First Job

Interviewing for your first job is a challenging interview situation.  Listed below are a few of the possible interview questions related to your "first job" job interview.  Review each interview question below to prepare yourself for the interview.

Review these critical interview tips before your interview:

• Interview Etiquette

• How to Dress for Your Interview

• Questions to Ask the Interviewers

Mock Interviews

• Business Development Associate 

• Entry Level

• Financial Planner - Entry Level 

• Human Resources Management Trainee

• Legislative Aide

• Mgmt. Trainee - Financial  

• Retail Sales and Service Clerk

• Underwriting Trainee 

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You have the experience and skills to be the winning candidate.  Make a perfect presentation with our easy to follow interview guides.  Answer questions naturally without sounding rehearsed and be confident for your interview:

• Complete Interview Guide
  Matt & Nan DeLuca and the job-interview.net interview experts will prepare you for your interview with:  

  1. Answers to tough job interview questions including follow-up questions.

  2. Thank you letters and interview follow-up.

  3. Three (3) practice interviews with our exclusive strategy

  4. Questions to ask the interviewers.

  5. Last minute interview?  Use our 24 hour plan.

Job Interview Questions

Notice how small changes in the interview questions will change your answer.  Possible follow-up questions are noted with a bullet.  Use our mock interviews based on actual job listings and interviews for more interview practice:  

1. How has your education prepared you for this position?

2. Which courses that you took will contribute the most to your effective performance in this job?

3. What was the single most important lesson that you have learned in school?

4. What do you like the most about the career that you're seeking?

5. What do you like the least about the career that you're seeking?

6. Why did you choose the college that you attended?

7. Why did you select the major that you that you selected?

8. Tell us about your extra-curricular activities in school?

9. How will your degree help you succeed in the job that you are interviewing for?

10. If we were to ask your professors what single quality that you possess is the most outstanding, what would they say?

INTERVIEW QUESTION AND ANSWERS
A detailed answer and analysis of a tough interview question from Matt & Nan DeLuca, authors of the best selling "Best Answers to the 201 Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions" and "More Best Answers to the 201 Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions"

It's my first job. What can I do/say to convince the interviewers I will be able to handle the job despite my lack of experience?

Look over your courses and part-time & summer jobs (if any); do not neglect any other activities such as clubs, sports, etc. Now---think about all the skills that are needed to perform the job you are interviewing for.  Lots of skills are transferable and highly valued such as communication, delegating, organizing.   First think in terms of verbs...things that must be done.  Next, think of adjectives that should describe the person doing the job such as calm, patient, incisive, creative . . .you get the idea.

Now that you have this list of what is needed for the job (verbs and adjectives), come up with as many examples of these attributes in your experience and/or coursework.  For example, if you had completed several extensive reports, they involved research, time management and organizational skills.  Tell short stories as examples of 'proof' of your expertise.

Being able to translate college experiences to job-needed skills is an art in itself.  If you are not certain of the qualities needed for the job, do some research on it yourself.  Talk to professional organizations or individuals in the field.  Make sure you do some research on the organization you want to work for...show them that you are interested and motivated by the fact that you did your 'homework' before applying.

This 'skill-matching' exercise can also give you your key selling points and areas to highlight in your resume and marketing letter.

Here are more tough interview questions and situations answered in the Complete Interview Guide:

• The first interview happened at my university.  What goes on in a 2nd interview?

• You have a degree.  Don't you think this position is a bit below your capabilities?

• How do I handle questions about my grades or requests for my transcripts?

• I am currently going through the interview process for a summer internship.  I wanted to know how honest should I be during an interview.