Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Security questions

1. Whats the difference between local, global and universal groups? Domain
local groups assign access permissions to global domain groups for local
domain resources. Global groups provide access to resources in other trusted
domains. Universal groups grant access to resources in all trusted domains.
2. I am trying to create a new universal user group. Why cant I? Universal
groups are allowed only in native-mode Windows Server 2003 environments.
Native mode requires that all domain controllers be promoted to Windows
Server 2003 Active Directory.
3. What is LSDOU? Its group policy inheritance model, where the policies are
applied to Local machines, Sites, Domains and Organizational Units.
4. Why doesnt LSDOU work under Windows NT? If the NTConfig.pol file
exist, it has the highest priority among the numerous policies.
5. Where are group policies stored? %SystemRoot%System32\GroupPolicy
6. What is GPT and GPC? Group policy template and group policy container.
7. Where is GPT stored? %SystemRoot
%\SYSVOL\sysvol\domainname\Policies\GUID
8. You change the group policies, and now the computer and user settings
are in conflict. Which one has the highest priority? The computer settings
take priority.
9. You want to set up remote installation procedure, but do not want the
user to gain access over it. What do you do? gponame> User
Configuration> Windows Settings> Remote Installation Services> Choice
Options is your friend.
10.
Whats contained in administrative template conf.adm? Microsoft
NetMeeting policies
11.
How can you restrict running certain applications on a machine?
Via group policy, security settings for the group, then Software Restriction
Policies.
12.
You need to automatically install an app, but MSI file is not
available. What do you do? A .zap text file can be used to add applications
using the Software Installer, rather than the Windows Installer.
13.
Whats the difference between Software Installer and Windows
Installer? The former has fewer privileges and will probably require user
intervention. Plus, it uses .zap files.
14.
What can be restricted on Windows Server 2003 that wasnt there
in previous products? Group Policy in Windows Server 2003 determines a
users right to modify network and dial-up TCP/IP properties. Users may be
selectively restricted from modifying their IP address and other network
configuration parameters.
15.
How frequently is the client policy refreshed? 90 minutes give or
take.
16.
Where is secedit? Its now gpupdate.
17.
You want to create a new group policy but do not wish to inherit.
Make sure you check Block inheritance among the options when creating the
policy.
18.
What is "tattooing" the Registry? The user can view and modify
user preferences that are not stored in maintained portions of the Registry. If
the group policy is removed or changed, the user preference will persist in the
Registry.

19.
How do you fight tattooing in NT/2000 installations? You cant.
20.
How do you fight tattooing in 2003 installations? User
Configuration - Administrative Templates - System - Group Policy - enable Enforce Show Policies Only.
21.
What does IntelliMirror do? It helps to reconcile desktop settings,
applications, and stored files for users, particularly those who move between
workstations or those who must periodically work offline.
22.
Whats the major difference between FAT and NTFS on a local
machine? FAT and FAT32 provide no security over locally logged-on users.
Only native NTFS provides extensive permission control on both remote and
local files.
23.
How do FAT and NTFS differ in approach to user shares? They
dont, both have support for sharing.
24.
Explan the List Folder Contents permission on the folder in NTFS.
Same as Read & Execute, but not inherited by files within a folder. However,
newly created subfolders will inherit this permission.
25.
I have a file to which the user has access, but he has no folder
permission to read it. Can he access it? It is possible for a user to navigate to
a file for which he does not have folder permission. This involves simply
knowing the path of the file object. Even if the user cant drill down the
file/folder tree using My Computer, he can still gain access to the file using the
Universal Naming Convention (UNC). The best way to start would be to type
the full path of a file into Run window.
26.
For a user in several groups, are Allow permissions restrictive or
permissive? Permissive, if at least one group has Allow permission for the
file/folder, user will have the same permission.
27.
For a user in several groups, are Deny permissions restrictive or
permissive? Restrictive, if at least one group has Deny permission for the
file/folder, user will be denied access, regardless of other group permissions.
28.
What hidden shares exist on Windows Server 2003 installation?
Admin$, Drive$, IPC$, NETLOGON, print$ and SYSVOL.
29.
Whats the difference between standalone and fault-tolerant DFS
(Distributed File System) installations? The standalone server stores the Dfs
directory tree structure or topology locally. Thus, if a shared folder is
inaccessible or if the Dfs root server is down, users are left with no link to the
shared resources. A fault-tolerant root node stores the Dfs topology in the
Active Directory, which is replicated to other domain controllers. Thus,
redundant root nodes may include multiple connections to the same data
residing in different shared folders.
30.
Were using the DFS fault-tolerant installation, but cannot access
it from a Win98 box. Use the UNC path, not client, only 2000 and 2003
clients can access Server 2003 fault-tolerant shares.
31.
Where exactly do fault-tolerant DFS shares store information in
Active Directory? In Partition Knowledge Table, which is then replicated to
other domain controllers.
32.
Can you use Start->Search with DFS shares? Yes.
33.
What problems can you have with DFS installed? Two users
opening the redundant copies of the file at the same time, with no file-locking
involved in DFS, changing the contents and then saving. Only one file will be
propagated through DFS.

