You’ve written your cover letter, and submitted your resume. They’ve been reviewed, and you landed an interview! Nice job! Now what?
Preparation of course!
One of the best ways to prepare for an interview is to anticipate what questions your interviewer will ask, and practice your responses. Many questions from your interviewer will be job dependent. There are several ways to prepare your responses.
But you should also prepare for the most common interview questions, and answers that come with them. Remember, your competition for the job you want are getting asked the same questions, and if you don’t want to sound like a fourth grader who was just asked to recite Hamlet, then take the advice below to be prepared to give perfect interview answers.
“Tell Me About Yourself“
The most common interview question is actually not a question at all, and more like an order. But it does give you a fantastic chance to tell the interviewer why you’re a great fit. This is an opportunity to set yourself apart.
How to Answer This
Okay, so there actually is a lot of personal information you’ll want to share to answer this tough interview question, but it’s just a matter of framing your response correctly. This is an appropriate time to tell your interviewer that you go on yoga retreats once a year, or that you have a six handicap in golf, but you also have to frame your responses.
Think about the things you love, and how you can shape your answer within the context of the job you’re interviewing for. For example, if you love yoga, perhaps you can say something about how important work life balance is for you, and how your passion for yoga has contributed to a more productive you. And for that impressive six handicap, perhaps you’re a salesman and your skill on the lynx could help when wooing clients.
“What is Your Biggest Weakness?“
Well, that’s an easy one — chocolate, of course! Your interviewer is obviously expecting a longer answer that pertains to your growth, your ability to self-reflect and humility. Feel free to throw them off with an honest admission about something funny. Beyond that, there’s a few things to keep in mind.
How to Answer
Humblebrags are the norm when answering this question and your interviewer will see right through it. Answers like, “I’m too hard of a worker,” or that “I’m too much of a perfectionist,” ring hollow. However, this question is best answered by turning your weakness into a positive, or by bringing up something that’s not essential to the job itself.
If you’re going to explain how you conquered a weakness, then be honest about what the problem was in the first place. Then, tell how you used the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to better yourself. Using the STAR method is a great way to show how you solved any kind of problem.
Focusing on a weakness that’s not essential to the job itself isn’t a way of deflecting, as you’ll still need to demonstrate how you overcame this weakness. So maybe you couldn’t cook, and this was leading to an unhealthy lifestyle. Use the STAR method to tell the interviewer how you learned, what you learned, and how you’re living a healthier life because of it.
“What is Your Greatest Strength?”
The best interview questions give you a chance to shine if you prepare for them correctly. This question is certainly one. Unlike “your greatest weakness” question, you’re going to want to give an answer that pertains directly to the job for which you are interviewing.
Use Story to Answer
The best answers to tough interview questions come in the form of stories. You may remember this from your middle school teacher, but it’s important to “show” and not “tell” the interviewer what your greatest strengths are. Stories are far more memorable — like telling how you get organized — versus just saying, “organization is my greatest strength.” Yuck!
If there’s a burning desire within you to share something that you know is important, but you haven’t gotten the opportunity to express it, then using it to answer this question is a good idea. Also, take a look at the most coveted qualifications that your interviewer is looking for, and match that with a strength of yours.
“Why Should We Hire You for This Position?“
This sample interview question is very straightforward, and should be treated as such. When confronted by this question, be confident and remember how bad you want this job.
How You Should Answer
In answering this question you’re trying to accomplish a couple of things. First, you need to communicate that not only can you do this job and all it requires, but you will also deliver stellar results. Then, try to mention something about how well you fit with the team and company culture.
You cannot speak to the qualifications of your competition, so you’ll have to talk about what you do know — yourself. Preparation is key. Having an answer prepared for this question is advisable. Maybe you picked up something from the interviewer that they deem ultra-important. Whatever you’ve identified as most important to the interviewer, try to tailor your response around that relevant.
“Tell Me about a Time When You Faced a Conflict with a Colleague or a Customer, and How You Dealt With It“
Preparing for this tough interview question is a must. Conflict resolution is a very important component of many, if not all jobs. If you’re not prepared, your answer is sure to falter. Don’t worry, we have a few suggestions.
This question isn’t only about how you work with your teammates and customers, it’s also another conflict resolution question. Using the STAR method works well in this instance, or staying consistent with the process you use to resolve conflicts. Each demonstrates that you care about these interactions, and recognize the need to come to a positive resolution
What You Should Say
Answering this question is not a time to vent about former or current colleagues that annoy you. Maintain professionalism by stating the problem, then how you went about fixing it. Most interviewers are just looking to see that you actually care about your co-workers or customers, and understand that conflict resolution is a big part of maintaining a positive work environment and culture.
Good Answers Lead to Great Interviews
Fortune favors the prepared, and with the answers to these five most common interview questions now in your back pocket, you should be ready to face your interviewer with confidence. You don’t need multiple answers, but just one good one for each, and remember, tell a story, as it’s far more memorable. You do want to be remembered, right? Of course!
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