Interviews are the most important, yet stressful part of the job application process especially when it’s your first time. Interviews allow candidates to showcase their skills, experience, and suitability for the job.
One important aspect of preparing for an interview is the ability to answer interview questions. Understanding interview questions and knowing how to respond to them can help you stand out from other candidates and leave a lasting impression on potential employers.
The Importance of Interviews.
Interview helps employers select the best candidate for a role The importance of an interview is;
- The most important reason for an interview is to select the most suitable candidate for the job.
- Interviews allow employers to verify the information written in a candidate’s CV.
- An interview also helps candidates understand the organization and the role they applied for.
- It allows employers to assess the skills and qualifications of the candidates.
- Interviews are useful for gathering information about a potential colleague that cannot be written in one’s resume.
The Types of Interview Questions.
There are several types of interview questions. Each question during an interview is aimed at understanding different aspects of your professional life.
We will discuss five types of interview questions and some examples. These are;
1. Personality Interview Questions.
These are interview questions related to one’s behavior, skills, and experience. Employers ask these questions to know more about their candidates. Some examples of these questions are;
- Tell us more about yourself.
- How do you solve complex challenges?
- What are you passionate about?
- Why are you interested in this job?
- Why are you the best candidate for this job?
- Do you work in a team or independently?
- Tell us about a time you provided solutions to a challenge.
- Do you consider yourself calm in stressful situations?
- What do you hope to accomplish in the next five years of your career?
- What five adjectives would you use to describe yourself?
- How do you solve disagreements between co-workers?
- Do you have any work-related pet peeves?
- How do you react when you receive a negative review from your supervisor?
- What challenges are you looking for in this position?
- If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?
2. Skill-Based Interview Questions.
Skill-based interviews are interviews that focus on a candidate’s soft skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving. It allows the employer to assess whether the candidate is suitable for the role, especially leadership positions.
This type of interview usually involves situational or behavioral questions that require candidates to provide specific examples of how they have demonstrated their skills in the past. Some examples of these questions are;
- How do you organize a last-minute project and meet the due date?
- How do you ensure engagement during a presentation?
- Talk to us about how you organize your day.
- Tell me how you balance projects with competing deadlines.
- How do you manage your schedule when you have a lot to do?
- What routines or productivity tools do you employ to manage your day?
- Tell us about a difficult workplace decision.
- How do you minimize distractions during the workday?
- How do you motivate yourself to tackle the least appealing item on your to-do list?
- Tell us about a time you missed a deadline. What did you do?
- Tell us about a time when you led a project
- What style of leadership suits you more?
3. Job Qualifications Interview Questions.
These questions are designed to assess a candidate’s credentials such as qualifications, skills, education, and experience. The responses to these questions are important in determining whether the candidate has the necessary qualifications to meet the job’s requirements.
The interview questions are tailored to assess the candidate’s knowledge, expertise, and experience in the specific field, ensuring that the candidate is the right fit for the job. Some examples of these questions are;
- Describe a situation in which you led a team.
- What’s the highest level of education you’ve completed?
- What certifications do you hold?
- How can your previous experience benefit this company?
- Explain how you produced results in your last job.
- Provide an example of the tactics you used to achieve success in your previous position.
- Tell us about your leadership skills and the results you have achieved.
- Describe a project where you had to use different leadership styles to reach your goal.
- What qualifications make you qualified to lead a team?
- What measures do you take to avoid errors?
- How do you ensure clear communication in the workplace?
4. Industry knowledge Interview questions.
Industry knowledge interview questions are set to test the candidate’s understanding of the industry they are applying to. These questions are used to assess a candidate’s knowledge about the industry’s trends, policies, and best practices. Some examples of these questions are;
- Can you describe how your last project was structured from start to finish?
- What do you think is the biggest issue our industry faces today?
- If you were to supervise a department, what is the first thing you plan to do?
