To be ready for any job interview, you must practice responding to any questions you expect to get. Only spend a bit of time preparing for random questions that may come. Most hiring personnel stick to tried-and-true questions that allow them to get the information they need from candidates. Be aware that some questions may seem mundane on the surface but can be tricky to answer. Below are a few thorny interview questions you should be prepared to answer.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
This question concerns the employer’s and the candidate’s plans. It would be best if you had your perspective on where your career is headed and how it might complement the company’s goals. Hiring personnel want to see that you have realistic targets for your career that translate to a long-term future with the company.
Can you tell me about this gap in your work history?
In a hiring manager’s mind, any gap in a candidate’s work history is a red flag. If you have a gap in your work history, you must confront the issue directly and truthfully. Then, talk about what you did while unemployed. Hopefully, you have some volunteering, academic coursework, skill building, or certifications to discuss. These activities should only be mentioned if they would be helpful in your new role.
What is your most outstanding achievement?
This standard question enables you the chance to spotlight one accomplishment. Ideally, it should be something from your career. However, it might bear mentioning if you have a particularly notable achievement in your personal life.
Ideally, you should back up your claims with details on the difficulties you overcame and the results you achieved. If you have to, go back to past employers and figure out how much value you could generate or the size of costs you were able to reduce.
What do you know about us?
It’s crucial to do your due diligence and study up on your potential employer. Thorough research puts you above other applicants because it indicates you know the business and where it’s going.
In doing your research, continue with the essential details. Look at company publications, social media profiles, newspapers, and even public financial filings to see what the company’s been doing. Determine its tactics, organizational initiatives, and the values it is trying to project. Culture is a significant differentiator, so understand the workplace culture and how you might fit.
Do you have any questions for us?
Most job seekers know it’s essential to come into an interview with questions for your interviewer, but what if your interviewer answers all the questions you had during your conversation?
Because you should always try to ask questions, write down about a dozen wide-ranging questions, check off any that get answered, and settle on two or three to ask your interviewers.
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