How to Answer the 31 Most Common Interview Questions. Wouldn't it be great if you knew exactly what a hiring manager would be asking you in your next job interview? While we unfortunately can't read minds, we'll give you the next best thing: a list of the 31 most commonly asked interview questions and answers. While we don't recommend having a canned response for every interview question (in fact, please don't), we do recommend spending some time getting comfortable with what you might be asked, what hiring managers are really looking for in your responses, and what it takes to show that you're the right man or woman for the job. Consider this list your interview question study guide. 1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
This question seems simple, so many people fail to prepare for it, but it's crucial. Read More 2. Another seemingly innocuous interview question, this is actually a perfect opportunity to stand out and show your passion for and connection to the company. Read More 3. Read More 4. Read More 5. Read More 6. Read More 7. 8. 9. 5 Reasons You're Not Getting a Second Round Interview. You thought the interview went OK. Maybe it could’ve gone better, but certainly you didn’t totally bomb it, right? So why hasn’t anyone called to set up the next interview or extend an offer?
What went wrong? Why is this not progressing? Why? Been there? How do you improve your interview game if you don’t even understand what you’re doing wrong? 1. If you’re right at home in your smart suit and closed-toed shoes, you’ll likely emit this vibe in an interview. Instead If you’re fairly focused on finding a certain type of company culture, be sure and do your due diligence as you apply for various roles. Check Out Amazing Companies Hiring Now 2. It can happen to the best of us sometimes, especially when we’re nervous.
Try remembering the easy acronym PIE (or passionate, interested, and engaged) as you walk into your next interview. 3. Look. Pull out the stops by staying calm and confident through every interview interaction. 4. 5. Save the obvious “What’s in it for me?” 5 Sneaky Ways to Research Employers Before the Interview. Showing up to an interview without doing any research on the employer can cost you the job. This is why it’s important for every job seeker to learn as much as they can about the company before their job interview. While you can read through the company’s “about” page to learn more about the company’s history and values, there are a few more things you can do to learn specific details about the employer. Here are five sneaky ways to research the employer before a job interview: 1. Read the company’s blog. The first place you should start your research is by reading the company’s blog.
Before your job interview, read through a couple blog posts and take notes on what the company is currently working on and some of their achievements. 2. Search for company news or press releases that’ll help you understand the company’s projects, clients, announcements, community involvement, or recognition. 3.
Many people use Quora to find an answer to practically any question. 4. 5. Photo: Thinkstock. 7 Tips for Crafting a Perfect Post-Interview Email. Congrats! Cartwheels! Cake! You got an interview for the position that you only dared to dream about just a few months ago, and you rocked it! So, all that’s left is smiling for your employee ID tag and waltzing into your first day at work, right? Not so fast there, employee of the month! There’s the small matter of getting the job first. When an interview goes well, it’s oh-so tempting to rush straight from talking to your potential future boss to crafting a witty tweet about your amazing new job.
To make sure you get the job, you need to follow up your interview with the perfect email. Here are seven must do’s for a follow-up email that will get you hired: 1. There’s no need to wait. 2. You’ve already introduced yourself in your cover email, sent your resume as a PDF, and linked to your online portfolio. [Related: 5 Things You *Must* Do to Follow-up After an Interview] 3. Since you got the interview, you probably had an impeccable application—no typos, model grammar, sleek formatting. 5 Things You *Must* Do to Follow-up After an Interview. You’ve made it through the last round, and now all you have to do is play the waiting game. It’s a nerve-wracking time, and you may jump every time the phone rings, but keep your cool and make sure you’re not breaking any of these interview follow-up rules: 1. Thank them within two days. Thank whoever interviewed you on the day of or, at the very least, the day after your interview. 2.
Follow up after your thank-you note anywhere from a week after the interview to no later than two weeks. 3. Don’t follow up with everyone you met up with. 4. If your interviewer seems to prefer a certain medium, like the phone or email, try to stick to that when reaching out to them. 5. Choose your words wisely and be wary of sounding impatient or even putting pressure on the person you’re speaking to. This article was originally published on POPSUGAR. Photo: Death to Stock. The Ultimate Guide to Acing Your First Tech Interview. You just opened one of those emails, the kind that makes your heart race and your hand reach compulsively to text your mom.