- what qualities do you look for in a candidate?
- what are the first steps you would take if you were to start your company?
- How do you allocate funds?
- Who is your mentor?
- What changes will you bring to the industry?
- What does your future look like in this industry in the next 5 years?
- What could your last company do to be more successful?
- What tools do you use to complete tasks or delegate responsibilities?
How to Prepare for an Interview?
Preparing for an interview is essential to ace the interview process and secure the job. To ace the interview process, we will guide you through the following steps to prepare for the interview.
- Research the company: The first step to preparing for an interview is to research the company and the role you are applying for. This will help you understand the company’s goals and culture. It also helps you understand the role you are applying for and tailor your resume accordingly. Go through the company’s website to gather information and recent news about the company. It could help you provide a solution to a problem the company has if they do.
- Review the job description: Reviewing job descriptions helps you identify the key skills and qualifications needed for the job. This will help you understand what is needed for the role and also help your conversation with the recruiter during the interview.
- Practice common interview questions and answers: Research common interview questions in the industry you are applying to. Practice with your friends and family to build your confidence and avoid stuttering.
- Do not personalize the interview: Do not focus on talking about your accomplishments. Nobody cares about these, organizations care more about what you can offer to the organization. So, focus on what you can offer the organization.
- Dress appropriately: Your dress speaks a lot about you, so to make a good impression on the employers, ensure you present yourself professionally. Researching the company photos on their website can help you understand how you can dress to present yourself professionally.
Related: How to Ace an Interview
On the day of your interview, arrive early with all your required documents. Take your time to calm your nerves before entering the interview hall. Be a listener and answer questions professionally. Remember to highlight how your skills and qualifications can help the company’s goal.
Related: Interview 101: Strategies for Excelling in Your Job Interview.
How to Answer Interview Questions?
After making the relevant preparations for the job interview, understanding how to answer interview questions goes a long way in securing the job. These are a few steps to help you answer interview questions.
1. Use the STAR method: STAR stands for situation, task, action, and result. The STAR method is an effective technique for answering behavioral interview questions.
How do you apply this?
- Firstly, the situation – describe the situation, this could be a challenge you took on or a project you managed.
- Secondly, the task – explain the tasks you did to accomplish the challenge or project.
- Thirdly, the action – describes the skills and action used to accomplish the challenge or project.
- Finally, the result – describe the result of your action. This could be a positive outcome, a lesson learned, or an accomplishment achieved.
The STAR method provides a structured and detailed response that showcases your skills and experience to the employer.
2. Showcase your skills and provide specific examples: Ensure that you tailor your answers to highlight your skills, experiences, and achievements, keeping in mind that they should align with the organization’s goals. Be sure to provide specific examples to demonstrate your capabilities and show how you can add value to the company.
3. Be concise: During the interview, it is important to keep your answers concise. Avoiding stuttering, rambling, or providing unnecessary information that does not apply to the interview. Focus on answering the questions asked and make your response concise.
4. Be honest: Honesty is the most important key when answering interview questions. Do not lie or exaggerate an event. Speak clearly and give honest responses.
How to End an Interview.
Ending an interview properly is also as important as preparing for an interview because it could give you a bonus point and leave a lasting impression on the interviewer. These are three simple steps to end an interview.
- Ask questions: Although interviews require you to answer questions, you can also ask questions about the company or role. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the company or role. This shows your interest in the company and the job. Try preparing questions in advance by reflecting on what you want to know and the organization’s culture and goals. It also helps you get a better sense of whether the role is a good fit for you.
- Thank the interviewer: This shows you understand simple etiquette and leaves a good impression.
- Follow-up after the interview: After the interview ends, follow up by sending a simple thank you note to the interviewer. It shows you value the job and appreciate the company’s effort. If you do not get a response after a week, you can send a follow-up message asking about the progress of the interview.
By taking all these into practice, candidates can go for interviews with confidence and a positive mindset.