Most Commonly Asked Interview Questions

If you are unemployed and facing the dreaded job interviews, you need to know what to expect! A lot of people have recently found themselves out of a job after years of employment. Many have not had to interview for more than a decade! It can be a very stressful time, especially if your interview skills are rough or non-existent!

The questions asked today by interviewers are quite different than they were in the past. Times have changed and so have the criteria interviewers now use to find quality employees.

One thing that hasn’t changed is doing your research before going to the interview. Check out the company’s history, their mission statement, any recent press releases; who the decision makers are and the future plans. Knowing as much as you can about the company before you enter the interview will give you a serious edge over other candidates for the job!

Here is a list of the most common interview questions today as well as some advice on how to answer them:

Tell me about yourself: This is one question that every single interviewer will ask. They are not asking about your life story! They simply want to know briefly, your work history and experience as it relates to the job you are applying for.
Why did you leave your last job? Be careful here! Remain positive regardless of the actual circumstances! Use statements that include forward thinking, a new opportunity, or other positive reasons.
What have co-workers said about you? (This could also be what have past supervisors or managers said about you): Answer this one directly and precisely. If you say Mr. Jones my last supervisor said I was the hardest worker he had ever seen, it is as if Mr. Jones was there and was saying it himself! This carries weight, answer wisely.
Why do you want to work for this company? This is very common! Having done your research before the interview will come in very handy here! You can quote from their mission statement and explain briefly how it fits in with your own career goals.
What is your salary requirement? This is a tricky question! Don’t just blurt out an answer! You may want to say that it depends greatly upon the duties of the job. You may even say this is a tough question, and ask the range for this position.
Are you a Team Player? You better say Yes immediately! Briefly give an example from previous experience to prove it.
What are your greatest strengths? The interviewer is not asking about your sports history! They want to know about skills that would apply to the position you are interviewing for!
What are you weaknesses? Again this is not a personality question. You want to answer this carefully! Whatever weakness you highlight, make sure you indicate how you have turned it into a positive, or learned from it.

You can ace the interview with some preparation and research! Be yourself, be positive and confident, answer briefly and always keep your answers as closely related to the job you are applying for as possible! Times have changed, but people haven’t! Confidence and positive outlooks still matter!