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10 Most Common Interview Questions and How to Answer

Looking for a new job and applying for open positions can pay off once applicants land an interview. The next step lies in preparing for interview questions and crafting expert answers to gain a job offer. Since most interviews follow a standard format with the most common interview questions, any professional needs to know how they would answer these questions before their interview. 

You’ve finally landed an interview for a job that seems like a great fit. The next step is preparing for the interview and setting yourself up for success.

Part of crucial interview preparation is considering what questions will come up and how a desirable candidate would answer them.

In this story, we talk about some of the most common interview questions, what the questions are asking and how you should craft your answer.

1. Tell Me About Yourself

Candidates likely hear this question early during an interview because it allows them to talk about themselves and why they are better than other candidates.  

The interviewer wants to know why you are a good fit for the role beyond what is on the resume. As such, candidates should answer the question by sharing enough personal and professional information to begin the conversation, but not so much that it answers every question the interviewer may ask.

While you may include personal information, it may not always be appropriate for every interview type. 

Using the past-present-future formula to answer this question is a good idea. 

Example answer for new college graduates: “Currently, I’m working as a retail assistant at XYZ store. My work tasks include restocking the makeup department shelves, assisting with inventory and maintaining store cleanliness, which all require great attention to detail and patience. Before this role, I graduated with a psychology degree from ABC University. I’ve been looking for a position in healthcare where I can learn more about patient care, empower others and offer help in the community. I want to find a role that will help provide a strong foundation for my future healthcare career.”

Example answer for someone with more experience: “I have been working as a senior data analyst at XYZ company for two years. In this role, I provide insights into our customer base and assist with developing solutions to any concerns regarding our customers. Before this, I held other lower-level data analyst roles for several years before earning my master’s degree. At this stage in my career, I am ready to take on more challenging work as a team leader and hone my technical skills.”

2. What Interests You About This Role?

A popular strategy focuses on a specific area within the company that legitimately interests the candidate, such as its history or reputation. 

Researching information about the company and role before the interview shows a candidate has a high interest in the role. 

Example answer focused on the company: “I wanted to apply for this role because I have wanted to work at XYZ company for years. The recent developments that XYZ company has added to our industry and the historically well-renowned leadership here make it a desirable opportunity. Looking at the previous projects from this company, I think my skills and education background would suit this position and organization well.”

Example answer focused on the role: “This role is exactly what I’ve been looking for because it strongly emphasizes user experience and innovation, which is extremely exciting. I always wanted more opportunities to innovate and brainstorm solutions in my previous roles, so I think this role and the knowledgeable team at XYZ company could help me learn new skills and strategies while also progressing in my career.”

3. What Are Your Biggest Strengths?

Employers ask this to see if candidates have the qualifications for the position. Candidates must mention their greatest strengths that apply to the job posting and role to ensure they are set apart from other candidates.  

Diana YK Chan, an executive career and confidence coach, tells candidates preparing for interviews, “Job interviews are opportunities to showcase why you’re the best candidate to hire. Employers want to know what makes you awesome and whether you can thrive in the job. It’s important to highlight your assets that prove you’re a great fit… Take the time to map out your answers and you’ll be well prepared to talk about your core assets in any interview.” 

Using this approach, list potential strengths that the job posting seems to mention. Then, determine which skills you have that may match those skills, including hard or soft skills or past work background. Narrow this list to a few solid skills, and plan to use those in your answer.

Example answer: “I pride myself on my exceptional customer service skills. I have years of experience as a customer service specialist, and during this time, it has been necessary to understand and resolve customer concerns efficiently. With customer service comes problem-solving skills, decision-making skills and professionalism, all of which have helped me become a better communicator and team member.”

4. What Are Your Biggest Weaknesses?

Mention weaknesses in a frame of positivity. Instead of making the weaknesses seem like flaws, take this question to show the hiring manager that you are a good learner.

This is another instance to show the interviewer why a candidate is the best fit for the position. With this answer, a candidate may want to focus on their credentials, ability to take on challenges or desire to learn. 

