Interviewing is one of the most important things you can do as a job candidate. It’s also one of the most nerve-wracking experiences, especially if you’re just starting out in your career or haven’t been working for very long. But there are ways for you to prepare yourself for an interview and make sure it goes well. The most important thing is practicing these questions so that they come naturally when the time comes!
Tell me about yourself.
This is a good thing to ask because it gives you an opportunity to show what you’ve done in the past and how your skills translate into this job. If you’re applying for an entry-level position, it’s essential not only that your resume reflects what you can do but also how well-suited those skills are for this role. For example: If someone were interviewing me for a sales position (and I hadn’t worked in sales before), I would emphasize my ability to build rapport with customers by asking open-ended questions like “What kind of music do/did you listen to?” or “What kind of sports do/did they play at school?”
What interests you about this job?
This is a great question because it allows you to show that you’ve done your research and have thought about what makes this company special. If they ask, “What do you like about [company]?” then tell them!
You should be able to say something like, “I like how open-minded your CEO is,” or “I love the way you encourage diversity in your workplace.” You could also mention that there are many opportunities for growth within the organization, so if everything goes well after interviewing with them, it’s likely possible for your career path to continue at least until retirement age.
Why should we hire you?
When you’re asked why they should hire you, it’s important to talk about how your skills and experience can help the company. You should also explain how well you can fit in with their team.
Tell them what makes you unique: “I’m a passionate programmer who loves working on new projects.”
Explain what makes your work special: “I have extensive experience in developing web applications for small businesses.”
What are your strengths?
There’s a simple answer: you have to be honest. You can’t say that you’re a hard worker if all you know about being a hard worker is that it means doing the same thing over and over again until it gets done. If someone asks what your strengths are, don’t just say something generic like “I’m good at working hard.” Instead, think about how your skills will help them in their own work environment, and then tell them!
What are your weaknesses?
Be honest but don’t mention a weakness that would be a deal breaker. Don’t say you’re a perfectionist, too nice, or don’t work hard enough. Also, avoid mentioning your weaknesses in front of the interviewer because they will think you are exaggerating and make jokes about them later on during the interview.
Why did you leave your job?
Why did you leave (or why are you leaving) your previous job? This can be a tricky question, but it’s essential to answer this honestly. If the interviewer is unhappy with the answer and feels that it could lead to potential problems in the future, they may decide not to hire you after all.
A good response might be something like this: “My last company was supportive of my career goals and allowed me to grow professionally.” Or “In my last position at [company], we had a lot of opportunities for advancement within the company.”
In general, you should be as honest and direct as possible about why you left your last job without giving away information that could hurt you or your former employer. Doing so shows a level of respect and professional courtesy that a potential employer should appreciate. Beyond that, the exact details of what you should say will depend on your situation.
Practicing these questions will help you be more confident during the interview. You are well aware that practice makes perfect. Moreover, practicing with real-life situations can help your answers to these questions come out quickly and accurately. So it is best that you really give time to practice answering these questions so that you can develop confidence in delivering your answers. I hope that the questions above have been helpful to you, and I wish you all the best in your job search.
