Interviewing Guide

SUNY Westchester Community College  Career Services Interview Guidelines 2017-2019 13 Questions YouMayBe Asked Anticipate questions and practice answering them. Write down what you want to say first and then practice answering them into a recorder or with another person. The most commonly asked questions fall into the following categories: Career Goals and Career Options- What led you to choose this career field? What are your specific career objectives? Why did you major in …? Describe your ideal job Job Expectations- Why are you interested in this position? What satisfactions would you expect to gain from this position? Reasons for Selecting the Organization- Why do you choose to interview with our organization? How do you feel you would fit into our organization? Personal Qualifications- What do you consider to be your greatest asset? Why should I hire you? Specific Qualifications for the Job- Why do you feel you are qualified? What in your background had prepared you for this position? Remember- all questions are generally directed at determining if you possess these qualities:  Communication skills  Creativity and problem solving ability  Logical reasoning  Ability to fit into the organization  Enthusiasm/high motivation  Poise and self-assurance  Demonstrated knowledge of the organization and field  Maturity  Flexibility/adaptability Illegal Questions- What are they; How do I handle them? As a candidate for a job, various federal, state, and local US laws regulate the questions a prospective employer may ask you. Generally, these laws apply to companies with 20 or more employees. Although it is technically not wrong for an employer to ask illegal questions, the problem arises when employers use this information when making the hiring decision. An employer’s questions— whether on the job application, in the interview, or during the testing process—must be related to the job the applicant is seeking. For the employer, the focus must be: “What information do I need to determine whether this person can do the job?”