An Interview Guide with 14 most frequently asked Interview questions

What do you dread most about a Job Interview? The unfamiliar territory? The anxiety of facing strangers? Or the fact that you will need to answer a bunch of questions to prove that you are worthy of the Position? If your fear is about answering the most burning questions in a job interview then "I HAVE GOT YOU"

This guide will help you to prep for an interview in a strategic manner to help you land your dream role. It will discuss 14 guided Q&A to set you up for a successful Interview.

Q1: Tell me about Yourself: (The Elevator Pitch)

This is something you'll be asked a lot at the beginning of an interview. This answer is one of the most important evaluators to hire you in the position. Here are three tips that'll help you nail the opener.

Be succinct, honest, and engaging. I call this the “SHE” formula. Resist the urge to give a detailed account of the last two decades of your career. The interviewer is looking for an answer that shows them you're qualified and can respond to an unstructured question.

Use the job description to prepare. Reread what they want and highlight the most required skills that you have. Are they looking for someone who can solve problems or deal with tough customers? Pick a few and brainstorm how you can describe yourself while showcasing your strengths for what they’re seeking.

Top Tips

? Prepare for this question in advance and have a compelling story about your past experiences.

? Pull prominent skills from the job description.

? Be “SHE” (succinct, honest, and engaging).

Q2: What is your greatest Strength?

When responding to this question, you want to sound humble and not like you’re arrogant or bragging. Here are some tips to help you give them a great answer.

Describe a relevant experience. If you're applying for a sales job, tell a story about a time where you helped a customer solve a problem with your solution.

Give specific details. Tell them about a time you closed a deal that helped you hit a percentage of your annual number. When you share those facts with them, it helps them visualize how effective you have been.

Show them you’re a well-rounded person. For example, share a story of when you used a “soft” skill, like effective communication with a coworker, and then one about you using a technical skill, which could be anything asked for in the job description.

Top Tips

?Be authentic - don’t make up strengths that you think the employer wants to hear.

?Tell a story about a work experience.

?Be sure the strengths you share are aligned to the role you want.

Q3: What is your greatest Weakness?

This can feel like a tricky question, but it’s a good opportunity to shine.

Video demo link of how to answer this question is added in the image above.

Additionally Here are some tips on how to answer:

Be humble. You want to communicate an authentic story that shows you're self-aware. It's okay that you don't come off as perfect, that's authentic, which is important for someone who will have to trust you in the role that they're hiring for.

Choose a trait that is not too relevant to the job. For example, if you're applying for a project manager role, choose a weakness that is more related to creativity, which is something that doesn't disqualify you from the description of the things that would make someone successful in that role,

Show how you manage it. Have a fix-it strategy. For example, if you struggle with remembering product details so you track them in their phone or side notebook, that's okay, share that with them. That shows that you've got commitment to solving that problem and addressing it.

Top Tips

? Don’t say anything like, “my weakness is that I work hard”; this is a shallow answer and employer will not be impressed with it at all

? Make sure to finish the answer by explaining, how you are addressing the weakness now. For example, I am well aware that I struggle with time management however I recently did an online course in LinkedIn about TM which clearly pointed out how I can structure and organize my day to be better at it. I am slowly but surely getting there.

Q4: Why we should hire you?

This is a nerve-racking question, so make sure you're set up for success. Here are some tips that can help you do well in answering it:

Ask yourself why you think you’re qualified. Prepare for the interview by picking three or four qualifications and experiences that help them understand why you're a fit for this job.

Tell them how you’d fit in. Paint a picture of what you’d accomplish that gives you a leg up on the competition. Also, show them why you are a great match for this company by letting them see that you know about their mission, their vision, how they operate—and how you would fit into that really well.

Speak authentically. How you say something is as important as what you say. So when you're sharing your successes and you're answering these questions, speak like the best version of yourself and make sure that you're doing it in a way that allows the interviewers to connect to you. Be sure the strengths you share are aligned to the role you want.

Top Tips

? Start with the three or four best reasons you’ve got.

? Cite results, credentials, and other people’s praise so you don’t seem self-absorbed.

? Be concise and invite follow-up questions at the end.

Q5: Why do you want to work here?

You would be amazed by how few people get this question right. So you've got a big opportunity to shine.

Make it all about them. Your best answer will be about what they need. It'll show that you've done your research and have thought through what you can contribute to that team.

Show them how you can help. Weave your story into the context of what you can contribute. If you have strong accounting skills and are interviewing for a finance role at a humane society, you could suggest that this job would allow you to blend your professional skills with your passion for animals.

