Questions at Lenovo interviews

1. What is your greatest weakness? top question

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 66% more frequently at Lenovo 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 17% less frequently at Lenovo 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 4.7x more frequently at Lenovo than at other companies.

4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

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 8% more frequently at Lenovo than at other companies.

5. 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 2.8x more frequently at Lenovo than at other companies.

6. 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 39% more frequently at Lenovo than at other companies.

7. What are your long-term goals?

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Start with honestly assessing yourself. (At this moment, you are not sharing these thoughts with anyone, so be as open as you can).

   Imagine that you have all the resources in the world and that all roads are open for you.

   • How would you use them?
   • Which road(s) would you choose?
   • What do you see on the horizon in that direction?

   Be audacious and don’t limit yourself. There is no longer a perspective than “long-term,” so be as futuristic as you possibly can.

   List a few “road” options that you would be enthusiastic about going down.

   For example, this list may be as broad as the following:

   • writer
   • choir director
   • software engineer and architect
   • CEO of a unicorn startup company,
   • entrepreneur.

   As William Shakespeare once said, “We know what we are, but we know not what we may be.”

2. About The Company

   Now, look at the company.

   • What is the industry they operate in?
   • What is the position you are applying for, and what are potential career growth possibilities within the department, company, and industry?

3. About The Fit

   Which of your “road” options correspond best with the opportunities presented by this company?

   Highlight this option and focus on it. Imagine, in as much detail as you can, going down this road.

   What would be the major milestones for you, in order to move towards your goal?

   Describe the chosen option by focusing on the first 1-2 milestones, and by presenting it in light of company goals and current initiatives.

   For example, if you are applying for a project manager position in a corporation engaged in the education industry, and your “road” option is “CEO,” your next career step may be a program manager, or an innovations and research manager.

   Explain why you are enthusiastic about reaching these goals, and what makes you think you have the necessary traits and skills to reach them.

   How can the company benefit from these traits and skills of yours already today, in the current role you are applying for?

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 2.4x more frequently at Lenovo than at other companies.

8. Tell me about a time when you've resolved a problem for a frustrated customer

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Think of a time when, as a customer, you had a problem with a company.

   • How did you feel?
   • How did you want to be treated?
   • Was the situation resolved to your satisfaction? If so what was done to resolve it?
   • If not, what went wrong?

   Have you had experience in the past where you helped a frustrated customer? When you were on the serving side of the table, what did you do to make a real difference to the customer and their experience?

   When considering this question, focus on your principles and your approach. You know that when customers are made to feel neglected and unimportant, they tend to get frustrated. You want to demonstrate to the hiring manager that you have the capacity to understand the customer’s problems and issues and can come up with a solution that best addresses their concerns.

   Of course, this may not always be possible in your line of business or profession, but I guess you see what I mean - showing full attention greatly improves your chances of mitigating the situation.

2. About The Company

   Every company relies on customers.

   Research the company you are applying to and try to find out what their standards of customer relationship or service are, as well as try to find out some real cases where the customers complained about the company, and what the company did to mitigate the situations (a possible source might be Yelp! or another social media platform).

   Based on your research, how does the company treat customers? How do they resolve customer issues?

3. About The Fit

   How do you demonstrate to the interviewer that you can WOW the customer by making their situation better for them as well as helping the company maintain good customer relations? Mr. Simon recommends using the Present-Past-Present method.

   There are many ways to apply this approach. For example you can start with the Present emphasizing that your approach to good customer service always starts with your great listening skills that enable you to fully understand the customer’s situation.

   Next go back to the Past for an example of just how you were able to resolve a frustrating situation for a customer. Focus on a situation in which you listened to and understood the problem and were able to resolve it and prevent the loss of the customer’s business.

   Finally come back to the Present to discuss how your skills and experience in handling frustrated customers will be a real asset to the company going forward.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 20% more frequently at Lenovo than at other companies.

9. Describe your dream job

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Think of your Key Selling Points, those qualities and skills that make you who you are.

   Now consider how they might apply in your dream job. The dream job does not have to be a specific job (although the one you are applying for just might be). Rather, you should think of the kinds of work you want to do and the responsibilities you would like to have and apply your skills, qualities and values to those elements of your dream job.

