here are some of the questions a job seeker should be ready to answer. 

1.       Tell me about yourself?
Cover four segments about your life – your early years, education, work experience, and what you have done in recent times. Keep you answer to not more than 2 or 3 minutes.  Be sure you don’t ramble or elaborate.

2.       What can you offer us?
Be sure you know something about the job situation they have in mind before you try to answer this. Then you can relate some of your past experiences where you have succeeded in solving problems that appear similar to those of your prospective employer. 

3.       What are your strengths?
By now you should be able to relay 3 or 4 key strengths that are relevant to their needs.

4.       What have you accomplished?
Try to pick out accomplishments that bear on the challenges you have been discussing.  Stay away from ancient times. 

5.       What are your limitations?
Respond with a strength which if over-done can get in your way and become a weakness.  For example you might say “My ambitions to get the job done sometimes causes me to press a little too hard on my organisation.  But I am aware of this problem and believe that I have it under control”. Or deal with your need for further training in some aspect of your profession.  Do not claim to be faultless. 

6.       How much are you worth?
Try to delay answering this until you have learned quite a bit about the job and, if possible, explore beforehand the typical ranges they are accustomed to paying for similar positions.If you feel obliged to answer something you might reply along these lines.  “You are aware of what I have been earning at my present employer and I would hope that coming here would be a progressive step.  Perhaps we can discuss this question a little better when we both have a more complete idea of what job responsibilities and scope would be”. 

7.       What are your ambitions for the future?
Indicate your desire to concentrate on doing the immediate job well – and your confidence that the future will then take care of itself.  You do not want to convey the idea that you have no desire to progress but you need to avoid statements that are unrealistic – or that threaten some of the present incumbents. 

8.       What do you know about our company?
If you have done your homework, you can honestly state that you have studied the information that is publicly available about them and are thus aware of quite a bit of the published facts.  However you might also state that you would like to know more – and then be prepared later to ask some intelligent questions. Don’t try to be a show-off and recite all the things you have learned, but merely let your knowledge show gracefully through the informed way in which you handle the interview.

 9.       Why do you want to work for us?
Indicate that from your study of the company, many of the activities and problems are the sort that would give you a clear chance to contribute to the company – through your past experience and skills.  If you can honestly say so, explain your admiration for he company and what it is that appeals to you. 

10.   What do you find most attractive about the position we are discussing?What is least attractive?
Mention three or more attractive factors, but hold the unattractive factors down to one or two minor ones. 

11.   What are you looking for in this position?
Keep your answer opportunity orientated. Talk about the chance you would have to perform and get recognition. 

12.   How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm?
Be realistic and speak in terms of six months to a year. 

13.   Don’t you feel you might be over-qualified or too experienced for this position?
A strong company needs strong people, with the right experience to deal with current problems. Explain that your interest in the company would be a long-term one, and that you are willing to bet that your accomplishments in the first year or two will lead eventually to growth opportunities for you. 

14.   What is your management style?
This is something you that you should have seriously thought about. If the job you are going for has a management responsibility. You might want to talk about how to set goals and then get your people involved in them. Also describe the techniques that you would like to bring out the best in people. Try to sense whether the company believes in a highly participative style, or is more military in its approach. 

15.   Why do you feel you have good potential to be a manager?
Keep your answer question orientated toward your past achievements and the task to be done.  Explain how you go about getting work done – either by yourself or through your organisation. 

16.   What do you see as the most difficult task in being a manager?
Getting things planned and done on time and within budget. 

17.   Why are you leaving your present job?
This is one of those sensitive questions that must be handled crisply and briefly.  If it was a forced reduction due to economic circumstances, make that clear.  If possible, explain how your termination was part of a larger movement.  When you have finished answering, let it go.  Stay away from analysing your friction points with your boss. 

18.   How do you feel about leaving all your benefits at your current position?
Concerned, but confident that you will make it up when you are established in your new company. 

19.   Describe what you feel would be an ideal working environment.
This is the place where you can bring in some of the “satisfiers” and “ideal job preferences” – but don’t make it sound too sublime and impractical.   

20.   What have you done that helped increase sales or profit?  How did you go about it?
Be specific and give examples if possible. 

21.   How many people have you supervised on your recent jobs?
Be specific – and feel free to refer to those over which you had influence, such as task force or a matrix organisation. 

22.   Which do you like better – working with figures or words?
Answer honestly. 

23.   How do you think your subordinates perceive you?
Be as positive as you can, but remember to be honest, too.  They can check your references easily. 

24.   In your last position, what were the things that you liked most?  And liked least?
Be careful on this one.  Emphasise the positive and don’t carry on at length about the negative.

25.   In your recent position, what were your most significant accomplishments?
Be ready to describe three or four of them in detail. Where possible, try to relate to the nature of the new challenges you might be facing. 

26.   Why haven’t you found a new position after these may months?
Finding just any job is not too difficult, but finding the right job takes care and time. 

27.   What do you think of your previous boss?
Be as positive as you can. And avoid getting too deep.   

28.   If I spoke with your previous boss, what would he/she say are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Be honest about this one, but do not emphasise the negative. Your boss will probably want to give you a good send-off.  Recount some of the good things you did for him/her. 

 29.   If we were to offer you this position, exactly how much would you expect?
Again, be careful about pinning yourself down – either too high or low.  If possible, deal in terms of what the market value is for the job. However, this is best left to your recruiter to negotiate for you! 

30.   Do you have any objections to taking psychological tests?
No, none at all (this would mean you are a serious candidate) 

31.   What other types of jobs or companies are you considering at this time?
Don’t feel obliged to reveal details of your other negotiations. But certainly let them know that you are in conversations with other organisations 

32.   How would you describe your own personality?
Balanced and human. Mention 2 or 3 of your useful traits. 

33.   Are you a leader?
Yes (give examples) 

34.   What are your long-term goals?
Relate your answer to the company you are interviewing with, rather that give a very broad, general answer.  Keep your ambitions on a realistic track. 

35.   What are your strongest points?
Be ready to present at least three – preferably in a way that relates them to the potential job opening. 

36.   How long would you expect to stay with our company?
As long as we both feel there is challenging work that I can do.