Example answer: “I have extreme attention to detail, but there are times when this turns into perfectionism. I have caught myself checking spreadsheets over more than necessary or taking too long to write emails because I want everything to look perfect. I’ve learned to manage my time better and have continuously worked on gauging how much time to spend on individual tasks to ensure I’m managing my schedule and still ensuring high-quality work. ”

5. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

While you may not know where you want to be in five years, avoid saying “I don’t know” when an interviewer asks this question. 

Show that this job aligns with all ambitions by discussing:

• Professional plans or goals
• Desired skills within the industry
• How this role aligns with those intentions

Example answer: “In five years, I would love to become a project manager. I want to explore the skills necessary in a leadership role and gain experience working with major accounts. I would love to learn more about the opportunities available in this role that would help me learn about some of those skills and responsibilities.”

6. What is Your Ideal Work Environment? 

Interviewers ask this question to see if your preferences and temperament align with the company. 

It is essential to answer this question honestly but do a little research beforehand to see what answer is most beneficial to the candidate.  

For example, they may consider a candidate’s personality, values or cultural fit.

Example answer: “I believe this environment would be an ideal work environment for my style, as I enjoy being part of a team. I do better in groups when team members support each other or share ideas. Although I also work well alone when I need to focus on a task, I enjoy being around like-minded people and growing my skills with the help of others.”

7. What is a Major Challenge You’ve Faced?

This question represents an opportunity to elaborate on work history. 

The answer provided here can make a candidate appear very impressive. It is important to think of an applicable challenge and the outcome of reactions to the challenge before the interview to showcase skills.

Be sure the answer covers future potential, how you respond to stress and relevant personality attributes based on the job posting.

Example answer: “In a previous role, I had a manager who recognized my strong work ethic and increased my responsibilities. Eventually, however, this increased responsibility proved too much as I started to fall behind and miss deadlines. I told my manager about my concerns. We hired another person to help with the additional tasks, which increased my productivity overall. Now, I have learned to admit when help is necessary sooner rather than later.”

8. What Are Your Salary Expectations?

It may seem complicated to answer this question without making it seem like the entire reason you want this role is for the salary. However, candidates should be sure they don’t sell themselves short (or ask for too much). 

Research the market and industry norms before the interview to determine a reasonable salary based on your job title, experience and skills, location and employer. 

Example answer: “I’m flexible and open to discussing salary for this position. I have significant skills and experience in this field, which I believe adds much value to my candidacy. I understand that similar positions pay between $50,000 to $75,000, so I would anticipate the salary for this role falls on the higher end of that range due to my background and what I believe I can bring to this company.

9. Can You Explain the Gap in Your Resume?

Employment gaps refer to periods in a professional career when a person didn’t have employment. These gaps may occur voluntarily or involuntarily, and they happen for numerous reasons, such as:

• Becoming a caregiver
• Layoffs or closures 
• Taking medical leave
• Focusing on personal development
• Relocation

Regardless of the reason, an interviewer may ask a candidate about their employment gaps. When this happens, it is important to be honest. Explain the gaps in employment but keep the answer brief. 

Example answer: “During that time, I traveled for volunteer opportunities, learned a new language and spent time with my family. I chose to take this time to focus on my wellness and personal development. Now, I am ready to return to the workforce.

10. What Are Your Career Goals? 

Recruiters want to know if you plan to stay with the company for a long time or if you’d leave at the first sign of trouble. As such, this question wants to determine what career path candidates envision for themselves and how the role may fit into that plan.

Candidates should keep their answers focused on the current opportunity and reiterate that this job aligns with long-term plans.

Example answer: “I hope to work for a company like this one to build my sales skills and work with a team that strongly focuses on customer service. Later in my career, I would love to manage a team to help them become stronger sales representatives and learn how to take on leadership responsibilities within this field.”

How to Nail Your Interview

Interviews are daunting for many but preparing ahead of time will increase a candidate’s confidence. Here are a few tips for nailing that next interview:

• Do plenty of research on the role and company.
• Consider your most marketable skills and experiences related to the position.
• Draft and practice answers to common interview questions.
• Prepare for small talk before interview questions begin.
• Study the job posting and keep important words from it in mind. 
• Practice your body language and gestures.

