Sample Interview Questions

• How would you describe yourself?
• What are your long-range career goals? Short-range goals?
• What specific goals, other than those related to your career, have you established for yourself?
• What do you really want to do in life?
• Do you prefer working with others or by yourself?
• Would you prefer a large or a small company? Why?
• What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
• How do you spend your spare time?
• In what kind of a work environment are you most comfortable (structured, unstructured, etc.)?
• Why did you select Drexel University?
• Why did you choose your major field of study?
• What courses do you like the best? The least? Why?
• Do you think your grades are an accurate indication of your academic achievement?
• Do you have a geographical preference? Why?
• Will you relocate?
• Do you have plans for continued study and obtaining an advanced degree?

• What are the most important rewards you expect in your career?
• Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?
• How is college preparing you for your career?
• What qualifications do you have that make you think you will be successful in your career?
• Why should I hire you?
• What do you hope to learn on this job?
• What three things are most important to you in your job?
• What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work?
• What have you learned in your other jobs that you think will help you to do this job well?
• Why did you apply for this job?
• What do you know about our company?
• Why are you interested in working for our company?
• After reading the job description, what do you think will be the most challenging aspects of the job for you?
• How do you think you can add to the company?
• What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?

• What have you learned from participation in co-curricular activities?
• What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
• How would you describe your most rewarding college experience?
• How would you describe your most recent group effort?
• Can you tell me about the time you met the most opposition when proposing a plan of action?
• Could you describe a situation that best demonstrates your ability to get things done through others?
• Describe a time when you were faced with problems or stresses at work that tested your coping skills. What did you do?
• Describe the most significant written document, report, or presentation that you've completed. Do you have an example of oral communication skills?
• Describe a time when you were confronted by a difficult task-related problem and how you solved it. Did you ever have to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done?
• Give an example of a time when you did not have enough information to do your job. What steps did you take?
• Can you tell me about a specific occasion when you conformed to a policy even though you did not agree with it?
• Could you give an example of when you were able to build motivation in your coworkers or subordinates?
• Have you ever had a confrontation with someone? How did you handle the situation?
• Describe the most creative work-related project you have completed.
• Give an example of a time when you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision.

• How would you describe the ideal job for you?
• What have you learned from your mistakes?
• Have you ever been in a leadership role? Please explain the situation.
• Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?
• How do you work under pressure?
• What types of people seem to "rub you the wrong way"?
• Could you describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and subordinates?
• What type of supervisor would you like to have?
• Can you give an example of an important goal you had to set and your process in meeting that goal?
• If a friend or professor were asked to describe you, what would they say?
• How do you define "success?"

The following topics are illegal for an employer to ask about during an interview. We've included a few examples for each category.

Age

• How old are you?
• How long have you been working?

Race

• You have a unique look. What are you?
• What race do you identify as?

Ethnicity

• You have an accent. Where are you from?
• Where are your parents from?

Religion

• What is your religion?
• Are you practicing?

Sex

• Are you planning to have children?
• Is this your maiden name?

Gender Identity

• We've always had a man/woman do this job. How do you think you will stack up?
• Are you going to be comfortable working with a bunch of women?

Citizenship Status

• Where were your parents born?
• I detect an accent, where are you from?

Marital Status

• Have you ever been married before?
• What is life at home like for you?

Pregnancy Status

• How many kids do you have?
• Are you thinking about having children anytime soon?

Disability Status

• Do you have any medical conditions we should know about?
• Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental illness?

Sexual Orientation

• What is your sexual orientation?
• I noticed you don't wear a ring. Do you have a husband/wife?
• Do you live with anyone?

How do you respond in the moment?

• You can choose to answer the question if you are comfortable doing so and believe it was asked naively.
• You can take control of the question, for example, an answer to "You have a unique look. Where are you from?" could be answered by saying, "I've lived a few places in my life, but I am legally allowed to work in the U.S., if that's what you're asking."
• You can ask why the question is relevant to the job and/or simply decline to answer.

Who can you contact after the interview if you choose?

• You may contact your co-op advisor or any trusted Drexel professional staff or faculty for guidance. Please keep in mind that most Drexel employees except for religious representatives and counseling center staff are mandated reporters, which means that they must inform Drexel's Office for Institutional Equity and Inclusive Culture (EIC). While what you report will stay confidential within the EIC office, they will contact you for follow up. Mandated reporters will keep the conversation confidential outside of the EIC report.
• You may contact EIC directly, as well as Drexel's Counseling Center. EIC is responsible for ensuring that the University complies with its own policies and with federal, state and local laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment based upon race; color; religion; gender; pregnancy; national origin; age; disability; sexual orientation, identity, and expression; and veteran status. In addition to investigating complaints, EIC utilizes various conflict resolution processes to address complaints of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The Counseling Center offers free, confidential counseling services provided by mental health professionals to currently enrolled full-time undergraduate and graduate students.

For more information and resources for managing discrimination in the workplace, please visit the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.