How to Answer Six of the Most Common Interview Questions:
1. “Tell me about yourself.”
This may very well be the first question (although not really a question) that you will get. Be ready because this will set the stage for the rest of the interview.This is your chance to take control and showcase who you are and what you’d bring to the role. You want to paint a picture or tell the story to help the hiring manager see how you would be a good fit.
Don’t give your life history. Be brief. You want to be ready with about a one- to- two minute answer that summarizes your career with a focus on how your background matches the company’s needs.
Use a present, past, and future formula. Start with what you do now, then segue into the past, and top it off with the future and why you are excited about this opportunity.
List three to four key strengths you have that are pertinent to this job (experiences, traits, skills, etc.).
Talk about your strengths and abilities and remember to focus on the experiences and skills that are going to be most relevant for the hiring manager. It’s okay to tell a story or anecdote if it helps to relay the story to help them know a little more about you.
2. “Why are you leaving your current job?”
The reason why you are asked this question is because recruiters or hiring managers want to know your motivation for wanting to leave your current job. Is your boss a jerk? Do you want more money? Is your company culture a joke? One or all of those things may be the reason why you are looking but when you answer the question, be positive.You’ll want to discuss the positives that came out of your most recent job with a focus on why you think this new position is a great new career for you.
Never disparage your prior boss, co-workers, or the company. Are you looking to be challenged? That’s great. If the time has come to seek out a new opportunity, to expand your skills and knowledge, or to find a company in which you can grow, there’s nothing wrong with that. Those are positive reasons to seek out a new career. You rarely go wrong when talking about self-improvement. Interviewers love it when candidates are interested in bettering themselves. It’s a trait that indicates you could be someone who wants to grow with the organization.
Negativity never goes over well in an interview.You can always turn a negative into a positive and that’s the best rule of thumb for an interview.
3. “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
Talking about strengths is an easy one. So, let’s focus on the weakness. The reason why a manager asks this question is to see if they are missing anything if they were to hire you. It’s also designed to test your character and mental awareness. Who’s perfect? Nobody. They want to see how you have identified what you need to work on.
Be sincere. Don’t just select a weakness just because it sounds good. Pick a weakness that is acceptable for the job in which you are interviewing. Don’t mention a weakness related to any of the required skills or desired qualities. For example, if you are a sales person, don’t mention that you have hard time meeting new people or by saying that you are too reserved.
Pick a weakness that is relatively minor and correctable. By correctable, that means something you can improve through work, motivation, or training. If you say “It’s hard to speak in front of large groups of people.” That can be overcome and if it’s not germane to the role, it won’t matter to the hiring manager.
4. “What are your salary requirements?”
All companies have a budget and recruiters ask this question to make sure that everyone is on the same page. You will want to do your homework on this one. Know what you are worth and know what the same type of positions pay. There is enough information online that you can get a pretty good idea.
Know your “walk away” point. Know what you want and what you expect. Speak in ranges when giving figures. After you answer be comfortable with the silence that may follow. Consider a statement like this: “I’m currently making $X, and I’m looking to make 10% to 15% more.
5. “Why should I hire you?”
Often times, this comes at the end of an interview. This is another great opportunity to seal the deal. By this time, you’ve heard about the position and should have a good idea of how you can contribute to the bottom line.
Stay focused on why your background makes you an ideal candidate. Tell them how you are going to contribute to the department and the company. Hiring managers love it when they think their job will be easier.
Tell them or explain how you will:
Do the work and deliver extraordinary results
Fit in well with the corporate culture
Bring a combination of skills and experience that make you stand out from the crowd
Make their life easier
This is an opportunity to reiterate your most impressive strengths and to describe your most memorable selling points.
6. “Do you have any questions for us?”
Of course you do. What is important to you? What do you want to know? This question works two ways: It also helps you to know if the company is right for you. So don’t be afraid to ask questions that give you some feel about what it would be like to work there.
Here are Some Questions to Consider
How does this position fit in with the rest of the company/organization?
Is this a new position?
If so, what made you decide to create it?
If not, are you changing it in any way now?
Where do you see this department / company going over the next year?
What would a successful employee make happen for you?
What kinds of things would you expect of me to enable me to advance within the company?
What kinds of advancement opportunities are there for someone in this position?
Is there anything else at all that I can tell you about myself to help you in your decision?
If I may ask, how long have you worked here? What do you like most about it?
What would a typical work day/week be like for me?
After I start, what would the first few weeks look like for me?
Are there any special projects coming up you’d like me to work on?
How would you describe the company’s management style?
How would you describe the company culture?
What would you say employees like most about working here?
Is there anything employees would say they like least?
If I do get the job, how soon would you like me to start?
What can I expect as far as next steps.
