How to answer the top interview Questions
These are the top 15 Most Common Interview Questions and Answers hiring managers will ask in 2024. Picture of a situation where you already know what the Hiring Manager are going to ask you during your next Interview…?That would be the greatest thing to ever happen in your entire career life!!!. wouldn’t it? I know its a big yes ofcourse. But I believe that we are no angels hence cant read minds. What we are going to discuss here is the most commonly asked interview questions and how to tackle them.
I don’t Recommend having a scanned copy or memorizing everything we are going to discuss here, what I recommend is to Read and Understand how to go about the questions and how to twist the answers to fit your own special scenario. That is what the hiring managers will be looking for in your Responses and what it takes to prove that you have what they are looking for.
Well make your self comfortable as we begin. If you do Yoga chain smoke or consume lots of food to enhance full time concentration now is your time….l Lets Begin!
1.Tell us about your self.
Trust me If you are New into the interview world, this is one of the mostly asked Question, one you can never miss in any interview. It seems simple but most people fail because they fail to prepare in advance.
To answer this Question is really simple. Follow my three steps and you will have nailed it!. But also note that you want to focus on what you are going to do to full fill the position you are applying for. Here is how you go about it:
- State your personal Details.
- Briefly explain your Education Background.
- Briefly explain your Work Background.
Example of a good Answer
Lets use general Example of a Telecommunication technician from the Newyork applying for a technical job. Make sure you use my example to customize your respond to suite your role; This is how He or She could answer the question:
…First my name is Stella XYZ, I am an American. I graduated from the Technical University of Newyork with a bachelors degree in Electrical engineering Telecommunication option the year 2011. Previously I completed my CompTIA A+ certification at CompTIA online learning academy which deals with Installation Optimization and maintenance of computer software and later Joined the Cisco networking academy and got certified as a cisco certified Network associate the year 2014.
I have a total of six years working experience as communication Technician . Previously worked with Broadband networks global one of the leading Telecommunication companies in the country as a communication technician dealing with complete site solution for mobile networks, That is Radio Access Networks and Transmission, Satellite Networks ie; Installation integration and Maintenance; cable networks specifically Optical fiber and Ethernetworking ie structured cabling and the laying of the logical network and finally i have worked with Integrated Security systems commonly known as ISS
2. How did you hear about this position
This is another question trust me if finds you u prepared, you will definitely fail!. Most of the people fail because They only give a straight answer; eg:
- I heard about the positions from a friend. OR
- heard about the position from the Internet. OR
- saw the advertisement from the print media.
I know what your thinking…Isn’t that the right way of answering. yes it is. All the above answers to some extent are all correct But here is the catch: What the Hiring manager is actually looking for is your passion and connection to the organization. you need to share specifically what caught your eye about the role!.
Example of a good answer
I heard about this position from the internet. I am subscribed to educationgrade.com one of the leading job blogs that sends me regular job openings around the globe. When I got the alert about this position, I checked out the job an looked for more info about the organization. when I realized that I am the perfect fit for the vacancy I applied Enthusiastically and was very delighted when I received a confirmation that I was one of the shortlisted candidates.
3. What do you know about this organization?
Many candidates will fail this question because all they do before an interview is go through the ”About Us” page of the company they are interviewing for and during the interview recite what they read to the recruiting manager. According to me its good practice but reciting that during the interview is a BIG NO!
The trick behind this question is the Hiring manager wants to find out whether understand and care about the organization mission. of course YES you will start by explaining what the organization does, then you should go ahead and try make it personal. eg ”I am personally drawn to this mission because…..OR ”I personally relate with your values in that I believe…”
Example of a good answer
what I know about the organization is that it deals with ABC and XYZ, But I am particularly attracted to the vision of your company. I like how the business has focused on putting customer needs first and in a friendly and innovative way. I believe that my marketing experience…..OR …My Technical experience…OR My sales experience can add value to your Organization
4. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
This question seems simple, so many people fail to prepare for it, but it’s crucial. Here’s the deal: Don’t give your complete employment history. Instead give a pitch, one that’s concise and compelling and that shows exactly why you’re the right fit for the job. Start off with the specific accomplishments or experiences that you most want the interviewer to know about, then wrap up talking about how that prior experience has positioned you for this specific role. You don’t want to focus on what is best about you, you want to focus on what you are going to do to full-fill the needs of the company you are interviewing with.
