You finally got a call back from a recruiter or hiring manager. Now you are one step closer to starting a new job. However, before this, you have to cross the big hurdle; THE JOB INTERVIEW.

Interviews can be nerve-racking and quickly go sideways if ample preparation is not done. On the contrary, if you conduct good research and run sufficient background checks, you can easily garner enough confidence and information to dazzle the recruiter and score good points.

Before a job interview, it is typical to have a thousand and one possible questions running through your mind. To save you the heebie-jeebies, here are 5 top interview questions to help you pull through your interview cohesively and efficiently.

1. TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF

The employer does not want to hear your name, where you come from, or where you live. Your resume already informed them. The “tell me about yourself” question must always tie back to the position you have applied for. Are there any previous experiences that are relevant to the role? Talk about it. Did you learn a new skill while job hunting? It's best to mention it. Or simply talk about your personality to break the ice.

Alternately, you can use this easy formula;

1. Explain your current role and emphasize major and pertinent responsibilities or achievements.

2. Summarize previous experiences and how they have prepared you for the position.

3. Connect your background, interests, and qualifications to the role.

This is a sample answer you can use as a guide:

This answer summarizes your career and liaises it to the position you have applied for. The hiring manager will be of the impression that you have a foundation in the position and have a promising quest to further develop your career.

2. WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK IN THIS COMPANY?

Hiring officers pre-emptively ask this question to understand the motivation behind your application. Are you sincerely interested in the role or you’re all about the paycheck? They also want to find out if your values, culture, and vision are in alignment with theirs. If you did not do your due diligence in researching the company, your answer will be unsatisfactory. This question also allows the hiring manager to lean into your career and futuristic goals and weigh the impact of the role on your future. A tepid and uninformed answer such as “I saw the job poster so I applied” or “It’s a big company and I’d like to work here” is sure to thwart all your job search efforts.

Instead, you can say ;

Why This Answer Stands Out:

It shows the recruiter that the applicant paid attention to research. The applicant also identifies with company values, in his case, positive change. The recruiter will know this applicant will be motivated in supporting the company’s CSR efforts and other goals.

3. WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES?

You just like your employer are no “perfect” human. You are bound to have weaknesses and your employer will want to be savvy of them. It is important to not undermine your capabilities while hinting at your weaknesses. The employer is simply trying to establish that your skillset is deemed fit for the role. They also ask this question to test your honesty.

A typical response like “I don’t have any weaknesses and I excel at all that I do” will only prove your duplicity. To answer this question, you can hint at assets that are irrelevant to the role in question to divert the recruiter’s attention. You can also talk about skills you have improved. Again, mentioning skills that are non-essential to the role you have applied for is a healthier strategy.

Here's a sample response;

Why This Answer Stands Out:

This answer is genuine and shows the candidate turning their weakness into a success story. By touching on self-reflection, we can speak of their self-awareness. Secondly, they have made an effort to become better rather than wallowing in dormancy.

4. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS?

At a job interview, the answer(s) to this question will inform your employer of your motivation and future goals. Do your goals match up with the role? What will you accomplish within and beyond that jurisdiction? They don’t expect you to have all the answers. However, having a goal or vision that aligns with the said position will highlight your stability, a trait all hiring managers look out for.

Given the budget allocated to the hiring process, employers want to feel confident in hiring people who are committed to long-term growth and not looking for a quick route to make money. Remember to take some out to brainstorm and ask yourself pertinent questions about your future goals before the D-Day.

This response may be of help when answering this question:

This candidate has demonstrated willingness and zeal to improve as a project manager including areas that are not his fortes.

5. HOW DO YOU HANDLE STRESS OR PRESSURE?

Yes, I saved the best for last! This open-ended question can be the ultimate deal-breaker. Nonetheless, your answer can be your winning point after all. A stressful or conflicting situation is inexorable at the workplace. Your potential employer will want to know how you handle pressure in such events. They also want to gain insight into your behavioral strengths and weaknesses.

Furthermore, typical examples of how you kept your composure in the past are of importance to your employer. For example;

Why This Answer Stands Out:

This is an excellent answer in the sense that, the candidate has shown practical solutions and commendable knowledge in conflict resolution. They have shown honesty by talking about situations that were out of their control.

Conclusion

Although the “hardest” part of the job-hunting process is the interview, just like almost everything in life, planning and researching ahead of time will adequately prepare you for your next job interview. This article, for example, is a great resource for acing your next interview. Bookmark it and share it with anyone who may need it!

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