- Tell me about yourself. …
- Why should we hire you? …
- Why do you want to work here? …
- What other jobs have you held? …
- Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult situation. …
- Tell me about a time you worked with a team to complete a project.
So, you landed an interview! Congratulations—that’s no small feat. Getting an interview is an incredible feeling, but it can also be a stressful experience. You want to be 100% prepared when you walk through the door or turn on that video chat.
Today, we’ll prepare you for your interview by reviewing the most common interview questions and answers. And don’t worry if you lack relevant experience. In this article, you’ll find advice that’s tailored to new college graduates and early-career job seekers.
How To Answer Interview Questions With NO EXPERIENCE! (PASS Your Interview)
Tell me about yourself and why you are suited to this role
This will be the first interview question, and in my opinion, is the easiest one for answering with no experience. Use strong keywords and phrases that are attractive to the employer who is interviewing you. Make sure you study the job description carefully and pick out specific elements from that description that you can use in your interview response.
Answer this question by focusing on the strength of your personality, your enthusiasm for the role, and what has attracted you to their company.
Sample Response
I am an enthusiastic, professional, loyal and hard-working person who has been working towards applying for this post for many months now.
I am someone who believes their personality will be a big asset to an employer, not least because of my dedication to my work, my willingness to go above and beyond what is required, and also my hunger for learning and developing new skills.
I am particularly attracted to your company because I want to work for someone who is ambitious, innovative and who gives their employees the opportunity to thrive.
Why should we hire you?
Make your lack of experience work in your favour. Use this as a strength and tell the panel you are fresh, enthusiastic, hungry and ready to get started!
You want the panel to hire you because of your passion for this job and how much you are attracted to their company. You therefore need to have a ‘point of interest’ relevant to their company to talk about, when answering interview questions with no experience.
Sample Response
I am the best person for the job because I have a great passion for this type of role, and the skills to work to a high standard. I believe job satisfaction comes from two things: firstly, it comes from working in a role your skills are most compatible with, and secondly, it comes from working for a caring, enthusiastic and forward-thinking employer like yourself.
Whilst researching your company, I kept coming across your innovative and exciting plans for the future, and I very much want to be a part of them. For example, whilst reading your website I found out that one of your recent new product launches has been a great success with your customers. I believe I would get a great sense of pride from working as part of the team that delivers excellent customer service whilst striving to meet your company objectives time and again.
Employers look favorably on any work experience—internships, volunteer experience, and burger flipping all count. Martin Yate, Monster contributor
If you pay attention to managing your career, just a few years down the road you could be climbing into management yourself and starting to hire a team of your own. When you do, none of those hiring decisions will be easy, but the hardest will always be hiring young professionals right out of school because there is usually little or no real-world experience and that makes for a tough hiring decision. Understanding a hiring manager’s point of view can help get your career off to a faster start.
2. What do you know about our company? Researching the company or organization you are applying to is an integral part of the application process, and this question is an evaluation of whether or not you have already done such an essential task. Prepare to answer questions regarding the origins of the company/organization, their current activities, and their objectives for the future.
3. Describe a situation where you taught a concept to a co-worker or classmate. You’ve just spent a lot of time learning from professors and in groups, so you might not think of yourself as a teacher. However, the more knowledge you accumulate, the more likely it is that you’ll be teaching things in the future. It’s best to be specific if you can, and focus on an example from a group project at school or in a previous job. Focus primarily on how you communicated with the person and ensured that they were learning. Don’t focus so much on what you taught them, but rather on how you taught them.
1. Why did you choose the major that you did? You probably didn’t make a snap decision to major in your major. You likely chose it because you found it interesting, challenging, or thought it would lead to a promising career. The only key to answering this question is knowing why you chose your major and communicating that reasoning clearly. Be honest, even if your reasoning doesn’t seem interesting. It’s better to be honest to yourself and the employer up front than attempt to tell them what you think they want to hear.
5. How would you assess your writing and communication skills? This is not a question that mid or senior-level applicants ever get asked. Writing and communication in school is very different from that in the professional world and the employer is checking to make sure you know the difference. If you’ve had experience communicating with full-time employees in your internship, let them know. Otherwise, hammer home the point that you know how to write clearly, concisely, and respectfully.
1. Why are you interested in this role? Stating a clear and concise answer here is crucial. The employer is looking to see that you are interested and ready to invest your time into such an opportunity. Be specific about your goals and expectations, discuss how you believe your qualifications are in-line with those required of the position, and be ready to explain why you chose this particular company when applying.
FAQ
What do you say in an interview if you have no experience?
How do I start an interview with no experience?
- Do Your Best to Answer All the Follow-up Questions. …
- Don’t Embellish Your Qualifications to Save Face. …
- Confirm That the Job Is What You Think it Is.
Why should we hire you with no experience example?
