How many of you had stumbled upon an interview question you have not prepared yourself for, and your mind drew a blank? Sensing that awkward silence, you blurted out whatever words you could find and desperately made sentences out of them. The interview ended moments later, and as you reflect back on what you had said, you dreadfully realized those words do not make much logical sense!
Okay, if you are looking for a job now, then you are in luck. This is a guidance post of ten most common interview questions that you might be asked for your upcoming interviews.
Here are the top 10 questions, let’s get started!!
10. “Tell me something about yourself?”
This is typically the first question the interviewer will ask once you have taken your seat. This is the opportunity for the interviewer to assess you as a person through what you say and how you deliver it. As they always say, first impression is at utmost important, so you have to make sure you have prepared yourself adequately to answer it. Keep it short and succinct, preferably within 2 – 3 minutes.
9. “What are your weaknesses?”
At first glance, this seems tricky. On one hand, you cannot reveal that you lack what it takes for the job; on the other, it will be an obvious lie if you claim you do not have any weaknesses. What should you disclose then? If you have thoroughly gone through the company’s profile and such, you will by now understand what qualities are considered strengths, and what are not.
8. “What is your greatest accomplishment?”
Although the interviewer is asking you about your greatest accomplishment, you still have to choose one that is more professionally relevant. This is a good time to illustrate how you can contribute to the company if you are successfully recruited, so it will be to your advantage if you mention an achievement that applies to the position. If possible, quantify your results in terms of savings made and increased productivity for instance.
7. “Why did you leave your last job?”
There are various legitimate reasons for leaving a job. Yet, when it comes to interview, try to answer positively rather than complain about what made you unhappy. Talk in relation to your career goals and how the job you are applying provides a better environment for growth than your previous job. As always, angle your reply in such a way that what you had learned in your previous job had enriched you with valuable skills for the current position. Here, the interviewer is trying to gauge how much the job fits to your expectations. You had probably quit your last job because you were unhappy about something. The interviewer wants to make sure that you will be committed to the job and not leave because your expectations are not met again.
6. “Why do you want to work with us?”
More likely than not, the interviewer wishes to see how much you know about the company culture, and whether you can identify with the organization’s values and vision. Every organization has its strong points, and these are the ones that you should highlight in your answer. For example, if the company emphasizes on integrity with customers, then you mention that you would like to be in such a team because you yourself believe in integrity.
5. “Why did you apply for this position?”
Even if it is true to a large extent, do not give them the vibe that you applied for this job because you were retrenched from your previous company. Or for that matter, don’t give the impression that you are here because you need to make a living. Any company wants someone who is committed to the organization and eventually developed a sense of belonging with it. It doesn’t help claiming that you’re here for the monthly paycheck. In fact, the best way to answer this question is to spend some time examining what you like or would like about your work and the company. It is likely you will find something, such as the culture, work environment, meaning of your work, etc. If you didn’t find anything, then you should seriously consider if this is the right job for you.
4. “What would you like to be doing Five years from now?”
Again, this question is asked to find out whether you are committed to the job. The fact is that there are people who hop from job to job, and that is because they do not really have a solid plan to follow. Another reason for popping this question is to see whether you are someone who sets goals in life. It is undisputed that people who set long-term goals are more reliable than those who do not. Your reply should assure the interviewer that your career progression goals are in line with the actual advancement route in the company.
3. “Why should I hire your?”
This is the part where you link your skills, experience, education and your personality to the job itself. This is why you need to be utterly familiar with the job description as well as the company culture. Remember though, it is best to back them up with actual examples of say, how you are a good team player.
2. “How Much you’re expecting for the Salary?”
Salary negotiation is a tough and delicate matter. Preferably speaking, you should avoid going into this topic until the later stage of the recruitment when you are being offered the job. That said, some recruiters might be hoping that you would yield in to this question and be the first to give the number and set the benchmark. The repercussion? You might end up making less than what the position is worth! Remember that when the job is finally being offered to you, the interviewer would have to quote the salary. That will be the best time to negotiate your way because you will then become the one being sought after, and not the other way round.
1. “Do you have any questions to ask me?”
This is normally the last question posed to you, so it’s your chance to finish the interview elegantly. True enough, your doubts about the job position might already been allayed by this time when the interview is almost done. Nevertheless, you’ve got to say something other than replying that you’ve got nothing to ask. Doing otherwise might leave the impression to the interviewer that you are not exactly keen to get the job.
One of the best responses to this question is to find out about your chances of landing this job. Thank the interviewer for the opportunity and express your enthusiasm for the position before asking if there is any reservation for hiring you. This will be your final chance to address any concerns the interviewer might have of employing you. Stay calm and reply objectively rather than taking any criticism personally.
Last but not the least one shout loudly “Grow Up Once Again”
