What Are the Most Frequent Interview Questions Employers Ask?
Interviewing for a job is part skill, part art. One way to keep them from asking you questions is to prepare a list of questions and interview the interviewer. I have done this often and not only does it throw their concentration off but it disrupts what they want to ask. Only ask questions related to the job applying for.
Some of the questions that are asked frequently are:
- Describe a time when you disagreed with your team or supervisor- explain the situation, how you handled it, how it was resolved with the spin showing you in positive light.
- What is the biggest risk you have taken? Explain the risk and what happened. Do you get up after failing? give up? Are you willing to take risks to succeed?
- Tell me about yourself? I know, I hate this question, it just seems so lame, after all, they have the resume and application. Keep your answer to a minute or two, at most. Cover four topics: early years, education, work history, and recent career experience. Emphasize this last subject. Leave personal info out.
- Why Should I Hire you? Another seemingly lame question. Most of the time I regurgitate my resume. Try to illustrate why you are the most qualified candidate. Know the job description and qualifications & closely identify the skills and knowledge that are critical to the position.
- Please explain the gaps in your work history. If your history is spotted with long unemployment periods, woe unto you. There is no right answer. Some HR managers state that you should mention any volunteering you have done, training, or freelancing. Experience shows it really does not matter what you say. It will not be why you did not get the job, but what will be, is the unemployment gap. The longer it is, the more suspicious HR gets and while it may seem like your answer is fine, you already have a strike against you.
- What is one thing you would like to change in your former job? HR is looking for how you dealt with a problem or something you did not like. Whatever you say, refrain from negative remarks on former bosses or employees and try to be sure your answer puts you in a positive light somehow and a team player and not a troublemaker.
- What would your former supervisors say about you? Okay, like, how in the hell would I REALLY know? I am not clairvoyant! Highlight an aspect of your personality that could initially seem negative but is ultimately a positive. Many traits can swing wither way depending on the actual event and facts.