Top Takeaways

10 most common interview questions and how to answer

• Most interviews will feature common questions that candidates may anticipate.
• Preparing and practicing answers to these common questions will help candidates feel confident and professional during their interview.
• Some questions aim to ask about multiple things at once, so candidates should consider the root of each question when crafting an expert-like response.

(Reporting by NPD)

Interview questions | Prospects.

ac.uk

Preparing in advance for some of the common interview questions you may be asked will enable you to put in the best performance on the day

Employers need to understand why you want the job, why you’re the best person for the role, and how well your personality will fit into the organisation. How you answer interview questions will be the key factor in their decision.

What you say is obviously the most important thing but the way you answer also plays a part. Confidence and enthusiasm are particularly important. While you can’t know exactly what you’ll be asked on the day, here are some of the job interview questions you’re most likely to face…

Can you tell me a bit about yourself?

This question, usually the opener, tops the list of typical interview questions. It’s incredibly important, as you can provide the interviewer with a great first impression. Preparation is important, but your answer shouldn’t sound rehearsed. Focus on your skills, characteristics and successes, and how they make you a strong candidate in terms of the job description.

Keep your answer to less than five minutes. Generally, begin with an overview of your highest qualification and greatest achievements, before running through your work experience and giving examples of the skills that you’ve developed. If your work history is limited, focus on the areas of academia that you’ve most enjoyed and how this relates to the job.

Why do you want to work here? 

Demonstrate that you’ve researched the role by discussing the skills and interests that led you to apply. Draw on what you enjoy – use examples from your academic, professional or extra-curricular life that suggest you’re strongly motivated and can relate closely to the organisation. Talk about particular aspects of the job advert that enticed you.

Similar questions include:

• What do you know about the company?
• What motivated you to apply for this job?

What are your strengths?

Pick three or four attributes desired by the employer in the person specification, such as teamwork, leadership, initiative and lateral thinking. Whichever strengths you pick, you must be able to evidence them with examples.

Similar questions include:

• How would a friend describe you?
• How would you describe your personality?
• What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?

What are your weaknesses?

You can positively frame your answer by picking characteristics that you’ve taken steps to improve. For example, self-confidence issues could have previously led to difficulty accepting criticism – but tell the interviewer that you’ve learned to embrace constructive feedback as it allows for self-improvement. Alternatively, discuss how you overcame a potential downside of your greatest strength. For example, you might have had to learn how to cope with conflict if you’re a great team worker.

Never say that you have no weaknesses, that you’re a perfectionist, or that you work too hard. These are clichéd responses that portray you as arrogant, dishonest or lacking in self-awareness.

Similar questions include:

• How do you respond to criticism?
• How would your worst enemy describe you?

How do you prioritise your work?

The employer wants to know whether you’re organised, can meet deadlines and are able to handle multiple projects at the same time. The best way to answer this question is to provide examples of times when you’ve juggled a number of different tasks and still delivered them to a high quality and on time. These examples can come from previous jobs, university study or your extra-curricular activities. Give some detail about what methods you use to keep track of your progress and productivity.

How would you improve our product/service?

Your knowledge and understanding of what the company does will prove invaluable. Don’t be too critical of the product or service – you want to work there after all – but at the same time, don’t say you wouldn’t change anything. The interviewer wants to hear some ideas.

Try to come up with one or two things that you think could be improved. The key is to offer an explanation of how and why you’d make these changes. Make sure you focus on relevant areas that you would have some responsibility for if you got the job.

Can you give an example of a time when you had to cope with a difficult situation?

This question is one of the most popular competency-based interview questions. It allows the employer to assess how calm and reliable you are under pressure. Outline an instance where you’ve coped with an unexpected problem, discussing how you reorganised and managed your time. Think about times where you’ve had to meet tight deadlines or handle difficult people.

Similar questions include:

• Give an example of a time when you had to cope under pressure.
• Give an example of a time when you’ve handled a major crisis.
• How do you manage your time and prioritise tasks?
• How do you respond to stress and pressure?

