-at could o77er suc- ano//ortunt2.C

"lso( n all -onest2( 2ou -a5e to 7actor n t-e recesson ?consoldaton( sta4laton( etc.@n t-e ?4ankn0( 7nancal ser5ces( manu7acturn0( ad5ertsn0( etc.@ ndustr2.C

So 4etween m2 4en0 select5e and t-e com/anes n our ndustr2 downsn0( t-e/rocess -as taken tme. But n t-e end( IFm con5nced t-at w-en I do 7nd t-e r0-tmatc-( all t-at care7ul e5aluaton 7rom 4ot- sdes o7 t-e desk wll -a5e 4een wellwort-w-le 7or 4ot- t-e com/an2 t-at -res me and m2sel7.

Question 14 Tell me honestly about the strong oints and wea*oints of your boss 0comany! management team!etc.17

T!A"#: Skll7ull nter5ewers sometmes make t almost rresst4le to o/en u/ and ar alttle drt2 laundr2 7rom 2our /re5ous /oston. DONFT

$%#T A'%!: emem4er t-e rule: Ne5er 4e ne0at5e. Stress onl2 t-e 0ood /onts(no matter -ow c-armn0l2 2ouFre n5ted to 4e crtcal.



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+our nter5ewer doesnFt care a w-t a4out 2our /re5ous 4oss. He wants to 7nd out -owlo2al and /ost5e 2ou are( and w-et-er 2ouFll crtce -m 4e-nd -s 4ack 7 /ressed todo so 42 someone n t-s own com/an2. T-s 1ueston s 2our o//ortunt2 todemonstrate 2our lo2alt2 to t-ose 2ou work wt-.

Question 15 'hat good boo*s have you read lately)

T!A"#: "s n all matters o7 2our nter5ew( ne5er 7ake 7amlart2 2ou donFt -a5e. +et2ou donFt want to seem lke a dullard w-o -asnFt read a 4ook snce Tom Sawyer.

$%#T A'%!: $nless 2ouFre u/ 7or a /oston n academa or as 4ook crtc 7or The8ew Yor* Times( 2ouFre not e/ected to 4e a lterar2 lon. But t wouldnFt -urt to -a5eread a -and7ul o7 t-e most recent and n7luental 4ooks n 2our /ro7esson and onmana0ement.

#onsder t /art o7 t-e work o7 2our o4 searc- to read u/ on a 7ew o7 t-ese leadn04ooks. But make sure t-e2 are uality4ooks t-at re7lect 7a5ora4l2 u/on 2ou( not-n0

t-at could e5en remotel2 4e consdered su/er7cal. %nall2( add a recentl2 /u4ls-ed4estselln0 work o7 7cton 42 a worldclass aut-or and 2ouFll /ass t-s 1ueston wt- 7l2n0colors.

Question 16 Tell me about a situation when your wor* wascritici9ed.

T!A"#: T-s s a tou0- 1ueston 4ecause tFs a more cle5er and su4tle wa2 to 0et 2outo admt to a weakness. +ou canFt dod0e t 42 /retendn0 2ouF5e ne5er 4een crtced.E5er24od2 -as 4een. +et t can 4e 1ute dama0n0 to start admttn0 /otental 7aults and7alures t-at 2ouFd ust as soon lea5e 4ured.

T-s 1ueston s also ntended to /ro4e -ow well 2ou acce/t crtcsm and drecton.

$%#T A'%!#: Be0n 42 em/-asn0 t-e etremel2 /ost5e 7eed4ack 2ouF5e 0ottent-rou0-out 2our career and ?7 tFs true@ t-at 2our /er7ormance re5ews -a5e 4eenun7orml2 ecellent.

O7 course( no one s /er7ect and 2ou alwa2s welcome su00estons on -ow to m/ro5e2our /er7ormance. T-en( 05e an eam/le o7 a nottoodama0n0 learnn0 e/erence7rom earlyn 2our career and relate t-e wa2s t-s lesson -as snce -el/ed 2ou. T-sdemonstrates t-at 2ou learned 7rom t-e e/erence and t-e lesson s now one o7 t-estron0est 4reast/lates n 2our sut o7 armor.

I7 2ou are /ressed 7or a crtcsm 7rom a recent/oston( c-oose somet-n0 7arl2 tr5alt-at n no wa2 s essental to 2our success7ul /er7ormance. "dd t-at 2ouF5e learned 7romt-s( too( and o5er t-e /ast se5eral 2earsJmont-s( tFs no lon0er an area o7 concern4ecause 2ou now make t a re0ular /ractce toetc.

"not-er wa2 to answer t-s 1ueston would 4e to descr4e 2our ntenton to 4roaden 2ourmaster o7 an area o7 0rown0 m/ortance n 2our 7eld. %or eam/le( t-s m0-t 4e acom/uter /ro0ram 2ouF5e 4een meann0 to st down and learn a new mana0ement

;= Tou0-est *uestons Pa0e 6=


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tec-n1ue 2ouF5e read a4outor /er-a/s attendn0 a semnar on some cuttn0ed0e4ranc- o7 2our /ro7esson.

"0an( t-e ke2 s to 7ocus on somet-n0 not essentialto 2our 4rllant /er7ormance 4utw-c- adds 2et anot-er dmenson to 2our alread2 m/ress5e knowled0e 4ase.

Question 17 'hat are your outside interests)

T!A"#: +ou want to 4e a wellrounded( not a drone. But 2our /otental em/lo2erwould 4e e5en more turned o77 7 -e sus/ects t-at 2our -ea52 etracurrcular load wllnter7ere wt- 2our commtment to 2our work dutes.

$%#T A'%!#: Tr2 to 0au0e -ow t-s com/an2Fs culture would look u/on 2our7a5orte outsde act5tes and 4e 0uded accordn0l2.

+ou can also use t-s 1ueston to s-atter an2 stereot2/es t-at could lmt 2our c-ances.I7 2ouFre o5er 8( 7or eam/le( descr4e 2our act5tes t-at demonstrate /-2scal

stamna. I7 2ouFre 2oun0( menton an act5t2 t-at connotes wsdom and nsttutonaltrust( suc- as ser5n0 on t-e 4oard o7 a /o/ular c-art2.

But a4o5e all( remem4er t-at 2our em/lo2er s -rn0 2our 7or w-at 2ou can do for him(not 2our 7aml2( 2oursel7 or outsde or0anatons( no matter -ow admra4le t-oseact5tes ma2 4e.

Question 18 The 4Fatal Flaw uestion

T!A"#: I7 an nter5ewer -as read 2our resume care7ull2( -e ma2 tr2 to ero n on a7atal 7lawC o7 2our canddac2( /er-a/s t-at 2ou donFt -a5e a colle0e de0ree2ouF5e4een out o7 t-e o4 market 7or some tme2ou ne5er earned 2our #P"( etc.

" 7atal 7law 1ueston can 4e deadl2( 4ut usuall2 onl2 7 2ou res/ond 42 4en0 o5erl2de7ens5e.

$%#T A'%!#: "s e5er2 master sales/erson knows( 2ou wll encounter o4ectons?w-et-er stated or merel2 t-ou0-t@ n every sale. T-e2Fre /art and /arcel o7 t-e 4u2erFsanet2. T-e ke2 s not to exacerbatet-e 4u2erFs anet2 4ut diminisht. HereFs -ow

'-ene5er 2ou come u/ a0anst a 7atal 7law 1ueston:

6. Be com/letel2 -onest( o/en and stra0-t7orward a4out admttn0 t-e

s-ortcomn0. ?S-own0 2ou -a5e not-n0 to -de dmns-es t-e 4u2erFsanet2.@9. Do nota/olo0e or tr2 to e/lan t awa2. +ou know t-at t-s su//osed 7law

s not-n0 to 4e concerned a4out( and t-s s t-e atttude 2ou want 2ournter5ewer to ado/t as well.

3. "dd t-at as desra4le as suc- a 1ual7caton m0-t 4e( ts lack -as made 2ouwork all t-e -arder t-rou0-out 2our career and -as not /re5ented 2ou 7romcom/ln0 an outstandn0 tack record o7 ac-e5ements. +ou m0-t e5en 05e



19/41

eam/les o7 -ow( t-rou0- a relentless commtment to ecellence( 2ou -a5econsstentl2 out/er7ormed t-ose w-o do -a5e t-s 1ual7caton.

O7 course( t-e ultmate wa2 to -andle 7atal 7lawC 1uestons s torevent them fromarsn0 n t-e 7rst /lace. +ou wll do t-at 42 7ollown0 t-e master strate02 descr4ed n*ueston 6( .e.( unco5ern0 t-e em/lo2ers needs and t-em matc-n0 2our 1ual7catons

to t-ose needs.

