COMMONLY ASKED INTERVIEW

QUESTIONS

Harshini Priyaa
S.B
Experienc
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Types of interview questions
Winning Moves

• Present your skills, experience, knowledge, accomplishments in

the best possible manner
• Convince the recruiter
• Portray confidence
• Focus on the way you speak
• Conversation not an interrogation
Tell me about yourself
What the interviewer wants to know?
• To smoothly start the interview without stressing you out.
• To set the tone and direction for the entire interview.
• To get a sample of your soft skills in a real-life situation.
• To get to know you professionally.
• Can you communicate well?

Common mistakes
• Too many personal details
• Life story
 Tell me about yourself

Greetings
Who you are
Skills+ Experience+ Accomplishments
Why you are a great fit for the job
Hi, I am a/an ____ graduate from ___ college specializing in _____ with an over-all
CGPA of ___. Along with my degree, I have completed ___. My goal is to build a
successful career as a _____. I have done a 2-month internship with the ____
company, and I had a good learning experience there. I believe I am good at
analytical thinking, communication and presentation skills.
 Tell me about yourself

Greetings
Who you are
Skills+ Experience+ Accomplishments
Why you are a great fit for the job
Hi Sir/Mam. My name is ___. I am known for my communication skills and
negotiation skills.
I have “X” years of experience working as __ in ____. I was responsible to
handle ___ in __ company. I have read the job description of this company and I
was pretty excited for this opportunity I know that I have the right skill set to
contribute immediately.
Why did you leave your previous job?

• I am looking for career prospects and opportunities for professional growth.

• I am looking for new challenges at work that align to my strength.
• My company was restructuring so its an opportunity to change.
Why do you want to switch your industry/career change?

• I want to change my career path for future growth potential and new
challenges. I feel my skills and experience will transfer well into this career.
• My current industry is struggling and I feel this industry has many overlaps
with my current industry and role, So I will be able to use my skills quickly to
contribute, rather than having to start over from the scratch.
 What are your strengths and weaknesses?

What the interviewer wants to know?

• Do you know your strengths?
• Do you acknowledge your weaknesses?

How to answer it?

• Mention ‘How’ and ‘Why’
• Think about weakness and the initiative
 What are your strengths?

Over the past 2 years , I have worked on different technologies. Along with
developing my technical side as the lead of my team, I even had the chance to
learn about sales while talking to new customers. It is my aim to keep
learning everyday and I actively seek feedback to keep growing.
 What are your weaknesses?

Sometimes, I struggle to manage my time to complete work within a

deadline. To overcome this, I have started using post-its that I can stick on my
laptop. I even organise my calendar to include the daily, weekly, and long-term
tasks to help me prioritise my work better.
 What are your hobbies?

I love travelling and I try to take a trip every season. Travelling allows me to
adapt to new situation and I use my organisation and planning skills to
ensure I enjoy to the fullest. I am also passionate about cooking. In fact I keep
trying new recipes every now and then.
Why should we hire you?

What the interviewer wants to know?

SAW: Skills, Attitude, What makes you unique
Common mistakes
- Simple answers
- Reciting the resume
How to answer it ?
- Research about the job and the company
- Focus on what you have to offer
- Assure that you will stick with the company
Why should we hire you?

Based on what you have said and from the research I have done, your
company is looking for an administrative assistant who is both strong in
interpersonal skills and in tech skills. I am an effective communicator
who is skilled in both written as well as verbal communication. I can
assure you that I will stick with the company in long run. For these reasons
I believe my experience aligns and makes me a great fit for the job.
 What will you do if we don’t hire you?

If I don’t get hired today, I would love to take your valuable feedback on the
areas I can improve. As I have learned more about your company, it seems like a
great fit, and I have some interesting ideas to meet the company requirements.
However, If I don’t make it, I would like to keep in touch and look for other
positions in your company that can make use of my skills and experience.
How much salary do you expect?

What the interviewer wants to

know?
- Your confidence
- Affordability
Common mistakes
- No set number
- Vague answers
How to answer it ?
- Know yourself
- Know the job and the company
- Know the industry salary
How much salary do you expect?

• My salary expectation for this position is between ___. I feel this is a fair
salary range given my experience, knowledge of the industry and my
skills.

