You want a job interview to go off without a hitch. To achieve your goal, you need to prepare for your interview. This requires you to consider what questions your interviewer will ask and how to respond to them.
Now, let’s look at six questions you’ll likely face during your next interview — and tips for how to answer them.
Questions to Practice Before Your Next Interview
1. Can you tell me about yourself?
Expect your interviewer to ask this question to get a rundown of who you are and what you’re all about. When you get this question, approach it as if you’re going to tell a great story. The best stories have a beginning, middle, and end. They are easy to follow and include a plot that engages a listener or reader. Thus, if you’re asked to share information about yourself, consider why the interviewer asked the question. Then, you can provide your interviewer with information about your past and why you are applying for a role with their organization. Finally, you can finish your response with a brief description of why you feel like you’re a great candidate to join their organization.
2. How did you hear about this role?
Be honest about how you found out about a role. If you saw a job posting on LinkedIn or another job board, let your interviewer know. When you do, explain what attracted you to the role and why you decided to apply. Or, if you were referred to the role by someone else, tell your interviewer who referred you. In addition, you can explain why the person who referred you believed you could be an excellent fit for the role.
3. What is your preferred work environment?
Learn as much as you can about the work environment associated with the role. By doing so, you can share details about how your preferred work environment lines up with the environment associated with the job you want to land. For instance, if a job is 100% remote, you can explain why you enjoy working outside of a traditional office setting. Comparatively, if a job requires you to work in an office, you can discuss how you thrive when you work directly with peers and superiors.
4. How do you respond to conflict?
When you get this question, it can be beneficial to provide an example of a time you handled a work conflict with poise and composure. The example can highlight how you remained calm under pressure and did your part to resolve a conflict as quickly and efficiently as possible. Furthermore, you can explain what you learned from the conflict and how you can apply this know-how to a role with the interviewer’s organization.
5. How do you handle multiple projects or tasks at once?
The best job candidates can multitask. To show an interviewer you are capable of tackling multiple projects or tasks at the same time, explain your approach to doing so. For example, if you use tools or software to track and manage deadlines, you can share this information with your interviewer. It also helps to discuss a specific instance in which you completed several projects or tasks at once.
6. What are your salary expectations?
Perform research to find out what comparable roles in your industry pay. Also, consider your industry experience, the organization offering the role, and your career aspirations. Be realistic about your salary expectations. And, keep in mind that if an organization cannot offer you a salary that lines up with your requirements, it may be able to provide additional time off or other perks to supplement your compensation.
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