The
Best Answers to Common Interview Questions
No matter how much we may love our job, there are always
aspects that we could do without. And among all of my duties as Chief of
Product Management at Lifehack, interviewing is by far my least favorite. It’s
an awkward, draining task that wears me down both mentally and physically. Most
interviews take around an hour to get through, a grueling 60 minutes that
neither I nor the interviewee enjoys. I hear the same answers to the same
questions time and time again. Boring, basic answers that by no way separate
the individual from their competition. But every once in a while I will hear an
answer that catches me off guard, leaving me impressed and inspired.
To help you to knock out your next interview,
I’ve compiled a list of the best possible answers to common interview
questions, and what to avoid.
“What can you tell me about yourself?”
Your interviewer isn’t looking for little fragments of
information. They want to hear a story. This will help to draw them in and keep
them interested. Be sure to include your progression and how it brought you to
where you are today.
Avoid including irrelevant personal things
like your love for cats. Your potential employer is only interested in your
work persona, so only focus on that aspect of yourself. Summarize your
experience and explain to them why you are an expert in this field. Highlight
your achievements, as well as obstacles you have encountered and how you
managed to overcome them.
Here is an example of an intriguing answer to
this question:
“Previously, I had worked for a prestigious
company, managing a team of 15 people. My job was to improve the company, but
the longer I stayed, the more I realized that there was very little potential
for growth. That is why I am here today. To further myself in this field, as
well as advance this company with my skills. “
“What are some of your strengths as well as weaknesses?”
When speaking about your strengths, focus on elements
that are necessary for this potential job. Briefly describe your skills, and
elaborate on how they will be beneficial for this company.
Don’t make the mistake of avoiding speaking
about your weaknesses. Your interviewer will not be impressed, instead they
will think that you lack the ability to self-reflect and improve. But when you
do mention your weaknesses, include what actions you are taking to improve
them. This will highlight your problem solving skills as well as your humility.
For example, let’s say that you are
interviewing for a sales position. When your interviewer asks for your
strengths and weaknesses you could say:
“I am very skilled at thinking on my feet,
and using the art of persuasion to make a sale. Although sometimes I tend to
shut down when dealing with an agitated customer. I am currently reading a book
on how to quickly diffuse conflict to reroute the customer and have them meet
me on common ground.”
“Why are you the right fit for the job?”
Before the interview, consider the position you are interviewing
for and all of the duties that will be expected of you. Reiterate these duties
to the interviewer, and how you possess the skills necessary to fulfill these
requirements.
Be sure to include specific duties that were
listed in the job ad, but doctor them so that it sounds organic. You don’t want
the interviewer to feel that you’re just regurgitating the job description
they’ve already provided for you.
“What do you know about our company?”
Do your research before the interview. Familiarize yourself
with the basic functions of the business, and the goals that they are working
towards. Identify the challenges that the business is facing, specifically in
the department that you are interviewing for. Mention these challenges, and how
you have noticed the advancements they are making to alleviate them.
Search for individuals in a similar position
on LinkedIn for example. Pay close attention to their specific job duties, as
well as the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them. Use their
technique to describe how your skills will help to improve the business.
“Why do you want to work here?”
Similar to question number 3 (please refer above), make
sure you know the details of the position before the interview. Then, include
how your involvement with the company will bring you satisfaction. This makes
your answer more personal, as well as shows your interest in the actual company
and not just a paycheck.
Reassure the interviewer that you will be
very committed and passionate about your position, because it appeals to you on
a personal level.
For example, as a
Production Manager, I love to see projects grow exponentially instead of just
naturally. I like to see big results right away, and will throw myself entirely
into a project to see that happen.
“Why did you leave your last job?”
Do not by any means belittle the previous business that
you’ve worked for. It will make you appear unprofessional. Instead, speak about
how you learned all that you could from said company, and the reasons that you
eventually outgrew it.
What has really impressed me during
interviews is the highlight of an achievement before leaving the company. This
shows that you are a team player, and didn’t leave your previous employer high
and dry.
Example:
“At my last job as a Production Manager, I
realized that I didn’t believe in traditional media anymore, and my ideals did
not line up with the concept of the company. But before leaving, I trained the
editor so that the company could continue running as it had.”
“What is your greatest achievement?”
Use this opportunity to tell another story to keep your
employer captivated. Don’t only speak about your achievements, but the action
that you took to get there. Include how you analyzed the situation, the various
options you came up with to resolve the conflict, and what led you to your
final decision.
Don’t be vague! Don’t answer the question
like this:
“I had the highest record of sales at my
previous company.”
Definitely start off your answer with this
achievement, but then elaborate.
“In order to achieve the highest record of
sales at my previous company, I collected market research on the demographic
that I was aiming to sell to. I considered what appealed to them, and how I
could use those variables to make them want my product.”
“Tell me a story about how you overcame a conflict or
challenge in a work environment.”
Use every opportunity to tell a story instead of just
providing a simple answer. This gives your interviewer the opportunity to focus
on individual aspects of your story and expand on them. You want to engage your
interviewer as much as possible.
Again, stress the steps that you took in
order to resolve the conflict. If your interviewer is engaged, go on to tell
them more stories about overcoming conflicts.
This is your golden opportunity to sell
yourself and showcase who you are. At this point you can delve a little deeper
into how your techniques reflect who you are as a person, but still keep it
professional and work related.
Brian Lee
http://www.lifehack.org/620362/what-employers-are-really-looking-for-in-the-most-common-interview-questions?ref=mail&mtype=newsletter_tier_2&mid=20170802&uid=687414&hash=707e797f7e757e6d794c856d747b7b3a6f7b79&utm_source=newsletter_tier_2&utm_medium=email&action=click
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