Job interviews induce heart palpitations, sweat, nausea, and bowel movements. It’s this anxiety that makes every job interview, or the expectations of a job interview, worse than being lost in space – or in the same room as Roseanne Barr.
For a lot of neophytes, answering some of the most common questions is hard because you’re trying to strike a fine balance between honesty, professionalism, and what the hiring manager wants to hear. You can’t just saunter into a room and put on a George Carlin comedy bit.
So, which questions can you expect to receive and how can you respond to them?
Here are eight most common interview questions and answers for job applicants:
Question #1: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
Every interviewer asks this question: “Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?” This is a cringe-inducing question for every self-deprecating, humble, and quiet person. But people tend to overthink this question. On one hand, you don’t want to brag. On the other, you don’t want to sell yourself short.
There has to be a fine balance.
Remember, one thing though, it is critical to not give a complete rundown of your past. Essentially, you should treat the question as a two-minute elevator pitch: list your two most recent jobs, your best achievement, your education, and a quip about yourself (make fun of the “my biggest weakness is that I work too much!”).
Question #2: Why do you want this job?
Whenever you’re asked, “Why do you want this job?” you really want to answer with: “For a paycheque.” But you can’t do that. It’s not nice nor professional. You need to provide a response that satisfies the hiring manager, not insults them.
So, list a few characteristics of the business that impress you, connect these traits with your own employment objectives, and show a personal side to you.
Question #3: What do you consider to be your weakness?
In guerilla warfare, warring factions will use their weaknesses as their biggest strengths. For instance, a small person will be able to easily conceal themselves, compared to a much larger individual.
Why are we discussing combat in a career topic? Well, it is serves as an important reminder when you’re presented with the question, “What do you consider to be your weaknesses?”
You could be honest and say, “I’m never on time.” Or, you could fib and state, “Weakness? I’m perfect!”
But you should avoid both.
In reality, you need to find a weakness that will not severely hinder your day-to-day tasks but can also be improved upon. For example, you may say you have horrendous handwriting, or you speak too fast. Those are reasonable weaknesses. However, if you’re saying how you have a bad temper or you talk too much, then it may hurt your chances of being hired.
Question #4: What are your accomplishments?
Let’s be honest: no matter what position you have had, you have inevitably accomplished something – big or small. Obviously, the bigger it is then the better it is for your career advancement. That said, when the employer inquires about your best professional achievement, you shouldn’t be concerned about bragging or not having much to report. Take a moment and write down what you have achieved so far in your career, and then pick one or two that stand out the most.
Question #5: How do you overcome adversity?
Businesses want to see how you can overcome adversity. Every company in every industry needs to confront a challenge, even if you are the best in the business. Indeed, you might seem peasant and confident in a job interview, but there may have been a scenario in another job where you had immense difficulty overcoming one of these problems.
Questions #6: What do you expect for the future?
Being asked about the future is frustrating and tough. Nobody has a crystal ball. That said, everyone needs some sort of map and blueprint about the future, and hiring managers want to know if you have realistic expectations, ambition, and a desire to grow, especially with the company.
So, an employer probing about your plans for the next five years may seem superfluous to the here and now, but it’s an essential question to see if you’re serious about this position.
Question #7: What are your dreams and goals?
“What’s your dream job?”
“To work for you of course!”
Whatever you do, never spit on their cupcake and tell them it’s frosting.
Just because the hiring manager is interested in your dream job, it doesn’t mean you need to lie to them and say you’ve always wanted to work as a mail clerk in the basement with a red stapler at Acme International. That’s just bologna.
Be honest. What really is your dream job? A filmmaker? A writer? A stock trader? A journalist?
Question #8: How well do you work with a team?
While you may be more of a lone wolf who likes to work alone, you will need to show that you can cooperate with others. This is essential in any office, in any company, in any industry. That’s just the way it is. If you don’t like to work with others, then find a job in the Arctic looking after some oil rig in the middle of Christmas!
And there you have it: eight common questions that you can anticipate will be asked at any interview. No matter what questions are thrown at you, it’s best to remember that honesty is the best policy. Otherwise, you’ll suffer the consequences down the line and your reputation will be in shatters.