How to answer questions in an interview

How to answer questions in an interview

Knowing how to answer questions in an interview is a skill every job seeker needs to have. Searching for a job is definitely not an easy thing, especially in an economy where job seekers are more than the available jobs. For you to secure a chance, you must bring your best game to the interview. This means that you should be equipped with the necessary answers to potential questions. In most cases, people that fail to get the job are not necessarily incompetent or without the necessary qualifications. More often than not, people that have been invited to an interview are the best among all that applied. What makes the difference between those who get the job and those who do not, is how they answer the questions asked at the interview.

how to answer job interview questions
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Apart from the technical questions that are concerned with your knowledge and skills at doing the particular job, there are other tricky questions that test your wit, attitude and other general aspects of life. This is where most people fail. To increase your chances therefore, learn how to tackle these questions like an expert.

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Most interview questions have no particular answer. This therefore means that the best person is the one that answers confidently and is sure of themselves even when the answer is not correct. Sometimes, interviewers in a panel are more concerned about your confidence and way of doing things, as opposed to the actual answers you give. Showing them that you have everything under control is much more important as this is a sign that you will be able to do well under pressure. Apart from equipping yourself with the basic knowledge about the company such as finding its history, functions and management from their website, there are those questions that you may not see coming. In such instances, taking a deep breath and facing the panel squarely may be a trick you need to learn. Consider the following questions that could pop up in an interview you are scheduled to attend.

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Interview questions and answers

how to answer job interview questions
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Source: UGC

Arming yourself with answers to the most common interview questions is a simple way of increasing your confidence before facing the panel. While it is impossible to know which questions you will be asked, the best move would be to prepare all the same. There are certain questions that will most likely feature in every interview, regardless of the field. These are the questions that you need to look out for. Knowing how to answer interview questions of this nature will increase your success rate. Here are some of the questions with their best answers. You can always modify your answers by modelling on the ones given below.

1. Tell me about you?

If you search the internet for some of the most commonly asked interview questions, this one will probably come first in many search results. There are different variations of the same question but the intent remains the same. Most interviews will start by requesting you to talk about yourself. This ice breaking question is meant to get you talking and encourage you to open up. It is one of the easiest ways to get interviewers to relax and loosen up as the tendency is to be tense and worked up. To answer this question therefore, one can say:

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My name is Bradley. I am a graduate with 7 years’ experience in teaching. I have taught in 4 high schools around the country.

Usually, the answer to this question one can take as long as they want. However, remember that your answer needs to increase your chances of securing the job. Talk about your career experience and hobbies if they are relevant to the job. One may wonder how then should they answer if they are new in employment. Not to worry. There is a perfect answer to this, even when you are seeking your first employment. You can respond as follows:

I am a freelance writer that has been working online for the past three years. I am experienced in SEO content writing and editing. I am looking for a full time job that is a bit laid back since I would like to continue doing what I love on the side.

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The secret is to ensure that you explain any gaps in your career life. The last thing you want to do is to show your employer that you have been idle. This will turn them off no matter how qualified you seem. Every employer wants to get someone that takes initiative and uses time well.

The questions that asks you to talk about yourself is basically a chance for you to market yourself. Make sure you do a good job at it. There is no need of selling yourself short when you can do better.

2. Why do you want this job?

This is the second question on the frequently asked interview questions list. Definitely, you will not go too deep into the interview before this question pops up. Your employer wants to know why he or she should recruit you. The intention here is for the employer to gauge whether you are truly interested in working in their industry. This trick question can also expose your flaws if not handled properly. You need to be careful about how answer it. Make sure it is answered in such a way that shows that you have done your research properly. A competent answer would be something like:

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I have been interested in working with Tecno since the Phanthom 8 was released. I am a technology enthusiast and everything about the high quality phones released by Tecno excites me. It would be a fabulous opportunity for me to finally contribute in a small way to another great invention yet to come. I believe I have everything it takes to add value to your company in ways that am yet to explore.

When answering this question you need to be careful not to rush to say that your only motivation is because of the great monetary package. Chances are that you will not get the job as the employer will disqualify you almost immediately.

3. How would you describe your strengths?

This is one of the questions that having the right skills on how to answer job interview questions will be needed. It may seem easy since you know what you are good at. However, exercise a lot of caution since the question is not as straight forward as you may think. Your answer needs to be aligned with the job description. The strengths that the interviewer is asking you about are those that will be useful to the job you want to secure.

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For instance, a job that needs you to work in a team would require a team playing spirit as a strength. Another example would be picking excellent communication skills as a strength for a public speaking job. However, you need to be careful about saying the truth. You may never know when the strength you gave at the interview will be needed. A tip that works great when answering this question is making sure that the answer you give relates to the job. Check out the following example.

