"Originally published in Great Britain as Why you? by Portfolio, an imprint of Penguin Random House UK"--Verso of title page.

1 All in the Mind 1 -- One moment 1 -- Your 3G mindset 14 -- So, you want a job? 18 -- What recruitment consultants want 27 -- Day of the interview 32 -- Interview questions and the interviewers who love them 39 -- 2 Classic Interview Questions: The "Fateful 15" 45 -- 1 Tell me about yourself 46 -- 2 Why are you applying? 52 -- 3 What are your greatest strengths? 54 -- 4 What are your greatest weaknesses? 56 -- 5 What will your skills and ideas bring to this company? 61 -- 6 What's your preferred management style? 62 -- 7 Where do you see yourself in five years' time? 64 -- 8 How would you approach this job? 67 -- 9 What have you achieved elsewhere? 68 -- 10 What did you like and dislike about your last job? 70 -- 11 Tell me about a time you worked in a team 72 -- 12 What do your co-workers say about you? 74 -- 13 How do you deal with stress and failure? 76 -- 14 How much money do you want? 77 -- 15 Show me your creativity 78 -- 3 Career Goal Questions 80 -- 16 Please describe the job you've applied for 82 -- 17 How did you hear about the position? 83 -- 18 Why do you want to work at this company? 84 -- 19 What motivates you? 85 -- 20 Would you stay with your current employer if they offered you a pay raise? 87 -- 21 Would you be OK with the commute to this job? 89 -- 22 How does this job fit in with your career plan? 90 -- 23 Give me the names of three companies you would like to work for 92 -- 24 Where else have you applied? / Who else are you interviewing with? 94 -- 25 Why have you changed jobs so frequently? 96 -- 26 What is your dream job? 98 -- 27 What's your ideal work environment? 101 -- 28 Why do you want to leave your current job? 102 -- 29 Talk me through (the gaps in) your resume/career history 105 -- 4 Character Questions 109 -- 30 How was your journey here? 112 -- 31 Where does your boss think you are now? 114 -- 32 What are your core values? 115 -- 33 What are your hobbies and interests? 116 -- 34 Tell me about your first job 117 -- 35 Who do you admire and why? 119 -- 36 If you could bring anyone to this company from where you currently work, who would it be? 121 -- 37 Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult person 122 -- 38 When were you last angry-and why? 124 -- 39 Tell me about something funny that has happened to you at work 125 -- 40 What is it about this job that you would least look forward to? 127 -- 41 Tell me something about yourself that isn't on your resume 128 -- 42 What do you most dislike about yourself? 131 -- 43 How would you react if I told you that you are not the strongest candidate we have interviewed so far? 133 -- 44 Is it acceptable to lie in business? 134 -- 45 If you could go back and change one thing about your career to date, what would it be? 137 -- 46 What do people assume about you that would be wrong? 139 -- 47 Can you tell me about a time when you stood up for the right thing to do? 140 -- 48 Have you ever stolen a pen from work? 142 -- 49 Did you enjoy school/college? 143 -- 50 Do you know anyone at this company? 145 -- 51 How do you maintain a good work/life balance? 146 -- 52 Are your grades a good indicator of success in this business? 147 -- 53 Would you rather be liked or feared? 149 -- 54 What are your thoughts on the interview process so far? 150 -- 55 Why should I choose you over other candidates? 151 -- 56 Is it OK to spend time at work on non-work stuff, like Facebook or YouTube? 154 -- 57 What are three positive things your boss/colleagues would say about you? 156 -- 58 What has been the biggest setback in your career? 158 -- 59 Your boss overslept and is now late for a client meeting. He calls and asks you to tell the client that he is stuck in traffic-in other words to lie for him. What do you do? 160 -- 5 Competency Questions 162 -- 60 What was the last big decision you had to make? 163 -- 61 Tell me about a time you've worked to/missed a deadline 165 -- 62 Tell me about a big change you've had to deal with 168 -- 63 Tell me about a time you've had to persuade someone to do something 170 -- 64 Give me an example of something you've tried in your job that hasn't worked- How did you learn from it? 172 -- 65 Tell me about a time you've disagreed with a senior member of staff 173 -- 66 If offered the job, what would be your first priority or thing you would change? 175 -- 67 Why are you a good fit for the company? 177 -- 68 What was the last thing you taught? 179 -- 69 How have you ensured maximum value for money when managing resources? 180 -- 70 Name some top opinion influencers in this industry 181 -- 71 Most people are good at managing up or down, but usually not both. Which one are you? 183 -- 72 Which websites do you use personally? Why? 185 -- 73 How does your personal social media presence affect your employer? 186 -- 74 How have you improved in the last year? 188 -- 75 Tell me about a time a client was especially unhappy and what you did to resolve the situation 190 -- 76 Tell me about a time you made an important decision in the absence of a manager. Why did you reach that decision? 191 -- 77 Can you tell me about a recent situation where you took the initiative and made something happen? 193 -- 78 What is the biggest issue between you and your current/previous manager? 194 -- 79 What is your favorite product/service in the industry? 195 -- 80 What is 10 percent of 100? 198 -- 81 Tell me about a time you supported a member of your team who was struggling 200 -- 82 In your current job, how many hours a week must you work to get it all done? 201 -- 83 Give an example of a time you've had to improvise to achieve your goal 203 -- 6 Curveball and Creativity Questions 205 -- 84 If you were an animal what would you be? 208 -- 85 Every resume has at least one lie in it What's yours? 209 -- 86 Have you ever been fired? 210 -- 87 Tell me about a time you went against company policy 214 -- 88 Tell me about your family 216 -- 89 Are you married? Planning to have kids? When did you start your career? Where are you from originally? Do you celebrate any specific religious holidays? 217 -- 90 Where did you last go on vacation? 219 -- 91 Tell me about the last good idea you had 221 -- 92 Would you mind if I approached your former/current employer for a reference? 222 -- 93 What would you guess is the most searched-for phrase on YouTube? 223 -- 94 What books and newspapers do you read? 226 -- 95 Aren't you overqualified for this job? 227 -- 96 Sell me this pen 229 -- 97 Give your resume a mark out of ten 230 -- 98 Our product has seriously antisocial side effects. How do you feel about that? 232 -- 99 How many traffic lights are there in New York City? 233 -- 100 What haven't I asked you that I should have? 235 -- 101 When can you start? 237 -- 7 Parting Shots 239 -- When it's your turn 239 -- Last impressions-how to wrap up the interview 255 -- How to follow up without being a stalker 259 -- Real answer 263.