After creating your resume and cover letter, it is time to face the final challenge: the job interview. The job interview can be quite stressful as you will be evaluated by people who have your future in their hands. The best way to reduce your stress level is to prepare and take time to review the most common questions the interviewer will most likely ask. You do not need to memorize the answer but rather take time to consider how you will respond.
Here are the most common job interview questions, along with the best way to answer each of them.
This is a warm-up question. Briefly introduce yourself.
The interviewer wants to uncover details about you as a professional. It is their way to determine if you are a good fit for the job. The interviewer also wants to gauge how confident you are in terms of answering open-ended questions.
Talk about relevant experience that made you want to pursue the career you are applying for and weave in how your academic training and your passion for the job make you a good fit for the position.
Interviewers want to know how you found the job and why you applied.
If you were referred by someone, be sure to mention their name. If you sought out the role yourself, be clear about what made you want to apply. Let the interviewer know that you chose their company over other companies for a few specific reasons. Here, you can align your values with the mission and vision of the company.
The interviewer wants to determine if you are a good fit for the role and the organization’s culture.
Your research will save you here. Make sure that you have read everything you can find out about the company. Glassdoor reviews are an especially great place to learn about the company’s culture. Your goal here is to align your work ethic with that of the organization.
The interviewer wants to know if you can keep calm and composed in times of extreme pressure or looming deadlines.
Keep in mind that the ability to stay calm under pressure is an ability most companies look for. Share instances where you remained calm under pressure and the resulting outcome. It’s okay if the outcome wasn’t perfect. The key here is to show that you were able to handle a pressure situation and make thoughtful, strategic decisions. Feel free to share anything you learned if there were outcomes that could have been better.
The interviewer wants to know if you are adaptable to situations that require you to work independently or collaborate with other people should the need arise.
Your answer should match the research you have done regarding the organization’s culture and the job in question. While some roles require you to work on your own, expect that many positions will require you to work collaboratively with other people at some point. When answering this question, highlight aspects of your personality and how it fits the job requirement.
This question reveals how well you use your time and energy to stay productive and efficient. The interviewer may also be looking to understand if you have your own system for staying on track. Be sure to emphasize that you stick to the deadlines and take them seriously.
Discuss instances where you stayed on track despite juggling multiple tasks. Explain how you stay focused on important tasks and always remain organized.
Interviewers want to know how people have spent and utilized their time differently.
The pandemic may be the reason for this question. If you haven’t improved your knowledge through traditional methods like reading, online courses, or even tutorials, try to think about less traditional things you may have done. Did you homeschool a child? How about learning an instrument or skill? The key to this question is to discuss knowledge you have gained and apply it to the role. If it’s something like learning to play the piano, you can explain how this helps you to reset so that you are more productive while working.
The interviewer wants to make sure that your expectations are consistent with their budget before proceeding to the next step.
It’s never ideal to be the first to mention a number when it comes to salary. However, you can check websites like Glassdoor, Fishbowl, or Vault.com for information regarding salaries. Remember that it is often better to mention salary range instead of a specific number.
The interviewer wants to know if you have a genuine interest in the job position or if it is just one of your many options.
It’s always best to say that you are considering other options, too. This will motivate the company you are interviewing with to move faster if you are a legitimate candidate. But be prepared to answer questions about any other roles you are being considered for.
To make a winning impression, answer each question with poise and passion. Preparation prior to an interview will make you calmer and more confident to answer each question thrown at you.
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