You got an interview!! And then comes the delayed reaction. ::Gulp:: I got an interview? Putting your skills (and dreams) on display for a potential employer is hard enough, but if you just learned new tech skills and are going into your very first tech job interview? Well, that comes with its own set of worries: What if I don’t know enough yet? What are they going to ask me to do in the interview? How am I going to explain my history as an HR manager?! Fear not! What you’ll learn in this ultimate guide: What to expect in the interview.How to prepare for the interview.How to act during the interview.What to do after the interview.
One of the big hurdles for a tech interview is the dreaded code test! For a lot of junior developers, the prospect of a code test is one of the scariest things about interviewing for a tech job. 1. 2. 3. Remain calm. Photo: Kaboom Pics. Your Guide to Top Job Interview Questions and Answers. 3 Things You *Must* Learn About a Company Before Going on an Interview. You’ve prepared your elevator pitch; you’ve selected the perfect outfit, head-to-toe; and you’ve even thought about what to say if you’re asked the dreaded salary question. But have you done your homework on the company? This is a glaring mistake many job seekers make—forgetting to think about common, company-specific questions like, “Why do you want to work here?” Or even “What do you know about the company?” The hiring manager knows you’re qualified—that’s why she’s invited you into the hot seat!
1. Most sites have an “About” page or something similar, which is helpful for learning why the company was founded, how they define what they do, and the mission or values of the organization. [Related: Company Culture: What is it and Why is it Important] 2. Before your interview, make sure you’ve memorized the names of the founders and/or CEO—and have familiarized yourself with the leadership team, either through the company website or through a little extra sleuthing on LinkedIn. 3. 5 Interview Tips and Tricks for Introverts. Interviews are already nerve-wracking—and when you’re an introvert like me, they’re downright, wake-up-in-a-cold-sweat, I’d-rather-get-my-teeth-pulled terrifying.
Unfortunately, if we introverts ever want to work, we have to do them, and we have to do them well. So, check out my five techniques for getting through the process like a champ (a soon-to-be employed champ, at that!). 1. Arrange Your Day Strategically It’s not that introverts don’t enjoy being around people—we do—but the more time we spend interacting with others, the less energy we have. That’s why I recommend arranging your schedule so that you have a cushion of “solo” time both before and after the interview. I recently had a hiring manager ask me to come in for an interview at 4 PM, so I planned all of my calls and meetings before noon. What if spending hours alone before and after the interview isn’t feasible for you? This strategy ensures you’ll have maximum energy during the interview—which is crucial to scoring the job.
What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Focus on Before a Job Interview. Years ago, when I was interviewing for the job of deputy editor at Harvard Business Review, I thought I had carefully prepared for my full day of interviews. I had my favorite suit dry cleaned and ready to go. I took my older daughter (a notoriously bad sleeper) to my parents’ house so I could count on getting a full night’s sleep. I even did a dry run of the unfamiliar drive to the office on the Sunday before my interview.
I was ready for anything. Or so I thought. The night before the interview, my younger daughter, normally a sound sleeper, started teething and cried continuously. Far from well-rested in the morning, I somehow managed to slice a hole in the suit when I tried to cut off the plastic dry cleaner wrap. In hindsight, I can laugh at what happened (especially since I got the job) but I also realize that I had focused on all the wrong things: logistics and details instead of substance.
Stress about job interviews feels like a given for most of us. Develop a real script. The Ultimate Interview Guide: 30 Prep Tips for Job Interview Success. Preparing for an interview takes a lot more than Googling a list of common interview questions. You have to make a great first impression appearance-wise (no wrinkly suits here!) , have a great knowledge of your target company and its product, and, of course, know exactly how to convey that you're the perfect fit for the job.
So to help you get prepared, we compiled a list of our all-time best pre-interview tips. From strategizing about how to tackle the toughest questions to packing your briefcase, we've got you covered—with 30 ways to make sure you bring your A-game. Numbers 1-7 Know Your Audience Spend a few hours learning everything you can about the company—from as many sources as you can.
