What to say at a job interview: answers to typical questions

THE CONTENT OF THE ARTICLE:

What to say at a job interview: how to answer typical questions?

Every person who is employed has gone through the interview stage. The interview process is an integral part of the path to the desired job, regardless of the candidate's occupation, position, or expertise. And 90% of a candidate's chances of getting a job offer depend on it, and in general, each candidate has a 30% chance of being hired.

More often than not, the dialogue is structured in a question-answer-question pattern. This means the candidate must answer the interview questions succinctly and to the point. It is not necessary to memorize all the phrases by heart, it is enough to prepare to feel confident and relaxed. Think of it as a game where there are no right or wrong answers.

It is important to understand what you can say at the interview and what topics it is better not to touch. You should also stick to the Tone of Voice and the chain of command. A recruiter may try to provoke you or put you at a disadvantage. And this is how to test your suitability, stress resistance, intelligence, and adequacy.

We have prepared a brief tour through the interview to help you prepare for it, gain experience in the dialogue ahead of time and increase your confidence before the responsible meeting.

Questions that are sure to be asked

Depending on a company, its size, and its type, the list of dialogue topics may differ. It is impossible to prepare for everything in advance, but understanding what questions are asked at a job interview and what you expect to hear in response is still worth understanding. Let's look at typical interview options and answer options that will help you make a good impression on the interviewer.

Tell us about yourself

You will hear this basic question in 100% of interviews and in all companies where you want to get a job. However, 90% of the time, candidates get it wrong and make the same mistake - a long and detailed account of their entire life story.

How to answer questions at a job interview? Concisely. The answer should last up to two minutes. And no details from childhood.

A good answer is a short story about the candidate's life position, aspirations, goals, and desires. The monologue should be positive, without negative characteristics or character traits.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Another item in the standard set of "questions and answers at the interview." Here, too, it is essential to reduce the monologue to a minimum, preferably at most two minutes.

You should not talk about the desired income; it is typical and does not reveal the essence of the question. It is better to focus the recruiter's attention on the rapid development of professional skills and personal growth. High motivation to develop at the chosen workplace contributes to the image of a promising employee and increases the chances of successful employment.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

How do you answer these types of questions in a job interview? Only in a positive way. Present your strengths favorably and level out your weaknesses. How do you do this? Quite easy. For example, instead of "sometimes I'm late," you can say, "even if I'm late - I'll do the plan on time or stay at work longer."

Also, negative character traits such as laziness, aggression, or behavioral disorders (constant fatigue, apathy) can be hidden, embellished, or turned into advantages. Remember, even bad qualities in a positive way turn into advantages.

Why do you want to work with us?

This is one of the things they ask at a job interview. And there is only one thing expected of you - motivation. Colorfully describe your desire to work in the desired position, and mention the company's merits. The better you demonstrate your involvement and awareness in the organization's activities, the higher score you will get from the recruiter.

Emphasize the goals and values of the company. Say you want to help it grow and become part of the expert community.

What do you value most about a team?

Frequent interview questions from the field of psychology allow the recruiter to better reveal the candidate's personality and assess their "integrability" in the company. This is really important because most teams already have a "skeleton" of culture and behavioral norms. The new member should, if not meet these norms, then at least compensate for the team's weaknesses with positive traits (proactivity, vivid emotions).

That's why it's important to be aware of the company's values and to understand the overall picture of internal corporate behavior. Based on this information, you can give an answer that will create a positive impression on the interviewer.

What do you hope to gain from this job?

Provocative interview questions and answers to them should fully satisfy the recruiter's interest in the candidate's abilities. Every person is in a constant search for themselves and their place. Applying for the next vacancy, ask yourself what you expect from the new position, from the team, and the staff as a whole.

Of course, a high salary, office location, and other factors are certainly important. Still, the interviewer wants to hear from you a completely different answer, such as improving skills and gaining additional experience in the industry.

Why should we hire you for this position?

At every interview, questions and answers have a hidden subtext. That's why it's important to weigh every word and focus the recruiter's attention on the improvements that await the company when you are hired.

Describe your advantages from the perspective of the company's usefulness:

skills;
abilities;
character traits;
experience;
expertise;
desire to add value to the company;
desire to be part of a team of experts.

This is the only way to increase your chances of successful employment.

Why did you leave your last job?

There are all kinds of life situations and moments that force us to change jobs. Typical questions at a job interview include the recruiter's or employer's interest in your reasons for leaving your previous position.

