Preparing for a interview questions: Your 2023 Guide to the Most Common Interview Questions and Answers

20 Tips for Great Job Interviews

From researching the company to handling certain key interview questions, make sure you make a great impression and ace your next job interview by following these 20 tips.

Want to ace your next interview and land that open job you’ve been seeking? Here are 20 tips to help you prepare.

1. Research the industry and company.
An interviewer may ask how you perceive his company’s position in its industry, who the firm’s competitors are, what its competitive advantages are, and how it should best go forward. For this reason, avoid trying to thoroughly research a dozen different industries. Focus your job search on just a few industries instead.

2. Clarify your “selling points” and the reasons you want the job.
Prepare to go into every interview with three to five key selling points in mind, such as what makes you the best candidate for the position. Have an example of each selling point prepared (“I have good communication skills. For example, I persuaded an entire group to …”). And be prepared to tell the interviewer why you want that job – including what interests you about it, what rewards it offers that you find valuable, and what abilities it requires that you possess. If an interviewer doesn’t think you’re really, really interested in the job, he or she won’t give you an offer – no matter how good you are!

3. Anticipate the interviewer’s concerns and reservations.
There are always more candidates for positions than there are openings. So interviewers look for ways to screen people out. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself why they might not want to hire you (“I don’t have this,” “I’m not that,” etc.). Then prepare your defense: “I know you may be thinking that I might not be the best fit for this position because [their reservation]. But you should know that [reason the interviewer shouldn’t be overly concerned].”

4. Prepare for common interview questions.
Every “how to interview” book has a list of a hundred or more “common interview questions.” (You might wonder just how long those interviews are if there are that many common questions!) So how do you prepare? Pick any list and think about which questions you’re most likely to encounter, given your age and status (about to graduate, looking for a summer internship). Then prepare your answers so you won’t have to fumble for them during the actual interview.

5. Line up your questions for the interviewer.
Come to the interview with some intelligent questions for the interviewer that demonstrate your knowledge of the company as well as your serious intent. Interviewers always ask if you have any questions, and no matter what, you should have one or two ready. If you say, “No, not really,” he or she may conclude that you’re not all that interested in the job or the company. A good all-purpose question is, “If you could design the ideal candidate for this position from the ground up, what would he or she be like?”

If you’re having a series of interviews with the same company, you can use some of your prepared questions with each person you meet (for example, “What do you think is the best thing about working here?” and “What kind of person would you most like to see fill this position?”) Then, try to think of one or two others during each interview itself.

6. Practice, practice, practice.
It’s one thing to come prepared with a mental answer to a question like, “Why should we hire you?” It’s another challenge entirely to say it out loud in a confident and convincing way. The first time you try it, you’ll sound garbled and confused, no matter how clear your thoughts are in your own mind! Do it another 10 times, and you’ll sound a lot smoother and more articulate.

But you shouldn’t do your practicing when you’re “on stage” with a recruiter; rehearse before you go to the interview. The best way to rehearse? Get two friends and practice interviewing each other in a “round robin”: one person acts as the observer and the “interviewee” gets feedback from both the observer and the “interviewer.” Go for four or five rounds, switching roles as you go. Another idea (but definitely second-best) is to tape record your answer and then play it back to see where you need to improve. Whatever you do, make sure your practice consists of speaking aloud. Rehearsing your answer in your mind won’t cut it.

7. Score a success in the first five minutes.
Some studies indicate that interviewers make up their minds about candidates in the first five minutes of the interview – and then spend the rest of the interview looking for things to confirm that decision! So what can you do in those five minutes to get through the gate? Come in with energy and enthusiasm, and express your appreciation for the interviewer’s time. (Remember: She may be seeing a lot of other candidates that day and may be tired from the flight in. So bring in that energy!)

Also, start off with a positive comment about the company – something like, “I’ve really been looking forward to this meeting [not “interview”]. I think [the company] is doing great work in [a particular field or project], and I’m really excited by the prospect of being able to contribute.”

