If you want to boost your confidence and improve your interview performance, then follow the important to practice answering common Job Interview Questions and Answers using sample responses. By familiarizing ourselves with potential common job interview questions, understanding what employers expect from our answers, and demonstrating why we’re the best candidate for the job, we can feel more comfortable and prepared for the interview. We suggest dedicating some time to practicing these skills before the actual interview.
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
When asked to talk about our background, it’s best to start by discussing how we entered the field or our current line of work. From there, we can highlight our major accomplishments and significant career moves.
Finally, we can wrap up by sharing our future career goals and reasons for pursuing new job opportunities. By walking the interviewer through our professional journey in this manner, we can provide a comprehensive overview of our experience and demonstrate our qualifications for the position.
Good answer sample:
I started my career in Marketing after graduating with a Business degree in 2011. I’ve spent my entire career at Google, receiving 3 promotions and 4 awards for outstanding performance. I’m looking to join a smaller company now, and take on more leadership and project management.
2. How did you hear about the position?
Although it may seem like a straightforward question, answering how we heard about the position is still an important part of the interview process. Failing to provide a clear and concise response can create a negative impression and potentially harm our chances of being selected for the job. Therefore, it’s essential to prepare a thoughtful answer that reflects our genuine interest and knowledge of the company and position.
Good answer sample:
“I saw the job posted on a website, and the position seemed interesting so I wanted to learn more”
“I found the position while looking for jobs online”
“Your company was recommended to me by somebody I worked with in a previous job and had heard good things about your organization”
“I heard about it from a friend”
3. What do you know about our company?
One of the key objectives of answering the question about how we learned of the position is to demonstrate our familiarity with the company and its operations. By highlighting our research and knowledge about the organization, we can indicate our genuine interest in the position and show that we’re a thoughtful and informed candidate.
On the other hand, failing to convey any understanding of the company can make us appear desperate and unprepared, potentially turning off good employers who are seeking competent and enthusiastic candidates. Therefore, it’s important to research the company and position thoroughly before the interview to ensure that we can provide an intelligent and well-informed answer to this question.
Good answer sample:
“From what I read, your company is one of the leaders in providing security software to other businesses. I read the list of clients on your website. Do you mostly serve Fortune 500 clients? I saw a couple big Fortune 500 companies mentioned on the list, including … and … .”
“You’re one of the largest investment banks in the US. Your headquarters is in Raleigh, NC, and you have 25,000 employees worldwide based on what I read on your website.”
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4. Why did you apply for this position?
During a job interview, it’s important to convey that we’re seeking the right job and that we’re selective in our job search. Employers are looking for the best performers, and demonstrating a discerning approach to our job hunt can make us more appealing to potential employers. Therefore, we should avoid any negativity or complaints, such as bad-mouthing our current company or boss.
Instead, we should focus on the positive aspects of the company we’re interviewing with and highlight how our skills and experience align with their needs. By doing so, we can demonstrate our enthusiasm for the position and showcase our potential as strong candidates.
Good answer sample:
“I’ve heard great things about the work environment here from a few colleagues. And when I saw this job posting, it seemed to match my skills very closely. For example, I saw in the job description that you need somebody who’s an expert in MySQL programming.
This is what I focused on in both of my previous positions, and was even the focus of my academic work before graduating from university. I consider myself an expert in MySQL and it’s a skill I hope to continue specializing in.”
“Since beginning my career, I’ve wanted to work for a larger organization in this industry, and I know you’re one of the leaders in this space.
I’m very interested in your services, especially the mobile applications you’re building recently, so I’d be excited to come here and grow my skills with an organization like yours.”
5. Why should we hire you?
During a job interview, we should talk about how we can help the company and what we can do to improve its operations. We should show that we’ve done our research and understand the position we’re applying for.
We can do this by highlighting specific areas where we can make a positive impact and giving examples of how our skills and experience can benefit the company. It’s important to focus on the company’s needs and explain how we can meet those needs. By doing so, we can show that we’re the right candidate for the job.
Good answer sample:
“I read on the job description that you’re looking for someone with experience in software programming. I’ve done that for 3 years and can immediately help you accomplish software programming”.
6. Why are you looking to leave your current company?
If we chose to leave on our own terms, stay positive and focus on what we wanted to gain from the decision, rather than bad-mouthing or focusing on negatives we wanted to avoid.
