Giving the Right Answer for Job Interview Questions — Why Preparation is Key
No matter what career field you’re in, you can almost always count on being asked certain questions during the interview process. These questions are quite universal in nature and work well for every type of job. By knowing the most commonly asked questions and having your answers prepared ahead of time, you will be able to interview better. Potential employers will see you as prepared and confident, which are two traits most all of them want to see in an applicant. Whether you’re interviewing for a job at an office, restaurant, construction site, retail store, online company, or anywhere else for that matter, you can increase your chances of being hired by studying the following questions ahead of time:
1. Why do you want to work here?
This question may sound like an opportunity to sweet-talk the interviewer, and while compliments about the company are nice, keep them brief and instead focus on why you feel the job is an ideal fit for you. Talk on how you think the job fits into your current and future career goals.
2. What are your qualifications for this job?
When you answer this question, don’t just rattle off a list of your job history. Instead, give examples of specific responsibilities, duties and situations you’ve had in the past which are related to the job you are applying for.
3. What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness?
While this answer is of course going to be different for everyone, there are certain answers that can make you look good to an interviewer. Your strength may be something such as you’re a hard worker or you’re a team player. When it comes to your weakness, it’s time to be a little creative. The tendency to be a workaholic and perfectionist can be quite attractive weaknesses to mention. By choosing weaknesses that are not necessarily weaknesses at all, you can present yourself in a very favorable light. Just don’t be dishonest!
4. Where do you see yourself in five years?
This is a tough question to answer for some people, which is why preparation is so important. You may not know where you want to be in five years. A good answer to give if you don’t have something specific in mind is to tell the interviewer that you see yourself making the most of your skills and abilities in a job you enjoy.
5. Are you a team player or do you like to work alone?
The right answer to this job interview question should relate to the position you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a job where you’ll be working in a team environment, emphasize your skills as a team player. If you’re applying for job where you’ll be working alone, emphasize your ability to work well by yourself without a lot of interaction. You should let the employer know that you are well equipped to work either way, if in fact you are.
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