You find what seems like your perfect job. After applying, you receive an invitation to attend an interview. Fantastic news – congratulations on getting this far! If you really want the job, you must prepare thoroughly. A quick internet search for the most commonly asked job interview questions brings back almost a million articles, some listing 50 or more questions. Gulp. You can’t possibly rehearse or remember that many answers, so which ones will serve you best to remember?
The good news is that if you can prepare answers to the five most commonly asked interview questions, you can ace any job interview. Now, we need to throw a quick disclaimer here: acing your interview does not guarantee you’ll automatically receive a job offer in real life. There is always the chance that another candidate will perform equally well but might be better qualified or have more work experience than you.
However, acing your next job interview will help you make a good impression on the hiring manager. So, if you’re unsuccessful this time, they may keep you in mind for something similar.
Most Commonly Asked Job Interview Questions
The most common job interview questions are pretty generic and will likely come up in interviews for any job in any sector.
1 – Tell me about yourself
Other than a little small talk on the way from the reception to the interview room, this is usually the first question a hiring manager will ask. What’s more, if you go through several rounds of interviews at the same company, you may find yourself answering this question many times.
While such repetition is unlikely to be a deliberate attempt to trip you up, your answers should be consistent. The interviewers will likely compare notes if you speak to several people during the telephone, video, and face-to-face interviews. For this reason, it’s an excellent idea to prepare a solid answer to this question, but be prepared to throw in a few extra details in subsequent interview rounds.
What the Interviewer is Looking for
There is no right or wrong answer here, as we are all individuals and have different stories to tell. This question aims to encourage you to relax and open up. However, the enquirer doesn’t want your entire life history starting from your first memory. Your response should last around two minutes and make a lasting impression on the interview panel.
The interviewers are looking for reassurance that you understand the job description and that you are who your CV says you are. They will also be looking for whether or not you might be a good fit for their organisation and what you might bring that other candidates don’t have.
How to Prepare Your Answer
An easy way to tackle this question is to break it down into past, present and future. When preparing your answer, keep in mind how your career history relates to the job you’re applying for.
You might start by explaining how you found your way into your last job, highlighting your proudest achievement there, and explaining what you want from the future. Alternatively, if this is your first serious job, you might explain why you chose your specialism at university.
Make the interviewers remember you by telling them a quirky story. Let’s say you were terrible at time management before discovering bullet journalling at university. Your addiction to Bujo sparked an idea for an app, which led you into mobile app development upon completing your Computer Science degree.
If you’ve changed career paths many times, this question is the perfect opportunity to explain.
Interviewers may also ask:
Give me a little insight into your background.
Explain how you arrived at where you are.
Walk me through your career history.
Give us a rundown of your CV.
2 – Why do you want to work here?
This question often rules out those who really want the job from those who don’t. People who are not bothered whether they get the job or not tend not to do such thorough research, and it shows.
What the Interviewer is Looking for
In asking this question, the interviewer wants to know your motivation for applying and if you’ve considered how you will fit into their organisation. They want to know that you have considered whether you are a good fit for the job, and whether or not it is right for you.
The hiring manager wants to know why you want to work at that company, not just any company. Therefore your answer should convince them that you want to work for them, not simply that you would accept any job offer.
How to Structure Your Answer
Employers want to employ people who will work hard and get along with their existing team. You might start by quoting a few facts and figures that impressed you while researching their business and explain how the skills and experience you can bring might add value.
Adding something that caught your eye on their social media feed will reassure them that you have considered whether their company culture is right for you.
Don’t try to memorise every detail on the company’s corporate website; you’ll forget and trip yourself up. Instead, you might focus on a few interesting facts you found out from LinkedIn or a headline you saw in the news.
Interviewers may also ask:
Why did you apply for this position?
Why do you want to work for us?
How did you hear about this position?
Are you considering other positions in other companies?
What kind of working environment do you work best in?
3 – What are your strengths and weaknesses?
