Entry Level Interview Questions And Answers

The ELP Program is a professional development initiative at Chemonics that aims to consistently recruit candidates qualified for entry-level positions and provide them with guidance and support to further their professional growth. The work performed and support provided offer individuals a strong foundation to our business so they can build on that knowledge and advance as Chemonics professionals.

As entry-level professional positions become available, we review resumes submitted through the online application process to identify candidates whose skills most closely match the scope and criteria of open positions. The recruitment process includes a telephone interview, a standardized test and, when applicable, a language test, a panel interview, and reference and background checks. The standardized test takes about one-and-a-half hours to complete and consists of three parts: contract analysis, budget analysis, and the writing of a letter. The language test consists of a 30-minute written section and a 30-minute oral section.

Because each department has different staffing needs, it is difficult to offer a time frame for when a candidate may be considered. Chemonics receives more applications than available openings; therefore, we are unable to contact all applicants for interviews. Applications remain active for six months.

There is an abundance of individuals qualified for entry-level professional positions in the United States. As a result, U.S. immigration guidelines make it difficult to provide special visas to foreign nationals for these positions. Therefore, Chemonics does not sponsor work authorization visas for entry-level professional positions and requires that individuals offered employment in the United States provide proof of work eligibility and identification.

► Tell me about yourself?
► What are your strengths?
► What are your weaknesses?
► Who was your favorite manager and why?
► What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
► Why do you want this job?
► Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?
► Tell me about your proudest achievement?
► If you were at a business lunch and you ordered a rare steak and they brought it to you well done, what would you do?
► If I were to give you this salary you requested but let you write your job description for the next year, what would it say?

► Why is there fuzz on a tennis ball?
► How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly with the team?
► There's no right or wrong answer, but if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
► How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?
► Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?
► What's your ideal company?
► What attracted you to this company?
► What are you most proud of?
► What are you looking for in terms of career development?
► What do you look for in terms of culture - structured or entrepreneurial?

► What do you like to do?
► Give examples of ideas you've had or implemented?
► What are your lifelong dreams?
► What do you ultimately want to become?
► How would you describe your work style?
► What kind of car do you drive?
► Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job?
► What's the last book you read?
► What magazines do you subscribe to?
► What would be your ideal working situation?

► Why should we hire you?
► What did you like least about your last job?
► What do you think of your previous boss?
► How do you think I rate as an interviewer?
► Do you have any questions for me?
► When were you most satisfied in your job?
► What can you do for us that other candidates can't?
► What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
► What negative thing would your last boss say about you?
► If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?

► What salary are you seeking?
► What's your salary history?
► How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?
► What were the responsibilities of your last position?
► What do you know about this industry?
► What do you know about our company?
► How long will it take for you to make a significant contribution?
► Are you willing to relocate?
► What was the last project you headed up, and what was its outcome?
► What kind of goals would you have in mind if you got this job?

► Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work?
► What would you do if you won the lottery?
► Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?
► Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?
► What is your personal mission statement?
► Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback. How did you handle it?
► What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?
► What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
► What is your greatest fear?
► Who has impacted you most in your career, and how?

► What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days of this job?
► What's the most important thing you've learned in school?
► What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?
► What will you miss about your present/last job?
► If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for?
► List five words that describe your character?
► What is your greatest achievement outside of work?
► Sell me this pencil?
► If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?
► Do you think a leader should be feared or liked?

► What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years?
► What do you like to do for fun?
► Why are you leaving your present job?
► What do you do in your spare time?
► How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
► What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?
► What is your favorite memory from childhood?
► Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it?
► Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want me to know?
► Tell me the difference between good and exceptional?

► Why did your choose your major?
► What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?
► What is your biggest regret, and why?
► What are three positive character traits you don't have?
► What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
► If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?
► How many times do a clock's hands overlap in a day?
► How would you weigh a plane without scales?
► What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue?
► If I were to ask your last supervisor to provide you additional training or exposure, what would she suggest?

► If you could choose one superhero power, what would it be and why?
► What's the best movie you've seen in the last year?
► Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them?
► What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?
► If you could get rid of any one of the US states, which one would you get rid of, and why?
► With your eyes closed, tell me step-by-step how to tie my shoes?
► if you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?
► If selected for this position, can you describe your strategy for the first 90 days?
► Who are your heroes?
► Tell me 10 ways to use a pencil other than writing?

