How to prepare interview question: 50+ Top Interview Questions and Answers in 2022

How to prepare for an interview

The key to putting in a good performance and securing the job is preparation. Take a look at these tips to get you interview ready

Types of interview

There are different types of job interview. In some cases, you’ll only need to succeed at one of these to land the role. In others, particularly at large graduate employers, you may face several interview formats throughout the application process.

• Face-to face – the traditional and still most common form of interview. You’ll attend the employer’s office and be questioned on your suitability for the job by an individual or panel. Face-to-face interviews usually last between 45 minutes and two hours, and may be preceded or followed by tests and exercises. Questions may be strength-based or competency-based.
• Telephone – often used by employers early in the application process to filter large numbers of applicants. If you’re successful you’ll typically be invited to a face-to-face interview or assessment centre. Expect a telephone interview to last around half an hour.
• Video – increasingly popular among large employers, particularly for applications to graduate schemes. Video interviews can be live or pre-recorded, and tend to last around half an hour. These have increasingly been used due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the majority of things move online.
• Assessment centres – enable employers to compare the performance of lots of candidates at the same time. You’ll attend an assessment centre with other applicants and take part in tasks such as presentations, team exercises and psychometric tests. Assessment centres usually last a full working day and have more recently been adapted to be held online.

Interview research

Your performance in an interview depends, to a significant extent, on how well you prepare. Don’t leave this until the last minute. In the days leading up to the interview, focus your research on the:

• Employer – you need to show that you understand the business beyond the basics. What sector does it operate in? What challenges does it face? Who are its competitors? What major projects has it recently completed? What are its culture and values? This kind of knowledge demonstrates a genuine interest.
• Role – read the job description again and, if you completed an application form, go over it to refresh your memory of how your skills and qualifications match the job. It’s vital that you can explain why you want the job, that you understand the role and, even more importantly, why the employer should choose you over other candidates.
• Interview panel – try to find out who will be interviewing you. The email inviting you to the interview may include this information. Use LinkedIn and the ‘About us’ section of the company website to find out more about their professional interests and experience. This may help you to connect with your interviewers and create a positive impression during the interview.
• Questions – consider how you’ll answer common interview questions, as well as preparing some questions you’d like to ask the interviewer.

There are also some practical things to plan. Exactly when and where is the interview taking place? Have you planned your journey and checked the timetables for any public transport you need to take? Does all your equipment work for video and telephone interviews?

Avoiding alcohol the night before and having a healthy breakfast on the morning of your interview will stand you in good stead. If your interview is scheduled after lunchtime, make sure you eat something even if you’re feeling nervous – you won’t put in your best performance on an empty stomach.

Practice job interviews

It’s a good idea to do at least one mock interview before the real thing. Your university careers and employability service will help you to practice your interview technique.

You can also write and practise answers to common interview questions with someone you trust – possibly even recording yourself and then reviewing your performance.

It’s also worth testing your telephone connection and making sure that your laptop, microphone and any other technical equipment you need is working and you know how to use them.

What to take

• pen and notebook
• your CV and interview invitation
• your academic certificates and work examples if requested
• photo ID
• breath mints or gum
• a bottle of water
• money for transport and food.

In addition for online interviews you may also need:

• laptop/computer
• headset/earphones
• microphone
• log in for the software you need to use.

What to wear to an interview

While many employers expect candidates to dress smartly, a growing number encourage casual wear at work, making it trickier than ever to choose an interview outfit.

What you’ll be expected to wear depends on factors such as the size of the company, the industry it operates in and the culture it promotes. For example, a small creative agency may have different standards to a major accountancy firm.

If you’re unsure on the dress code, ask before attending the interview. The key point to remember is that it’s better to be too smart than too casual. Only opt for a more casual outfit if you’re certain that’s acceptable – if there’s any doubt, go for smart business attire. Whatever you choose, make sure that your clothes are ironed and your shoes are clean.

