The interview portion is one of the most difficult parts of applying for a job. It is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences that anyone can have but you can still tackle even the most difficult questions if you are prepared for it.
This is why learning the common interview questions is important. You can get a step ahead of everyone through sheer preparation alone. By learning how to answer common interview questions, you get a sense of relief that you can answer these questions without having to think deeply about the answer.
This guide will help you understand more about the common job interview questions and how to answer them effectively. This can help you get the best chance of making a good impression and soon getting hired.
Tell Me About Yourself
This question is one of the most common introductory job interview questions you will always encounter.
This sets the stage for the entire interview and the interviewer simply wants to know more about you and how you communicate with other people.
This is your perfect chance to provide a summary of your professional information and your chance to highlight all of your achievements.
What to Do
To answer this question, always start with a brief introduction of yourself. Move on to a summary of your current or most recent job and what you do.
Provide a good list of your responsibilities to the company before you focus on the key achievements within your previous company that led you to success. Make sure that you use quantifiable information so it can have a good impact.
Lastly, explain why you’re very interested and excited about the opportunity while also discussing how you fit into the company.
What are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?
Another very common job interview question that will give you the chance to highlight your skills and strengths.
This is one way of identifying how you fit into the company while allowing you to express yourself freely.
When answering the question, you must also be very honest and vulnerable. No one wants to hire someone who is a burden to the company, so focus on your strengths instead of your weaknesses.
However, identifying your weaknesses can also mean you are self-aware.
How to Answer
The best way to answer this question is to choose your strengths most genuinely. Choose a few strengths that represent who you are as a person and as an employee, especially traits that are relevant to the job.
Cite a few examples or experiences that demonstrate the skills and strengths in the past. Explain how your strengths can help make you a better employee and how they can contribute to the overall quality of the work that you can do for the company.
When it comes to answering your weaknesses, try to avoid using clichés and overused answers. Explain that you’re working on improving these qualities, so you don’t want to make yourself bad.
Why Do You Want to Work Here?
This is a great question for anyone who wants to prove to themselves that they are a great addition to the company.
This question allows the interviewer to test your knowledge of the company and exposes your motivation in applying for work.
Many employers always want their candidates to be prepared for the work at hand and are generally interested in going to work. With this question, they can assess if you are indeed a good fit for the role or not.
What to Answer
Before you go to the interview, ensure you have already researched the company’s values, mission, and vision.
You can also include the company’s work culture by asking current or previous employees that you might know. This gives you insight into what the company is all about and ensures that you align your values and work ethics with the company or the job’s responsibility.
Be ready to mention specific aspects of the company that you find very endearing so that they’ll know you’ve done your research.
Where Do You See Yourself in Several Years?
Employers often ask this question to gauge how long you’ll stay with the company and what your goals will be during that time.
Many employers have already accepted that not everyone can stay in the company for a decade or more hence the reason why they ask this type of question during application.
This shows what you want to do with your time while you’re working for them. This also shows if your goals are aligned with the company’s future.
How to Answer
To answer this very complex job interview question, you need to be honest with yourself first. Before you even get to the interview, you need to ask yourself what you want to do while you’re working.
Set realistic and grounded career goals for yourself and detail them during the interview. You should also show how your goals are aligned with the company’s growth.
You can even tell them that you have the desire to grow with the help of the company through different kinds of opportunities.
Why Should We Hire You?
The age-old question when it comes to common job interviews. This is the perfect time for you to claim why you are the perfect candidate for the job.
The questions let them assess your commitment to the job, especially knowing that it can be very difficult at times.
This is easily one of the most challenging questions to answer if you are not properly prepared for the job or you haven’t done your research.
What to Do
The first thing you need to do to answer this question is to list any relevant qualities that they’re looking for.
Summarize your strengths and provide a narrative on how your strengths can relate to the job. Explain what truly sets you apart from other candidates while showing enthusiasm for the role and the company.
Conclusion
These common job interview questions are only difficult to answer if you come to the interview unprepared. It is always important that you perform well during the interview and through proper preparation and accurate execution of answers, you can be confident and capable with your answers. Remember to be flexible with your responses as it is on a case-to-case basis. Highlight your strengths and don’t forget to follow what you should do to answer the most common job interview questions.
