Everyone sooner or later faces their first job interview. Many wonder what job interview questions might await them. There is no specific pattern, but we managed to create a list of interview questions and answers. The best interview answers, of course, are those you can think about. You can't forget this when preparing for your job interview. Because the best interview answers can determine your future.
Common interview questions and answers
Of all the job interview questions, there are a few that are recurring. Also, the answers to them are fairly universal. Thus, they can be considered common interview questions and answers. Remember that you need to make a good impression on the recruiter.
What do you know about our company?
One of the most common interview questions is what do you know about the company you want to work for. Of course, there is no universal interview answer to this question. That's why you need to take the time before the interview to find out something about the company and what the duties are of the position you are applying for.
Why do you want to change jobs? Why do you want to work for us?
This sample interview question and answer comes up a lot. It is asked because the employer wants to find a person who likes his job and does not get into conflicts with superiors. One of the best interview answers would be to say the need for promotion. You can add that the previous company didn't want to offer it to you.
Another way to get out of this awkward question is to say that you need more responsibilities in a particular area.
What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
This example is not one of the best job interview questions from the point of view of a job applicant. And surprisingly, few people answer this question well. By asking it, the recruiter is checking to see if you are making any rash decisions. With this, it also checks how you approach your work and whether you change them sometimes.
To answer this question, you need to think about your development plan. How do you want to lead your career? How will you achieve the goal of your ideal job? Where in your career path is the job you are currently applying for? When you find the answers to these questions, you will easily show the recruiter that you care about continuous development.
What are your weaknesses/strengths?
Every person has weaknesses and strengths. However, not everyone is able to notice them and admit them.
When answering this question, you should talk about both your strengths and weaknesses. Never focus exclusively on one or the other. Also, do not give an example of a trait to which you are unable to match an example from your life.
The best answer to a question about your flaws is to emphasize that you are working on them. This will show that you are motivated to develop yourself and are not afraid of change. Of course, don't mention the flaws that will prevent you from working in a particular position.
Tell us something about yourself
You should answer this question in a few sentences. A good job candidate is aware of his/her value and is able to make the interviewer curious about their person. Summarize your past achievements, show how you can bring profit to the company. Also tell about your strongest personality traits and what you are interested in. You can ask someone you know to help you practice your prepared answer to this question.
What distinguishes you from other candidates?
Awareness of one's market value is very important. When you hear one of these good interview questions, you can demonstrate your knowledge of the market and the specifics of the position. You must therefore be convinced of your value. Being aware of what kind of employee you are is very important.
One of the best interview answers to this question may be to describe your strengths with specific examples. Don't say the standard "I'm creative, I handle stress easily." Recruiters have heard this many times before, and they will certainly appreciate a person who can talk about how he or she excels.
Job specialization vs. interview questions and answers
In addition to the most common interview questions and answers, those closely related to the profession you will be pursuing are also relevant. When applying for a job in IT, expect different questions than those they will ask a person who wants to work in marketing or another industry. Regardless of the industry, a job interview very often has a similar pattern.
1. IT
When applying for IT jobs, you can expect good interview questions about your experience, education or skills, among other things. It will also be important to know what languages you speak and what tools you know how to use on the job.
Below, you will find a sample interview question and answer that you may encounter if you want to get into the IT industry.
- What tools have you worked on so far, and what tools would you like to work on?
- What programming languages are you interested in?
- Did your responsibilities also include testing your applications?
- What projects have you participated in so far?
- In how many person teams did you work?
- In previous projects, did you create code from scratch or did you work on existing code?
When answering these questions, remember to be honest. Recall all the tools you dealt with in your previous job or during your study. Choose the ones that seem most attractive to the recruiter.
Don't make excuses about what programming languages you know. Focus on the ones you've already worked with and know you won't have to re-implement.
2. Marketing
When applying for a job in marketing, you need to remember that there are many types. Depending on which department you want to work in, the questions may vary slightly. But let's focus on the general marketing job interview questions you may encounter.
- Why would you want to work in marketing?
- How do you launch a new product?
- What marketing trend or campaign do you like?
- How do you think our latest marketing campaign was?
By asking these questions, the recruiter wants to find out what new and useful things you can bring to their company. You need to emphasize which social media you are familiar with and which you work best with.
You should also be able to point out what you pay attention to when a certain advertising campaign appeals to you or, on the contrary, when you think it won't attract the attention of potential customers.
Of course, you can create a long list of interview questions. However, it is important that you are prepared for at least most of them. Those presented in the article are just sample questions and answers. Finding a job can also be just a stopgap for you to start your own business soon.
