Interview Questions:
Now that you have a
better understanding of the company you are applying for you can begin to
prepare for the interview. We are going to go through all the types of
interview questions you can be asked and how best to answer these questions.
Ice Breaking
Questions:
When you first enter the interview, the
opening question is always designed to introduce yourself so you feel
comfortable in the surroundings before the questions become more specific.
Generally speaking, “ice breaking questions” are broad, yet they can be so
important with how they impact the rest of your interview. Just like in a
sports game, the opening minutes of the game are not where the game can be won,
but where it can potentially be lost. The same goes for the interview – you are
not going to get the job because of the answer you provide, but you can lose
the job with your answer. Although the ice breaking question will be a general
question about yourself or how your day is going, remember this is the hiring
manager’s first impression of you. Giving off the wrong first impression can
severely affect the outcome of the interview.
Examples:
- Tell
me a little about yourself...
- Were
there any problems finding our office today?
- Have
you visited our location before?
- If
there is a major sporting event like the Olympics going on the hiring manager
may ask something along the lines of “Have you been following the Olympics?”
- Would
you like some coffee or a glass of water?
- Are
you enjoying this weather?
- Why
have you applied for this role? (Trickier ice breaker question).
Tips:
•
Keep the answer related to the question
and be brief and polite. This is not a time to tell the interviewer your life
story
•
Use proper English – If you are asked
how you are doing the correct answer would be “Very well thank you, and how are
you?” or “Fine thank you, how are you today?” – Using slang or lazy English can
create an unprofessional or even careless impression.
Closed –ended questions:
There are times when an interviewer
will need to know a specific piece of information and only require a brief
response. My tip is to always answer the question directly in a brief, but
complete sentence – never just in a one word answer.
Examples:
Q: Have you finished your bachelor
degree?
A: Yes I did – I have a Bachelor of
Commerce degree, majoring in Finance, from the University of XYZ.
Q: How many years of experience do
you have as a truck driver?
A: This is my 6th year as a
qualified truck driver with company XYZ.
Q: Are you proficient in using
Microsoft Excel?
A: I am an advanced Microsoft Excel
user and am also proficient in all Microsoft programs including Word and PowerPoint.
General Question:
Tell
me about yourself
This is the most common question to
begin the interview. It is so important that you are prepared for this question
so you can give a good solid first impression before the interviewer moves onto
the more challenging questions. Be careful to not to give the interviewer your
life story or provide “too much information”. I have had candidates who have
told me how they have a criminal past or how they despised their family, and
this is not something you need to voluntarily bring up in an interview.
Relevant facts about education and your career is all you need to be speaking
about.
Tip:
Remember to tailor your answers toward the job you are applying for. If you’re
applying for a role as a fashion editor for a magazine, tell the interviewer
how from an early age you have always had a love for fashion and writing, and
provide examples about how your passion has bought you to that interview.
Why
did you decide to leave your last job?
Be careful!!! Do NOT (and I can’t
stress this enough) bad mouth your old employer. Present yourself in a positive
way. It is extremely unprofessional to talk badly about your previous company,
boss or peers, no matter what the reason. You also don’t know if this new
hiring manager knows people from your old company. The best way to answer this
question is to tell them that you are looking for career advancement and you
see this new company being the right career choice for you.
Tip:
The best way to answer the
question is to keep it brief and ensure the interview keeps flowing forward.
Turn the negative into a positive by letting the interviewer know how you learnt from the experience and are now ready to move on.
What’s
your greatest strength?
This is one of the easier interview questions, but
to get the most out of your answer the best response needs to be related to the
job you are applying for. IF you’re an accountant and applying for an
accountancy role, the best response you can give for your greatest strength is
your ability with numbers, your computer skills and your attention to detail.
How about if you’re a dancer applying for a role? Your greatest strengths need
to be balance, team work, dedication etc.
What’s
your biggest weakness?
Without doubt one of the hardest questions to
answer. Being too honest can severely affect your interview. Everyone has
something they can work on, so saying you have no weaknesses makes you sound
arrogant. The best way to approach this is to think of a weakness that won’t
impact your getting the job. Remember that this question is a work-related
question, so don’t say that your biggest weakness is not helping enough around
the house or, the worst answer I ever heard, “chocolate cake.”
Tips:
- Do not mention a weakness that will
prevent you from being hired. If you’re going for a job as a telemarketer,
don’t say your greatest weakness is speaking on the telephone!
- No cliched responses. “My greatest
weakness is that I am a perfectionist.”
- Do not avoid the question. The
interviewer has asked you this question and you need to answer it.
- My advice is to provide a real
work-related weakness and follow it up with examples of how you are fixing the
problem.
