Typical Interview Questions

Let's face it: job interviews are stressful. In today’s tight job market more than ever before, interviewees have to make a positive impact on their audience. The best way to reduce this stress and get a leg up over the competition is to be prepared.

By going to the interview armed with answers to your interviewer’s tough questions and by following our tips for overcoming public speaking anxiety, you will be sure to impress during your interview.

Common Interview Questions and Answers

Rehearse common questions and answers before the interview so your nerves don’t get the best of you. If, like most people, you suffer from some degree of stage fright or public speaking anxiety, you likely get nervous during interviews. Consider taking an herbal supplement to help you feel calm and confident during your interview. The following is a list of typical job interview questions and answers:

Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself.

A: This is one of the most popular interview questions and also one of the most difficult to answer. The most appropriate answer here is a brief one (one or two sentences) that describes the talent that you’d like to bring to your next employer. For example, “I’m a sales professional with exceptional strength in lead generation. I increased my previous company’s new business 20 percent last year, and I feel that this ability would really have an impact on your company.”

Be specific in your answer and this will likely spur additional questions from the interviewer. Whatever you do, do not give a canned answer about how you’re a team player, a hard worker and remember the cardinal rule of interviewing: Never, under any circumstances, say that you are a people person.

Q: What is your greatest strength?

A: Make sure your answer pertains to the position. For example, “I am a deadline-driven person who always completes projects ahead of time.”

Q: What is your greatest weakness?

A: Turn your weakness into a strength. For example, “Since I always want to make sure my projects are flawless, I tend to spend too much time rechecking my work. But because I am so deadline-driven, I use my time management ability to keep this in check.”

Q: What challenge did you face in your previous position, and how did you manage it?

A: Again, it is important here to give specifics. Give an actual situation that was resolved in a positive manner.

Q: Why do you want this job?

A: There are many right answers to this question. First of all, research the company before your interview so you can point out real reasons you feel you would mesh with the company, its culture, and its mission. You might want to join the company while its in its early stages and be a part of its success, or perhaps it’s a strong company with a solid history and you respect its stability and values. Say that. Also, fit your talent into this answer. What will this position do to enhance your abilities and career?

Q: What sets you apart from other candidates?

A: Give specific examples of the successes from your past experience and how you will use these at this company.

Q: How do you handle a heavy workload?

A: With the current trend of downsizing, it’s highly likely that you’ll be asked this question. Give a specific example of how you work under pressure. For example, “When I was handed off a large-scale project after the project lead left the company, I was nervous about meeting the one-month deadline. In order to catch up on the details of the project, I had a meeting with the subject matter experts involved to find out the progress. Then, I created a timeline that we could all agree on. We completed the project ahead of schedule.”

Q: What are your long-term professional goals?

A: Even though you may be planning to start a family, this is not the place to mention that. Instead, stick to only professional goals and relate your answer to the company you’re interviewing with. For example, “I would like to become a Project Manager and see projects from planning to implementation.”

Q: Tell me five adjectives that describe you.

A: There really are no wrong answers here, but be prepared with some options:

  • Talented
  • Determined
  • Energetic
  • Brave
  • Excited
  • Knowledgeable
  • Confident
  • Sincere

Q: What is your salary expectation for this job?

A: Salary is an uncomfortable thing to talk about. Avoid discussing salary until you’re offered the position. However, sometimes this is not an option. The best answer is, “I’ll need more information about the job and responsibilities before we can begin to discuss salary. What is the range budgeted for this position?” Research salary ranges for that position in your area so that you’re prepared. Taking an herbal supplement for overcoming the symptoms associated with speech anxiety can give you the confidence you need for this conversation.

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

Now that you’ve knocked them dead with your answers, there will be time for you to ask the interviewer questions. Be prepared with some options, because it’s a lot harder to think of something on the spot. Here are some suggestions:

  • What is the typical career path for someone with my skills and experience?
  • Can you describe a typical day or week in this position?
  • What would you like to see the person in this position accomplish in the next year?
  • Could you describe the company’s management style and the type of employee that fits in well with that?
  • Tie in something that you read when researching the company. For example, “I see on the company web site that employee volunteerism is important here at Company X. Can you tell me more about that?
  • What would you like to see happen in the department in the next five years?
  • What types of skills do you not already have onboard that you’re looking to fill?
  • What have employees who previously held this position progressed to within the company?
  • How will my performance be evaluated, and how often?
  • What are the next steps in the interview process?
  • Don’t forget to thank the interviewer for his or her time. A follow-up thank you note is also a nice touch, and a great way to keep you in the interviewer’s mind.

And Remember...

The key to a great interview is to be prepared. It’s perfectly acceptable to bring questions jotted on a piece of paper so that you remember them (but don’t read them directly from the sheet). In addition to being prepared, consider the benefits of an herbal supplement designed to calm your nerves and give you the confidence you need to get the job offer you want.

Comments

Economy

Have the questions or the course of interviews changed due to the economy?

Economy

Yah, there's no interviews

Interviews

I feel like the pressure to interview well is greater today than ever before. There are so many people being laid off and competition for jobs is fierce!!!

interview

im jsut afraid of looking desperate....any advice???

Interviews

I'm a middle aged woman. I just had a job interview yesterday and I used a lot of these skills. But the list of questions that I should ask is something I did not do. Thanks!

Post a Comment

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration