Second (on site) Interviews

Second interviews are your chance to visit the worksite and meet a number of people. You may meet people in positions from entry level to the most senior executive and you will undoubtedly meet the supervisor of the position you seek. Remember they are all potential colleagues. Second interviews can be time consuming and repetitive. You must remain fresh for the duration. The questions listed below are examples of the types of questions you may be asked. Each one is followed in italics by points referring to the reasoning behind the questions.

Intellectual Maturity and Competence
  • How do you think your career might proceed for the next ten years? After that? What do you want or expect? – ability to think in a logical, analytical and creative manner; commitment to career path


    •
  • What do you think is the most serious problem facing the United States today? How would you solve it? How might you improve the job-hunting system? – thinking under pressure


    •
  • Define a problem facing America in the twenty-first century and propose some solutions – thinking with concrete facts or abstract data


    •
  • What are some of the elements involved in the changes at Barnard during your years there? What do you think will interest students in the future? – reflecting on the past, present, and future, and their implications and consequences


    •
  • Which of my questions, if any, intrigues you, and why? – alertness, curiosity, sensitivity, and perceptiveness
Emotional Maturity and Stability
  • Are you really sure you know what you want to do? Why? – maintaining perspective when pressured


    •
  • What has been your greatest disappointment in college? In life? – realistic outlook on the ups and downs of life


    •
  • What has been most difficult for you during your last three to four years? – able to handle frustrations and disappointments


    •
  • What is it that you really want out of your career? Out of life? – quality of objectives


    •
  • Why should we hire you? – objectivity, steady and cool under pressure; consistency in style; emotional flexibility and versatility; awareness of qualities sought in an applicant


    •
  • How well do you think you handled this interview? Are there any questions which you feel you did not handle well? – handling tension
Human Relations
  • Have you been competitive in school? In what activities? If not, why? – aggressiveness, assertiveness


    •
  • Describe your role in your family – level of dependence, submissiveness, competitiveness, leadership


    •
  • In what extracurricular activities do you participate? What role do you play? Do you like to initiate things? – extrovert/introvert; cooperative/team player


    •
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses? What should I be assessing to measure your potential as an employee here? – self-confidence; not overly threatened by adverse conditions


    •
  • Tell me about any leadership roles you have had. How did they occur? Can you be a good follower? Which role do you prefer? – personality for leadership; knowledge leads to leadership


    •
  • Describe your summers through high school and college both in terms of jobs and social activities – sense of humor; social adaptability; friendly, likes people; industrious, mature


    •
  • Tell me about your best friends and their interests – social and intellectual capability


    •
  • Which of your professors did you like the least? Why? Were your grades affected by your feelings? – tact and diplomacy, sincerity and teamwork
Insight
  • Why do people like you? – sensitivity to subtleties


    •
  • Are there any questions you have that you would like to ask me now? – when to talk/when to listen


    •
  • How do you get your own way? – skills at giving directions


    •
  • Do you know anyone who is hostile toward you? Why? – sees dissension before it is visible


    •
  • What was the worst argument you ever had with your family? How and why did it develop? – averts collision-course situations


    •
  • Give me an analysis of your five main assets. What about five key weaknesses or shortcomings? – see yourself as you really are


    •
  • Why did you join the organizations to which you belong? Are you active and a contributor? Do you get any benefits from them as an individual? – looks, listens, and socializes; identifies with organizations; active participant
Leadership Ability
  • Why were you chosen as leader of a particular organization? – prudent in use of own self-assurance and inner strength


    •
  • What type of people are you prone to follow? – bearing and a manner that commands respect


    •
  • How did you accomplish the most creative task you ever attempted? – gets to heart of the matter


    •
  • To whom have you been the most helpful? Why? What is your attitude toward others who are not as talented as you are? – willingness to share with others