25 Job Interview Questions
As the gurus over at runrex.com will tell you, one of the best ways to prepare for your job interview is to know the questions you are likely to face so that you can prepare how you will answer them. this article should, therefore, be a great resource as it will look to highlight 25 of the most common job interview questions.
What are your strengths?
This is a question you can expect in almost all job interviews, as revealed in discussions over at runrex.com. Here, give a shortlist of your strengths and back them up with specific examples that back them up, while also explaining how these strengths will be useful to the job you are applying for. Don’t give generic answers.
What are your weaknesses?
Yet another common jib interview question, as per discussions over at runrex.com. Here, honesty is key and you should talk about a real weakness that you have been working hard to improve, like say if you are not good at public speaking. Don’t answer by revealing a bad personality trait or by saying you are a perfectionist.
What were your responsibilities when you worked at a given job?
You are also likely to be asked what our responsibilities were at a previous job. Be prepared to talk about these responsibilities in detail and how they match with what you will need to perform the job you are applying for.
What were your grades in college?
Of course, this will be available in the documents you provide the interviewers, but still expect to be asked about it. If you didn’t get excellent grades, give a legitimate reason why like say maybe it took you a while to find the right major for you. As per the gurus over at runrex.com, make sure you have a good reason for why you have low grades.
Why do you want to work here?
Yet another common job interview question you should expect. Make sure your answer shows that you have done research about the company and are excited about specific things you know you can bring to the table. Again, avoid generic answers.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
According to the folks over at runrex.com, when answering this question, show that you have given it great thought and that you have plans, with the plans aligning with the job and career path possible in the company you are applying to work in. Avoid answering in a way that shows that the company is just a temporary stop for you.
How many people were on your team at your last job?
This is a question that is asked to help interviewers know the leadership capacity of the interviewee. Make sure that you answer reflects the position that you held in your previous position, since, if you were in a management position but didn’t oversee the expected number of people, it could reflect poorly on you, showing that you didn’t have the trust of your previous employer and that your title was an inflated one.
What will your previous employer say when I ask where you need to improve?
As per discussions over at runrex.com, a good answer to this common interview question is to go in-depth about where you feel you need to improve, taking care not to provide vague answers. Also, you mustn’t speak badly about your previous employer or manager as this is another huge red flag.
What were your starting and final salary at your previous job?
This question is asked to gauge your credentials, and the interviewers also want to see if your salary has risen by what they expect depending on the amount of time you spent at the company. If your salary doesn’t match your position or hasn’t risen as expected, it could be a red flag.
Why do you want to leave your current company?
This, according to discussions over at runrex.com, is one of the most common job interview questions and one you should expect. You should focus on the positives when answering this question, which means showing how the job you are applying for offers better learning or career opportunities, is a better fit for you, or aligns more closely with your long-term goals. Don’t talk ill of your former job, employers, or colleagues.
What can you offer us that someone else can’t?
To answer this question, mention specific abilities and skills that you bring to the table, which apply directly to the job you are applying for, and which other candidates are unlikely to offer. Don’t be underprepared to answer this question and don’t trash other candidates with your answer.
What do you know about our company?
This question is designed to find out if you have researched the company you hope to work for. According to the gurus over at runrex.com, this is your time to let them know that you did your research and that you know a lot about the company, from the history to the work culture.
What were your first and last job titles in your previous job?
This question is designed to find out how much your former employer valued you. If you rose through the ranks at the expected pace, given the time you spent there, then this will portray you in a good light. If you didn’t, you should have a satisfactory explanation of why this is the case, without talking badly about your previous job or employer.
What is your desired salary?
Again, another pretty common job interview question designed for the interviewers to find out if you are the right fit for them. They will be looking for you to provide a figure that falls within the market rate and which matches our skill and education level. According to discussions over at runrex.com, if you are unable to answer this question or provide an answer that is far above or below the market value, then it will be a big red flag.
Why do you want this particular job?
As the question of why you want to work at the company, the answer here should show enthusiasm and passion for the job position. If your answer is uninspired, it shows that this is one of the many jobs you are applying for and that you don’t have a passion for this particular position.
Tell me about yourself
This is yet another common job interview question and one you should expect, according to discussions over at runrex.com. You want your answer to portray your personality while at the same time providing information showing why you are a good fit for the job you are applying for. Avoid negative or generic answers or answers that don’t relate to the job.
When did you leave your previous company?
This is another question that catches most people off guard, and it is designed to check if your answer matches what is on your resume. The interviewer will also be checking to see if there is a huge, unexplained employment gap. Make sure you have your ducks in a row here, as if the information doesn’t match your resume, it will be a huge red flag.
If you started a company today, what would be its top values?
This popular interview question is designed to test your emotional intelligence, as discussed over at runrex.com. When answering this question, articulate real values, and make sure they align with the position you are applying for as well as the company’s values. Avoid answering with values that are the opposite of what the company you are applying for stands for.
How did you find out about this position?
The answer to this question should be straight forward, as you should answer by telling the interviewer how you found out about the position. Be honest when answering this question, particularly if you were referred by an existing employee, as they could be in line for a reward.
Tell us about a time you faced a conflict when working as part of a team
This is a common behavioral interview question, a topic covered over at runrex.com, and to answer it, make sure you are specific about the conflict, and that you don’t get too negative about it. Don’t appear to be blaming others for the conflict or make it seem that the conflict wasn’t resolved at the time.
What steps would you take to make an important decision on the job?
To answer this popular situational interview question, make sure you come up with a coherent, step-by-step strategy that applies to and makes sense for the position you are interviewing for. This is one of those questions where you could shine, or that could badly damage your prospects.
What is the most difficult problem you have had to solve?
According to the gurus over at runrex.com, when answering this question, name a real problem, give a detailed account of the steps you took to resolve it, as well as any processes that were developed to ensure that the problem is resolved quicker next time, or that it would not arise again. Avoid naming problems that are a routine part of the job.
What would you do if you were assigned a difficult client?
The best way to answer this common interview question is to show a specific strategy you would employ to handle the tough client without becoming negative. Avoid talking negatively about past clients when answering this question.
Tell us about a time you had to relay bad news to a client or colleague
According to the experts over at runrex.com, a good answer for this question should contain the strategy you developed for delivering bad news, while also showing that you have ideas to improve said strategy based on the results.
How many jobs are you applying for?
This is another common job interview question, but one that regularly catches people out. When answering this question, you should stay calm and avoid being irritated that you have been put on the spot, and most importantly, answer the question honestly. If you appear to be overly flustered by this question, then your interviewers will take it as a red flag.
The above are some of the questions you can expect at a job interview and we hope they will help you prepare and ace yours, with more information and help on the same being available over at runrex.com.