Interview Skills - Questions

Friday, April 27, 2012

Updated: 12/10/2015

Today on Let's Get Working we are continuing with our discussion on interviews skills. This article will cover the questions asked by interviewers, how to answer these questions and the types of questions you should ask the interviewer.

Many people stumble through interviews because they don't know how to answer the question. It is important to answer every question that you're asked in an interview. When asked to give examples for a particular situation that you haven't experienced. The best practise is to state that you haven't been in this situation and then tell them what you would do, if you were put in that situation.

Obviously I can't list every question that might be asked. But by thinking about the questions in this article, preparing answers and practising them. You can confidently enter your next interview knowing you're ready to answer most of the question that will be asked of you.

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

This is usually the first question asked and is designed to ease you into the interview. When the interviewer asks this question they are trying to see if your abilities and your personality will fit well within their company.

To answer this question think about the things that you have done that make you suitable for this job. Give a summary of important education, skills and experience that make you perfect for the job.

It is also a good idea to add 1 or 2 personal interests or hobbies separate from the job into the answer.
This will give the interviewer a clue as to what you are like as a person. Telling the interviewer that you enjoy reading books or solving puzzles in your spare time shows that you like to pursue intellectual activities. Telling the interviewer that you enjoy volunteering your time shows that you like to help people, and telling the interviewer that you enjoy participating in yoga or jogging shows you like to stay active.

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2. What do you know about my company?

The interviewer is trying to measure your interest in their company. It is important to research their company and note down a few things that impress you about the work they do. Tell the employer what they do that you admire and mention any other aspect of the company that makes you want to work for them.

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3. Why should I hire you?

This question is simple. The employer wants to know what you have to offer the company that would make them hire you. Tell them about your relevant skills and experience that make you the perfect fit for their company.

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4. What are your goals / Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

The interviewer is looking to see if you have any ambitions or plans for your future. Be aware that saying things that indicate you would leave the company could change the interviewers mind about you, if they are looking for someone to stick with the role long term.

You should mention how you would like to continue to learn and grow as an employee.

To begin with, you could mention how you would like to master the responsibilities of the initial position. This shows that you are interested in sticking around and not leaving as soon as a different job comes along. Once you have mentioned this you could then discuss any new skills you would like learn and/or mention any results you want to produce. Make sure you mention how you would produce these results if you state you want to achieve them.

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5. What is your greatest strength?

The interviewer is asking you what you are good at and what makes you the right person for the job. Pick a few of your skills that are relevant to the job and then give examples of how you have demonstrated them in the past. You may be an excellent problem solver, have the ability to learn quickly or work well under pressure.

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6. What is your greatest weakness?

Sometimes when people answer this questions they try to give strength and present it in a negative way, such as I work too hard or I'm a perfectionist. The problem with doing this is you have missed what the interviewer was really after. They want to know if you are aware of areas that you need to improve.

The best practise for this question is to give the interviewer a weakness you are trying to overcome and then tell them how you have improved or overcome this weakness.

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7. Why did you leave your lost job?

There are many reasons why people change jobs. They may have wanted to pursue new and challenging opportunities, wanted more responsibilities or wanted new experiences. When answering this question it is important to stay positive and list the reasons why you left your previous job, stating that you feel that your previous job couldn't offer what you were after but the position you are applying for can.

The one thing you should never do when answering this question is say bad things about your former boss or company. This puts a negative tone on the interview and makes you sound petty.

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Sometimes we make mistakes and these mistakes can lead to us being fired. Being fired doesn't mean you won't get a job again and it doesn't have to be an obstacle if you address the question appropriately.

• Be honest
• Don't go into detail
• Stay positive
• Show how you have learnt from your previous mistakes and improved
• Never bad mouth your previous boss

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8. What salary/wage are you expecting?

This is the dreaded question everyone tip toes around. They want to ask it, but don't want to seem rude. They want to say a reasonable amount, but don't want to under or overvalue themselves. The best thing you can do is research into similar jobs to see what the average salary is. This way you get an idea of what you should be paid.

If the interviewer asks you this, you can turn the question back on them by saying

If the interviewer doesn't ask you this question during the interview it is best to wait until they have offered you the job or you are certain that you are going to get the job. You should focus on proving why you are the best candidate for the job, before you start talking money.

To find out information about workplace rights and salary you can visit Fair Work Australia for more information.

9. If I were to ask someone else to describe you what would they say?

When asking this question the interviewer is looking to see if can view yourself from other perspectives, as well as learn about you from people that know you.

It is good to do some preparation for this question in case it is asked. Ask some people what they think your good qualities are and write these done so you can remember them.

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10. Give me an example of a time you had to work under pressure

When asking this question the interviewer wants to see if you have the experience to work when things get tough or if you will have difficulty. Think of a time when you had to complete a stressful task, list what it was and how you completed the task despite the pressure.

As I said at the beginning of this article if you haven't experienced working under pressure, state what you would do if you were in this situation.

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Until Next Time,
Steven

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Previous Comments

Steven from Nova Employment posted on 5 Jan 2016
Due to an error in the video for this article. Ive taken it down temporarily. I will re upload it once Ive corrected the issue.