• I don’t doubt that “ABC” will offer me a competitive salary within the
industry standards. While interacting with the interviewers today
hopefully I will get know more about the training, development and
opportunities and experience of working at this company and if this is
the right job for me, I am sure we can come to an agreement on the
salary.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

What the interviewer wants to

know?
- Are you ambitious?
- Long term goals
Common mistakes
- In your place
- As the CEO of this company
- Abroad
How to answer it ?
- Long term career
- Showcase your enthusiasm
 Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

In the next five years, I envision myself as a person with more

knowledge and experience, looking for new opportunities to improve
my skills and knowledge. I think that working in your organisation
will improve my experience and expertise.
Questions for interviewer
What the interviewer wants to know?
• How interested are you?
• Shows your interest and leaves a lasting
impression.
Common mistakes
• No questions
• What's in it for me
• Salary related questions
How to answer it ?
• Job/company related questions
• Questions about interviewer
 Questions for interviewer
• What do you love most about working here?
• What is the culture like in the company?
• Could you tell me more about the team I would be a part of?
• What are the plans for the company over the next 5 years?
• Will there be any opportunities in the future for training and progression within
the company?
• What is the typical career progression like for a new hire?
• What advice would you give to the successful candidate who wants excel in this
role?
• What is the most important thing someone planning to join this position/career
should know?
• What can I do to prepare myself better for this job?
• If I am successful when will I be informed about the next steps of the interview?
 Reasons for career gap

• Productivity is directly proportional to health

I was forced to take a voluntary break from work due to a medical condition. However, I
used to utilize my time by keeping myself up-to-date with new trends emerging in my
field. I feel much more aware of and knowledgeable about new technology and practices.
Since I have completely recovered from my illness now, I am eager to get back to work. I
am optimistic about working to the best of my potential to accelerate my career growth.

• Nothing is above family

I had to leave my previous organisation due to a family emergency. Since ___ months, I
have been taking care of my family. However, thankfully the problem has been taken care
of & concrete steps have been taken to ensure no such emergencies arise in the future.
Keeping all that in the past, I sit here in this interview with the right skills & zeal to start
working again as soon as possible.
 Reasons for career gap

• Taking time out for family & children

I have recently become a mother/father. I wanted to spend more time with my child
before getting back to work. Now, having spent enough time with my family and child, I
feel it’s time to get back to work.

• Knowledge is endless
While working in my previous organisation, I identified a few fields in which I wanted to
learn more. Since that wasn’t possible to achieve while working full time, I decided to quit
my job and study more to fill those gaps. I have learned many new things in my field and
feel that my skills have sharpened and I can be much more productive professionally.
 Reasons for career gap

• Fired by the previous employer

My previous employer had quite different expectations of me. Although I tried my best to match
them, we couldn’t come up on the same page. Since that incident, I have spent my time
introspecting and have used this time to learn new things to acquire more skills. I feel I am
ready to give my 100% to this new role with new skills and understanding.

• The position was made redundant

My previous employer decided to eliminate the position I was assigned in my previous
company due to major cost-cutting decisions. Though the decision came as a shock to me, I was
optimistic about looking for the right job in a company with better job security. I have been
looking for a company like yours wherein job security is given prime importance. The position
you are hiring for fits best within my skillset and preferences.
 Reasons for career gap

• Finding the right career

Honestly speaking, while I was working in my previous organization, I realized that maybe
that wasn’t what I wanted to do in life. I had to quit my job to understand what I exactly
wanted to do. However, after all this time of careful introspecting, I realized this (job role)
is exactly what I wanted to do. The learning, challenges, and growth in this role are what I
want. This role gives me a chance to explore new things every day, and that is how I want
to grow professionally. I assure you, I shall put my heart and mind into this role. I've
thought enough for these months, and I'm confident that no confusions will arise in the
future.
STAR Method
How to prepare for such questions?
• Recall recent situations that show favourable behaviours or actions,
especially involving course work, work experience, leadership, teamwork,
initiative, planning, and customer service.
• Prepare short descriptions of each situation; be ready to give details if asked.
• Be sure each story has a beginning, middle, and an end.
• Be sure the outcome or result reflects positively on you (even if the result
itself was not favorable).
• Be honest. Don't embellish or omit any part of the story. The interviewer will
find out if your story is built on a weak foundation.
• Be specific. Don't generalise about several events; give a detailed accounting of
one event.
• Vary your examples; don’t take them all from just one area of your life.
Examples of behavioural questions
• Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation.
• Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or
achieve it.
• Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
• Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.
• Give me an example of a time you had a conflict with a co-worker.
• Tell me about a time you made a mistake.
Reason for arrears
What to say if you don’t know answers
• Create a great first impression.
• Speak clearly and vary your tone to show you’re interested and enthusiastic.
• Take time to think about each question before answering so you can give a
good response.
• Listen to questions carefully and let the interviewer lead the conversation.
If you don't understand a question, ask for it to be explained or repeated.
• If you’ve had a job before don’t criticise previous employers or co-workers.
• Give examples from your experience that demonstrate your knowledge and
skills.
• Show confidence in your skills and be positive about what you have done.