Career Advices

Initiative

• Tell me about an original idea have you suggested to (your boss, groups you belong to, subordinates)?
• Give me an example(s) in which you went beyond what you were expected to do (on a project, at work, in a group situation).
• Tell me about some events in which you personally influenced the outcome. What did you do?
• Give me an example(s) of how you personally improved a group, a department, productivity, quality, cost effectiveness, etc.
• What would you say has been your biggest achievement? What steps did you take to achieve it?
• Have you taken any steps to improve your skills or performance? (Give me an example)

Professional Development

• Tell me about a time when you were not able to obtain something you wanted. What did you do?
• Describe a time when you had to do something that you were not interested in. What did you do?
• Projects rarely proceed without obstacles. Tell me about a recent project you worked on in which you encountered a major obstacle. (What did you do to get around that obstacle?)
• Tell me about a time when you were unable to accomplish something you set out to do. How did you handle it?
• What was one of the biggest problems you encountered while completing college? How did you handle it?

Planning and Organization

• How do you manage your time? Give me an example of last week.
• How do you determine your daily priorities? Long-range priorities?
• How do you keep track of problems, meetings and other things needing your attention? What do you do when your plans are interrupted?
• Describe a project in which you had to influence coworkers to cooperate. What did you say?
• Tell me about a time when you included one of your peers/direct reports/team members in solving a problem. (What was your approach? What happened?)
• Tell me about a time when you discovered that something was being done incorrectly. What did you do?
• Describe a time when you had to organize an activity. What did you do? How did it turn out?

Analytical Skills/ Problem Solving Skills

• Describe a time when you had to solve a difficult problem but there was no one around to ask for help. How did you resolve the issue?
• Tell me about two of the biggest decisions you have made. How did you go about making your decision?
• Tell me about the toughest problem you faced and how you handled it. What were the results?
• Describe a time when you discovered that there was a problem. How did you identify the cause of that problem?
• What types of information have you used for your career search? (How have you utilized it? What have you learned?)

Intelligence

• Describe a time when you had to learn something quickly. What did you do?
• Tell me about one of the most difficult things you've had to do. Please give me a specific example of a time when you have applied what you learned from this situation.
• Describe a time when you had to learn something on your own. How did you do it?
• Tell me about a time when you applied what you learned in class outside of class.
• Think of a challenging problem you've recently faced. Who or what did you turn to for help solving this problem? What did you do with the information they gave you or that you found?
• Tell me about a time when you had difficulty learning something complex. What did you do?
• Is the earth round or flat? How do you know?

Team Work/Cooperation

• Describe a time you worked with a group/team to determine project responsibilities. (What difficulties did the group have? What was your role?)
• Interacting with others can be challenging at times. Tell me about a time when you had difficulty getting along with a team member. How did you handle the situation?
• Tell me about a time when you were able to help a team member out?
• Describe a time when you had to deal with an angry (uncooperative) person and how you handled it.

Technical and Programming Knowledge

• What exposure have you had in procedural languages, structured programming, testing, and debugging techniques?
• Explain to me to languages and what makes them different.
• Describe how you decided what language to use on a program you've recently written.
• Discuss some examples of the most complex projects you've had. What tools did you use? What was your role? How did it work out?
• Ask yourself technical questions that seem appropriate based on your work experience.

Flexibility / Persistence

• Tell me about a time you had to work on a project that didn't interest you. How did you handle it?
• Describe a time when you were required to program in a language that seemed inappropriate to you. What did you do? Did you learn anything from this?
• Give me an example of a time when you had to choose the tools you were going to use for a project. How did you design the project and pick the appropriate tools?
• Tell me about a time when you ran into a problem on a project but there was no one around to ask for help. What did you do?
• Describe an assignment (or project for work) that you did not believe you had enough time to complete. How did you handle it?
• Tell me about a time when someone asked you to do something that you thought was beyond your capability. What did you do?

Technical Questions for the non-technical person

• How have you used technology to make your own life easier?
• What has your exposure to technology been? To Access, to Excel, to other programs?
• Have you ever developed any macros for an application? Describe how you created the macro and what the results were.
• What is your understanding of the technical systems businesses use to save time and money?
• What interests you in information technology consulting? Why do you think you would be good at this kind of work?

Oral Communication

This is a very important characteristic that goes beyond merely being able to speak. You will learn a lot about the candidate's oral communication skills by listening to the way they answer your questions.
Global executives such as Bill Gates, Richard Branson and Warren Buffett have stated the importance of excellent communications skills throughout their careers correlate directly to success.

• Are they able to organize their ideas logically?
• Can they explain abstract or complicated concepts clearly?
• Is the candidate listening? Can he/she be persuasive?
• How many presentations have you given in school? What was your role in these presentations?
• Tell me about a time when someone disagreed with you, how did you respond?

Written Communication

Please have a writing sample with you in case it is requested.

• Have you ever had to write technical material for non-technical people? Describe those writing assignments?
• Have you ever written instructions for other people? How well were they able to follow your instructions?