8. Get on the same side as the interviewer.
Many interviewers view job interviews as adversarial: Candidates are going to try to pry an offer out of the interviewer, and the interviewer’s job is to hold onto it. Your job is to transform this “tug of war” into a relationship in which you’re both on the same side. You could say something as simple as, “I’m happy to have the chance to learn more about your company and to let you learn more about me, so we can see if this is going to be a good match or not. I always think that the worst thing that can happen is to be hired into a job that’s wrong for you – then nobody’s happy!”

9. Be assertive and take responsibility for the interview.
Perhaps out of the effort to be polite, some usually assertive candidates become overly passive during job interviews. But politeness doesn’t equal passivity. An interview is like any other conversation – it’s a dance in which you and a partner move together, both responding to the other. Don’t make the mistake of just sitting there waiting for the interviewer to ask you about that Nobel Prize you won. It’s your responsibility to make sure he walks away knowing your key selling points.

10. Be ready to handle illegal and inappropriate questions.
Interview questions about your race, age, gender, religion, marital status, and sexual orientation are inappropriate and in many areas illegal. Nevertheless, you may get one or more of them. If you do, you have a couple of options. You can simply answer with a question (“I’m not sure how that’s relevant to my application”), or you can try to answer “the question behind the question”: “I don’t know whether I’ll decide to have children in the near future, but if you’re wondering if I’ll be leaving my job for an extended period of time, I can say that I’m very committed to my career and frankly can’t imagine giving it up.”

11. Make your selling points clear.
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, did it make a sound? More important, if you communicate your selling points during a job interview and the interviewer doesn’t get it, did you score? On this question, the answer is clear: No! So don’t bury your selling points in long-winded stories. Instead, tell the interviewer what your selling point is first, then give the example.

12. Think positive.
No one likes a complainer, so don’t dwell on negative experiences during an interview. Even if the interviewer asks you point blank, “What courses have you liked least?” or “What did you like least about that previous job?” don’t answer the question. Or more specifically, don’t answer it as it’s been asked. Instead, say something like, “Well, actually I’ve found something about all of my classes that I’ve liked. For example, although I found [class] to be very tough, I liked the fact that [positive point about the class]” or “I liked [a previous job] quite a bit, although now I know that I really want to [new job].”

13. Close on a positive note.
If a salesman came to you and demonstrated his product, then thanked you for your time and walked out the door, what did he do wrong? He didn’t ask you to buy it! If you get to the end of an interview and think you’d really like that job, ask for it! Tell the interviewer that you’d really, really like the job – that you were excited about it before the interview and are even more excited now, and that you’re convinced you’d like to work there. If there are two equally good candidates at the end of the search – you and someone else – the interviewer will think you’re more likely to accept the offer, and thus may be more inclined to make an offer to you.

Even better, take what you’ve learned about yourself from your MyPath career assessment and use it to explain why you think this is the job for you: “I’ve done some careful career self-assessment, and I know that I’m most interested in [one or two of your most important career interest themes], and – correct me if I’m wrong – it seems that this position would allow me to express those interests. I also know that I’m most motivated by [two or three of your most important motivators from your MyPath assessment], and I have the sense that if I do well, I could get those rewards in this position.

Finally, I know that my strongest abilities are [two or three of your strongest abilities from your MyPath assessment], and I see those as being the abilities you most need for this position. ” If you follow this tip, you’ll be (a) asking for the job, (b) explaining why you think it’s a good match, (c) displaying your thoughtfulness and maturity, and (d) further disarming the tug-of-war dynamic that interviewers anticipate. You’ll be making the strongest possible “close” – and that’s worth a lot!

14. Bring a copy of your resume to every interview.
Have a copy of your resume with you when you go to every interview. If the interviewer has misplaced his or her copy, you’ll save a lot of time (and embarrassment on the interviewer’s part) if you can just pull your extra copy out and hand it over.

15. Don’t worry about sounding “canned”.
Some people are concerned that if they rehearse their answers, they’ll sound “canned” (or overly polished or glib) during the interview. Don’t worry. If you’re well prepared, you’ll sound smooth and articulate, not canned. And if you’re not so well prepared, the anxiety of the situation will eliminate any “canned” quality.

16. Make the most of the “Tell me about yourself” question.
Many interviewers begin interviews with this question. So how should you respond? You can go into a story about where you were born, what your parents do, how many brothers and sisters and dogs and cats you have, and that’s okay. But would you rather have the interviewer writing down what kind of dog you have – or why the company should hire you?

