Here’s a list of the nine most common job interview questions and how to answer them.
1. Tell Us About Yourself
This is probably the first question the interviewer is going to ask you. Make sure your answer is relevant to the position you’re applying for. Don’t bring up things like your parents, religion, marital status, or such. Instead, talk about your experience, skills, education, achievements, goals, hobbies, etc.
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2. Why Do You Want to Work for Us?
With this question, the interviewer wants to see if you took the time to learn a few things about the company, or are you here just to get a job. The latter is an innocent reason, but saying it out loud isn’t going to help. They want to know why you thought this company is a good fit for you.
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3. Why Should We Hire You?
This question is a test to see how well you can sell yourself. What is it about you that makes you a better fit for this position than other applicants? What’s your selling point? You can answer this question by highlighting your achievements, personality traits, qualities, or vision.
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4. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?
This question is meant to check whether you have a growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit; it has nothing to do with your actual career plan. The interviewer is trying to access if your performance as an employee will stagnate over time, or will you be able to take on additional responsibility later on.
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5. How Do You Handle Conflict at Work?
Before you answer this question, ask your interviewer what kind of conflict are they talking about. Is it a conflict of interest? Task-based conflict? Leadership conflict? Creative conflict? Discrimination? Ask them to clarify their question. Different conflicts need different responses. Let’s assume it’s a creative conflict.
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6. Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job?
This question is a bit tricky because what’s appropriate might not always be honest. Don’t say things like your boss made you work overtime for free, your coworker didn’t listen to you, or your manager took all the credit for your work. It might be true, but this is not the place to complain and blame.
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7. What Is Your Current Salary?
This question is where the salary negotiation begins. Just revealing your current salary out loud is rarely the right way to answer this question. Instead, it might be better to delay this question for later when you have more info about the company and what’s expected of you.
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8. What Are Your Salary Expectations?
Before answering this question, make sure you know your market value and have a clear range in mind. You can try to delay this question just like the last one, but if they insist, have a number ready. Either way, do ask about their salary structure and the benefits they offer.
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9. Do You Have Any Questions for Me?
This is usually the last question the interviewer will ask you. Never answer this question with a no. It might feel like you’ve covered everything, but there are still plenty of things to ask about. Plus, you responding with a no to this answer can come across as if you’re not that interested in this position.
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Be Clear on What You Offer
It’s expected to be a little nervous at an interview, but don’t let it distract you. Remember, in an interview, it’s not about you but about what the company you’re applying for wants in you.
Know your worth and be clear on what you can offer. Use the above examples to practice your communication and negotiation skills.
