The Top Interview Questions And Answers That Will Keep You Prepared

The interview questions and answers process can feel like a daunting prospect. Many people, even those who are at a pivotal point in their career, still feel the same overwhelming dread that recent graduates and those applying for entry-level positions experience. This article will highlight five frequently asked questions and how you should appropriately respond to them.

1. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

Most perspective employers will inevitably gather information about you preceding the interview questions and answers. It is quite common for companies to research individuals on the internet and on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. However, they are still very likely to ask this question to see a reflection of your predisposed online presence. It is often beneficial to talk about yourself in the context of the role you are applying for: focus on discussing your relevant achievements, your career and your suitability for the role.

2. What do you know about this company and/or why would you like to work with us?

It is imperative to research the position and the company you have applied to work for. While this may seem like an obvious notion, many people have failed their interview questions and answers due to not sufficiently doing their research. You must express an interest in the company and/or organization before applying to be deemed a suitable candidate. Failing this question will not only diminish your chances of being selected for the position, as you will essentially be showing your interviewer you did not prepare for the interview, but it will also reflect badly on your professionalism.

3. What are your strengths?

When faced with this question, your interviewer is assessing your character and would like to hear evidence of your positive qualities. Keep these relevant: strengths in time-keeping, leadership, problem-solving, drive towards career progression – for instance – are desirable skills. Answer this question carefully and convey these qualities in an articulate way, not being able to come up with a suitable response during your interview questions and answers is guaranteed to effect your chances of securing the job. It is best to contemplate your answer to this question in advance as it is one of the most commonly asked questions during an interview.

4. What are your weaknesses?

When articulating your weaknesses it is important to consider the impression you will give of yourself to the interviewer. You do not want to appear to be an unsuitable candidate for the position. Examples of weaknesses that would naturally conflict with your capability for most jobs are poor time-keeping skills, lack of ambition, little experience in the context of the job position or not being able to work as part of a team. If you possess any of these weaknesses it is important to improve these skills. As noted above, it is in your best interests to contemplate this well in advance of the interview questions and answers.

5. When was the last time you went out of your way to help somebody?

Often, interviewees struggle to answer this question as they are unsure on what example to use. The important part to consider is that the person who is interviewing you would like to hear examples of your integrity. Anytime you have genuinely gone out of your way to help somebody, even in a non-related work instance if they do not specify you being in the work place, will demonstrate this.

We hope that you have found this article useful and it helps you with any potential employment offers. The most important part of the interview questions and answers process is to be honest and show a true reflection of yourself. Please let us know in the comments about your experiences with  job interviews. We wish you every success with your job search! Good luck!

Feature Image Source: Photo by Helloquence on Unsplash