Going into a job interview is a huge unknown, to begin with, but it can be even scarier if you have no idea what kind of questions you’ll be asked (let alone how to answer them.) But you’re not powerless! Preparation is key to success, so studying up on interview questions will help you land that job. To get started on that, let’s look at some of the most common questions, so you’re not going into your next job interview blind.
1. Why do you want to work here?
This one is the worst, right? Of course, “because I need to pay rent” isn’t an acceptable answer. What the interviewer is asking is why you want this position and this company as opposed to the other jobs you could be applying to. They’re looking for specifics, so tell them what got you excited about this particular job posting and their company values.
2. What do you think is your greatest strength/ greatest weakness?
This question is a nightmare. How do you answer it with confidence but not sound full of yourself? On the flip side, how do I not rule myself out of a job by explaining my weakness? Don’t go on about a million reasons that you’re great. Pick one that shows you would be successful in the role and provide an example of how it’s made you successful in the past. Now your weakness, this one can be tricky. What you want to do is explain a weakness you have with honesty but follow it up by explaining what things you do to overcome that. This shows that you’re self-aware of your shortcomings but are willing to work on improving.
3. What makes you a good fit?
This is probably the most intimidating question you can get, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to sell yourself during the interview. Your answer should show how you’re a good fit not only for the actual job but also for the company culture. What you’re telling them is why you specifically should get the job and what you’ll bring to the company if (When!) you’re hired. A good rule of thumb is to look at the qualities they want on the job posting and talk about how you have those qualities, and, as always, be specific!
Now that you’ve got an idea about the most common job interview questions, you can take some time to think about your answers. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should write a script for your answer and memorize it. Canned responses can be just as annoying to an interviewer as a lot of hesitation and uncertainty, so it’s best to take a few notes about your answers on a legal pad or even directly on your resume. With notes, you can give a genuine answer that will knock their socks off.