If you made such a decision on your own - say that you have reached the limit of your professional development or simply want to change your occupation completely if the industries are different.

If you were fired, say it directly and specify the reason, but do not go into details, and do not blame the management or the team.

How much would you like to earn?

Questions when applying for a job always involve the topic of desired income. It's important to be objective here. Study the salary range in the industry in advance, assess your own skills, and only based on this, sound out the figure or do not do it at all.

The best way is to answer something like this: "I have studied the salary range for this position in Ukraine, and the average income of an industry specialist is $700 per month. I am guided by this figure, but I am ready to discuss."

Personal questions at a job interview and how to answer them

Almost everyone has difficulty with personal questions. So it's not easy to talk about yourself at a job interview and keep details private, but it's also doable. Another issue is that some of these questions have nothing to do with work at all, but refusing to answer them is considered a bad form.

It is worth thinking in advance about the options for dialogue. The main thing is to answer calmly. If the employer oversteps all boundaries and touches on topics unrelated to the position's duties, respond: "It does not affect my productivity in any way."

How do I answer psychological questions?

Frequently asked questions at a job interview include psychological questions that may cause some confusion for the candidate.

These include:

Have you thought about starting your own business?
How can you describe yourself in one word?
Why didn't you have a major in education?
How would you describe your previous work experience?

In such cases, giving a vague answer without criticism, bravado, or inflated expectations is important. Usually, such wording is used to check the interlocutor's psychological portrait and tie it to the usual gradations prescribed in one of the recruiter's manuals.

Questions of intelligence: how to prepare?

There are often logic questions in job interviews. One of the most common is, "Why are manhole covers round?" A person gets lost and can't quickly figure out what the question is about and what kind of answer is expected of them.

Sometimes it can be difficult to give something intelligible, but most of the time, they expect you to think, not to give the right or wrong answer. If the interviewer sees that you can think quickly and form an idea, it will count as a passed test and continue the interview.

These types of questions are needed to identify candidates' creative and rational thought patterns.

What should you ask a recruiter about?

The interview is not a one-way game. If you ask the recruiter questions, your candidacy will be considered good, and your resume won't go into a drawer. Be inquisitive and show that you are interested in this particular job, this particular place of work.

What questions to ask the employer:

How did this position come about?
What would my typical workday look like?
Who are the most successful people in the company, and why?
Why do you like working here?
How do you rate me?
What kind of challenges will I face?

You are more likely to get detailed answers and better understand where exactly you are invited to work. In addition, you will show the person you're talking to that you're involved and want to get a position with the company.

What shouldn't I do at a job interview?

The interview is the first meeting between a manager and a potential employee. That is why it is necessary to prepare properly for this meeting. Let's look at the basic rules, which are often ignored in today's community.

No intoxication. Do you want to relax before the interview? Buy some snacks, watch a movie or read a good book. Drinking alcohol and smoking packs of cigarettes to calm down is bad form. First, you will look unkempt, and second, no one will stand near you for more than five minutes in a closed space.
Business style. Even if the company has a "no dress code" rule that applies to employees, not candidates, save the shorts or your favorite reindeer sweater for later. For the first meeting, wear a suit or jeans with a shirt.
Subordination and etiquette. It's trivial, but it's worth adhering to the basic rules of communication. Even if the recruiter is younger than you or occupies a position lower than the one you are applying for. At the time of the interview, they are the management, and you are a candidate who may not get the job. Remember this.
Idle chatter. Were you asked to tell about yourself? You don't need to start with your birth, your first fights at school, or any other nonsense. You have +/- 2 minutes to answer, during which you need to briefly state your life, professional values, and way of thinking.
Complaints. There is no need to tell the recruiter or management about your life problems or failures. Come to get a job – be useful to the company, and leave conversations about everything else for breaks or evening gatherings with the team, friends, or family.

Remember, you came for an interview, meaning:

talking only about work;
business Tone of Voice;
concise answers;
emphasis on professionalism;
presentable appearance.

Failure to follow these trivial rules ensures that your request for employment will be denied.

Conclusion

Do you want to make a good impression on a recruiter or employer? Stick to our tips, behave yourself and prepare for the interview well. Formulate answers to possible questions beforehand, but don't memorize them. Machine phrases and remarks will show your ability to learn a text and not build a constructive working dialogue. Be yourself and always be interested in the company if you really want to work there. Submit your CVs on JOBITT and expect to be invited for an interview!