The 10 most common questions in a job interview (and how to deal with them)
The selection processes are characterized by establishing a framework for dialogue in which the organization gets all the relevant information about the candidates in just a few minutes .
As time is short and the consequences of choosing badly the people in charge of performing a function can be very expensive, the professional who tries to know things about us in a job interview will devote all his efforts to ask the key questions so that we show ourselves such and how we are without being aware of it.
If you are reading this article because you are interested in finding a job as soon as possible, we recommend that you take a look at these three practical texts with tips for this purpose:
- "Job interviews: The 10 most frequent errors"
- "The 7 most valued attitudes in a job interview"
- "How to face an interview by competences: 4 keys to get the job"
The 10 most common questions in a job interview (and how to deal with them)
Beyond the specific characteristics of each organization, part of these key questions are common in a large number of companies and it is normal for them to appear in any selection interview . This means that, although the popularity of these questions is due to their usefulness and effectiveness when it comes to providing information about candidates, people interested in a job also have an advantage: the possibility of being prepared for when listen.
In this article we will focus precisely on these common questions in a job interview and the strategies to offer a good response, providing all the information we are expected to give in each case.
1. Could you tell me about yourself?
It's time to offer four brush strokes on oneself . The person in charge of interviewing you will not only be analyzing the content of what you say, but will also evaluate your ability to express yourself and communicate relevant aspects about you before a broad question. That is why it is convenient not to fall into nervousness and do everything possible to offer a well-developed response.
2. Have you worked similar to this before?
The conversation that will start from this question will be interspersed with comments about your CV, so try to be clear which of your previous work experiences required skills or attitudes from you that you think will also be put to the test in the job you choose.
3. Do you know this organization?
Certainly, if the truth is that you do not know anything about the company or organization you want to enter, there is little to do to get out of this question. However, if you have spent some time getting information on the basic features of the site where you want to start working, remember that it is not enough to answer affirmatively and list the aspects that you remember about the site . The ideal is to take advantage to express the interest you feel for the organization. For example, you can briefly comment on what motivated you to look for information or what you knew about the site before considering entering the selection process.
4. What do you look for in this job?
This is one of those questions in which there is no good answer, so the best thing you can do is to foresee the appearance of this topic in the job interview and rehearse the answer a bit, which should be as clear as possible. Most companies seek to know, among other things, in what degree you are interested in the monetary remuneration and the achievement of objectives to know if you adapt well to the position you choose . The latter depends on whether or not you are a source of conflict at work or that you experience burnout.
By the way, remember that emphasizing the importance of salary does not have to be poorly valued in all job interviews, whatever the vacancy. For low-skilled jobs, for example, it is not unusual to employ people whose main motivation is the salary.
5. What can you give us that other candidates do not give us?
This is one of the most frequent questions and also one of the most important. You must confront her as if you were going to contribute brief headline about your experience or your skills . The correct answer is the one that speaks about you in a practical sense, rather than personal or philosophical.
6. What are your salary expectations?
At the time when this question is asked (something that will happen unless the price is already fixed a priori), the best thing is to simply respond in a flat and unambiguous way , since the opposite can be interpreted as a way to hide your intentions.
7. Where do you see yourself in the future?
When asking this question, the person in charge of conducting the interview pretends to inquire about your motivations and expectations of promotion or change of work . Attentive: it will be much better to show yourself ambitious but within certain reasonable limits. Ideally, you should stay in a medium term between conformism and excessive self-confidence when assessing your professional future.
8. What is your main strength?
The appropriate thing is to respond with a strength that is very clearly related to the job and, if you can, you should give some example to illustrate it. If you are opting for an accounting position, the logical thing to do is to emphasize your efficiency or your reliability. If it is the case that you are being interviewed to occupy a creative advertising site, innovation, dynamism and creativity should be your main assets.
9. What are your main weaknesses?
It is usual for the person who is interviewing you to ask you to list three or four characteristics of yours that can be seen as weaknesses . The best thing you can do is to talk about these "weaknesses" by also discussing the steps you can take so that they are not a problem, or you can even say why you think that weakness has a positive aspect. For example:
- I'm young and I do not have much experience, but I think that can be positive in those tasks that require creativity and new views because I'm not used to a few ways of working.
- I do not like to talk on the phone too much, but in my previous job I was losing my fear and now I perform well.
10. Do you have any questions?
At the end of an interview it is usual to leave a space for candidates to formulate their doubts. At this moment you can (in fact, you should) demonstrate your interest in the organization and the position , at the same time that you get relevant information to finish knowing if you are interested in the job. At the same time, the selection staff will know more about you by means of the questions you ask and those areas in which you are interested.
