Job interview practice

What’s your biggest weakness?

Sometimes my confidence is a weakness, especially when I start something new, I tend to second-guess myself and I need lots of reassurance to make sure I’m doing things right. But I’m working on that by taking notes when I need to, reviewing instructions as much as possible, and asking questions so I know I’m doing things right because once I understand what I’m supposed to do, I become a lot more independent.

What’s your biggest strength?

I’d say one of my strengths is that I’m really helpful. I like stepping in when someone needs help. For example, in group projects at school, I’m usually the one who makes sure everyone understands the instructions and that we’re staying organized, which helps things run more smoothly and avoids stress on us.

Tell me about yourself. (Most underrated but most decisive question. Sets the tone.)

I’m a first-year student here at Skyline and I’m majoring in psychology. I chose psychology because I’ve always been interested in helping people, and I’m hoping to have a future career in mental health. Because of that, I’m really interested in working on campus as a student assistant, where I can interact with people and support them as needed. I also think getting more experience in a role like this would help me more with my communication skills which is important in an job, and this would prepare me for the kind of work I would like to do in the future. So I’m excited about the chance to get some more work experience while also being useful on campus.

Why do you want to work here? (This checks if you've actually read about the company.)

I want to work here

Why should we hire you?

You should hire me because I’m reliable, organized, and I’m able to balance my responsibilities. I’ve worked in a professional environment before where I followed instructions carefully, and did my tasks responsibly. I also take what I seriously and I aim to be helpful and dependable. As a student, I’ve learned how to manage my time effectively, and through my work experience at JOANN Fabrics, I developed some skills such as organization, attention to detail, and communication. I take initiative when completing tasks and try to be helpful wherever possible. I would bring a professional and responsible attitude to this role.

Why do you want this work-study job?

I want this job because I’m looking for an opportunity to gain more work experience while continuing my education. I’m interested in developing more professional skills in a structured environment, and I believe this position would be a good fit because I’m organized, reliable, and enjoy being helpful. I also appreciate that this role supports students and allows me to balance work with my academic responsibilities.

Tell me about a time you solved a difficult problem. (Behavioral + mindset test.)

A difficult problem I faced was helping a customer find a specific item when I wasn’t fully familiar with the store layout. Instead of just guessing, I stayed calm, listened carefully to what the customer needed, and asked my job coach or a staff member for help. This helped the customer get accurate thing they needed and taught me how important it is to communicate when I need help.

Describe a time you failed — and what you learned. (Culture fit + emotional maturity.)

A time I failed was when I didn’t ask for help soon enough in a class because I thought I could figure everything out on my own, but I was wrong and Instead I ended up getting confused a lot in that class and started falling behind. I then realized I should’ve asked for help when needed, and as soon as I did, it helped me do better because I was getting the help I needed and I felt more comfortable speaking up when I need clarification.

Tell me about a challenge at work

Because I was new to the job, one challenge was adjusting to the store layout and learning where items were located. At first, it was difficult to remember where everything went. I handled this by asking questions, paying close attention during my shifts, and taking mental notes while organizing shelves. Over time, I became more comfortable and efficient in my tasks.

How do you manage school and work?

I manage school and work by planning ahead and staying organized. I pay close attention to my class schedule and work hours, and I use tools like a planner and alarms to keep track of my responsibilities. This helps me manage my time effectively and make sure I stay on top of both school and work. OR I manage school and work by planning ahead and being organized. I keep track of my school schedule and work hours using a planner and reminders, which helps me stay on top of assignments and shifts. That way, I can manage my time effectively and avoid last-minute stress.”

"Where do you see yourself in five years?"

In five years, I hope to have graduated college with my psychology degree. Right now, I’m focusing on learning as much as I can and gaining experience that will help me in the future. I’m still figuring out exactly what career I want, but I know I want to work in a field where I can help people and make a positive impact.

Give me an example of a time you exhibited one of your strengths.

One of my strengths is being helpful. A good example of this was when I was working on a group project for one of my classes. One of my group members was struggling to understand part of the assignment and was falling behind. I noticed this, so I took the time to explain the instructions, walk them through the steps, and share how I was organizing my work. Because of that, our group was able to stay on track and submit the project on time, and the group member felt more confident contributing. This experience showed me that being helpful not only supports others, but also improves teamwork and outcomes.

What’re some other strengths?

• being reliable: One of my strengths is being reliable. When I commit to something, I make sure I show up on time and follow through on my responsibilities.

• Communication: I’d say one of my strengths is communication. I ask questions when I’m unsure, and I make sure I understand expectations so I can do tasks correctly.

What motivates you to do a good job?

