Everyone has heard them. “Why do you want to work here?” “What are your biggest accomplishments?” “What do you feel you have to offer?” If you’ve read my other article, “How to avoid giving bad answers in a job interview", you’ll notice a parallel to this article and that one, as they are companion articles.

The most common interview questions aren’t looking for a copy-and-paste, memorized answer, they are looking for information. “What do you feel is your biggest weakness?” This question isn’t being asked so to humiliate you, it’s being asked to see if you recognize your limitations and how you cope with stress and anxiety.

As a former outplacement consultant, I’ve written scores of resumes and done hours of interview preparation. What I’ve found is that most job candidates don’t really answer what’s being asked of them. Through my practice, Retail Consulting Solutions, I offer resume writing and interview coaching to advise my clients on this very subject, so let’s take a look at some of the most common interview questions and break them down.

"Why do you want to work here?"

The common, canned answer usually addresses a candidate’s feelings or needs; saying, “I feel that I would be an asset” or “I believe this to be a good opportunity” don’t really say much. Those statements are self-evident by the fact you’re sitting in the interview and seeking the position. What isn’t evident is the answer to the question.

Interpretation:

“What do you know about this company and why do you want to work here instead of working for a competitor?”

You’re answer is going to tell the interviewer how serious you are about securing the position you’re seeking and what you know about the company – so you need to be unambiguous and cite examples about the company. For instance, it’s practices/structure or how it leads the way in R&D or its community outreach/involvement.

Don’t give one-size-fits-all or canned answers, because they not only will come across that way, they’ll also tell the interviewer you’re not prepared and/or just want a job for the sake of collecting a paycheck and nothing else.

"What are your strengths?"

Here again, as with the above question, don’t give general or predictable answers. You should refrain from answering with rah-rah, pep-talk type responses such as “I’m a self-starter” or “I’m a team player”, otherwise, you relegate yourself to being lost in the herd; answers that stand out and separate you from your competition will fare much better.

Interpretation:

This question should be reworded with a qualifier, how have you capitalized on your talents to add value to your employer(s) in the past? The real question being asked is more particularly about how you’ve utilized your strengths to make your employers more money or be more efficient or to retain and/or attract new customers.

The best answers will come in milieu, in perspective, so don’t reply in a vacuum. You’ll need to cite examples that reconcile your strong points with the company’s goals. What you’re trying to impart is how your aptitude for this or that can benefit the business in which you’re seeking employment. Referencing how you’re able to negotiate vendor costs, subsidize projects at a lower cost, streamline procedures to reduce costs all are valuable.

"What are your weaknesses?"

One of the worst things you can do is try to spin a negative as a positive – saying you’re a workaholic or a perfectionist or that you never turn down coworkers in need of help doesn’t turn negative traits into a positive – it just tells the interviewer you’re not being honest and keeps you from standing out among your competition.

Interpretation:

This question is really more about how you cope with change, difficulties, stress, and challenges; it also is about identifying you’re self awareness.

Everyone has weaknesses and most don’t want to admit them (especially to a potential employer). But giving answers like those listed above not only sends a signal you’re hiding something everyone has; it likewise carries an air of overconfidence. What you want to do is give an example or two of how you’ve dealt with adversities, what steps you took and how you overcame them and strive to continue to better yourself in the future.

"Would you rather work alone or in a team?"

I would call this a trick question. Unless you work in a confined space with super-guarded secrets, you have to work with others; at the same time, everyone works alone to one degree or another, even in the largest of companies. If you think about it, it’s something you do everyday in the workplace, so the question being asked isn’t what was actually stated.

Interpretation:

The real question isn’t about your preference to work in a team or alone, it is determining whether you can work with little or no management and if you can solve problems that confront a team. Employers don’t want to hire individual’s that need to be given constant direction and require supervision every hour they’re on the job. Demonstrating you can be productive on your own accord and problem-solve are traits employers seek.

On the other side of the coin, you’ll also want to impart that you can work with others that are laterally, above, and/or below on the pay-scale. You want to assure that you can collaborate when possible, lead when necessary and work autonomously when not given direction.

By being familiar with what types of answer and reactions interviewers really look for in contrast with the most common answers they typically receive, you award yourself a greater opportunity of making an impression and you’ll stand out from the competition with responses that cut-to-the-chase.

What you say in the interview and what’s on your resume should align. If your resume states one thing and you another, you’ll send a confused signal.

Before you submit your resume, have it review/proofread. I offer resume writing services through my consulting practice, Retail Consulting Solutions.

Be prepared for the interview. Being prepared is more than dressing appropriately and arriving on time. Have answers ready but not memorized verbatim, you’ll be able to respond adequately without appearing to be over-rehearsed.