Job-Seeking Skills Resources: Job Interview Skills


Common Types of Questions asked

Generally, there are 6 types of questions in a job interview:

  • Friendly questions (ice-breakers)
  • Skills and experience
  • Technical questions
  • Attitudes/ personality/ motivation questions
  • Probing/ tricky/ problem-solving questions
  • Current affairs questions

Some examples of the categories of questions are listed below:

Skills and Experience Questions

  • Can you introduce yourself in Putonghua?
  • Can you tell me more about your final year project?
  • What have you gained from your university education / extracurricular activities / work experience?
  • Do you see any relevance between your study / activities / work experience and this job you are applying for?
  • Without relevant past experience, how will you cope with the job?
  • Why did you get better grades in your electives than your major courses?

Knowledge Questions

  • What differences can you find in the two versions of this software?
  • What do you think are the major responsibilities of the position you are applying for?
  • How would you promote our product to customers?
  • How do you see our company improve in the future?
  • What are the major problems our industry is facing?
  • What do you think is the future development of our industry?

Attitude Questions

  • What is your greatest achievement?
  • What gives you the most satisfaction in life?
  • Are you willing to travel frequently / relocate outside Hong Kong?
  • What salary would you expect if you were hired?
  • What is more important to you, the amount of money or type of job?
  • How well do you work under pressure?
  • Do you work better in a team or alone?
  • What qualities should a successful person possess? Do you consider yourself successful?
  • What are your strengths / weaknesses?
  • How can you persuade us to hire you? What, specifically, can you contribute to our company?

Motivation Questions

  • What are your short- and long-term career goals?
  • How are you going to achieve your goals?
  • Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
  • Why are you interested in this field / this job / our company?

Current Affairs

Advice of the HKUST Career Center


Task 1: What types of questions are these?

Classify these 10 questions and check the answer online

Task 2: Further practice

Here are some more common questions for you to categorise again. What is the intention behind each of the following questions?

  • Please tell me about yourself. (Keep the answer to this question related to the job you are applying for.)
  • What are your short-range goals? Long-range goals?
  • Do you work better as a team member? Alone? Why?
  • What can you contribute to this company?
  • Do you think you are successful? Why? If so, what personal characteristics have contributed to this success?
  • What do you do in your leisure time?
  • Why do you think you would like this job?
  • Why do you think you would like our company?
  • Who has been the most important person in your life? Why?
  • Are you willing to relocate (to work outside Hong Kong)? Travel? Migrate?
  • What will you be doing five years from now? Fifteen years?
  • Do you plan to continue your education?
  • What salary would you expect if you were hired?
  • Do you read books? Magazines? Which ones?
  • What is your greatest achievement?
  • What gives you the most satisfaction in life?
  • Are you really interested in this job you are applying for? Why?
  • What would you do if you had a difficult subordinate who always ignored or broke the rules?

[Useful Links] **Virtual Interview
**HKUST Career Center Site
**CUHK Job Interview Skills Site
**HKU English for Professional Communication Site

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It has not been updated nor maintained since 1 Sept 2021.

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