34.
I run Microsoft Cluster Server and cannot install fault-tolerant
DFS. Yeah, you cant. Install a standalone one.
35.
Is Kerberos encryption symmetric or asymmetric? Symmetric.
36.
How does Windows 2003 Server try to prevent a middle-man
attack on encrypted line? Time stamp is attached to the initial client request,
encrypted with the shared key.
37.
What hashing algorithms are used in Windows 2003 Server? RSA
Data Securitys Message Digest 5 (MD5), produces a 128-bit hash, and the
Secure Hash Algorithm 1 (SHA-1), produces a 160-bit hash.
38.
What third-party certificate exchange protocols are used by
Windows 2003 Server? Windows Server 2003 uses the industry standard
PKCS-10 certificate request and PKCS-7 certificate response to exchange CA
certificates with third-party certificate authorities.
39.
Whats the number of permitted unsuccessful logons on
Administrator account? Unlimited. Remember, though, that its the
Administrator account, not any account thats part of the Administrators group.
40.
If hashing is one-way function and Windows Server uses hashing
for storing passwords, how is it possible to attack the password lists,
specifically the ones using NTLMv1? A cracker would launch a dictionary
attack by hashing every imaginable term used for password and then compare
the hashes.
41.
Whats the difference between guest accounts in Server 2003 and
other editions? More restrictive in Windows Server 2003.
42.
How many passwords by default are remembered when you check
"Enforce Password History Remembered"? Users last 6 passwords.

Windows Server 2003 interview and

certification questions
1. How do you double-boot a Win 2003 server box? The Boot.ini file is set as
read-only, system, and hidden to prevent unwanted editing. To change the
Boot.ini timeout and default settings, use the System option in Control Panel
from the Advanced tab and select Startup.
2. What do you do if earlier application doesnt run on Windows Server
2003? When an application that ran on an earlier legacy version of Windows
cannot be loaded during the setup function or if it later malfunctions, you must
run the compatibility mode function. This is accomplished by right-clicking
the application or setup program and selecting Properties > Compatibility >
selecting the previously supported operating system.
3. If you uninstall Windows Server 2003, which operating systems can you
revert to? Win ME, Win 98, 2000, XP. Note, however, that you cannot
upgrade from ME and 98 to Windows Server 2003.
4. How do you get to Internet Firewall settings? Start > Control Panel >
Network and Internet Connections > Network Connections.
5. What are the Windows Server 2003 keyboard shortcuts? Winkey opens or
closes the Start menu. Winkey + BREAK displays the System Properties
dialog box. Winkey + TAB moves the focus to the next application in the
taskbar. Winkey + SHIFT + TAB moves the focus to the previous application
in the taskbar. Winkey + B moves the focus to the notification area. Winkey +