Once 2ouF5e 0otten t-e em/lo2er to start talkn0 a4out -s most ur0entl27elt wants and0oals 7or t-e /oston( and t-en -el/ -m see n ste/42ste/ 7as-on -ow /er7ectl2 2our4ack0round and ac-e5ements matc- u/ wt- t-ose needs( 2ouFre 0on0 to -a5e one5er2 ent-usastc nter5ewer on 2our -ands( one w-o s no lon0er lookn0 7or 7atal7lawsC.

Question 19 6ow do you feel about reorting to a younger erson0minority! woman! etc1)

T!A"#: ItFs a s-ame t-at some nter5ewers 7eel t-e need to ask t-s 1ueston( 4utman2 understand t-e realt2 t-at /reudces stll est amon0 some o4 canddates( andtFs 4etter to tr2 to 7lus- t-em out 4e7ore-and.

T-e tra/ -ere s t-at n toda2Fs /oltcall2 sensted en5ronment( e5en a well(intentionedanswer can result n /lantn0 2our 7oot neatl2 n 2our mout-. "5od an2t-n0 w-c-smacks o7 a /atronn0 or an nsenst5e atttude( suc- as I t-nk t-e2 make terr7c4ossesC or He2( some o7 m2 4est 7rends areC

O7 course( snce almost an2one wt- an I* a4o5e room tem/erature wll at least tr2 tostead7astl2 a77rm t-e r0-t answer -ere( 2our nter5ewer wll 4e ud0n0 2our sinceritymost o7 all. 4,o you really feel that way)s w-at -e or s-e wll 4e wondern0.

So 2ou must make 2our answer 4ele5a4le and not ust automatc. I7 t-e 7rm s wseenou0- to -a5e /romoted /eo/led on t-e 4ass o7 a4lt2 alone( t-e2Fre lkel2 1ute /roudo7 t( and /re7er to -re ot-ers w-o wll w-ole-eartedl2 s-are t-er stron0 sense o7 7ar/la2.

$%#T A'%!: +ou 0reatl2 admre a com/an2 t-at -res and /romotes on mert aloneand 2ou couldnFt a0ree more wt- t-at /-loso/-2. T-e a0e ?0ender( race( etc.@ o7 t-e/erson 2ou re/ort to would certainlymake no d77erence to 2ou.

'-oe5er -as t-at /oston -as o45ousl2 earned t and knows t-er o4 well. Bot- t-e/erson and t-e /oston are 7ull2 deser5n0 o7 res/ect. +ou 4ele5e t-at all /eo/le n acom/an2( 7rom t-e rece/tonst to t-e #-arman( work 4est w-en t-er a4ltes( e77ortsand 7eeln0s are res/ected and rewarded 7arl2( and t-at ncludes 2ou. T-atFs t-e 4estt2/e o7 work en5ronment 2ou can -o/e to 7nd.

Question 2 :n confidential matters7

T!A"#: '-en an nter5ewer /resses 2ou to re5eal con7dental n7ormaton a4out a/resent or 7ormer em/lo2er( 2ou ma2 7eel tFs a nown stuaton. I7 2ou coo/erate( 2ou

;= Tou0-est *uestons Pa0e 6;


20/41

could 4e ud0ed untrustwort-2. I7 2ou donFt( 2ou ma2 rrtate t-e nter5ewer and seemo4stnate( uncoo/erat5e or o5erl2 sus/cous.

$%#T A'%!: +our nter5ewer ma2 /ress 2ou 7or t-s n7ormaton 7or two reasons.

%rst( man2 com/anes use nter5ews to researc- t-e com/etton. ItFs a /er7ect setu/.Here n t-er own lar( s an nsder 7rom t-e enem2 cam/ w-o can re5eal /redn7ormaton on t-e com/ettonFs /lans( researc-( 7nancal condton( etc.

Second( t-e com/an2 ma2 4e testn0 2our nte0rt2 to see 7 2ou can 4e caoled or 4ullednto re5ealn0 con7dental data.

'-at to do T-e answer -ere s eas2. 8everre5eal an2t-n0 trul2 con7dental a4out a/resent or 7ormer em/lo2er. B2 all means( e/lan 2our retcence dilomatically. %oream/le( I certanl2 want to 4e as o/en as I can a4out t-at. But I also ws- to res/ectt-e r0-ts o7 t-ose w-o -a5e trusted me wt- t-er most senst5e n7ormaton( ust as 2ouwould -o/e to 4e a4le to trust an2 o7 2our ke2 /eo/le w-en talkn0 wt- a com/ettorC

"nd certanl2 2ou can allude to 2our 7nest ac-e5ements n s/ec7c wa2s t-at donFtre5eal t-e com4naton to t-e com/an2 sa7e.

But 4e 0uded 42 t-e 0olden rule. I7 2ou were t-e owner o7 2our /resent com/an2( would2ou 7eel t et-call2 wron0 7or t-e n7ormaton to 4e 05en to 2our com/ettors I7 so(stead7astl2 re7use to re5eal t.

emem4er t-at t-s 1ueston /ts 2our desre to 4e coo/erat5e a0anst 2our nte0rt2.%aced wt- an2 suc- c-oce( always choose integrity. It s a 7ar more 5alua4lecommodt2 t-an w-ate5er n7ormaton t-e com/an2 ma2 /r2 7rom 2ou. Moreo5er( once2ou surrender t-e n7ormaton( 2our stock 0oes down. T-e2 wll surel2 lose res/ect 7or

2ou.

One Presdent we know alwa2s /resses canddates unmerc7ull2 7or con7dentaln7ormaton. I7 -e doesnFt 0et t( -e 0rows 5s4l2 anno2ed( relentlessl2 n1ust5e( 2t3s allan act. He couldnFt care less a4out t-e n7ormaton. T-s s -s wa2 o7 testn0 t-ecanddateFs moral 74er. Onl2 t-ose w-o -old 7ast are -red.

Question 21 'ould you lie for the comany)

T!A"#: T-s anot-er 1ueston t-at /ts two 5alues a0anst one anot-er( n t-s caselo2alt2 a0anst nte0rt2.

$%#T A'%!: Tr2 to a5od c-oosn0 4etween two 5alues( 05n0 a /ost5e statementw-c- co5ers all 4ases nstead.

Examle+ I would ne5er do an2t-n0 to -urt t-e com/an2..C

I7 a00ress5el2 /ressed to c-oose 4etween two com/etn0 5alues( always chooseersonal integrity. It s t-e most /red o7 all 5alues.



21/41

Question 22 &oo*ing bac*! what would you do differently in yourlife)

T!A"#: T-s 1ueston s usuall2 asked to unco5er an2 l7en7luencn0 mstakes( re0rets(dsa//ontments or /ro4lems t-at ma2 contnue to a77ect 2our /ersonalt2 and

/er7ormance.

+ou do not want to 05e t-e nter5ewer an2t-n0 ne0at5e to remem4er 2ou 42( suc- assome 0reat /ersonal or career dsa//ontment( e5en lon0 a0o( t-at 2ou ws- could -a5e4een a5oded.

Nor do 2ou ws- to 05e an2 answer w-c- ma2 -nt t-at 2our w-ole -eart and soul wllnot 4e n 2our work.

$%#T A'%!: Indcate t-at 2ou are a -a//2( 7ul7lled( o/tmstc /erson and t-at( n0eneral( 2ou wouldnFt c-an0e a t-n0.

Examle+ ItFs 4een a 0ood l7e( rc- n learnn0 and e/erence( and t-e 4est t 2et tocome. E5er2 e/erence n l7e s a lesson t ts own wa2. I wouldnFt c-an0e a t-n0.C

Question 23 ;ould you have done better in your last #ob)

T!A"#: T-s s no tme 7or true con7essons o7 maor or e5en mnor /ro4lems.

$%#T A'%!: "0an never be negative.

Examle+ I su//ose wt- t-e 4ene7t o7 -nds0-t 2ou can alwa2s 7nd t-n0s to do4etter( o7 course( 4ut o77 t-e to/ o7 m2 -ead( I canFt t-nk o7 an2t-n0 o7 maor

conse1uence.C

02f more exlanation seems necessary1Descr4er a stuaton t-at ddnFt su77er 4ecause o7 2ou 4ut 7rom eternal condtons4e2ond 2our control.

%or eam/le( descr4e t-e dsa//ontment 2ou 7elt wt- a test cam/a0n( new /roductlaunc-( mer0er( etc.( w-c- looked /romsn0 at 7rst( 4ut led to underw-elmn0 results. Iws- we could -a5e known at t-e start w-at we later 7ound out ?a4out t-e econom2turnn0( t-e market/lace c-an0n0( etc.@( 4ut snce we couldnFt( we ust -ad to 0o 7or t.

"nd we dd learn 7rom tC

Question 24 ;an you wor* under ressure)

T!A"#: "n eas2 1ueston( 4ut 2ou want to make 2our answer believable.

