Possible questions asked at Interview generally make people a little nervous and there is always that little voice at the back of your mind wondering if you won’t be able to answer. Here are the top five questions asked at interview by the majority of Interviewers, especially in a first interview.

Example Questions

Listed below are five of the most common questions asked at interview along with suggestions on how to answer them with confidence.

“Tell me about yourself?”

This is one of the most common interview questions, so prepare a balanced and succinct answer ‐ but NOT your life history. Interviewers use this question to learn about your personal qualities, get a summary of your experiences, and in particular your achievements. Use this opportunity to steer your answers to the needs of the job role/ company that you are under consideration for.

“What are your strengths/weaknesses?”

This is often the most dreaded question, so work on this first. Don’t say you don’t have any weaknesses but handle it by minimising your weakness(es) and emphasising your strengths and achievements. Always keep it on a positive. For example: I can be too eager or over‐enthusiastic at times or I don’t say ‘No’ enough, and as a result can take on too much.

“Why should we Hire You?”

Summarise your experiences ensuring you highlight the benefits this will bring to your next employer: An example could be “With six years’ experience working in the x industry I have a proven track record of delivering projects on time. I will not only be able to deliver projects but can also assist in winning them in the first place”.

“Why did you/are you leaving your most recent/current Job?”

Ensure you state your reason for leaving in a positive context. If you are currently employed, focus on what you are looking for from your next move – such as needing a new challenge or wanting more progression. These can also be good answers to why you left your last job. Remember ‐ avoid criticising your current (or former) employer wherever possible as this puts you in a negative light.

“Why do you want to work here?”

The interviewer is looking for an answer that indicates that you have given this some thought and have not simply applied because there is a job available. What interests you about them? This could be the industry they work in, the projects they are working on etc – do your research!

In Conclusion

The thing to remember is that if you are caught off guard with a question, take a moment to think and pause. The interviewer will not think less of you, in fact you will win points by not just blurting out a random answer.

Do your homework – Look up the company. Check out their website and socials and any news you can find. See what is important to them and use this knowledge in the interview process. This will definitely make you a standout and desirable candidate.

Further Reading:

Click to read our recent blog on Interview Tips

• Read our blog on What to Ask at Interview
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