For every career position you apply for, within the interview process, there will be a handful of recurring key interview questions you can expect and prepare for. This is good. An interview can be nerve-wracking or exciting. Or both! Prepare with these insights so you stand out against the competition.
Tell us about yourself.
Be prepared to provide a detailed yet captivating insight into your professional journey and career growth. Focus on key achievements, experience and skills learned. Use this opportunity to “brag” about yourself and create a vivid mental image of your professionalism and expertise in serving their company.
What motivates you?
Use this to reflect on your personal and professional motivations. Highlight job aspects that align with your personal aspects and ambitions – discussing what drives you personally gives the interviewer an insight into whether you align with the company’s greater goals and missions, which you should know.
Describe a challenge you overcame
Anticipate questions about personal challenges. Choose a specific example demonstrating your resilience, problem-solving capabilities and determination. This showcases your ability to navigate adversity and contribute positively to the workplace.
Why are you interested in this position?
Tailor your response to the specific attributes of the job while taking a personal approach. Discuss why your experience, skills, and career goals make you the prime candidate for the job. This question, in part, is the interviewer asking if you understand the company’s position and values.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Demonstrate strengths you have that align with the characteristics of the job. When discussing weaknesses, make sure that you use a weakness you are actively trying to improve as an example. This question demonstrates your self-awareness as well as your commitment to professional growth.
Do NOT use the overused and eye-roll-inducing clichéd claims of being a perfectionist or similar.
How do you handle stress and pressure?
Share an example of a specific high-pressure situation you have prevailed in. State what strategies you employed to stay cool, calm and collected. This question assesses whether you can handle challenging settings and is a crucial aspect of the professional environment.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Craft a response that aligns clearly with the company’s ambition and long-term goals. Showcase your desire for professional growth within the organisation. This question assesses your commitment to the company and overall organisation.
How would your colleagues describe you?
Talk about varying positive aspects you’ve displayed in team settings. Highlight any qualities that strengthen your collaboration, communication and leadership. This question provides insights into how you view your own interpersonal skills.
Give an example of a successful team project.
Be ready to discuss a team project where you played a key and active role in the achievement. Be ready to discuss your collaboration, communication and leadership skills. This question will allow the interviewer to see where exactly you will fit into the already established team dynamic of the company.
Why should we hire you?
Summarise your unique skills and selling points that make you indispensable to the organisation. Discuss specific skills and experience you can bring that will enhance the team. This question allows you to make a case for yourself and become an indispensable team member.
You can never be too prepared for these expected key interview questions, so seek the opportunity to showcase your skills and talents that will allow you to grow on your professional journey whilst enhancing the organisation and furthering it in the trajectory it needs to go on for it to achieve its goals.
The FilteredOUT Workbook lists 45 interview questions that always come up, along with much more guidance from Peter Botting on why the question is being asked, how to approach answering it and a page for you to work on your answers. It’s a great interview preparation tool you can use throughout your career.