$%#T A'%!: "4solutel2?t-en /ro5e t wt- a 55d eam/le or two o7 a 0oal or/roect accom/ls-ed under se5ere /ressure.@

;= Tou0-est *uestons Pa0e 6A


22/41

Question 25 'hat ma*es you angry)

T!A"#: +ou donFt want to come across et-er as a -ot-ead or a wm/.

$%#T A'%!: G5e an answer t-atFs suted to 4ot- 2our /ersonalt2 and t-e

mana0ement st2le o7 t-e 7rm. Here( t-e -omework 2ouF5e done a4out t-e com/an2 andts st2le can -el/ n 2our c-oce o7 words.

Examles+ 2f you are a reserved erson and


23/41

4asket4all coac-( 2ouF5e wasted an o//ortunt2 to /resent 1ualtes o7 0reat 5alue to t-ecom/an2.

$%#T A'%!: Ha5e a 7ew -eroes n mnd( 7rom 2our mental Board o7 DrectorsC >)eaders n 2our ndustr2( 7rom -stor2 or an2one else w-o -as 4een 2our mentor.

Be /re/ared to 05e eam/les o7 -ow t-er words( actons or teac-n0s -a5e -el/edns/re 2our ac-e5ements. "s alwa2s( /re/are an answer w-c- -0-l0-ts 1ualtes t-atwould 4e -0-l2 5alua4le n t-e /oston 2ou are seekn0.

Question 28 'hat was the toughest decision you ever had toma*e)

T!A"#: G5n0 an un/re/ared or rrele5ant answer.

$%#T A'%!: Be /re/ared wt- a 0ood eam/le( e/lann0 w-2 t-e decson wasd77cultt-e /rocess 2ou 7ollowed n reac-n0 tt-e coura0eous or e77ect5e wa2 2ou

carred t outand t-e 4ene7cal results.

Question 29 Tell me about the most boring #ob you3ve ever had.

T!A"#: +ou 05e a 5er2 memora4le descr/ton o7 a 5er2 4orn0 o4. esult +ou4ecome assocated wt- t-s 4orn0 o4 n t-e nter5ewerFs mnd.

$%#T A'%!: +ou -a5e ne5er allowed 2oursel7 to 0row 4ored wt- a o4 and 2oucanFt understand t w-en ot-ers let t-emsel5es 7all nto t-at rut.

Examle+ 4Per-a/s IF5e 4een 7ortunate( 4ut t-at IF5e ne5er 7ound m2sel7 4ored wt- an2

o4 I -a5e e5er -eld. IF5e alwa2s eno2ed -ard work. "s wt- actors w-o 7eel t-ere areno small /arts( I also 4ele5e t-at n e5er2 com/an2 or de/artment t-ere are ectn0c-allen0es and ntr0un0 /ro4lems cr2n0 out 7or ener0etc and ent-usastc solutons. I72ouFre 4ored( tFs /ro4a4l2 4ecause 2ouFre not c-allen0n0 2oursel7 to tackle t-ose/ro4lems r0-t under 2our nose.C

Question 3 6ave you been absent from wor* more than a fewdays in any revious osition)

T!A"#: I7 2ouF5e -ad a /ro4lem( 2ou canFt le. +ou could easl2 4e 7ound out. +etadmttn0 an attendance /ro4lem could rase man2 7la0s.

$%#T A'%!: I7 2ou -a5e -ad no/ro4lem( em/-ase 2our ecellent and consstentattendance record t-rou0-out 2our career.

"lso descr4e -ow m/ortant 2ou 4ele5e suc- consstent attendance s 7or a ke2eecut5ew-2 tFs u/ to 2ou to set an eam/le o7 dedcatonand w-2 t-ereFs ust nosu4sttute 7or 4en0 t-ere wt- 2our /eo/le to kee/ t-e o/eraton runnn0 smoot-l2(answer 1uestons and -andle /ro4lems and crses as t-e2 arse.



24/41

I7 2ou do-a5e a /ast attendance /ro4lem( 2ou want to mnme t( makn0 t clear t-at twas an ece/tonal crcumstance and t-at tFs cause -as 4een corrected.

To do t-s( 05e t-e same answer as a4o5e 4ut /re7ace t wt- somet-n0 lke( Ot-er t-at4en0 out last 2ear ?or w-ene5er@ 4ecause o7 ?2our reason( w-c- s now n t-e /ast@( I-a5e ne5er -ad a /ro4lem and -a5e eno2ed an ecellent attendance record t-rou0-out

m2 career. %urt-ermore( I 4ele5e( consstent attendance s m/ortant 4ecauseC ?Pcku/ t-e rest o7 t-e answer as outlned a4o5e.@.

Question 31 'hat changes would you ma*e if you came on board)

T!A"#: 'atc- outQ T-s 1ueston can deral 2our canddac2 7aster t-an a 4om4 on t-etracks > and#ust as you are about to be hired.

=eason+ No matter -ow 4r0-t 2ou are( 2ou cannot know t-e r0-t actons to take n a/oston 4e7ore 2ou settle n and 0et to know t-e o/eratonFs stren0t-s( weaknesses ke2/eo/le( 7nancal condton( met-ods o7 o/eraton( etc. I7 2ou lun0e at t-s tem/tn0l2

4ated 1ueston( 2ou wll /ro4a4l2 4e seen as someone w-o s-oots 7rom t-e -/.

Moreo5er( no matter -ow com7orta4le 2ou ma2 7eel wt- 2our nter5ewer( 2ou are stll anoutsider. No one( ncludn0 2our nter5ewer( lkes to t-nk t-at a knowtall outsder s0on0 to come n( turn t-e /lace u/sde down and wt- swee/n0( 0rand 0estures(/rom/tl2 demonstrate w-at erks e5er24od2Fs 4een 7or 2ears.

$%#T A'%!: +ou( o7 course( wll want to take a 0ood -ard look at e5er2t-n0 t-ecom/an2 s don0 4e7ore makn0 an2 recommendatons.

Examle+ 'ell( I wouldnFt 4e a 5er2 0ood doctor 7 I 0a5e m2 da0noss beforet-eeamnaton. S-ould 2ou -re me( as I -o/e 2ou wll( IFd want to take a 0ood -ard look at

e5er2t-n0 2ouFre don0 and understand w-2 tFs 4en0 done t-at wa2. IFd lke to -a5e nde/t- meetn0s wt- 2ou and t-e ot-er ke2 /eo/le to 0et a dee/er 0ras/ o7 w-at 2ou 7eel2ouFre don0 r0-t and w-at could 4e m/ro5ed.

%rom w-at 2ouF5e told me so 7ar( t-e areas o7 0reatest concern to 2ou areC ?namet-em. T-en do two t-n0s. %rst( ask 7 t-ese are n 7act -s maor concerns. I7 so t-enrea77rm -ow 2our e/erence n meetn0 smlar needs elsew-ere m0-t /ro5e 5er2-el/7ul@.

Question 32 23m concerned that you don3t have as much exerienceas we3d li*e in7

T!A"#: T-s could 4e a makeor4reak 1ueston. T-e nter5ewer mostlylkes w-at -esees( 4ut -as dou4ts o5er one ke2 area. I7 2ou can assure -m on t-s /ont( t-e o4 ma24e 2ours.

$%#T A'%!: T-s 1ueston s related to T-e %atal %lawC ?*ueston 6A@( 4ut -eret-e concern s not t-at 2ou are totally missingsome 1ual7catons( suc- as #P"cert7caton( 4ut rat-er t-at 2our e/erence s lightn one area.



25/41

Be7ore 0on0 nto an2 nter5ew( tr2 to dent72 t-e weakest as/ects o7 2our canddac27rom t-s com/an2Fs /ont o7 5ew. T-en /re/are t-e 4est answer 2ou /oss4le can tos-ore u/ 2our de7enses.

To 0et /ast t-s 1ueston wt- 7l2n0 colors( 2ou are 0on0 to rel2 on 2our master strate02o7 uncovering the emloyer3s greatest wants and needs and then matching them with

your strengths. Snce 2ou alread2 know -ow to do t-s 7rom *ueston 6( 2ou are n amuc- stron0er /oston.

More s/ec7call2( w-en t-e nter5ewer /oses as o4ecton lke t-s( 2ou s-ould

6. "0ree on t-e m/ortance o7 t-s 1ual7caton.9. E/lan t-at 2our stren0t- ma2 4e ndeed 4e 0reater t-an 2our resume

ndcates 4ecause

3. '-en t-s stren0t- s added to 2our ot-er stren0t-s( tFs reall2 2ourcombinationo7 1ual7catons t-atFs most m/ortant.

