5 common interview questions and how to handle them

Jobsearch, Jobseekers / 17 May 2022

Whether you interview by video-call or in-person, one element you will always face is a range of questions. The purpose of these questions is to discover whether you’re the right fit for the job, in work experience, skills held, and your personality too. Interview questions will generally fall into one or more of the following categories:

5 common interview questions and how to handle them
  • questions about your skills and experience
  • questions about the job
  • questions about the employer and the related industry
  • questions about your approach to the job
  • questions about your strengths and weaknesses
  • questions about your plans for the future

You can never be certain which questions will be asked on the day, but you can prepare yourself by considering what the interviewer wants to know about you and how you might provide a satisfactory reply.

Here are five common interview questions to get you started:

 

Why do you want to work here?


This question has three main purposes: to find out whether you have researched the employer, identify what aspects of the job and the company attracted you, and discover whether you are a good fit.

Take this chance to demonstrate that you’ve not only spent time considering the job advertised but have also researched the company and its culture. Explain how your experience, skills, and personal motivations make you an ideal candidate.

For more on this, read 5 ways to research an employer before your interview.

 

What are your strengths and weaknesses?


Most of us are happy to talk about our strengths, but falter when asked to explain our weaknesses. Both, however, can be advantageous in an interview situation if handled in the right way.

Strengths

Scour the job advert and description for the skills needed, including soft skills. Now, choose two or three of those skills that you possess, for instance, team-work or sales. Your answer should express how your skills are relevant to the job.

For more information on soft skills, read Using Soft Skills to Stand Out in the Jobs Market.

Weaknesses

Everyone has areas of their personality or work performance that they want to improve and that is exactly how you should discuss your weaknesses. For instance, you may find it difficult to speak up in meetings but are working on your confidence and assertiveness.

Your answer to this question, ‘what are your weaknesses?’, should express that you are aware of your weaknesses but are attempting to better yourself.

 

Tell me about a challenging situation you faced and how you handled it


This question is intended to make you think on your feet, but also demonstrate how your past work experience is relevant to the vacancy. The best way to formulate a response is to use the STAR technique. STAR stands for situation, task, action, result.

  • S – find a situation that is relevant
  • T – explain the task you were asked to carry out in that situation
  • A – explain the action you took to improve/answer that situation
  • R – describe the result and the part you played in reaching that result

Remember that the example you use should be relevant to the job advertised.

 

Do you have any questions?


You’ve answered all the questions, stayed calm throughout, and now you have your eyes on the door. It can be tempting to say, ‘no’ when asked if you have any questions for the interviewer, but this is an excellent opportunity to give the impression of a pro-active and enthusiastic candidate.

Questions you may like to ask include:

  • Can you tell me more about the day to day responsibilities of the job?
  • What are the opportunities for training and mobility within the company?
  • Can you tell me about the company culture?
  • What are the company’s plans for the future?
  • Can you tell me about the team I would be joining?
  • How will my success in the job be measured?
  • If you’re aware of developments in the industry, ask how this affects the employer.

Asking your own questions will undoubtedly provide you with more information, but the true benefit is in the impression it leaves with the interviewer.

 

Final Thoughts


Questions are an integral part of any job interview, but you can prepare ahead by:

  • considering the questions you might face on the day and practicing your answers
  • scouring the job advert and description to develop an in-depth knowledge of the vacancy
  • researching the employer and the industry
  • considering how your skills and work experience are relevant to the job
  • compiling a list of questions to ask the interviewer

Planning ahead will reduce interview nerves, avoid those awkward gaps as you try to think of a response, and ultimately present you as a capable, self-assured candidate.

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