How to answer interview quesions?
When it comes to interview questions, some are much easier to answer than others. Although you can’t ever be 100% accurate when it comes to knowing what questions you’ll be asked, there are certain queries that get asked time and again by hiring managers.
Below, we want to give you some interview tips; we provide you with the common job interview questions and answers likely to help you stand out. Remember, practice really does make perfect so do the groundwork and you’re likely to reap the rewards.
1 – Tell Me About Yourself
This apparently simple icebreaker question is a deceptively devilish opening gambit. The biggest mistake candidates make is to ramble about their life story. What the hiring manager wants to hear is a focused answer that includes 4-5 things about you relevant to the job opening.
The best answers are 2-3 minutes long and include information about your education, interest in the field, experience and work history; make sure all of these details are related to the role in some form.
2 – Why Should We Hire You?
This may seem like a tough question but by tackling it in 3 parts you can breeze through it and impress the hiring manager in the process:
- Make it clear that you believe you meet the requirements of the role.
- Go through the skills needed for the job and provide examples of how you displayed each of them in a previous role.
- Show that you’re a proactive individual who identified problems in previous jobs and found solutions.
Employers want candidates who make things happen so if you can convince them you have a high level of initiative, you’re likely to end up on their shortlist.
3 – Why Do You Want To Work For Us?
Employers are looking for people who can fit into the company quickly and not only blend in with the company culture but add to it. The hiring manager also wants to know if you’re likely to stay at the organisation for a long period of time.
You need to do your homework in order to answer the question “why do you want to work for us” properly. Research their services, products, working culture and expansion plans to find out things about the company that appeal to you. A good answer would be something along the lines of: “Your company is known for its innovation and I would love to be part of the creative thinking process.”
4 – What Are Your Strengths?
Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is a chance for you to talk about how great you are. In actual fact, companies want to know what you can do for them so provide an answer that focuses on what you offer the organisation and what you can specifically bring to the job.
Be sure to match your strengths to the job role and outline any instances where you used these strengths to assist a previous employer; try to quantify the answer with data and numbers if possible.
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5 – What Are Your Weaknesses?
This is tricky question as no one wants to go through their weaknesses for fear of disqualifying themselves from the job. Here is a quick and easy way to navigate the question:
- Think of 3 areas or weaknesses that you believe need improving; take them from your education or work history.
- Come up with 3 reasons why each weakness needs to be developed.
- Think of 3 examples of the steps you’re taking to improve these weaknesses.
Employers want candidates who are keen to improve and will be impressed that you’ve already identified your weaknesses and are taking measures to deal with them.
6 – Where Do You See Yourself in 5/10 Years Time?
Hiring managers want ambitious candidates who are thinking about their future and are looking to progress within the industry. As the processes of hiring and training employees are expensive, the interviewer wants to make sure you’re in it for the long haul.
You need to be careful to tailor your answer according to the position you’re applying for. When it comes to entry level roles, outline how you see your career progressing. For senior roles, explain how you see the company moving forward; at this level you’ll be expected to offer information on how you would help the organisation achieve its business objectives.
7 – Why Did You Leave Your Previous Position?
Regardless of the circumstances of your departure, NEVER criticise an old employer. Don’t say you’re looking for a new challenge if you’re not because the interviewer will probe further. If you’re stuck for a reason, simply explain that you felt there were no opportunities for career progression in your last job so you decided to move on and find a company which matches your ambitions.
8 – Why Is There a Gap in your CV?
Honest is very much the best policy here. If you took time off for personal reasons, just say so. The same goes for taking a career break. If possible, try to give details of any skills or experience you gained when out of work. For instance, you might have worked as a volunteer and gained project management experience. Focusing on the skills learned is also the best way to explain a travel gap during an interview.
9 – What Are Your Salary Expectations?
This can be an awkward question if you’re not prepared. Do your research and find out the average salary for someone with your experience and skills in the industry. It’s important to note that this is the first interview; if the employer is a large corporation, you’re unlikely to be offered the job at this stage. Aim to provide a broad yet realistic answer: “I would be looking for a starting salary between €28,000 and €32,000.” However, you should be prepared to back up the answer if necessary.
If, instead, you are at the last stage of your interview process, you might want to negotiate your salary for the new job.
10 – Do You Have Any Questions?
The biggest blunder you can make here is to say ‘no’ and conclude the interview. This is an opportunity to demonstrate that you researched the company and are serious about the role. There are a host of good questions to ask in an interview and you need to prepare them in advance:
- “What are the biggest challenges facing the company today?”
- “Is this role a new or existing one?”
- “What are the promotion prospects in this role?”
- “What are the role’s day-to-day responsibilities?”
- “Does the company run any training schemes?”
Once you’re well prepared for an interview, it will no longer seem like such a daunting prospect. Look to prepare answers to the questions above but don’t rely on the employer asking the queries specifically mentioned above.
The key to interview success is to research the company, carefully read the job description and match your skills and experience with the requirements. Do this and you should be able to answer everything the interviewer throws at you.