How to Answer 15 Most Popular Interview Questions

To get you started, here are 15 most common job interview questions with tips to help you respond and make an excellent impression on hiring managers.

1. How did you learn about this position?

This is a classic opening question. Consider the fact that recruiters like to know which strategies bring them best candidates. If you’ve spotted a posting on the web, say what caught your eye about it and why you thought it could be something for you. If you’re here because of a personal reference, be sure to mention it – knowing someone who already works for the organization is bound to seriously boost your chances at landing the job.

2. What are you looking for in this job?

Be honest and tell recruiters why you thought the posting was interesting. Don’t go for generalities – be specific and speak about your professional goals that this position can help you achieve. They need to know whether this job is in line with your career objective, or it’s just something that you’re not taking that seriously.

3. Why should we hire you?

This is the moment to sell yourself to the recruiter. Make sure to emphasize your qualifications and show how they relate to the responsibilities of the position in question. But being a skilled and qualified worker isn’t enough. Recruiters also want to see a certain passion for the job. Show them why the position matters to you and how it aligns with your professional values.

4. Could you tell me something more about your education?

This is an important moment during any interview. Since you’re a recent grad with little or no professional experience, this part of the interview can help you to show yourself in a positive light. Be sure to mention all skills and qualifications you’ve acquired that are relevant to the position. Talk about the projects you worked on and how they helped you to develop key collaboration and communication skills.

5. What are your salary expectations?

This question might seem tricky, but in fact it’s very straightforward. Before going to the interview, have a look at Glassdoor or similar websites to see what are realistic salaries for entry level jobs in your sector and geographic area. This will help you to offer an answer – average generally works best. It’s not a good idea to be overly confident or modest here – just state your terms and negotiate the salary you think is fair for the job.

6. What are your key strengths?

This is another moment to shine. Again, you should be specific and make sure that every single strength you mention is relevant to the position you’re applying for. Don’t brag or talk too much here. When you mention a skill, be sure to follow it up with a concrete example which shows this feature in action, saying how it helped you to achieve your goals.

7. How do you handle stress?

This is another important point. Many jobs require employees to handle a fair amount of stress and you need to be able to work despite the pressure. Be honest and tell recruiters about your strategies for reliving tension. Do you sweat it out biking or at the gym? Or maybe you’ve developed prioritizing skills that help you to be always on top of your work?

8. What are your weaknesses?

Don’t try to be perfect in recruiter’s eyes. Nobody is perfect, so you’ll only seem to to be misleading recruiters into thinking that you’re an exception. Be honest and talk about one or two things that you’re struggling with. But don’t finish here. Next, you should show recruiters how you plan to or are already improving.

9. What do you know about this company?

If you fail to answer this question, recruiters will simply assume that you’re not that interested in the offered position. Before your interview, make sure to research the company. Check the About page on their website and see what are the organization’s mission, values and priorities. Once this question appears, you’re bound to nail it.

10. What is your greatest professional accomplishment?

Naturally, it’s not like recruiters expect you to have lots of experience on your back. Still, don’t leave this question without a response. Be sure to share the track record of your previous achievements. Always make sure that they’re relevant to the position. Mention school projects that might pick their interest or were somehow noteworthy. Emphasize what each of these experiences taught you.

11. What type of work environment do you prefer?

Another thing to research before going to the interview is the kind of work environments provided by the organization. Once you’re asked this question, you’ll have a ready answer. If their workplace fits you, be sure to mention it. If not, just say that you’re flexible and able to adapt to any circumstances.

12. What are your future goals?

This is an important question and be prepared to answer it truthfully. It’s not that recruiters are interested what are your plans for the next decade. They simply want to check whether the position is in line with your general career objectives. Since you’re there, it probably is. Be honest and state your goals, focusing on how they align with this job.

13. Why do you want this job?

That’s where you show your passion for the job. Express your interest in the organization’s activity by showing how much you already know about the company. Something that matters to recruiters and almost no candidate thinks about is the company culture. Show that you’re a good fit and that you believe in the same professional values and principles.

14. Could you tell me something more about yourself?

This isn’t an easy question. After all, what’s there left to say? Be sure to talk about things which aren’t mentioned in your resume or cover letter. Make it into a short pitch of yourself and say what qualities make you a great candidate for the job.

15. Have you got any questions?

This is where most recent grads just fall silent. They believe that no questions asked is a sign of their intelligence. In fact, it means nothing else than lack of interest. Show recruiters that you’re into the position – ask about specific details, the number of workers in your team or the management style. Steer clear from topics like vacation days.

Once you prepare for your interview by rehearsing these answers, you’ll be on your way to making a great impression on recruiters. Remember that after all, it’s their job to find someone qualified and enthusiastic for the position – make their lives easier by answering these questions as best as you can.

About the author: Carol Williams works as a Human Resources Manager at checkdirector.co.uk platform. She is passionate about employee management strategies and interested in using gamification for recruitment.

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