Interviews can be a nerve-wrenching experience for both interviewer and interviewee, although good pre-planning is the key to doing away with unhelpful nerves. Regardless of what side of the table you're sitting, you should be prepared for these common, tough interview questions:
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1. "Tell me about yourself"
The interviewer wants to know what you can offer; what you can bring to the job. Focus on your strengths, skills and accomplishments - in relation to the job you are interviewing for.
2. "Why did you leave/are you leaving your last job?
The interviewer wants to know if there were any problems in your last position & whether, perhaps, you were the problem. You can count on being asked this question. If you doing nothing else, script a good answer to this and focus on positives rather than negatives, regardless of your circumstances.
3. "What are your weaknesses?"
This can be a tricky question to answer. Your instinct is not to reveal flaws, but no one is perfect, right?
Make sure you articulate the positive in your answer to this question. Select one of your weaknesses and give an action you are taking to address it. For example:
"I benefit from being able to see the bigger picture in things, although I can sometimes miss the small details. I make a conscious effort to focus my view on the small details as well and I continue to close this weakness gap as a result. In addition, I always make sure I have a detail oriented person in my team to ensure that no small balls get dropped."4. "Why do you want to work here?"
Do some research on the company before hand by looking at their Website, getting hold of a brochure and so on. Understand the company's vision and mission statement. Does this align with what's important to you? Re-state their mission statement and explain briefly how this is aligned with your values.
5. "Do you have any questions for us?"
The interviewer is looking to gauge your interest in the job and company. You'll probably be asked this question at the end of the meeting. Don't say - "No, I think you've covered everything."
"Could you please describe a typical day in the job?"
"Why are the people I will work with and what do they do?"
"Would it be possible to have a brief tour?"
"What are the company objectives for the coming 12 months?"
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