Example of a good answer to the question would be:
I’d really describe myself as a person with a versatile skillset , a lot of integrity and a willingness to go the extra mile to satisfy a customer. Perhaps the best way to let you know what I’m about is to share with you a quick experience I had.
”Recently while working at a location with a client, they mentioned that they had just purchased some software that I was familiar with but that their computer systems were having some difficulty integrating the program. I offered to take a look and found out that there was a step that had somehow been forgotten. I told him I would be happy to wipe the system and reinstall the software correctly. At first the client refused and when I asked him why, he told me that it was too expensive and that they were just going to learn to work around the problem.
When I asked him further, he told me a different analyst had been in, looked at the problem, and told them that the files had corrupted their system overall and that it would take at least $25,000 to fix. When I told him it was a simple matter of wiping the previous version and reinstalling it, he was stunned. I did the whole project for a fraction of the cost the other “analyst” had quoted. My client was so happy he referred me to his friends and I’ve done similar work for several other companies in town as well”
5. How did you hear about the position?
Another seemingly innocuous interview question, this is actually a perfect opportunity to stand out and show your passion for and connection to the company. For example, if you found out about the gig through a friend or professional contact, name drop that person, then share why you were so excited about it. If you discovered the company through an event or article, share that. Even if you found the listing through a random job board, share what, specifically, caught your eye about the role
Example of a good answer:
“When I decided to consider changing employers, I reached out to my network looking for recommendations of good local employers[Employee name, job title, and organization] who I know through[previous employer, school, local professional organization, neighbor, etc.] reached out. He knew of this job being open and though it could be a good fit for me. He speaks very highly of this organization. When I checked out the job and looked at more information about you, I agreed. So I applied enthusiastically through your employee referral program.”
6. What do you know about the company?
Any candidate can read and regurgitate the company’s “About” page. So, when interviewers ask this, they aren’t necessarily trying to gauge whether you understand the mission,they want to know whether you care about it. Start with one line that shows you understand the company’s goals, using a couple key words and phrases from the website, but then go on to make it personal. Say, “I’m personally drawn to this mission because…” or “I really believe in this approach because…” and share a personal example or two.
Example of a good answer:
I am particularly attracted to the vision of your company. I like how the business has focused on meeting customer’s needs in a friendly and innovative way. Your approach is admirable, and I believe my marketing experience can add to the success of your vision.
7. What are your greatest professional strengths?
When answering this question, be accurate (share your true strengths, not those you think the interviewer wants to hear); relevant (choose your strengths that are most targeted to this particular position); and specific (for example, instead of “people skills,” choose “persuasive communication” or “relationship building”). Then, follow up with an example of how you’ve demonstrated these traits in a professional setting.
Example of a good Answer:
“I enjoy interacting with people and helping them solve problems, both on the phone and also via email or electronic chatting/messaging. I’ve been an online customer service representative for over 5 years, and I really enjoy interacting with people across the globe. My employer has a high standard for customer satisfaction, and I’ve been trained to defuse really angry people so they can be helped and, in fact, satisfied with our services. We are measured both on how satisfied people are after they’ve spoken with us, and also if they purchase additional products and services as a result of our interactions. I’m proud to say that I am usually among the leaders in our group, and have received at least one service rep of the month award every year.”
8. Why do you want this job?
Again, companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job, so you should have a great answer about why you want the position. (And if you don’t? You probably should apply elsewhere.) First, identify a couple of key factors that make the role a great fit for you (e.g., “I love customer support because I love the constant human interaction and the satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a problem”), then share why you love the company (e.g., “I’ve always been passionate about education, and I think you guys are doing great things, so I want to be a part of it”).
Example of a good answer:
“I learned a long time ago that doing the same thing every day is not for me as I enjoy problem-solving in fast-paced environments. I am also a person who likes to build relationships. Based on what you have told me, I would be the point-of-contact with customers resolving issues and overseeing their product delivery. So every day would be different and interesting. I would get to know my customers and build long-term relationships with them.”