For telephone and online interviews make sure you dress as though the interview is in person. Sitting in your tracksuit bottoms trying to act professional probably isn’t going to go too well.

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After the interview

As your job interview comes to an end, make sure you find out when you’ll be informed of the outcome – and thank the interviewer for giving you the chance to attend.

Make some notes about the questions that were asked and how you answered them while the interview is still fresh in your memory. This will help you prepare even better for future interviews.

There are three potential outcomes:

• Success – if you’re offered the job, make sure it’s right for you by discussing it with friends and family, and double-check details such as the salary before deciding whether to accept.
• Rejection – if you’re unsuccessful, don’t be too downhearted as graduate employers receive large numbers of applications for every role. Email the company to thank them for the opportunity and request feedback from your interview so that you can improve your performance next time.
• Further steps – interviews are typically the final stage in the application process, but if the employer has not been able to make a decision you may be asked back for a second interview.

4 ways to make a good impression

As you’re preparing for the interview, think about ways you can show yourself in a positive light:

1. Punctuality – arriving late will increase your stress levels and give the employer a bad first impression, so do your best to arrive in good time.
2. Positivity and enthusiasm – be polite and professional with any staff you meet before or after the interview and, if you’re feeling particularly nervous, remind yourself that the worst thing that could happen is not getting the job. During the interview, respond to questions with positive statements, be enthusiastic about the job and avoid badmouthing your previous employers or university tutors.
3. Body language – give a firm handshake to your interviewer(s) before and after the session. Once you’re seated, sit naturally without slouching in your chair or leaning on the desk. Throughout the interview, remember to smile frequently and maintain eye contact.
4. Clarity – answer all questions clearly and concisely, evidencing your most relevant skills, experiences and achievements. It’s acceptable to pause before answering a difficult question to give yourself thinking time, or asking for clarification if you’re unsure what a question means. When answering, don’t speak too quickly.

Written by Rachel Swain, Editorial manager

Prospects · May 2021

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Interview Cheat Sheet | Monster.com

Career AdviceInterviewingJob Interview Basics

By Carole Martin, Monster contributor

Body

Relax—a cheat sheet is not really cheating. It’s a checklist to make sure you stay focused before, during, and after the interview. Creating a cheat sheet will help you feel more prepared and confident. You shouldn’t memorize what’s on the sheet or check it off during the interview. You should use your cheat sheet to remind you of key facts. Here are some suggestions for what you should include on it.

In the days before the interview

• Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper. On the left side, make a bulleted list of what the employer is looking for based on the job posting. On the right side, make a bulleted list of the qualities you possess that fit those requirements.
• Research the company, industry and the competition.
• Prepare your 60-second personal statement.
• Write at least five success stories to answer behavioral interview questions (“Tell me about a time when…” or “Give me an example of a time…”).
• List five questions to ask the interviewer about the job, the company and the industry.
• Research salaries to determine your worth.
• Determine your salary needs based on your living expenses.
• Get permission from your references to use their names.

Prepare your interview answers

Be ready to answer common interview questions such as these:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why did you leave your last position, or why are you leaving your current position?
• What do you know about this company?
• What are your goals?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why do you want to work here?
• What has been your most significant achievement?
• How would your last boss and colleagues describe you?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your salary expectations?

Before you go to the interview

Do you look professional? Check yourself in the mirror; part of your confidence will come from looking good.

Carry these items to the interview:

• Several copies of your resume on quality paper.
• A copy of your references.
• A pad of paper on which to take notes, though notes are optional.
• Directions to the interview site.

Upon arrival

• Arrive early—enter the building 10 minutes before your appointment.
• Review your prepared stories and answers.
• Go to the restroom and check your appearance one last time.
• Announce yourself to the receptionist in a professional manner.
• Stand and greet your interviewer with a hearty—not bone-crushing—handshake.
• Smile and maintain eye contact.

