Situational Job Interview Questions

Job interviews can be scary, especially if you don’t know what to expect.

Did you know that there are different types of interview questions? You can increase your chances of getting the job you want by learning the common types of interview questions and how to answer them.

In this resource, I give examples of situational interview questions. Practicing your answers before an interview can make you appear more confident during the actual interview. These are examples of questions you may be asked. Situational questions will vary based on the workplace. Many workplaces, however, use similar questions to assess how you would respond to an ethical dilemma or how you would solve a workplace problem.

You can use these questions as a guide. Practice answering the questions that relate most to the job you are applying for. To learn strategies on how to answer these questions, watch my video.

Ethical Situational Interview Questions

1. If you made a mistake that no one else noticed, what would you do?
2. You find out your co-worker is breaking the company’s privacy policy and disclosing confidential information. What do you do?
3. What would you do in the following situation? A co-worker tells you that she plans to call in sick while actually taking a week’s vacation.
4. While working in a hospital, you accidently open a patient’s file. You are not in this patient’s circle of care. You see confidential information about the patient. What do you do?
5. A journalist approaches you and has questions about a recent situation at your workplace. What would you do?
6. You do not believe your direct supervisor is handling a situation correctly. At what point would you go above your supervisor?

Problem-Solving Interview Questions

1. You are in a meeting with your colleagues and managers. Your manager says she is dissatisfied with your work on a project. You believe that your manager does not understand all the facts regarding the project. You also believe your manager should not bring this up at the meeting. You feel that your reputation may be affected by this critique. What would you do in this situation?
2. You are working on a team project. You believe one of your team members is not meeting expectations or putting in enough effort. What do you do?
3. You have a deadline to submit a project. It is now due, but you don’t think your project is good enough yet. What do you do?
4. How would you deal with a difficult colleague at work with whom you have been unable to build a successful relationship?
5. You are dealing with an angry customer. How would you decide when to call your supervisor?
6. If you need to move a table, but your co-workers are not around, would you accept a customer’s offer of help?
7. Your team is showing signs of low morale. What would you do to address this and motivate your team?
8. How would you deal with two teammates who are unable to work together on a project because they are in constant conflict?
9. What would you do if you were asked to perform a task you’ve never done before?
10. You are already halfway through a project. You realize you’ve made a big mistake. To correct the mistake, you will need to start again. You have a strict deadline. What do you do?