Most recruiters will tell you the art of the interview has evolved. When conducting interviews, employers are now looking deeper into whether or not a candidate aligns with their company’s culture and values. These top eight interview questions will answer that very question -- here’s how to prepare for them.
1. What about this company interests you?
Employers expect you to have a general knowledge and background of their company. Take this a step further though. Thoroughly research the company, pick out a few adjectives that describe the company and align those details with your own values. If you don’t feel as if you would be a good fit for that particular company or position, neither will the employer.
2. Tell me about yourself.
Those four little words may be scary for some, but this “non-question” allows employers to learn about your personality and background. Prepare a short statement, or elevator pitch, ahead of time that highlights your achievements and goals.
3. What are your best skills?
Don’t just identify your skills, think of a few adjectives that describe the ideal candidate based on your knowledge of this particular position. Next, align those skills with ones you highlight for yourself.
4. What specific skills have you used that relate to this position?
Employers already have an idea of the types of skills you have based on your resume. Try to identify company challenges and adapt your answer based on your own background to provide a solution.
5. What did you learn from your past job(s)?
While it’s important to remind the interviewer about the skills you excelled in, you can also recall what lessons you learned from any challenges confronted and how it would help you in the future. Be sure to avoid topics on unpleasant experiences or “dirty laundry”.
6. Why do you want to leave your current job?
Whether a career move means more money, a shorter commute or a better boss, we recommend leaving those out when responding to this question. Instead, discuss the positives of what you’re looking for in your next career move. If you did have problems at your last job, be honest, but discuss it as a learning experience.
7. What are your weaknesses?
Tell the truth, but when asked about these “flaws”, it’s always best to try to turn these weaknesses into positives. For example, if you take longer on projects because you are a perfectionist, explain this and include that you are extremely detail-oriented.
8. Odd-ball questions
No one can predict the unexpected. So when a potential employer asks “I’m thinking of a number between one and 100,” how do you answer? This question is more about how you approach questions and challenges rather than the actual answer. In this example, you could ask a series of questions; is the number less than 50? Can it be divided by five? Does this number refer to how many clients you work with?