Numbers 8-16 Anticipate the Interview Questions Even if you’re a well-oiled interviewing machine, it’s essential to spend time thinking carefully about what skills, accomplishments, and interview answers will resonate with your interviewers most. Numbers 17-24 Pack (and Dress) Accordingly Success! Preparing for Interviews | Career Services. In interviews, your job is to convince a recruiter that you have the skills, knowledge and experience for the job. Show motivation and convince a recruiter that you fit the organization's culture and job description, and you get that much closer to an offer. 1. Research the organization. This will help you answer questions — and stand out from less-prepared candidates. Seek background information. 2. Analyze the job description. 3. Most interviews involve a combination of resume-based, behavioral and case questions. 4. Go neutral. 5. Extra copies of your resume on quality paperA notepad or professional binder and penA list of referencesInformation you might need to complete an applicationA portfolio with samples of your work, if relevant 6.
Be mindful. 7. Many interviews end with “Do you have any questions?” Bring a list. 6 Surprising Interview Questions—And How to Answer Them. Have you ever walked into a job interview feeling totally prepared, only to be stumped by a surprising interview question? You’re not alone. Two recent Quora threads discussed the questions, “What is the toughest interview question thrown at you, and how did you answer it?”
And “What are some examples of great interview questions?” To help you tackle your next interview with confidence, we pulled together some of the most surprising Qs being asked behind closed doors—as well as Quora users’ interpretations and real-life answers. [Related: The Top 10 Most Interesting Interview Questions] 1. There are two things you want to avoid here: attributing all of your successes to luck and coming across as cynical. 2. If you think this sounds like a spin on the classic “greatest weakness” question, you’re right. [Related: Your Guide to Top Job Interview Questions and Answers] 3.
Talking salary is tricky, but talking salary for both the present and future is even trickier. 4. 5. 6. 10 Interview Questions You’ll Be Asked If You Want to Work for a Start-Up. 1. “How did you hear about this opportunity?” Start-ups are always curious to know which of their recruiting methods are actually effective, so your answer will be informative to your interviewer no matter what. But your answer can also be telling by letting your interviewer know how familiar you are with the company. If you tell us you saw the opening on our company’s own job board, we know you must check our job board regularly because you’re interested in working at our company specifically.
If you say something along the lines of, “I saw the posting on X other job site and then clicked through to see what your company was,” that gives us pause because you couldn’t possibly be that passionate about our company if you just learned about it when you came across the job posting. 2. Again, we want to know why you want to work HERE specifically. 3. 4. Some people prefer to be very closely managed, while others don’t. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Photo: Hero Images / Getty Images. 3 Steps for Answering "Why Do You Want This Job?" Like the dreaded “Tell me about yourself,” the question, “Why are you interested in this position?”
Is sure to come up among other interview questions. And, even if it doesn’t, if you want the job you should get this sentiment across regardless. So, really, there’s no way around figuring out how to string together a coherent thought about what motivated you to apply and why being in this position makes sense for you (and for the company). Luckily, there’s actually a pretty simple way to go about answering this question effectively without having to go through every big moment or transition in your life and career that’s brought you to this interview.
Here’s a smart framework for how you should structure your answer. Step 1: Express Enthusiasm for the Company First things first, this is an excellent opportunity for you to show off what you know about the company. Say you’re interviewing for a small quantitative asset management company. Step 3: Connect to Your Career Trajectory. 5 Tough Interview Questions And How To Answer Them. You’re in the middle of an interview that’s going well and your interviewer asks an off-the-wall question. Why? To find the best cultural match for the company. Forty-nine percent of employers know within five minutes of an interview if the candidate is a good fit for the position, CareerBuilder found in their January 2014 survey. Strange interview questions help employers choose the best candidate. Use these five examples to prepare for anything your interviewer asks: 1.
This question gives the interviewer the opportunity to learn your strengths. It’s important to master the art of the humble brag to make a good impression. 2. Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone has the ability to quickly solve them on their own. This question is not a trap. Begin by saying, “A time I messed up at work was when I gave a customer a quote that was considerably lower than it should have been. This answers the interviewer’s question but focuses more on the positive parts of the mistake. 3. 4. 5. Make a Great Impression on Your Interviewer in 10 Minutes. 5 Things to Do Before an Interview. 4 Easy Ways to Make Yourself Look More Mature.
13 Ways to Look Your Best During a Video Interview.