Step 2: Potential Interview Questions
Match the underlined words to the question headings or keywords in the Interview Question Bank. For example, many of the underlined words from the example above fall under the category of "Personal Qualities".
Read each list of questions carefully. Many of the questions are similar. We’ve tried to include as many variations as practical. Too often, people make the mistake of studying specific questions. When you study only specific questions, it’s easy to be thrown off when a different question is asked.
Review your Interview Wraps from previous interviews. Use your experience from previous interviews to help you on this interview.
Identify the skills, knowledge, and abilities specific to your job. For example, there are specific requirements for engineers and heavy equipment operators. List the requirements and "hot topics" specific to your job. Write possible questions for the specific requirements and "hot topics". Check out our "Generic Label" heading in the Interview Question Bank. You’ll find a list of common questions that can apply to just about any technical or field expertise.
Having read the questions under each heading, you should also make up mock or practice interviews. Pull questions from each of the skill, knowledge, and ability headings that we’ve identified. As a general rule, each practice interview should consist of seven to ten questions. You may have to revise the questions to fit the organization that you work for or to fit your job. Include questions that you’ve written for specific requirements or "hot topics"
Ask your friend, roommate, significant other, spouse, coworker, or a willing stranger to help you. Have them create practice interviews by pulling questions from the headings we've identified and from the questions you've written for specific requirements and "hot topics". You'll benefit from having somebody else help you because 1) you'll have to think on your feet, because you won't know what the questions are; and 2) you can receive feedback on your body language (posture, the pitch of your voice, hand movements), content, and the clarity of your answers. Ask your "interviewer" to write down the questions and their comments.
Practice, practice, practice. One practice interview is not enough. If you have somebody helps you, have at least three practice interviews. Multiple interviews will give you the chance to improve by using the feedback to correct mistakes, strengthen weaknesses, and build upon strengths.
Note: The underlined words in the Interview Question Bank are words that may be interchangeable. For example, instead of the word "job", the word "position" might be used.