FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY THE INTERVIEWER AND THEIR BEST POSSIBLE ANSWERS
Job interviews are always stressful and normally job seekers tend to develop a phobia for interviews. The best solution to reduce stress and to avoid anxiety is to prepare oneself beforehand by reviewing a few set of questions and preparing for the answers which are most likely to be asked (Fitzwater, 2001; Hansen, Oliphant, Oliphant & Hansen, 2009) .
- Introduce yourself / Tell us something about yourself
This question is usually asked by the interviewer to access the candidate as a person and to see the deliverance style of the candidate. The answer to this question builds the impression in the mind of the interviewer about the candidate.
- Tell us about your weaknesses and strengths
This is a very tricky question. To answer this question appropriately one must at first know what the job wants from him or her. Which are the relevant trait associated to the job description and what are not associated to the job?
Once interviewee has mastered and thoroughly analyzed the company profile he or she would easily be able to ace this question. While mentioning strength mention those which are relevant to the job applied for and which will impress the interviewer. While mentioning the weaknesses interviewee can highlight those weaknesses which are not relevant to the job, or talk about some off the weaknesses which interviewee over came while working on the previous jobs. Sometime interviewee can also mention his or her strength as weakness. All you will have to do is camouflage it in that particular way. These methods can be used to answer this question best.
- Why do you want to leave your previous employer?
Always answer this question as positively as possible. Answer only that switching the jobs will help you accomplish your future goals. No matter how tempting this question seems to interviewee, never criticize previous employer. If interviewee will do so, it will give a very negative effect to the interviewer about the overall personality of the interviewee.
- What do you expect or want from this job?
This answer is more for the interviewer to see that how well you will fit for the job. This answer should be interviewer focused and must answer that you want this job because the company is reputable, that interviewee always wanted to work in this particular sector for a particular set of skills or expertise. Interviewee’s area of interest appropriately matches that of the job.
- Tell about a difficult scenario you dealt with on your previous job.
This question should be answered truly. If interviewee has not dealt with any difficult situation on previous job then either make-up a challenge. This should be done in such a way that it seems achievable in the capacity of interviewee and not to be exaggerated. Tell that how that decision helped resolve a problem and improve a difficult situation. Avoid mentioning any such examples which are sensitive. In a high-pressure interview old emotions can easily off balance an interviewee.
- Highlight your career goals.
The employer is usually checking interviewee in these situations that do the goals of interviewee in life match those which company wants. How beneficial will interviewee prove to be for the organization?
- What salary do you expect?
The interviewers generally ask this question to know that whether the person they are hiring would be satisfied with the amount of pay and incentive which he will be getting or not. Salary is best negotiated when the job is offered. If an employer forces you to quote a price you may give a wide range mentioning that it could be worked out.
QUESTIONS WHICH AN INTERVIEWEE CAN ASK
If the interviewer asks whether there are any questions or not, always try to participate. This shows that one is very serious about the interview and is looking forward to work there.
Two categories of questions can be asked. In the first category the interviewee must ask about the personal agenda related to the job. Like ask questions about the salary, vacation plans, benefits, lunch hour, office timings etc.
In the second category the interviewee must focus on the employer’s agenda. He must address questions like the job responsibilities, the current company status, possible attainable growth and the future which the company see etc.
References
Fitzwater, T. (2001). Preparing for a Behavior-Based Interview. Crisp Publications.
Hansen, K., Oliphant, G. C., Oliphant, B. J., & Hansen, R. S. (2009). Best practices in preparing students for mock interviews. Business Communication Quarterly.
