7 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS YOU'RE GOING TO BE ASKED
Each interview is different and there are likely to be some questions you can never prepare for, however, there are questions you can almost guarantee you’re going to be asked. Here are a few to help you prepare for your next interview…
1) “Tell us about yourself...”
Start by giving a little rundown of your work history, picking up on key achievements and demonstrating how your career has developed. Preparing your answer in advance means you’ll deliver it with more confidence, and make a great first impression. The key thing here is backing up any achievements with facts and figures, so you can demonstrate what value you have added to each of your previous employers.
2) “What made you decide to apply for the role?”
The hiring manager will want to find out why you’re interested in their business, and also see what your expectations and understanding is of the role you’ve applied for. Here you should pick up on points from the job description that most interest you, and also show your passion and interest in learning more about their business.
3) “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
It’s a cliched question, but an essential one for recruiters who want to see how well you know your abilities. Highlight each strength with an example, as the examples will be much more memorable when you have left the interview room. In terms of weaknesses, this is always a tricky question, so be honest but not too critical. Pick a trait that can be interpreted as both a strength and a weakness, so you can put a positive spin on your answer.
4) “Tell us about a challenging situation and how you’ve dealt with it.”
Take time to think about a time when you’ve had to step up at work, perhaps deal with a difficult employee or a sensitive situation. When you’re talking about the outcome ensure you focus on your role in the process, and how you resolved the situation.
5) “What do you know about our business?”
Here’s your chance to show that you have done some research! Interviewers are asking this question as they want to know how interested you are in the company and the role. The internet is an amazing thing, you can learn about the business, but also competitors and the industry in general to ensure you can talk knowledgeably and with genuine interest.
6) “What are your career goals?”
Be honest here, interviewers want to find out how you see your career developing, and more importantly whether you see it with their business. It’s great for both you and your potential new employer to know what you want in the future, so they can be sure they can offer you what you’re looking for.
7) “Do you have any questions?”
The answer to this question should always be yes! You should prepare a few questions in advance, just in case the answers to a couple get covered throughout the interview. The interviewee is wanting to see how interested you are in the role, and will make judgements about you based on the questions you ask.