Being called in for an interview is the dream scenario during your job search. But wait. What’s that nagging sensation in the pit of your stomach? Are you feeling a little intimidated by the prospect of having to sit through a job interview? What are they going to ask you, you think. What if they ask the dreaded “Tell me about yourself” question. “Forget it, I’ll just continue on in my good old job, thank you very much.”
Fact is that you WILL be asked at least some of these questions during your job interviews but most likely not all of them during just a single interview. However, when you’re prepared to answer them all it will boost your confidence. Click on each question below to see our suggestions of ways to answer them.
For some people this is probably the worst of the interview questions. However, it can be viewed as a way of getting you to talk about yourself. It serves both as an icebreaker, a way to get to know you, and it can provide the interviewer with a direction in which to take the interview.
To prepare for this question you’ll want to identify the company’s need in a candidate and then make sure to highlight why you’ll be able to fill this need. Tell them something that lies beyond what you state in your resume. They’ve already read that. Tailor your answer to fit the role and the company.
To get you started you should go back and review the job ad for the relevant keywords once again. Identify their needs. Then note down on a piece of paper: “They’re looking for someone who…”. Next, pick a story from your work life that shows how you’ve filled that particular need in the past and rewrite this to “I’m someone who….” And that’s how you should start your reply to this question.
- Could you tell me about yourself and describe your background in brief? …
- How did you hear about this position? …
- What type of work environment do you prefer? …
- How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations? …
- Do you prefer working independently or on a team?
TOP 21 Interview Questions And How To Answer Them (2022 EDITION!)
8. Where do you see yourself in five years? 10 years?
The point of the question
Companies want to hire a person with goals and ambitions. They also want to make sure you’re not a job hopper. This question is designed to figure out if you’re in it for the long haul or if you’re already thinking about your next job.
How to answer
As mentioned, companies want to hire the person who is going to stick around. At least in the foreseeable future. So that is what you need to communicate. Your answer could resemble this example:
“I’m the kind of person who likes stability and to be a part of a stable company and team. My goal is to find a job where I can thrive and evolve my skills in order to bring value to the company. In the long run my ambition is to advance within the company once I’ve proven my skills and competencies and thus help advance the company even further.”
You’ll want to make sure they understand that you’re really here for the long run.
JEFF’S TIP Bring up something specific that you’ve found during your company research phase and tie it in with your answer. For example, if you discovered that they
This question can really make a lot of job seekers nervous. If you were literally fired from your last job, you’re going to have to own up to it and show what you learned from the experience and what measures you have taken to address the reasons you were let go.
If you left voluntarily, be sure to explain why. For example, you wanted a different challenge. Hint: A challenge offered by the company and position you’re interviewing for.
We tackle this question in more depth in our blog post here, but here is a sample answer for this, one of the classic job interview questions people still encounter today.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
4. “What Is Your Greatest Weakness?”
This classic question freaks people out, but it shouldn’t. As long as you pick a weakness that isn’t a key competency for the job and you show that you have taken steps to “work on it,” you will be fine. Don’t try and sidestep this question.
For a more thorough look at the what is your greatest weakness question, click here. In the meantime, here is a quick example answer.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
