Examples of questions to ask during job interviews
Introduction
•Welcome
•Introduce those present
•How the interview is set up
•The recruitment process (number of applicants, interviews, etc)
•Ask if it is all right for the recruitment group to make notes during the interview.
Presentation of Karolinska Institutet
•Present Karolinska Institutet in brief
Description of the faculty/department in question
•Organisation
•Staffing
•Financing
•Targets
•Decision-making process
Applicant’s background
•The applicant briefly introduces him or herself.
Identify skills by asking questions about:
Educational background
•What is your educational background?
Current position
•Describe your current position
•What are your main tasks, areas of responsibility?
•Financial responsibility?
•Personnel management responsibility?
•Management/supervision experience?
•Describe your experience in ...
•Describe your knowledge of ...
•Describe situations when you have been ...
•What important and/or difficult decisions have you made within your areas of responsibility?
•How have you handled..? With what results?
•Describe earlier successes within ... How did you do that?
•How would you rate your ability to ... (requirement from the job specification)
•What is your view of the powers and the responsibility you have today?
•Do you possess knowledge and skills that you do not have an opportunity to use in your current
•position?
•Describe a stressful situation you have dealt with in your work. How did you solve it?
•Describe areas, ideas and projects you have initiated. How did it happen?
•Describe a less successful situation within... Why did it turn out that way? What did you do
•after that?
•Describe previous feedback from superiors and colleagues regarding ...
•What are some of the factors in a job that allow you to feel satisfied and to develop?
•Contacts, network, national/international connection?
•Why are you applying for a new position?
Previous work
•The applicant describes previous work and experience.
•Questions similar to those above are asked in order to assess knowledge, epxerience and other
•skills.
Description of current employment
•Describe the remit, tasks, areas of responsibility, goals.
•Close colleagues? What is their brief?
Applicant’s motivation for the position in question
•Why are you interested in this appointment?
•What are your expectations?
•What demands do you think KI will make of you?
•What are your best professional qualifications for the job?
•How would you describe, with your experience and knowledge,
•what this job involves?
•How will you work? What will you want to do? Contacts?
•Describe what you think is the most important responsibility in the position.
•What is the challenge for you in this job?
•What is your vision for the job? Goals?
•What is important to you?
•What is your strongest motivating force?
•How would you like to see your own development in the future?
•What are your expectations of this position?
•Have you been less happy in any particular job? If so, why?
Applicant’s personal characteristics
•Ask questions about skills agreed on by the recruitment group in the job specification.
•Decision-making and problem-solving skills? Leaderships skills? Analytical skills?
•Energy? Creativity? Engagement? Independence?
•Willingness to change? Collaboration skills? Sensitivity to stress? Social
•competence?
•What are your personal characteristics that in your view qualify you for this
•position?
•Is there any area in which your skills for this position are less strong?
•Which areas would you like to develop?
•What colleagues would you like to have?
•What work format suits you best? Manager, project manager, specialist ..?
•What is your strongest motivating force?
•How do you think others would describe you?
Questions the applicant may have
The applicant asks any further questions.
Conclusion
•Current salary
•Salary requirements
•Period of notice
•Certificates (education diplomas, service certificates)
•References
Conclude by talking about when interviewing will end, if there are plans to interview some applicants a second time and when, approximately, the recruitment process must be completed.