Ten Questions Asked by Interviewers in Job Interviews
A job interview isn't just the company giving an interview. As a potential employee of a company there needs to be a good fit. These questions are typical of questions asked during an interview and some good ideas on how to respond to the questions.
Why do you want to work here?
If the answer is “because a friend works here” the interview has just been lost. Instead focus on what can be offered to the company. Focus on a positive reason and sell the interviewer on the prospective employee.
Why should we hire you? What do you have to offer that no one else could offer?
The second part of this question is the key. Offer something to the employer that they can't refuse and walk away with the job. Experience, diligence, commitment etc. are all keys to a good answer.
Have you ever had problems with a supervisor or co worker?
No one is going to get along with everyone all of the time, it's just not possible. Focus on a work relationship and keeping things professional. Don't complain about petty things and find ways to get along and chances are this question will be a breeze.
What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
Read between the lines on this question. Will the prospective employee be staying around for a while? Or will the company have to replace them in a year or so when they leave? Show a commitment to sticking with a job for a long time and this question will be satisfactorily answered.
These first four questions are pretty routine for most interviews. The answers can make or break the interview.
How much money do you expect?
While some interviewers will ask this question with a ball park range in mind, many others won't ask the question at all. If it's not asked, great. Always be prepared and ready for this question. Do the homework and research to see what other job positions similar to this one are paying. Throw out a ballpark figure and state that the employee is willing to work up to said salary/hourly pay.
Why did you leave your last job?
Whether the job was a perfect fit or not this question is another tricky one that must be answered carefully. Couldn't get along with the boss? Don't share it here. Couldn't get along with a co worker? Don't share that either. Focus on having moved up as far as possible, needing to better utilize skills or some other positive turn to defeat this question.
Have you ever been fired or forced to resign?
Skeletons in the closet can really attack during a job interview. The best thing to do here is be quick, honest and get past it as quickly as possible. Focus on having learned a valuable lesson not a lousy boss or co worker. Don't give the entire scenario, just enough to get through the question honestly.
Can you explain the gap in your employment history?
Perhaps a break in employment was taken for a family illness or education. Fill in this gap with some relevant volunteer experience and show how knowledge was gained through the experience.
What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Don't lie here but focus on the strengths. Perhaps working well with others, detail oriented or committed to a task well done. As for weaknesses list one such as overly attentive to details or wanting to know all the details of a project in order to completely understand it.
Give an example of a problem or challenge you faced on the job and how you handled it.
This question shows how problems and critical thinking will help the company. Select a scenario that would likely be faced at the job at hand and give an example of experience used to solve said problem. Tell the interviewer that it would make the job position a success if it were faced this way. Sound convincing and positive.
Answering the job interviewer's questions honestly and directly will go far in helping someone get hired for a job. Be prepared before an interview by studying good answers and considering the best answers for the top questions that are asked at an interview.
