Many individuals get nervous before interviews. It’s a good idea to practice interview questions with the students frequently so they feel prepared. As a provider, practice interviewing the students as if you are the employer. Provide students with feedback on their responses.
List of Common Interview Questions
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why should I hire you?
- What is your greatest accomplishment?
- How did your education prepare you for your career?
- Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How did you resolve the conflict?
- What is your greatest strength?
- What is your greatest weakness?
- What is your dream job?
- What goals do you have in your career?
- Describe a situation in which you were successful?
- What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?
- What motivates you?
- Would you rather work independently or with a group?
- What motivates you?
- How would your past teacher or job supervisor describe you?
- What were your favorite classes in school? Why?
- Do you have any plans for further education?
- What training do you think you will need to become a productive employee?
- What do you think will be the most challenging part about working in this career field?
- Why do you want this job?
- What are you looking for in a position?
- What type of work environment do you prefer?
- How did you hear about this job?
- Do you have any questions for me?
Coaching Students: Tips and Tricks to Emphasize
- Remind students to answer questions in a positive manner. If an interviewer asks them a question such as “What are your weaknesses?”, students can identify any area of weakness while also accentuating their positive traits.
- For example: “When someone criticizes my work, I sometimes take it personally. I have learned that accepting others’ feedback and criticism only makes my work better.”
- Encourage students to be confident. Sell themselves and consider their strengths for all questions.
- Students can use the C-A-R model: Challenge, Action, Result. Think of a challenge they have faced, the action they took, and what the result was.
- For example: “It was a challenge for me to remember customers’ coffee orders at my School-Based Enterprise. I started carrying an audio recorder and making sure it was okay for me to record the order. Then, I was able to play it once I got back to the kitchen. After that, I did not mess up any coffee orders again!”
- Encourage students to think of all of experiences—not just what they have done in a work setting. If they have learned about something or researched it, feel free to speak about those experiences.
- For example: “After speaking with my career mentor and researching career clusters, I think that a job at a library is a good fit for me. I love to read, am organized, and have a good memory, so I would be good at organizing books on shelves according to the Dewey Decimal System.”
- Have students practice making frequent eye contact and smiling or displaying body language that indicates they are listening.
- Review with students that it’s okay to ask for a question to be repeated or rephrased if they don’t understand it.
- Assist students in preparing a few questions to ask at the end of the interview. They can be general or more specific to the position. Examples include:
- “What is the training process like? What types of support do new employees receive?”
- “What do employees typically like about this job?”
- “Do employees typically work behind the scenes or with customers?
- “What are the expected hours for this position? Will they be constant or change?”
