Test Your Interview IQ

The following quiz is designed to test your ability to make a standout impression and provide some pointers that will help you ace your next interview. Good luck!

1. What should you do to best prepare for an interview?
A. The night before, jot down your values, skills, interests and accomplishments on a scrap of paper. It's an efficient and constructive way to refresh your memory of career achievements and goals.
B. Prepare copies of your resume so you'll have them on hand, review your research of the prospective company, run through a mock interview and get a good night's sleep.
C. Nothing -- your dynamic personality is sure to win the employer over.
D. Review common interview questions and memorize how you will respond to them.

2. You're interviewing at a company where the dress is business casual. What should you wear?
A. Dress pants and a nice shirt or sweater.
B. Your most elegant designer sportswear.
C. A business suit.
D. It really doesn't matter -- they're interested in your skills and experiences, not your fashion sense.

3. Research suggests applicants who interview at which time of day have an advantage...
A. Early afternoon
B. Midafternoon
C. Midmorning
D. Early morning

4. When you first meet the person who will be interviewing you, you should:
A. Shake the person's hand and take the seat nearest you.
B. Shake the person's hand and wait for him or her to direct you to a seat.
C. Give the person a copy of your resume and then shake his or her hand.
D. Ask for a glass of water so you don't become parched during the interview.

5. Which types of questions should you ask the potential employers during the first interview?
A. Ask questions that relate to big-picture issues: Where does the company hope to be in a few years? What are its primary challenges?
B. None -- asking questions may make the employer think you haven't done your homework.
C. To establish rapport, ask interviewers when they joined the firm, how they became interested in this type of job and where they went to college.
D. Ask about the compensation level for the position and the types of incentives that are offered.

6. While interviewing for a new position, you've met with three different people in one department. How do you handle the thank-you note(s)?
A. Send a separate and personal note to each individual.
B. Send a note to the group, thanking them all for their time.
C. Address your note to the primary decision-maker, and ask that person to extend your thanks to the others.
D. Send duplicate notes to all three people who met with you.

7. If a potential employer asks you to state your weaknesses during an interview, a good strategy is to:
A. Be candid -- discuss several of your biggest shortcomings and how you're trying to overcome them.
B. Be humorous -- say "chocolate" or "Godzilla movies," or something similarly zany and unique that will set you apart from your competition.
C. Talk about how you're an incorrigible workaholic or perfectionist. These "weaknesses" are sure to win managers over.
D. Mention one minor weakness that doesn't directly relate to how well you will perform in the position under discussion and describe how you are overcoming it.

8. Fortune 1000 executives were asked for the one quality in prospective workers -- apart from ability and willingness to do the job -- that impressed them most during an interview. Which of the following responses received a majority of the vote?
A. Honesty
B. Appearance
C. Sense of humor
D. Educational background

9. During the first job interview, you're asked for your salary requirements. The best strategy is to:
A. Give a salary range higher than the one you expect so you'll have room to negotiate.
B. Let the employer know your bottom line by providing the lowest annual salary you will accept.
C. Tell the employer that you hadn't considered compensation, but you can get back on that once you've done some research.
D. Say that your salary requirements will vary, depending on the responsibilities the job entails and the benefits offered. If pressed, give a general salary range that you would expect.

10. Robert Half International collects real-life stories of unusual interview behavior. All except one of the following actually happened. Which is the fake?
A. A candidate brought his five children and a cat to the interview.
B. A man pulled his pet iguana from his briefcase, saying, "I didn't want to bring him here, but he hates to be alone."
C. A candidate brought his three dogs to the interview and asked the interviewer to keep an eye on them while he went to make a phone call.
D. A man asked if his rabbit could come to the office with him.