Smart Answers to Common Interview Questions

It isn’t possible to predict every potential question you’ll hear during a job interview. But, we all know that some are relatively common and asked almost every time.

Obviously, you should do your homework?and learn about the company, its products and services, the role, people working there, etc. I can’t emphasize this enough.

Also, don’t deliver the same answer in every situation. You should customize your responses to fit the specific role you’re seeking. As you interview with different employers, focus on various aspects of your strengths, skills, and experience as appropriate.

The good news is, the content in the answers you prepare can be repurposed for other questions. Maybe they won’t specifically ask, “Tell me about yourself,” but they may ask why you are interested in the job.

When they ask this type of question, they are trying to understand:

• Why you are?seeking a new job.
• Why do you want to work for?them?
• Why you are the?best candidate.
• Why they should?hire you.

You don’t need to?memorize?answers to these questions. However, it does help to capture a few notes and bullet points as a framework for how you want to respond. Otherwise, you’ll sit there thinking about your answer for too long, or you’ll respond quickly with something that misses the mark.

So, let’s dive into a few of these questions that you should expect interviewers to ask you.

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Question: Tell me more about yourself?

This question isn’t as trivial or innocent as it may seem. It’s an opportunity to sell yourself for the job. Leverage your?elevator pitch?that briefly explains your background and why you are an excellent fit for the role with their company.

If you want to share a few personal details about your life, that’s fine (e.g., “Well, I love to travel and explore new cities. I saw that this role requires international travel, which caught my interest…). However, don’t forget that the interviewer isn’t trying to get to know you as a friend.

In the first few minutes, they are already forming their initial impressions that determine whether they want to hire you or not. You don’t want your answer to be too shallow or brief. However, you also don’t want to ramble on and on for 10-15 minutes.

Remember, they’ve already read your cover letter, resume, and job application. The interviewers have probably reviewed your Linkedin profile as well. They know the details of your background, so you can focus on the key highlights that will “sell you” for this role.

When I work with my coaching clients, I ask them to structure their answer to this question as follows. But feel free to improvise as feels most natural for you. The point is to provide an appetizer of your qualifications for the role. Then, you can wrap up with why you are there that day (i.e., why you want the job).

• Briefly state what you are doing right now.
• Then, share a short synopsis — and I do mean short — of where you were before your current position.
• Highlight unique skills, accomplishments, and experiences from your background relevant to this company and for this role. Don’t share every single detail!
• Wrap up by connecting the dots between your experience and this role, which makes it clear why you are excited to be interviewing with them and why they should hire you.

Don’t worry about covering every single detail in your work experience, and don’t try to close the deal with this first answer. You are trying to intrigue them, make them want to learn more, and reassure them that you are a great candidate. Keep it short, sweet, and impactful.

Example:

I’ve spent the last two years leading a small team at a stealth startup, working on a mobile app that makes it easy to do quick searches across multiple social sites simultaneously. We were featured in the App Store earlier this year. Before that, I was at Google working on web search, which is where I got most of my experience with search technology, and I also spent time at a few other startups. I received my master’s degree from Georgia Tech. My thesis research was on the social implications of oversharing personal information online. That’s why I’m fascinated by the work you are doing here. My background is an excellent fit for the product management role for your new reputation management service.

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Question: Why are you looking for a new job?

Tread lightly! Many candidates answer this question without considering the implications of how the interviewer will interpret it.

For example, you never want to say something negative about your current boss or past employers. You also don’t want to say something that makes you sound desperate, which will reduce your power later during an offer negotiation (e.g., “I’ve?been out of work for a while, and I really need the money”).

I encourage my clients to frame their answer as a?pull, rather than a?push. You are being?pulled?toward an exciting new opportunity (i.e., the job at this new company). You are not being?pushed?out of a negative situation in your current job (e.g., a bad boss).

Talk about how much you have learned and developed in your last job. Be positive! But, then pivot your answer to highlight your ambition and desire to continue advancing your career. Demonstrate your eagerness and willingness to learn and grow.

Hiring managers — the good ones, at least — love candidates who are ambitious and quick learners. They want people who are ready to dive in and work hard. They want to hear that you are specifically drawn to their company and what they do.

Example:

I’ve learned a lot about designing elegant mobile experiences at Apple. I’ve grown as a designer, and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunities there. Customers enjoy the products we ship at Apple, but your work here can literally be lifesaving for someone. I’ve been researching your products, customers, and the marketplace, and I’m impressed by what I’ve seen. Your mission inspires me, and I want to be part of a company that is making a significant difference in people’s lives.?

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Question: Why do you want to work here?

Notice how the answer you prepared for the previous question applies here. You’re looking for a new job because you’re ambitious and want to work for this specific company. You want to work at this company because you’re excited about the opportunity to learn and grow in the new role.

You’ve done your homework, so you know what matters to their leadership team. You learned as much as you could about their products and services and understand the company culture.

You care about the customers they serve. You want to be part of their mission. Your “why” should demonstrate that you’re a good fit for the job and mention aspects of the company and the role that appeals most to you.

Ok, I hear what some of you might be saying at this point.?A job is a job. You want to work there because you need the paycheck.

