When it comes to answering interview questions there can be a few ones that we all struggle with. Tell me your greatest weakness or tell me about yourself can be a few of the questions. These ones can stump even the most prepared interviewee.
The most important thing to do is to have your interview answers prepared ahead of time, using the STAR method – Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Having flexible answers that you can use interchangeably for various interview questions will help you to overcome not having answers for various interview questions during an interview.
Let’s look at 4 interview questions that you can master!
Question One – Tell me about yourself
If you can master this question, you can improve your other answers. This question should always be 90 seconds or less. This question can also be easier to answer if you follow this formula:
- 40% past experience and education
- 20% current situation and how you can help the company, also talk about your skills
- 40% future
When you answer this question give examples of past work or education experiences that will help you in the role you are interviewing for by explaining your strengths and knowledge. Always keep the answer and examples focused on the position and industry you are interviewing for. Before you go to the interview, research information about the company and the position so you will be able to explain how as an individual you are a good fit for the role and the company. Understand what the employer is looking for you to accomplish before they hire you and be able to provide examples of that. This question is the hardest of them all, you need to construct your answer before you go to the interview, for most interviews the answer will be generally the same, as in your skills and work experience, but it should always be kept focused on the job you are applying to.
Question Two – What are your greatest weaknesses?
This question everyone struggles with, every time this question is practiced during interviews, people must pause and think. This is one thing to avoid in the interview. When you answer this question always follow the weakness up with a positive. Never say you don’t have a weakness!
Step 1 – Mention the weakness
Step 2 – Recover with an example of how you are learning and growing personally and professionally from the weakness
The biggest part is to choose a weakness that will not hurt the company. Review this question before the interview and have a weakness that would not hurt the company and your work!
Question Three – Why should I hire you?
Time to sell yourself! This question can be a make it or break it question.
Things to avoid:
- Being too general, saying things like I can do everything, or if I don’t know the skill, I can learn it. Most interviews want to hire someone who already has the necessary skills.
- Being overly confident and explaining general skills too much.
Things to say:
- Your experience and success in similar roles
- Your strong knowledge of the role
- How you fit in with the company
- How you can help the company
- Explain your soft skills
Preparing for this question:
- Think about how you can help the company
- Think about what the employer is wanting
- Make a list of relevant attributes, experience, and skills
- Keep the answers concise and informative
- Practice the answer!
Question Four – Tell me about a time your work was criticized?
First thing, never say I have never had this problem. People often have differing opinions of how things should be done. This question is looking to see how you act and accept feedback. Getting criticism can be a growth experience. Always answer this question in a concise and informative manner. Tell about the situation and how you responded to the feedback.
Begin with telling some examples of good feedback about jobs you have done in various work situations. Provide an answer that is not damaging. Consider using an example of a time you wrote a report and how a colleague told you that you should fix something, and then explain how you responded. Finish by telling how this experience is being applied in your life.
Bliss + You 