Common Interview Questions
And how to answer them
The interview process can be frustrating. Interviewing can be one of the most intimidating parts of the job search and it is the one thing that we most often don’t prepare for.
Yet, preparing for specific questions can transform an interview from intimidating to empowering.
In the coming posts, I’ll walk you through some of the most common questions employers ask, explain what they’re looking for, and provide tips for answering with confidence.
When answering any interview question though, there are some rules to keep in mind.
Be honest. If you fake your way through an interview and they offer you a job, you will have to fake your way through every day at work.
Be prepared. While it is rare that you are lucky enough to be prepared for every question asked, the more prepared you are, the better equipped you are to answer questions you didn’t practice.
Ask yourself why. Before answering any question, ask yourself why they are asking the question. What do they really want to know? And if you aren’t sure, ask them before answering. Knowing what the interviewer is looking for makes answering the question much easier.
Embrace AI. While you still have to make an answer yours, AI can help with answers when you don’t know where to start. Just make sure you refer back to point #1 before finalizing your answer. If what AI comes up with doesn’t represent your truth, don’t use it.
Use STAR. To keep yourself on track when answering behavioral questions, prepare your answer using the Situation Task Action Result method. This keeps the answer short, yet clear.
Have questions of your own. Asking questions evens the playing field. It gives you information that you can use to decide whether you want to move forward in the process. It also shows the interviewer that you are serious about the position and finding the right fit.
Let AI help you prepare. If you aren’t sure what questions to prepare for a certain position, ask AI. You can ask the platform to give you a list of interview questions by company and/or by position.