A job interview is no walk in the park, especially for those who do not have much experience. Some questions like ‘what is your weakness’ can be tricky and one wrong answer can determine the results of your whole application.
Here are the top 5 common job interview questions and how to properly answer them, according to experts:
1. “Tell me about yourself.”
Prepare your elevator pitch: In about 30 seconds, who you are, what you’re passionate about, what kind of role you’re seeking. “This should be about you and highlights of your career or student life and interests,” says Coach LA. “And it shouldn’t be about how old you are and who your parents are, please!”
Don’t stray. HR practitioner John Bondoc says it’s important to keep your answer to that focused on the role. “Discuss info about you that matches the post you are being considered,” he suggests.
2. “What’s your greatest weakness?”
Be honest. A good answer to this question comes from a place of self-awareness. “Specify an event that happens consistently. For example, too emotional, unable to meet deadlines,” suggests Jonathan. “But also say you have resolved it. You realized the impact and have recognized the problem.”
No humblebrags (“I’m tired of winning all the time”)! It doesn’t work.
3. “How long do you intend to stay?”
Don’t be pressured into giving an exact time period. You aren’t getting any assurances or signed deals immediately in this interview – its very nature is exploratory! So don’t feel like you need to commit a hard answer.
4. “Why did you leave your last job? or “Why are you looking for another job?”
Keep it clean. Don’t be tricked into trash-talking a former employer or colleague. “If you blame your current employer for your dissatisfaction, it’ll send up a red flag, as the hiring manager will assume you wouldn’t be discreet about them, either,” says career expert Lynn Taylor, in this article from Business Insider.
The key is for it to sound real and personal – not canned. A textbook answer might be expected, but it won’t make much of an impact. So practice, but make sure the answer is authentic.
5. “Do you have any questions for me?”
Keep the energy up – the interviewer will sense tension and nerves (a wet handshake, a too-soft voice, for example) and that might set the tone.
The conversation should flow between two people, so embrace spontaneous moments – the bits where humor and lightness peek through.
Keep this as a guide, but ultimately, your answers to these questions should come from you. Anything else might sound artificial. Your dream job, or even your first job, deserves better, and so do you.
Here are a few examples from Jonathan Yabut, winner of The Apprentice Asia:
· ”How big is the team / Who do I report to?” This gives you an idea of your boss’s work scope and resources.
· If I succeed in this role, what is the career path I can take (managerial role, assignment to a different country for international exposure, etc)?
· “What is expected of me in my first 90 days?”
· “Why was this role vacated?”
· “What is the company culture?”