Consider responding to this question with something like: “Well, obviously I could tell you about lots of things, and if I’m missing what you want, please let me know. But the three things I think are most important for you to know about me are [your selling points]. I can expand on those a little if you’d like.” Interviewers will always say, “Sure, go ahead.” Then you say, “Well, regarding the first point, [give your example]. And when I was working for [company], I [example of another selling point].” Etc. This strategy enables you to focus the first 10-15 minutes of the interview on all of your key selling points. The “Tell me about yourself” question is a golden opportunity. Don’t miss it!

17. Speak the right body language.
Dress appropriately, make eye contact, give a firm handshake, have good posture, speak clearly, and don’t wear perfume or cologne! Sometimes interview locations are small rooms that may lack good air circulation. You want the interviewer paying attention to your job qualifications — not passing out because you’ve come in wearing Chanel No. 5 and the candidate before you was doused with Brut, and the two have mixed to form a poisonous gas that results in you not getting an offer!

18. Be ready for “behavior-based” interviews”.
One of the most common interview styles today is to ask people to describe experiences they have had that demonstrate behaviors that the company thinks are important for a particular position. You might be asked to talk about a time when you made an unpopular decision, displayed a high level of persistence, or made a decision under time pressure and with limited information, for example.

Step 1 is to anticipate the behaviors this hiring manager is likely to be looking for. Step 2 is to identify at least one example of when you demonstrated each behavior. Step 3 is to prepare a story for each example. Many people recommend using SAR (Situation-Action-Result) as a model for the story. Step 4 is to practice telling the story. Also, make sure to review your resume before the interview with this kind of format in mind; this can help you to remember examples of behaviors you may not have anticipated in advance.

19. Send thank-you notes.
Write a thank-you note after every interview. Type each note on paper or send them by email, depending on the interviewers’ preferences. Customize your notes by referring specifically to what you and the interviewer discussed; for example, “I was particularly excited about [or interested by, or glad to hear] what you said about …” Handwritten notes might be better if you’re thanking a personal contact for helping you in your job search, or if the company you’re interviewing with is based in Europe. Whatever method you choose, notes should be sent within 48 hours of the interview.

To write a good thank-you note, you’ll need to take time after each interview to jot down a few things about what the interviewer said. Also, write down what you could have done better in the interview, and make adjustments before you head off for your next interview.

20. Don’t give up!
If you’ve had a bad interview for a job that you truly think would be a great fit for you (not just something you want badly), don’t give up! Write a note, send an email, or call the interviewer to let him or her know that you think you did a poor job of communicating why you think this job would be a good match. Reiterate what you have to offer the company, and say that you’d like an opportunity to contribute. Whether this strategy will get you a job offer depends on the company and on you. But one thing’s for sure: If you don’t try, your chances are exactly zero. We’ve seen this approach work on numerous occasions, and we encourage you to give it that last shot.

If you follow the above 20 strategies, you’ll be as prepared as any candidate an interviewer has ever seen. Check out our Open Jobs to start your new career today. Good luck!

Tips for a Successful Interview

Tips for a Successful Interview

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The impression you make on the interviewer often can outweigh your actual credentials. Your poise, attitude, basic social skills, and ability to communicate are evaluated along with your experience and education.

You and the interviewer must engage in a conversation – a mutual exchange of information and ideas. Only through such a dialogue can you both determine if you, the organization, and the job are well matched. Preparation is the key.

Be on time.
This often means 10-15 minutes early. Interviewers often are ready before the appointment.

Know the interviewer’s name, its spelling, and pronunciation.
Use it during the interview. If you don’t know the name, call beforehand and ask the secretary. Also, note the secretary’s name in case you have to call back. Secretaries can influence the hiring decision!

Have some questions of your own prepared in advance.
There is nothing wrong with having a short list of questions and thoughts- it shows you have done your research and want to know more about the organization and the position.

Bring several copies of your resume.
Also, bring a copy of your transcript. Carry your papers in an organized manner.

Have a reliable pen and a small note pad with you.
But do not take notes during the interview. However, immediately afterward, write down as much as you can remember, including your impression of how well you did.

