Interview questions at ICON

1. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? top question

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   What challenges do you like overcoming? Where are you starting from and where might you be going?

   For example, let's say the position you are applying for is junior accountant. It includes a wide range of tasks such as basic bookkeeping, financial analysis, and reporting. If accounting is your chosen field, then you would most likely want to move in the direction of obtaining your CPA so that you might step up to more responsibility as an accounting manager or senior auditor within the next 5 years. Your responses should make sense in how you see yourself growing in your professional career.

   However, at this point, if you are happy just where you are and want to further your current skills, that is also fine as long as there is a growth path for you that can be imagined and described.

2. About The Company

   Research the company to learn what career opportunities may be available in the department you are applying to, and what the trends are in the company in general.

   • Is the business expanding, are they opening new locations, or starting new projects?
   • Or are they heavily automating and cutting staff?

   Let’s say you are applying for a UX designer position for a brand-new product.

   In the future, if the product becomes a success - which is what the company hopes for - the company will hire more designers and you may become a lead designer, or you may become a product manager.

   On a side note: If you train your mind to be open to opportunities you will be amazed at how much this world has to offer to you!

3. About The Fit

   And, of course, try to see where the perfect fit lies between your own potential and aspirations, and the company’s trends and hopes.

   However, beware of the risk of showing too much excitement for future opportunities compared to your attitude towards the current position.

   As we said earlier, you must show interest and enthusiasm for the position you are applying for. If the interviewer senses that you are more enthusiastic about future growth than about the current position, they may conclude that you are not the right person for the job at hand.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 24% more frequently at ICON than at other companies.

2. Tell me about yourself

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   What is your current occupation? Define yourself professionally in one statement.

   Pick 3 key skills that make you great at your work (your Key Selling Points). How have you applied these skills?

   Try to give some numbers to support your statement.

2. About The Company

   Your first step is to Research the company to find out as much as you can about what they do and their approach to their business and their employees.

   Based on what you know about the company and the job description, why are you interested in the position you are applying for?

3. About The Fit

   Now is the right time to show the fit between your skills and the company's requirements. Your answer works best if you emphasize your relevance. How do you do this? You will have already researched the company, studied the job description to identify their needs and possible pain points and prepared the relevant Star Stories that show how you addressed similar issues in the past. Your next step is to develop your Present-Past-Present approach.

   Start with the Present. Focus on the skills and experience from your most recent positions. What has enabled you to get the job done successfully and how this relates to what the employer is looking to accomplish.

   Next go back to the Past. Here is where your Star story comes in. Explain how you were able to use your skills and experience to accomplish a task that relates to an area of concern for the employer.

   Finally come back to the Present – summarizing the lessons you learned and how they shaped your response and approach today.

   Remember, the whole conversation is about the present, not the past. Just one sentence can summarize why your approach works, and its applicability and relevance to this position.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 54% less frequently at ICON than at other companies.

3. Tell me about your greatest professional accomplishment

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   In preparation for answering this question, list the top 3 professional accomplishments that you are most proud of. No need for lengthy descriptions, just a sentence or two for each one to help you recall each situation.

   Write down your Key Selling Points - your top 3-5 skills that make you a strong professional.

   Make sure you have developed the story behind each accomplishment and have a strong command of the details of what happened so that you can tell the story clearly and distinctly.

   Along with each accomplishment, mark which of your Key Selling Points they showcase. How exactly?

2. About The Company

   Based on your research of the company, what are their current needs?

   • What are the major projects going on?
   • What are the expectations for the position you are applying for?
   • Think about which of your accomplishment stories best fit their needs and expectations?

3. About The Fit

   Once you have decided on the appropriate accomplishment story, think how you will relate it in an interview and how you will make it relevant to the the job you are seeking. One approach is to use the Present-Past-Present technique.

   Let's say that the accomplishment was leading your team in installing a new billing system and bringing it in on time and under budget.

   You might start off in the Present by talking about the importance of having good leadership skills.

