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Tag: Interview Questions

  • What is The ‘Coffee Cup’ Test? Watch Out For This Tricky Interview Trend. | Entrepreneur

    What is The ‘Coffee Cup’ Test? Watch Out For This Tricky Interview Trend. | Entrepreneur

    Imagine you’re interviewing for a new job. You arrive at the office, the hiring manager greets you, and then walks you into the kitchen to offer a refreshment.

    You might be getting set up for the “coffee cup test” — an interview technique that’s gotten a lot of attention on social media. Some say it’s a great way to test how considerate a candidate is; others say it’s an empty trick that says more about the interviewer than it does the interviewee.

    So what is the test, and what should you do if you’re confronted with it? Read on.

    Jason Feifer

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  • 7 Interview Questions to Build a Positive Work Culture | Entrepreneur

    7 Interview Questions to Build a Positive Work Culture | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Creating a positive culture is more than putting a ping-pong table in the break room or free snacks.

    It’s also about hiring positive, motivated employees who share your company’s values and are committed to making a difference.

    It’s always good to remember, while the look of your office shows how much you care, the people that are in that building make your company what it is.

    That is where the interview process and the questions come in:

    1. Who is your favorite person that you have ever worked with or for?

    You’ll have a couple of answers: One person will say this person was their favorite because they were best friends, they can talk about anything and would always laugh. That shows me that this person’s number one focus is not growth — meaning head down and getting to work.

    An answer like, “My first boss was so strict, and at first, I hated him. Two years in, I realized I learned so much and he helped me be so much better in my job and as a professional.”

    That person gets that if they sew in hard work they are going to reap success. If someone gives them critical feedback, it will help them grow.

    I want that person.

    Related: 3 Interview Questions To Help You Hire The Right People

    2. Who is your least favorite?

    I don’t care about the least favorite person, I care WHY. This shows me what kind of management style the candidate doesn’t work well with.

    Say the reason was that they brought their boss this idea they worked on for weeks, and all their boss said was “thank you,” but they think they didn’t respect their opinions.

    It is likely their boss respects their opinions, even on an average level.

    This shows they are probably wearing a lens that makes them think people generally disrespect their opinions. So, if I hire them, I have to fight with this person’s ghosts and do extra to make them know I respected their idea.

    3. Where do you get your moral code or compass from?

    The way people ground themselves is mercurial.

    When someone says they are their own moral compass, they have no concrete thing they ground themselves in and will get blown in the wind.

    You want the source to be really good — a parental figure, a historical figure, an institution, etc.

    This way you know they hold themselves to a standard and you don’t have to manage their moralities.

    4. If you get to the end of your life and look back at the time between now and then, what will make you say, “I did it!”?

    I want to see if their desires line up with the company — their desires beyond personal goals, what they want to accomplish and where they see themselves in five years.

    It helps me know that we are aligned and a qualified organization for what they want to do and achieve.

    If it makes sense, then they will see your company as a bridge to help get to their goals.

    This is the most integrity-focused and integrous part of the vetting process, too, because you can also see if the company is a good fit for the individual.

    Related: 3 Ways to Establish a Positive Company Culture

    5. Name everything you can do with a brick.

    This is the best test — those with a higher IQ would, on average, be able to give 12 or more creative answers in five minutes. If they give less than six in five minutes, then it is indicative of lower fluid IQ and less creativity, and it also indicates that they will struggle to come up with solutions to complex, nuanced problems.

    This test does not tell everything about IQ or anything like that, but you do get an inkling.

    For example, a marketer will give more creative, longer, paragraph-style answers as opposed to an operator who would give a lot of answers, but brief two-word ones.

    Someone with creative answers would not be able to follow set patterns, as opposed to the operator’s logical answers.

    6. If you were going to give a training on __, what would the outline be?

    I prefer this question over asking questions like, “How much experience do you have in ___?” or “How good are you at ___?”

    You don’t want their opinion on their knowledge, and you don’t want them to tell you what they’re good at. You want them to display knowledge.

    By asking the candidate to teach you about the position they are applying for, you will be able to see how teachable they are, where they got their knowledge from and how much they know.

    You want to also know if they know more than you. You never know what you might be able to learn.

    7. What is something that you have learned about __ that most people in the industry don’t know?

    I want to know, again, where on their timeline of learning they are. There are three levels to this:

    1. The formative level: Where you accept what anybody tells you about anything.

    2. The medium level: “Oh! I have learned something on my own, and I now have my own rules.”

    3. The final level: Where you are judging and where it can be dangerous to a degree. You take everything from the first two and apply it further.

    You are asking for them to demonstrate if they are at that third level and if they are at that level of fidelity in their knowledge.

    Related: 11 Crucial Interview Questions to Ensure a Culture Fit

    To promote a positive culture, you want to know how much your candidates care about the role and the company.

