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Job interview questions Your CV hit the spot with the recruiters and you've been invited to interview. It's great news, but there's no doubt it can be a bit nerve-wracking... In fact, nine out of ten of us feel the fear when an interview is coming up. It's totally normal to feel butterflies beforehand – a bit like pre-exam nerves, or a case of stage fright. You've set the expectations high with that impressive CV of yours, and now it's time to show them what you're made of. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to make sure you're prepared for a job interview. While you can't anticipate exactly whichinterview questionsare going to be asked, you can be fairly certain of a few, even if they're presented in different guises. Practise your answers – and have a few questions of your own ready – and you'll be getting your encore in no time. IntroductionCommon interview questions
Questions to ask at an interview
Questions an interviewer should NOT ask How to prepare for common interview questions Common interview questionsThe purpose of an interview is to find out more about who you are and how you'd fit into the role. Thanks to your CV, the panel already knows you have the qualifications to do the job. Now they want to learn more. Although job interview questions can sometimes seem a bit left-field, they're always related to the role in some way or another. Really knowing your way around the job description will help you to answer anything the panel throws at you, and prepping for the most common interview questions means you're more likely to hit the high notes when they (almost inevitably) crop up. Nailing the dreaded 'tell me about yourself' question"So, tell me about yourself." It's a common interview question that tends to come up early, which means it's a great opportunity to make a good impression. Interviewers use this one to learn about who you are as a person before delving into career questions. Before the interview, spend time getting to know yourself. Not in a deep, meaningful Eat Pray Love kind of way – just understand where your strengths lie and how to talk about them.
The top five interview questions and how to answer themThese five questions tend to come up in one form or another in almost every interview. Knowing what the interviewer is looking for – and preparing your response ahead – will help you to deliver a calm, clear and confident reply. These are the top interview questions and answers to be ready for: 1. How will you be an asset to this organisation?This isn't about whether or not you're qualified to undertake the work – it's about how you'll fit in with the company's culture and what added value you'll bring beyond being a competent colleague. A good answer involves an element of tooting your own horn. That can make some people feel uncomfortable, but remember that the other candidates will be doing it too, and who's going to shout about your best qualities if you don't? Think about what you do that makes you different. Are you a social butterfly who loves arranging fun things to do? A quirky thinker who brings ideas nobody else has considered? Or someone who can think fast under the most stressful situations? Now's the time to let them know. 2. Why should I hire you?The interviewer wants to know how you will do the job better, quicker and faster than any other candidate. Out of 10 people equally qualified, what gives you the edge? Read the job description and work out what problem the company is addressing by hiring for the role, then think about the skills and experience you have that prove you're the best person to help them solve it. Bring real examples from your career to date, demonstrate the soft skills you'll use to your advantage, and outline how you'd approach scenarios or tasks listed in the job advert. 3. Where do you see yourself in five years' time?This is to get an idea of your ambitions and your drive. Your answer needs to be realistic, and it should also reflect something you can do within the company – so if it's UK-based with no plans to globalise, don't say "I'd love to be living overseas!" Good ideas to get you started are:
4. Can you explain these gaps in your CV?They're quite common, but sometimes gaps in a CV can be seen as a red flag. Whether it's a gap year, a sabbatical or just bad luck, if you have a big gap there's a high chance you'll be asked about it so the interviewer can find out how reliable you are as an employee. The key is to be open, honest and natural with your answer. Talk about the reason behind your career break, what you did with the time and what you learned during it. The most important thing is to show that you made careful decisions and planned ahead, so they trust you won't suddenly decide to swan off to Thailand for six months on a whim. The good news is that gaps on the CV are very common, and they are just not seen as the red flag they used to be - but prepare your answers anyway. 5. What makes you different from other candidates?The interviewer wants to hear about how your unique skills, strengths and experiences will make you the best person from the role. Remember, they're looking at you in the context of the role you've applied for, so keep it relevant. Put yourself in a position of strength by correlating your skills to the job you're applying for, what the company does or the wider industry. Before prepping your answer, learn as much you can by studying the job description and the company's website. If they're planning to open an office in Paris, now is a good time to big up your qualification in French. It's very hard to have a 'Unique Skill" now - but what you have is a unique combination of skills. Think before hand how you can present them to be a great fit for the role. How to answer competency-based interview questionsCompetency-based interview questions draw on real-life scenarios to find out more about your knowledge, skill set and workplace behaviour. They usually start with "tell us about a time when..." or "tell us about a situation when..." followed by a scenario relevant to the job you're applying for. While you can't anticipate which competency-based questions you'll be asked, you can use a strategy to answer them well. Use the STAR technique:
