10 Questions to Ask in an Interview

Tell me about yourself

The "Tell me about yourself" interview question is often asked by interviewers to collect more information about your work experience.

Most interviewers won't take you seriously because it is usually just an opening question. You must be brief and to the point, though.

Remember to keep your career and professional life at the forefront. Interviewers do not typically care for personal stories, which most job applicants provide, because the topic appears open-ended.

How to answer

When I went on a trip to Rome with my family during high school, I realized I wanted to pursue a career in travel. I concluded that I should continue to explore all that the world has to offer, and after my trip, everything changed in how I perceived life.

Having undertaken a master's degree in Travel and Tourism Management, I graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from college. I've been guiding tours in my hometown of Seattle every summer.

My enthusiasm for adventure and travel, combined with my organizational, planning, and communication skills, make me the perfect candidate for your travel agency. I look forward to expanding my professional knowledge in the field and establishing lasting relationships with customers and clients.

How did you hear about this position?

Although this question may seem straightforward initially, you will want to make the most of the opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the company. Even if you have not been a regular visitor to the company's website for job listings, you will want to present the impression that you have been.

Sharing your positive sentiments about the company or job prospects with the hiring manager is a good starting point.

Additionally, please note whether someone at the company recommended you for the job or encouraged you to apply. If a credible person vouches for you, your odds of employment will improve enormously.

When preparing, it also helps to think from the employer’s perspective and consider the kind of questions to ask when interviewing someone. This allows you to tailor your answers in a way that matches what hiring managers truly want to know.

How to answer

My old colleague and college friend, Jim Doe, informed me that Company X was seeking a new sales director. He also said that my previous experience as a sales team leader at Company Y would be beneficial in this position and encouraged me to apply.

Jim explained a great deal about Company X, and I really appreciate the way things are done there. A company with an open organizational chart has always been my ideal workplace.

What is your greatest strength?

"What is your biggest strength?" is a common question interviewers pose. Discover more about your skills and areas of Faith that will enable your most significant contribution.

Importantly, hiring managers want to know whether you can leverage your career skills to meet goals.

The interviewer can't ascertain whether your "leadership skills" are genuinely an asset or a function of your high degree of participation in your high school class.

How to answer

One of my strongest qualities is that I learn new skills quickly. You've likely seen my resume, which lists a variety of jobs I've held, including waiter, housekeeper, cook, and more.

I acquired most of the skills I needed for those positions in a matter of weeks, despite having little to no prior experience.

I thus possess the right attitude and am confident that, despite lacking bartending experience, I can develop the necessary skills within a week or two.

What are your weaknesses?

This is the negative twin of the last question. The "What are your weaknesses?" The question tends to catch job seekers off guard because it's hard to come up with a short answer that won't dash your hiring hopes.

However, there is a simple way to answer this question, and it will keep you from answering it in a way that will eliminate you. The trick is to be honest and pinpoint a weakness that does not immediately hinder your performance at work. You struggle to delegate to others, are too self-analyzing, or speak poorly in groups. Then, discuss how you overcame it, such as through taking a course in communications, developing self-kindness, or being more trusting of your staff.

The tired old dodging of not listing one of your strengths as one must avoid a weakness. If your answer is a cop-out, like "my weakness is that I'm too disputable," hiring managers will look immediately. These are not the kind of interesting interview questions where a rehearsed or insincere answer will help; authenticity is always better.

How to answer

My communication skills have always been my greatest challenge. I was even a shy and nervous child when I was young. But I've been actively addressing the problem since then.

Despite the tremendous improvement, I still have a long way to go before I reach perfection.

But this will not affect my professional career as a software engineer. While I struggle with communication, I excel at working in groups.

What is your most outstanding professional achievement?

Interviewers ask this question so that they can determine whether you will be successful in your role if you are employed.

When you respond to the question, "What is your greatest achievement?" you must think of one achievement you are very proud of in your educational or work life. Then, you explain how you achieved it and why you are satisfied with your job.

Ensure that it is connected to the business or company you were employed by at the time, whether from a volunteer position, former job, or extracurricular activity you participated in while in school.

How to answer

The creation and growth of my business's video program is my best professional achievement. I did all the filming and editing independently and built the program from scratch.

My work ultimately led to a noticeable increase in business sales, and I was given the opportunity to manage a small team. Within two years, I had assembled a productive team of four members to produce a new full-length movie every week, which boosted the click-through rates of the marketing department by an average of 4% per page. My contributions to this industry have been the highlight of my career so far, and I'm incredibly proud of them.

What are you looking for in a new position?

