Your nerves may be in a bunch about an upcoming job interview. Although we can not tell you exactly what you will be asked, we can prepare you for the most common interview questions.
- Tell me about yourself
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Why should we hire you?
- Give me an example of how you’ve handled workplace conflict
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- How do you prioritize your work?
- What are your salary expectations?
- Do you have any questions?
1. Tell me about yourself
As simple as the question may sound, it often catches most people off guard.
Use this question as an opportunity to showcase your personality and work ethic (an example of how you have thrived in the workplace).
A great way to give them better insight of who you are professional, is to break down and explain the accomplishments listed on your CV.
2. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths – This is an opportunity to showcase what exactly makes you a stand out employee. Pick one to three adjectives relevant to the job position that you think are your strengths.
To make yourself more memorable, give examples of how this strength has helped you in the workplace.
Weaknesses – This question is usually asked to get a sense of your self-awareness and honesty. When answering, try and find a balance between something you struggle with but are trying to improve on.
3. Why should we hire you?
There is no better question than this for you to sell your strengths and discuss your accomplishments .
Craft an answer that shows them: that you are able to do the work and deliver great results; that you will fit in with the work culture; and why you would be a better hire than any of the other applicants.
4. Give me an example of how you’ve handled workplace conflict?
Discussing previous job conflicts may be a tad bit uncomfortable. However, if you’re asked, don’t pretend you’ve never had one.
Be direct and honest about a difficult situation you have faced. Most employers are looking to hear if you are willing to face these kinds of issues head-on and come to a resolution.
5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
This question is usually asked to analyse if you have ambition and if the job vacancy aligns with your goals and growth.
The best way to answer this is to base it off where the position could take you. Remember to keep your answer relevant to the job and as realistic as possible.
6. How do you prioritize your work?
A great way to answer this question is by using a real-life example.
Within your example you should describe a routine or system you have put in place that showcases your time management skills and efficiency. An example of this would be using a to-do list or a color-coded spreadsheet.
7. What are your salary expectations?
Before going into an interview, you need to be aware of the market salary for the position. It is also important to take your education and experience into account when answering this question.
If you want to know more about the do’s and don’ts of negotiating a salary, read here.
8. Do you have any questions?
Asking questions at the end of an interview will show recruiters that you have an actual interest in the company.
Here are a few questions to ask:
- How do you measure success within this position?
- What brought about this vacancy?
- How would you describe a normal day in this position?
- Is there room for growth within your company?
- What are the qualities of someone successful in this position?
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Author: Layla Theunissen
Date Published: 17 December 2020