Mock Interview Prep

Write out your answers to the following question

Basic interview questions:

Tell me about yourself.
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
Why do you want this job?
Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?
What's your ideal company?
What attracted you to this company?
Why should we hire you?
What did you like least about your last job?
When were you most satisfied in your job?
What can you do for us that other candidates can't?
What were the responsibilities of your last position?
Why are you leaving your present job?
What do you know about this industry?
What do you know about our company?
Are you willing to relocate?
Do you have any questions for me?

Behavioral interview questions:

What was the last project you led, and what was its outcome?
Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work.
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?
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?
How do you handle working with people who annoy you?
If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?
What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?
Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it?
Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job.
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 you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?
What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue?
What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years and how did you come to that decision?
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.

CITY WORKS DC Resources: https://www.cityworksdc.org/

Hospitality Interview Preparation Guide

Use this guide to practice potential interview questions, familiarize with the identified job readiness skills, and review recommendations on how to respond.

Essential Job Ready Skill

Potential Questions

Response Recommendations

Hospitality Demeanor

Working in this industry requires a friendly, positive, and client facing demeanor. This industry is a good fit for you if you are a people person and want to give them a good experience.

Do you like to work with people?
Do you have a positive attitude and a smile for clients, even after a long shift?
Are you friendly and committed to giving people a good experience?

Share that you like working with people, serving clients, and giving customers a positive experience with a smile.

Interest

Candidate is genuinely interested in the role to which they are applying and in the field of hospitality.

Tell me about your interest in the job.
Why do you think you are a good fit for this role?
How did you hear about the company and what stood out to you about the role?

Share why you are excited about the position, how it aligns with your experience and skill set, and how you would like to grow in these skills.

Commitment

If hired for the role, candidate intends to commit to it for a year (less time if they advance to a more senior role at the property).

Where do you see yourself professionally in 6 months to a year?
Where do you see yourself professionally in 3-5 years?
Do you have any other commitments that may interfere with your success in this role?

The employer would like to know how you plan to prioritize this role each day and if any of your other commitments may impact this. For example: are you expecting to move soon? Are you a student, full-time or part-time? Do you care for family or dependents?

Punctuality

Candidate can be reliably counted upon to consistently demonstrate punctuality and readiness to work, and understands that timeliness and reliability is expected in the hospitality industry.

What would your last supervisor say about your attendance and punctuality?
How many times would your last supervisor say you were absent or late this year?
What are your preferred work hours?

This is an opportunity for you to share about how punctual and reliable you are as an employee. Do you typically arrive early for your shift? If you have arrived late to work before, how have you communicated your tardiness?

Professionalism

Candidate is consistently professional in their communication, behavior, and attire.

What aspects of professionalism do you believe are most important in this role?
Tell me about a time you had to address problematic behavior of a coworker or customer. What was your approach?

This is an opportunity for you to showcase your professionalism by dressing appropriately for the job interview, making eye contact, and communicating clearly. When answering questions, use the STAR method in your response. Share a situation, task(s), action, and the results.

Customer Service Skills

Candidate understands the importance of customer service, and signals that they are equipped and ready to proactively anticipate and respond to customers’ needs.

Share a time when you were proud of the level of service you gave a customer.
How would you handle a situation where a customer is dissatisfied with their order or has a complaint?

The employer would like to get a sense of how comfortable you are in your interactions and support of customers, even when they may be difficult. You can use the STAR method in your response. Share a situation, task(s), action, and the results.

Initiative

Candidate takes the initiative to proactively take on work they see needs to be done, rather than often waiting to be told what to do.

Tell me about a time you took initiative either at work or at school.

The employer would like to know how you perform and achieve tasks in the workplace. For example: do you wait for a supervisor to assign you responsibilities that you know need to be done or do you anticipate and proactively incorporate it along with your day-to-day tasks? Use the STAR method in your response. Share a situation, task(s), action, and the results.

Work Ethic

Candidate is ready to work hard in this role, which will involve lots of hours standing, interacting with lots of customers, and dealing with challenges.

Can you share a time you went above and beyond to complete a project or task?
How do you stay motivated?
Describe a challenge you experienced and how you solved it?

This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate how you persevere through challenges that may arise at work. Use the STAR method in your response. Share a situation, task(s), action, and the results.

Seeks and Acts on Feedback
Candidate proactively seeks feedback, receives it well, and takes clear actions to improve.

How do you handle criticism?
Tell me about a time you asked for or received constructive criticism.

Be specific in your response. Be sure to provide details of the feedback, what you learned from it, and how you responded to it.

