Be Prepared: 6 Interview Questions You Need to Know the Answers To

There are all kinds of interview questions you might face, but at the end of the day—an interviewer needs to get a few crucial bits of information out of you in order to be able to make a well-informed hiring decision.

With that in mind, here are a few very common interview questions that you’d be foolish not to prepare for.

Why do you want this job?

Having laid out your career goals in your resume and cover letter, you might feel like this is a silly question to ask, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare for it. Interviewers want to identify individuals who have thought carefully about whether this is the job for them. If you seem hesitant or even a bit unsure in your answer, you run the risk of getting eliminated straight away. Be sure to explain why you’re genuinely excited about the possibility of taking on this job.

Why will you do a good job?

The best responses to this question lay out prior experiences and skills that suggest you will excel in this job. You want to have your answer memorized before your interview. If you can’t make a powerful case for yourself, the interviewer isn’t going make it for you.

What is your biggest accomplishment?

Experienced hiring managers ask this question because they want to hear what you can do for the company, or if you’ve had many major accomplishments. Even if your interviewer doesn’t ask this question, preparing an answer is still beneficial because you can incorporate it into answers to other questions.

Talking with confidence about your accomplishments is an indication you’re someone who gets major results, as opposed to someone who just does the minimum.

What are you weaknesses?

The best way to handle this one is to focus on soft skills like communication or initiative. Avoid mentioning a weakness that could be seen as a character flaw, like saying you have a quick temper. After giving a weakness, your answer should then pivot to what you are doing to address it.

Why did you leave/ are you leaving your job?

If you are currently unemployed, spin your reason for leaving in a positive manner. For instance, you could say you were downsized or there was a change in the company’s direction.

If you are currently employed, mention what you are looking for in your next job and how you think the company you are interviewing with can fulfill that professional need.

Tell me about a time you showed initiative/ leadership/ creativity/ etc.

These kinds of questions delve into what you’ve done previously. It’s crucial to prepare ahead of time for these questions, so you can quickly come up with examples off the top of your head. Before your interview, think about the skills you’re going to use in the job and what problems you’re going to face. Then, come up with examples from your past as proof you can meet those needs.

 Are you looking for a new opportunity to interview but having trouble getting one?

At Software Management Consultants, we help job seekers with every part of the application process, If you’re currently looking to take the next step on your career path, please contact our team today.