D shows the desktop. Winkey + E opens Windows Explorer showing My

Computer. Winkey + F opens the Search panel. Winkey + CTRL + F opens the
Search panel with Search for Computers module selected. Winkey + F1 opens
Help. Winkey + M minimizes all. Winkey + SHIFT+ M undoes minimization.
Winkey + R opens Run dialog. Winkey + U opens the Utility Manager.
Winkey + L locks the computer.
6. What is Active Directory? Active Directory is a network-based object store
and service that locates and manages resources, and makes these resources
available to authorized users and groups. An underlying principle of the Active
Directory is that everything is considered an objectpeople, servers,
workstations, printers, documents, and devices. Each object has certain
attributes and its own security access control list (ACL).
7. Where are the Windows NT Primary Domain Controller (PDC) and its
Backup Domain Controller (BDC) in Server 2003? The Active Directory
replaces them. Now all domain controllers share a multimaster peer-to-peer
read and write relationship that hosts copies of the Active Directory.
8. How long does it take for security changes to be replicated among the
domain controllers? Security-related modifications are replicated within a
site immediately. These changes include account and individual user lockout
policies, changes to password policies, changes to computer account
passwords, and modifications to the Local Security Authority (LSA).
9. Whats new in Windows Server 2003 regarding the DNS management?
When DC promotion occurs with an existing forest, the Active Directory
Installation Wizard contacts an existing DC to update the directory and
replicate from the DC the required portions of the directory. If the wizard fails
to locate a DC, it performs debugging and reports what caused the failure and
how to fix the problem. In order to be located on a network, every DC must
register in DNS DC locator DNS records. The Active Directory Installation
Wizard verifies a proper configuration of the DNS infrastructure. All DNS
configuration debugging and reporting activity is done with the Active
Directory Installation Wizard.
10.
When should you create a forest? Organizations that operate on
radically different bases may require separate trees with distinct namespaces.
Unique trade or brand names often give rise to separate DNS identities.
Organizations merge or are acquired and naming continuity is desired.
Organizations form partnerships and joint ventures. While access to common
resources is desired, a separately defined tree can enforce more direct
administrative and security restrictions.
11.
How can you authenticate between forests? Four types of
authentication are used across forests: (1) Kerberos and NTLM network logon
for remote access to a server in another forest; (2) Kerberos and NTLM
interactive logon for physical logon outside the users home forest; (3)
Kerberos delegation to N-tier application in another forest; and (4) user
principal name (UPN) credentials.
12.
What snap-in administrative tools are available for Active
Directory? Active Directory Domains and Trusts Manager, Active Directory
Sites and Services Manager, Active Directory Users and Group Manager,
Active Directory Replication (optional, available from the Resource Kit),
Active Directory Schema Manager (optional, available from adminpak)

13.
What types of classes exist in Windows Server 2003 Active
Directory?
o Structural class. The structural class is important to the system
administrator in that it is the only type from which new Active
Directory objects are created. Structural classes are developed from
either the modification of an existing structural type or the use of one
or more abstract classes.
o Abstract class. Abstract classes are so named because they take the
form of templates that actually create other templates (abstracts) and
structural and auxiliary classes. Think of abstract classes as
frameworks for the defining objects.
o Auxiliary class. The auxiliary class is a list of attributes. Rather than
apply numerous attributes when creating a structural class, it provides
a streamlined alternative by applying a combination of attributes with a
single include action.
o 88 class. The 88 class includes object classes defined prior to 1993,
when the 1988 X.500 specification was adopted. This type does not
use the structural, abstract, and auxiliary definitions, nor is it in
common use for the development of objects in Windows Server 2003
environments.
14.
How do you delete a lingering object? Windows Server 2003
provides a command called Repadmin that provides the ability to delete
lingering objects in the Active Directory.
15.
What is Global Catalog? The Global Catalog authenticates network
user logons and fields inquiries about objects across a forest or tree. Every
domain has at least one GC that is hosted on a domain controller. In Windows
2000, there was typically one GC on every site in order to prevent user logon
failures across the network.
16.
How is user account security established in Windows Server 2003?
When an account is created, it is given a unique access number known as a
security identifier (SID). Every group to which the user belongs has an
associated SID. The user and related group SIDs together form the user
accounts security token, which determines access levels to objects throughout
the system and network. SIDs from the security token are mapped to the
access control list (ACL) of any object the user attempts to access.
17.
If I delete a user and then create a new account with the same
username and password, would the SID and permissions stay the same?
No. If you delete a user account and attempt to recreate it with the same user
name and password, the SID will be different.
18.
What do you do with secure sign-ons in an organization with many
roaming users? Credential Management feature of Windows Server 2003
provides a consistent single sign-on experience for users. This can be useful
for roaming users who move between computer systems. The Credential
Management feature provides a secure store of user credentials that includes
passwords and X.509 certificates.
19.
Anything special you should do when adding a user that has a
Mac? "Save password as encrypted clear text" must be selected on User
Properties Account Tab Options, since the Macs only store their passwords
that way.

