Common Interview Questions-Senior Level

By TED DAYWALT

The following is a list of common interview questions to used with senior candidates. These questions are compiled from a number of sources.

1. What cherished management belief have you had to give up in order to get where you are?
2. What's more important to you, truth or comfort as it relates to the job?
3. Have you learned more from your mistakes or from your successes?
4. Is honesty always the best policy?
5. How has your tolerance for accepting mistakes from your subordinates changes over the years?
6. Where do you think the power comes from in your organization? Why?
7. Is the customer always right?
8. On what occasions are you tempted to lie?
9. If you could organize the world in one of three ways - no scarcity, no problems or no rules - how would you do it?
10. Should all business relationships have fixed term, that is, expiration dates?
11. What is the most significant compliment anyone has ever paid you?
12. How would you finish this sentence: "Most people are basically...?"
13. Who has been a major influence in your life?
14. Are you the type of person who likes to make lists or strike items off lists?
15. What would you do if you saw a peer taking office supplies home?
16. What is the difference between a manager and a leader? What is your philosophy of mentoring?
17. On what criteria do you believe you should be evaluated and compensated?
18. Why did you leave your last job?
19. Describe your dream job.
20. What makes you proud of your work?
21. What kind of supervisor is likely to get the best performance out of your?
22. How important is it for you to learn new skills? Do you consider yourself successful? Why?
23. Have you thought about why you might prefer to work with our firm as opposed to one of the other firms to which you have applied?
24. Tell me about yourself.
25. What are your three main priorities in life?
26. What has been your greatest challenge?
27. What has been your greatest failure?
28. Describe a leadership role of yours and tell why you committed your time to it?
29. In a particular leadership role you held, what was your greatest challenge?
30. What work experiences have been most valuable to you and why?
31. Tell me about a project you initiated.
32. Describe a project or situation that best demonstrates your analytical abilities.
33. What have the experiences on your resume taught you about managing and working with people?
34. What is the most difficult decision you have had to make?
35. What type of situations put you under pressure?
36. How do you cope with pressure?
37. Why are you interested in our company?
38. What other types of jobs are you considering?
39. Why have you chosen this particular profession?
40. What do you know about our company?
41. What interests you about this job? What challenges are you looking for in a position?
42. What can you contribute to this company?
43. Why should we be interested in you?
44. What goals have you set for yourself? How do you plan to achieve them?
45. What is your most significant accomplishment to date?
46. To what do you owe your success?
47. What type of work environment most appeals to you?
48. What other companies are you interviewing with? Why did you chose them?
49. We are looking at a number of very talented candidates. Why should we hire you over them?
50. What will you do if you are not the person chosen for this position?
51. What would your greatest business adversary say about you?
52. Please take me through your professional career.