► Tell me about yourself?
► Why should I hire you?
► What is your long-range objective?
► What is your greatest accomplishment?
► How has your education prepared you for your career?
► Are you a team player?
► Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How did you resolve it?
► What is your greatest strength?
► What is your greatest weakness?
► If I were to ask one of your professors (or a boss) to describe you, what would he or she say?

► What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?
► If you had to live your life over again, what one thing would you change?
► How would you describe your ideal job?
► Why did you choose this career?
► When did you decide on this career?
► What goals do you have in your career?
► How do you plan to achieve these goals?
► How do you personally define success?
► Describe a situation in which you were successful?
► What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?

► What accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction in your life?
► Would you rather work with information or with people?
► What motivates you?
► Why should I hire you?
► Are you a goal-oriented person?
► Tell me about some of your recent goals and what you did to achieve them?
► What are your short-term goals?
► What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
► Where do you want to become ten years from now?
► Do you handle conflict well?

► What major problem have you had to deal with recently?
► Do you handle pressure well?
► Why did you choose to attend your college?
► What changes would you make at your college?
► What were your favorite classes? Why?
► Do you enjoy doing independent research?
► Who were your favorite professors? Why?
► Why is your GPA not higher?
► Do you have any plans for further education?
► How much training do you think you'll need to become a productive employee?

► Why do you want to work in the _____ industry?
► What do you know about our company?
► Why are you interested in our company?
► Do you have any location preferences?
► How familiar are you with the community that we're located in?
► Are you willing to relocate? In the future?
► Are you willing to travel? How much?
► Is money important to you?
► How much money do you need to make to be happy?
► What kind of salary are you looking for?

This is basically the icebreaker question for entry level interviews. Though the tell about yourself question may seem harmless, the interviewer is basically trying to find out the background of the interviewee, so that he or she can then use this information to decide whether the interviewee is a good candidate for the job.
Make sure that you answer the question in a crisp and factual manner. When the interviewer asks you about the family, they are basically asking you who you live with, or who lives with you. Do not try to inform them about any family members who do not stay with you.

An entry level position in the company is not as important as other positions. Also, there are several applications for an entry level position. No company would like to hire anyone without due diligence on all the applications.
Therefore, the timeframe of going through all the applications may take a considerable time. The company would like to know whether you have applied anywhere else and whether you would be waiting for a reply from the company. Of course, the company cannot ask you such sensitive questions at the outset and so would ask you an open ended question.

Though this question can be answered quite comfortably by a senior and experienced individual, people applying for entry level jobs may create problems by answering the question by painting a colorful picture of the profession or the company that they have applied for.
Make sure that you answer the questions without emotion and try to keep the answer as non gratifying as possible. Of course, this does not mean that you have to paint a negative picture of the profession or the company, but in fact, give practical positive answer to the question.

Academic qualifications are quite different from say - commodities. The quality of a commodity does not differ whether you buy it from a traveling salesman or directly from the company.
However, there is much weight age to the college or institution from which you have got your academic qualifications. Therefore, make sure that all the answers that you are clear, factual and not ambiguous.

Entry Level is the lowest level in the National Qualifications Framework. Qualifications at this level recognize basic knowledge and skills and the ability to apply learning in everyday situations under direct guidance or supervision.
Learning at this level involves building basic knowledge and skills and is not usually geared towards specific occupations.

► What does Accenture look for in an entry-level Consulting analyst candidate?
► What does Accenture look for in an entry-level Solutions candidate?
► Are there any opportunities for post-grad students and working professionals?
► What courses should I study to be considered for a career with Accenture?
► What sort of grades is Accenture looking for?
► Does Accenture recruit interns upon graduation?
► Does Accenture offer a formal mentoring program?
► Upon graduation, can I apply for several positions at one time?
► Have your applications closed?
► How do we agree on a start date if I'm offered the position?
► Will Accenture hire individuals with student visas?
► What is your usual internship duration?
► Will there be a lot of overtime?

Some questions could be about you motivation to progress from this entry level, your near future plans and the ability to adapt to some changes in your job profile. Honest answers for these questions are the best way to present your positive attitude, your way of thinking, and your mind-set toward your career in general.