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Going into an interview for a potential position that you REALLY want can be very stressful.
However the more you prepare for the interview the more comfortable and confident you will feel during the real thing!
#Preparation is key when it comes to interviews so make sure to spend time studying the company you are applying to and answering different questions like the ones we are about to discuss.
Here are 5 of the most frequently asked interview questions and some tips on how to answer them well and what to avoid when answering them!
“Tell me a little bit about yourself.”
When an interviewer asks this question they are looking for something relevant to the position you are applying for. They should already know a good amount about you from your cover letter and resume so in order to respond to this statement you should further explain something on your resume.
You could discuss why you chose the university you went to, why you decided your major, or what you did during a gap in your resume. The most important thing is to connect the dots with something relevant on your resume.
“What are some of your biggest weaknesses?”
You can take 2 approaches to answering this question. Here you can take a theoretical weakness and turn it into a strength such as saying your weakness is that you get too absorbed in your work sometimes and lose track of time. It is a good weakness to have lol.
Or you can choose to tell them about an actual weakness you have but one that you have been working on improving. Give them real examples of the steps you are taking to improve on that weakness. This shows the interviewer your humility and ability to make self assessments.
“What are some of your biggest strengths?"
Although all of your #strengths should already be highlighted on your resume this is an opportunity to really prove yourself by giving precise and clear examples of how you demonstrate the certain strength you have.
If you claim to have excellent emotional intelligence than provide specific examples of how you used your excellent emotional intelligence to help a coworker or solve a problem.
“Why should we hire you over other candidates?”
When you get asked this question it is an opportunity to highlight a personal attribute or experience that is unique. Since you are unable to compare yourself to other candidates who you have never met all you can do is talk about something that is beneficial to the company but you think is unique to yourself.
If you have tons of travel experience you could say that you bring a unique point of view as you have learned things from other cultures that many of the other candidates most likely haven’t.
“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
If you get asked this question in an interview do not explain what job you will be doing or where you want to live. A great way to answer this question is by talking about your passions and some things you will want to have achieved in 5 years.
The interviewer is trying to get a better feel for your long term goals. To avoid any negative responses, do not talk about how you will be in their position in 5 years or the manager of the department because it just seems cocky to someone who really doesn’t know you yet.
In order to help you prepare for more potential interview questions I have listed 10 more frequently asked interview questions so you can look at them and prepare your answers.
Why do you want this job?
What are some of your greatest professional achievements?
What is the toughest decision you have made at work in the last year?
How do other people describe you or your personality?
Tell me about a time that a customer or co worker got angry at you.
How did you learn about this job opening?
Describe your dream job.
Why did you leave your last job?
What have you heard about this company?
Tell me about a time that you solved a big problem at work.
If you are struggling to get interviews please reach out to me today and together we can build the perfect resume for the job position of your dreams! www.brandonthebrain.com/contact
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