Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

As a job seeker, knowing some common interview questions is beneficial, but knowing how to answer them is actually more important. Although there is never exactly right or wrong when it comes to interview questions and answers, there are some things you need to pay attention to. Your nervousness will decrease as you get more prepared, making it easier for you to respond properly to any questions given by the interviewer. To help you out, here are some of the most common interview questions and answers.

1 . Tell me about yourself

This is probably one of the most common questions interviewers of all industries ask to applicants. Since this is an open-ended question, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this. To answer this, you can share about yourself in short and elaborate on how you are relevant to the job you are applying for. You can also highlight a bit about an experience you are proud of that is related to the industry or the position. Avoid over-explaining things that are clearly written on your resume.

2 . What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Interviewers ask about your personal strength to test your confidence and dig deeper into your qualities. They also ask about your weaknesses to see if you are open to criticism and improvement. To answer this, you must carefully study the job description of the position and see what qualities they demand you to have, which you actually have. You can also add one sentence where your strength compliments your achievement. In answering about your weakness, it is best to focus on professional traits by mentioning skills you are still trying to improve. You can read more about it in this article.

3. What do you know about this company?

The most fatal mistake you can possibly make is to not learn about the company before the interview. Research shows that 47% of candidates are rejected because they know too little or not at all about both the prospective employer and the job. You need to do your research about the company as well as find interesting aspects about the company which you sincerely like. Interviewers will appreciate it if you can show your interest in the company and not just randomly apply because you are in dire need of a job. 

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4 . Why did you quit your previous job?

Normally, this interview question is asked if the interviewer knows that you previously had a job or just recently resigned. You have to be careful in answering this question; the interviewer does not expect you to give all negative remarks about your previous employer. Instead, explain how you are seeking for a new experience, challenge, or career advancement, and how the company you are applying for is the place you see yourself growing better. 

5 . Why should I hire you?

This interview question is tricky to answer; you should not come off as cocky, yet you need to be convincing enough at the same time. The way to answer this is to use the ‘elevator pitch’ trick explaining why you deserve the job and how you can assure the interviewer that you have what it takes to fulfill your promise. You can read more about it in this article.

6. How do you keep up with stress and work pressure?

It is not a secret that some jobs are demanding and can be stressful at times, which makes this interview question commonly asked. When an interviewer asks you this, you should not exaggerate your stress tolerance or that you never feel pressured at work; this is not going to make you more desirable to hire. Instead, explain about a time you were stressed out or had a tough work pressure along with how you overcame it. This will show that you are aware of upcoming pressure at work, while knowing how to deal with it personally to remain professional.

7. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Although this interview question can come off differently, such as through “what are your future goals?”, the interviewer expects to see if you are suitable to employ for the long-term with the company. As the interviewer tests your commitment and motivation, you need to be both honest and specific in explaining your goal. You can emphasize on how you see yourself advancing in the field of expertise demanded by the position. For example, in five years, you see yourself having the mastery of Android development and iOS development, even if you can only do web development for now. Make sure that your goal is realistic, but show how you are keen to learn.

The most important thing to remember is that you do not have to memorize these questions; you just have to know what interviewers expect, so you can answer them appropriately and honestly. Knowing interview questions and answers will give you more confidence, boost your chances of getting to the second interview or even straight to the job. Good luck!

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