During the interview

• Try to focus on the points you have prepared without sounding rehearsed or stiff.
• Relax and enjoy the conversation.
• Learn what you can about the company.
• Ask questions and listen; read between the lines.
• At the conclusion, thank the interviewer, and determine the next steps.
• Ask for the interviewer’s business card so you can send a follow-up letter.

After the interview

• As soon as possible, write down what you are thinking and feeling.
• Later in the day, review what you wrote and assess how you did.
• Write an interview thank-you letter, reminding the interviewer of your qualities.

Keep your cool throughout the search

Even with all this advice, there’s no actual “cheating” the job interview—or any part of the job search, really. But there are definitely ways you can set up a strategy and prepare yourself for the many steps involved in getting a new job. Curious about what those are? Join Monster today. As a member, you’ll get interview insights, career advice, and job search tips sent directly to your inbox. You’ll how to answer tricky interview questions, ways to negotiate the best job offer, and so much more. There are no shortcuts, but at least you don’t have to navigate your career path all alone.

10 principles of preparing for an interview

Many Belarusian journalists consider interviews to be not the most difficult genre to work with. And they treat him accordingly – without much reverence. This is expressed, in particular, in the fact that journalists often practically do not prepare for an interview, believing that “it is enough to agree and appoint, and then everything will work itself out.”

In fact, competent preparation for an interview can bring it to a whole new level of quality.

The authors of Mediakritika.by reasonably noted that many Belarusian journalists clearly abuse such a genre as interviews. Perhaps simply because they consider it the “lightest”. For many, this is true: they will draft a list of questions in a few minutes – or even just ask the editor-in-chief for it – and go ahead, with a voice recorder on the edge. I regularly see such interviews as part of the numerous events I attend. The picture, as a rule, is the same: a politician (an official, a businessman) telling something, and a journalist with a voice recorder and completely empty eyes, mechanically nodding in time with the words of the interlocutor. It is clear that such interviews are at best superficial and do not reveal any topic at all.

Competent preparation for a conversation can turn the tide, especially if the interview is planned for a long time, and it is agreed in advance, and is not the result of a chance meeting at some event.

Why is it important to prepare for an interview? Because when a journalist knows the “background” of both the interlocutor and the problem discussed with him, the interview goes in a completely different direction. Or, in other words, the interviewee can no longer manipulate the journalist. Here is a case from my own practice. There is an interview with the CEO of a large retail chain of budget stores, the name of which is on everyone’s lips. The chain was famous at the time for lobbying the government to close street stalls and small convenience stores. And literally in half an hour of preparation for the interview, I find out that:

– The trading network is burdened with debts: it owes $100 million to Russian partners and $10 million to Polish ones.

– Not so long ago, she bought a lot of very cheap socks in Uzbekistan, and they were immediately snapped up in Belarus. But it turned out to be impossible to wear them – they immediately spread. Because they were special socks for dressing the dead.

– The CEO I’m meeting with has a dacha neighbor, Mikhail Myasnikovich, who was prime minister at the time.

The interview begins, and the interlocutor habitually begins to tell how good their trading network is, how much they do for Belarus, and that only eggs are cooler than them. But just one question about debts was enough for the conversation to go in a completely different way – not very friendly, but much more informative. Because the CEO understood: a person who already knows a lot about his trading network is talking to him, and it is useless to hang noodles on his ears.

In general, in my personal opinion, an ideal interview is when a journalist asks questions to which he himself already knows the correct answers. (This does not apply to evaluative categories such as “Your opinion about ….”) Of course, this does not happen in real life, but you need to strive for this – this way you will determine how sincere your interlocutor is.

It is also not uncommon, just in the course of preparing for an interview, to come across some very interesting facts, which in themselves will become a topic for journalistic material. For example, while preparing for an interview with Mechislav Hryb, I discovered that from 1990 until Lukashenko came to power, almost all the top leaders of Belarus (speakers of parliament and prime ministers) were Catholics. And Nikolai Dementei is the uncle of the leader of the Just World party, Sergei Kalyakin.