20.
What remote access options does Windows Server 2003 support?
Dial-in, VPN, dial-in with callback.
21.
Where are the documents and settings for the roaming profile
stored? All the documents and environmental settings for the roaming user are
stored locally on the system, and, when the user logs off, all changes to the
locally stored profile are copied to the shared server folder. Therefore, the first
time a roaming user logs on to a new system the logon process may take some
time, depending on how large his profile folder is.
22.
Where are the settings for all the users stored on a given
machine? \Document and Settings\All Users
23.
What languages can you use for log-on scripts? JavaScipt,
VBScript, DOS batch files (.com, .bat, or even .exe)

Windows Server 2003 IIS and Scripting

interview questions
Windows interview questions
1. What is presentation layer responsible for in the OSI model? The
presentation layer establishes the data format prior to passing it along to the
network applications interface. TCP/IP networks perform this task at the
application layer.
2. Does Windows Server 2003 support IPv6? Yes, run ipv6.exe from command
line to disable it.
3. Can Windows Server 2003 function as a bridge? Yes, and its a new feature
for the 2003 product. You can combine several networks and devices
connected via several adapters by enabling IP routing.
4. Whats the difference between the basic disk and dynamic disk? The basic
type contains partitions, extended partitions, logical drivers, and an assortment
of static volumes; the dynamic type does not use partitions but dynamically
manages volumes and provides advanced storage options
5. Whats a media pool? It is any compilation of disks or tapes with the same
administrative properties.
6. How do you install recovery console? C:\i386\win32 /cmdcons,
assuming that your Win server installation is on drive C.
7. Whats new in Terminal Services for Windows 2003 Server? Supports
audio transmissions as well, although prepare for heavy network load.
8. What scripts ship with IIS 6.0? iisweb.vsb to create, delete, start, stop, and
list Web sites, iisftp.vsb to create, delete, start, stop, and list FTP sites,
iisdir.vsb to create, delete, start, stop, and display virtual directories,
iisftpdr.vsb to create, delete, start, stop, and display virtual directories under an
FTP root, iiscnfg.vbs to export and import IIS configuration to an XML file.
9. Whats the name of the user who connects to the Web site anonymously?
IUSR_computername
10. What secure authentication and encryption mechanisms are supported by
IIS 6.0? Basic authentication, Digest authentication, Advanced digest
authentication, Certificate-based Web transactions that use PKCS #7/PKCS
#10, Fortezza, SSL, Server-Gated Cryptography, Transport Layer Security
11. Whats the relation between SSL and TLS? Transport Layer Security (TLS)
extends SSL by providing cryptographic authentication.

