classical interview questions
Top 4 Interview Questions
Liz Banks goes over the classical job interview questions.
Vocabulary
| tip (2) | pick (3) | achievement |
| pre- | redress | handle (2) |
| dread | perceive | confidence |
| typical | initiative | on no account |
| avoid | tendency | statement |
| hire | find out | qualification |
| unique | look for | job description |
| ability | long-term | combination |
| relish | goal (2) | opening sentence |
| benefit | indicate | inside knowledge |
| expand | ambition | mission statement |
| ethos | overview | opportunity |
| utter | work hard | innocuous |
| phrase | major (3) | throw you off |
| follow | rough (2) | run through (2) |
| advice | structure | take notes |
| role | trip (3) | achievement |
Video
Transcript
Top 4 Interview Questions
Useful Tips
Hello I’m Liz Banks from Skills Studio, and I’m going to give you some useful tips for you next job interview.
There are many typical questions in an interview that can trip you up. But with a bit of pre-planning, you can learn to answer them with confidence.
Here are four of the most difficult questions.
Biggest Weakness
One. What is your biggest weakness?
The dreaded question, which is best handled by picking something that you have made a positive step to redress.
For example, if your IT level is not what it could be, state it as a weakness, but tell the interview about training courses, and time spend outside work hours you have used to improve your skills.
Your initiative will be perceived as strength.
On no account say, “I don’t have any weaknesses.” Your interviewer won’t believe you, or I have a tendency to work too hard, which is seen as avoiding the question.
Why should we hire you?
Two. Why should we hire you? What makes you special, and where do your major strengths lie?
You should be able to find out what they are looking for in the job description.
“I have a unique combination of technical skills, and the ability to build long-term customer relationships.” is a good opening sentence.
It is important to lead on to a more specific example of something that you have so far done in your career to support your statement.
State your biggest achievement and the benefit it made to the business.
Then finish with, “Given the opportunity, I could bring this success to your company.”
Why do you want this job?
Three. Why do you want this job?
The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates that you have given this some thought.
If you prepared for the interview properly, you should have an inside knowledge of a company’s values, mission statement, development plans and products.
Use this information to describe how your goals and ambition matches the company ethos, and how you would relish the opportunity to work for them. Never utter the phrase, “I just need a job.”
Tell me about yourself
Four. Tell me about yourself.
This is often the first question you get asked, and although it may seem innocuous, it can really throw you off guard if you haven’t already thought about it.
It’s important to give a balanced answer to this question, not a life history.
So preparation is very important. Don’t go into too much detail. Up to five minutes is fine.
Begin with an overview of your highest qualification. Then run through the jobs you’ve had in your career.
You can roughly follow the structure of your CV. Give examples of achievements and skills you’ve picked up along the way.
Expand on Areas
Your interviewer will probably take notes, ask you to expand on any areas they would like more information.
If it’s your first job, then focus on areas you enjoyed. And explain how this led you to wanting this role.
I hope you found this advice useful. And good luck with your next job interview.
Questions
1. Are job interview questions straightforward or “tricky”?
2. You should say, “I don’t have any weaknesses.” Yes or no? Why shouldn’t say this?
3. Should you tell a character or personality problem or weakness? If your weakness is spoken German, what should you say?
4. For the question, “why should we hire you?” what two things do you have to consider? It’s good to give a specific example of a past accomplishment and how it applies to the company. True or false?
5. Is it very important to know as much about a company as possible? Why is it important to know as much about the company as possible?
6. What can you say about the question, “Tell me about yourself?” Is it simple and minor?
7. Should you tell personal information or use your CV/resume as a format?
8. The most important thing is to practice and prepare before the interview. Do you agree?
A. Have you had a job interview? If yes, how many?
B. What kind of questions did the interviewer ask?
C. Were you well prepared for the interview?
D. How did you feel?
E. Did you get the job?
F. How did you find out about the company?
G. Do you interview candidates?
