So you have made it to interview stage but now you’re unsure what they’re going to ask. How will you know how to respond? What will you do if you don’t know the answer? Don’t panic, in this article we will go over the most common interview questions and how to prepare your answers. Often interviews will follow a very common formula of questions for their field. The aim of this article is to prepare you for the basics, when applying your own knowledge of the field you should find that your answers sound professional and intelligent.
1. What made you want to apply for this job?
This is one of the most common and easy questions that an interviewer can pose to you. The answer is simple; look up the company ahead of your interview and find out as much as you can about what they do and their reputation for treatment of their staff. Talk about your interest in the role but make sure to mention why you want to work for their company and what it is about them specifically that draws you to the job.
2. Why do you want to work in this industry?
Similar to the above but this time it is about what made you want to do this particular type of work. This can be anything from it being your childhood dream to you having had an experience in a previous role that made you want to move over to this industry. Remember it is all about your passion for the job at hand.
3. Why do you think you are the ideal candidate?
Now it’s time to talk yourself up. Talk about any and all relevant experience you have, your drive to perform to the best of your abilities and why they need you above anyone else. Try not to sound arrogant but make sure you cast yourself in the most positive light possible. Make sure to point out what a hard worker you are and how interested you are in the role itself.
4. What do you know about our company?
Hopefully you have covered this mostly in question #1, but if not here is your chance to talk about them. Make sure you have researched extensively into their company. They won an award this year? You know about it. They recently introduced a new product? It’s your favourite thing. You need to know exactly what they do so they know you are serious about working for them.
5. What do you know about (skill from job description)?
Here is where you need to show your knowledge of the field. They will usually only ask about requirements in the job description, so make sure you are fully knowledgeable and aware of everything they asked for. Remember that they are looking for someone who knows the industry well.
6. Give me an example of a time that you dealt with a problem in your previous role.
The example questions are very common in interviews and will be the ones you want to have answers fully prepared for. Think back to previous roles/education/voluntary experience and try and think of any times you had to deal with confrontation or problems. This question will vary depending on your industry but almost every job will have problems to deal with. Think of a time that you handled something perfectly because it is all about making you look like a good candidate.
7. Give me an example of a time that you excelled within a role.
This is all about showing that you are willing to go above and beyond what is expected of you within your role. If applying for a customer service position, this question can be posed as ‘Give me an example of a time you provided excellent customer service’. Remember that they are not looking for you to say that you just did your job, they want you to show that you did your job and then some.
8. Are you able to work within a team?
This can be posed as an example question as well. Most employers will be looking for someone who is going to fit in well with their current employees, so make sure you are polite, personable and confident. Give an example of a time you worked well as part of a team even if they don’t ask for one; show that you are going to have a smooth transition into their company.
9. Do you have any hobbies/interests outside of work?
This is your chance to make yourself sound interesting and show off your personality. Think of some examples of the most interesting hobbies you have. An employer wants to know that you are dynamic and energetic outside of the interview room, so try and have an answer already prepared for this one.
10. Do you have any questions for me?
This is possibly the most important question you will be asked in the interview. Always make sure you have questions prepared that are challenging and show you can think outside of the box. Try and think of difficult questions, so that they aren’t all answered by the time your interview ends.
These are our top 10 most common interview questions. Hopefully by now you have an idea of what to prepare for your interview, just remember to always stay confident and calm. Don’t panic if they ask a question you don’t know the answer to, just take your time and try and give the most intelligent and professional sounding answer you can. Best of luck!
