17、Why did you think you are suited to this job?
What they are really asking is “You know what we are looking for so can you tell us what you have done or what you have, that is relevant.”
18、Why should we give the job to you above other applicants?
This is often our closing question. We want to know, in a nutshell, why you are the best candidate for the job. This is a chance to list your best attributes as they relate to the vacancy. Don’t be cocky, but don’t be shy.
19、How well do you work under pressure?
“I know that all jobs involve some sort of pressure at some time. I can work as well under pressure as I do at any other time but when I am busy, I prioritize activities so that my workload is manageable.”
If the interviewers focus on other pressure, such as pressure to meet targets, dealing with difficult customers etc, give an appropriate reply, mentioning past situations where you have coped under such pressure.
20、What sort of people do you find it difficult to work with?
“I am an easy going person who seems to get on with everyone. If I have to pick a type of person that bothers me, it’s the one who doesn’t pull their weight or isn’t worried about the standard of their work because it reflects badly on the rest of the team.”
21、Sell me this pen!
In interviews for sales job, you may hear this, believe us! In fact, one of us had a non-sales interview and was asked this, unexpectedly. The object you are asked to sell could in fact be anything. Some interviewers like to see whether you focus on the benefits of the object or its features. The features of the pen might be that it’s blue, with a roller ball and plastic coating. The benefits might be that it’s reliable, easy to hold and leak proof.
22、What key skills do you think you need to be successful in this role?
You got this far because your job application form or resume or CV matched the interviewers’ criteria as specified in the job advert. Just expand on this in your job interview answers. List the skills you think are required, giving a little explanation as to why each is needed.
You might then be asked to give examples where you’ve used one or more of these skills. These are behavioural interview questions.
23、Where do you see yourself in five years time?
This can be a difficult job interview question to answer, especially if you’ve not thought beyond getting this job! When you answer, you want to sound ambitious enough to be motivated to do a good job, but not too ambitious in case your interviewers think you’re only using this job as a stepping stone to something better.
I can be successful in this job and taken on additional responsibilities and be considered suitable for promotion.
24、How does this job fit into your career plans?
This is a similar job interview question to the one above really, except that it looks beyond five years. Be realistic. You might say something like this if you’re going for a middle-management position:
“My ambition is to lead a department and be involved in strategic decision-making at a senior level. I expect the role I’m applying for to give me more experience of leading and some introduction to strategy so that I’m ready for a senior role in a few years time”.
25、Where did you think you’d be at this stage in your life?
Avoid saying further than you are now! It’s better to show you’ve met or exceeded your ambitions than fallen short of them. Tell the interviewers that you are happy with your life and career, but are looking for more challenge as you like to stretch yourself to achieve more.
26、If you could start again, what career decisions would you make differently?
You’re on sticky ground if you start trying to think of hypothetical career changes that might have served you better in the past. Your answers to interview questions will suggest you’re not happy with the way things are and no-one wants to hire an unhappy person.
“I wouldn’t change anything. I am happy with my career as it is now but want fresh challenges.”
“I’m not the kind of person who looks back with regrets. I prefer to invest my energy looking forward”.
27、 How would you approach a typical project?
If you’re applying for a project based job, such as a project manager, you will be asked this job interview question. Don’t give a long winded answer, but try to demonstrate that you would take into account the main components of effective project planning such as:
– Planning the schedule backwards from completion
– Working out what you need to get the job done effectively and on time
– Budgeting — costs, time and resources
– Allowing a contingency
28、How would you get the best from people?
If you are applying for any management role, it is highly likely you’ll be asked this job interview question. The kind of skills that we’d be looking for in a good applicant are:
– Good communication
– Teamwork skills
– Recognizing what each person can bring
– Setting a good example
– Praising good performances
29、 Give us an example of how you have resolved conflict.
As this is a behavioural interview question, you need to find an example of conflict that you have resolved. The sort of skills you need to demonstrate in your interview answer are:
– Fairness
– Discussing problems with individuals in private
– Making sure you get to the root of the problem
– Finding a solution that everyone will accept
30、What did you look for when you hired people in the past?
This is a general question. Don’t think about specific skills of the job you are applying for. Think generally about the key attributes everyone looks for in a good applicant. Among others, these include:
– Aptitude
– Skills
– Initiative
– Flexibility
– Commitment
31、Do you work best by yourself or as part of a team?
Most jobs require both, to varying degrees.
As with all answers to job interview questions, think about the position you are applying for. Are the interviewers looking for a team worker? Did they mention this in the advert or is it implicit in the job description? If a team player is required, tell the interviewers that you work well in a team. Give an example if you can. You might say:
“I prefer to work in teams. I find that better decisions are reached when people work together and share ideas. Of course I’m happy to work alone when required too.”
If the job is mostly done alone, you might say:
“I work very well by myself because I’m self motivated, organized and conscientious. I’m comfortable working in teams though and recognize that this is better in some situations”.
32、What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
You will deal with many personalities in any job. If the interviewers know the people you’ll be working with, they might have a personality in mind! It’s hard for you to know this however so stick to a safe answer. You might say:
“I find I work well with almost everyone but who I work best with might depend on the activity. If it’s a project, I prefer to work with someone who’s practical and organized because this is important. If it’s leading a discussion, working with someone who’s a good facilitator helps.”
33、How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly within the team?
Gaining credibility quickly is important. Make sure you listen, learn, question, understand. You might say: “That’s a good question and I realize it’s important to gain credibility quickly. I believe the best way is to show your colleagues that you respect their experience and want to learn from them as well as about them. You need to listen, ask the right questions and make sure you understand. If they can see you’ll fit in early on, it helps”.
34、Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job.
This is a behavioural interview question. If you can’t think of an example, it’s ok to say so. If that’s the case, either say how you would deal with it, or use an example where someone you know dealt with conflict well.
Most interviewers would look for:
-Getting both sides of the argument
-Suggesting and agreeing compromise
-Showing tactfulness
-Showing empathy