12. Whats the role of http.sys in IIS? It is the point of contact for all incoming
HTTP requests. It listens for requests and queues them until they are all
processed, no more queues are available, or the Web server is shut down.
13. Wheres ASP cache located on IIS 6.0? On disk, as opposed to memory, as it
used to be in IIS 5.
14. What is socket pooling? Non-blocking socket usage, introduced in IIS 6.0.
More than one application can use a given socket.
15. Describe the process of clustering with Windows 2003 Server when a new
node is added. As a node goes online, it searches for other nodes to join by
polling the designated internal network. In this way, all nodes are notified of
the new nodes existence. If other nodes cannot be found on a preexisting
cluster, the new node takes control of the quorum resources residing on the
shared disk that contains state and configuration data.
16. What applications are not capable of performing in Windows 2003 Server
clusters? The ones written exclusively for NetBEUI and IPX.
17. Whats a heartbeat? Communication processes between the nodes designed
to ensure nodes health.
18. Whats a threshold in clustered environment? The number of times a restart
is attempted, when the node fails.
19. You need to change and admin password on a clustered Windows box, but
that requires rebooting the cluster, doesnt it? No, it doesnt. In 2003
environment you can do that via cluster.exe utility which does not require
rebooting the entire cluster.
20. For the document of size 1 MB, what size would you expect the index to
be with Indexing Service? 150-300 KB, 15-30% is a reasonable expectation.
21. Doesnt the Indexing Service introduce a security flaw when allowing
access to the index? No, because users can only view the indices of
documents and folders that they have permissions for.
22. Whats the typical size of the index? Less then 100K documents - up to 128
MB. More than that - 256+ MB.
23. Which characters should be enclosed in quotes when searching the index?
&, @, $, #, ^, ( ), and |.
24. How would you search for C++? Just enter C++, since + is not a special
character (and neither is C).
25. What about Barnes&Noble? Should be searched for as Barnes&Noble.
26. Are the searches case-sensitive? No.
27. Whats the order of precedence of Boolean operators in Microsoft
Windows 2003 Server Indexing Service? NOT, AND, NEAR, OR.
28. Whats a vector space query? A multiple-word query where the weight can
be assigned to each of the search words. For example, if you want to fight
information on black hole, but would prefer to give more weight to the word
hole, you can enter black[1] hole[20] into the search window.
29. Whats a response queue? Its the message queue that holds response
messages sent from the receiving application to the sender.
30. Whats MQPing used for? Testing Microsoft Message Queue services
between the nodes on a network.
31. Which add-on package for Windows 2003 Server would you use to
monitor the installed software and license compliance? SMS (System
Management Server).

32. Which service do you use to set up various alerts? MOM (Microsoft
Operations Manager).
33. What languages does Windows Scripting Host support? VB, VBScript,
JScript.

Windows sysadmin interview questions

1. What are the required components of Windows Server 2003 for installing
Exchange 2003? - ASP.NET, SMTP, NNTP, W3SVC
2. What must be done to an AD forest before Exchange can be deployed? Setup /forestprep
3. What Exchange process is responsible for communication with AD? DSACCESS
4. What 3 types of domain controller does Exchange access? - Normal
Domain Controller, Global Catalog, Configuration Domain Controller
5. What connector type would you use to connect to the Internet, and what
are the two methods of sending mail over that connector? - SMTP
Connector: Forward to smart host or use DNS to route to each address
6. How would you optimise Exchange 2003 memory usage on a Windows
Server 2003 server with more than 1Gb of memory? - Add /3Gb switch to
boot.ini
7. What would a rise in remote queue length generally indicate? - This means
mail is not being sent to other servers. This can be explained by outages or
performance issues with the network or remote servers.
8. What would a rise in the Local Delivery queue generally mean? - This
indicates a performance issue or outage on the local server. Reasons could be
slowness in consulting AD, slowness in handing messages off to local delivery
or SMTP delivery. It could also be databases being dismounted or a lack of
disk space.
9. What are the standard port numbers for SMTP, POP3, IMAP4, RPC,
LDAP and Global Catalog? - SMTP 25, POP3 110, IMAP4 143, RPC
135, LDAP 389, Global Catalog - 3268
10. Name the process names for the following: System Attendant?
MAD.EXE, Information Store STORE.EXE, SMTP/POP/IMAP/OWA
INETINFO.EXE
11. What is the maximum amount of databases that can be hosted on
Exchange 2003 Enterprise? - 20 databases. 4 SGs x 5 DBs.
12. What are the disadvantages of circular logging? - In the event of a corrupt
database, data can only be restored to the last backup.