Greet the interviewer with a handshake and a smile.
Remember to maintain eye contact (which does not mean a stare down).

Expect to spend some time developing rapport.
Don’t jump right in and get down to business. Follow the interviewer’s lead.

Don’t be embarrassed if you are nervous.
As you gain experience you’ll become more at ease with the interviewing process.

Focus.
On your attributes, your transferable skills, and your willingness to learn; don’t apologize for a lack of experience; describe your strengths in terms of what you can do for the organization.

Tell the truth.
Lies and exaggeration will come back to haunt you.

Listen carefully to the interviewer.
Be sure you understand the question; if not, ask for clarification, or restate it in your own words. Answer completely and concisely. Stick to the subject at hand.

Never slight a teacher, friend, employer, or your university.
Loyalty ranks high on the employer’s list.

Watch your grammar.
Employers are interested in candidates who can express themselves properly. Even if you have to go slowly and correct yourself, accuracy is preferred over ungrammatical fluency.

Be prepared for personal questions.
Some interviewers may not know what they can and cannot ask legally. Anticipate how you will handle such questions without losing your composure.

Wait for the interviewer to mention salary and benefits.
To research pay scales, refer to salary surveys and information on the Career Services website on in the career library.

Don’t expect a job offer at the first interview.
Often you will be invited to a second or even third interview before an offer is made several weeks later.

Close on a positive, enthusiastic note.
Ask what the next step will be. Thank the interviewer for his/her time and express your interest in the job. Leave quickly and courteously with a handshake and a smile.

No interview is complete until you follow up with a thank-you note.
Express your appreciation for the interview and, if true, reaffirm your interest. This last step can make a difference. Don’t forget it.

Establishing Connection…

AskNigel

Structure of questions. Interview. Preparing for an interview

Why is preparation important? How to build the logic of the conversation and evaluate the candidate? What to look for when asking questions!

This article is for executives who are not Recruiters or HR professionals. If you would like an in-depth training in interviewing and assessing a candidate, then write to us and we will be happy to help you! Let’s go…

Before calling a person for an interview, you should at least make a phone call with him in order to assess the initial skills, adequacy, interest and sell your company and vacancy. Goal: evaluate and ignite!

A bit of terminology…
Telephone interview is communication with the candidate by phone (usually up to 15 minutes)
Personal interview is an interview with the candidate in person or via Skype with a more in-depth dialogue about his competencies, about the vacancy itself and companies (duration from 50 minutes)
Motivation – something that encourages a person to perform a particular activity.

Types of motivation:

• Money
• Interesting tasks
• Personal development
• Career growth
• Achievements
• Stability
• Social status

Complexes are a set of qualities and abilities for successful executions.

Personal competencies are those competencies whose development largely depends on innate potential and are formed regardless of the type of activity. That is, whatever a person does, he can apply and develop these competencies.

Corporate competencies are most often an indirect reflection of the values ​​and corporate culture adopted in the company. Their evaluation gives an answer to the question “Is this person suitable for the Company, will he be able to work in our team?”.

Professional competencies – reflect the requirements for the position, and therefore the assessment on them gives an answer to the question “Will a person be able to cope with the basic functionality?”.

I always teach Recruiters to stick to the 5 steps of sales, shifting it to the structure of a phone call:

1. Establishment of contact
2. Identification of the need (motivation)
3. Presentation (based on motivation)
4. Contractions (perhaps these are clarifying issues)
5. conclusion of the transaction (invitation to interviews)

9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 you understand that the candidate is not suitable, carefully refuse, saying the following: I will send your resume to a colleague who is involved in the recruitment, and if the answer is yes, then we will call you before 18. 00 today, and if we don’t receive a call, then we will not be able to offer this position” Thus, you have outlined the rules for further actions!0003

We offer a checklist for preparing for a telephone interview

1. Write a welcome part about yourself (name and position / what company do you represent / is the person looking for a job and is it convenient for him to speak)
2. Know everything about the company (number of years on the market, number of employees, office (location), ratings and benefits)
3. Know everything about your vacancy (the most delicious tasks, requirements, conditions: salary (amount, white / gray), work schedule , department, team, projects, etc.)
4. Study resume (work experience, column about yourself)
5. Prepare questions to identify motivation
6. Prepare questions to identify competencies
7. Prepare texts to motivate the candidate to think over1
   900 on them
8. Make a letter template with an invitation to the mail

The full form with a check and an invitation to an interview can be downloaded from us in the section of free materials Lifehacks.