What motivates me to do a good job is knowing that people are depending on me. I don’t like cutting corners or doing things halfway, and I take pride in being reliable. Even in small tasks, I want to make sure I’m doing my part well because it reflects my work ethic. For example, in my classes, I stay organized and make sure I meet deadlines because I don’t want my work to affect others negatively, especially in group settings. That same mindset motivates me to do my best in a job as well.

Give an example of a time you had to work under pressure and how you handled it?

I experienced pressure during a group project when we were close to the deadline and not everyone had completed their part. Instead of panicking, I focused on what I could control. I communicated with my group, helped reorganize tasks, and took on an extra portion to make sure we stayed on track. Because of that, we finished the project on time and worked more efficiently.

Describe a challenge and how you handled it? & What did you learn from that?

One challenge I experienced was helping customers when I wasn’t fully familiar with where every product was located in the store. At first, it was a little overwhelming because I didn’t want to give incorrect information.

To handle this, I learned to stay calm, ask for help when needed, and pay closer attention to how the store was organized. Over time, I became more confident assisting customers and improved my communication skills.

It taught me the importance of communication and asking questions instead of guessing, which is something I still apply today.

Tell me about a time in which you had to juggle multiple assignments/projects at once.

One time I had a week where I had two big assignments due and a test all in the same week. I made a plan by breaking each assignment into smaller steps and deciding which parts to work on each day. I focused on finishing one task at a time instead of trying to do everything at once. By the end of the week, I got everything done on time and learned that planning ahead and breaking work into steps really helps me stay on top of things.

What do you hope to gain from this position?

I hope to gain experience working in a professional environment and improve the skills I have like organization, communication, and helping others. I think this will help me be more prepared for future jobs and for balancing work with school.

Have you chosen a major yet? What do you like about this major?

Yes, I have and it’s psychology. I like learning about the different behaviors, disorders, and effects and I feel like it really helps me understand the world better by knowing how people function and things they can’t and can control.

what job-related skills have you developed?

Through my job experience at JOANN Fabrics, I developed important job-related skills such as organization, attention to detail, and customer assistance. I regularly stocked merchandise, folded clothing, and reorganized shelves to keep the store presentable. I also communicated with customers and my job coach, which helped improve my communication skills. This experience taught me how to stay organized, follow workplace expectations, and be reliable in a professional setting.

Do you have any work experience? OR I see that you have experience

AND, what did you learn from this job?

It was through a school-supported job program, and I worked at JOANN Fabrics. I mainly focused on stocking, organizing inventory, and helping customers find items they were looking for, and even though I was only a stocker, I still had a lot of responsibility in making sure the store stayed organized and that customers felt supported. I learned how important organization and communication are in a work environment. I also learned how to approach customers respectfully and help them without being overwhelming, which I think is an important skill in any job.

Do you have experience?

I do have some experience from a job program I was part of. It wasn’t a long- term job, but it helped me learn things like showing up on time, following instructions carefully, and how to be professional. I’m still learning, but I’m really willing to learn and improve.

Describe your experience working in a team

I’ve done school projects with classmates where we had to work together. I usually help organize the work and make sure my part gets done. I’ve learned that listening to others and being reliable really helps the team.

how do you organize and plan major projects?

When I have a major project, I start by looking at the deadline and the requirements. Then I break the project into smaller parts so it feels more manageable. I usually plan out what I’ll work on each day and try not to leave everything until the last minute. If something takes longer than I expected, I adjust my plan and keep moving forward. I usually start by figuring out what needs to be done and when it’s due. Then I break it into steps and spread the work out over time. I like checking things off as I go because it helps me stay on track. If something comes up, I just rearrange my schedule so I can still finish on time.

Tell me about a time you worked with a difficult person.

One time I had to work with a classmate on a group project who was hard to communicate with and wasn’t really doing their part. I didn’t want our group to fail, so I tried reaching out to them first, but it was still difficult to get answers or progress. I decided to respectfully let our professor know what was going on and ask for guidance. By doing that, we were able to make sure the project got done, and I learned that it’s important to stay calm, be professional, and ask for help when needed instead of getting frustrated.

How do you handle competing priorities and deadlines?

I handle competing priorities by figuring out what’s due first and what’s most important. I make a little plan and try to do one task at a time so I don’t feel overwhelmed. If something takes longer than I expected, I move things around and focus on what needs to be done next. It usually helps me stay on track and finish everything on time.

Any questions for us? (A chance to flip the interview, never say "no questions.")

1. What does a typical day or week look like for someone in this position?

2. Will there be training or guidance when I start?

3. How would you describe the work environment?