T-en re5ew t-e areas o7 2our 0reatest stren0t-s t-at matc- u/ most 7a5ora4l2 wt- t-ecom/an2Fs most ur0entl27elt wants and needs.

T-s s /ower7ul wa2 to -andle t-s 1ueston 7or two reasons. %rst( 2ouFre 05n0 2ournter5ewer more ammunton n t-e area o7 -s concern. But more m/ortantl2( 2ouFres-7tn0 -s 7ocus away7rom t-s one( solated area and /uttn0 t on t-e uniuecombinationo7 stren0t-s 2ou o77er( stren0t-s w-c- te n /er7ectl2 wt- -s 0reatestwants.

Question 33 6ow do you feel about wor*ing nights and wee*ends)

T!A"#: Blurt out no wa2( &oseC and 2ou can kss t-e o4 o77er 0ood42e. But w-at 72ou -a5e a 7aml2 and want to work a reasona4l2 normal sc-edule Is t-ere a wa2 to0et 4ot- t-e o4 and t-e sc-edule 2ou want

$%#T A'%!: %rst( 7 2ouFre a con7rmed worka-olc( t-s 1ueston s a so7t4all lo4.'-ack t out o7 t-e /ark on t-e 7rst swn0 42 sa2n0 t-s knd o7 sc-edule s ust 2ourst2le. "dd t-at 2our 7aml2 understands t. Indeed( t-e2Fre -a//2 7or 2ou( as t-e2 know2ou 0et 2our 0reatest sats7acton 7rom 2our work.

I7 -owe5er( 2ou /re7er a more 4alanced l7est2le( answer t-s 1ueston wt- anot-er:'hat3s the norm for your best eole here)C

I7 t-e -ours stll sound unrealstc 7or 2ou( ask( Do 2ou -a5e an2 to/ /eo/le w-o /er7ormece/tonall2 7or 2ou( 4ut w-o also -a5e 7amles and lke to 0et -ome n tme to seet-em at n0-tC #-ances are t-s com/an2 does( and t-s assocates 2ou wt- t-s ot-erto//er7ormersw-olea5enotlatert-ansC 0rou/.

De/endn0 on t-e answer( 4e -onest a4out -ow 2ou would 7t nto t-e /cture. I7 allt-ose etra -ours make 2ou uncom7orta4le( sa2 so( 4ut /-rase 2our res/onse /ost5el2.



26/41

Examle+ I lo5e m2 work and do t ece/tonall2 well. I t-nk t-e results s/eak 7ort-emsel5es( es/ecall2 n ?menton 2our two or t-ree 1ual7catons o7 0reater nterestto t-e em/lo2er. emem4er( t-s s w-at -e wants most( not a worka-olc wt- wea*credentals@. Not onl2 would I 4rn0 t-ese 1ualtes( 4ut IF5e 4ult m2 w-ole career onworkn0 not ust -ard( 4ut smart. I t-nk 2ouFll 7nd me one o7 t-e mostroductive/eo/le-ere.

I do-a5e a 7aml2 w-o lkes to see me a7ter work and on weekends. T-e2 add 4alanceand rc-ness to m2 l7e( w-c- n turn -el/s me 4e -a//2 and /roduct5e at work. I7 Icould -andle some o7 t-e etra work at -ome n t-e e5enn0s or on weekends( t-atwould 4e deal. +ouFd 4e 0ettn0 a /erson o7 ece/tonal /roduct5t2 w-o meets 2ourneeds wt- stron0 credentals. "nd IFd 4e a4le to -andle some o7 t-e -ea52 workload at-ome w-ere I can 4e under t-e same roo7 as m2 7aml2. E5er24od2 would wn.C

Question 34 %re you willing to relocate or travel)

T!A"#: "nswer wt- a 7lat noC and 2ou ma2 slam t-e door s-ut on t-s o//ortunt2.

But w-at 7 2ouFd reall2 /re7er not to relocate or tra5el( 2et wouldnFt want to lose t-e o4o77er o5er t

$%#T A'%!: %rst 7nd out w-ere 2ou ma2 -a5e to relocate and -ow muc- tra5elma2 4e n5ol5ed. T-en res/ond to t-e 1ueston.

I7 t-ereFs no /ro4lem( sa2 so ent-usastcall2.

I7 2ou do -a5e a reser5aton( t-ere are two sc-ools o7 t-ou0-t on -ow to -andle t.

One ad5ses 2ou to kee/ 2our o/tons o/en and 2our reser5atons to 2oursel7 n t-e earl20on0( 42 sa2n0( no /ro4lemC. +ou strate02 -ere s to 0et t-e 4est o77er 2ou can( t-en

make a ud0ment w-et-er tFs wort- t to 2ou to relocate or tra5el.

"lso( 42 t-e tme t-e o77er comes t-rou0-( 2ou ma2 -a5e ot-er o77ers and can make amore n7ormed decson. '-2 kll o7 t-s o//ortunt2 4e7ore t -as c-ance to 4lossom ntosomet-n0 reall2 s/ecal "nd 7 2ouFre a lttle more des/erate t-ree mont-s 7rom now(2ou m0-t ws- 2ou -adnFt slammed t-e door on relocatn0 or tra5eln0.

T-e second wa2 to -andle t-s 1ueston s to 5oce a reser5aton( 4ut assert t-at 2ouFd4e o/en to relocatn0 ?or tra5eln0@ 7or t-e r0-t o//ortunt2.

T-e answern0 strate02 2ou c-oose de/ends on -ow ea0er 2ou are 7or t-e o4. I7 2ouwant to take no c-ances( c-oose t-e 7rst a//roac-.

I7 2ou want to /la2 a lttle -arderto0et n -o/es o7 0eneratn0 a more entcn0 o77er(c-oose t-e second.



27/41

Question 35 ,o you have the stomach to fire eole) 6ave youhad exerience firing many eole)

T!A"#: T-s nnocentC 1ueston could 4e a tra/ door w-c- sends 2ou down a c-uteand lands 2ou n a -ea/ o7 dust outsde t-e 7ront door. '-2 Because ts real ntent s

not ust to see 7 2ouF5e 0ot t-e stomac- to 7re( 4ut also to unco5eroor #udgment inhiringw-c- -as caused 2ou to 7re so man2. "lso( 7 2ou 7re so o7ten( 2ou could 4e at2rant.

So donFt rse to t-e 4at 42 4oastn0 -ow man2 2ouF5e 7red( unless 2ouF5e /re/ared toe/lan w-2 t was 4e2ond 2our control( and not t-e result o7 2our /oor -rn0 /roceduresor 7oul tem/erament.

$%#T A'%!: Descr4e t-e ratonal and sens4le mana0ement /rocess 2ou 7ollown 4ot- -rn0 and 7rn0.

Examle+ M2 w-ole mana0ement a//roac- s to -re t-e 4est /eo/le I can 7nd( tran

t-em t-orou0-l2 and well( 0et t-em ected and /roud to 4e /art o7 our team( and t-enwork wt- t-em to ac-e5e our 0oals to0et-er. I7 2ou do all o7 t-at r0-t( es/ecall2 -rn0t-e r0-t /eo/le( IF5e 7ound 2ou donFt -a5e to 7re 5er2 o7ten.

So wt- me( 7rn0 s a last resort. But w-en tFs 0ot to 4e done( tFs 0ot to 4e done( andt-e 7aster and cleaner( t-e 4etter. " /oor em/lo2ee can wreak terr4le dama0e nundermnn0 t-e morale o7 an entre team o7 0ood /eo/le. '-en t-ereFs no ot-er wa2(IF5e 7ound tFs 4etter 7or all concerned to act decs5el2 n 0ettn0 rd o7 o77enders w-owonFt c-an0e t-er wa2s.C

Question 36 'hy have you had so many #obs)

T!A"#: +our nter5ewer 7ears 2ou ma2 lea5e t-s /oston 1uckl2( as 2ou -a5e ot-ers.HeFs concerned 2ou ma2 4e unsta4le( or a /ro4lem /ersonC w-o canFt 0et alon0 wt-ot-ers.

$%#T A'%!: %rst( 4e7ore 2ou e5en 0et to t-e nter5ew sta0e( 2ou s-ould tr2 tomnme 2our ma0e as o4 -o//er. I7 t-ere are se5eral entres on 2our resume o7 lesst-an one 2ear( consder elmnatn0 t-e less m/ortant ones. Per-a/s 2ou can s/ec72t-e tme 2ou s/ent at /re5ous /ostons n rounded yearsnot n mont-s and 2ears.

Examle+ Instead o7 s-own0 t-ree /ostons t-s wa2:

;J6A9 > 3J6A3( Poston "=J6A3 > 69J6A3( Poston B6J6A= > AJ6A 6A3( Poston "6A= > 6A< Poston #.



