QUESTIONS COMMON TO ALL INTERVIEWS
Your response to interview questions should be in
cognizance of the category of questions posed.
Interview questions can be categorised as
follows:

1. Open Questions

It is impossible to give ‘no’ or ‘yes’ answer to this
type of question. You expected not only to reply
with the fact and issues but also with feelings
and opinions.
The interviewer through this question wants to
form an opinion of the person sitting in front of
him or her. She/he can also explore certain topics
or ask the applicant to explain on his feelings.
This question tempts you to speak too much or
dominate the interview, remember to be brief.
Examples of open questions are given below:

1. What

What are your areas of strength?

What can you do for this company?

What are your duties?

1. Why

Why did you decide to leave your job?

Why did you prefer teaching job?

1. Which

Which part of the job did you dislike?

Which part of the job did you most enjoyed

1. How

How did you resolve the crisis?

How do you feel about…?

Open questions can also be phrased differently.
For example, looking back, what would you have
done differently? Have you any question you
would like to ask?

1. Closed Question
This question enables the interviewer to check
pure fact and elicit a direct response. They can
also be used to stop the interviewee from doing
all the talking.
Examples of closed questions are given below:

1. So you are the….?

2. Do you get annoyed with…?

3. Do you like…?

Expect some of this question. If the questions are
too frequent, answer such as Yes, Yes, Yes, or
No, No, No… will sound monotonous. Add a bit
more positive and relevant facts, for example,
Yes, I do, No, I do not…

1. Probing Questions
Probing questions are the interviewer’s most
sophisticated and useful tool. They are used to
clarify, justify, or reveal strength or weakness
that the interviewee may which to hide. The
questions tend to be quiet specific and
predictable and they are normally used when the
interviewee is becoming talkative or when the
conversation is drifting a bit.

Examples of probing question are given below:

1. What is your reason for saying that?

2. Why does that concern you?

3. Who else affected your behaviour

4. How did you react to it

5. Hypothetical Questions

They are actual situation you will have to face if
employed. The interviewer is interested in how
you can think on your feet in such situations.
Answer the question as best as you can and be
able to back up your answer.
Examples of such questions are:
1. What will you do if you were to work with a
hot tempered boss?

2. What will you do if you have to work with an
angry customer?

3. What will you do if two people demanded your
attention at the same time?

5. Leading Question
In most cases the question suggests the answer
to give. The interviewer may wish to disagree
with the suggestion in order to hear your point of
view or the interviewer may be advising you on
the company’s rules and expectations. You can
either agree or disagree depending upon how
truthful it is. The choice is yours. However, try to
put your point across logically but not
emotionally.
Examples of leading questions are:

1. The company have this philosophy … Do you
hold this philosophy?

2. I see, you would have dishonoured the
cheque?

3. Oh! You are allergic to..?

4. I suggest you go on with your previous boss?

6. Complicated Question

If you are not careful you will not answer an
essential aspect of this kind of question because
of their complicated nature. The question takes
two forms; the alternative question and the
multiple questions. For example:

1. What annoyed you most or you are never
annonyed?

The tip here is that you ignore the bit that does
not apply and respond to the bit that does not
apply. The multiple question lead to confusion
and vagueness because the interviewee does not
know where to begin the answer.

1. Did you pick up new skill from your last post
and what did you think of the facilities?
Tips; acknowledge the two part of saying ‘you will
answer … first, and the second.

7. Summarising Question
This is useful tools for the interviewer and the
interviewee. The formal can use the question to
clarify and confirm what you have said. For
example: I understand what you have said is…
You can also make use of the question if you feel
that a question needs further clarification.
A good knowledge of the type of question you are
asked should enable you knows the best answer
to give at different situations.