   Then move to the Past to relate your story about how you successfully lead your team in accomplishing the objective.

   Finally, come back to the Present to address how you will be able to help them reach their goals (the ones you learned about when researching the company) going forward.

   Be sure to keep practicing your accomplishment story until it flows naturally and convincingly.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 2.6x more frequently at ICON than at other companies.

4. Tell me about a time when you failed to meet a deadline. What did you learn?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Here are some questions to ask yourself regarding missing and meeting deadlines.

   Knowing the answers to the following questions will help you formulate your answer to the overall deadline question.

   Use them to tell about a specific situation where you missed a deadline but were able to turn it into a positive.

   • Do you take personal responsibility for failing to meet a deadline? (Don’t attempt to put the blame on others, this should be about you)?
   • How well do you work under pressure?
   • What helps you to stay focused when faced with a major deadline?
   • How do you prioritize your tasks?
   • What will you do to keep missing a deadline from happening again in the future?

2. About The Company

   When you research the company, try and find out what kind of challenges they are facing.

   • What responsibilities will you be tasked with?
   • Will there be a degree of pressure like hitting targets, meeting deadlines or managing multiple tasks at once?

   The job description may also be a good source for understanding what types of tasks might need to meet deadlines.

3. About The Fit

   When answering a question relating to not meeting deadlines, it is important to look for a story that has a positive outcome regardless of the initial failure to meet a deadline.

   Use the STAR method to tell the story in which something fairly important didn’t go right due to your personal actions (or lack of actions).

   Emphasize that you took personal responsibility for the shortcoming and talk about what you did to improve the situation, how you were able to turn the situation into a positive and what you did to prevent it from happening again.

   Ensure the hiring manager that you learned your lesson and have practiced good work habits since that time.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 18.8x more frequently at ICON than at other companies.

5. Why did you leave your last job?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   There are a number of reasons why people leave or plan to leave their jobs. One very important recent factor has been the impact on jobs and job security due to Covid-19 and all of the issues raised by remote vs. on-site work.

   Regardless of the causes, there are three possible reasons that you left your last job or are planning to leave your current job:

   • You are looking for a career change
   • You are unhappy with your current employment
   • You were let go.

   Whatever the reason, it's best to always speak in a positive light.

2. About The Company

   Based on your research about the company and the position you are interviewing for, what do you like most about the company? What excites you about the work as it is outlined in the job description?

3. About The Fit

   Let's take a closer look at how you might respond to each of the three reasons for leaving your last job.

   1. You were let go

   You should simply state the facts (e.g. the company was downsizing, your position was eliminated, your department was offshored, etc.). Focus on the positive. You might want to share your accomplishments at your previous employment by relating a pertinent STAR story if you feel that would be relevant.

   2. You are looking for career advancement or a career change

   In your response you should be upfront, honest and as enthusiastic as you can be about the position. Consider using the Present-Past-Present method when giving this answer. Start with the Present by describing a career goal that is important to you. For instance you are a data analyst applying for a data management position and you are ready for this move. Then go back to the Past to indicate that at your previous job, there were little or no promotional opportunities in your field. Then come back to the Present and say that you are ready to take on the manager role and know that you will do an outstanding job for the company.

   3. You are unhappy with your current employment

   Sometimes a job just isn't going to take you to the next step in your career.

   Keep two things in mind when answering this question, 1) never "bad mouth" your current employer and 2) focus on the postive when speaking about the job and your reason for wanting to leave.

   The following is an example of how this question might be answered. This individual was looking to move up to a project manager position and did not feel that her current employer was the right place to achieve her goal. You might find her answer helpful in crafting your own response.

   "I really like my job as assistant project manager and love working with all of my coworkers on the team. However, the way the department is set up there is no real path to promotion. There are currently 3 project managers and they are all relatively new in their jobs. As far as I can see, they are all doing a good job and opportunties for promotion may not be opening up in the foreseeable future."

   Her comments were positive and her reasoning was clear and consise. Always try to keep your reasons positive and try not to create an impression that you were unhappy with the way you were treated.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 28% more frequently at ICON than at other companies.