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What has been your greatest achievement?

Ideally, your answer should evidence skills relevant to the job – such as teamwork, initiative, communication, determination and organisation. For inspiration, think about a time when you’ve received an award, organised an event, learned something new or overcome a major fear. Always prepare several examples.

Avoid the achievement of graduating from university – this won’t distinguish you, unless you’ve had to deal with major difficulties such as illness or personal problems.

A similar question that you may be asked is ‘What are you most proud of in your working life?’

What are your goals?

This is your chance to show the recruiter that you’re ambitious and professionally determined. Talk enthusiastically about your realistic short and long-term targets, basing your answers on the employer, the industry and your skills and experiences.

Outline the various steps to your ideal job, but only in relation to the position that you’re applying for and the company’s career development offering. It’s vital that you explain how your goals make you valuable to the organisation. You could mention your knowledge of relevant professional bodies and qualifications or reveal that you’ve researched the career paths followed by other graduates.

A similar question is ‘What do you expect to be doing in five years’ time?’

What are your salary expectations?

This can be an uncomfortable question to answer, as you don’t want to undervalue yourself or give a figure so high that you rule yourself out of the job. If you decide to suggest a range, don’t make it too wide as it will appear as though you are avoiding the question. Instead, narrow it down and mention that you’re willing to be flexible and negotiate.

To prepare, check whether a salary or salary range is indicated in the job description and take that as your starting point. Then research similar roles to see what the average salary is across the industry or sector you want to work in. Job profiles will give you some examples.

If you’re already in work, you may have been asked for your current salary when you applied for the job. Since gradual progression is most common, the employer may be surprised if your expectations are either below or significantly higher than your current salary.

Do you have any questions?

Arriving with no questions will give a bad impression. Anything that you ask should cover the work itself or career development. Prepare questions in advance and remember to ask questions if the moment naturally arises during the actual interview. For some ideas, see 7 good questions to ask at an interview.

If you need further help, university careers and employability services provide practice interview sessions. It’s worth contacting them if you are a student or recent graduate.

Find out more

• Discover how to prepare for an interview.
• Read all about the top 5 job interview mistakes.
• See what teaching interview questions you can expect.
• Take a look at 9 questions you might be asked in a law interview.

Written by Rachel Swain, Editorial manager

Prospects · May 2023

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Preparing for an interview – 25 simple steps

At the first meeting, you must immediately make a good impression: show intelligence, erudition, knowledge about the company and its products. You also need to know exactly how to emphasize that you are perfect for this job.

To help you get ready, we’ve compiled a list of 25 tips, from how to answer tough questions the right way to how to best pack your bag.

Dress appropriately and bring essentials

C Tip #1 Don’t forget the dress code. If you go to a company that has a strict dress code, you need to have a conservative look. However, if you are going to an interview at a start-up, a conservative appearance can get in the way: it will arouse suspicion from potential colleagues.

Do you know if there is a dress code? Perhaps you know someone who works at the company you want to get a job: he can tell you how employees usually dress. If there is no such acquaintance, go to the cafes located next to the company’s office and take a closer look at how people are dressed.

Tip #2 Make sure your suit is perfectly clean, ironed and fits well.

Tip #3 Don’t forget the little things: polish your boots, make sure all the seams are intact, and trim your nails. You may think that these are things that people do not pay attention to – but believe me, they are not at all!

Tip #4 Try to look your best: when you look better, you usually feel more confident. You may need a facial, a haircut, a shave, or even a new suit (see tip #2). Do not be stingy, all this will increase self-esteem, give confidence and allow you to get a dream job!

Tip #5 Make five copies of your resume. You never know how many people you will have to talk to, so you should always have your resume ready if anyone wants to look at it.

Tip #6 Prepare a list of recommendations. The corresponding section of your LinkedIn profile can also be used as a list of recommendations.

Tip #7 Get your interview essentials ready and put them in your bag. It should be large enough to fit the daily essentials and what you will need directly for the meeting with the employer: additional copies of the resume (see tip #5), notebook, pen, etc.

