A job interview seems to be tiring, even though you have gone through many interviews that you can count. With each job interview, you are meeting new people, selling yourself and your skills. This can be a challenge especially when you’re interviewed for a job you would love to get hired for.
These are the common interview questions asked by interviewers.
Tell me about yourself
Talk about yourself in summary and avoid rambling. Focus on the elements that you want to highlight rather than going through everything.
Can you list your strengths?
Think about three things that you do well and give concrete examples. An exhaustive list of adjective, such as ‘capable’, ‘hard-working’ or ‘diligent’, won’t really portray you well because anyone can make such claims about themselves.
What weaknesses do you have?
Remember that being able to identify a weakness is a strength. Focus on the area of your work that needs to be improved.
Why should I consider hiring you?
Focus on what else you can bring to the job, perhaps with your soft skills set. Appeal to the interviewer’s desire to hire someone with drive.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
This is your chance to talk about your wider ambition and goals. Bosses want to hire people with determination so don’t be shy about sounding ambitious or hungry for success.
Why do you want to work here?
It is your chance to show that you have researched the company you are applying to work with. Typically things you might say are that the company operates in your chosen sector, that it provides a clearly structured career path and that the organization has a good reputation.
What is your salary expectation?
It will depend on your personality as to how you feel talking about salary expectations.
What motivates you?
Motivation is personal, so there is no wrong answer that you can give.
What makes a good team leader?
Answering this question well is especially important for people who want to learn leaders or to manage a department.
Is there anything that you would like to ask me?
Always have at least one question prepared I advance. This is your chance to drill down into an area of the business that might not have been covered in the interview.
A job interview is the most important step in taking a job search journey. It would be the best chance to show the company and to the hiring manager that you deserve that position. Remember that a job interview is not an exam, rather you need to understand exactly what the company is looking for in a new hire. Ensure that you’re able to discuss your experience and what makes you a great fit for the job. With some advance preparations, you’ll be able to grasp the interview and showcase the experience that makes you the ideal candidate for the company’s next new employee.
Here are some tips to ace up a job interview.
Prepare and Practice
In a job interview, you will never get a second chance to make a great first impression. Being well-prepared increases your chances of landing that dream job.
It is also important to wear the proper attire for an interview, usually, companies have gone to corporate casual. There is one rule that stands above all: Dress professionally. Wear business attire appropriate for the role, to make you feel comfortable. If possible, call to find out about the company’s dress code before the interview.
The most important thing is to read and review the job description. Analyze the job description, it will align your competencies with the skills that the job requires.
Research the Industry and Company
Researching the aspects will be a long-term guide investment to your future employment.
Here are some aspects of the company you should be researching for:
- Company Financials: Checking the company website. Doing a Google search about the current state of the company.
- Culture: LinkedIn, Facebook or Google Reviews for comments by former and current employees.
- Executive Team: Find out who the executives or the company hierarchy through their company websites.
Get ready ahead of time
A failure to a plan is a plan to fail, you need to prepare ahead of time. You shouldn’t do your practicing when you’re “on stage”, rehearse before the interview.
Be on time
Make sure you arrive 15-30 minutes before the interview. Being punctuality is a subtle clue about attitude and behavior. Tardiness, no matter the excuse, is a major blunder. Arriving early to an interview will give you time to prepare and gives you time to calm your nerves. This will allow you to enter the interview as relaxed and comfortable.
Follow-up after interview
After a job interview, it’s important to follow up with the hiring manager. Express your appreciation, a thank you letter, email, or a call is an opportunity to:
- Highlight your relevant qualifications
- Show enthusiasm for the role
- Mention important details that didn’t come up during the interview.
Since part of your task in the interview involves selling yourself as the right person for the job, and convincing the interviewer that you’re going to get along just great with everybody. It’s important to appear confident and cool for the interview. One way to do that is to go on an ample number of interviews so you get comfortable with the process.