6. What is your greatest weakness?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   No one is perfect and your interviewer doesn't expect you to be perfect either.

   While it is good to be honest and open, it will not help you to put yourself down.

   What's important is to find a weakness that you have overcome. How you turned what might be considered a negative into a positive.

2. About The Company

   Research the company (website, social media, etc) to learn about the company culture.

   What personal and professional qualities do they value?

3. About The Fit

   This is the time to clearly state a true weakness that you have overcome.

   Be as specific as possible and stay away from vague cliches like “I work too hard.” It would be difficult for anyone to try and explain how they overcame a weakness like that

   Mr. Simon emphasizes the Present-Past-Present method of responding to behavioral questions. When you are asked about your greatest weakness, you should be able to successfully use this approach as well. Here is an example of how someone might answer this question.

   Present - "I have always had a fear of public speaking, and believe this may have held me back in my career, especially when having to make presentations to management."

   Past - "Last year I learned about Toastmasters International and decided to join this group to help me gain confidence in myself and improve my ability to present to others in just about any situation."

   Present - "By overcoming this weakness I believe that it has made me a much stronger candidate for this position, someone you can count on to make presentations to management, conduct training and communicate at a high level."

   It's important to show how well you've overcome a weakness by motivating yourself and learning a new skill to grow professionally.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 38% less frequently at ICON than at other companies.

7. What experience do you have in this field?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Start with defining your Key Selling Points you want to emphasize for this position.

   • What job experiences brought you to those points?
   • What were the job titles and the most relevant responsibilities?

2. About The Company

   Do your research of the company and the requirements for the position.

   • What is the company looking for in terms of experiences and qualifications?
   • What problems are they trying to solve with this position?

   Most importantly, make sure you are able to highlight and speak about at least 3-5 of your key experiences that match up with the requirements listed in the job description.

3. About The Fit

   Using the Present-Past-Present method is a perfect way to answer this question.

   Starting with the Present, speak about your experience as it relates to one of the key requirements in the job description. You might say "I noted that the job description requires experience in employee training and this is an area in which I have a great deal of knowledge and skill."

   Then go back to the Past to describe how you improved overall training of staff from 82% to over 97% within your first year on the job. Senior leadership took note of this accomplishment for which you received a company commendation.

   Finally, come back to the Present to describe how you will help ensure that the company maintains the highest possible compliance with all employee training requirements.

   Nowadays, every hiring manager wants results, so think in terms of specific achievements and try to structure your example accordingly.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 73% more frequently at ICON than at other companies.

8. Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult or disruptive person. It may be a client, manager, or coworker. How did you handle the situation? What was the outcome?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Look back on your experience. Have you worked with a difficult or disruptive person? Remember a few such situations and how you diffused them and turned things around. What are your approaches to resolving conflicting situations at work?

2. About The Company

   • What have you found about the company and its culture?
   • What have you learned about how the employees value each other?
   • How do they treat their customers?
   • Do they have any specific standards and policies?

3. About The Fit

   Using what you found about the company, choose one of your examples that fits best with the company standards and share your story.

   If it's a customer, how did you turn things around and made a customer happy?
   If it's a coworker, how did you diffuse a tense or difficult situation?

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 2.5x more frequently at ICON than at other companies.

9. Tell me about a time when you had multiple competing deadlines and how you managed them

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   It’s your chance to show that in tough times you turn to your inner strength and use your skills to find the right solutions.

   Remember situations of tight deadlines at your previous job and the many problems you had to solve on a daily basis.

   Answer the following questions for yourself.

   • How responsible are you?
   • Are you able to cope with different tasks and deadlines without getting yourself in a muddle?
   • How well do you organize your work when you have to juggle multiple projects/clients at the same time?
   • How do you make sure you’re not falling behind?

2. About The Company

   Research the company and its culture. What kind of challenges are they facing?

   Review the job description to determine what you may be expected to be doing in this job.

