Common Questions Asked During a
Job Interview

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”

~Winston Churchill

Are you nervous about an upcoming job interview because you do not know what questions will be asked? If so, today is your lucky day, because this article will provide you with common questions asked during job interviews. Truth-be-told, job interviews can be nerve-wrecking. No one wants to go for a job interview unprepared, but many times that is just what happens. It is not like you get a list of sample interview questions before the interview, so oftentimes, you have to “wing it” once you are sitting across from a potential employer.

Aghhh! Because you do not have a list of questions, you are resorted to asking friends and family members what kinds of questions they were asked during their interviews, and/or searching multiple websites on how to best answer interview questions. Unfortunately, most of the websites that claim to have the “best questions and answers” really don’t tell you what you should probably say during an interview. So, as a result, you remain stuck in the dark. Hopefully, this article will teach you some witty things to say at your next job interview. Good Luck!!!

Listed below are some common interview questions, accompanied by good answers:

Describe Yourself

I bet you have been on numerous job interviews, in which the potential employer asked you to describe yourself. A common mistake that many job candidates make is to describe themselves personally. For instance, some job candidates may answer that question by saying, “Well, I always try to help people in need.” Although those qualities are admirable, that is not the correct way to answer that question. It is important to understand that potential employers are not looking for your personal traits and characteristics; rather they are looking for work-related characteristics and traits.

What makes you a good employee? And, more specifically, what will make you a good fit for the company and position? So, when a potential employer asks you to describe yourself, give him or her 3 or 4 work-related qualities, such as: “I am the type of person, who is dedicated to whatever tasks I undertake. I do not mind staying late to complete jobs or finish tasks. I am ambitious. I am always looking for ways to “better” myself, and advance in the company. I am highly organized because I am more productive when I have “all of my ducks in a row.”   

Solving Problems

A potential employer may also ask you how you solved a previous problem. A good way to answer this question is to tell the employer about a time when you encountered a problem at work or school, and you successfully solved it. Make sure the solution paints you in a positive light. Also, make sure your example actually makes sense. You may want to have some examples in your head before you step into the interview room. Provide the employer with the problem, the steps you took to resolve the issue, and what you learned from that situation. The purpose of this question is to see if you will be able to successfully resolve issues that arise, while at work. Can you give me a time when you encountered a conflict or challenging situation? If so, what happened, and how did you resolve the issue? What did you learn from that situation?

Strengths & Weaknesses

If you have ever been on a job interview, I’m pretty sure you have been asked what your strengths and weaknesses are. Most people answer this question incorrectly. How? Well, by providing a potential employer with a “real” weakness. Do not do that! Instead, give the employer a weakness that does not affect your ability to be a good worker. Also, try to think of a weakness that could be a strength in some cases. For instance, say something like, “My weakness is that I am a work-a-holic. I love working to the point that other parts of my life are neglected. I don’t make enough time for me and my family, so I miss out on a lot of things. But, I’m just so dedicated to my job, that it is a priority for me.”

Do you see how I just turned a “weakness” into a strength? As far as strengths are concerned, keep them geared towards the job you applied for. In other words, review the job duties/functions/tasks before you go to your interview, and match your strengths to what the employer is looking for, and what they job entails. For instance, if you are applying for a teaching job say something like: “I am a very detail-oriented, organized person, who has extensive experience developing lesson plans. I am also very creative, which is beneficial in the classroom because it stimulates the students’ minds, and gets them excited about learning. They never know what I am going to pull out of my hat.” 

References:

Green, A. (2011). The 10 most common job interview questions. U.S. News: Money. Retrieved from http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2011/01/24/the-10-most-common-job-interview-questions

Harden, J. (2013). 14 interview questions that reveal everything. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/04/14-interview-questions-th_n_2807438.html

Smith, J. (2013). 30 motivational quotes for job seekers. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/01/30/30-motivational-quotes-for-job-seekers/