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This question has been on the minds of many people in the workforce. Whether you’re an interviewer or candidate for hire, it’s essential to know how to best answer these hard-hitting questions. This blog post will outline preparation strategies and what to say when asked tough interview questions. Best of luck!

This article aims to map out the road to success for prospective employees to stand out among the pool of candidates and capture the attention of potential employers. Do you have what it takes to become the winning candidate in your interview?

Do You Know What a Killer Interview Question is?

A well-organised and thought-out list of interview questions is necessary for every recruiter. Interview questions should be both creative and relevant to the position.

Interviewers should be prepared with a list of interview questions that will allow them to find a candidate that will fit into their company culture. There are different interview questions, including behavioural, situational, and competency-based.

Introduction

Job seekers are prepared to invest countless hours on their curriculum vitae, aware that one slight oversight is enough to rule us out of contention. Yet, we are less familiar with the requirements of the interview process. Unless we perform brilliantly, the opportunity we hope for may not materialise!

Performance

Potential employers, your interviewer(s), have a clear image of the person they are looking for. They have a keen awareness of the personality of the successful candidate and often have a complete picture of how this individual will handle stress under pressure.

The fact that the prospective candidate has made it to the interview portion of the selection process indicates that they have the basic skills and qualifications for the position. What is yet to be determined is the applicant’s performance.

Killer Questions I

As the candidate, are you prepared for the potential employers’ killer questions designed to put you in one hot spot after another? Here are some questions you should always be prepared for.

1. What sets you apart from the other candidates so we can offer you this position? Your answer should focus on your experience. Match each requirement from the job posting to a specific occasion. Choose the first three requirements.
2. What can you bring to the company that will benefit us? Your answer should address the primary responsibility of the position. The job posting will describe what the position’s purpose is. You may highlight your interests, strengths, personality, background or any experience that led you to apply.
3. How would you summarise our company to the media? Would you please describe our mission and goals? All prospective employees should know the potential employer’s history, goals, and objectives, including their strengths and what they know. For example, did they win any “employer of the year awards”? Were they in the news recently? This is your moment to shine by knowing your potential employer thoroughly! “Teach” your answers to the interviewers instead of regurgitating what you’ve memorised.
4. What would it be if you could change one thing about our company? Why? Be careful not to answer in a way that comes across as critical of the potential employer. Instead, a prospective employee could add a little creativity by suggesting that they could hire you or that you wished you had crossed paths with them sooner. For example, “I wish I discovered (potential employer) earlier so that I can be a part of your organisation’s (some goal they’ve achieved) sooner. I admire that you have….”
5. What is your understanding of the job description? In what area(s) will you excel? What area(s) will you need to work on the most? This question is designed to assess whether the prospective applicant has taken the time to read the job description and given thought to the primary responsibilities. So, prepare by studying the job description and memorising its main parts. (If you do not have a detailed job description, ask if you can have one. This shows initiative. Suppose they said no, no foul). You will excel at such and such because that’s what you’ve had experience in or your area of interest. Of course, you will need to brush up on such and such, but you’re a quick study or are already reading up on the subject.
6. What are your salary expectations? Why? Generally, the salary has been pre-determined. Therefore, the preferred answer should be, “I expect to be paid fairly by the organisation’s structure, and that consideration will be given to relevant experience and performance.”
7. Give an example from your past when you made a significant mistake. Briefly describe the scenario and explain the steps you took to notify your superiors. How did you rectify the situation or make amends? This behavioural question requires the candidate to share a real example from their work experience. It is designed to evaluate the candidate’s forthrightness when an error occurs and whether the candidate can “bounce back” from an adverse or embarrassing event. It is essential to include what you have learned from the incident and how you will prevent a repeat of the error in the future. Ensure them that you have understood and are all the better at it. Ownership

How to Answer Effectively When Asked ‘Tell Me About Yourself

A lot of interviewers ask this question to get to know you better. You should answer honestly and confidently. You want to emphasise your strengths and why you are the best person.

You should also mention your most exciting experiences, achievements, work experience, education, and other skills that will come in handy for the job. It is essential that you positively frame your answer so that it is clear that you are enthusiastic about the job opportunity — it will at least be seen as a good sign, if not a perfect fit.

How to Answer The Most Common Interview Question “What’s Your Greatest Weakness?”

There is no perfect answer to this question and no specific right or wrong answer. The best way to answer this question is to think about what you want to say and find a way to say it positively.

Many people believe that the “weakness” question is meant for the interviewer (or potential employer) to find out what you are not good at, but it’s more of a test for you. It’s not all about your weaknesses but also about how you respond.

The most common advice given by many HR experts when answering this question is that the best response should be framed around how the weakness has helped you and made you more robust, intelligent, wiser, etc.

Some Great Examples of Interview Questions that Show Your Competitiveness

In a competency-based interview, you will be asked behavioural questions. These questions can range from typical interview questions to situational interview questions. The interviewer wants to see how competent you are in handling these situations and your past experiences while going through them.

Some great examples of competency-based interviews include:

1) Tell me about a time you had to negotiate for change in your organisation?

2) Tell me about a time when you had to lead a team that was not motivated?

3) Tell me about a time when something went wrong on an assignment you were leading?

What Makes a Good Interview Answer?

The candidate needs to know what to expect during an interview and answer questions correctly. For example, a candidate may be asked three questions: behavioural, hypothetical, and situational. Some key pointers for answering these questions are speaking, accentuating the positives in your experience, and minimising the negatives.

A good answer is a response with a specific beginning, middle and end. It should not sound rehearsed because it will sound like you have been preparing for this question precisely. The best answers come from being able to think on your toes and share experiences from previous work or educational backgrounds.

What Can You Learn from an Interviewer’s Silence?

Silence is the silent killer in job interviews. It’s not something you want to risk or leave unanswered. Yet, it’s not about avoiding silence altogether. Sometimes, it is strategically better to use silence instead of words.

Silence can be a sign of deep thought, reflection, and consideration. Silence can also be used to emphasise the importance of an answer or question that the interviewer has asked.

Conclusion: Interviews are tough, but they don’t have to be. Again — it’s all about preparation! The article lists interview questions that you might expect and some tips on answering them. You’ll never go wrong by being prepared for the unexpected with an arsenal of responses in your back pocket. Please read it, then get out there and ace those interviews!