The Interview Playbook: How To Answer Common Questions

Imagine this, you have been sending out CVs for applications. Then you finally land an interview at your dream company, and now you are sitting in a panel interview. Your palms become sweaty, your heart starts beating fast, and then they ask the first question. A question you know like the back of your hand.

“Tell us about yourself,” you ramble nervously about your life story. You then freeze completely.

If you are not confident in your response, you are not alone. Many candidates stumble when they are faced with recruiting managers.

Edward, a talented and qualified Computer Science professional with 5 years of experience, recently shared his story during an interview coaching session.

“I was called for the last round of my interview. The technical questions were easy, but when they started asking things like What is your greatest weakness, I panicked.” She froze and mumbled something about working too hard, and she immediately saw their facial expression fall.

She lost that job not because of a lack the skills, but because she forgot to prepare for the human side of interviewing.

So, how do you tackle these make-or-break questions in an interview

Tell Us About Yourself.

The ‘Tell me about yourself’ question caught my attention during a conversation with Grace, an experienced HR specialist who also assists candidates with the interview process.
Your success can be greatly impacted by knowing how to answer this question, which sets the tone for the remainder of the interview.

So, how should you respond to this interview question?

Most recruiters want someone who gives a 90-second professional story that shows them why you are here.

What Are Your Strengths?

How would you react if you were asked to promote your special strengths during a hot interview?
To understand your skills and evaluate your chances of success, employers commonly ask about your success.

.For example, Edward listed patience as his strength for a high-pressure role. The interview ended quickly after that. You should always learn how to align your strengths with the requirements of the job

What Are Your Achievements?

“Every time I take the candidates through the mock interview coaching, ‘What are your achievements?’ is a question I pose to understand their track record of success.” Mary is an HR Manager and expert interview coach.

This question allows you to showcase your unique value proposition and the impact you’ve made in the past.

“In my last role, I led a project that reduced production costs by 18% while maintaining quality.”

This answer is specific, relevant, and shows the different types of achievements

Do you have any Questions for us?

When asked whether they had any questions, some candidates surprised me by simply saying “No” when I sat on a panel of interviewers.

Asking intelligent questions that demonstrate your familiarity with the position and make an impact is crucial.

Conclusion

Acing the interview is not just about highlighting your experience, skills, and qualifications but also demonstrating why you are the right fit for the role.

Take a step to sharpen your interview skills through the interview preparation coaching, and be on your way to getting your dream job.