Common Interview Questions and Answers
First and foremost congratulations if you have an interview! That
in itself is commendable, so now you just want to make sure you come across in
the best possible light. I have been asked numerous times what to do in
preparation for interviews. Whilst there is no way of predicting exactly what
you will be asked, here are 20 common questions that tend to come up. This is
by no means an exhaustive list. The purpose is to illustrate the importance of
preparation and refreshing your memory regarding specific projects and
situations.
Tell me about yourself.
This is probably the most asked question
in an interview. It breaks the ice and gets you to talk about something you
should be fairly comfortable with. Have something prepared that doesn’t sound
rehearsed. It’s not about you telling your life story and quite frankly the
interviewer just isn’t interested. Unless asked to do so, stick to your
education, career and current situation. Work through it chronologically from
the furthest back to the present.
Why are you looking
for another job (or why did you leave your previous
job)?
On the surface this appears to be a simple question, yet it is easy
to slip. I would suggest not mentioning money at this stage as you may come
across as totally mercenary. If you are currently in employment you can say
it’s about developing your career and yourself as an individual. If you are in
the unfortunate position of having been downsized stay positive and keep it
brief. If you were fired you should have a solid explanation. Whatever your
circumstances do not go into the drama and detail and stay positive.
What do you know
about this organization?
Do your homework prior to the interview. Doing the background work
will help you stand out. Find out who the main players are, have they been in
the news recently? You’re not expected to know every date and individual yet
you need to have a solid understanding of the company as a whole.
Why do you want
this job?
This question typically follows on from the previous one. Here is
where your research will come in handy. You may want to say that you want to
work for a company that is x, y, z, (market leader, innovator, provides a vital
service, whatever it may be). Put some thought into this beforehand, be
specific and link the company’s values and mission statement to your own goals
and career plans.
Who are our main
competitors?
This shows you really understand the industry and the main players.
Think about a few and say how you think they compare; similarities,
differences. This is a good opportunity to highlight what you think are the
company’s key strengths.
What would your
previous co-workers say about you?
This is not the arena for full disclosure. You want to stay
positive and add a few specific statements or paraphrase. Something like “My
friends always mentioned how reliable and hard working I was” is enough.
How do you handle
stressful situations and working under pressure?
There are several ways of addressing this one. You may be the sort
of person that works well under pressure; you may even thrive under pressure.
Whatever the case may be just make sure you don’t say you panic. You want to
give specific examples of stressful situations and how well you dealt with
them. You may also want to list a few tools you use to help you, such as to do
lists etc. It is alright to say that if you feel you are way over your head you
will ask for assistance. It is equally acceptable to say that you work best
under pressure if this is indeed the case and relevant to the particular role.
Are you applying
for other jobs?
If you are serious about changing jobs then it is likely that you
are applying to other positions. It is also a way of showing that you are in
demand. Be honest but don’t go into too much detail, you don’t want to spend a
great deal of time on this. If asked about names of who you have spoken to it
is absolutely legitimate to say you prefer not to disclose that information at
this stage.
What are you like
working in a team?
Your answer is of course that you are an excellent team
player; there really is no other valid answer here as you will not function in
an organization as a loner. You may want to mention what type of role you tend
to adopt in a team, especially if you want to emphasis key skills such as
leadership. Be prepared to give specific examples in a very matter of fact sort
of way.
What sort of person do you not like
to work with?
This is not an easy one as you have no idea whom you would be
working with. Even if you can immediately think of a long list of people you
don’t like to work with, you could take some time to think and say that it’s a
difficult question as you have always gotten on fine with your colleagues.
What is your greatest strength?
This is your time to shine. Just remember the interviewer is
looking for work related strengths. Mention a number of them such as being a
good motivator, problem solver, performing well under pressure, loyal, positive
attitude, eager to learn, taking the initiative, attention to detail. Whichever
you go for, be prepared to give examples that illustrate this particular skill.
What is your biggest weakness?
A challenging one, as if you so you have no weaknesses you are
obviously lying! Be realistic and mention a small work related flaw. Many
people will suggest answering this using a positive trait disguised as a flaw
such as “I’m a perfectionist” or “I expect others to be as committed as I am”. I
would advocate a certain degree of honesty and list a true weakness. Emphasize
what you’ve done to overcome it and improve. This question is all about how you
perceive and evaluate yourself.
What has been your biggest
professional disappointment/achievement so far?
If asked about disappointments mention something that was beyond
your control. Stay positive by showing how you accepted the situation and have
no lingering negative feelings. If asked about your greatest achievement chose
an example that was important to you as well as the company. Specify what you
did, how you did it and what the results were. Ideally pick an example that can
relate to the positions you are applying for.
What kind of decisions do you find
most difficult to take?
There is no right or wrong here. The logic behind this type of
question is that your past behavior is likely to predict what you will do in
the future. What the interviewer is looking for is to understand what you find
difficult.
Tell me about a suggestion that you
have made that has been successfully implemented.
Here the emphasis is on the implemented. You may have had many
brilliant ideas, but what the interview is looking for is something that has
actually materialized. Be prepared to briefly describe how it went from an idea
to implementation stage.
Have you ever had to bend the rules
in order to achieve a goal? Beware of this type of question!
Under no circumstances is it necessary to break company policy to
achieve something. Resist the temptation to answer and give examples, as what
the interviewer is looking for is to determine how ethical you are and if you
will remain true to company policy.
Are you willing to travel or relocate
if necessary?
This is something you need to have very clear in your mind prior to
the meeting, if you think there is any chance this may come up. There is no
point in saying yes just to get the job if the real answer is actually no. Just
be honest as this can save you problems arising in the future.
Why should we hire you?
This is an important question that you will need to answer
carefully. It is your chance to stand out and draw attention to your skills,
especially those that haven’t already been addressed. Saying “because I need a
job” or “I’m really good” just won’t cut it. Don’t speculate about other
candidates and their possible strengths or flaws. Make sure you focus on you.
Explain why you make a good employee, why you are a good fit for the job and
the company and what you can offer. Keep it succinct and highlight your
achievements.
Regarding salary, what are your
expectations?
Always a tricky one and a dangerous game to play in an interview.
It is a common mistake to discuss salary before you have sold yourself and like
in any negotiation knowledge is power. Do your homework and make sure you have
an idea of what this job is offering. You can try asking them what the salary
range. If you want to avoid the question altogether you could say that at the
moment you are looking to advance in your career and money isn’t your main
motivator. If you do have a specific figure in mind and you are confident you
can get it, then it may be worth going for it.
Do you have any questions for us?
This one tends to come up every time. Have some questions prepared.
This will show you have done some research and are eager to know and learn as
much as possible. You probably don’t want to ask more than 3 or 4 questions.
Try and use questions that focus on you becoming an asset to the company. A generic
one might be “how soon can I start if I were to get the job”. Another idea is
to ask what you would be working on and how quickly they expect you to be able
to be productive. Remember to ask about next steps and when you can expect to
hear back.
Bear in mind that the interview starts from the minute you walk
into the building until you leave and are out of sight. Don’t think that just
because you have left the meeting room, you are “off the hook”. You need to
maintain an image of confidence, enthusiasm, competence, reliability and
professionalism throughout.
We conduct such and many other soft skills training programs both
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By
Sarwan Singh
Sarwansingh6644@gmail.com
@sarwan_singh
