10 Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
If you’re preparing for an interview, you need to be prepared to face some commonly-asked questions. The recruiter will mostly ask about your work history, experience, and work-related skills. They can also ask behavioural questions that are designed to see how you would handle specific situations.
It can be helpful to prepare for these in advance. That way, you’ll know what to expect, and you’ll be able to give thoughtful answers. Review the following ten questions and think about how you would answer them. Then practice answering them with a friend or family member so that you’ll feel confident when it’s time for your interview.
1. Tell me about yourself
These are the most commonly-asked questions in any kind of interview. It’s also one of the hardest to answer because you don’t want to give too much information or ramble on. Instead, focus on giving a brief overview of your professional skills, knowledge, and experience. Touch on your work history, but don’t go into too much detail. Instead, focus on your accomplishments and what makes you the best candidate among the thousand others.
2. Why are you the best person for the job?
Again, this question provides an excellent opportunity to highlight your skills and experience. Tailor your answer to the specific job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a marketing manager, you might talk about your experience creating and executing successful marketing campaigns.
3. Why do you want this job?
This is where you show that you’ve done your research on the company and the role. Don’t just say that you like the company’s products or services. Instead, focus on what you can bring to the company and how the job aligns with your career goals.
4. How has your experience prepared you for this role?
Use this question as an excellent chance to discuss your relevant work experience. If you don’t have much work experience, you can talk about any volunteer work, internships, or jobs that would be relevant to the position you’re applying for.
5. Why are you leaving (or have left) your job?
If you’re currently unemployed, you can simply say that you’re looking for a new challenge. If you’re employed, be honest about why you’re looking to leave your current position. But avoid saying anything negative about your current or former employers.
6. What is your greatest strength?
Think about what qualities make you the best candidate for the position. Are you good at problem-solving? Are you good at communicating with others? Do you have experience leading teams? Or do you have any other specific quality that is rare to find in others? Whatever it is, be sure to highlight it in your answer.
Make sure to explain your greatest strength in as detail as possible. This will help the interviewer to understand how your strength can be an asset to their company. This, in turn, will increase your chances of getting hired.
7. What is your greatest weakness?
This is a tough question, but it’s vital to answer with utmost honesty. You don’t want to seem like you’re trying to hide something. But you also don’t want to choose a weakness that would make you less desirable for the role.
If possible, try to focus on a weakness you’re actively working to improve. For example, if you’re not the best at public speaking, you could say that you’re taking steps to overcome that by joining a Toastmasters club.
8. What is your salary expectation?
This question is often best answered after doing some research on salaries for similar positions in your area. You don’t want to lowball yourself. However, make sure that you also don’t want to price yourself out of the job.
If possible, try to avoid giving a specific number. Instead, provide a range that you’re comfortable with. Moreover, you can also try to deflect this question by saying that you’re more interested in the job itself than the salary. However, if the interviewer persists, you’ll have to give a specific number.
9. How soon can you start?
If you’re currently employed, be honest about how much notice you’ll need to give. If you’re unemployed, say that you’re available immediately. The key here is, to be honest, and upfront about your availability. This will help avoid problems down the road, should you be offered the job.
10. What questions do you have for me?
This is where you can ask the interviewer any questions that you might have about the job or the company. But avoid asking questions that could easily be answered by doing a little bit of research. For example, don’t ask about the company’s history or products. Instead, focus on things like the company culture or career growth opportunities.
The job interview is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you’re the best-suited candidate for the position. Be prepared to answer common interview questions, and be sure to highlight your strengths and experience in your answers. You should also come prepared with some questions of your own for the interviewer. By being well-prepared, you’ll increase your chances of getting hired.