While that may be true, and it might be what you’re thinking, that is not what any interviewer or hiring manager wants to hear. Many employees, especially the leadership team, believe their company is exceptional. They want to feel that their work has meaning.

Your answer should reflect that you think it would be exciting to work there, too. Plus, it’s another chance for you to explain why you would be the best hire for this role.

Example:

I’ve researched alternative energy companies ever since I was a child. I know that SunPower is one of the best in the solar industry. I’m a great salesperson, and I have done well in all of my past roles. Working at SunPower would be my dream job, and I know I will excel here. Solar is the future, and I want to be a part of making that happen with you.

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Question: What are your strengths?

The purpose of this question is to see if your strengths align with their needs. They know what the specific role requires, so they want to ensure there isn’t a mismatch between the job and what you say you are great at doing (and probably enjoy doing).

For example, you might say that your greatest strength is the ability to be a “player-coach” who can do a lot of hands-on work in addition to managing your team. But, maybe this position is in a rapidly-growing organization, and they want someone who can scale and lead a large team very soon (i.e., less of a player-coach and more of a mature senior leader).

The job description should make it clear what the role will require. It may even have indicated some of the challenges they’re facing. So, tune your answer to focus on strengths that will help you succeed in this company and solve their problems.

If you’re going to highlight something as a strength, be ready to back that up with some examples to support it. You say that you are a quick learner? Great. Tell me about a time that you were able to get up to speed in a job rapidly.

Example:

One of my strengths is finding great talent and designing an organization that can scale. When I joined Stripe, my team was only three engineers. Over the next two years, I created a new talent-sourcing pipeline, grew the team to 35, promoted three people into management, and had zero attrition. Here is how I structured the organization to better support the company…

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Question: What are your weaknesses?

I hate this question, but interviewers continue to ask it. I don’t like the typical advice of framing a strength as a weakness (e.g., “One of my weaknesses is that I just work too darn much!”). Interviewers see right through that and can tell you’re avoiding the question.

We’re all human, and we all have weaknesses. So, you should be honest. But, you should focus on a past weakness and how you overcame it rather than choosing a current weakness you haven’t addressed yet.

Doing this demonstrates that you are self-aware. It shows that you’re focused on self-improvement and know how to take action.

Even so, I would select a weakness that isn’t too shocking. For example, it might be true that you partied too hard during college and had a few blackout episodes. However, I wouldn’t share that in a job interview.

Example:

I used to be terrified of public speaking. I couldn’t stand in front of a room without being so nervous that my voice would shake. For years, I avoided it as much as possible. But, I knew it was holding me back in my career, so I signed up for a public speaking workshop. I didn’t get better overnight, but I’ve been steadily improving over the past few years. I still don’t love it, but I think I’m great at presenting to an audience now.

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Question: Where do you see yourself in five years?

The interviewer is trying to understand if investing in you will be the right decision. If they hire you, how long will you stick around? They also want to see if your plans for the future align with what is possible in the company.

You should be having similar thoughts:?

• Will this job be a good investment in?my?future??
• Will I?learn and grow?in this position??
• Will the company be good for?my career?

Focus your answer on the company and its mission. Describe how you hope you can learn and grow with the company. Explain how you think working there aligns with your long-term goals.

Example:

I would be excited to take this lead role with your company. I know I will learn a lot, and I also know I have a lot to offer. When I join a company, I am very committed to the mission and the role. I’ve reached a point in my career where I would like to explore management, and I know your team is growing. I’d be interested in management training here to prepare me to move into a leadership position when the time is right.

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Summary

Of course, there will be many more questions an interview team will ask. You won’t be able to anticipate every potential question. But, rehearsing your answers to the ones you expect will help you perform better during interviews and feel more confident. Many of the answers you prepare will be applicable in other situations.

In all cases, be honest, positive, and focus on key points that make it clear you are the best candidate for the job. When possible, wrap up an answer with a subtle hint that you’re looking forward to working there, and they will be glad they hired you.

I also encourage my clients to weave their questions into the conversation. You’ll notice when an interviewer’s question (and your answer) lends itself well to a follow-up question from you. Take advantage of that opportunity to learn more about the company, the team, their strategy, internal processes, etc.

The interview process should be give and take, so treat it like a conversation. Don’t sit back, passively wait for questions, and do nothing but provide answers. Interviewers are trying to decide if they want to hire you, but you are also trying to determine if you want to work for them.

At the end of the interview, they may ask if you have any questions for them. But, you shouldn’t only wait for that moment.

Have your list of questions prepared long before you start that interview. Find opportunities to ask them throughout the conversation to get the answers?you need?to decide if the job is?right for you.

I hope this helps! I’m curious; what are some of the interview questions you have been asked most frequently?

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Larry Cornett?is a?leadership & career coach and business advisor?who hosts a private?mastermind community for ambitious professionals?with weekly challenges, office hours, and ongoing support. If you’re interested in starting your own business someday (or accelerating an existing one), check out his “Employee to Solopreneur” course (launching later this year).

Larry lives in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with his wife and children, and a gigantic Great Dane. He does his best to share advice to help others take complete control of their work and life. He’s also on?Twitter @cornett.?