Speak from the heart. Telling a genuine story can make a big difference. For example, there is a person who was applying for a zoo event manager job and she had grown up next door to that zoo and had great memories of the peacocks flying over the fence and sitting on her dad's car. So, her answer was that she wanted people to have fun memories of that zoo just like she did. Make sure to connect a personal story to this answer!

Top Tips

? Make it about them first.

? Show you’ve done your research.

? Use this as a key opportunity to outshine the competition.

? Speak from the heart.

Q6: Tell me about a time you showed leadership skill / Tell me about a time when you were successful on a team?

Respond to this kind of question with a compelling story that uses the "SAR" framework: situation, action, and results.

Describe the situation. Talk about the initial events that occurred. What were the problems that you were experiencing? What needed to be solved and what resources did you have--or not have? This is a key part of the story, so it should be about three to four sentences long.

Get into the action. Speak about the key milestones that you went through. Tell them what you did to turn the situation around. Don't go into too much detail though. It should only be about two to three sentences, and try to use active verbs, things like “I implemented” or “I persuaded".

Show the results. Let them know how well things turned out, how the problems were solved and what you may have learned along the way. Try to include a clincher at the end, like dollars saved or improved profitability. It drives home that you did a great thing.

Top Tips

? Describe a situation where there was a lack of leadership.

? Use the word “lead” to help describe the actions you took.

? Give credit to your ‘leadership skills’ when explaining the positive results

Q7: Why do you want to leave your current role?

Hiring managers will often ask this question, and it's a test. Are you running away from something, or are you running towards something? The advice when you get this question is simple:

Stay positive. Employers want to see that you have a good attitude in general. Resist the temptation to say bad things about your current job, employer, or boss.

Focus on where you’d like to go. You should come off as someone who is looking forward, not backward. Portray your interests more in the light of what you want to get out of your next role.

Bring it back to them. Show them that you’ve done your homework about their company and relate what you tell them back to the specific job you're interviewing for.

Top Tips

? Don’t talk negatively about past roles or former bosses - employers don’t want to work with people who complain.

? Be gracious when things haven’t worked out in the past.

? Share some of the ways you’re working on improving.

Q8: Describe your most challenging project? /Tell me about a time you had to manage conflicting priorities. /Tell me about a time you failed or made a mistake./ Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult person. /Tell me abut a time you persuaded someone. /Tell me about a time you disagreed with someone. /Tell me about a time you created a goal to achieve it. /Tell me about a time you surpassed people’s expectation./ Tell me about a time you had to handle pressure. /Tell me about a time you had to learn something quickly.

Respond to this kind of question with a compelling story that uses the "SAR" framework: situation, action, and results.

Describe the situation. Talk about the initial events that occurred. What were the problems that you were experiencing? What needed to be solved and what resources did you have--or not have? This is a key part of the story, so it should be about three to four sentences long.

Get into the action. Speak about the key milestones that you went through. Tell them what you did to turn the situation around. Don't go into too much detail though. It should only be about two to three sentences, and try to use active verbs, things like “I implemented” or “I persuaded”.

Show the results. Let them know how well things turned out, how the problems were solved and what you may have learned along the way. Try to include a clincher at the end, like dollars saved or improved profitability. It drives home that you did a great thing.

Top Tips

? Have a clear story with a specific challenge.

? Describe the negative impact if you hadn’t resolved the issue.

? Discuss action steps you took and talk about the positive impact.

Q9: Can you explain your employment gap? (In case you have had significant employment gaps).

Most people are nervous about how a gap will be perceived—even if there's a good explanation, But if they’ve invited you in for an interview, then the gap hasn’t ruled you out. Here are some tips on how to discuss it:

Be honest. The truth will set you free. Try to put the situation into the best light and don't lie; it's bound to come back and haunt you. So, if your job was eliminated through a merger, just say so.

Speak with confidence. For example, if you had taken some time away from working, avoid acting like you're embarrassed, apologetic, or ashamed. The interviewer is going to pick up on that. Instead, pause and you see how they respond. The more calm, succinct, and confident you are, the more at ease the interviewer will be with your answer—and with you.

Show the benefits of your time off. Bring up the good that came out of that time whether you were laid off, stepped away to be with family, or even got fired. It's a great way to reframe the situation and an opportunity to showcase some useful skills that you gained during that time. Maybe you opened a blog or learned a new language/ a unique skill, talk about those experiences!

Top Tips

? Expect that they will ask about the gap - prepare for it.

? Answer honestly and strategically.

? Be confident and succinct.

Q10: What is your salary expectation?

Give them a salary range. Let them know there’s room to negotiate (instead of starting with a specific number). Avoid going too low though because that's going to work against your interests. And don’t go too high either, or you may freeze yourself out of the opportunity.

