Preparing for your next job interview: best answers to most commonly asked questions
During a job interview, it’s always daunting to think about the right thing to wear, the perfect thing to say, or how to condense yourself into a short and simple sentence to sell yourself to employers. To help you get ready for that nerve-wracking job interview, we’ve compiled some tips to give the best answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Tell me something about yourself
This is usually the quintessential question that marks the start of every job interview. Finding the best answers to the most commonly asked questions like this can be challenging.
Telling the interviewer about yourself isn’t an invitation to lay out your whole family history, nor is it a sign that you should reread your resume out loud to them. Keeping it short is the way to provide an excellent first impression. Create an even shorter summary of your resume that could easily translate well when spoken out loud.
Pick one or two of your best accomplishments and emphasize these. Make sure that they’re relevant to the position you’re applying for in the company. Explain these achievements and how they relate to your aspired job.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Do not fall into the trap of designating your attributes as purely a strength or a weakness. Job interviewers want to see who you are as a person, and more importantly, they want to gauge your critical thinking ability.
The best answer to this question would be to turn your weaknesses into strengths. Choose to go for authentic answers and expound on how you can transform your weakness into your strength.
For example: do not just say that your weakness is your tendency to be messy during the creative process. Try to spin it into something positive. You could say that this means you can churn out more unique and innovative ideas that could boost the company’s sales.
Why should we hire you?
To answer this question, you should first check on the company’s background. Research the company, its owners, and its vision and objectives. Look at the company’s principles and fit your answer accordingly.
Take this instance. If the company is known as an eco-friendly company, expound more about how being eco-friendly is important to you as a person and as a consumer. You can even state that being environmentally friendly is an advocacy of yours, thus your reasoning in choosing their company.
On the professional side, emphasize your achievements and demonstrate how you align with what the company is looking for. Show that your skills are indispensable and that you can contribute much to the company.
Describe a problem you faced in your previous job and how you solved it
This question is designed to test your fit for the team that you will be in. The interviewer wants to figure out if you are a leader, a follower, a team player, or someone who prefers flying solo.
It will also help the employer understand your thinking process and see how well you can handle workplace conflict that will inevitably arise.
Be honest and professional in describing a specific scenario and your subsequent actions. Avoid too much vagueness, but don’t focus on the nitty-gritty details.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Employers want someone who’s in it for the long run. However, this doesn’t mean you should be a corporate slave to whatever the company wants.
Strike a balance between your career goals and the company’s needs. Acknowledge that you want to progress towards better things and higher opportunities, but state that you are happy to do so in the company you are applying for.
Strive for an answer that conveys both ambition and realism. Say that you can see yourself with the company in the next five years while simultaneously achieving higher positions through your work and contributions.
What is your salary requirement?
Money is often a sensitive topic, and things may get awkward. What are the best answers to most commonly asked questions that are delicate and tricky such as this?
The best thing to do would be to discuss this question factually. Search up average salaries for your job in that specific area. Research the normal starting salaries for someone in your position.
Be sure to factor in any benefits that may come with the job, such as insurance. These could reduce your salary but benefit you more in the long term. Overall, work out what is best for you and your current lifestyle.
Ace your job interviews this 2023
If you come prepared, you will be sure to ace your job interview. Just remember these tips on how to give the best answers to the most commonly asked questions. Put on your best smile and arm yourself with honest, professional, and factual answers, and you’re sure to get the job you want.