   • Do you see any indication of multiple tasks that may have to be completed in tight time frames?
   • How would your performance be measured?
   • What will your responsibilities be?
   • Will you have the pressure of multiple deadlines?

3. About The Fit

   Discuss relevant experiences when answering this question.

   Give examples of specific deadlines that came together at or near the same time and how you were able to meet them. This will demonstrate the value you provided in the past and help create an impression of success.

   Focus on answering in detail, with an emphasis on how the problems got solved, by using appropriate brevity combined with valid information.

   Show examples of decisiveness in planning, exhausting all avenues of recourse and utilizing proper choices of prioritization.

   Highlighting the ability to work with others or ask for help in order to get things done will show your resourcefulness in the face of adversity.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 21.9x more frequently at ICON than at other companies.

10. How do you decide what gets top priority when scheduling your time?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   The idea of answering this question is to set realistic expectations for yourself and your potential employer. Ask yourself the following:

   • How organized are you?
   • Are you able to cope with different tasks, deadlines without getting yourself in a muddle?
   • Do you understand the difference between the urgent and the important?
   • Can you reach a balance between company priorities, efficiency, your work-life balance and personal needs?

2. About The Company

   Research the company, its culture and the job description.

   • What do you expect to be doing in this job?
   • How would your performance be measured?
   • What will your responsibilities be?
   • Will you decide by yourself what tasks should be done first?
   • Are there any tasks in the job description that emphasize priority?

3. About The Fit

   Everyone has a different method of managing their workload so it’s your chance to shine and show your excellent time-management skills explaining your preferred technique to your interviewer.

   The best way to prioritize your tasks is to list out what you need to work on across all of your projects.

   Explain that the first thing you usually do is break down bigger tasks into subtasks to feel less overwhelmed. When all of your tasks are in one place, you are able to have an overall view of what needs to get done, develop a sense of how much work you’re dealing with, and what tasks need immediate attention.

   Also mention how professionally you handle a situation when unexpected changes occur. This helps to show you’re mindful of high-level company priorities.

   It’s best to give real-life examples to show the interviewer you’re not just talking about a generic strategy, but you’ve successfully practiced this in the workplace more than once.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 13.1x more frequently at ICON than at other companies.

11. Describe a time when you had to overcome a significant obstacle on a job

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   The employer is looking for the skills needed to overcome a significant obstacale on the job. This is not the place to discuss the ordinary problems that you might face on a daily basis at work.

   Start with recalling a few examples of real obstacles and challenges you faced. For each of them, consider:

   • What was the project or task you were trying to accomplish?
   • What was the obstacle? This can be a specific problem related to your job or a higher-order issue across the organization.
   • What steps did you take to address the issue?
   • What decisions did you have to make?
   • How did the company benefit from your decisions?
   • How would you describe your approach, or what lessons have you learned?

   Be careful how you respond to this question. The problem you faced and resolved for the company should not have been of your own making.

   See this as your chance to show how you stepped up by turning to your skills and inner strength to find the right solutions.

2. About The Company

   When you research the company, try and find out what kind of challenges they are facing. Try to find out what they need in terms of problem resolution.

   Search for online reviews, complaints and any other useful resources. What problems and obstacles can the employees face with this position?

   Pay particular attention to the requirements listed in the job description. It is quite possible that you have a a STAR story about overccoming an obstacle that relates directly to one of their needs. This would be a great opportunity to answer this question.

3. About The Fit

   This is your opportunity to showcase your problem-solving skills, resilience, and strength of character. We recommend that you use the Present-Past-Present method to answer this question. The following is an example of how this method might be applied for the position of Blog Writer. The job description mentions that a successful candidate must have experience working “in a dynamic environment.”

   Starting with the Present you might say "I really enjoy working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment" (repeating the words used in the job description is reinforcing to the interviewer).

   Next go to a Past situation in which you had to write an article on extremely short notice. Your boss came to you at the last moment because your coworker failed to complete a very important assignment. The pressure was on but you worked extra hours to prepare the article successfully and on time. This story shows your sense of responsibility, ability to achieve results under stress, your willingness to go the extra mile, and your problem-solving skills.

