A job interview has always been a popular subject of discussion for job seekers. If you google the articles that have something to do with passing a job interview successfully you will find so many of them that you wouldn't be able to read all of them within several months. The thing is that each and every interview is somewhat unique because it is run by an individual (interviewer or HR). As a result, there are so many recommendations on how job seekers should prepare for a job interview. In our last blog article, we have discussed some of the tough interview questions and how to answer them. Today we would like to address some more interview questions as it seems like we didn't cover all of the most common questions candidates have to face.
Questions is Your Chance to Shine Through at a Job Interview
Could you please tell me about yourself? An easy one. Or so you think. This is usually an introductory question to get you started. But that doesn't mean that you can say whatever you want. Please don't take this question as a chance to tell your life story or recite your employment history (remember, you have a resume for it). This is a great chance to stand out as the majority of candidates won't say anything worthy. We recommend starting with where you are right now in terms of your professional development. Then you could mention several job experiences from the past and how you gained your skills from those positions. Lastly, you can wrap up your answer by telling why you are excited about this particular opportunity and how that fits into your career development plan.
What are your professional strengths? Don't be shy thinking that it will help you get the job. It is way better if you can give a specific and accurate answer. It is also important to be honest because many candidates choose to say what they think the hiring manager wants to hear. The right answer is the honest one; an experienced interviewer can tell whether you telling the truth. It is much better if you choose to tell only those strengths that are targeted to the applying position. Ideally, you should give an example or two how you've used those traits in a professional setting and maybe even achieved something significant.
What is your greatest professional achievement? If you have shared your strengths but didn't give any examples of how you used those strengths in the business environment you may expect this question. As a matter of fact, it might be the most crucial question that will draw the line and will define which side of the line you are going to be after the interview. When asked this question you should be ready to answer right away. Provide an interviewer with a brief context explaining the situation and task you were required to complete. Then you should let them know the things that you did in order to complete the tasks. Finally, the result that you achieved is not less important.
Check more interview questions and answers featured in our next blog.