How can you prepare and practice effective answers to common interview questions?

Instead of preparing answers to questions that you have no idea whether they are going to be asked or not, I recommend preparing your interview talking points. Identify how you can add value to the organization, write out your STAR stories and commit them to memory. When in an interview, as you are asked a question, sort through your "mental filing cabinet" and select the best talking point and story that enables you to prove with your past accomplishments that you can do the job. The only exception is to always prepare to answer the "tell me about yourself" question in a focused, succinct manner.

Focus on the upper portion of the job description where they talk about the most important requirements of the position... not the qualifications section. For each of the key job requirements, make sure that you have at least 1 story that describes the accomplishment you have for that requirement. The stories are your "proof point" that you have the experience for that specific requirement... and each ensuring one.

Job descriptions list tasks and duties, and you'll need to be able to speak to those, but don't overlook the bigger picture. What are they really hiring you to do? Let's take a simple example: If you were being hired as a babysitter, the job description might include feeding the baby, giving her a bath, and putting her to bed. All important. But the bigger goal? Make sure she's safe. The same is true for the job you're really applying for. You might have reports, meetings, metrics, etc. but what's the REAL reason you're being hired? What do they really need? And is there a certain way they need it delivered? (A safe, happy baby is better than a safe baby that was left crying in her crib.) Speak to the real reason, and clinch the offer.

This is where Zoom can be so helpful because it enables you to recording your interview question responses. Get together with someone else in a job search or a spouse or significant other. Give them your list of questions and record your responses via Zoom. I think you'll be surprised at some of your weaknesses... getting off topic... not responding confidently... not telling engaging achievement stories... using a lot of non-words such as: like, you know, umm. Recording your responses can be very enlightening. And I have a list of 15 traditional interview questions that often arise during a job interview.

El primer paso para prepararte es entender bien la descripción del trabajo. Fíjate en las habilidades y conocimientos que piden, los objetivos del puesto y cómo evalúan el éxito. Con esa información, puedes mostrar en tus respuestas cómo encajas perfectamente en el rol y cómo puedes ayudar a la empresa a alcanzar sus metas.

El siguiente paso es investigar a fondo la empresa. Aprende sobre su historia, cultura, valores, y todo lo que ofrece, desde productos hasta servicios. También es bueno saber quiénes son sus clientes y competidores, y sus logros más importantes. Esta información no solo demuestra tu interés en ellos sino que también te ayuda a ver cómo encajas con sus objetivos y valores. Usa su sitio web, redes sociales, y cualquier otra fuente útil para armarte de datos. Además, piensa en preguntas interesantes que puedas hacerles sobre sus proyectos o planes futuros, mostrando así tu curiosidad y compromiso.

To prepare for common interview questions, research the company’s history, culture, values, products, and achievements to show alignment with their goals. Structure your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Tailor responses to the job description, highlighting relevant skills and experiences. Practice out loud, alone or with others, and seek feedback to refine your delivery. This approach ensures you present yourself confidently and effectively.

I'd recommend looking at all forms of social media, e.g., YouTube might have interviews with key staff. Spend time visualising how you could thrive in that specific workplace, whether it's the culture / ethos, things you've picked up from speaking to employees etc. As conscious, rational thinking is only 5% of our thought processes, I find it useful to connect this with your whole nervous system, tapping into your unconscious mind & physiology, i.e., how does feeling excited show up for you in your body? What difference would this make having this feeling regularly in your life? This helps with bringing a genuine excited energy to the interview instead of nerves.

Informational interviews are a treasure trove of inside intelligence on the company. Speak with people who work there currently and people who have worked there in the past. They all understand the company culture, and have all beaten the interview. Also, the people who work there currently can give you some insight on leadership, team structure, current strategic initiatives and more.

Delve into the company's culture, values, and recent achievements. Connect these aspects to your own values and accomplishments. By integrating company-specific insights into your answers, you demonstrate a holistic understanding and a genuine interest in contributing to their success.

I agree, going through your resume with a fine-tooth comb will help jog your memory about your achievements in each position and how they relate to the job for which you are interviewing. Also, be prepared to share why you left each position.

El tercer paso es repasar tu currículum y recordar bien tu trayectoria, incluyendo tu formación, experiencia laboral, logros y habilidades. Es crucial que puedas hablar detalladamente sobre lo que has incluido en él, ofreciendo ejemplos concretos que demuestren tu impacto y logros. Prepárate también para explicar cualquier interrupción o cambio en tu carrera, mostrando lo que has aprendido y cómo has crecido profesionalmente a través de esas experiencias.

To prepare for common interview questions, research the company’s history, culture, values, products, and achievements to show alignment with their goals. Review your resume and refresh your memory on your education, work history, achievements, and skills, being ready to elaborate on any information and provide examples. Structure your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and tailor responses to the job description. Practice out loud and seek feedback to refine your delivery. This approach ensures you present yourself confidently and effectively.