   Finally come back to the Present to again reiterate how working under pressure is a skill that you are proud of and you will bring to any assignment for the employer.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 2.8x more frequently at ICON than at other companies.

12. What was the biggest mistake you made in your most recent job? How did you handle it?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Do your best to tell a positive story about how the mistake was made, how you dealt with it and what learned from it.

   We all make mistakes from time-to-time.

   Answering some of the following questions will help you understand your own view of dealing with mistakes and their consequences. For instance:

   • How do you use a mistake to improve your abilities?
   • Are you self-aware enough to acknowledge failure and weakness?
   • Do you take smart risks?
   • How do you view success, failure, and risk in general?
   • Do you take responsibility for past mistakes instead of putting the blame on others?
   • If the situation repeats, what would you do differently? What would you do again?

2. About The Company

   Before the interview, look over the job listing, research the company. Try to think of a mistake you have made in the past that is not too closely related to the requirements of the job you are interviewing for.

   What kind of challenges might you face if you get the job here?

3. About The Fit

   It’s your opportunity to emphasize the skills or qualities you gained from your past negative experience that are important for the job you’re interviewing for now.

   Put a positive spin on your response by defining the “mistake” as a “learning experience” that led to your increased competency in the workplace.

   Talk about a specific example of a time you made a mistake. Briefly explain what the mistake was; quickly switch over to what you learned, or how you improved, after making that mistake.

   You might also explain the steps you took to make sure that mistake never happened again. Say that something you may have struggled with in the past has actually now became one of your strengths.

   Pick a story that ends with a compelling example of a lesson learned. Tell your story using the STAR method.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 4.4x more frequently at ICON than at other companies.

13. What is your ideal work environment?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   To describe your ideal work environment, you need to make the answer fit both your professional and personal preferences.

   • What inspires and motivates you?
   • What kind of work environment helps you to be at your best?
   • What talents can you reveal when you are comfortable?
   • What aspects of your character can increase your professional opportunities?
   • Are you flexible enough to adjust to different environments without any issues if needed?

2. About The Company

   Your answer should reflect the working environment of the business you’re interviewing with, so it’s important that you research the company thoroughly.

   Head over to their website and read their mission statement and other hints at their culture.

   Look on LinkedIn for any contacts you may have that know about the company (or even better, that actually work or worked there) and reach out to them for insights. Read feedbacks on websites like Glassdoor.

   • What goals does the company have?
   • Does it have formal or informal structures?
   • What does it value in its employees?

3. About The Fit

   Work environment not only means the culture of the company but also refers to the physical place where you will be working.

   In addition to considering the type of company you will be working for, you should also think about things such as the size of the office, the size of your future team, and what you see around you, when you are in for the interview.

   Make sure that your vision aligns with the company’s existing cultural and physical environment.

   Regardless of the size of the company, you should be able to tell the interviewer why that company fits what you are looking for.

   If you are applying to a larger company, you might want to emphasize that job security is important to you.

   If your prospective job is with a smaller company - state that knowing everyone’s name allows you to feel connected.

   To convince them that you’re the ideal candidate you should focus on your aspirations for future and professional growth.

   Also, mention your teamwork skills. Say that it should be the place where you can work with different people to produce the best results possible.

   Ensure the interviewer that you are someone who knows exactly what you want.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 5.0x more frequently at ICON than at other companies.

14. What has been your biggest professional disappointment?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Take a little time to understand what you were feeling and why you were feeling that way when you were disappointed in the workplace.

   Select something significant in your professional life where someone or something didn’t meet your expectations.

   • What did you do to handle it?
   • What professional learning have you acquired?
   • What would your approach be if a similar situation repeats itself in the future?

2. About The Company

   Research the company and its culture; review the job description, as it will list the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the job.

   Browse the company’s website, blog and LinkedIn profile for previous projects, achievements and client testimonials. Read news articles about the organization and online employee reviews of the company.

