This document provides guidance on common interview questions and tips for answering them successfully. It addresses questions like "Tell me about yourself", "Why do you want to work here?", questions about dealing with underperforming employees, and disagreeing with management. For each question, it provides the context for what the interviewer wants to learn and tips like providing concrete examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). The document encourages interviewees to prepare answers that showcase their strengths and fit for the role. It concludes by offering further support on improving resumes and sharing success stories.

1. Common Interview
Questions
SOP Guide to Interviewing
(Standard Operating Procedures)
By: Timothy Eng
Updated November 11, 2013 Veteran’s Day

2. Introduction to Interviewing
Interviewing is perhaps the most intimidating experience a battle proven
Soldier will ever undergo. It is a vulnerable time when you are putting your
best foot forward into the unknown where someone will evaluate your
qualifications and determine whether or not you will be “a good fit” within
their organization. It’s not meant to be personal, but it’s often hard to
separate. Rejection is hurtful, but my guide is meant to assist you in your
preparation so that you will have a leg up over your competition. I have
written my guide based on my countless personal interviewing experiences
and stories shared with me from my counterparts who transitioned out
when I did. It’s been a great journey and I can’t wait to share my tips with
you.

3. Tell me a little bit about yourself…
• Wow, this is perhaps the most critical question and the hardest one to respond. It doesn’t
matter what job you are applying for, you will undoubtedly encounter this question.
• BLUF (Bottom Line Upfront): The company is determining the type of person you are
both personally and professionally to see if you will be a good fit for their work team.
• Tip: To answer it, you need to be direct, precise, genuine, and memorable in your
response. This is not the time to talk about your belief system, provide personal
opinions, or give your entire life story. This question is meant to highlight your skill set
and answer why this company should hire you instead of one of your peers. Think of
answering the following questions in your response:
• Why should the company hire me?
• What sets me apart?
• What can I tell him/her about me that is unique or interesting so that they remember me?
• Note to Self: You have an advantage from those who never served. Draw from your life
and military experiences. Your confidence, maturity, poise (body language) tells the
other half of the story during the interview. Anyone can memorize the “right” answers,
but your body language tells the rest of the story and will help the HR rep determine
whether or not you are being genuine. In an age of technology where immediate
gratification means distancing oneself from personal human contact, the military is
one profession which operates on daily human interaction. Use those skills to conquer
the interview.

4. Why do you want to work for us?
• This is a research question where the HR rep is wondering if you
did your homework on the company you applied for or if you just
blindly applied to anything and everything.
• BLUF: A company wants to only consider candidates who are
serious and show initiative in learning more about them.
• Tip: Do the homework prior to the phone/in person interview by
visiting the company’s website and Googling/Yahooing the
company to read related articles.

5. Tell me a time when you had to deal with an
underperforming employee.
• This question is meant to see how you handle personnel and
motivate troubled employees.
• BLUF: A company wants to hire a strong leader who is not afraid
to confront an individual to address the issue and offer viable
solutions in accordance to company policy.
• Tip: Let them know that you believe in providing feedback both
positive and negative unofficially through word of mouth and
officially on paper through awards or negative counseling. Give a
time when you had to motivate a Soldier and provide the success
outcome. Answer it using the infamous STAR method to be
precise in your storytelling so that you don’t go off on a tangent:
•
•
•
•
Situation (State the problem and explain why it was an issue?)
Task (What did you recommend? How was it addressed)
Action (How was it implemented?)
Result (What was the outcome?)

6. Have you ever had a time when you disagreed
with your management?
How did you deal with it?
• This question is really asking how you deal with conflicting viewpoints
and whether or not you will be a “company man.”
• BLUF: Management do not always make the popular decisions but are
entrusted to enforce policy.
• Tip: As a manager or employee, you may disagree with a new policy but
the management position has to be respected and followed. Just like in
the Army, you may not necessarily respect the person, but you have to
respect the position and follow orders. This is not an opportunity for
you to begin complaining about the West Point officer you served under.
=) Instead, use it as an opportunity to show that you are responsible
enough to speak privately to your supervisor to express your concerns
and afterwards taking ownership of the new policy, etc. after your
thoughts and ideas were taken under consideration. Drive On!

7. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• This question is really asking you for all of your strengths, you may have
weaknesses but you are not confiding with a therapist.
• BLUF: Companies do not want to hire people who do not have their feet
on the ground, meaning they have over inflated views of themselves.
• Tip: Start with your “weaknesses” but ensure that the weaknesses will
not impede you from performing your work. Instead, turn it into a
strength. For example, I know that I am weak in web design, which is
why I enrolled in a 10 week online course. I will be completed in two
weeks and feel confident that I will have the skills to perform my own
web design on top of the marketing that is required for this position.
This shows that you are aware of areas you are lacking in and are already
addressing it by taking on professional development. Lastly, be sure that
your strengths fall in line with the primary requirements of the job you
are interviewing for such as time management, decisiveness,
communication, leadership, etc.

8. Do you have any questions?
• This is a trick question, because at this point in the interview you will be ready to
end the interview after having answered all the questions correctly in your mind.
• BLUF: The company wants to know if you are genuinely interested in the position.
• Tip: Ask a thoughtful question which you may or may not already know the
answer to. The purpose is to show that you did your research on the position and
that you have the appropriate skills and experience. Also, be sure to also ask the
following:
• I am excited for the opportunity and feel that I would be a good fit for the
position. When should I expect to hear back?
• You want to reiterate the fact that you want the job! Employers want to
hire someone excited to work for them, not just looking for a pay check.
Show enthusiasm!!
• May I have your contact information (business card, etc.)?
• The intent is to have the HR rep provide their info in the hopes that they
will invite you to reach out to them should you have any questions and to
get a temperature read on whether you were successful or not in the
interview. Also, use the info to hand write or email a thank you for their
time.

9. Follow On Steps…
Thanks for taking the time to sign up and read through this guide. If you are
asking yourself, this is all well and good, but how do I even get to the
interview? You’ve come to the right place. I will send you a daily email for
the next 10 days with proven tips to improve your resume so that you can be
a clear standout on your next application. You can find more information by
checking back to my website. I have the heart to continue serving and I
would love to hear you share with me your success stories at
tim@timothyeng.com.