Preparing for an interview can be nerve-wracking, and thinking about the questions asked is normally the main concern, but don’t avoid it. Yes, there are the rare people who can just prance into an interview and answer any question without preparation, but the majority of us cannot. Be kind to yourself and increase your chances of getting the job by practicing answers. Remember, as you practice your answers, think of any possible follow-up questions they might have to something that you say. Better safe than sorry!
1) What are any leadership roles that you have had? – You can talk about being the leader of a class project, leadership positions at a job, roles in a fraternity/sorority or a club, and many other things. Don’t just say “I was a shift manager at my previous job.” Go into detail and give a few specific examples of what you did. Give numbers of how many people you were a leader for and the things you did to lead them. “I was a shift manager at my previous job. I was in charge of about 15 employees each shift, and I made sure they were doing their job efficiently. We would routinely check up on them and help them with any problems they had. I also increased sales by 25% within a few months of receiving this position” sounds much better. These are examples, so don’t use them if they aren’t true. Tailor these examples to things you really did.
2) Name your three best qualities and your three worst qualities. – This one kills most people. They don’t want to sound full of themselves, but don’t want to put themselves down at the same time. Think about skills that are necessary for this specific job, and if you have them, use those. Some examples of best qualities might include being a leader, always meeting deadlines, being approachable, making customers feel comfortable, or being organized. The worst qualities are kind of tricky, but steer clear of things that actually make you look bad. Don’t say you often run late, have trouble finishing things on time, or are unorganized. Good examples for these might be that you are too organized or have trouble giving yourself a break. Good qualities can sometimes be used as bad qualities.
3) Name 3 adjectives that describe yourself. – Use adjectives that they used in the job description. If they are looking for a good communicator, dependable person, someone approachable, or someone organized, then say you are those things (as long as you really are).
4) Tell me about yourself. – This is difficult because they are not really asking you a specific question. You definitely need to prepare. For this question you could talk about where you went to college, degrees you have, and any further academic goals. You could talk about how you are dedicated to things or interests that you have that pertain to the job. You don’t need to get too personal, but you can talk about where you are from or personal things that might have to do with this job or company. Your answer to this question does not have to be 10 minutes long, but give them more than a couple of things.
5) Why do you want to work for this company? – Show your knowledge of the company here, and if you have none, then research it! Talk about what they are currently working on, and why you find it interesting and want to be a part of it. Look up how long they have been around, and if it’s been long talk about that. Talk about the good things that they do. Don’t focus on everything you want to get out of the job or company, but why you want to be a part of it and why you can help them.
6) What are you looking for from us/ What can we do for you? – You want to be a part of this great company! Give a few sentences about what you hope to learn from them, or that you hope to be with them for a long time. Kind of turn it around and also say all of the great things you can do for them.
7) Do you have any questions? – Yes you do; always have at least 3 questions prepared. You never want to say “no” to this. You really only need to ask one question, but they might answer some of your questions in the interview so prepare back-ups. This is another area that you can show your knowledge about the company.
Remember to act as natural as possible. Interviewers usually expect that you will be nervous, but if you don’t act like you are it will impress them. Also, bring a couple copies of your resume along, even if they already have one. Many times they will ask questions off of your resume, so be prepared and know everything that is on your resume. Think about questions they might have from items on your resume, and remember to relax.