55 most frequently asked interview

questions
General interview questions
Dan Johnston from PPR Career shared the following list of frequently
asked questions on a job interview, as well as advice on what to be
prepared for.
1. Tell me about

Answer in about two minutes. Avoid details, dont

yourself. Use
Picture Frame
Approach

ramble. Touch on these four areas:

How many years, doing what function
Education credentials
Major responsibility and accomplishments
Personal summary of work style (plus career
goals if applicable)
Prepare in advance using this formula:
1. My name is
2. Ive worked for X years as a [title]
3. Currently, Im a [title] at [company]
4. Before that, I was a [title] at [company]
5. I love the challenge of my work, especially
the major strengths it allows me to offer,
including [A, B, and C].
6. Second, help the interviewer by focusing the
question with a question of your own: What
about me would be most relevant to you and
what this company needs?

2. Did you bring your

resume?

Yes. Be prepared with two or three extra copies. Do

not offer them unless youre asked for one.

3. What do you know

about our
organization?

Research the target company before the interview.

Basic research is the only way to prepare for this
question. Do your homework, and youll score big on
this question. Talk about products, services, history
and people, especially any friends that work there.
But I would love to know more, particularly from
your point of view. Do we have time to cover that
now?

4. What experience do
you have?

Pre-interview research and PPR Career will help you

here. Try to cite experience relevant to the companys
concerns. Also, try answering this questions with a
question: Are you looking for overall experience or
experience in some specific area of special interest to
you? Let the interviewers response guide your
answer.

5. According to your
Be prepared to define success, and then respond
definition of success, (consistent record of responsibility)
how successful have
you been so far?
(Is this person mature
and self aware?)
6. In your current or
last position, what

Give one or two accomplishment statements

were your most

significant
accomplishments? In
your career so far?
7. Had you thought of Refer to positive aspects of the job, advancement
leaving your present opportunities, and what you learned.
position before? If
yes, what do you
think held you there?
8. Would you describe a Give only one, and tell how you have corrected or
few situations in
plan to correct your work.
which your work was
criticized?
9. If I spoke with your
previous boss, what
would he or she say
are your greatest
strengths and
weaknesses?

Be consistent with what you think the boss would say.

Position the weakness in a positive way (refer to #12)

10. How would you

describe your
personality?

Keep your answer short and relevant to the job and the
organizations culture.

11. What are your strong Present three. Relate them to that particular company
points?
and job opening.
12. What are your weak Dont say you have one, but give one that is really a
points?
positive in disguise. I am sometimes impatient and
do to much work myself when we are working against
tight deadlines. Or I compliment and praise my
staff, but feel I can improve.
13. How did you do in
school?
(Is the person
motivated? What are
his/her values,
attitudes? Is there a
fit?)
14. In your current or
last position, what
features did you like
most? Least?

Emphasize your best and favorite subjects. If grades

were average, talk about leadership or jobs you took to
finance your education. Talk about extra-curricular
activities (clubs, sports, volunteer work)

Refer to your satisfiers for likes. Be careful with

dislikes, give only one (if any) and make it brief.
Refuse to answer negatively. Respond that you like
everything about my current position and have
acquired and developed a great many skills, but Im
now ready for a new set of challenges and greater
responsibilities.

15. What do you look for Flip this one over. Despite the question, the employer
in a job?
isnt really interested in what you are looking for. Hes
interested in what he is looking for. Address his
interests, rather than yours. Use words like
contribute, enhance, improve, and team
environment. Fit your answer to their needs Relate
your preferences and satisfiers/dissatisfiers to the job
opening.
16. How long would it
take you to make a
meaningful
contribution to our
firm?