Interviewers can assess to what extent you are interested in the job and how well your desire aligns with the business by inquiring about this. While it may sound straightforward, this is actually a common interview question to ask a candidate because it reveals motivation, career goals, and cultural fit.

Craft a response by referencing what aspects of the job you look forward to most and how your ability and experience qualify you for the position. This adorns passion and places you in a role where you have the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the company.

For example, if you are searching for a project guidance job, you can highlight your organizational and planning skills for projects and explain how your skills will benefit the organization.

How to answer

I aim to leverage the machine learning skills I acquired during my over two years at Startup X, where I previously worked on creating programmatic ad models.

Currently, I'm seeking an opportunity to contribute to a larger project that involves creating and posting programmatic ads for audiences of over 10 million people.

This project size will also significantly advance my career.

What do you know about this company/organization?

This is the most frequent interview question: interviewers need to know that you did your research before the interview.

The only bad answer to this question is "I don't know anything," which immediately conveys to the interviewer that you're not sufficiently interested in the job to conduct even a cursory Google search.

You should do your research on the business before your interview. Check their official social media handles, website, and news stories for more information.

Discover more about the businesses:

• Goods and services
• Office culture
• Recent developments
• Future objectives

How to answer

I didn't know you existed until recently. I heard about Company X from your career advert on RandomJobBoard.

Then, after conducting some brief research on your organization, I became enamored with your software and your cause.

I've used a variety of project management software, including Software 1 and Software 2, but none of them were as simple to use as Software 3.

Why do you want to work here?

The interview question "Why do you want to work here?" is so blunt that it often renders job candidates flustered.

Unlike some unique interview questions that test creativity or problem-solving, this job interview question aims to know just how excited you are about the job. The simplest way to answer is to discuss the parts of your work that you feel most passionate about.

Even if you're applying to the job for financial reasons alone or because commuting would be shorter, you must always state the work you're passionate about. You don't want to leave a wrong impression as a candidate looking for the job only because of the paycheck or commuting hours.

How to answer

I interned in marketing at ABC Corp. in my last year of college. They utilize your software for demographic analysis, as you are aware, and I have the opportunity to use it daily. Your company's support staff and product quality satisfied me. It simplified my managers' and my work.

It would be a great opportunity to be part of an organization that upholds my values of delivering outstanding work and positively contributing to clients, which is why I saw your opening.

Why should we hire you?

The classic humble-brag question is this one.

Here, you must pitch yourself without appearing egotistical, needy, or desperate.

Here, you must stay away from the poles. For example, if you think you're qualified for the job, state that you "have the right experience."

However, be cautious not to overstate your abilities. "I'm the greatest salesman you'll ever meet" is an example of a boastful slogan. Never try to convince the hiring manager. Instead, convey a broader story and connect it with your background and noteworthy achievements.

There are three things you can say:

1. The reason behind your strong desire to work with the organization
2. Which of your skills and experience fit the requirements of the position?
3. How will you assist the organization in addressing its current challenges?

How to answer

To begin with, I possess all the work experience and qualifications required for the job. I have been a sales manager for over five years, and over the past two years, I have closed several six-figure deals.

Additionally, I have experience working with IT companies, so I'll be able to absorb all the product information much faster than someone with a different background.

What are your salary requirements?

It's always a difficult question.

You don't want to make a fool of yourself, but you also don't want to be told "no" because you provided such a ridiculous amount. One of the most critical aspects of what to take a job interview is preparing for salary negotiation with the right research and confidence.

Keep these three things in mind when negotiating your salary:

1. How much does a person with your experience level usually earn?
2. How much compensation do employees with your experience level receive from the company? Sites like Glassdoor can be beneficial here.
3. How much does your current employer pay you? Generally, you can negotiate a raise from your current salary.

All three points must be incorporated into the final Figure you provide.

Overall, you can offer higher pay if you are confident that the company is performing well and compensating its employees accordingly. You can establish two numbers as a rule of thumb: your "good" scenario and your "best" case.

Always quote the interviewer your "best" salary request in your answer. They'll probably negotiate it down, leaving you with a number closer to the "good" Figure you guessed.

Or you can give a range of salaries instead of a specific number. Remember that they pick a number in the middle of that range.

How to answer

I expect to be paid about $70,000 a year.

Key takeaways:

• Ensure you're prepared to answer any standard question in a job interview. They will ask you several of these wherever you interview.
• Get your answers prepared for the scenario interview questions specific to you. Be ready to describe any employment gaps in your history, why you earned your degree, and any other question the hiring manager may ask.
• Learn the STAR method for responding to behaviourally oriented job interview questions. Have some examples ready before the interview.
• Do not forget to practice the rules of interview etiquette. Be professional, respectful, and make eye contact with the interviewer.

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