The best way to prepare for an upcoming job interview is to get yourself familiar with the types of questions you might get asked. That way, you’re ready to deliver a carefully prepared ‘out of the box’ answer instead of presenting your potential employer with a nervous stare and a sub-par response.
It's always important to consider what a hiring manager might actually be looking for when they ask a question. For example, the old classic “so, what are your biggest weaknesses?”. The trickery. Do they really want to know about the fact that you’d rather cover yourself in jam and sit on a wasp nest than look at data? Or do they want one of those I’ll-call-it-a-weakness-but-its-not-really-a-weakness answers like “I’m a bit of a perfectionist!”.
We’ve put together a ‘how to’ style blog on the 5 most commonly asked interview questions and our hints, tips, and advice on how to feel comfortable giving some really impressive, natural responses.
Consider this your Classic 5 Interview Questions Guide!
This question tends to catch people out – it may seem like an obvious question to ask a candidate, but it’s often overlooked when it comes to preparing for interviews and can result in a long-winded, waffly answer loaded with too much personal information.
Strangely, the correct answer wouldn’t reveal that much about you personally – like where you grew up or the name of your first pet, but rather your candidacy. The hiring manager isn’t asking about what your favourite holiday destination is, they’re trying to establish whether your personality is a good fit for the company, or the team you’d be working with. Crafty, hey?
If you get hit with this question straight away, remember the following points:
First things first – do not be intimidated. You’ve actually been given the golden egg of interview questions!
What better way to pitch yourself than to explain exactly why they should hire you, why you’re a good fit, and exactly what you can bring to the company? You don’t have to worry about whether you demonstrated this throughout the entire interview – you can quite literally spell it out.
If you’ve spent time understanding the company and the job role they need you to fill, all you have to do is collate examples of past responsibilities that make you an experienced candidate, and explain how well you delivered on them.
When preparing your answer to this question:
Ooooh these two. The Bonnie and Clyde of interview questions. We all hope they will stay hidden away at the back of the drawer where they belong, but trust us – they don’t. They remain two of the most commonly asked interview questions.
Absolutely, yes! Your interviewer will be trying to identify the soft skills you have that will compliment the position, how honest and how self-aware you are. You will need to have read the job description thoroughly to prepare for these questions though – and focus on 2 or 3 strengths or weaknesses you can talk about.
So lets start with strengths:
Now, choosing the right weaknesses to lay bare in front of the people you’re hoping will give you a job is a daunting task, but these tips will help you answer the question successfully:
This question actually means: “Is this role the next logical step in your career path? Do you see a future with our company? Are you actually going to stick around? Are you just applying because you need a job?”
This is where you need to show that you’re committed to the company, and that your goals are aligned with what the company can offer you. You’re in it for the long haul, and you’re going to do wonderful things together.
Being yourself in an interview is much more important than having the perfect answers (although of course - it does help!). Authenticity is a rare quality and something that most businesses and hiring managers will value greatly. Even if you believe you aren’t as qualified as your fellow candidates, you can demonstrate your willingness to further your learning in order to succeed in this potential position.
And secondly, don’t worry. Enjoy the experience. Some of our best candidates thought they had terrible interviews on paper – but made such a good impression and built such a rapport that they were invited back again, and some even got the job!