    For example, a candidate coming to an interview in a suit, a notebook and their resume — even though the company is very casual — shows they care about you, the role and the company.

    It’s more than giving water and comfy chairs. It’s also about creating a work environment that fosters collaboration, innovation and growth. This starts with the people — people make the company, not the other way around.

    Josiah Grimes

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  • Why Do You Want to Work Here? Here’s How You Can Ace the Question Every Time

    Why Do You Want to Work Here? Here’s How You Can Ace the Question Every Time

    Job interviews are not exactly everyone’s idea of a good time. They can bring about stress, anxiety and a bit of nerves. However, stress often comes from a sense of being unprepared. So what if you discovered that being as prepared as possible could reduce your stress on the big day?

    Whether you’re a brand new job seeker or a seasoned professional, this article will walk you through the interview process, help you show potential employers why you want to work for their company and how to ace their questions every time.

    One of the toughest questions you’ll get is also probably the most obvious. Why do you want this job? Why are you interested? However straightforward the question seems, it can be surprisingly challenging to come up with a good answer.

    Should you focus on your career path and aspects of the company’s mission and business practices that resonate with your goals, such as eco-friendly products or community service initiatives? Or should you talk about something else entirely?

    There isn’t a cookie-cutter answer here. However, we will review tips to help you navigate the murky waters of the dreaded “why do you want to work for this company?” question.

    Related: Interviews Are a 2-Way Street: How to Make the Most of Them for Mutual Success

    Applying for the right position

    Before learning how to ace common interview questions, you should know how to apply for a job opening that is right for you.

    Work-life balance has been a hot topic lately, and a big part of that has to do with actually feeling fulfilled in your job. Applying for jobs that genuinely interest you is important because it will come through in the interview, and working in a job you enjoy does wonders for your mental health.

    Here are five points to consider when assessing if you’re applying for the proper position.

    1. Motive

    Money is essential. However, it should not be your sole reason for applying for a job.

    When you are solely driven by money, you may quickly feel unfulfilled with your work. When browsing job boards, look for jobs with a healthy balance of salary and something you genuinely find interesting.

    Related: How to Be Authentic in an Interview

    2. Passion

    Passion and motive go hand-in-hand. To determine whether or not you’re passionate about this potential position, ask yourself:

    • Will you look forward to telling your friends and family about this job?
    • Will you look forward to doing this job each day?
    • Do you care about the work you are doing?
    • Will the work stimulate you?

    3. Work-life balance

    The need for work-life balance varies from person to person. When applying for jobs, it is vital that you know yourself and what level of work-life balance you require.

    Most job descriptions will tell you the required hours and whether nights, weekends or untraditional hours are required. Keep those details in mind when making your decision.

    4. Work environment

    The work environment is another aspect that varies from person to person. As you consider what kind of work environment you’d like to experience, ask yourself:

    • Do you want an in-person, hybrid or remote job?
    • Do you prefer solo work or collaborative work with team members?
    • What kind of workload are you prepared to take on?
    • Does company culture matter to you? If so, does this company culture match your core values?

    You should answer these questions for yourself, but you can also ask more specific questions on this topic during your interview process. In addition, complete your due diligence by researching the job and company via sites like Glassdoor and LinkedIn, where you can find job postings, salary calculations, company reviews and other relevant information.

    Related: How to Master Virtual Job Interviews

    5. Opportunities for growth

    Whether you are applying for a job at a small or large company, if your career goals involve growing with that business, you need to make sure there are opportunities. Sometimes, this can be difficult to tell simply by the job description, so you’ll have to ask follow-up questions in your interview.

    Some of the best questions to ask to find out if there are growth opportunities include the following:

    • What kind of mentorship opportunities, formal or informal, does the company provide?
    • Are there available opportunities for career development and skill development through this position?
    • What qualifications are required for promotion opportunities, and how can you work toward acquiring said qualifications in this position?
    • Could you provide an example of a senior role, its qualities and required skills?
    • What improvements would you like to see in your industry and at your current company?

    But one easy way to tell is by the job title. For example, if you are applying for a position called “assistant manager,” there is likely a position above it called “manager.” Look for hints during the job search to clue you in on growth opportunities.

    How to prepare for a job interview

    Once you’ve applied to a great job and scored an interview, it’s time to prep.

    Take a look at these tips and tricks to bring your A-game.

    Related: Job Interview Preparation Checklist

    1. Know the job

    At this point, you should know the job you want. “Knowing the job” includes in-depth research about the day-to-day responsibilities of the position, the characteristics of successful employees working that role and how you align with those work habits and personality traits.

    However, once you’ve secured an interview, you should take your knowledge of the job description one step further.

    The job description will likely guide the hiring manager’s questions, so you should be prepared to demonstrate how you can perform the job duties or show your performance history of similar previous job functions.

    Be prepared to answer situational questions about how you would react to a situation or examples of how you have handled similar scenarios.

