Dependability and attendance:
- Everybody misses work sometimes; what are some legitimate reasons to miss work?
- What do you feel is an acceptable amount of days to be absent in a calendar year (excluding a major illness)?
- How do you approach your work? What do you see as the difference between neatness and orderliness?
Hard skills and knowledge of the job:
- What kind of formal training have you had?
- Describe for me a job you had in the past that is similar to the job you’re applying for. What did you find most satisfying about the job and what did you find most frustrating?
- Give an example of a project or process that you reorganized to be more efficient and effective.
Ability to work with others:
- Think about the last time a manager critiqued your work. How did you respond?
- How do you handle working with a co-worker you’re not fond of?
- Do you enjoy talking with people regardless of your mood?
- Priorities often change throughout the day; if you suddenly were asked to do another task, how would that affect your mood?
-Jim Korner
Assistant VP, Professional and Community Education
Penn State University Outreach and Online Education