Information, Application & FAQ for all Job seekers!
Most Common Interview Questions and Answers.
First and foremost congratulations if you have an interview! That in itself is commendable, so now you just want to make sure you come across in the best possible light. I have been asked numerous times what to do in preparation for interviews.
Tell me about yourself?
This is probably the most asked question in an interview. It breaks the ice and gets you to talk about something you should be fairly comfortable with. Have something prepared that doesn't sound rehearsed. It's not about you telling your life story and quite frankly the interviewer just isn't interested. Unless asked to do so, stick to your education, career and current situation.
Why are you looking for another job (or why did you leave your previous job)?
On the surface this appears to be a simple question, yet it is easy to slip. I would suggest not mentioning remuneration at this stage as you may come across as totally mercenary. If you are currently in employment you can say it's about developing your career and yourself as an individual
What do you know about this organization?
Do your homework prior to the interview. Doing the background work will help you stand out. Find out who the main players are, have they been in the news recently? You only need to have a solid understanding of the company as a whole.
Why do you want this job?
This questions typically follows on from the previous one. Here is where your research will come in handy. You may want to say that you want to work for a company that is x, y, z, (market leader, innovator, provides a vital service, whatever it may be.
Who are our main competitors?
This shows you really understand the industry and the main players. Think about a few and say how you think they compare; similarities, differences. This is a good chance to highlight what you think are the company's key strengths.
What would your previous co-workers say about you?
This is not the arena for full disclosure. Dont speak negative things about previous co-workers, only add a few specific statements or paraphrase. Something like "Joe Blogs always mentioned how reliable and hard working I was" is enough.
How do you handle stressful situations and working under pressure?
There are several ways of addressing this one. You may be the sort of person that works well under pressure; you may even thrive under pressure. Whatever the case may be just make sure you don't say you panic. You want to give specific examples of stressful situations and how well you dealt with them.
Are you applying for other positions?
If you are serious about changing careers then it is likely that you are applying to other positions. It is also a way of showing that you are in demand. Be honest but don't go into too much detail. If asked about names of who you have spoken to it is absolutely legitimate to say you prefer not to disclose that information at this stage.
What are you like working in a team?
Your answer is of course that you are an excellent team player; there really is no other valid answer here as you will not function in an organization as a loner. You may want to mention what type of role you tend to adopt in a team, especially if you want to emphasis key skills such as leadership. Be prepared to give specific examples in a very matter of fact sort of way.
What sort of person do you not like to work with?
This is not an easy one as you have no idea whom you would be working with. Even if you can immediately think of a long list of people you don't like to work with, you could take some time to think and say that it's a difficult question as you have always gotten on fine with your colleagues.
Interview is Gateway to Your Desired Job & Career, But Still You Have to Face the Competition, so You Must be Prepared Before Time. If You want to beat Your Competition In Interview then its best to prepare yourself as best as possible, here is a link that will help, amongst many that you can find online: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/interviewingskills