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Here( a0an( t-e more n7ormaton 2ouF5e alread2 drawn out a4out t-e 0reatest wantsand needs o7 t-e nter5ewer( and t-e more -omework 2ouF5e done to dent72 t-e cultureo7 t-e 7rm( t-e more ontar0et 2our answer wll 4e.

Question 38 'hat would you say to your boss if he3s cra9y about

an idea! but you thin* it stin*s)T!A"#: T-s s anot-er 1ueston t-at /ts two 5alues( n t-s case lo2alt2 and -onest2(a0anst one anot-er.

$%#T A'%!: emem4er t-e rule stated earler: In an2 con7lct 4etween 5alues(always choose integrity.

Examle+ I 4ele5e t-at w-en e5aluatn0 an2t-n0( tFs m/ortant to em/-ase t-e/ost5e. '-at do I lke a4out t-s deaC

T-en( 7 2ou -a5e reser5atons( I certanl2 want to /ont t-em out( as s/ec7call2(

o4ect5el2 and 7actuall2 as I can.C

"7ter all( t-e most m/ortant t-n0 I owe m2 4oss s honesty. I7 -e canFt count on me 7ort-at( t-en e5er2t-n0 else I ma2 do or sa2 could 4e 1uestona4le n -s e2es.C

But I also want to e/ress m2 t-ou0-ts n a construct5e wa2. So m2 0oal n t-s casewould 4e to see 7 m2 4oss and I could make -s dea e5en stron0er and more a//ealn0(so t-at t e77ect5el2 o5ercomes an2 ntal reser5aton I or ot-ers ma2 -a5e a4out t.C

O7 course( 7 -e o5errules me and sa2s( Rno( letFs do t m2 wa2(F t-en I owe -m m2 7ulland ent-usastc su//ort to make t work as 4est t can.C

Question 39 6ow could you have imroved your career rogress)

T!A"#: T-s s anot-er 5araton on t-e 1ueston( I7 2ou could( -ow would 2ou l5e 2ourl7e o5erC emem4er( 2ouFre not 0on0 to 7all 7or an2 suc- n5tatons to rewrte /erson-stor2. +ou canFt wn 7 2ou do.

$%#T A'%!: +ouFre 0enerall2 1ute -a//2 wt- 2our career /ro0ress. Ma24e( 72ou -ad known somet-n0 earler n l7e ?m/oss4le to know at t-e tme( suc- as t-e4oomn0 0rowt- n a 4ranc- n 2our ndustr2or t-e cor/orate downsn0 t-at would/-ase out 2our last o4@( 2ou m0-t -a5e mo5ed n a certan drecton sooner.

But all t-n0s consdered( 2ou take res/ons4lt2 7or w-ere 2ou are( -ow 2ouF5e 0ottent-ere( w-ere 2ou are 0on0and 2ou -ar4or no re0rets.



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Question 4 'hat would you do if a fellow executive on your owncororate level wasn3t ulling his


31/41

Question 42 ?ay 2 contact your resent emloyer for a reference)

T!A"#: I7 2ouFre tr2n0 to kee/ 2our o4 searc- /r5ate( t-s s t-e last t-n0 2ou want.But 7 2ou donFt coo/erate( wonFt 2ou seem as 7 2ouFre tr2n0 to -de somet-n0

$%#T A'%!: E/ress 2our concern t-at 2ouFd lke to kee/ 2our o4 searc- /r5ate(4ut t-at n tme( t wll 4e /er7ectl2 oka2.

Examle+ M2 /resent em/lo2er s not aware o7 m2 o4 searc- and( 7or o45ous reasonsIFd /re7er to kee/ t t-at wa2. IFd 4e most a//recat5e 7 we ke/t our dscussoncon7dental r0-t now. O7 course( w-en we 4ot- a0ree t-e tme s r0-t( t-en 42 allmeans 2ou s-ould contact t-em. IFm 5er2 /roud o7 m2 record t-ere.

Question 43 Give me an examle of your creativity 0analyticals*ill7managing ability! etc.1

T!A"#: T-e worst o77ense -ere s sm/l2 4en0 un/re/ared. +our -estaton ma2 seemas 7 2ouFre -a5n0 a -ard tme remem4ern0 t-e last tme 2ou were creat5e( anal2tcal(etc.

$%#T A'%!: emem4er 7rom *ueston 9 t-at 2ou s-ould commt to memor2 a lsto7 2our 0reatest and most recent ac-e5ements( e5er read2 on t-e t/ o7 2our ton0ue.

I7 2ou -a5e suc- a lst( tFs eas2 to /resent an2 o7 2our ac-e5ements n l0-t o7 t-e1ualt2 t-e nter5ewer s askn0 a4out. %or eam/le( t-e smas-n0 success 2ouorc-estrated at last 2earFs trade s-ow could 4e used as an eam/le o7 creat5t2( oranal2tcal a4lt2( or 2our a4lt2 to mana0e.

Question 44 'here could you use some imrovement)

T!A"#: "not-er trck2 wa2 to 0et 2ou to admt weaknesses. DonFt 7all 7or t.

$%#T A'%!: Kee/ t-s answer( lke all 2our answers( /ost5e. " 0ood wa2 toanswer t-s 1ueston s to dent72 a cuttn0ed0e 4ranc- o7 2our /ro7esson ?one t-atFsnot essental to 2our em/lo2erFs needs@ as an area 2ouFre 5er2 ected a4out and want toe/lore more 7ull2 o5er t-e net s mont-s.

Question 45 'hat do you worry about)

T!A"#: "dmt to worr2n0 and 2ou could sound lke a loser. Sa2n0 2ou ne5er worr2doesnFt sound cred4le.

$%#T A'%!: ede7ne t-e word Rworr2F so t-at t does not re7lect ne0at5el2 on 2ou.

Examle+ I wouldnFt call t worr2( 4ut I am a stron0l2 0oalorented /erson. So I kee/turnn0 o5er n m2 mnd an2t-n0 t-at seems to 4e kee/n0 me 7rom ac-e5n0 t-ose0oals( untl I 7nd a soluton. T-atFs /art o7 m2 tenact2( I su//ose.C

;= Tou0-est *uestons Pa0e 9A


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Question 46 6ow many hours a wee* do you normally wor*)

T!A"#: +ou donFt want to 05e a s/ec7c num4er. Make t to low( and 2ou ma2 notmeasure u/. Too -0-( and 2ouFll 7ore5er 7eel 0ult2 a4out sneakn0 out t-e door at 8:68.

$%#T A'%!: 2f you are in fact a wor*aholic and you sense this comany would li*ethat+ Sa2 2ou are a con7rmed worka-olc( t-at 2ou o7ten work n0-ts and weekends.+our 7aml2 acce/ts t-s 4ecause t makes 2ou 7ul7lled.

2f you are not a wor*aholic+ Sa2 2ou -a5e alwa2s worked -ard and /ut n lon0 -ours. It0oes wt- t-e terrtor2. It one sense( tFs -ard to kee/ track o7 t-e -ours 4ecause 2ourwork s a la4or o7 lo5e( 2ou eno2 not-n0 more t-an sol5n0 /ro4lems. So 2ouFre almostalwayst-nkn0 a4out 2our work( ncludn0 tmes w-en 2ouFre -ome( w-le s-a5n0 n t-emornn0( w-le commutn0( etc.

Question 47 'hat3s the most difficult art of being a 0#ob title1)

T!A"#: $nless 2ou /-rase 2our answer /ro/erl2( 2our nter5ewer ma2 conclude t-atw-ate5er 2ou dent72 as d77cultC s w-ere 2ou are weak.

$%#T A'%!: %rst( rede7ne d77cultC to 4e c-allen0n0C w-c- s more /ost5e.T-en( dent72 an area e5er2one n 2our /ro7esson consders c-allen0n0 and n w-c-2ou ecel. Descr4e t-e /rocess 2ou 7ollow t-at ena4les 2ou to 0et s/lendd resultsand 4e s/ec7c a4out t-ose results.

Examle+ I t-nk e5er2 sales mana0er 7nds t c-allen0n0 to mot5ate t-e troo/s n arecesson. But t-atFs /ro4a4l2 t-e stron0est test o7 a to/ sales mana0er. I 7eel t-s sone area w-ere I ecel.C

'-en I see t-e 7rst s0n t-at sales ma2 sl/ or t-at sales 7orce mot5aton s 7la00n04ecause o7 a downturn n t-e econom2( -ereFs t-e /lan I /ut nto acton mmedatel2C?7ollowed 42 a descr/ton o7 eac- ste/ n t-e /rocessand most imortantly! t-eece/tonal results 2ouF5e ac-e5ed.@.

