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Sample Interview Questions
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 Why did you apply for this position?
Tip: How do you think that you might fit into this company
Would you tell us what attracts you to a career with us? How do you see your
studies, skills, experience and personal qualities contributing to the work of
the organisation? |
Tip: How do you think that you might fit into this company
Describe a time when you had to deal with conflicting demands. How did you
deal with this situation and what was the outcome?
Tip: STAR
Can you describe a time where you have been required to perform as part of
a team? What was the situation? What part did you play in the team and what
was the outcome of the exercise?
Tip: STAR
How do you establish a working relationship with new people?
Tip: Team skills
Where do you expect to be in 5 years time?
What will you do if you are not successful in gaining this position?
Tip: Demonstrate to the interviewer that you have thought about
what it is you want from work and what you hope to achieve. Let
them know you are flexible however, and willing to explore new
opportunities.
What particular skills and qualities do you bring to the workforce? What other
skills would you like to develop in the future?
Tip: Strengths and weaknesses
Tell me about a challenging situation you have faced. What was the situation
and how did you cope with it?
Tip: STAR
Is there an achievement of which you are particularly proud? What is it? Why
is it significant?
Tip: STAR
Imagine that you are a member of a small team responsible for the
development and production of an internal publication. Your team is
dependent on another workgroup to provide the data which will form the basis
of your publication. The deadline for completing this project is not able to be
relaxed. (a) What factors do you think might affect the team's ability to meet
the publication deadline? (b) What could the team do to ensure the project is
completed on time?
Tip: Hypothetical questions allow the interviewer to identify key
competencies deemed important by the employer. No right or
wrong answer
What are the key elements of measuring performance and how can you
establish whether an outcome represents a success? (Answer this in terms of
your own work or study experience.) More specifically, what do you think
might be some key indicators of the successful performance of a national
agency?
Tip: STAR (Behavioural +Situational question)
You have demonstrated in your CV that you have knowledge of entomology.
Could you please expand on your experience and tell us what you think your
strengths are in this field. An important component of the position will be the
maintenance of water quality parameters within acceptable limits for the
species. Can you outline your experience in water quality testing? What do
you feel are the most important water quality variables?
Tip: Multi-part question
The ability to work independently within a structured team is essential to the
position. This will require the successful applicant to be self-starting, able to
prioritise tasks, be a good communicator, as well as showing considerable
initiative. Can you give us some examples where you have worked within a
team environment and demonstrated these abilities?
Tip: STAR + multi-part question
What do you feel is the potential for aquaculture in Australia and what are
some of the major impediments to its development? What are some of the
major aquaculture species cultured in freshwater? As well as the position
involving general maintenance of the aquaria and pond facilities, a significant
component will involve participation in scientific experiments through the
collection and collation of research data. Can you describe previous
experience you have had in the day to day running of scientific experiments?
Tip: STAR + multi-part question
The research project and facilities the successful applicant will be involved
with receives considerable attention from the general public. Therefore, a
component of the job will involve liaising with the general public and media.
This requires the delivery of information in a simple precise manner. How
confident do you feel you are in delivering sometimes complex information in
a simple manner?
Tip: give examples
What computer programs are you familiar with, and more specifically, what
programs would you use to write a report, enter research data, and to prepare
a poster or seminar.
Tip: give examples of where you have applied the use of these
programs.
You have had an opportunity to look at the statistical table from the
publication (this was supplied before the interview). (a) Imagine you were
asked to write a commentary on the information in the table. Are there any
significant or curious or interesting features revealed by the data which you
think should be highlighted, and if so, what might you say about them? Can
you offer any suggestions to explain these features? (b) What is your opinion
of the general layout of the table? How might it be improved?
Tip: multi-part question
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