Common Interview Questions – How To Answer Them

So you have landed yourself an interview, but that is not the end of the job hunting process.  Now you need to prepare yourself for your interview and practice your answers to some of the common interview questions.

You will find that most of the interviewers will nearly always ask the same questions, which does make it slightly easier to prepare.

If you go to the interview fully prepared then you will give  the impression of being confident (even if you are shaking with nerves underneath).  These are some of the most common interview questions:

Tell me about yourself – Obviously your interviewer is not going to expect you to give every single detail about yourself, they are going to be looking for a clear and concise summary of your professional life.  The summary should last only for a minute or two, and needs to be professional, so try not to wander off course.

Explain what you do in your normal working day – It is in answer to this question that you are going to want to really highlight all of the skills that you use presently, and pay particular attention to those skills that are transferrable to the new position.  You should try and make your working day sound interesting and full of challendges that you are able to rise to and solve.

Why do you want to leave your present position? – This is the tricky one.  If you are looking for a new career, then you could go through some of your reasons to want to change industries.  Other answers that will normally satisfy an interviewer are that you are trying to find something a little closer to where you life, and/or you are searching for a company that you can grow with.  Never say that you are leaving to get more money.

Please describe what you consider your best and worst attribute -  Well the first part of this question is fairly easy to answer in an interview, but the second part can cause a real problem.  You need to say something about yourself that is bad, but it can’t be so bad that the person interviewing you sees you in a bad light.  One of best solutions is to say something along the lines that you are a perfectionist so will tend to keep on working on a particular project until every single detail is correct.

What makes you want to work with us? – This is your chance to put the research you have done into the company to good use.  You can explain that you feel they are at the cutting edge of your profession and that you would love to grow alongside an industry leader.  Also point out how some of the duties and responsibilities listed in their ad are things you want to work with.

Remember that preparation is the key here.  If you attend an interview and provide good answers to the questions, you are a large step closer to getting the job you want.  There is a great book available that goes through almost every question that an interviewer could ask you, and guides you to answer them all in the best way to land the job.  Visit the website here, and see how much you can help yourself  prepare for interviews, and give yourself the best possible chance to secure the position you want.