Answers to 7 Common Interview Questions
Acing the job interview requires that job candidates take the time to prepare. We have done a series on seven tough interview questions, but knowing how to answer common interview questions are equally important. By participating in mock interviews, answering the toughest and most common interview questions, any job candidate can survive even the most difficult and harrowing job interview. We deconstruct each of the seven questions, and provide a possible answer.
What’s your biggest weakness?
The interviewer is trying to determine how honest and self-aware a job seeker is. The hiring manager is also trying to identify any big red flag. The one response you don’t want to give is “I do not have any major weakness.”
Where do you see yourself in five years?
The interviewer is trying to understand your career goals and possibly your career path. That means they want to see if you have realistic expectations for your career. Do you understand the role and what it entails? They want to know if your goals and expectations for growth are a good fit, and aligns with the organization’s goals.
Tell me about a time when….?
In the majority of interviews, hiring managers ask what are called behavioral interview type questions because they want to find out how you behave and deal with specific types of situations that spring from tell me about a time when….? The ellipses could represent - you made a mistake, resolved a conflict, or satisfied a difficult customer.
What would you do in the first 90 days on the job?
The interviewer is trying to find out how you solve problems, set goals, and whether you are an overly ambitious person, who sets unrealistic goals. You also want to emphasize in your responses that the first 90 days in a position, is also a time that you will get to know your team and your boss.
What questions do you have for me?
It’s unacceptable to say you do not have any questions. During an job interview, it’s a conversation. The employer is checking you out and you should be doing the same thing. Think about the position that you are interviewing for, what information would you like to know that you cannot find elsewhere? Questions about what success looks like in the role, and any about culture are good bets.