Good answer sample:
“I was hired for a project management role, but over time that changed and I was no longer being given the opportunity to do the work I was interested in. I left to pursue an opportunity that I felt was more aligned with what I’ve chosen to focus on in my career.”
7. What are your greatest professional strengths?
Answering the question “What are your greatest professional strengths?” well can help us stand out from other candidates. We should choose one to three attributes to mention, depending on the question’s requirements, and not overdo it. We should think strategically about which skills will demonstrate our suitability for the job and the company culture.
For instance, if the position involves interacting with clients, highlighting communication and relationship-building skills would make sense. Alternatively, if the work environment is fast-paced and always changing, emphasizing our ability to multitask, adapt, and learn quickly would be a strong asset to highlight.
Good answer sample:
“I think some of my greatest strengths are my communication skills and willingness to take initiative.
During my last internship, when I was helping to manage several social media accounts, I made sure that everyone on the team was on the same page and knew what our messaging strategy was by taking the initiative to send out a weekly email to keep the team up to date and to seek feedback.
This ended up being so helpful that the weekly social media update was incorporated into a full-time staff member’s responsibility.”
8. Tell me about a challenge or conflict you’ve faced at work, and how you dealt with it.
When answering this interview question, it’s important to focus on a specific work-related challenge that you faced and how you overcame it. Talk about the obstacles you encountered, how you used them as a learning experience and the resources you utilized, including people/colleagues if applicable. It’s important to highlight how you ended up with a positive result.
For example, you could say something like, “In my previous job, we faced a difficult problem with a major client who was unhappy with our service. I took the initiative to sit down with the client and listen to their concerns. I then worked with my team to come up with a solution that addressed their issues and exceeded their expectations. Through open communication and collaboration, we were able to turn the situation around and retain the client’s business. This experience taught me the importance of active listening, effective communication, and problem-solving skills in the workplace.”
Good answer sample:
“In my last job, we were facing a tough deadline and my boss was out for the day. Our client was expecting a project to be delivered by 5PM, but we were far behind schedule.
I took the lead on the project and delegated tasks to the four other team members in a way that I thought would utilize everyone’s strengths best.
And then I reorganized my own personal tasks so I could dedicate my entire day to contributing to this project as well.
The project was a success and we delivered the work on time. I went on to lead more projects after that, and used what I learned to be a better project manager.”
9. How much money are you looking to earn?
It’s true that this question is often left off lists of common interview questions and answers, but it’s important to be prepared for it nonetheless. When asked about our salary expectations, it’s best to avoid giving a specific number and instead, try to shift the conversation toward the value we can bring to the company.
If pressed, we can provide a range based on industry standards and our own research, but it’s important to not undersell ourselves or ask for a number that is outside of the company’s budget. Ultimately, it’s important to remain flexible and open to negotiation.
Good answer sample:
“Right now I’m focused on finding a job that’s the right fit for my career. Once I’ve done that, I’m willing to consider an offer you feel is fair, but I do not have a specific number in mind yet, and my priority is to find a position that’s a great fit for me.”
10. Why do you want to work here?
This question is similar to “Why did you apply for this job?” It’s important to demonstrate that we understand the responsibilities of the position (based on the job listing and company information), and that we’re enthusiastic about the opportunity to interview for it.
Good answer sample:
“I’ve been actively searching for jobs since graduating with my Nursing degree. I’m interested in intensive care and emergency medicine and I’ve seen your hospital mentioned as having one of the best ER’s in the region.
I thought the job description matched up well with my background, and saw some of my personal strengths mentioned, like multitasking and being able to thrive in a fast paced environment, so I’d love to begin my career here.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, preparing for job interviews is essential for anyone who wants to land their dream job. By familiarizing ourselves with basic Job Interview Questions and Answers, understanding what employers expect from our answers, and demonstrating our qualifications for the position, we can feel more comfortable and prepared for the interview.
We’ve covered some of the most commonly asked job interview questions and provided sample answers that can help us to create a positive impression and increase our chances of being selected for the job. Remember to take the time to research the company and position thoroughly before the interview, and to focus on the positive aspects of the job and company when answering questions. With practice and preparation, we can boost our confidence and improve our interview performance.
want to learn in an advance interview questions series then read this blog Top 17 Common Job Interview Questions and Answers Samples
