What does it take to calm your nerves and crack the toughest questions in a job interview? This guide helps you explore the common pain points of potential job interviews and how to deal with them.
If you have faced a number of job interviews, you know fairly well how to tackle an entire interview session. Looking back to the first few interviews, you would say they were were not easy. Things that you already knew became strange, and you failed to deliver your best. This is a very common scenario during the initial job interview days.
So why does it happen to almost all even though all the questions at the interview are standard and easy to answer? It is a lack of preparation, the fear factor, over-confidence, or probably a mixed effect that does not allow job candidates to flourish. So here we are going to discuss 10 general job interview questions and their appropriate answers which would help get prepared for any job interview.
Job Interview Questions #1: Tell Me Something about Yourself
This is the very first question, so do not bore your interviewer by a long speech. Instead, satisfy the person by offering a couple of sentences precisely describing you. This is how you can easily set the stage for the next questions.
Job Interview Questions #2: How Long Have You Been in Your Current Company?
The hirer would hate to see your resume if you mentioned you changed 3 companies in the past 10 months. Suitable candidates are expected to stay in one company for at least 3 years or so. If you have a bitter experience in your past job life, you can overcome this by engaging yourself in various conferences and events where you can come in contact with many employers. Thus, you can grow a network so the interviewer, being known to you, would more likely overlook than stick to your job history.
Job Interview Questions #3: What is Your Weakness?
There’s none who has no weak points. So be confident and honest while revealing your weakness. Also, tell your interviewer that you’ve worked genuinely on your weakness and still working harder to remove it ensuring that the interviewer is not going to cut your marks.
Job Interview Questions #4: Tell Me an Instance When You Had to Get Along With a Superior
Well, this is tricky. Do not answer that you haven’t had such an incident. That’s foolish. Rather, try convincing your interviewer that when you had a mismatch in opinion with your superior you made your superior consider your views positively.
Job Interview Questions #5: When did you become Part of a Failed Project?
The purpose of this question is to know how well you have learned from failures. If you happened to be part of a project that failed initially but your team managed to accomplish it at a later date, tell it to your interviewer. S/he will be most interested to listen to what you did in that project.
Job Interview Questions #6: What Are Your Strengths?
Do not speak too much. Limit yourself in 2 or 3 strong sentences that are really useful to your employer. If the interviewer allows, speak a little about one instance when your strength won.
Job Interview Questions #7: How do you describe Your Job Success?
Be generous about what you say on this point. Try speaking about what others say about your talent, performance, and capabilities.
Job Interview Questions #8: What’s Your Favorite Pastime?
Mention the things you enjoy the most such as traveling, playing sports, driving, reading, rapping or anything that would flow well. Do not discuss useless topics like politics. You may raise conflicts with your interviewer if you support somebody who’s not liked by him or her.
Job Interview Questions #9: Why did you leave Your Last Job?
Be honest while mentioning the cause but do not criticize anyone. Tell the positive point of leaving your job that would benefit your future.
Job Interview Questions #10: Why do You Want This Job?
Tell that this is your passion and you have been waiting for so long to work in this position. Don’t simply bluff; try to mention a suitable proof of this which you can prepare beforehand.