Sitting for a job interview can be a nerve-racking process for most people. However, there are a few tips that can help you make the process slightly smoother for yourself.
The very first thing to remember is that you always need to be prepared. In the job interview world, there is nothing called being ‘too prepared.’ There are three essential things that you must remember when sitting for a job interview:
- It is necessary to know about the most common (and certain uncommon) questions that you might face in any job interview. You should also see the intention behind these questions so that you can answer them more comfortably.
- Instead of picking pre-set questions and their answers, you should try and craft your unique reply to these questions. This will not only give you an edge over your competitors, but it will also show the interviewer that you can think for yourself.
- Finally, it would help if you practised these interview questions and answers. If you have friends or family who are willing to help you, you can also sit for mock interviews where you are faced with these questions to help you practice them.
Here are some of the top questions you may be asked for a job interview, and how you can prepare for them:
1. Tell Me About Yourself
This is undoubtedly one of the most important and one of the first questions that you may be asked at a job interview. The reason this question is requested at the beginning of job interviews is that it allows you to lightly touch upon your strengths, your interests and your personality. It makes the flow of conversation easier between you and your interviewer.
Many people often get nervous during this first question, as they are confused about how to correctly answer it. The ‘tell me about yourself’ question should be used very carefully and strategically by the interviewee. You should not only list out your hobbies, interests, and activities of your day for this answer. The interviewer is not interested in this.
Start your answer by highlighting an exciting or noteworthy fact about yourself. Keep your answer professional and job related, so that your strength can be connected to some value you can add to the organization or your job.
You can even add a small personal achievement or accomplishment that you have recently achieved. You can conclude this answer by telling the interviewer about your current situation (work and individual-related), and how you think you can add to the organization. Remember to keep your answer concise and exciting.
Also Read: How to Answer Tell Me About Yourself?
2. What Are Your Strengths?
Here is another very common interview question that you might face during your job interviews. This question makes sense because the interviewer not only wants to find out what you think your strengths are but also how you can play them to be of use to the organization.
It is also essential how articulate you are because merely listing your strengths is not enough. You need to provide anecdotes, short stories and examples of how you have played your strengths in your previous workplace, college life or school to gain more experience.
Also Read: How to Answer in Job Interview Why You Are the Best Candidate?
Of course, don’t start talking about how strong you are physically or even mentally! Customize your answer in a way that you can relate your strengths to how you can be of value to the industry you are working in.
3. What Is One of Your Most Significant Weaknesses?
If your interviewer is going to ask you about your strength, then you can expect this question to be coming next. While you might find many people offering smart answers to this question, like “I work too hard,” this is not the appropriate answer to give when you are trying to come off as someone serious about the job.
Another essential thing to remember is not to try and show that you don’t have any weakness at all, or you can’t think of anything. This is not true. Every person has some defect. It will be easier for you to answer this question if you have already practised the answer.
When answering this question, select a genuine weakness, and yet, you know it can be worked on. For example, if you are applying for an accountants position and you say your fault is mathematics, this could ultimately jeopardize your chances of getting the job.
Instead, you can say something like you often get nervous while presenting in front of a large group. This is an honest answer, but it can also be worked on overtime to get better, and will not hinder the growth of the company.
Also Read: How to Answer-What is your Greatest Weakness in an Interview?
4. Why Do You Want to Work Here?
While your first instinct might be to opt for a generalized, optimistic statement like you wanting better opportunities, more experience, stability, this is too generic of an answer and can do more damage to your chances than good.
Instead, you can research about the benefits and strengths of the organization, and add how that impresses you and can be advantageous to you. You can also talk about someone else who you know who has worked for the company, and their positive experience in the company.
It would help if you crafted your answer in a way that is not too generic or obvious, and something that can set you apart from other competitors. So it is essential to do your research well so that you have the right answer prepared for this question.
Also Read: Top Questions in an Overseas Job Interview
Finally, if you have recently read any articles or found some data about the company, you can use this information to highlight what you like about the company. This also shows the interviewer that you are well informed and have done your research before coming.
These are some of the top questions that you may be asked in an interview, and you need to prepare your answers thoroughly. Remember, you should try and be as authentic, creative and seem motivated. And always, always, come prepared!
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