Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Tell us a bit about yourself…
This is most likely the first question you will be asked in an interview. It gives you the opportunity to highlight your achievements and skills on both a personal and professional level. Please provide details of your educational and employment achievements and also your reasons for pursuing this position; what gave you an interest in the topic, as this will identify your passion. Don’t talk too much, but make sure you’re giving the employer real insight into your strengths, as this is the perfect opportunity to shine. It is important to consider the job you are applying for and tailor your answers to the job requirements.

How would your friends/coworkers describe you?
This question allows you to highlight the qualities about yourself that you are most proud of. Use positive words and phrases and, if possible, link them to match the job you are looking for. Things like being a hard worker, reliable, and trustworthy are valuable skills you could bring to a workplace.

Why do you want to work here?
‘I need a job’ may be the worst thing you could say right now. This is your chance to show the employer that you have done your homework. Find out as much as you can beforehand about the company, what its mission statement is, what values ​​it stands for, and what goals it wants to achieve. You should be able to find this information on the company’s website, especially in the ‘About Us’ section. Tell the employer what he hopes to accomplish within the company, what you think he can do to help you achieve your goals, and emphasize why he has the skills to undertake this task.

What are your strengths?
Be sure to give examples that are really relevant to the position you are applying for. Things like the ability to work well under pressure, being quick to learn new things, and any particular computer skills you may possess are useful strengths for any job. Be prepared to think of examples of when you have demonstrated these skills, as the employer may ask you to demonstrate an example.

What are your weaknesses?
There are two things to remember when approaching this question. The first, and most important, fact is to make sure that the weaknesses you talk about are not vital to the job at hand. Try to identify a weakness that you are taking active steps to improve. For example, ‘I didn’t feel particularly competent using this IT software, but I have taken steps outside of work to improve it by researching and learning on my own time.’ This will show that you are capable of identifying your own faults, but it will also emphasize your ability to improve yourself.

What do you know about this company?
Take this opportunity to show the interviewer that you are serious about this job and that you have taken the time to prepare. Learn about the company, its goals, achievements, and mission statements. Make sure you know how the company works, the departments within the company, and whether they have a particular stance on environmental and ethical issues. Pick something about the company that really interests you and let them know that you have a shared interest.

Why should we hire you?
The best way to answer this question is to learn about your strengths, skills, and accomplishments and relate them to the job description. You should emphasize the accomplishments you are particularly proud of in your previous roles and how these accomplishments would translate to the new role and enable you to succeed within the company. You should make positive and confident statements about what you can bring to the company and emphasize your interest in the business and the job itself.

Why did you leave your last job?
Explain that you are looking to the future and that your previous employer did not offer you the best opportunity to advance your career. Make sure you don’t openly criticize your previous employer and don’t bring personal grievances to the interview. Keep a professional head when answering questions that may have to do with personal matters.

These questions are just a starting point for you to explore. Remember, preparation is the key to the perfect interview and the ideal way to keep your nerves at bay.