Interview questions / answers?

Question

I have an interview on Thursday and I am nervous about the types of questions they will ask me. I had an interview a few weeks ago and didn't get offered the job so I was wondering if I answered wrong on these questions so I can do better this time.

(1) weakness -- I said I get bored easily and would prefer to stay busy

(2) plans for next 5 years? -- I told them i want to have a career that I'm proud of

(3) ever had a problem with a coworker and how did you deal with it? -- I told them I took the problem up with my manager and the girl was eventually fired, that everyone had problems with her.

(4) best qualities in a manager? -- always available to answer questions

Those are the questions that I wasn't sure I answered right. Does anyone know a good answer to those? Also, do you know any other tricky questions I might get asked?

Answer 1

For #1: about bored/busy
- Instead of saying bored, why don't you try "restless"? As an employer I don't want to hear that you have ADD, or a short attention span and get bored if the business has a slow spot. Say you're restless.
- Could say that sometimes you overwork and forget about the time when you're really into something (like a project or a task), and you tend to be so meticulous on details, that you like to get things finished and prepared/done ahead of time so that the next day would go smoother.

For #2 about plans for the next five years, consider:
- I want to stay with a company for a long time because I value stability. (You want to portray that you have company loyalty)
- I want to work towards becoming a.... (manager for example. They want to see that you want to grow in your position and become someone ambitious and successful)

For #3 about problems with a coworker
- Maybe it's the way you're describing it.
- Did you talk to the girl first? It would seem to me that when you said you took it up with your manager, that A) You can't handle your own problems B) you always run to your manager to solve everything.
- If you talked to the girl and tried to resolve it away from everyone else, and alone one on one with her, that would help. And say that it didn't seem to work, and you tried to be nicer, or you tried to suggest how she could be better. And that it just seemed to fail, so you mentioned it to your manager. I wouldn't say in an interview that everyone had problems with her, it might be something along the lines of: It wasn't just me, she didn't seem to get along with the other co-workers as well, so I thought I'd take the initiative and pull her aside to let her know how I felt instead of immediately going to my manager.

#4
- As an employer, I don't like that. Best qualities in a manger means more than ONE quality. Try these ones:

- Always looking out for the company and the employee in all of their endeavours.
- Open-door policy - being available to help out, and listen empathatically to issues, and answer questions.
- Being able to relate to your employees that you manage.
- Being able to be firm and stick to decisions/resolutions, but not in an aggressive or harsh.
- Being able to give constructive, good feedback to employees to help them become better employees

Good luck.

Answer 2

answers
(1) I always have to stay busy.
makes you seem like a hard worker
(2) I want to be a head supervisor.
you seem ambitious
(3) no
you don't want to seem confrontational
(4) your answer was good plus your manager should be a team player

good luck!

Answer 3

Sounds good to me, but be prepared to explain your answers as well, they may ask you why. =) Good luck!

Answer 4

though sound to me like the best answers to me! you did really good!