IMPORTANT! Make notes and maintain a database of candidates (at least in exel), enter contacts, resumes and all the necessary information!

Structure of the interview
If you understand that the candidate is interesting, then prepare for the meeting in more detail, based on the information you heard over the phone.
Develop extended questions to identify motivation and competencies (Svetlana Ivanova’s book “Assessing a Candidate in an Hour” and a huge number of cases on the Internet will help), we can also teach you how to conduct individual interviews and evaluate candidates at a professional level, write to us and we will happy to help 🙂
Read the resume in more detail, mark the main points that you would like to focus on (education, experience, skills, etc.).

PERSONAL INTERVIEW SKELETON
1. Establishing contact (up to 5 minutes)

• Make yourself feel good
• Communication on abstract topics (how did you get there, how did the weekend go, are you planning to spend it, how did the holidays go, etc. ) )
• “Tea, coffee, water?”

• Check time limits

“Do you have time limits now? Will there be an hour (2-3) for the meeting?”

2. Main part (35-45 minutes)

• Introduce yourself (name, position, company) when already in the meeting room

“My name is NAME, I’m POSITION in the company NAME.” if there is another interviewer nearby, we also introduce him. “This is the NAME, he is the head of the department NAME”

• Indicate the purpose of the interview (for which vacancy you met)

“I remind you that I met with you at the vacancy TITLE.”

• Set the rules of the meeting

“Communication I propose to proceed as follows. First, tell about yourself, about your professional experience, what you think is necessary. No more than seven minutes. Then I (we) will tell (tell) you about companies, vacancies, and I will answer (answer) your questions.

• Questions on professional and personal competencies and motivation
• Exit from the main part. End with clarifications about the candidate’s personality (hobbies, how you prefer to relax, etc.)

“What do you do outside of work? How do you spend your free time? Do you have hobbies? Do you have many friends? Where were you last? Where did you vacation? ”

3. Completion of the interview

• Presentation of the company and vacancy (based on the candidate’s motivation!)
• Ask the candidate for possible questions.

“Perhaps you have any questions? What would be interesting to know? considering the candidacy, we take two working days. For the time you think, we think. Today we have Monday, therefore, the answer, positive or negative, I will give you before Wednesday. Do you prefer calling or mailing? Yes or no, it doesn’t matter, I will definitely let you know”

• Guide the candidate to the exit

Here is an interview skeleton you can use in your work! Remember that communication should always be lively, the interview is both an analytical and creative process, don’t be a robot and don’t be too windy, don’t lose the thread of the conversation! Each person has his own characteristics, try to make communication comfortable.

How to prepare for an interview: a job seeker’s cheat sheet – Work.ua

The job seeker must understand that the further development of events depends on how he shows himself to the employer at the first meeting. A coveted position can easily slip out of your hands due to the slightest slips.

The first impression you make on a person is the most important. Remember to look the other person straight in the eye, smile, shake hands firmly, and speak confidently. Try to remember the person’s name and if you have the opportunity to use it during the first five minutes of the conversation, do it! This will help you remember it better, and your interlocutor will be flattered.

1. Analysis of your future position

Write down all the duties and information you know about the position and thoroughly study them (this information can be obtained from the job description). Ask yourself:

• Do I really understand what is required of the person in this position?
• What is the purpose of this position?
• How can these goals be achieved?

If there are aspects of the job that you do not understand, make up questions that you can ask later in the interview.

It is very important to try to analyze this position in order to determine what your personal and professional qualities, your experience confirms that your qualifications correspond to it.

2. Assess Yourself

Consider the answers to the following questions:

• What are your strategic career goals?
• Are they consistent with the objectives of your future position?
• Why are you interested in this position and this company?
• Can you prove that you are qualified for this position?
• What personal and professional qualities make you suitable for this position?
• Do you really need this job?
• Why should the company hire you?

3.

