The following questions will help you deal with some of the most common questions asked in job interview scenarios. Whatever you are asked, make sure your answers are believable and enthusiastic. Don’t turn it into a sales pitch, but showcase your skills, experience and personality in a friendly way, smiling where appropriate. Use positive verbal and body language to show that you are engaged and interested in what your interviewer has to say. (Click here for part one of this article.)
6. What are your strengths?
If you are asked this, don’t simply list a load of positive attributes. Pick three and provide background stories to illustrate them. For example, if you’re good at public speaking, refer back to a time when you gave a speech and it led to a positive outcome. If you’re good at admin, explain how this has made a difference in the organisation you currently work for.
7. What are your weaknesses?
This may seem like a counterproductive question because no one wants an employer to think they are weak. Try to think of a weakness that wouldn’t prevent you from doing the job you are applying for and then explain how you have worked to overcome this. For example, you might say that you used to struggle to handle multiple tasks at the same time but you have found a way to prioritise jobs so that everything is done at the right time.
8. Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
Answering this question can be a bit of a balancing act. You don’t want to sound like you lack ambition by saying you still see yourself in the exact same role, but you also want to avoid sounding like you are presumptuous or power-hungry. The best way to handle this question is to suggest that you will work hard and look to take on additional responsibility as you grow into the role.
9. Why should we give you the job?
As well as demonstrating how you fulfil the job description, you should aim to show what you can personally offer the company in a way that sets you apart from other candidates. If it’s a sales role, you could say that you are confident you can expand the client base as you have done in your current position, managing to secure clients that your colleagues had struggled to reach. Tell them you are excited about taking on this new role and why.
10. Do you have any questions?
Interviews don’t just have to be about them asking you questions. It’s important that you have questions of your own prepared, both for your benefit and to show that you are interested in the organisation. Ask about opportunities for personal development and for further details about the role. Find out who you will be working with and for. You can even ask your interviewer what he or she enjoys about the job or the company culture.