3. About The Fit

   Use the STAR method to discuss a work-related disappointment.

   It is best to avoid an example that's closely related to the responsibilities of the job for which you are applying.

   If possible, the situation you describe should be one that was something that was beyond your control.

   Be positive about the experience and accept any personal responsibility you may have had, if applicable. This quality is highly valued at any job.

   Show acceptance and no negative feelings. There is nothing wrong with admitting to having professional disappointments; you will be seen as an honest and confident candidate.

   Discuss a disappointment in the context of a learning experience, describing your approaches to dealing with the challenges and, if possible, relate them to the new company’s culture.

   The following is an example of a professional disappointment and how it was handled:

   “The team that I led was tasked with developing a system needed to account for new sales in the EU. The team worked diligently for over 6 months, and the project was nearly complete when the company pulled the plug due to budget constraints and a change in direction requested by our strategic partners in France and Germany. Although initially disappointed, my director and I worked with senior management to scale back the original scope of the project and successfully redirected it for a more targeted use by our US and Canadian units. We were able to turn a disappointment into a positive.”

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 27.6x more frequently at ICON than at other companies.

15. What are your salary requirements?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   The first thing to research is the salary range for your role in the market. What is the industry standard?

   Next, think of your qualifications for the role. Weigh in your traits, skills, education, and experience. Try this exercise, draw a line on a piece of paper where on the left side sits a complete beginner, and on the right side - the best professional in the world the company may try to invite for the role. Where do you position yourself?

   Now, remember that once you start in your new role, your qualifications will be growing fast, due to all the new experience you will be gaining - consequently, your value will rise as well. Your salary, on the other hand, will not increase as quickly. So, try to imagine where your qualifications will bring you, on that scale, in about a year into the new job.

   Map the scale against the industry range. Now you should be able to come up with an objective figure, as opposed to pure speculation.

   This is not real math, however, so your number cannot be very precise, of course. Define a range, which starts with the minimum that will keep you satisfied a few months into the job, and the maximum which, a year into the job, will give you the lifestyle you would ideally like to have at that time.

   Make sure the range stays within 40%-60% between extremes. Remember, the higher the position up the ladder, the wider the range can be. What is the number in the middle? Will you feel comfortable with this number?

2. About The Company

   Research the company and find out what they are paying. The best places to find this information are Glassdoor, LinkedIn, PayScale and other similar websites.

3. About The Fit

   Based on your research, does the company fit your desired salary range?

   Now, whether you should be giving a range, or a single target number is a matter of debate. I personally think that a single number, given in a suggestive manner, is better than the range, because when given a range, they may logically gravitate towards the lower end, especially since you’ve said that the lower number is acceptable.

   One example of how to structure your answer of a single target number is this:

   I have done my research and based on the average for the industry, location, and my level of expertise, something like XXX seems reasonable to me. What do you think?

   Besides giving the factual answer that the interviewer is asking for, such an answer will also show you to be someone who takes the initiative, who goes the extra mile, and someone with data-driven and analytical mindset.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 24% more frequently at ICON than at other companies.

16. What are your current professional goals?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Define up to 3 goals. Think about each goal:

   • Why is it important to you?
   • What are you doing to achieve it?

   Imagine a company where you would like to work, ideally. How can working in that company help you achieve your goal? And what about the opposite - how can the company benefit from your reaching your goal?

2. About The Company

   Based on the research you did on the company, what are their current goals and initiatives? How would its goals and initiatives help lead you to achieve your goals?

3. About The Fit

   From your list of goals choose the one with the most synergy between yourself and the company. Explain how your professional passions will help the company achieve its success.

   Craft your story around these 4 points:

   • The Why: Why is this goal important to you, what makes it so exciting?
   • The What: What steps are you taking to reach your goal?
   • What’s in it for you? How can this company and job role help you reach your goal?
   • What’s in it for them? How can the company benefit?

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 2.3x more frequently at ICON than at other companies.