Interviewing for a new job can be nerve-wracking. You want to make a good impression and show the interviewer that you are the best candidate for the role. While every interview will be different, there are several commonly asked questions that you can expect to come up and should prepare answers for. In this blog post, we will discuss the 5 most common interview questions and tips on how to give great responses. Being ready for these questions can help you ace the interview and land the job!
Question 1 - Tell Me About Yourself
This is often the very first question in an interview. The interviewer wants to get to know you and learn about your background and experience. Keep your answer to 1-2 minutes and focus on highlights that relate to the job. Talk about your education, relevant work experience, and skills that make you qualified. You can also mention hobbies or interests to give the interviewer a fuller picture of who you are. Just be careful not to ramble or include irrelevant personal details.
Question 2 - Why Do You Want This Job?
The interviewer wants to gauge your motivation and interest in the role. Be enthusiastic in your response. Talk about the specific job duties that appeal to you and why you think you would thrive in the position. Reference skills or experience from your background that make you a good fit. You can also mention aspects of the company that excite you such as their mission, values, culture, or products/services. This demonstrates you have done your research about the role and company.
Question 3 - What Are Your Biggest Strengths?
Pick 2-3 relevant strengths and back them up with specific examples. Good options include skills from the job description, soft skills (communication, work ethic, positivity), or technical hard skills if they apply to the role. Quantify your strengths with stats or accomplishments when possible. Just be honest - don’t claim skills you don’t actually have.
Question 4 - What Is Your Biggest Weakness?
The key here is to choose a minor weakness that is not essential for the job. Turn this into a positive by discussing how you are working to improve in this area. A good structure is to: 1) Describe the weakness 2) Explain how it has affected you 3) Talk about actions you are taking to improve. Finish by emphasizing your strengths in other areas important to the job.
Question 5 - Why Should We Hire You?
This is your chance to summarize why you are the best fit for the role! Refer back to the job description and highlight 2-3 key skills or experiences that make you stand out from other applicants. Explain how you would add value to the team or company. Convey enthusiasm and confidence that you have what it takes to succeed in the position. This is your closing argument for why they should choose you for the job.
Preparing responses for common interview questions such as these will get you ready to successfully interview for any job. Be sure to practice your answers out loud until your delivery sounds natural and smooth. Polish your responses so you feel confident in the interview hot seat. With preparation and practice, you will be able to effectively answer any question thrown your way and make a great impression. Best of luck with your upcoming interviews!