                     Interview Questions

[]  These questions are provided on diskette to help you develop
and customize you own list of interview questions.

Here are some "must questions" which should be asked during
almost every interview.  (Notice how a "yes" or "no" answer will
not be sufficient.)

1. (If presently employed) Why are you seeking a job change?

2. Which of your various jobs did you like the best?  The least?
Why?

3. Why did you leave your last job?  (Repeat for all previous
jobs.)

4. Tell me about a typical day in your present (or last) job.

5. What type of criticism has your former manager given you?

6. If you could have made improvements in your last job, what
would they have been?

7. What has been the most interesting job or project so far in
your career?

8. How do you think you could improve yourself?

9. Describe the best person who ever worked for you or you ever
worked for.

10.  What kind of people annoy you?

11.  How do you think your previous experience ties in with the
job we have open?

12.  Describe emergencies in some of your jobs for which you had
to reschedule your time.

13.  In what way would you like our company to assist you if you
join us?

14.  What is your long-term ambition or goal in life?


Special Questions For Sales Applicants

1. What would you say if a customer says "Your price is too
high."?

2. What would you say if a customer says, "I am satisfied with my
present supplier."?

3. What would you say if a customer says, "We don't need that
high a quality."?

4. Who has been the most interesting client or customer so far in
your career?


Questions To Trip-Up The Applicant

[] Warning:  Not everyone will like you if you use these
stressful questions, but it may be worth it in the long run.

1. Give the applicant a problem to solve.  "What would you do if
you were closing a convenience store and a customer wanted
something special?"

2. Keep asking "Why?"  Act like you are not satisfied with the
answer to a question.  Keep pushing for more information.

3. Sit and stare.  Not a nice thing to do, but it does make
applicants squirm a little.  See how they handle it.  You may get
more information.

4. Be critical.  "Do you think it was smart of you to drop out of
high school?"  "Don't you ever wonder why you can't keep a job
very long?"  This will show you how the applicant can handle
criticism.

5. Schedule interruptions.  See if the person can pick up the
pieces and get back on track.


Finally, here are some things to look for in "body language"
during the job interview.

1. Signs of nervousness:  Look for chair-tilting, jumpiness,
nail-biting, tics, slouching in chair, hand movements.

2. Poor grooming:  Observe shoes, fingernails, make-up, hair
grooming, choice of clothing, cleanliness and neatness.

3. Use of pat phrases:  Listen for verbal crutches, such as "To
tell you the truth:"  "Frankly," "Basically," and "You know."

4. Lapse of memory:  Inability to remember dates, job changes,
and important events.

In summary, keep in mind that you are buying, not selling, when
you conduct an interview.  You have a right to be choosey.  And,
the applicant should demonstrate selectivity, and not just appear
to be taking any job that comes along.

Today, the astute applicant (who may turn out to be an excellent
employee) will want to know all about your company to determine
how well they will fit into your company culture.  Conversely,
some managers become a little suspicious of the applicant who
asks about the details of the dental insurance coverage, or how
long it takes to be covered under health insurance.


Some Questions NOT To ASK

Train yourself (and anyone who does interviewing for you) to
REFRAIN from asking any questions of the type below:

1. What nationality are you?  Is that a particular ethnic group
surname?

2. What church are you a member of?  Do your children go to
Sunday school?

3. What does your spouse do for a living?

4. Who will take care of your children after school?

5. Are you planning any additions to your family?

6. Are you engaged to be married?  Do you go steady with anyone
at this time?

7. Do you speak, read or write a foreign language?  (Ask only if
job-related, and then only ask about the language requirement of
the job.)

8. How will you get to work every day?

9. What was your mother's maiden name?  Was your name ever
changed from what it is now?

10. Do you own a car?  Can you drive a car?  (Ask only if needed
as a job requirement, e.g., for sales work, deliveries, etc.).

11. Did you ever receive unemployment compensation after leaving
a former job?

12. Why were you discharged from military service?  Are you a
member of the reserves?  Will you have to go to guard camp every
year?  Do you get a disability pension?

13. When do you plan to retire?

14. Do you have a bank account?  (Checking account, IRA, stocks,
bonds, own your home, own rental property...)

15. Do you have a second job?  (You may ask if a second job
conflicts in any way with your business objectives or customers'
needs.)

16. When will your baby be delivered?

17.  Is your roommate male or female?

18.  Have you ever been arrested?  (It is all right to ask if
they have ever been convicted of a felony or a major
misdemeanor.)

There are many more "illegal" questions.  In general, avoid
anything related to age, sex, color, race, creed, national
origin, religious persuasion, marital status, political belief,
physical well-being, or disabilities.  Ask only job-related
questions.  Remember, make notes on a separate sheet, not on the
application form itself.

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