7 Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

7 Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Common interview questions can be easy to predict, but this does not make them easy to answer. These questions may seem too easy for you to prepare for, but this is where candidates make their biggest mistake: not preparing for a job interview. Recruiters don’t ask these questions for the sake of it - each question is designed to get a better feel for who you are and whether or not you are a good fit for the company. Of course, your answers to these questions are an essential part of a recruiter's final decision, but non-verbal actions such as body language in an interview are also key. 

Common interview questions include...

 

We have chosen 7 of the most common interview questions that you could be faced with in your next job interview - and ways to tackle them. It may be your first interview and using clichés may be a tempting option, but these are important to avoid. Recruiters hear them all the time and they can make a candidate appear unprepared. It's best to refer to specific examples and to keep your answers authentic. 

 

Tell me about yourself


This is not an invitation to tell the recruiter your life story or go through every minute detail of your CV. It is however a great opportunity to sell yourself and tell them why you’re the right candidate for the job. You should keep it relatively brief and stick to the most important points, start with your most recent role and then you can refer to past experience along with the skills that you have gained.

 

What is your greatest strength/weakness?


Keep your answers authentic and true – do not just give a vague cliché answer – recruiters hear them day in, day out.  Refer to the strengths you have and how they fit the current role. Also, do not hesitate to share your weaknesses, everyone is human and has them. Every quality can be considered as a strength or weakness depending on your viewpoint.

 

What are your salary expectations?


Do your research and find similar roles using sites like Glassdoor and LinkedIn. This should give you a salary range based on your experience, qualifications and skills. If this question arises then you can use this figure, but let the recruiter know that you are flexible and motivated to join the company.

 

Why do you want this job?


This is your time to shine and show what you know about this company. Let the recruiter know what key factors make the job a good match for you and why you love the company.

 

What is your dream job?


This is a chance for recruiters to see if you’re really serious about working in this industry and about the role you have applied to. You can mention your dreams and ambitions and how this job will help you to get closer to them.

 

What do you know about the company?


Make sure you do your research about the company beforehand, specifically what they do and what their mission is. You should also refer to how your past experience and passions fit with the role and the hiring company.

 

Do you have any questions?


Make sure to prepare a list of questions that you have about the company and the role itself. Often candidates do not ask many questions making them look unenthusiastic and apathetic about the role.

It is important to prepare questions in advance, although many will probably be answered during the interview. Good examples of questions to ask include:

- What does a typical day look like?

- Do you offer any training?

- Are there opportunities for advancement in the company?

- What are the performance expectations?

- Do you have any new plans for products?

- Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?

 

Afterwards, what happens after an interview can be just as important - follow-up is key. In most countries sending a thank you email after an interview is a great way to impress a recruiter and keep yourself in their mind. 

 

These common interview questions may appear easy, but not preparing in advance can make or break your chances of getting your dream job. It is especially important to research the company beforehand, in order to not make your answers sound clichéd and generic. Each question asked has a reason behind it and helps a recruiter to better understand who you are, your motivations and how you would fit in the company. Check out our most difficult questions and how to answer them.