    Situational questions: Examples and sample answers

    1. Describe a situation where you went above and beyond at a previous job.

    Answer: My boss was on vacation, and my team got an order for 500 additional shipments of XYZ. I regrouped and helped motivate the team, and we fulfilled the order ahead of schedule. The client then signed on to purchase more XYZ in the following year.

    2. Talk about a time you had to collaborate with a difficult coworker.

    Answer: One of my co-editors had a very different work style from my own. She was much laxer, whereas I preferred to follow the procedures to a tee. We collaborated to develop a new editorial protocol, which allowed us to turn around 50% more articles per week.

    In these questions, the best practice is to keep in mind a simple answer formula: problem, solution and benefit. If you can articulate how your work addressed the problem and the impact of your actions, you are more likely to impress interviewers.

    2. Know the company

    This is part of preparing for the big question. You’ll need to study and grow your knowledge of the company, including:

    • You should know the company’s story, background and founders.
    • You should understand the company’s mission statement and purpose.
    • You should have some general knowledge about the company, such as work examples or campaign history.

    This is a considerable part of preparedness. The company will want to know that you chose them on purpose, so be ready to show them you did.

    3. Know yourself

    During your interview, you must show confidence in your answers (even if you’re forcing your confidence through a layer of anxiety at that moment). The following are some aspects of yourself that you should be ready to share:

    • The specific personality traits and attributes that distinguish you from other candidates.
    • Your work history, track record and any gaps in your background.
    • Your particular work style.
    • Any strengths and weaknesses relevant to the position.

    Practice going over sample answers with yourself for job interview questions you might be asked.

    A good practice for discussing your strengths and weaknesses is another simple formula: mention a strength/weakness, then provide a story for context.

    Here are a few examples:

    • I’m a strong public speaker. My last position required me to give presentations at conferences such as X, Y and Z, and at each of these conferences, we closed sales contracts with multiple clients in attendance. I received multiple internal shout-outs while at my previous company and was chosen to serve as our media spokesperson for the XYZ product rollout.
    • One of my greatest weaknesses is that I don’t always express myself, even when I have strong feelings about a subject. However, I’ve recognized this limitation, and I’m working to grow. I’ve joined a local public speaking group to overcome my hesitancy to voice my thoughts, and I’m becoming more confident in expressing myself to others.

    4. Create questions

    Even though most of the interview will be about you, it’s essential to ask your interviewer about themselves and the company. You can certainly ask follow-up questions about anything you have learned during the interview, but you should also go in prepared.

    Consider questions like:

    • What are some expectations of this role, and what projects might I take on?
    • What are some challenges I might face in the role?
    • Can you tell me more about how the team functions and the chain of command?
    • What are some opportunities for growth?
    • What is your favorite part about working at this company?
    • What are you excited about for this company’s future?

    Related: 15 Interview Questions You Should Be Prepared to Answer This Month

    5. Send a thank you note

    Even though this won’t happen until after the interview, you should go in knowing that you’ll need to send a thank you note after. In the email, you should include the following:

    • Include an introduction.
    • Include three things you enjoyed or learned during the interview.
    • Include a call to action.
    • Include a sign-off.

    The big interview question: Why do you want to work here?

    You’ve snagged the job interview and prepared as much as possible, and now the time has come — interview day.

    The interview will likely start with questions like:

    • What can you tell me about yourself?
    • Can you tell us about your skill set?
    • Why should we hire you?
    • Can you tell us about a time when…?

    But the most critical question is one that is more about their company than you.

    Why do you want to work here?

    All of your preparation will pay off at this moment. Companies want to know that you have done your research by:

    • Look at the company’s website.
    • View company social media accounts.
    • Understand their mission and company values.

    Demonstrating your knowledge of their company shows that you care and have a genuine interest in the position. To show you have done your research, you should answer the question as precisely as possible.

    For example, don’t just say, “I love your company’s mission and think I’d be a great fit because I align with it.” Instead, get specific. Tell a relevant short story or give an example or give an exact answer about why their mission matters to you.

    Be specific by answering with something like:

    “I saw the campaign you did about X. That is something very near to my heart, and I would love to be a part of a company that values Y. I want to help continue the mission of X by Z.”

    Relate their mission to your values. Show them the connection between their company and you. If you can tell a story and create a relationship, you will ace the question every time.

    Bottom line? Interviews are tough. The market is full of competitive job candidates, and the process can be stressful. The best way to tackle interviews is to be as prepared as possible.

    When entering into an interview process, remember:

    1. Apply to the proper position for you.
    2. Prepare for the interview by doing your research.
    3. Know why that company matters to you, and show them.

    Now that you’ve got the rundown, it’s time to put yourself out there and snag a job offer.

    Looking for more advice to support your professional growth? Explore all of Entrepreneur’s vast and ever-growing wealth of helpful articles here

    Entrepreneur Staff

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