Question 48 The 46yothetical @roblem

T!A"#: Sometmes an nter5ewer wll descr4e a d77cult stuaton and ask( 46owwould you handle this) Snce t s 5rtuall2 m/oss4le to -a5e all t-e 7acts n 7ront o7 2ou7rom suc- a s-ort /resentaton( donFt 7all nto t-e tra/ o7 tr2n0 to sol5e t-s /ro4lem and05n0 2our 5erdct on t-e s/ot. It wll make 2our decsonmakn0 /rocess seem woe7ull2

nade1uate.

$%#T A'%!: Instead( descr4e t-e ratonal( met-odcal /rocess 2ou would 7ollow nanal2n0 t-s /ro4lem( w-o 2ou would consult wt-( 0eneratn0 /oss4le solutons(c-oosn0 t-e 4est course o7 acton( and montorn0 t-e results.

emem4er( n all suc-( 4'hat would you do) 1uestons( alwa2s descr4e 2ourrocessor wor*ing methods!and 2ouFll ne5er 0o wron0.



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Question 49 'hat was the toughest challenge you3ve ever faced)

T!A"#: Ben0 un/re/ared or ctn0 an eam/le 7rom so earl2 n 2our l7e t-at t doesnFtscore man2 /onts 7or 2ou at t-s sta0e o7 2our career.

$%#T A'%!: T-s s an eas2 1ueston 7 2ouFre /re/ared. Ha5e a recent eam/leread2 t-at demonstrates et-er:

6. " 1ualt2 most m/ortant to t-e o4 at -and or9. " 1ualt2 t-at s alwaysn demand( suc- as leaders-/( ntat5e( mana0eral skll(

/ersuas5eness( coura0e( /ersstence( ntell0ence( etc.

Question 5 6ave you consider starting your own business)

T!A"#: I7 2ou sa2 2esC and ela4orate ent-usastcall2( 2ou could 4e /erce5ed as aloose cannon n a lar0er com/an2( too entre/reneural to make a 0ood team /la2erorsomeone w-o -ad to settle 7or t-e cor/orate l7e 4ecause 2ou couldnFt make a 0o o7 2our

own 4usness.

"lso too muc- ent-usasm n answern0 2esC could rouse t-e /aranoa o7 a smallcom/an2 ndcatn0 t-at 2ou ma2 /lan to 0o out on 2our own soon( /er-a/s takn0 someke2 accounts or trade secrets wt- 2ou.

On t-e ot-er -and( 7 2ou answer no( ne5erC 2ou could 4e /erce5ed as a securt2mnded drone w-o ne5er dreamed a 40 dream.

$%#T A'%!: "0an tFs 4est to:

6. Gau0e t-s com/an2Fs cor/orate culture 4e7ore answern0 and9. Be -onest ?w-c- doesnFt mean 2ou -a5e to 55dl2 s-are 2our 7antas2 o7 t-e

7ranc-se or 4edand4reak7ast 2ou someda2 /lan to o/en@.

In 0eneral( 7 t-e cor/orate culture s t-at o7 a lar0e( 7ormal( mltar2st2le structure(mnme an2 ndcaton t-at 2ouFd lo5e to -a5e 2our own 4usness. +ou m0-t sa2( O-(I ma2 -a5e 05en t a t-ou0-t once or twce( 4ut m2 w-ole career -as 4een n lar0eror0anatons. T-atFs w-ere I -a5e ecelled and w-ere I want to 4e.C

I7 t-e cor/orate culture s closer to t-e 7reew-eeln0( e5er24od2Fsadealmaker 5aret2(t-en em/-ase t-at n a 7rm lke t-s( 2ou can 5rtuall2 0et t-e 4est o7 all worlds( t-eectement o7 seen0 2our own deas and /lans take s-a/ecom4ned wt- t-e

resources and sta4lt2 o7 a wellesta4ls-ed or0anaton. Sounds lke t-e /er7ecten5ronment to 2ou.

In an2 case( no matter w-at t-e cor/orate culture( 4e sure to ndcate t-at an2 desresa4out runnn0 2our own s-ow are /art o7 2ourast( not 2our /resent or 7uture.

T-e last t-n0 2ou want to /roect s an ma0e o7 et-er a dreamer w-o 7aled and s nowsettln0 7or t-e cor/orate cocoonor t-e restless ma5erck w-o wll 7l2 out t-e door wt-



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ke2 accounts( contacts and trade secrets under -s arms ust as soon as -s 4ankroll -as0otten re4ult.

"lwa2s remem4er: Matc- w-at 2ou want wt- w-at t-e /oston o77ers. T-e moren7ormaton 2ouF5e unco5ered a4out t-e /oston( t-e more 4ele5a4le 2ou can make 2ourcase.

Question 51 'hat are your goals)

T!A"#: Not -a5n0 an2or -a5n0 onl2 5a0ue 0eneraltes( not highly secific0oals.

$%#T A'%!: Man2 eecut5es n a /oston to -re 2ou are stron0 4ele5ers n 0oalsettn0. ?ItFs one o7 t-e reason t-e2F5e ac-e5ed so muc-@. T-e2 lke to -re n knd.

I7 2ouFre 5a0ue a4out 2our career and /ersonal 0oals( t could 4e a 40 turno77 to ma2/eo/le 2ou wll encounter n 2our o4 searc-.

Be read2 to dscuss 2our 0oals 7or eac- maor area o7 2our l7e: career( /ersonalde5elo/ment and learnn0( 7aml2( /-2scal ?-ealt-@( communt2 ser5ce and ?7 2ournter5ewer s clearl2 a rel0ous /erson@ 2ou could 4re7l2 and 0enerall2 allude to 2ours/rtual 0oals ?s-own0 2ou are a wellrounded nd5dual wt- 2our 5alues n t-e r0-torder@.

Be /re/ared to descr4e eac- 0oal n terms o7 s/ec7c mlestones 2ou ws- toaccom/ls- alon0 t-e wa2( tme /erods 2ouFre allottn0 7or accom/ls-ment( w-2 t-e0oal s m/ortant to 2ou( and t-e s/ec7c ste/s 2ouFre takn0 to 4rn0 t a4out. But do t-sconcsel2( as 2ou ne5er want to talk more t-an two mnutes stra0-t 4e7ore lettn0 2ournter5ewer 4ack nto t-e con5ersaton.

Question 52 'hat do you for when you hire eole)

T!A"#: Ben0 un/re/ared 7or t-e 1ueston.

$%#T A'%!: S/eak 2our own t-ou0-ts -ere( 4ut 7or t-e 4est answer wea5e t-emaround t-e t-ree most m/ortant 1ual7catons 7or any/oston.

6. #an t-e /erson do t-e work ?1ual7catons@9. 'll t-e /erson do t-e work ?mot5aton@

3. 'll t-e /erson 7t n ?our knd o7 team /la2erC@

Question 53 Sell me this staler70this encil7this cloc*7or someother ob#ect on interviewer3s des*1.

T!A"#: Some nter5ewers( es/ecall2 4usness owners and -ardc-an0n0 eecut5esn marketn0dr5en com/anes( 7eel t-at 0ood salesmans-/ s essential 7or an2 ke2/oston and ask 7or an nstant demonstraton o7 2our skll. Be read2.



35/41

$%#T A'%!: O7 course( 2ou alread2 know t-e most m/ortant secret o7 all 0reatsalesmans-/ > find out what eole want! then show them how to get it.

I7 2our nter5ewer /cks u/ -s sta/ler and asks( sell t-s to me(C 2ou are 0on0 todemonstrate t-s /ro5en master /rnc/le. 6ere3s how+

'ell( a 0ood salesman must know 4ot- -s /roduct and -s /ros/ect 4e7ore -e sellsan2t-n0. I7 I were selln0 t-s( IFd 7rst 0et to know e5er2t-n0 I could a4out t( all ts7eatures and 4ene7ts.C

T-en( 7 m2 0oal were to sell t you( I would do some researc- on -ow 2ou m0-t use a7ne sta/ler lke t-s. T-e 4est wa2 to do t-at s 42 askn0 some 1uestons. Ma2 I ask2ou a 7ew 1uestonsC

T-en ask a 7ew 1uestons suc- as( &ust out o7 curost2( 7 2ou ddnFt alread2 -a5e asta/ler lke t-s( w-2 would 2ou want one "nd n addton to t-at "n2 ot-er reason

"n2t-n0 elseC

"nd would 2ou want suc- a sta/ler to 4e rela4le...Hold a 0ood su//l2 o7 sta/lesC?"sk more 1uestons t-at /ont to t-e 7eatures t-s sta/ler -as.@

Once 2ouF5e asked t-ese 1uestons( make 2our /resentaton ctn0 all t-e 7eatures and4ene7ts o7 t-s sta/ler and w-2 tFs eactl2 w-at t-e nter5ewer ust told 2ou -eFs lookn07or.