“I am looking for a company where I not only enjoy what I am doing but, can also grow into new positions. I am very good at what I do, but in the computer field there are always new tools and technologies coming out. I want a company that allows me to learn more and expand my capabilities into new areas. The fact that you sponsor a week of training every year and that most of the people I’ve met have been here more than five years shows me that we share the same values.”
“To be honest, I do not enjoy politics at work where each person is trying to outdo the other to get attention. In my perfect world, I would work with my team mates where we all are focused on a common goal and support each other. I was impressed by your team-building and employee recognition programs as they indicate we share the same values.”
9.Why should we hire you?
This interview question seems forward (not to mention intimidating!), but if you’re asked it, you’re in luck: There’s no better setup for you to sell yourself and your skills to the hiring manager. Your job here is to craft an answer that covers three things: that you can not only do the work, you can deliver great results; that you’ll really fit in with the team and culture; and that you’d be a better hire than any of the other candidates.
Example of a good answer:
I have been using Word, Excel, and Outlook since 2001 to maintain both financial and administrative records, create and distribute internal reports for management to monitor employee activity and asset usage which was received by 4 senior managers including the CEO and COO, and create and distribute the internal organizational newsletter which was sent to over 200 staff members twice a month.
“The financial reports were created and maintained using Excel, and both newsletters were written using Microsoft Word, using templates that I developed, and distributed using Outlook.
“I have taken several workshops on Microsoft Office products, and have worked with the newest version and previous versions, going back to the 1997 version. So, I am very comfortable with the Microsoft Office suite of products.”
10. What expectations do you have from your first job?
The interviewer wants to know about the vision that you have for yourself. You can never go wrong with answers such as ‘to learn or ‘to grow as a professional. However, you can also add generic things like paying off your education loan, contributing to the society, etc.
Example of a good answer:
I expect a decision making position with the company to further company exposure and customer satisfaction through proper analytical reporting and forecasting. I work with the CFO and report to the CFO directing some of the accounting and ERP support staff.
11. Why have you chosen this field?
There are many people who select their profession after assessing their likes, dislikes and knowledge in different fields. But this is not the case with all students. There are youngsters who lack direction in life. These are individuals who are unable to identify their strengths early. They may choose a field just because it appears better than the rest. Questions regarding choice of a field can be challenging to such individuals. The interviewers usually expect to hear about your choice and liking for a field when they ask you why you chose a certain field. You should be in a position to explain to them what you like in your chosen field. Your passion for the chosen field should be evident in your answer.
12. What is your weakness
An earnest man would easily fall prey to questions like these. You need to tackle questions like these tactically. When they ask about your weakness, your reply should be something like, ‘ I do not get peaceful till the work at hand is complete even if excess work affects my health adversely. Such an answer reveals your love for the work you do and your true dedication and devotion as an employee. Your choice of an answer to such questions reveal your true attitude towards work.
You may also say things like ‘ My weakness is my strict adherence to deadlines even when the project is not urgent or ‘I can’t tolerate indiscipline. These are replies that highlight you in positive light. Such weaknesses only glorify you.
13. What’s your career goal?
This is one of the common questions posed in interviews. The interviewers are always curious to know your career goal and your dream career. They try to analyze from your replies whether you are a good choice for the particular job. Different questions they pose try to understand your liking for the industry you have chosen.
14. Are you a team player?
The huge organizations succeed because they work in teams. An individual needs to have a very high level of understanding to be able to perform in a team. The interviewers always seek team players. If they ask you whether you are one, you should be able to tell them how good you are while working in a team. Give them examples of college events where you have actively participated.
15. Are you a good team leader?
Every organization looks for good leadership qualities in their employees. While freshers are expected to follow their seniors in most situations, the firms know that only freshers can bring in change. They look for youngsters with an ability to bring change. You need to explain your leadership skills and your ability to understand the situation and find an apt solution. They seek leaders who are not bossy but understanding. Power blinds most men and you need to show the interviewers how you can help progress happen with your leadership skills.
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