7 Most Common Job Interview Questions and Answers

It is completely fine to experience jitters before that one job interview for which you have been preparing for months or years. It is completely fine to feel clueless and unsure about answering simplest of questions. It is completely fine if your tongues slips twice in a single sentence, or you mispronounce words or stutter here and there or even start forgetting words. It is a mark that you care about the opportunity and will do anything to save yourself from getting rejected.

One of the many reasons you might be feeling overwhelmingly skeptical about yourself is the fact that you are appearing for an interview, probably for the first time, which can break or make your future. The extent of importance that we have attached to this one particular process makes it harder for us actually go through it. None of us are blessed with the power of predicting the future, even if we did it wouldn’t have guaranteed our selection. What we can actually do to help our mind and body relax, is rehearsing the answers to the expected questions.

The questions that might be asked in the interview cannot be predicted with a hundred percent probability of being asked, but if it makes you confident then it is surely worth a try. The questions mainly depend on few things such as the kind of job you are applying for, your education, your past experiences and few personal questions regarding your achievements, background and future expectations. Based on the above criteria there are few generic questions which are repetitive in all kinds of job interviews irrespective of nature of the job. This article is going to help you in understanding the answers that are sought by interviewers, what qualities they are looking for and how to deal with tricky questions all at once.

Types of Questions Asked During Job Interview

As mentioned earlier, the questions mostly will be related to the kind of profession you are aspiring for. Not only the interviewers are going to judge your expertise in the respective field, they will also scrutinize your personality so as to determine whether you are tailored for job/position you are applying for or not. For example, if you are applying for the position of a Nursery school teacher what are your qualifications? Whether you have done a specialized course for preparatory school teaching or not, do you possess appropriate mannerisms, whether your methods of communication is easy to comprehend or not? Whether your personality is amiable, approachable and compassionate as idolized in a pre-primary school teacher.

The other aspect of interview questions might deal with your personal experiences, achievements, expectations and ambitions. Interviewers might ask questions specific to your undergraduate course/ master’s thesis, etc or it can be as generic as what are your future ambitions, how can this job help in your career advancement or what are your expectations from this organization.

7 Most Common Job Interview Questions and Answers

Top interview questions and answers

1. Give a brief introduction about yourself.

List down your introduction, qualifications, hobbies and ambitions smartly which would showcase the perfect blend of your personality.

2. Why do you want to work with our organization in the given capacity?

Things to keep in mind: Your personality and experience should seem a perfect fit for the position. Showcase a mutually benefitting relationship constructed between yourself and the organization.

3. What according to you sets you apart from other candidates?

Be clever about your characteristic traits. Mention your achievements and experiences. This question is more about ‘the way you put your answer forward’ then ‘what you put forward’.

4. What according to you is your one strength and one weakness?

Again, be smart what you list down in your strength and weaknesses. They should intermingle and portray you as an ideal candidate.

5. What will you immediate plan of action will be if you find your team/colleagues uncooperative?

Cooperation is an integral and important part of any team/organization. Take a middle ground and suggest constructive solutions such as through dialogue and debate.

6. How do you think your academic qualifications can help in you work, if selected?

Be wise and craft out a certain way to put your qualifications forward which would make you appear an easy choice for the panelists.

7. What are some of your hobbies that you think can help you with this work?

Your hobbies determine your personality as much as your qualifications. Mention your experiences and lessons learnt through them.

How to Answer the Questions?

Given there are various number of professions distributed in various fields, your answer might be specifically curated based on your experiences, qualifications, profession and the field you are applying for. It would appear professional and confident if you enter the room with a little smile stretched onto your face, dressed perfectly professional – not like you are attending a church wedding or a Sunday brunch and nod at the panel while greeting them.

Your demeanor needs to be visibly professional, polite and positive. These three P’s can land you at the doorstep of your dream job and if not so, a step closer definitely. Your introduction needs to crisp. Nobody wants to listen to you listing your bio-data and achievements one after another. You need to narrow down the list and mention only those skills, achievements and other things which are relatable to the designated post.

Answering the questions can be a bit daunting and the questions might appear repetitive but that is certainly not the case. The questions might be overlapping but they are equally unique and needs to be dealt in a smart manner. The ability to reason, correlate and learn from experiences are being judged when the panel asks such repetitive questions. Your approach to problems, both inside and outside the professional sphere are being judged at the very moment too. Therefore it is important to be positive and approachable.

Few Tips on How to Ace the Interview

  1. Dress professionally but balance your look. Ditch the casual denims or the three piece suit. A solid crisp shirt and trousers topped with a tie will help you with confidence and additional stars.
  2. Keep your tone polite and positive no matter what. Any company will not agree to hire an intolerant employee.
  3. Practice tongue twisters and your answers in front of mirror if you are struggling with confidence.
  4. Sleep well and eat healthy before the interview. It can reduce the anxiety and help you in getting the glow you really need.
  5. Take deep breathes and believe in yourself.

Hope you do well in the interview you are preparing for and every other you plan on giving in future!

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