Tip #8 Disassemble your bag. If you have to dig through a pile of old candy wrappers, phone chargers, checks, and other junk to find your resume, you will look disorganized. Everything you need should be neatly folded and instantly available. The less rummaging through your bag, the better.

Do your homework

Tip #9 Spend a few hours researching a potential employer. Talk to friends and acquaintances who have worked or are working for the company of your choice, read the latest news, and of course, make the most of Google. Often, candidates view only what the company publishes on its website or social media. networks, without bothering to look deeper to find out what others are saying about the company. Having studied all the available information (including negative reviews), you will get an objective picture of a potential employer.

Tip #10 Find out what the culture of the company is and try to figure out how to get in tune with it. Start by browsing the corporate blog and Facebook page. Try to study individual employee blogs – this will help you understand what type of people prevail there. Twitter can also be a great resource because you can see what employees and executives are talking about. Do they feel free enough to crack a few jokes? Do they tweet messages about events happening in the company? Do they write about new launched products? Use what you read as a topic to start a conversation.

Tip #11 Be the customer. Whether you’re looking for a job in sales, marketing, web development, or whatever, you should try the company’s product before the interview (and ideally more than once). In this case, you will be able to offer a solution on how to improve this product and offer your services (of course, already as a hired employee).

Tip #12 Play detective. Try to figure out exactly who you will have to meet. Try to find as much information as possible about each potential interviewer. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google can help you understand what people have done before, what their political views are, and what interests them most. And try to bring up only acceptable topics in the interview, as well as prepare a series of personalized questions.

Tip #13 Specify the format of the interview. Different companies use different formats, so you need to clarify in advance what you will have to face. Once you know something specific, you will need to take the time to prepare yourself for that particular option. This may give you some advantage.

Anticipate the questions to be asked and prepare possible answers

Tip #14 Take the time to think carefully about which skills, abilities, and references you have will be of most interest to the interviewer. Next – try to focus on them.

Advice #15 You absolutely must have a prepared and memorized answer to the question: “Tell me about yourself.” HR managers love to ask this question.

Advice #16 Don’t let the classic question, “What’s your biggest weakness?” lead you into a dead end. Proven Method: Think about the quality you are trying to improve. Let’s say you’ve never been great at public speaking, but over the past few years you’ve volunteered to speak in front of large numbers of people to improve your public speaking skills.

Tip #17 Don’t forget the numbers. Have statistics ready with which you can back up previous experience. Let’s say you can say that while working at the previous company, there was an 83% increase in revenue. The fact that you may not have done anything about it is of little importance – with a high degree of probability, it will not come down to details.

Tip #18 You will most likely be asked why you are interested in this position and company (if you can’t answer this question, you’re definitely not good). Make sure you know the answer: think about why you are interested in this position, find several factors that make it suitable for you. Example: “I enjoy working with clients because I love constant interaction with people. Helping them solve problems gives me job satisfaction.”

Tip #19 Do as many practice interviews as you can with your friend. For the hundredth time, it will become much easier to answer: “Tell me about yourself?” and “What will you bring to the company?”

Advice #20 As the interview draws to a close, they may be asked, “Do you have any questions for me?” Use a pre-prepared list, and your chances of getting a job will greatly increase.

Collect your thoughts

Advice #21 Try to restore a complete chronology of your career. When you know your history inside and out, it is much easier to give an example of how you solved this or that problem in the past.

Tip #22 Get ready for a technical test. Start preparing as early as possible. Use appropriate books: this will not only give you the necessary practice, but also help direct your thoughts in the right direction.

Tip #23 Use “standby phrases” to fill in the gaps. You can slowly repeat the question asked before answering, or say something like, “Yes, that’s a good question. [pause] I have to admit that I hadn’t thought about it before, however…I think that….”

Tip #24 Work on your body language. Be wary of what your posture, arm or leg position might tell people. For example, arms crossed means that you are closed to communication, and this does not contribute to a productive conversation.

Tip #25 Get enough sleep. Trite, but few things can ruin an interview more than lack of sleep.