Not long, because of my experience, transferable

skills and ability to learn.

17. How long would you As long as I feel that Im contributing, and that my
stay with us?
contribution is recognized. Im looking to make a long
term commitment.
18. If you have never
supervised, how do
you feel about
assuming those
responsibilities?

If you want to supervise, say so, and be enthusiastic.

19. Why do you want to

become a
supervisor?

To grow and develop professionally, to help others

develop, to build a team and to share what I have
learned.

20. What do you see as

the most difficult
task in being a
supervisor?

Getting things planned and done through others and

dealing with different personalities. Show how you
have done this in the past.

21. Youve been with

your current
employer quite a
while. Why havent
you advanced with
him?

Lets assume the interviewer has a point here. That

doesnt mean you have to agree with the negative
terms of the question. Answer: What I like about my
present position is that its both stable and
challenging. But its true that Ive grown about as
much as I can in my current position. (This response
also turns the issue of salary on its head, transforming
it from What more can I get? to What more can I
offer?)

22. Why are you leaving Never answer with negative reasons, even if they are
your present
true. However, some companies have financial
position?
problems which may preclude you from staying with
them. Frame your answer positively by answering
why you want to move to the target company instead
of why you left or want to leave your most recent job.
For example, instead of answering, I dont get
enough challenges at [company], respond, I am

eager to take on more challenges, and I believe I will

find them at [hiring company]. Im not unhappy (at
my present employer). However, this opportunity
seems to be particularly interesting and I am interested
in pursuing it further. Never personalize or be
negative. Keep it short, give a group answer (e.g.
our office is closing, the whole organization is being
reduced in size). Stick to one response; dont change
answers during the interview. When applicable; best
response is: I was not on the market when PPR
Career contacted me and explained what you are
doing, it peaked my interest.
23. Describe what would Team work is the key.
be an ideal working
environment?
24. How would you
Be positive. Refer to the valuable experience you have
evaluate your present gained. Dont mention negatives.
firm?
25. Do you prefer
Be aware of what the job requires and position your
working with figures, answer in that context. In many cases it would be
or with words?
both.
26. What kinds of people Use this question as a chance to show that you are a
do you find difficult team player: The only people I have trouble with are
to work with?
those who arent team players, who just dont perform,
who complain constantly, and who fail to respond to
any efforts to motivate them. The interviewer is
expecting a response focused on personality and
personal dislikes. Surprise her by delivering an answer
that reflects company values.
27. How would your coworkers describe
you?

Refer to your strengths and skills.

28. What do you think of If you like him or her, say so and tell why. If you dont
your boss?
like him or her, find something positive to say.
29. Why do you want to
work in a company
of this size. Or this
type?

Explain how this size or type of company works well

for you, using examples from the past if possible.

30. If you had your

choice of jobs and
companies, where
would you go?

Refer to job preferences. Say that this job and this

company are very close to what best suits you.

31. Why do you want to

You feel you can help achieve the companies

work for us?

objectives, especially in the short run. You like what

youve learned about the company, its policies, goals
and management: Ive researched the company and
people tell me its a good place to work.

32. What was the last

book you read?
Movie you saw?
Sporting event you
attended?

Think this through. Your answer should be compatible

with accepted norms.

33. What are you doing,

or what have you
done to reach your
career objectives?

Talk about formal courses and training programs.

34. What was wrong

with your last
company?

Again, choose your words carefully. Dont be

negative. Say that no company is perfect, it had both
strengths and weaknesses.

35. What kind of hours

are you used to
working?

As many hours as it takes to get the job done.

(Does the person match

job and criteria?)

36. What would you do

for us?

Relate past success in accomplishing the objectives

which are similar to those of the prospective
employer.

37. What has your

experience been in
supervising people?

Give examples from accomplishments.

38. Are you a good

supervisor?

