When you’re in the interviewing hot seat, sometimes even the most prepared candidate can choke on the most basic question. However, answering well could be the difference between getting a job offer and not. Before your next meeting, spend some time preparing yourself for the most common interview questions so you can stay on track and land your next job. Here are some frequently asked questions to consider.
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What did you do at your last job?
They want to not only know what you did before but how exactly you can fit into what they do now. They want to understand how you see your role fitting into their business as much as you did your previous employer. The best way to do this is by demonstrating your experience through narratives about actual events.
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What is your biggest weakness?
One of the biggest mistakes that job seekers make is attempting to be clever by changing a strength into a weakness. Don’t tell them, “I am just too punctual!” This doesn’t actually mean anything. There is no failure in admitting what you can actually improve on in your career. Be honest, but be solutions oriented.
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Tell me about yourself.
The interviewer does not want you to start at the beginning and tell you everything there is to know about you. Instead, they want to find out what you decided was most worth telling. Feel free to share some interesting or surprising information to set yourself apart from your competition, but be sure the story is appropriate for the workplace.
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Why do you want to work here?
Never tell a hiring manager or a recruiter that you just need a job. They don’t want to employ someone who needs any job, they want to hire someone who wants to work at their job. Do your homework ahead of time and create some examples for the ways you will fit in well with their organization.