Interview preparation | Moscow University named after S.Yu.Witte

So happy moment! Luck smiled at you, and you were invited for an interview. Undoubtedly, this is the most exciting stage in the job search. Sometimes, even very confident people experience real jitters when approaching the door of their potential employer, what can we say about a newcomer?! And the excitement manifests itself the stronger, the more desirable the job, the “cooler” the company and the less experience you have in this kind of communication.

What to do if the proposed work does not quite suit you? Just don’t miss out on the interview! This is a great workout, especially since you are not particularly at risk of losing something.

Well, when this is not possible, work on your own.

so what to do when you receive an invitation to such a coveted interview? Pack up and go? Stop, stop, not so soon! Here, too, preparation and skill are needed!

No matter what channels you use to look for a job, an interview is the most important and inevitable part of your job search. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare for it thoroughly!

Appearance – greeted by clothes

Think carefully about what you will be wearing before the interview. Appearance and demeanor are of great importance and practically determine the first impression.

You will say, “Here’s another nonsense, what is convenient, I’ll go in that!”, And you will be very mistaken!

It happens that a person seems to be successful in everything – with a red diploma, sparkling knowledge, sociable, having many certificates and diplomas, and there are more than enough problems with employment. What is the reason? Imagine – summer, heat, city center, a solid company. A man comes for an interview in shorts, sneakers, a cap and a shirt with palm trees and a sea view … How do you like this picture? And it’s not worth saying that such a person will not be hired, and in some companies they may not even be allowed to enter the door. Well, if you pass the checkpoint, then get ready to hear a lot of comments about the appearance!

For example, if you are going to an interview at a financial institution or a bank, wear conservative business attire. If you’re going to an interview with a design or marketing firm, you can afford to dress more casually.

If showing up to work in jeans is considered par for the course at this firm, you can afford it when you start working, but it’s best not to show up to interviews in jeans and a sweater.

Travel time

Make sure in advance how to get to the company building and where to leave the car.

It is better to leave the house in advance.

Please arrive 15 minutes early. During this time, take a breath, and thereby show your respect for the interviewer. An hour before the appointed time, you should also not come, once again you will be nervous, looming, and your self-esteem may drop sharply in the eyes of the employer. Don’t go to extremes.

If you are still running late, try calling and letting you know you are late.

Dossier on yourself

You need to prepare your dossier and take it to every interview. Treat the collection of documents carefully! Put them in any clear or cardboard folder if you don’t have a decent business bag. But plastic bags are completely unacceptable – it is better to leave them for stores.

Documents that may be useful:

1. Resume in expanded form (preferably in several copies), even if you have already sent it by fax or e-mail;
2. Passport neat. If he is rather worn out by a hard life, buy a new cover for him, otherwise you may not get a very good impression of you;
3. Diploma of Education . No matter how much employees of personnel services remind that a diploma is brought along with an application where there are grades, most people safely “forget” about this – and in vain. After all, in this way you can push the employer to thoughts that are completely unnecessary to you. Because it’s no secret that a diploma is often just bought in transit. And who needs such a specialist from the transition?!
4. Documents on additional education , courses, etc. this point must be taken seriously. And most importantly, a piece of paper about the completion of something additional works in your favor. Best of all, if diplomas and certificates confirm that you have grown and continue to grow as a professional.

Preparing questions

Before you go to the interview, prepare a list of your questions for the employer, write them down and have them handy. You should not rely on your memory, even if you have not had sclerosis before. At the end of the interview, it will be very difficult to collect your thoughts and ask substantial questions.

Questions you can ask your employer:

• What are your company’s goals?
• How long has your company existed?
• Who are her partners?
• What are the development prospects?
• Is this a new job or an old job?
• Why did it become necessary to attract (or replace) employees?
• Who evaluates the work?
• What are the most common reasons people quit?
• How is the competence of an employee determined?
• Is there a job description?
• What affects wage growth?
• Who makes the decision to raise wages?
• How does the company treat manifestations of personal initiative?
• Is the scope of responsibility defined?
• What are the prospects for my further growth in the company?
• What are the opportunities for professional development?
• Is flexible working hours possible?
• Is it possible to independently plan your working and attendance time?
• Are you paid extra for overtime work?
• How often do you have to stay late after the end of the working day?

