Are you ready to ace your impending job interview? It’s always important to be ready to respond effectively to the questions that employers typically ask. Since these questions are so common, hiring managers will expect you to be able to answer them effortlessly and without hesitation.
You don’t need to memorise your answers, but you should think about what you’re going to say so you’re not put on the spot. Your responses will be stronger if you are prepared, know what to expect during the interview, and have a sense of what you want to focus on.
Knowing that you prepared will also boost your confidence, help you minimise interview stress and feel more at ease.
The Questions
- Tell me about yourself.
What They Want to Know: The interviewer wants to know why you’re an excellent fit for the job. Try to answer questions about yourself without giving too much, or too little, personal information. You can start by sharing some of your personal interests and experiences that don’t relate directly to work, such as a favourite hobby or a brief account of where you grew up, your education and what motivates you. You can even share some fun facts and showcase your personality to make the interview a little more interesting.
- Why should we hire you?
What They Want to Know: Are you the best candidate for the job? The hiring manager wants to know whether you have all the required qualifications. Be prepared to explain why you’re the applicant who should be hired. Make your response a confident, concise, focused sales pitch that explains what you have to offer and why you should get the job.
- What is your greatest strength?
What They Want to Know: This is one of the questions that employers almost always ask to determine how well you are qualified for the position. When you are asked about your greatest strengths, it’s important to discuss the attributes that qualify you for that specific job, and that will set you apart from other candidates.
- What is your greatest weakness?
What They Want to Know: Another typical question interviewers will ask is about your weaknesses. Do your best to frame your answers around positive aspects of your skills and abilities as an employee, turning seeming “weaknesses” into strengths. You can also share examples of skills you have improved, providing specific instances of how you have recognized a weakness and taken steps to correct it.
- Why do you want to leave (or have left) your current job?
What They Want to Know: The interviewer wants to know why you want to work for their company. When asked about why you are moving on from your current position, stick with the facts, be direct and focus your answer on the future, especially if your departure wasn’t under the best circumstances.
- What are your salary expectations?
What They Want to Know: The hiring manager wants to know what you expect to earn. It seems like a simple question, but your answer can knock you out of competition for the job if you overprice yourself. If you under-price yourself, you may get short-changed with a lower offer.
- Why do you want this job?
What They Want to Know: This question gives you an opportunity to show the interviewer what you know about the job and the company, so take time beforehand to thoroughly research the company, its products, services, culture and mission. Be specific about what makes you a good fit for this role, and mention aspects of the company and position that appeal to you most.
- How do you handle stress and pressure?
What They Want to Know: What do you do when things don’t go smoothly at work? How do you deal with difficult situations? The employer wants to know how you handle workplace stress. Avoid claiming that you never, or rarely, experience stress. Instead, word your answer in a way that acknowledges workplace stress and explains how you’ve overcome it, or even used it to your advantage.
- Describe a difficult work situation or project and how you overcame it.
What They Want to Know: The interviewer wants to know how you respond when faced with a difficult decision. As with the question about stress, be prepared to share an example of what you did in a tough situation. It’s important to share details to make the story believable and engaging.
- What are your goals for the future?
What They Want to Know: This question is designed to find out if you’re going to stick around or move on as soon as you find a better opportunity. Keep your answer focused on the job and the company and reiterate to the interviewer that the position aligns with your long-term goals.
If you’re not sure how to answer these questions and would like to do some interview coaching, get in touch.
