Do you have a job interview coming up? Are you prepared? The best way to get ready for an interview is to take the time to review the most common interview questions you will most likely be asked, along with examples of the best answers.

“Tell me about yourself…”
This is one of the most common interview questions, and it trips a lot of job seekers up because of how open-ended it is. Interviewers will ask questions about you to gain insight into your personality and to determine whether you’re a fit for both the job and the company. These are open-ended questions which will give you the opportunity to show the employer that you’re well-qualified for the position.

Although it might be tempting to share a list of your most compelling qualifications for the job, a more low-key approach will probably help you to develop a personal rapport with your interviewer. First, keep your answer work-related when answering, “Tell me about yourself.” While technically they’ve left it open to include personal details, it’s not what the typical interviewer is looking for. And to keep your answer clear and easy to understand, tell your story in sequential order. Walk them through your background, starting at how you began your career or your current line of work. Walk the interviewer through your key accomplishments, key career moves you’ve made and why, and end by sharing what you’re looking to do next in your career and why you’re job hunting.

“Why Are You Looking for a New Job?”
When you’re interviewing for a new job, the interviewer will want to know why you’re looking for a new job. It’s one of the top interview questions.

The question may be posed several ways, including, “Why are you looking for a new opportunity?” or “Why are you leaving your current job?” The best way to answer this question is by understanding what the interviewer really wants to know when it’s being asked.

When you’re interviewing for a new position, you should come prepared to answer questions about why you’re leaving or have already left your job. The reasons why people leave jobs often tell a lot more about the people leaving the job than it does the job itself. The interviewer is trying to gauge what kind of employee you’ll be if you’re hired.

The interviewer wants to know if you are:

•  A team player who gets along with others.
• A good culture fit with the new company.
• Diplomatic when discussing tough subjects.
• Planning on sticking around at the new company if you’re hired
• Frame your answer in a way that makes your interviewer feel confident that the position you’re interviewing for is in line with your personal and professional goals. Rather than focus on the past and negative experiences you may have had at your old job, your answer should open the door to a discussion about why you want the job you’re interviewing for and why you’re the best person for it.

“Why did you apply for this position.”
When hiring mangers ask, “why did you apply for this position?” pick something specific that interested you. If you say you love their products, tell them why. That’s the key to giving a convincing answer to this job interview question.

Stay away from sounding like you’re desperate, or that you want just any job. Yes, if you were laid off it’s okay to say that, but then re-focus the conversation on exactly what you’re looking for in the next opportunity and why you feel their company might have it.

You need to sound like you want the right job and that you’re being picky. Employers won’t hire you if you don’t demonstrate that you want to work for them in particular. It’s best to appear picky and selective in your job search. That means being clear about what you want in your next role. Also, the best answers will stay away from negatives and complaints. Don’t bad-mouth your current company or boss. Focus on the positives of the job you’re applying for now.

“Tell us about a challenge you’ve faced and how you handled it”
Focus on a specific work-related challenge and talk about how you overcame obstacles, used it as a learning experience, used the resources around you (including people/colleagues if applicable), and ended up with a positive result! That’s how to answer this interview question. Keep it work-related, not personal.

DO:

• Explain the situation, the task you needed to accomplish, and what method you chose (and why)
• Share the outcome. What was the result?
• Share what you learned from the experience. Did you take away knowledge that has helped you in your career?

DON’T

• Share any story that involves personal conflicts, arguments, or disagreements at work
• Talk about an argument you had
• Talk about a challenge that you didn’t overcome, or didn’t find a solution for

Use these questions and example answers to prepare for your interview by making them your own and tailoring them to fit your experience, the job you’re applying for and the company you’re interviewing with. It’s important to get comfortable with what you could be asked and understand what a good response might be.

Much like preparing for a test in school, the best way to succeed in your job interview is to study and to practice. Research the company and the job and practice your talking points until you feel confident about your answers. The more you prepare, the more likely you are to leave a lasting impression and outperform fellow candidates.

For more helpful tips like this, contact Phyton Talent Advisors today!