So, what are the key points in preparing for an interview?

1. Determine the purpose of the conversation.

Does a journalist just need to introduce an interesting person to the public, or find out his opinion on a vital issue to which he is directly related, or an opinion on an issue relevant to society in which your interlocutor can be considered an expert. Having defined the goal, you will be able to formulate questions more competently and clearly.

2. We study information resources, collecting information about the interlocutor, as well as about the problem that you want to discuss with him.

This is actually a key part of interview preparation. An important point: not all information collected in this way should then be present in the questions asked. But a good knowledge of the interlocutor’s personal history and the “background” of the problem under discussion will make you feel much more confident – and this is well felt on a non-verbal level.

In addition, a preliminary study of the problem will allow the journalist not to ask frankly stupid questions. This is especially true when the topic of the interview is economics or technology.

3. Remember the name and patronymic of the interlocutor well and in no case mix it up!

For example, Romanchuk is Yaroslav Cheslavovich, not Vyacheslavovich, as he is often called.

4. Be sure to try to understand for yourself such moments as:

– Features of the interlocutor’s character.

– His role in a certain (discussed with him) situation, the prevailing socio-political circumstances and the scale of the problems that are associated with the hero of the interview.

– Social stereotypes associated with your interlocutor.

All this will allow you, in particular, to avoid questions that may hurt or even offend the interlocutor, because of which the interview will immediately go “awry”. If such questions inevitably need to be asked, then leave them for the end of the conversation – let the main part of it go smoothly and calmly.

5. From the very beginning, make the stock of questions slightly larger than necessary.

It’s better not to ask a few questions, but you will have room for maneuver. So, it often happens that the interviewee, answering one of your questions, without knowing it, along the way answers some other, not yet asked one. If the number of questions is limited, you may find yourself in a situation where there is nothing more to ask. You have to improvise, which is not always good.

6. Talk to your opponents.

If you have an interview with a politician, first talk with his opponent, if with a businessman, then with a competitor, if with an official, then with his former subordinate. You will learn a lot of interesting things from what your interlocutor will do his best to hide from you. Be sure to read the latest news related to your interlocutor.

7. When discussing the time and place of the interview, arrange a meeting so that your interlocutor feels comfortable.

Therefore, most often the meeting is scheduled on his territory (at home or at work) and at a convenient time for him. There are exceptions – it is often better to arrange a meeting on neutral territory, say, in a cafe. There are some cases when the interview is deliberately planned as tough, impartial. Then it is better to organize it in a place where the interlocutor will not feel too comfortable. But these are quite rare cases and, at least, it is better for novice journalists not to take on such a thing.

8. Remember the first impression.

American researchers claim that when meeting strangers, the first four minutes of the conversation, as a rule, determine the entire subsequent conversation. Therefore, as one of the first questions on your list, put the one that, in your opinion, the interlocutor will be especially willing to answer. For example, about some achievement, development, victory, etc. Such a beginning of the conversation will help relieve the stiffness and psychological stress that many people experience when talking with a journalist. It sounds cynical, but later, in preparation for publication, this question-answer pair can be removed – especially if it is more interesting to the hero of the interview than to readers.

At the same time, at the beginning of the conversation, one should not touch on such potentially provocative areas as political views, incomes, interethnic relations, religious beliefs, etc. Common interests or acquaintances can help create a trusting atmosphere (rigging and fiction are excluded).

If the conversation takes place at the interlocutor’s house, the most win-win will be a conversation about pets (if any) – dogs, cats and other living creatures. In them, as a rule, the owners do not have a soul.

9. If the interview covers different topics, group the questions into thematic blocks.

Be aware that some questions may not be answered, or you may receive a streamlined and nonsensical answer. So be ready in advance to reformulate any question and ask again.