T-en close wt-( &ust out o7 curost2( w-at would 2ou consder a reasona4le /rce 7or a1ualt2 sta/ler lke t-sa sta/ler 2ou could -a5e right nowand would ?t-en re/eat allt-e /ro4lems t-e sta/ler would sol5e 7or -m@ '-ate5er -e sa2s( ?unless tFs ero@( sa2(Oka2( weF5e 0ot a deal.C

NOTE: I7 2our nter5ewer tests 2ou 42 fightinge5er2 ste/ o7 t-e wa2( den2n0 t-at -ee5en wants suc- an tem( don3t fight him. Take t-e /roduct awa2 7rom -m 42 sa2n0(Mr. Pros/ect( IFm del0-ted 2ouF5e told me r0-t u/7ront t-at t-ereFs no wa2 2ouFd e5erwant t-s sta/ler. "s 2ou well know( t-e 7rst rule o7 t-e most /roduct5e sales/eo/le nan2 7eld s to meet t-e needs o7 /eo/le w-o reall2 need and wantour /roducts( and t

ust wastes e5er2oneFs tme 7 we tr2 to 7orce t on t-ose w-o donFt. "nd I certanl2wouldnFt want to waste 2our tme. But we sell man2 tems. Is t-ere any/roduct on t-sdesk 2ou would 5er2 muc- lke to ownust one temC '-en -e /onts somet-n0 out(re/eat t-e /rocess a4o5e. I7 -e knows an2t-n0 a4out selln0( -e ma2 05e 2ou astandn0 o5aton.



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Question 54 4The Salary Auestion - 6ow much money do youwant)

T!A"#: Ma2 also 4e /-rases as( 4'hat salary are you worth)or( 46ow much areyou ma*ing now) T-s s 2our most m/ortant ne0otaton. Handle t wron0 and 2ou can

4low t-e o4 o77er or 0o to work at 7ar less t-an 2ou m0-t -a5e 0otten.

$%#T A'%!: %or mamum salar2 ne0otatn0 /ower( remem4er t-ese 75e0udelnes:

6. Ne5er 4rn0 u/ salar2. )et t-e nter5ewer do t 7rst. Good sales/eo/le sell t-er/roducts t-orou0-l2 4e7ore talkn0 /rce. So should you. Make t-e nter5ewerwant 2ou 7rst( and 2our 4ar0ann0 /oston wll 4e muc- stron0er.

9. I7 2our nter5ewer rases t-e salar2 1ueston too earl2( 4e7ore 2ouF5e -ad ac-ance to create desre 7or 2our 1ual7catons(ostonet-e 1ueston( sa2n0somet-n0 lke( Mone2 s m/ortant to me( 4ut s not m2 man concern.O//ortunt2 and 0rowt- are 7ar more m/ortant. '-at IFd rat-er do( 7 2ou donFt

mnd( s e/lore 7 IFm r0-t 7or t-e /oston( and t-en talk a4out mone2. 'ouldt-at 4e oka2C

3. T-e 6 rule o7 an2 ne0otaton s: the side with more information wins. "7ter2ouF5e done a t-orou0- o4 o7 selln0 t-e nter5ewer and tFs tme to talk salar2(t-e secret s to 0et t-e em/lo2er talkn0 a4out w-at -eFs wlln0 to /a2 before2oure5eal w-at you3rewlln0 to acce/t. So( w-en asked a4out salar2( res/ond 42askn0( IFm sure t-e com/an2 -as alread2 esta4ls-ed a salar2 ran0e 7or t-s/oston. #ould 2ou tell me w-at t-at sC Or( I want an ncome commensuratewt- m2 a4lt2 and 1ual7catons. I trust 2ouFll 4e 7ar wt- me. '-at does t-e/oston /a2C Or( more sm/l2( '-at does t-s /oston /a2C

=. Know 4e7ore-and w-at 2ouFd acce/t. To know w-atFs reasona4le( researc- t-eo4 market and t-s /oston 7or an2 rele5ant salar2 n7ormaton. emem4er t-atmost eecut5es look 7or a 998L /a2 4oost w-en t-e2 swtc- o4s. I7 2ouFre0rossl2 under/ad( 2ou ma2 want more.

8. Ne5er le a4out w-at 2ou currentl2 make( 4ut 7eel 7ree to nclude t-e estmatedcost o7 all 2our 7rn0es( w-c- could well tack on 988 more to 2our /resentcas-onl2C salar2.

Question 55 The 2llegal Auestion

T!A"#: Ille0al 1uestons nclude an2 re0ardn0 2our a0enum4er and a0es o7 2ourc-ldren or ot-er de/endentsmartal statusmaden namerel0on/oltcala77latonancestr2natonal or0n4rt-/lacenaturalaton o7 2our /arents( s/ouseor c-ldrendseasesdsa4ltesclu4sor s/ouseFs occu/atonunless any of theabove are directly related to your erformance of the #ob. +ou canFt e5en 4e askeda4out arrests( t-ou0- 2ou can 4e asked a4out convictions.



37/41

$%#T A'%!: $nder t-e e5er/resent t-reat o7 lawsuts( most nter5ewers are wellaware o7 t-ese ta4oos. +et 2ou ma2 encounter( usuall2 on a second or t-rd nter5ew( asenor eecut5e w-o doesnFt nter5ew muc- and 7or0ets -e canFt ask suc- 1uestons.

+ou can -andle an lle0al 1ueston n se5eral wa2s. %rst( 2ou can assert 2our le0al r0-tnot to answer. But t-s wll 7r0-ten or em4arrass 2our nter5ewer and destro2 an2

ra//ort 2ou -ad.

Second( 2ou could swallow 2our concerns o5er /r5ac2 and answer t-e 1ueston stra0-t7orwardl2 7 2ou 7eel t-e answer could -el/ 2ou. %or eam/le( 2our nter5ewer( a de5outBa/tst( reco0nes 2ou 7rom c-urc- and mentons t. Here( 2ou could 0an 42 talkn0a4out 2our c-urc-.

T-rd( 7 2ou donFt want 2our /r5ac2 n5aded( 2ou can d/lomatcall2 answer t-e concern4e-nd t-e 1ueston wt-out answern0 t-e 1ueston tsel7.

Examle+ I7 2ou are o5er 8 and are asked( 6ow old are you)2ou can answer wt- a7rendl2(smln0 1ueston o7 2our own on w-et-er t-ereFs a concern t-at 2our a0e m2a77ect 2our /er7ormance. %ollow t-s u/ 42 reassurn0 t-e nter5ewer t-at t-ereFsnot-n0 n t-s o4 2ou canFt do and( n 7act( 2our a0e and e/erence are t-e mostm/ortant advantages2ou o77er t-e em/lo2er 7or t-e 7ollown0 reasons

%nother examle+ I7 asked( 4,o you lan to have children)2ou could answer( I amw-ole-eartedl2 dedcated to m2 career( /er-a/s addn0( I -a5e no /lans re0ardn0c-ldren.C ?+ou neednFt 7ear 2ouF5e /led0ed eternal c-ldlessness. +ou -a5e e5er2 r0-tto c-an0e 2our /lans later. Get t-e o4 7rst and t-en eno2 all 2our o/tons.@

Most m/ortantl2( remem4er t-at lle0al 1uestons arse 7rom 7ear t-at 2ou wonFt /er7ormwell. T-e 4est answer o7 all s to 0et t-e o4 and /er7orm 4rllantl2. "ll concerns and

7ears wll t-en 5arns-( re/laced 42 res/ect and a//recaton 7or 2our work.

Question 56 The 4Secret 2llegal Auestion

T!A"#: Muc- more 7re1uent t-an t-e Ille0al 1ueston 0see Auestion BB1 s t-esec!etlle0al 1ueston. ItFs secret 4ecause tFs asked onl2 n t-e nter5ewerFs mnd. Snce tFsnot e5en e/ressed to 2ou( 2ou -a5e no wa2 to res/ond to t( and t can t-ere 4e mostdama0n0.

Examle+ +ouFre /-2scall2 c-allen0ed( or a sn0le mot-er returnn0 to 2our /ro7essonalcareer( or o5er 8( or a mem4er o7 an et-nc mnort2( or 7t an2 o7 a doen ot-ercate0ores t-at do not strctl2 con7orm to t-e maort2 n a 05en com/an2.

+our nter5ewer wonders( Is t-s /erson reall2 a4le to -andle t-e o4CCIs -e or s-e aR0ood 7tF at a /lace lke oursCC'll t-e c-emstr2 e5er 4e r0-t wt- someone lke t-sCBut t-e nter5ewer ne5er rases suc- 1uestons 4ecause t-e2Fre lle0al. So w-at can2ou do



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$%#T A'%!: emem4er t-at ust 4ecause t-e nter5ewer doesnFt ask an lle0al1ueston doesnFt mean -e doesnFt -a5e t. More t-an lkel2( -e s 0on0 to come u/ wt--s own answer. So 2ou m0-t as well -el/ -m out.

