Winning over the recruiter to get the job that you applied for can sometimes be daunting. They will ask you a myriad of questions to probe into you to make sure that amongst the hundreds of applicants, you deserve to move on to the next step.
So to cinch that all important first step, here are a few questions that are normally asked in an interview.
1.) Tell me more about yourself?
This question is normally asked in the beginning of the interview. And how you answer will pretty much dictate the complexion of the next ten mins.
When you are asked this question, don’t make the usual mistake of simply reading off every detail in your CV. Your recruiter already has your CV in their hand and they’ve already read it before they spoke to you. What they would like to hear are the other things, especially in the professional sense, that cannot be included in your CV.
Details like which of your jobs really help you grow as a person and as a professional. Or why you chose to be in the industry that you are in. Perhaps even why you chose to be in this industry and what you enjoy out of it.
2.) Why do you want this position?
The recruiter needs to gauge how serious you are in getting the position. Therefore you need to convince the person that you have done your research and that it suits you. The most common mistake people would answer would be it’s because they need a job. That would be the wrong thing to say. Because like you, everyone else that gave their CV needs a job.
Remember, the company will invest in time, money and effort to train you and to make sure that you will be capable of doing the work. You need to prove to them that you are committed to excellence and not simply because you need “a job”.
3.) How do you see yourself 5 years from now?
This is a question that will gauge your ambition in life. Startup companies like OceanClick want to get people who have the drive to be leaders and to help them grow. So saying with confidence that you would like to work hard to be promoted in a higher position are things recruiters like to hear. Ambitions on a personal level are mildly acceptable but not necessary to mention.
4.) What is your most challenging situation and how were you able to overcome it?
This is often asked so that the recruiter will see how you can solve or handle problems. No company is perfect, so they look for people who can help them in solving problems. It doesn’t have to be about long term strategic planning, but it starts with the small or not-so-small things that occur every now and then. So speak from experience, whether it’s work or school related, as to how you were able to overcome this challenge.
5.) How well do you handle a stressful situation?
This is related to the previous question but more probing. Are you the type that can handle situational stress well? Do you crack under pressure? Or do you compose yourself to assess the situation and find a workable solution with your team?
Stress will always be a part of life, it’s all a matter of how well you handle it to get over the next challenge.
6.) If you are having problems with a work colleague, how would you make things better?
Sadly it’s quite common that you won’t get along with everybody. Or even with someone you were getting along with until a particular situation comes along. And nothing makes for a disruptive work environment than having added tension in the office. So the question is, how do you handle it?
7.) Why did you leave your previous job?
So it’s normal for people to leave a company, the better question is why? Did you leave because of personal reasons? Was it in a good way or in a negative way? Remember to be truthful because it’s quite common for companies to check on your previous employment. So if you’re not truthful, it will just reflect on you negatively. And if you left in a bad way, be honest about it, but also tell how you learned from it and how it helped you grow personally and professionally.
8.) What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
No one is perfect and everything is about balance. You can be good at one thing but weak in another so feel free to be honest about it. This question is asked to gauge your professional skills so no need to share with your recruiter anything personal.
9.) Why are you the best person for this job?
Like most of the questions above, this is about selling yourself. This is about the commitment you will give if and when you get a job. There can be only one vacant position out of a hundred applicants so the recruiter needs and wants to hear how valuable you will be when you become a part of the team.
10.) How has your previous experience prepared you for this role?
They say in every job there is always something to learn. Even if your previous company wasn’t a very good employer, there is always something to learn. One of it is how NOT to do things. So give some short insights on what lessons you can take from your previous employment and how you will be able to use it to make a worthy contribution to the company.