This question is a tricky one because nobody likes to admit their weaknesses, but we all have them. Nor does anyone like to sound like a brag, but we need to make ourselves stand out above the competition.
What the Interviewer is Looking for
Employers want to hire people who are good at problem-solving. Therefore your answer should reassure them that you can stay positive in high-pressure or stressful situations.
Maybe you have mishandled a situation in the past. Explain what research you’ve done, or training you’ve had since to help you deal with it better in future.
How to Structure Your Answer
Talking about our strengths is always the easiest part of this question. However, to avoid boasting, try explaining how your strengths have helped others. This will make the hiring manager believe that you will be a valuable team member.
When discussing your weaknesses, think about cringeworthy moments you’ve had at work. List a few examples and highlight those where you know you have made a real effort to improve. Self-improvement is a quality that managers always like to have on their teams.
Interviewers may also ask:
What is your greatest strength?
What is your biggest accomplishment?
What professional achievement are you most proud of?
4 – Where do you see yourself in five years?
Unless you’re a contractor, whether or not you can see yourself working for this organisation in five years is always a question you should ponder. If you don’t think you’ll stick it out that long, maybe this is not the job for you.
It could be that this role opens the door to other opportunities before that time. However, if you want the job, you must convince the hiring manager that you can provide longevity.
What the Interviewer is Looking for
Onboarding and settling in a new employee are extremely costly to a business. Therefore, no employer wants to hire someone who will become a flight risk in a couple of years.
How to Structure Your Answer
Consider your short, medium and long-term career goals, the kind of job you want and the kind of environment you would like to work in. You can then go on to explain how you think the job you are applying for aligns with your career goals.
Interviewers may also ask:
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
What are you looking for in a new position?
What are your salary requirements?
What are your ambitions?
Tell me about your long-term career goals.
5 – Do you have any questions for us?
This is another question that often weeds out the candidates who really want the job from those that don’t. We can’t stress enough how important it is to ask questions at the end of an interview.
What the Interviewer is Looking for
That you have given real consideration to how you might fit into their company culture or how their product or service aligns with your values.
They will also want to know that you have been paying attention to what they have said throughout the interview. So let’s say you had a list of questions prepared in advance and some of them have already been answered throughout the course of your conversation. Don’t ask them for the sake of asking.
How to Structure Your Answer
There has always been a big debate surrounding whether or not you should discuss money in a job interview. However, if no salary range has been discussed so far, you will naturally want to know whether or not it’s worth you progressing further with the recruitment process. In other words, can this employer meet your salary expectations? This is a valid question to ask, but it shouldn’t be your first.
You should also avoid asking questions about the finer points of company benefits as this will make you seem like you’re only interested in what’s in it for you. Instead, any questions you might ask should give the impression that you are considering your future with the company.
While doing your research, think about their company culture. How does the organisation involve itself in the local community? Or what charities do they support?
At very least, if the interviewers have not already made it clear, you should ask what the next steps are and when you can expect to hear from them. Knowing this avoids any ambiguity and prevents a situation where you find yourself chasing them.
A Few Final Thoughts on the Most Commonly Asked Job Interview Questions
Before you apply for any job, it’s always good to have an interview question and answer session with a family member or friend. This may feel silly, but people who are close to you can often give feedback that a hiring manager wouldn’t. It’s better to make mistakes in front of someone to whom they are irrelevant than someone who can influence your career success.
The most common job interview questions are pretty generic. They will likely come up in interviews for any job in any sector. If you’re applying for a technical role, hiring managers will also likely ask technical questions relevant to that job.
The silent, underlying question on every hiring manager’s lips whenever they ask you anything is always; Why should we hire you? Therefore, any answer you give to any question should always reassure them that you are the one for the job.
Interview preparation is something a reputable recruitment consultant will help you with. They can often provide insider information about the line of questioning the clients might take during an interview. So before applying for your next tech or marketing job, why not speak to our team?
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