Thoroughly revisit your resume before the interview. Connect each position and achievement to the job's requirements. This not only reinforces your suitability for the role but also ensures a seamless narrative flow during the interview.

I always tell my candidates that anything and everything on their resumes are fair game to be asked about. Have the facts and figures are your fingertips. In addition, make sure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date. Check all social media accounts, and remove any images that could undermine your professionalism, aka images that could be interpreted as NSFW.

I would review the types of roles they are going for to develop a list of common interview questions. I also break them up into General, Technical and Behavioural. Also, I coach them to have a variety of examples (for the Technical/Behavioural) so they can mix and match the answers. Once they secure a job interview, I would review the specific JD and reduce the list to be more interview-specific. They can then relax into the interview without doing last-minute preparation. In addition, I prefer to use SOAR. Situation, Objective, Action, and Result. I find coachees get confused between TASK (the doing part) and ACTION. An objective in each example shows they think through the task at hand, and the result achieves the objective.

Also anticipate negative questions. You might be asked for a weakness, the biggest mistake you made, or your least favorite boss, role or colleague. For these difficult questions, prepare examples so that you answer the question as specifically as possible without letting the interviewer’s imagination think of the worst. For example, instead of just saying your weakness is impatience (which the interviewer might equate with losing your temper or something worse than you mean), share a specific story, share the lesson and highlight how you have fixed or are fixing the problem. Then move on from the negative question back to the job at hand.

El cuarto paso es prepararte para las preguntas típicas que te harán en la entrevista, las cuales pueden abarcar desde situaciones de comportamiento hasta preguntas sobre competencias o aspectos personales. Busca en recursos en línea, libros o consulta a mentores para familiarizarte con estas preguntas y encontrar formas efectivas de responderlas.

To prepare for common interview questions: Research the Company: Learn about their history, culture, values, products, and achievements to show alignment with their goals. Review Your Resume: Refresh your memory on your education, work history, achievements, and skills. Be ready to explain and provide examples. Anticipate Common Questions: Identify typical questions, including behavioral and situational ones, and use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Tailor Responses: Customize your answers to reflect the job description and company values. Practice Out Loud: Rehearse verbally and seek feedback to refine your delivery.

If asked what are your weaknesses, only share one. Make sure it's a weakness that wouldn't raise a red flag to the employer. It could be something thing only shows up in certain contexts. It could be a strength that's overused. The key is to share what you're doing to improve in that area.

As uncomfortable as it might be, record yourself :) then listen to your tone, inflection, if you ramble on, or made a coherent answer.

Practice. Practice. Practice. First, write out your responses and read them verbatim. Keep practicing this way, gradually relying less and less on your written responses (to the point that your response will sound conversational rather than robotic). Then, practice in front of a mirror (dressed to the nines). Then, practice with a friend or partner or colleague. Then, when you don't do things perfectly in the interview, take note, adjust, practice some more, and move on. Interviewing well is a skill. Keep working on it.

El quinto paso es ensayar tus respuestas en voz alta, idealmente con alguien de confianza como un amigo, familiar o colega. Esta práctica te permite pulir tu forma de comunicar, afinar el contenido de tus respuestas, y ajustar el tono y ritmo de tu discurso. Además, te da la oportunidad de identificar y corregir posibles errores o lagunas en lo que dices. Aprovecha para pedir feedback y consejos sobre cómo mejorar tanto tus respuestas como tu manera de expresarte. Si puedes, grabarte y luego analizar tu actuación te ayudará a ver con claridad en qué aspectos necesitas trabajar más.

Zoom is s great tool for practicing your answer because it enables you to record your responses and any number of interview questions. And you may be very surprised at how insufficient your answers are.

When it comes to effective interviewing the adage is simple: practice and then practice more. You will be assessed based on your answers not only in content but also the manner in which you respond and that comes more naturally the more you practice your responses.

Embrace unpredictability. While anticipating common questions is crucial, be prepared for unexpected ones. Cultivate flexibility in your responses, drawing upon your experiences and skills to address unforeseen queries. This adaptability showcases your resilience and quick thinking.

El sexto y último paso es prepararte para ser flexible y adaptable durante la entrevista. Esto significa estar listo para distintos formatos de entrevista, ya sea por teléfono, video, en un panel o en grupo. También es importante que estés preparado para responder preguntas sorpresa o particularmente difíciles, que podrían abordar tus expectativas salariales, debilidades, fracasos o situaciones éticas complejas. La clave es mantener siempre una actitud honesta, positiva y profesional, evitando caer en respuestas negativas o ambiguas.

Being an effective story teller is the secret weapon in interviewing. By story teller, I mean being a narrator, using voices and making sounds to be as descriptive as possible - not just telling the information of what happened. If you bring people into the experience and help them visualize you in action, it greatly reduces the risk they feel in hiring you. Work on your ability to tell a good story and you will improve your ability to land the job you want.