Are you worried about what interview questions would be asked and how to answer them? If yes, then wouldn’t it be great if you knew exactly what a hiring manager would be asking you in your next interview?
Here are the top 21 questions you are most likely to be asked in your job interview:
1. Tell me about yourself.
This is an interview question that one should always be prepared to answer. If you ever attempted any interview earlier, then you know it’s the most often asked question in every interview. Here, your answer should be confined to work-related stuff. You should be careful of not giving too much personal details, unless asked by the interviewer. Relevant facts about education, your career and your current life situation are sufficient to tell.
2. Why did you leave your last job?
Here, you must stay positive and try to give a positive response of this question, irrespective of whatever your circumstances are. Never criticize your previous company, supervisor or your co-workers. If you do, you may have a bad impression. Just talk about leaving the previous job for a positive reason such as an opportunity to advance your career, a chance to do something special or other progressive reasons.
3. What do you know about this organization?
Before you go for an interview, do some research by browsing the company’s website. Read the company’s ‘About page’. This way you will be able to answer this question. Further, it will make the interviewers know that you have come prepared and is genuinely interested in the company and the job.
4. Why do you want to work with/for us?
This question is somewhat related to the last question. Any research you have done about the company should have led you to the conclusion that you would want to work there. After all, you are at the interview, right? Put some thought into this answer before you have your interview, mention your career objectives and highlight forward-thinking goals and career plans.
5. What relevant experience do you have?
Talk about specific work-related experience for the position you are interviewing for. Make sure the experience is relevant. Do not talk about prior experience that is not related to the position. If are not having specific work-related experience talk about previous experience that has helped you gain specific knowledge and skills required for the position you are applying for.
6. How long would you expect to work for us if hired?
Don’t give a specific answer of this interview question. You should say something like this – I would like to work for a long time. Or as long as we both feel I am doing a good job.
7. What are your strengths?
While discussing your strengths highlight roughly few positive traits or strengths that particularly apply to the required position based on what you consider to be the employer’s specific requirements. Also, be prepared with apt instances that reflect your strengths.
8. What are your weaknesses?
Don’t start citing out all your personality illnesses directly. Stay calm and state silly weaknesses that are strengths in disguise. When telling your weaknesses, never detail poor performance areas that have no chance to be improved on. Somewhat, try to explain where you identified a problem area, and how you solved it.
9. Why should we hire you?
This interview question is purely about selling you. Tell the employer about your ultimate talents that just so happen to match the job description. Remember, while answering, you must be focused on yourself and your talents. Don’t compare yourself to other candidates.
10. Did you consider yourself as a team player?
Once again a firm ‘Yes’ is necessary for this question. Provide specific examples of how you have worked as part of an organized team and succeeded in meeting project deadlines as a team. Remember, not to boast of yourself as this will make the interviewer feel that you are more concerned about your own performance and achievements than those of the team.
11. Do you consider yourself successful?
Always answer ‘Yes’ followed with a brief explanation. Success doesn’t mean you get each and everything you want. It relates to your achievements in life. So, tell the employer about your major achievements. Also, you can say that you have set some goals, met some of those goals and on track to achieve the others.
12. Where do you see yourself in five years?
When answering this question, stay focused on your career objectives and aspirations. Keep the career aspirations realistic and attainable within a five year period. You can discuss ways in which you expect accomplishing your career goals as well as steps you have already taken to reach these career goals.
13. What you like to do outside of your work?/ What are your hobbies?
List few of your hobbies and explain how you enjoy them. Try to relate your hobbies to activities that help you gain skills. Tell the interviewer, if you love music, dancing, travelling, cooking, gardening, or whatever you take interests in doing.
14. Would you be willing to relocate if required?
Interviewer may ask this question to check flexibility in you for potential long-term growth. A better way to handle this question is to keep your options open and your reservations to yourself in the early going. First find out where you have to relocate and how much travel may be involved. Your strategy here is to get the best offer you can and then decide whether its worth for you to relocate or travel.
15. What qualities do you look for in a boss/manager?
When answering this question, you need to be positive and don’t be too specific. Just say some good things, such as competent, fair, and encouraging; since bosses usually believe they possess these qualities.
16. What is your dream job?
There is almost no good answer to this question, so don’t be specific. Here, the interviewer wants to uncover whether this position is really in line with your ultimate career objectives. If you tell the interviewer that the job you are applying is the perfect job, you may strain credibility. If you say another job the interviewer may get concerned that you will get dissatisfied with the position if you are hired. Hence, a good response could be, “A job where my skills and abilities are recognized and I can prove myself as an asset to the organization.”
17. Are you overqualified for this position?
Here, you should clarify the interviewer’s concerns, emphasizing the positive. Try to convince you are apt for the job. No matter your previous job experience or educational background, tell the interviewer you have the knowledge and skills to successfully execute the job responsibilities. Explain how you can benefit this company and how you can grow in this position. Make sure that the interviewer understands your qualifications.
18. Do you perform well under pressure/stress?
By asking this question, the interviewer wants to know whether you can work effectively in a fast changing environment and that you are prepared to go to extra mile when required. The best answer to this question is ‘Yes’. Working under pressure is a good trait to have. But saying yes is not enough, you should explain how you can handle pressure and get the best out of it.
19. What motivates you to do your best on the job?
Here you have to keep your answer simple, direct and positive. Quote some positive things like work environment, ability to achieve, recognition or challenging assignments.
20. How do you deal with criticism?
Speak out as if criticism is the best way to improve. Say, you never take criticisms personally and you understand the intentions for the harsh treatments. Describe any situation in which where you rose to the next best level when you were subject to criticism.
21. What is more important to you- the money or the work?
To answer this interview question you have to be a bit diplomatic rather choosing a particular option. Tell the interviewers that both are equally important to you. Don’t tell that any one is more important than the other one. Tell them that you are concerned with job satisfaction too.
This post is contributed by Albat Disausa. He is an Internet marketer and freelance writer.I do have more than 2 years of experience in Digital marketing and have served so many clients till now. he is also working as an editor for Sure Recruitment..I hope you like this post.