1. Can you tell me something about yourself?

1. “I grew up in Kislovodsk, with two brothers and one sister. Then I went to University in Taganrog …”

2. “Um, well. I’m not sure where to start.”

3. “I’m a quick learner and a hard worker. For example, last month taught myself a new programming language and could complete a report in time …”

2. What has made you want to leave your current position?

1. “I find my boss extremely difficult to work with.”

2. “While I really like my job and I’ve been able to take on more responsibilities, there is no room for me to advance at my company.”

3. “It’s been three years and I haven’t been promoted.”

4. “ I’ve always admired your company. I was particularly impressed by what I read in Business News about the success of your new ad campaign.”

3. Where do you see yourself five years from now?

1. “With a greater sense of responsibility maybe supervising a department or overseeing larger projects such as the design of my own line.”

2. “I’d really like to do what you do”.

3. “I haven’t really thought about it, but I hope to have a better of what I want to do by then.”

4. What’s your biggest weakness?

1. “I often take on too many responsibilities.”

2. “I’m such a perfectionist that I become really impatient when other people don’t work as hard as I do.”

3. “I can’t do long division in my head.”

4. “I get so caught up in projects that I try to do everything myself.”

5. “In the past, I felt nervous about speaking up in groups, but since I’ve started giving presentations at department meetings, I am now much more confident.”

5. What is your greatest strength?

1. “I don’t like to brag, so let’s go on to the next question.”

2. “I perform well under pressure. For example, when the team leader on the January sales drive was sick for a week, I worked with her over the phone, helping to make our deadline.”

3. “I’m not afraid to be unpopular if that’s what it takes to get the job done.”

4. “I’m always there for my friends. They know they can call me, even late at night.”

6. Do you usually prefer working with others or on your own?

1. “Though I wouldn’t like to spend my entire day at meetings, I think you get the most done when you have a combination of brainstorming with others and working individually.” For instance, when my group was told last year that we had only forty-eight hours to complete our design, we came up with individual proposals and then worked on the best one.”

2. “On my own. I’m a firm believer in the saying, if you want the job done right, you should do it yourself.”

3. “I’d like doing both. After all, there are times when you need to buckle down and hammer away on your own, and times when it’s important to be part of a team.”

4. “I’m the team member who usually ends up leading everyone else. For instance, last year after my boss made a mess of an account proposal, I took it over and made it presentable.”

5. “I enjoy working on a team.”