Try to be as specific as possible. If you can mention some specific statistics you'll definitely impress your interviewers. How to answer questions about past earningsIt would be naive to pretend that money is irrelevant when you're job hunting. Talking about earnings can be really uncomfortable, but it's part and parcel of the interview process. Your interviewers will want to know how much you made at the past positions on your CV, especially your most recent role. This is all part of the salary negotiation process – they want to know how much you'll accept. Unfortunately it can put you in a sticky situation, as it's likely they'll look to offer you something close to your last position – even if it was underpaid. There's also the risk they'll back off if they think they can't afford you, not knowing that you're willing to take a pay cut for the right role (if that's the case). If you're currently underpaid, say something along the lines of: "I've always felt that salary history is a private matter. However, based on my accomplishments and talents, I think a compensation level of £X to £Y would be appropriate." If you're making a lot more than the salary range and are willing to take the cut, address it head on after revealing – or being asked about – your current salary. Explain your reasons for taking the drop to reassure your interviewers that you're serious and won't regret the decision later. For example, "I'm passionate about working in this industry so a drop in salary is a small sacrifice" or "This role has different responsibilities than my current one and I feel the compensation you're offering is appropriate." Should you choose to disclose, it's important to be honest. It's easy for them to find out the truth when they call your references, and an early fib won't get you off to a great start. How to deal with unexpected interview questionsYou can't prep an answer for every question, and there are bound to be a few surprises on the big day. The best way to deal with them is to have a good knowledge base to draw from.
↑ upwards Questions to ask at an interviewThere's nothing more anticlimactic than ending a good back and forth with a shrug and a "not really", but that's what often happens when interviewers turn the tables. Have at least five questions to ask in an interview prepped and you'll come across as genuinely interested in the position and engaged in the process. Learn more about the roleJust like how your CV can't capture your personality, the job description can't cover the day-to-day reality of the job. Now is the perfect time to clarify any points you're not sure about. Pay attention during the interview so you're not asking questions that have already been answered. It's a good idea to bring a pen and paper with you to jot down questions as and when you think of them. That way you can concentrate on answering the interviewer without worrying you'll forget what you want to ask by the end. Some good questions to ask are:
Ask about the organisational cultureRemember: job interviews go two ways. It's not just about whether you're the right fit for the company, but if they're the right fit for you. Asking a question or two about the organisational culture will give you an idea about whether it's a good place to work. You might want to ask:
Show off your industry knowledgeDuring your interview preparation, you will have read a lot of information about your client and the wider industry as a whole – thanks Google. Show your knowledge by dropping in a question about current events, for example:
↑ upwards Questions an interviewer should NOT askWhile interviewers can sometimes get creative with their questions – like Google's famous brain teasers – there are a few restrictions on what they can ask. For example, you should never be asked about:
These questions are illegal because they could be used to discriminate against you. No company wants to leave itself open to legal action, so it's highly unlikely you'll be asked them. However, if these illegal interview questions do come up during your chat, keep calm. Politely ask why you're being asked the question to find out if it has a direct bearing on the role. If it doesn't, explain that you would prefer not to answer. ↑ upwards How to prepare for common interview questionsGetting a job offer comes down to more than whether you're capable of carrying out certain tasks – it's about showing how you fit into the culture, demonstrating in interest and presenting your achievements and skills in a way the interviewer connects with. Here are our top tips for how to prepare for any interview questions:
Get More Job OffersNow that you know how to prepare for the maininterview questions and answers, let's get you in front of more hiring managers. Ready to begin? Create a free profile on Monster. We can connect you with recruiters, send you custom job alerts, and much more to advance your career. |