Will you be happy to work in night shifts or over the weekends?

You need to answer this question taking into consideration what is suitable for you. Say that you can work in the night shifts, only if you can really do it.

Have you ever committed a mistake at work?

To err is human. So, it is perfectly OK if you committed a mistake at work but before answering the question analyse the magnitude of mistake you did and the effect it had on the company.

What is more important is – what did you do to rectify the mistake and make sure that you don’t do it again?

So, mention the mistake you committed and keep the focus of the answer on the steps you took to rectify it.

What position would you prefer while working on a project?

This question is for you to answer based on the skills and qualities you have. If you have the capability to handle different positions, discuss that also in the interview.

What are the most important things for you as a manager?

The two things which should be most important for a manager to succeed in his role are:

a.) His team should be happy and keep performing

b.) The project he is working on with his team is successfully finished with minimum problems.

Will you be happy to re-locate, if required?

Again, a question for you to answer based on your position. If you are anticipating this question in the interview, it is better to discuss this with your family also before you go to face the interview.

What kind of a salary are you looking for?

Try to put the ball back in interviewer’s court by asking him about the salary they offer for a position like this. Most of the big companies will have a fixed remuneration for each level.

However, if this is negotiable, you will have more negotiation power if you have some work experience. So, know your lower limit (amount below which you can’t go) and also know the maximum salary in the industry for the position then put forward a figure which is not very exact. It is better to mention a range. For e.g. if you are expecting something around 55 K, say that you expect something in mid fifties. Don’t keep the range to broad otherwise you will be offered something towards the lower end.

If you are a fresher, most of the times you will have to accept the company’s offering for the position. However, if you find it too less, you can definitely discuss that during the interview.

Do you have any questions for us?

This is usually the last question you can expect during an interview. It is extremely important to have some intelligent questions to ask the interviewer otherwise you may just sound dull and un-interested. Research the company a bit and discuss if they have been in news recently. You can also discuss about the growth prospects for you within the company etc.

Discuss the most stressful situation you came across in your previous job.

Here you should discuss a stressful situation that you were able to overcome and keep a positive tone, do not say you never came across a stressful situation. Typical answers can be:

- Our team’s targets were increased three fold and initially everyone was overwhelmed by the number, but we discussed it with our manager and he was co-operative and understood the situation. But he wanted us to give it a try and was ready to reduce the targets to a more realistic number.

- You can also talk about a very demanding project where you worked for long hours/2 shifts and had to sacrifice on family time, but once the project was done you got recognition for the hard work and you were over the stress.

For how long do you expect to stay with our organization?

You should ensure that you give an impression that you will pay back more than what you take from the company:

- You can say I will stay here as far as I see an opportunity for growth, as I am looking for a stability in work place

- If they stress on number of years say 3-4 years, and more if I can explore new challenges/growth opportunities

Why should we hire you?

- Here you should discuss the profile you have applied for and your strengths/experience with which you can add value to the job

- Discuss your achievements at your previous job, and say that I have developed my skills to suit my current profile, but I want to develop myself futher and face new challenges, and for that I need to change my job.

- I will always be willing to change roles share responsibilities to suit company requirements

Discuss your strengths

Discuss strengths that show your professional expertise, some of the answers could be:

- Multi tasking: Say I have been working on multiple project and I am required to keep tabs on each project and co-ordinate with a lot of teams, and I am able to do it efficiently.

- Problem Solving: You can say that in my current job role I have spent a good time to know how to solve problems. My team members see me as a go-to person to solve issues.

- Communication

- Team player

- Quick learner

Support each point with examples

Discuss your weaknesses and how do you plan to overcome it

Discuss weaknesses in positive light always discuss how you plan to overcome it, some of the answers could be:

- I am always willing to take up additional responsibilities, but I end up being over worked so now I am realistic about what I can do, so that I do work to the required standards

- If you lack certain technical skill, which is not crucial for the job you can state that and say you are planning to take up a training course/certification to get over it

- If you do not wish to discuss your weakness, you can say, I cannot compete with Rajnikant :P

What is your idea of an ideal company?

Do not go over board and ask for , it might give an impression that you are too demanding, some of the answers could be:

- An ideal company provides maximum opportunities for growth of employees.

- They provide comfortable and flexible work environment, so that employees can perform at their best and work towards company’s benefit.

- A company that encourages learning

- A company that encourages open culture

Why are you leaving your previous job?

Do not go around defaming your company, it will give a bad impression about you.

Give reasons such as:

- Professional Growth

- New challenges

- Change in profile

- Planning to relocate (if applicable)

- With time I found my job was becoming monotonous and I didn’t want this to have any impact on the job I was doing for my employer

- I am not actively looking for a job change but, I saw this opening and it looked interesting.

Tell us something about your achievements at your previous job.

- Talk about your professional acheivements, if you were recognised as a high performer or you got good feedback from your manager

- You can also discuss you annual ratings

- Discuss your promotions/appraisals

Tell us what do you know about our company.

- Browse through the company website and make sure you know what the company does and make sure you do so in short

 - Discuss the positives aspects of the company, the interviewer should feel that you have done your home work