What would you like to know about the organization you are going to interview?

• What products or services does the company offer?
• How many years has the organization been in existence?
• Where and to whom are products and services sold?
• Is the organization part of any larger association?
• How much attention is paid to the organization of the press? Why?
• What is the media coverage of the organization?
• Is the organization based in the country or has partners or branches abroad?
• What is the outlook for the industry to which the organization belongs?

Interview behavior

Behavior at the interview, answers to standard and unexpected questions of interviewers – this is a separate big topic that concerns employment strategy.

What you need to remember is that the employer is not only interested in your experience and skills, but also in your personality. It is much more difficult for an ill-mannered, unpunctual, sloppy, optional, insecure candidate to find a job.

1. When you come to the office, be polite and patient with everyone.
2. Never show your interviewer that you have, for example, waited for him in the waiting room for half an hour or more. He is allowed to be late, you are not, no matter how unfair it may seem to you.
3. In order to get the best reception in the very first seconds of the meeting, use some simple tricks. Smile, but don’t overdo it. The first words you should say are: “Thank you for meeting me.” This courtesy tribute is sure to have the desired effect.
4. Conscientiously fill out all questionnaires and forms that will be offered to you.
5. Introduce yourself at the beginning of the interview. Ask about the name of the interlocutor. If you are introduced to someone, do your best to hear and remember the person’s name correctly (it’s best to write it down). You can ask: “Would you mind if I record some moments of our communication?”. If you can immediately address the interlocutor by name, this will make a favorable impression.
6. It is important to find out the length of the interview and stick to the designated time. This will allow you to correctly distribute the time between answers and questions, determine the degree of detail of the answers.
7. Listen carefully to the questions, do not interrupt.
8. If you are not sure that you understand the question, feel free to clarify: “Did I understand correctly that …”. It’s okay if you ask again, no.
9. Answer to the point, avoid verbosity.
10. When answering, be objective and truthful, but don’t be too frank.
11. When faced with the need to give negative information about yourself, do not deny the facts that are true, but be sure to try to balance them with positive information about yourself.
12. Carry yourself with dignity, try not to give the impression of a loser or a distressed person.
13. If you are prompted to ask questions, be sure to ask.
14. When asking questions, be interested in the content of the work and the conditions for its successful implementation.
15. Be sure to specify how you will find out about the result, try to negotiate the right to call yourself.
16. At the end of the interview, do not forget the usual rules of courtesy, thank you for your time.

Do’s and Don’ts

• do not bring acquaintances, friends, classmates, etc.
• do not smoke, eat or chew gum.
• do not leave sunglasses on your nose when you enter the room.
• do not bring a food or sports bag.
• do not do makeup and look at yourself in the powder box mirror while waiting for an interview.
• don’t kick the secretary if he tries to start a conversation with you.
• do not torment the same secretary if he “didn’t guess” to start a conversation with you.
• do not ask to use the phone in the reception.
• don’t whistle, sing under your breath, and don’t rustle paper.
• Do not read a book or magazine whose cover might cause someone in the audience to raise an eyebrow in surprise.
• Do not conduct personal conversations on a mobile phone from the reception. It’s better to say that you will call back.

Interview questions

1. Education, learning abilities:

• What subjects did you do best/least at college/school?
• How did you choose your profession and educational institution?
• Which of the family members influenced the choice of profession?
• How do you think to improve your professional training?
• What have you already accomplished as a professional?
• What would you like to learn in the near future?

Employment:

• In which organizations did you work before?
• How old were you when you earned your first money?
• Why did you decide to work in this particular company?
• What aspects of your job do you like most/least?
• What is your experience in leading/managing others?
• What type of people do you like/dislike to work with?
• Why did you work for this organization for so long/little?
• Why did you decide to leave the organization?
• What could have made you stay with the company?
• What other job offers are you considering?

Ambition, motivation and plans for the future.