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 job interviews. While
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.
1. Tell me about yourself.
This is probably the most asked question in a
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.
2. 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 employed, 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
talk about the drama but remember to stay positive.
3. What do you know about this
organization?
Do your homework prior to the job 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, but you need to have a solid
understanding of the company as a whole.
4. 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.
5. 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 and differences).
This is a good opportunity to highlight what you
think are the company's key strengths.
6. 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 "Joe Blogs always
mentioned how reliable and hard working I was" is
enough.
7. 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, 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 you
will ask for assistance when the job is more than
what you can handle. It is equally acceptable to say
that you work best under pressure if this is indeed the
case and relevant to the particular role.
8. 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.
9. 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
emphasize key skills such as leadership. Be prepared
to give specific examples in a very matter of fact sort
of way.
10. 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 who 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.
11. 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, being loyal, having a positive attitude,
eager to learn, taking initiative, and attention to
detail. Whichever you go for, be prepared to give
examples that illustrate this particular skill.
12. What is your biggest weakness?
This is a challenging question—as if 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.
13. 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, choose 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
job positions you are applying for.
14. What kind of decisions do you find most
difficult to take?
There is no right or wrong answer 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.
15. 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
interviewer is looking for is something that has
actually materialized. Be prepared to briefly describe
how it went from an idea to implementation stage.
16. 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.
17. 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. 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.
18. 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.
19. Regarding salary, what are your
expectations?
This question is 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 about
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.
20. 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 three or four questions. Try and use
questions that focus on you becoming an asset to the
company. A generic question 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.
Bare 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.
One final question from me to you:
"What is the most bizarre question that you have
been asked in an interview"?
Thanks in advance for sharing.
Good luck!
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in comments are
those of the comment writers alone and does not
reflect or represent the views of Somayina.
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