How to Answer Job Interview Questions?
For many people looking for a job, the interview is the most difficult part of the whole process. And that is understandable. After all, in most cases, not all, the interview is the first opportunity the company, institution or government agency has to assess you in person. And as the old adage goes: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. So how do you answer job interview questions in a way that shines a favourable light on you? That’s what we’re here to look at today.
Questions about the employer
Employers want to know why you picked them to work for and they will typically take the direct approach to find out. So expect questions like:
- Why do you want to work for our company or organisation?
- What do you know about us?
- What makes you think you are a good fit for our team?
HR people are busy and will go straight to the heart of the matter. If you cannot answer such questions with aplomb your interview may be over before it is started. In order to ensure you can field such questions it’s imperative you research the business or organisation ahead of time. Find out about their history, products, services and values and demonstrate what you’ve learned through your answers.
Answering questions about you
What’s coming next are probably questions about you. You need to make sure you are able to answer personal questions in a calm, concise manner. For example: if they ask “what are your hobbies and interests” keep it short and sweet such as “I like to go to historical places on holiday, and I enjoy playing internet chess.” Avoid saying things such as “I enjoy spending Friday to Sunday in the local pub”, as that will send your CV to the wastebin faster than you can say “Pint of Guinness”.
Questions about your work history
Most prospective employers want to know why you left your previous employer. You need to have an answer prepared that will satisfy their curiosity without incriminating yourself. If they are satisfied with your answer they will move on to other questions, such as:
- Give us an example of you taking the initiative on the job.
- How do you deal with setbacks?
- Can you cite a notable achievement of yours?
- Strengths and weaknesses
Most interviewers will give you a chance to talk about your strengths and weaknesses. The most important thing here is never to say “I don’t have any weaknesses” because that shows a lack of personal awareness and potential difficulty working with others. At that same time, you don’t have to go overboard listing weaknesses. Typically something like “I often expect too much of myself” will do. As for strengths, you can say you are a good communicator.
The Bottom Line
The answer to the question “How do I answer job interview questions” is in a short, concise and relaxed manner. In some cases, it is absolutely alright to say “I don’t know”. Just save it for one particularly vexing question. We hope you found this information useful.