Research information about the company

You need to collect as much information as possible about the company and its business. This will help you:

• decide if you want to work in such a company.
• be prepared for specific questions you may be asked.
• to impress with knowledge of the company (and this indicates that you are really interested in this position).

4. Prepare answers to possible questions and rehearse answers with your friends

Use specific examples, numbers, not general phrases!

What your employer expects from you

It’s good to know what a company representative expects to hear when interviewing a job candidate. Your answers will help him decide on your hiring.

Categories of interview questions HR asks:

• Will this person become an effective representative of our company?
• Will he look professional and serious?
• Will he be able to easily contact people, win over clients, make them want to work with us?
• Can this person do the job? Does he have relevant experience and knowledge?
• Will I enjoy working with this person?
• Will he get along with the rest of the staff?
• How much does he want to get this job?
• Is he as hardworking as he wants to show now?
• Will it last long enough for us to be of real use?
• Is this person capable of taking responsibility for our organization?
• Can he be an example for other employees?
• Is this person able to cope with a stressful situation?
• How would he behave in difficult circumstances?

On the day of the interview

Wishes for clothes for the interview. Wear quality business attire that you feel comfortable in! A strict business suit will not help you if you feel uncomfortable in it. Not in vain! A proverb lives in the people from time immemorial! Meet by clothes, see off by mind! The first impression you make on an employer is very important.

• Schedule your time to arrive at the company 10-15 minutes before the interview. You will have time to clean up, look around and relax.
  A smile and a confident handshake will be a great start to your acquaintance with a company representative.
• Bring a pen and notepad with you to take notes during the interview and write down the answers to your questions.
• Ask the interviewer questions (prepared at home) to clarify any unclear aspects of the position.
• Remember that matters such as salary and other benefits are usually discussed after an official job offer.
• Show that you want this job. If you get a job offer, welcome it with enthusiasm.
• Do not try to find out from the interviewer what he thinks of you. This will put him in an awkward position. You can say you want this job and ask what needs to be done to get it.
• Do not pressure the company representative to make a decision as soon as possible. You should ask the company representative when you can find out about his decision. But don’t try to use “I have other job offers” that irritates the interviewer and suggests that you are not very interested in getting the job.
• When discussing previous jobs, do not criticize your former boss and colleagues.
• Do not discuss your personal and financial problems unless you are specifically asked to.
• Avoid the word “WE”. When you describe what you did at work, say “I”.
• Don’t be afraid to sell yourself. You don’t have to be aggressive, but you need to convince the company representative that you are the right person for the job.

When the interview comes to an end, it is very important to leave a positive impression of yourself. Thank the interlocutor for his time, say that it was very interesting and pleasant for you to meet him and you hope to meet again, thereby expressing your interest in the work. Shake your partner’s hand firmly and smile as you say goodbye.

Interview. First Impression

The first impression you make on someone is the most important. Remember to look the other person straight in the eye, smile, shake hands firmly, and speak confidently. Try to remember the person’s name and if you have the opportunity to use it during the first five minutes of the conversation, do it! This will help you remember it better, and your interlocutor will be flattered.

If you are going to an interview or an important meeting, then prepare for them in advance and responsibly. And no matter how nervous you are, try to look confident, like a person who knows what he wants to achieve in life.

Clothes “For success”

Employers’ opinion polls showed that at the first meeting with a future employee, 70% of them pay attention to clothes, and about 80% emphasized the importance of the style and condition of shoes.

Dress in a classic style and always have clean, polished shoes. If you are in doubt about the choice of clothes, then it is always better to prefer a suit, a plain light-colored shirt and a tie – for men. A suit and a plain blouse are for women.

85% of job seekers are sure that employers choose people who look good in interviews, but this does not mean beautiful people, but people who can take care of themselves and their appearance.

Sign language

Your behavior says a lot about you before you open your mouth. You need to make sure that your gestures confirm that you are interested, take the job offer seriously and are ready to start it at any moment. Don’t fiddle with your hair, clothes, etc., cross your arms (this creates a subconscious barrier), and sit lounging in a chair instead of sitting up straight. Don’t bring your hand to your mouth or mutter under your breath.
Try to maintain eye contact with your interlocutor.

Clean, shiny and well combed hair always creates the right impression.