1. Tell Us About Yourself?
This question can be one of the first questions asked at an interview.
Have your pitch ready to concisely outline your present situation, your past experience, future goals, and suitability.
Your pitch should include your motivation for the role you are applying for, your educational background, and also your relevant skills and experience.
2. Why Do You Want to Work For This Company?
Be specific with your answer.
A generic answer can make you sound like other candidates and less memorable to interviewers.
This question is your opportunity to stand out from other candidates.
Be specific on your reasoning for choosing this company and align your skills with the company goals. Your research of the company and your understanding of the role will make a difference in the strength of your answer.
3. What have you been doing since your last job?
If you have been out of work for an extended period and through the pandemic, you may be asked this question as employers want you to show initiative and interest in your profession. Prepare a response in advance that shows constructive self-development whilst there has been a gap in employment.
4. Tell Me About a Time You Made a Mistake?
This interview question is about accountability and honesty from the candidate. It is the beginning of a trustful relationship with your potential future employer. If a candidate states they have never made a mistake this answer does not show transparency as a candidate.
Your answer should demonstrate an example of a mistake that you made in your education or work experience highlighting what you learned from this and what actions you took to ensure you rectified this mistake.
5. How Do You Like to Be Managed?
The interviewer who may be your potential line manager or supervisor may ask this question in hopes that their style aligns with your working style.
If you have styles that do not align well this will make the working relationship become a challenge for both manager and yourself. Answer with consideration of the company’s perspective and your own if you can positively align your preference highlighting how you work independently or collaboratively for example.
6. What Is Your Greatest Weaknesses?
Here is where your preparation will come to test at the interview. The interviewer may have heard many generic responses to this question in which candidates turn a negative into a positive.
Interviewers are looking for your self-awareness and your honesty on your perceived ability and suitability for the role you are applying for. They can see on your application your qualifications and achievements but want to know what you can articulate in person
7. How Do You Prioritise Your Work To Meet Deadlines?
This question gives insight and indication of how you will be in the job role if successful at the interview.
Your answer should have examples of dealing with multiple tasks at the same time and still being able to use initiative whilst dealing with time management from your extra-curricular activities, previous employment, or education.
8. What Has Been Your Greatest Achievement?
Your answer should be a combination of skills relevant to the job including communication, organisation, teamwork, and other relevant skills that may be applicable to the job duties and person specification.
Prepare several examples for your answers and ensure you are not reading out achievements on your CV without detailing what you have achieved. Think about a time when you have made a memorable impact, overcome a fear that you could not see yourself overcoming, and also include what you learned from that achievement.
9. Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years?
Keep your answer to your career plans and not your personal life. Interviewers want to know if your short-term and long-term goals align with the company.
Your answer should give a clear indication of your longevity at the company if you were successfully appointed a transparent answer from the candidate and transparent insight of the company’s future plans can have an impact on the retention and new hire turnover.
10. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
If you are leaving your current job voluntarily or if you were asked to leave your current job it is vital to ensure you speak positively about your previous or current employer in your response.
The interviewer should be convinced by your tailored answer that the position you are applying for is aligned with your professional goals with what the employer is offering that makes the role more. How this answer is delivered is as important as the content of the answer to ensure you practice and record your answers to listen analyse how you sound and make relevant adjustments.
If You Cannot Answer an Interview Question..
- Keep your cool and acknowledge your answers are not about perfection
- Think of the intention of questions you are asked. Is the question being asked literal or inferential?
- Do not be afraid to seek clarification on the question. Ask specifically what you want to explain to you so you can answer the question in the best way possible