Sitting in the waiting lobby of a prestigious organization, with at least 15 more potential candidates, is enough to make you apprehensive. As your turn approaches, we know how those butterflies change into moths in the stomach.
Moreover, those palms sweating and legs shaking, oh! Such a chaos. It is hard to be mindful and confident at that moment, but one thing can keep you calm no matter what. We call it the groundwork.
It is the only thing that punches away all your fears, hesitancy and doubts. So, are we ready to discuss the 24 common interview questions that could be asked of you at an interview? Absolutely, yes. Let’s roll together!
Understanding the Possible Interview Questions
First, we divided and arranged all the questions into sets of three, with eight examples in each, for your comfort. The very first one is focused solely on the candidate and his achievements.
The second part is about the company and the candidate’s expectations from it. Moving on, in the last phase, we gathered some mind-twisting interview questions for you to become familiarised. Give this carefully hand-picked guide a thorough read and make the most of it.
Portion #1 – Individuality Focused Questions
| 1. What are some interesting facts about yourself in 30 words? |
The interviewer wants to comprehend if you are the same as what your résumé defines. So, answer accordingly and ask if they would like an elaboration.
| 2. Where do you picture yourself standing after 5 years? |
They asked you this to see if your personal development goals align with those of the company. Therefore, be very honest.
| 3. What are your weaknesses, and how do you overcome them? |
If you are unprepared, you will not be able to answer this. Employers prefer self-aware employees so look inside you before they do.
| 4. How do you plan to use your strengths at work? |
Use those skills and competencies mentioned in the job ad to integrate into your answer. Besides that, avoid any irrelevant or general merits.
| 5. How would you rate yourself in emotional intelligence out of five? |
This question is there to know if you are critical and honest in self-analysis. Hence, answer confidently with a piece of situational evidence.
| 6. What is something that stands you apart from other eligible candidates? |
Here, you need some numbers to illustrate your credibility. However, all flimsy promises are highly discouraged.
| 7. How do you manage to stay focused and motivated? |
You must never mention a finance-driven motivation. Instead, be specific and use your personality traits to mould an answer creatively.
| 8. Are you tech-savvy or not? |
They are asking about your tech fluency. In addition, they want to know if you will learn the skill in case the job role requires it in future.
Portion #2 – On the subject of the Company
| 9. Who told you about this company? |
Speak with enthusiasm and be very precise as you answer. Then, highlight the connections.
| 10. Share whatever you already know about our business. |
This is unlike any usual informal interview; rather, it is a very big deal so, do your homework properly about the venture.
| 11. Why are you interested in becoming a part of our culture? |
Show that you are a good fit for the company, but do not say anything negative about the current or ex-boss. A big no!
| 12. Why did you choose this position and not the other one? |
Your answer should explain how your career and development goals match this job description.
| 13. What is the reason for the job/career switch? |
You might be tempted to speak ill about older management, but you should not. Instead, talk about the opportunities you see here.
| 14. What sort of leadership are you looking forward to here? |
Tell them what your expectations are from an effective and strong leader. Such as moral support, inspiration and appreciation.
| 15. What value will you add to our venture? |
Justify your possible contributions to the company with the help of your education, experience, and skills.
| 16. What are your salary expectations from this role? |
You should research before you quote an amount. However, do not start negotiating on the spot. You should wait until they make an offer to you.
Portion #3 – Stimulating Situational Interrogation
| 17. Can you share a time when you tackled a conflict at your last workplace? |
Interviews are tougher than writing a professional CV; therefore, you have to think twice before you speak. This question is designed to check if those adjectives in the resume have strong evidence or mere words. So, come up with a powerful instance.
| 18. Was there any instance of a disagreement between you and the management? |
Be honest, and do not try to cover up any facts. Additionally, if there are any records of disagreements, use this as a chance to establish your problem-solving abilities.
| 19. What will you do when you fail to complete a task efficiently? |
The employer wants to know if you are capable of taking charge of your failures. Thus, it shows how strong as a leader you are.
| 20. How will you explain this 6 months gap in your career? |
Gaps are normal and can happen to anyone. Therefore, instead of hiding or lying, exploit the opportunity to show that the gap taught you transferable skills.
| 21. How do you plan to excel at this role if we hire you? |
This question demands you to talk about both hard and soft skills. Secondly, tell them about how your natural talents will benefit their organisation.
| 22. What is one achievement that you are proud of in your profession? |
Undoubtedly, they are inviting you to tell a story from your experience that will help them analyse your perspective of success.
| 23. If you were not a human but an animal, what would you be? |
There are so many animals that you can name to build a strong response, such as a cat, eagle, dolphin or butterfly. Just make sure that the focus is on characteristics.
| 24. Do you want to ask us anything? |
This is a smooth invite to an open discussion; hence, you should make it available. Ask exciting questions about the responsibilities of the job, the organisation and the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions About Interviews
Q. What is the STAR method used by interviewers?
The STAR method is a way of formulating your answer in the cleverest way possible. Therefore, start with the situation, follow with the task, describe the action you took and conclude with the result. Additionally, it helps you answer tricky behavioural questions.
Q. How do I impress the hiring manager?
To leave a decent first impression, you need to conduct thorough research on the company before you leave for the interview. The more confident and assertive you will sound, the more they will like you. However, the first impression is the last, so dress formally at all costs.
Q. What should I not say or do, before leaving the room?
As you approach the end of the conversation, subtly let them know that you will wait for a positive response. Moreover, also let them know that you like their culture and are enthusiastic to join but do not sound desperate.
Q. What are the common mistakes to avoid?
Primarily, do not be a latecomer. Then, make sure you listen to understand and do not answer. Besides that, you must never lie in an interview. If you do not know the answer, convey it nicely to the hiring manager. Lastly, be very mindful of how you behave, move and react to all interview questions.
The Bottom Line
So far, we have learnt that the interview questions are everything except straightforward. Perhaps this is why, eight out of every ten times, you have to read between the lines when the hiring manager says a word.
Moreover, he may not directly ask you or tell you something, but he will leave hints. Alternatively, he will disguise his real intentions behind a twisted query and sit back to enjoy how you deal with it. To them, it is their everyday routine. Therefore, they have become pros at it, and thus, you too, have to act smarter.
Therefore, this interview questions guide is the best possible companion for you on this journey. Hold it tight, save and share with others who struggle like you. Good luck!