Do some market research. Give them a reasonable place to start from. You can use a resource like the LinkedIn Salary Tool, fishbowl app or glassdror website to find out what other companies are paying people in this role and share with them what you learned about this salary range. Then they’ll have to base their compensation at least on those numbers because you've let them know what other similar organizations are giving to employees who do that job.

Bring up signing bonuses. Doing this can create a win-win situation for both parties. At the end of a negotiation, asking for extra money up top is often a way to bridge the gap between what you want and what you’re being offered.

Top Tips

? Know the industry norms for similar jobs.

? Talk about ranges, rather than exact numbers.

? Make the case that you offer premium value

Q11: What do you like to do outside your work?

With this question, employers are looking to get a feel for your likability and cultural fit. So what should you say—and not say? Here are a few tips.

Pick one of your favorites. Go ahead and share something about your hobbies, volunteer work, or the places you enjoy traveling to. Maybe you're taking classes to help you accelerate your skills. In general, you just want to tell them something that's true and will paint you as an interesting, healthy, or good human being.

Keep it short. For example, if you're a bird watcher in your free time, skip the 22-minute account of every species you've ever documented. Share enthusiastically so your passion shines through, but don't ramble on endlessly. Doing so might give the people to whom you're trying to make a good impression the feeling that you're nervous or that brevity just isn't your strong suit.

Stick to appropriate topics. Avoid anything that might be pulverizing or offends somebody who's not a part of a particular group like politics or religion. Choose something uncontroversial or beneficial and take advantage of the opportunity to show them that you're the complete package.

Top Tips

? Share something that paints a favorable picture.

? Keep it short and sweet.

? Don’t bore them with long stories.

? Steer clear of the inappropriate zone.

Q12: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

The key to answering this question is to focus on what you can give to the employers or the role. Here are three tips:

Break the time into chunks. Let them know what you might do in each two-to-three year period. This helps the interviewer to visualize and see what you're describing. Take them through what you plan to do in the first few years and how you plan to take it up a notch in the years after that.

Talk about how your goals will help them. Paint a vivid picture about the value that you plan to deliver within each of those two-to-three year chunks that you described.

Avoid talking about job titles. Resist the urge to tell them about what you want your position to be in two, three, or five years because that can come off as overly presumptuous.

Top Tips

? Break the answer down in two to three year chunks.

? Focus on what you can give, rather than what you can get.

? Don’t bring up a specific job title that you want to move into one day.

? Make it specific to this particular company and position.

Q13: Describe your leadership Style.

This is a question you’ll hear a lot and answering with authenticity is key. Here are three tips I have to help you get started:

Be clear about your leadership style. Don’t be vague or ambivalent. If you're a team builder, say so. If you're tough, but fair, own it. Be very concise and clear on how you define your leadership so that they know very well what you're all about.

Give a detailed example that highlights it. Talk about a situation, a problem or an obstacle, and then walk through what did you do and what was the result. What did it mean to your organization, company, and the customer? And be sure to include how you brought your team along, because this isn't all about you.

Show situations where you've adapted. Life's not going to be simple. People want to see how you've grown and changed given the situation. Just like you look for that in the people you're going to hire, the same thing with the hiring manager who's looking to hire you.

Top Tips

? Start by framing your basic style in a few words.

? Give an example of your leadership style in action.

? Show that you can adapt well to unexpected situations.

Q14: Do you have any questions for me?

The way you respond to this question shows employers if you're engaged, intelligent and interested. Here are some tips on how to answer:

Show them you’re paying attention. It’s important to let them know you’ve been listening. You may want to take notes as the interview unfolds and then loop back to something you'd like to delve further into like an aspect of the job, the team, or the challenges that lie ahead. For example, if they were talking about onboarding process in the company, ask them if they have a "buddy system" to get you acquainted with your responsibilities. This shows that you are enthusiastic about the role and getting started in the company.

Let them know you’re excited. While being qualified for the job is essential, showing passion for their products, brand or industry takes it to the next level. So maybe you can ask a question about one of your favorite products they make or see how they're responding to an industry trend.

Get them talking about their careers. People love talking about themselves and appreciate when you notice the interesting things they're doing. For example, you can ask them how they got from Job X to Job Y, or how their work as a musician helped them in their current career. People hire people that they like and who seem genuinely interested in the role.

Top Tips

? Come prepared with 3-5 thoughtful questions.

? Ask questions that show you’re engaged, intelligent and interested.

? Avoid no-brainer questions or ones related to salary / benefits.

I have listed all of the tools and advice above that you will need in order to take part in your next interview with a positive, constructive and strategic mindset. Although we’re living through testing times, we need to be positive – after all, you’re most likely reading this article because you have an interview lined up. So well done for taking this step!