10. Difficult, hard-hitting questions should be left for the final stage of the interview.

But in any case, it is desirable to end the conversation on a positive note. Even if “bad” questions were asked at the end, you should finally try to “steer” the conversation aside, talk about something pleasant for the interlocutor so that no one has an unpleasant aftertaste. The golden rule is to leave in such a way that the interlocutor has a desire to communicate with you more, to prepare for a new meeting.

Of course, in real life, not all of the listed items are feasible. But it is always worth striving for the ideal – that is, to fulfill the maximum possible number of them.

60 universal interview questions — Denis Kaplunov Studio

09/05/2014

Types of texts

Author: Alena Putyatina

224000

Interviews are one of the most rewarding types of content.

You pick questions, send them to the hero, get answers, format them, and print! Of course, this is a superficial scheme for creating an interview. In fact, this is an independent and bright content format. And in the blog, it looks very advantageous against the background of the usual articles, guides and news.

We have already prepared several materials on the topic of the interview. Now we will talk about the most important stage of preparing for an interview – the questions.

Studying the hero, I want to ask him important and sharp questions at the same time. I want the interview to not be boring, banal and typical. I want the reader to swallow it, savoring every letter, every line.

And at such moments, there is a lack of a selection of interview questions that can be adapted to an individual character.

We prepared this selection for ourselves. But we decided to share it with you. Because templates always help in the work.

1. Tell us about yourself and your business.
2. How would you describe yourself in a few words?
3. When did you decide to become _____ and why?
4. What exactly led you to __________?
5. What was the impetus for _________?
6. What were the first steps?
7. What are the pros and cons of working _______?
8. Describe your biggest achievement and most impressive failure?
9. Describe your three achievements?
10. Are there moments when inspiration leaves you (lose faith in yourself, in your business)?
11. Describe your work environment?
12. Do you plan to change _______?
13. What are your plans in _______?
14. What is the secret to success in _____?
15. How did you succeed in _______?
16. What are your favorite books (movies, meals)?
17. What would you never do in your life?
18. Can you say that ______?
19. On what basis do you ______?
20. Did you come to this position yourself or ______?
21. How have you changed since _______?
22. Do you love your job (business, product, service, business)?
23. What do you like to do in your free time?
24. How to make _______?
25. What advice can you give to newcomers (employees, readers)?
26. When did you last _________?
27. What are you interested in besides ______ and _______?
28. How do you relax from ____?
29. How did you get the idea to organize _______?
30. Did you do _____ by yourself or with support?
31. How often do you ________?
32. What do you think _______ is?
33. In your opinion, what qualities should _____ have?
34. Are you being yourself while doing your job, or is it a PR move?
35. What is the proportion of luck and luck in your project?
36. Do you have your own motto, mission?
37. You have already achieved a lot in your profession, has popularity changed you?
38. How much time do you devote to ______?
39. Why do you think society (on the market, in a company, on forums, on the Internet) has formed such a point of view?
40. What was the most difficult for you?
41. Tell me step by step what needs to be done to _________?
42. Where should a beginner start if he wants to follow in your footsteps?
43. What professional advice can you give to those who are just beginning to develop in _______?
44. What are the possible pitfalls in your field?
45. Is it difficult to do what brings you money? What does it cost you?
46. How did you get your first success?
47. How do others perceive your development (work, changes)?
48. Where are you looking for your customers (customers, buyers, investors, partners)?
49. No desire to throw everything to the “damn grandmother” and start something completely new?
50. Tell me the TOP 5 most effective tactics (tips, tricks, tricks, secrets, ways) in _______?
51. What is your opinion on this question: ___________?
52. Form your attitude to life (business, family, colleagues, employees) in five words?
53. What is the main expertise of a person of your level?
54. Was it difficult to give up _______ (free time, stability, career growth)?
55. Are you always this open (closed, aggressive, optimistic, quick)?
56. How would you rate yourself as _______?
57. Have you ever transgressed your principles in your professional activity?
58. In any business there are turning points.