Interview Questions
Being good at interviewing is simply a matter of preparation and a good understanding of your own strengths, motivation and likes/dislikes. Below is a list of questions to help you prepare for an interview in a way that will make you feel confident about your answers and your abililty to make a positive impression.
CAN YOU GIVE ME A SUMMARY OF YOUR BACKGROUND?
Many interviewers like to start by you going over your CV. Be prepared to summarise your background, experience and qualifications. This is your opportunity to speak logically and clearly about yourself, and to share a particular accomplishment or attribute that makes you a valuable employee.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT.
Your response here is critical. Focus on your hard work, commitment to long hours or ability to work under pressure. Describe a recent challenge and how you were involved in the solution through initiative, a leadership role or other contribution. Try to present an accomplishment that relates to this new position.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR JOB?
Discussing major problems within the company, criticising your boss or bad-mouthing your colleagues is never a good idea. Keep your answer positive, focus on your career development, wanting to learn new skills or work in a different environment, etc.
WHAT DID YOU LIKE/DISLIKE ABOUT YOUR LAST POSITION?
Your answer will give the interviewer an idea of whether or not you are a good fit for this position. It is important to be honest but also realistic: if you are going into a QA or regulatory affairs position and you mention that you don’t like paper work, it may not work in your favour! Focus on the parts that you do like especially if they link to the job for which you are interviewing.
IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION?
Focus on a few requirements of the job and how you can meet these requirements through your particular skills and experience. Highlight your management experience, a technical skill or a personal success story.
DESCRIBE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT STRENGTHS.
Identify five strengths you feel are most in line with the position for which you are interviewing (eg. organisational skills, team player, strong communication, etc.). Describe each strength using a brief example of how you successfully applied that particular skill to a work situation.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES OR AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENTS?
This question makes many candidates feel nervous. The key to answering it well is preparation. Be honest, but be careful not to make general statements about your personality that will make you undesirable for the job. Explain your “weaknesses” clearly to show that you recognise them, and highlight what you are doing to work on them (eg. taking a course, working with a mentor, using a new time management tool, etc.)
WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?
Don’t mention goals you know are most likely not attainable. Give realistic answers such as a management promotion in three to five years. Consider your past and use this as a guideline for what seems reasonable. If you are starting your career, you may want to focus on learning new skills and acquiring competencies in the near future.
CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF A SITUATION WHERE…?
This is a technique used by many interviewers in order to assess how you reacted in the past to certain situations (eg. difficult clients or co-workers, high pressure, failure, etc.). Ensure that you are able to give examples that are specific and with a positive outcome.
YOU TOLD ME THAT YOU HAVE VERY STRONG………SKILLS. CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HAVE USED THEM IN THE PAST?
This is very similar to the question above, but focusing on skills. For instance, if you claim to have very strong organisational or leadership skills, the interviewer will expect you to give him/her specific examples of how you have demonstrated these in the past.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST:
WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?
Here, you are given a great opportunity to sell yourself. Don’t repeat everything that you have already said, but instead, restate some of the key aspects of the job which you have gleaned from the interview and describe the traits and experience that make you an ideal candidate for the position. Show enthusiasm and a real interest in the job and company.
General comments:
Your answers should be:
- Focused on the questions. Avoid going off in other directions.
- Detailed enough but still concise. Interviewers may have a number of questions to ask in a limited time and won’t appreciate if they have only covered a few by the end of the interview.
- Positive and upbeat. Even if you went through difficult situations, always try to give them a positive, optimistic twist.
- Straight-forward and clear. Express yourself in a clear, easy to understand manner and avoid being overly wordy.
Practise and preparation will give you confidence for the interview and increase your chances of making a positive impression. It is an investment in your own future.
Good luck!