   For example, let’s say your dream job is to be a labor relations manager, involved with companies and their union workers. Here are some thoughts you would want to ask yourself in preparation for the “Dream Job” question:

   • Do you enjoy solving problems, or mediating conflicts?
   • Do you thrive under pressure?
   • Do you consider yourself a “people person” who likes to engage with clients and others?

   Preparing ahead of time and using your Key selling Points will help you answer the “Dream Job” question and satisfy both the interviewer and you.

2. About The Company

   Thoroughly read the job description so you have a better understanding of the skills and characteristics the position requires.

   Do your research about the company and the position for which you are applying.

   Try to find out as much as you can about what the company is looking for in an employee, what type of work environment they have and the company’s values.

3. About The Fit

   Match the top qualities and skills you want in a dream job with your own skills and qualities as well as what the company is looking for.

   Be ready to share some examples of how you have enjoyed utilizing those skills in the past.

   For example, if you are a big fan of numbers and the position requires you to be detail-oriented, you can talk about your dream job being in a position where you can use your passion for numbers and problem-solving.

   Whenever possible, mention your success in this area, using the STAR method.

   Make sure that you do not specify a role, rather keep it open to possibilities. Focus on the characteristics and not the position.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 8.8x more frequently at Lenovo than at other companies.

10. Describe the most challenging work problem you faced in your last job

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   So, how should you talk about your strategy to approach tough situations?

   Try to think about the actual most challenging thing you did, or just pick something that was really difficult, but you succeed at it in the end.

   The situation should be real. Perhaps you went above and beyond to meet a tight deadline while taking over the responsibilities of a coworker who was out sick? Or you took a course, completed an online training, or attended seminars on a topic that was new for you, but necessary to match your qualifications to the position's requirements?

   Make sure your story isn't boring: interesting is a keyword here. Use the STAR method to demonstrate your positive approach to problem-solving.

2. About The Company

   Take a moment to consider the role and the daily tasks you’d be engaged with.

   • What kind of problems might come about?
   • What difficulties can you possibly encounter because you will be working directly with clients or in a big team?
   • Do you have to communicate a lot, or would problems be more technical in nature?

   Do your research.

3. About The Fit

   Your answer is an opportunity to highlight your fit for the role and the work environment.

   This question allows the interviewer to reflect on how you handled past challenges and use this to make predictions about your future capabilities. It might help them to realize you’re a good fit.

   When employers ask such questions, they are looking for some specific details relevant to the job.

   For example, if you are interviewing for a customer service role, highlight how you’ve managed to deal with a difficult situation in customer service.

   On the other hand, if your future role would be very technical, you might talk about a technical challenge you’ve overcome.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 5.3x more frequently at Lenovo than at other companies.

11. Why were you successful in your last role? Give a supporting example

How to answer

1. About Yourself

   Think of the question as an invitation to discuss the professional characteristics that you're proud of or a particular achievement in your last job.

   • What steps did you take to become successful?
   • What personal and professional qualities did you use to reach your goals at work?
   • How did your actions help your team and the company to succeed?
   • What challenges did you overcome to become successful?
   • What are your lessons learned?

2. About The Company

   Research the requirements of the company you applying to and review the job listing. Make a list of job qualifications and skills that match the preferred qualifications of the ideal candidate.

3. About The Fit

   Explain your most important achievements at work, using the STAR method to provide specific examples of how your past work and achievements show how you will be an asset to the organization you're interviewing with.

   It’s your chance to tell about your Key Selling Points – skills that make you a successful employee.

   Emphasize the 3-5 strongest of them that helped you to achieve results at work to answer the question.

   It's important to provide the interviewer with evidence of how you achieved success in the workplace.

   For example, if you are in publishing, tell your story about how you ensured the timely release of 20 issues of the magazine, despite any problems you faced.

   The role of such an achievement for the company was particularly important and demonstrates how your work contributed to the business. Difficulties and ways to overcome them, new ideas, daily work, and its results will help the interviewer to assess your experience correctly.

Pro Tip

Statistics

This question is asked 8.5x more frequently at Lenovo than at other companies.

12. 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 5.5x more frequently at Lenovo than at other companies.