Jun 24 2008
Jobseeker interview tips: answering those tricky questions (part 1)
A key tip when going for a job interview - is to be prepared. In preparation you inevitably start imagining the types of questions that you’ll be asked (some may be similar) but you have no real way of knowing, especially if you’re an inexperienced jobseeker. Below are some tips on answering those frequently asked and sometimes tricky questions in a job interview…
1. Tell me something about yourself?
Be prepared for this question it’s probably the most frequently asked question in any interview. A good way to answer it is by covering your work experience, educational qualifications and a bit of info about your family background. Focus on NB aspects of your work whilst speaking about your professional experience. This is an open ended question and so you should be wary of when to finish your answer.
2. Why does this role interest you? / Why have you applied for this job?
Focus your answer on your skills, experience and personal qualities. Relate the job’s requirements to your skills instead of speaking about the challenges, career and progression.
3. Why do you think we should hire you for this job?
Don’t panic if asked this question. Make sure that you’ve fully understood the job profile, before you go for the interview. Link your qualifications and work experience with the job requirements. If there are any new things that you are expected to perform in the new job, say that you are always open to learn the new things and take up the new challenges.
4. What motivates you at work?
Say that competition and new challenges are what motivate you at work.
5. Why do you want to leave your present job? / Why did you leave your last job?
The reasons for switching jobs could be numerous. The best answer for this question is to say, “for better prospects.” They can now ask you another question, “What do you mean by better prospects?” In answering you can say, “better prospects in terms of experience, and exposure.”
6. What is your greatest strength?
Read this question as, “What is your greatest relevant strength? / Why should we hire you?” Give them a strength that they want or need. For this you will need to properly understand the job profile and keep your answer ready. For example if the job needs you to have convincing answers ready for any type of customers’ questions, you can sell your presence of mind, or if you are required to change your sector or industry you can offer your adaptability as an answer. It is important to keep ready at least 2 examples of the mentioned strength.
7. What is your greatest weakness?
Read this question as, “Why shouldn’t we hire you?” There 3 ways to tackle this question. Judge the situation accordingly and consider these answers:
#1: Use your sense of humour. If the interview is proceeding in the light way and you have built up a good rapport with the interviewer, you can get out of it by saying Ice-cream. Accompany it with a right body language.
#2: If you have to answer this question seriously, give a weakness which doesn’t link to the job under discussion.
#3: Understand the requirement of the role under discussion and say that others accuse you of having that weakness but you think that it is important for your work. e.g. if the job needs a detailed study and leaving a single step might need you to re-run the whole process say “my colleagues accuse me of having a intense eye for detail but I have experienced that to do this work you need to go into details rather than cutting corners. I have worked with people following a shorter route and doing the whole exercise again, which I would prefer to do.”
Check back next week for “Jobseeker interview tips: answering those tricky questions (part 2)”