Draw from your successes. Yes, my people like and

respect me personally and professionally. They often
comment on how much they learn and develop under
my supervision.

39. Did you ever fire

If you havent, say so, but add that you could do it, if
anyone? If so, what necessary.
were the reasons and
how did you handle
it?
40. How have you helped Refer to accomplishments.
your company?
41. What is the most
money you ever

Refer to accomplishments. If you havent had budget

responsibility, say so, but refer to an accomplishment

accounted for?
Largest budget
responsibility?

that demonstrates the same skill.

42. Whats the most

difficult situation you
ever faced on the
job?

Remember, youre talking to a prospective employer,

not your best friend. Dont dredge up a catastrophe
that resulted in a personal or corporate failure. Be
ready for this question by thinking of a story that has a
happy ending happy for you and your company.
Never digress into personal or family difficulties, and
dont talk about problems youve had with supervisors
or peers. You might discuss a difficult situation with a
subordinate, provided that the issues were resolved
inventively and to everyones satisfaction.

43. Describe some

situations in which
you have worked
under pressure or
met deadlines?

Refer to accomplishments. Everyone has had a few of

these pressure situations in a career. Behavior-related
questions aim at assessing a candidates character,
attitude, and personality traits by asking for an
account of how the candidate handled certain
challenging situations. Plan for such questions by
making a list of the desirable traits relevant to the
needs of the industry or prospective employer and by
preparing some job-related stories about your
experience that demonstrate a range of those traits and
habits of conduct. Before answering the questions,
listen carefully and ask any clarifying questions you
think necessary. Tell your story and conclude by
explaining what you intended your story to illustrate.
Finally, ask for feedback: Does this tell you what you
need to know?

44. How do you handle

rejection?

Rejection is part of business. People dont always buy

what you sell. The tick here is to separate rejection of
your product from rejection of yourself: I see
rejection as an opportunity. I learn from it. When a
customer takes a pass, I ask him what we could do to
the product, price or service to make it possible for
him to say yes. Dont get me wrong: Youve got to
makes sales. But rejection is valuable, too. Its a good
teacher.

45. In your present

position, what
problems have you
identified that had
previously been
overlooked?

Refer to accomplishments

46. Give an example of

your creativity.

Refer to accomplishments.

47. Give examples of

your leadership
abilities.

Draw examples from accomplishments.

48. What are your career Talk first about doing the job for which you are
goals?
applying. Your career goals should mesh with the
hiring company goals.
49. What position do you Just say you wish to exceed objectives so well that
expect to have in two you will be on a promotable track.
years?
50. What are your
objectives?

Refer back to question #48 on goals.

(How does the person

handle stress? What is
their confidence level?)
51. Why should we hire
you?

This may sound suspicious, negative, or just plain

harsh. Actually, its a call for help. The employer
wants you to help him/her hire you. Keep your
response brief. Recap any job requirements the
interviewer may have mentioned earlier in the
interview, then, point by point, match your skills,
abilities and qualifications to those items. Relate a past
experience which represents success in achieving
objectives which may be similar to those of the
prospective employer.

52. You may be overqualified or too

experienced for the
position we have to
offer.

A strong company needs a strong person. An

employer will get faster return on investment because
you have more experience than required.

53. Why havent you

Finding the right job takes time. Im not looking for
found a new position just any job.
before now?
54. If you could start
again, what would
you do differently?

No need to be self-revealing. Hindsight is 20/20;

everyone would make some changes, but Ive learned
and grown from all my decisions.

55. How much do you

Be careful. If you dont know the market value, return
expect if we offer this the question by saying that you would expect a fair
position to you?
salary based on the job responsibilities, your
experience and skills and the market value of the job.
Express your interest in the job because it fits your
career goals Receptive to a reasonable and
competitive offer dont talk $s. Its always best to
put off discussing salary and let PPR Career handle

that. ANSWER: Im open to a competitive offer. Id

prefer to discuss the opportunity and allow my
recruiter to handle any salary questions.