Preparing for the Interview: Common Interview Questions, Purpose and Suggestions

1. Tell me about yourself?

Purpose:

• To put you at ease.
• To learn from you why they should or should not hire you.
• To see how you define yourself.
• To find out if your mind is on what you can offer the employer.
• To learn a little bit about your background.

Suggestions:

• When speaking about your interests and experience provide information that only relates to the job.
• Touch on you attributes, including you ability to get along with others.
• Touch on some appropriate personal information to indicate stability and your well rounded character.
• Do not ramble on about your life history.

2. What are your greatest strengths?

Purpose:

• To discover reasons for hiring you.
• To find out how well you know yourself.
• To find out if you believe in yourself and to find out if you are the right person for the position.

Suggestions:

• Give an honest answer that relates to the job.
• Mention that besides the work skills and/or experience that you would contribute, you also offer job related qualities.  For example, you could list your attributes.
• Be ready to back these attributes with specific examples.

3. What are your weaknesses?

Purpose:

• To discover how honest and objective you are.
• To discover if you are wrong for the job do to reasons such as a lack of experience, poor people skills, poor attitude, laziness.

Suggestions:

• Describe a positive attribute you have.  For example, state that it is important to meet deadlines, maintain high standards or see that all messages are answered.
• Continue with a statement or reassurance such as; "I have to really have to insure that I remain patient (diplomatic) when I see this is not happening."
• Or...honestly state an obvious weakness, then describe factors that compensate for it.   For example, "I am so enthusiastic what I want to do a hundred things at once, so I have to sit down and make a list of priorities and plan a schedule."

4. Why do you want to work here?

Purpose:

• To find out what you know and like about the organization and if you would stay.
• To see if your work qualifications fit the requirements and approach.
• To find out if you are genuinely interested in contributing to the company or only want the security, benefits and prestige they offer.

Suggestions:

• Indicate the liking for the work you do and how your skills match their requirements.
• Describe what you know about the organization.  If you can honestly compliment the company on such points as its reputation, service, product or quality, do so.
• Indicate the interest and care you took in finding out backgrounds information about the company.
• Make "you" statements not I need statements.

5. Why should I hire you?

Purpose:

• The employer does not want to know how you will benefit from the job, but how the company will be better off hiring you.

Suggestions:

• Show how your skills and experience are important to the job.
• Show enthusiasm to be part of the team.

6. What should I do in "this" situation?

Purpose:

• To assess your ability to answer unexpected questions.
• To assess your ability to handle and juggle real life situations.
• To learn about actual experience you have had.
• To discover if you are aware of company policy and government rules.

Suggestions:

• Mention your commitment to follow company guidelines and consulting you supervisor when appropriate.
• Describe a time when you successfully dealt with that type of situation.
• Describe related situations, experience, skills and attributes.

7. Do you have any questions?

Purpose:

• Indicates that the interview is almost over.
• Find out what you are interested in knowing and how much research you have done.

Suggestions:

• Keep questions brief.  Act confident but not demanding or self seeking.
• Show that you have listened to the employer and that you have already researched the company.
• Ask questions that will decide if the job is really for you