These are some questions that you may be asked during an interview and some suggested waysto frame your answers. While it is extremely advisable to learn the questions and create your OWN answers, it is equally advisable to sound natural and not wooden in an interview.
Most of the questions relate either to your ability to do the job (skills, education, and experience) or to examine the kind of person you are. Areas include your education, about you, your skills, and the benefits of hiring you, why you are interested in the job/company, your work experience, why you are looking, and your ability to work with other people, your weaknesses, and even salary.
So, here are frequently asked job interview questions, what the interviewers usually try to determine by asking them, and what your answer should be for each one of them.
How can you describe yourself?
This is in most cases the opener of a job interview. Evidently, it aims to determine whether the kind of person that you are fits requirements of the job. Therefore, your answer must be focused in that direction.
However, keep in mind one thing here. Depending on who’s asking this question, your answer should be slightly different. For example, if the CEO of a company asks you this, they would probably want you to be independent, a person that can think outside of the box, a person that looks at a problem from all the angles. On the other hand, if a human resources manager asks you this, your answer should include your team work qualities, and how would you fit in the company’s working environment.
Outline your qualities, blur out or even leave out your weaknesses if you’re not required to put them into view.
What is your management style?
Give your honest appraisal of your style but remember, most companies usually prefer an open door policy. You may want to say that you are always available to talk through work and non-work issues. You are not just a manager…but a “motivator”, “friend” etc. Go on to say how you delegate, supervise, review and give feedback on work.
What is your biggest weakness?
It is a cliché but it still rings true…make them positives. “I am a perfectionist” or “I keep working until the task is done.” Then go on to say how you are rectifying it. Look for your own biggest weaknesses and be honest. In a negative question, the employer asks you to identify a weakness in yourself or to describe a situation in which you performed poorly. Answer honestly, but always turn it around and end on a positive note. Choose a weakness that is NOT central to the job. Further, always state what you have done to overcome the weakness.
What are your strongest points/attributes?
This is generally a very good opportunity to lay out your qualities and establish your track record of accomplishments. Tie them directly into the job or role they are seeking. Be specific and exact in terms of the positives for hiring you.
What do you know about our company? Or why do you want to work for us?
This is where your research was done before the interview will pay big dividends. This question can be framed any number ways…”what do you know about our products/competitors?” You must know products, services, company size, company turnover, reputation, goals, training, management style, key staff and even threats and competitors. Make certain that you have studied and practiced these answers before going into the interview. Make use of all available resources possible so that the interviewer knows you are intelligent and took the time to find out more about their company before walking through the door.
Why are you interested in joining us?
Again research on the company will pay dividends. Make certain to approach your answer from the perspective of the interviewer. Would you hire yourself for this role based on your answer? Take the interviewers position and make the answer count for them, not you. Describe your benefits and match them to the company’s needs.
How do you handle criticism?
Well, no one likes to be criticized, but if it is constructive then it will help your performance. Say that you take criticism as you give it, “constructively.”
How do you persuade someone to agree with your point of view?
Communication, listening and explaining your views together with the reason for it. If there are a range of views you must consider each one and look at the pros and cons of each and then conclude with the reasons for your selection. Please do your best not to answer any question with a yes or no. Please be certain to have a game plan going into the interview. It is, after all, your salary and quality of life that you are auditioning for. Make it count from the start. The better you can perform on the initial and subsequent interviews, the greater the level of desire to hire you will be. Be certain to script out your responses and practice them with another person you trust enough to tell you the truth about your answers. Have specific examples of your accomplishments ready and in your mind based on the research you have done or knowledge you have about your potential employer? Following this strategy and being as prepared as possible will lead to greater levels of successful interviewing and closure rate.
We believe you may Be Overqualified for This Position
This is a good question to be asked because it will really help to decide whether someone wants to employ you or not. If you were overqualified for the position would you still be applying for it? The trouble with this question is that it can come across negatively, making you look desperate for any job. An employer does not want to take someone on who is just going to leave again in a couple of months. Therefore you should make clear to them that you do not get bored easily and you see this as a new and exciting challenge that you stay with companies for a long time etc.
If you had been appointed To This Position How Long Would It Be Before to You’d Anticipate Being Promoted?
If we are all honest with ourselves we all want to be promoted and the quicker the better. There is no point in lying about this either at theinterview as you will do yourself a disservice if you do get the job and then an employer will not rush to promote you because they know you are not anxious about it. Be careful however not to give a specific time frame for promotion as this can appear cheeky and it may not fit in with the employer’s expectations at all. They will then question whether you are right for the job too. The right form of response for this question could be along the lines of “I do not anticipate being promoted until I prove myself to you and the company. I have high standards and expectations of myself, however, I also understand that you must work tirelessly to be rewarded.” This will paint you in a really positive light thus making you appear like a good person to have on their payroll.
You’ve Read the Job Description and a Summary from the Job Role, So What Areas of This Job Appeal to You the Least?
You need to be cautious here to show that there’s no aspect of this career that would put you off. Short answers right here are really all that you can give as you can become flustered and may end up spurting out something detrimental. Explain that you have looked at the job description in great detail and assure them that each aspect of the position appeals to you and you think that you would enjoy it a lot.
To close this post, here are a few tips that you might find useful if you prepare your answers to these interview questions, or for any other questions that you will be asked.
– Your answers must not sound rehearsed;
– Take a bit of time before answering any question;
– Keep the answers short;
– Make sure each and every answer that you give sounds credible;
– Finally, for each and every question asked, put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer and try to determine what they’re trying to determine by asking that particular question;