Those I have worked with before tell me that I am a good communicator. In fact, I am often appointed to lead meetings and deliberations whenever our company needs a moderator for brainstorming meetings.

This answer is perfect as it shows two skills in one. The employer can easily pick from your answer that you are a great leader and have a unique team spirit. How you answer also matters. Use words that will not make you appear cocky or arrogant. Remember that the intention is to convince the boss to hire you and not to make him or her feel intimidated by your strength.

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4. How would you explain your weaknesses?

Whenever you hear this question make sure that you remember that it is a trap. Be careful to supply information that is necessary only. Your potential employer will be turned off immediately if you tend to overshare. Your answer needs to portray a sense of self awareness. This means that answers such as ‘I have no weaknesses’ or ‘I am perfect’ will be considered a lack of self-awareness or a blatant lie.

This will probably disqualify you immediately. You need to mention an actual weakness that you have. Just make sure that it is not something that is related to the job. No employer wants to hire someone with a weakness that could become a hindrance to their efficiency and effectiveness. A great way to answer this question would be:

Many of my friends say that I am too hard on myself. But I am working on it.

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This answer communicates to the employer that you probably push yourself too hard, which could be good for their business. However, saying that you are a perfectionist or a workaholic may not sound too good and could raise questions. How you phrase your answers matter a lot.

5. Where do you want to be in five years?

Again, this can be a trick question if not handled properly. You need to realize that the employer has not asked this question so that you can swear your loyalty to the position for all those years. In fact, most employers are realizing with each passing day that young ambitious people will keeping seeking newer and better opportunities.

This means that the employer is aware of the reality of job hopping. Do not lie in your answer. You can express your desire to advance your career and position. You could tie your answer to the fact that you will be aiming at better positions within the company as a growth strategy for yourself. Here is an example of how to answer this question.

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I envision myself as an editor managing a team of several writers. By then, I will have worked in this field for 12 years. I believe the experience I would have amassed over the years will equip me to take a leadership role quite effectively.

While every interview is different, knowing how to tackle the above cornerstone questions will give you an edge over the other applicants. Apart from the general questions that will appear, there are others that will be specific to your field. You need to prepare thoroughly for these since they are the questions that will determine your competence.

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IT interview questions

IT interview questions
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There are certain answers your employer will seek from you to determine if you are the right fit for the position. Some specific questions will include:

1. How do you keep updated with the industry?

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Best 'why do you want to work here' answer for a job interview

Here, the employer wants to know if you keep researching on what is new in the sector. This is especially very crucial in the IT industry that keeps changing. What you may have known previously can be obsolete any time. It is important that you show your employer that you have continuously been updating your knowledge and skills. You can respond in the following manner to this kind of question.

I follow up on all the changes that occur in the industry. I am aware of all the essentials of jquery, php, javascript and html5.

Find what exactly your potential employer is concerned with, and make sure you are up to date. You may be asked to prove it.

2. Have you ever improved upon an original design?

To answer this question you need to be sincere and truthful. Remember that technical questions require proof. If you have not, you can explain that you never got the chance but would appreciate being given one.

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3. If hired, what challenges do you expect to come your way?

If you are not careful, this question will catch you off guard. The best way to answer it is to respond with something that you are currently working on. Chances are that you are much more aware of a project you are dealing with. This way, you can supply answers factually such that the employer will have no choice but to be impressed. The secret is to show that you have everything under control.

Customer service interview questions

One other sector that has interesting questions is the customer service sector. This is a section that every company has. If you are hoping for a position in this section, then you need to understand how to answer some of the most common questions. The questions in the customer service interview will be quite different. They are categorized in a number of ways including:

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Good questions to ask in an interview

1. Situational questions

These questions will ask about how you would respond to a claim that a customer makes. In most cases, the interviewer will want to know how you would handle different situations. For instance, the employer may want to know how you would deal with a complain from a customer. For instance a customer may complain that you are taking too long to respond. You may also be asked how you would react when a customer clearly points out a defect in your service or product. You need to come up with an answer that will convince the employer that you are a perfect fit for the job. There is no wrong or right answer. Just make sure that you offer the most reasonable approach.

2. Behavioral question

This is a type of question that must be answered with real time examples. For instance, an employer may ask you to explain a time when you helped resolve a conflict between two people. The test is on whether you have the skills and ability to respond to real time issues.

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3. Questions on schedule

Being a customer service job means that it runs for 24 hours a day. Most companies work in shifts. The employer will want to know if you are flexible enough to fit into these shifts. A common question would be whether you are available on weekends and holidays. If your answer reflects more flexibility then your chances of getting the job increase.

With the right tips and tricks of how to answer questions in an interview, anyone can heighten the chances of getting employed. The fact that you were shortlisted for the interview is good enough. It shows that have what it takes to do the job. Bring your best to the interview to seal the deal.

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