Integrity

Candidate is consistently honest, adheres to policies, and demonstrates good judgment.

Do you have experience handling cash and a cash register?
How do you take responsibility for your mistakes?
Do others consider you to be trustworthy?
Tell me about a time you had to comply with a policy you didn’t agree with.

The employer would like to know how you admit mistakes on the job and learn from them. They are hoping to gauge your honesty and trustworthiness as an employee and colleague to others. You can use the STAR method in your response. Share a situation, task(s), action, and the results.

Teamwork

Candidate has demonstrated ability to work well, collaboratively, with others.

Describe a time you worked well in a team.
What role do you tend to play in a team?

The employer would like to know how you operate in a team, receive tasks, and collaborate with other work styles different from your own. Use the STAR method in your response. Share a situation, task(s), action, and the results.

Construction Interview Preparation Guide

Use this guide to practice potential interview questions, familiarize with the identified job readiness skills, and review recommendations on how to respond.

Essential Job Ready Skill

Potential Questions

Response Recommendations

Interest

Candidate is genuinely interested in the role to which they are applying and in the field of construction.

Tell me about your interest in the job.
How did you hear about the company and what stood out to you about the role?
Why are you interested in this field?
What about construction calls to you?

Share why you are excited about the position, how it aligns with your experience and skill set, and how you would like to grow in these skills.

Background Check

Candidate knows that depending on the type of site they may be required to do a background screening. Certain types of previous legal incidents pay not be allowed depending on the site.

Do you know your previous legal history?
If you are justice involved, can you speak to the incident and how you have moved on/grown?

During an interview the employer cannot ask about your background however certain job sites will have legal background requirements. To prevent being let go further down the line, ask the employer about their job sites and the background requirements.

Drug Screening

Candidates know that they will be drug screened including for marijuana upon hire and periodically. A positive test usually will result in termination due to the construction industry’s need for safety on a job site.

Do you know that despite the city’s law around marijuana, workers cannot test positive while working on a construction site for safety reasons?

During an interview the employer cannot ask about your drug history. You will be subject to a drug screen upon hire and during an interview you can ask about the process, timing, and company policies.

Motivated to Get the Job Done

You gain personal and professional satisfaction from seeing a project completed.

Why is it important to complete your part of the construction job on time?
How have you used your skills to ensure that you completed a task in the past?
How have you acted in a team to ensure a project was completed?

The employer would like to know how you see yourself in the larger construction project. Whether you are responsible for a single task or must keep an entire team together to complete a construction job does seeing a good completed job matter to you?

Self Starter/Problem Solving Approach

You can work independently to complete a task and can address and solve challenges that may come up on a job site.

What would your last supervisor say about your ability to work independently?
Provide an example of how you’ve used problem solving to address a situation at work and got a favorable result.

Construction sites have many moving parts. Can you convey how you can be trusted to work independently? When a problem comes up can you demonstrate a problem solving attitude to keep the project going on time and on budget?

Dependable and Reliable

You understand the work day of construction sites and can be relied upon to be on time and show up everyday. Can you be reached easily and communicate with your foreman/manager about changes in your schedule?

What would your last supervisor say about your attendance and punctuality?
How many times would your last supervisor say you were absent or late this year?
What are your preferred hours?
Can you work a typical construction schedule? (6-7am to 2-3pm)
Construction projects typically require overtime, can you work overtime?

Like Working with Your Hands

Candidate likes to work with their hands and outside. This is more relevant for Skilled Trades.

Give some examples of your previous work in construction or doing anything outside or with your hands
Can you handle working outside in various conditions and temperatures?

Working outside and with your hands are the most central part of working in construction. Explain your previous work experience that aligns.

Focus on Safety

Candidate understands the important of safety.

How can you ensure safety on a construction site?
Is it safe to be looking at your phone while walking around a construction site?

The employer wants to know that you will focus on safety at all times. If you have taken and safety certifications or classes make sure you share that. Discuss times at other jobs that you have ensured safety.

Willingness to Learn

Candidate is willing to learn, be trained, and open to feedback. Candidate sees themselves growing in their mastery of the skilled trade.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
What skills do you have and what skills do you want to learn?
How do you handle feedback?
Are you able to listen and learn from authority figures on a job site?

Construction skills take time to master and learn. Can you pay attention, learn on the job, and show your mastery of a skill? Show an example of how you have been teachable or improved your skills while working. Construction places have a hierarchy, early on you will be in listening and learning mode with your foreman.

Talk about certifications you have earned.

Teamwork

Candidate has demonstrated ability to work well, collaboratively, with others.

Describe a time you worked well in a team.
What role do you tend to play in a team?