How 'ell( 2ou o45ousl2 canFt res/ond to an lle0al 1ueston 7 -e -asnFt e5en asked.T-s ma2 well o77end -m. "nd t-ereFs alwa2s t-e c-ance -e wasnFt e5en concerned

a4out t-e ssue untl 2ou 4rou0-t t u/( and onl2 t-en 4e0ns to wonder.

So 2ou canFt address secretC lle0al 1uestons head(on. But w-at 2ou can do s makesure t-ereFs enou0- counterbalancing n7ormaton to more t-an reassure -m t-at t-ereFsno /ro4lem n t-e area -e may 4e dou4t7ul a4out.

%or eam/le( letFs sa2 2ouFre a sales re/ w-o -ad /olo as a c-ld and 2ou need a caneto walk. +ou know 2our condton -as ne5er m/eded 2our /er7ormance( 2et 2ouFreconcerned t-at 2our nter5ewer ma2 secretl2 4e wondern0 a4out 2our stamna or a4lt2to tra5el. 'ell( make sure t-at 2ou -t t-ese a4ltes 5er2 -ard( lea5n0 no dou4t a4out2our ca/act2 to -andle t-em well.

So( too( 7 2ouFre n an2 d77erent 7rom w-at /asses 7or normalC. Make sure( wt-out nan2 wa2 seemn0 defensivea4out 2oursel7 t-at 2ou menton stren0t-s(accom/ls-ments( /re7erences and a77latons t-at stron0l2 counter4alance an2uns/oken concern 2our nter5ewer ma2 -a5e.

Question 57 'hat was the toughest art of your last #ob)

T!A"#:T-s s sl0-tl2 d77erent 7rom t-e 1ueston rased earler( 4'hat3s the mostdifficult art of being a 0#ob title714ecause t-s asks w-at 2ouersonally -a5e 7oundmost d77cult n 2our last /oston. T-s 1ueston s more d77cult to rede7ne ntosomet-n0 /ost5e. +our nter5ewer wll assume t-at w-ate5er 2ou 7ound tou0-est ma2

05e 2ou a /ro4lem n 2our new /oston.

$%#T A'%!: State t-at t-ere was not-n0 n 2our /ror /oston t-at 2ou 7oundo5erl2 d77cult( and let 2our answer 0o at t-at. I7 /ressed to e/and 2our answer( 2oucould descr4e t-e as/ects o7 t-e /oston 2ou en#oyedmore t-an ot-ers( makn0 suret-at 2ou e/ress mamum eno2ment 7or t-ose tasks most m/ortant to t-e o/en/oston( and 2ou eno2ed least t-ose tasks t-at are unm/ortant to t-e /oston at -and.

Question 58 6ow do you define success7and how do youmeasure u to your own definition)

T!A"#: Seems lke an o45ous enou0- 1ueston. +et man2 eecut5es( un/re/ared 7ort( 7um4le t-e 4all.

$%#T A'%!: G5e a wellacce/ted de7nton o7 success t-at leads r0-t nto 2ourown stellar collecton o7 ac-e5ements.

Examle+ T-e 4est de7nton IF5e come across s t-at success s t-e /ro0ress5erealaton o7 a wort-2 0oal.C



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"s to -ow I would measure u/ to t-at de7nton( I would consder m2sel7 4ot- success7uland 7ortunateC?T-en summare 2our career 0oals and -ow 2our ac-e5ements -a5endeed re/resented a /ro0ress5e /at- toward realaton o7 2our 0oals.@

Question 59 4The :inion Auestion - 'hat do you thin* about 7

%bortion7The @resident7The ,eath @enalty70orany other controversial sub#ect1)

T!A"#: O45ousl2( t-ese and ot-er o/nonC 1uestons s-ould ne5er 4e asked.Sometmes t-e2 come u/ o5er a com4naton dnnerJnter5ew w-en t-e nter5ewer -as-ad a drnk or two( s 7eeln0 relaed( and s s/outn0 o77 a4out somet-n0 t-at 4u00ed-m n toda2Fs news. I7 2ou 05e 2our o/non and tFs t-e o//oste o7 -s( 2ou wonFtc-an0e -s o/nons( 4ut 2ou could easl2 lose t-e o4 o77er.

$%#T A'%!: In all o7 t-ese nstances( ust remem4er t-e tale a4out student and t-ewse old ra44. T-e scene s a semnar2( w-ere an o5erl2 serous student s /ressn0 t-era44 to answer t-e ultmate 1uestons o7 su77ern0( l7e and deat-. But no matter -ow

-ard -e /resses( t-e wse old ra44 wll onl2 answer eac- d77cult 1ueston wt- a1ueston o7 -s own.

In eas/eraton( t-e semnar2 student demands( 4'hy! rabbi! do you always answer auestion with another uestion) To w-c- t-e ra44 res/onds( 4%nd why not)

I7 2ou are e5er uncom7orta4le wt- any 1ueston( askn0 a 1ueston n return s t-e0reatest esca/e -atc- e5er n5ented. It t-rows t-e onus 4ack on t-e ot-er /erson(sdetracks t-e dscusson 7rom 0on0 nto an area o7 rsk to 2ou( and 05es 2ou tme tot-nk o7 2our answer or( e5en 4etter( your next uestion5

In res/onse to an2 o7 t-e o/nonC 1uestons cted a4o5e( merel2 res/ondn0( 4'hy doyou as*)wll usuall2 4e enou0- to dss/ate an2 /ressure to 05e 2our o/non. But 72our nter5ewer a0an /resses 2ou 7or an o/non( 2ou can ask anot-er 1ueston.

Or 2ou could assert a 0eneralt2 t-at almost e5er2one would a0ree wt-. %or eam/le( 72our nter5ewer s com/lann0 a4out /oltcans t-en suddenl2 turns to 2ou and asks 72ouFre a e/u4lcan or Democrat( 2ou could res/ond 42 sa2n0( "ctuall2( IFm 7ndn0 t-ard to 7nd an2 /oltcans I lke t-ese da2s.C

?O7 course( 2our 4est 1ueston o7 all ma2 4e w-et-er 2ou want to work 7or someoneo/nonated.@

Question 6 2f you won CD million lottery! would you still wor*)

T!A"#: +our totall2 -onest res/onse m0-t 4e( 46ell! no! are you serious) T-at m0-t4e so( 4ut an2 answer w-c- s-ows 2ou as 7leen0 work 7 05en t-e c-ance could make2ou seem la2. On t-e ot-er -and( 7 2ou answer( 4:h! 23d want to *ee doing exactlywhat 2 am doing! only doing it for your firm!2ou could easl2 ns/re 2our nter5ewer toslentl2 mutter to -msel7( 4Yeah! sure. Gimme a brea*.



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Question 63 Tell me something negative you3ve heard about ourcomany7

T!A"#: T-s s a common 7s-n0 e/edton to see w-at t-e ndustr2 0ra/e5ne ma2 4esa2n0 a4out t-e com/an2. But tFs also a tra/ 4ecause as an outsder( 2ou ne5er want

to 4e t-e 4earer o7 un7lattern0 news or 0oss/ a4out t-e 7rm. It can onl2 -urt 2ourc-ances and sdetrack t-e nter5ewer 7rom 0ettn0 sold on 2ou.

$%#T A'%!: &ust remem4er t-e rule > ne5er 4e ne0at5e > and 2ouFll -andle t-sone ust 7ne.

Question 64 :n a scale of one to ten! rate me as an interviewer.

T!A"#: G5e a /er7ect 6(C and 2ouFll seem too eas2 to /lease. G5e an2t-n0 lesst-an a /er7ect 6( and -e could /ress 2ou as to w-ere 2ouFre 4en0 crtcal( and t-at roadleads downhill7or 2ou.

$%#T A'%!: Once a0an( never be negative. T-e nter5ewer wll onl2 resentcrtcsm comn0 7rom 2ou. T-s s t-e tme to s-ow 2our /ost5sm.

Howe5er( donFt 05e a numercal ratn0. Sm/l2 /rase w-ate5er nter5ew st2le -eFs 4eenusn0.

I7 -eFs 4een tou0-( sa2 +ou -a5e 4een t-orou0- and tou0-mnded( t-e 5er2 1ualtesneeded to conduct a 0ood nter5ew.C

I7 -eFs 4een met-odcal( sa2( +ou -a5e 4een 5er2 met-odcal and anal2tcal( and IFmsure t-at a//roac- results n ecellent -res 7or 2our 7rm.C

In ot-er words( /a2 -m a sncere com/lment that he can believe4ecause tFs anc-oredn t-e 4e-a5or 2ouF5e ust seen.

Good luck n 2our o4 searc-Q

Kart-k- !enkatwww.students3k.com

64 tough java interview questions

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