Interview Questions and Answers: Interviews are great opportunities to learn about a potential employee. Effective questions assist you in learning who they are, how they function, and if they’re a good fit for your team.
Additionally to the specialized questions related to the exact role you’re interviewing for, contemplate on some of these general questions highlighted in this article, designed to assist you in getting to know a potential employee.
Common Interview Questions
Whether you are making preparations to interview a candidate or applying for a job, you’d need to peruse our list of top interview questions and answers. Research has shown that most employers only ask 5-10 questions during an average in-person interview and most interviewers make up their mind about a candidate within the first few minutes.
SEE ALSO: Top Interview Questions for a school secretary.
What experiences and skills make you a great candidate for this position?
While answering this question the candidate should describe exact experience and capabilities that ally’s with the requirements sighted in the job description and the candidate should also take time to demonstrate the knowledgeability of the function the role performs. Search for answers that highlight:
- Related experience and training
- Ample knowledge of the position applied for
- Steady, purposeful pursuit of activities within the industry
What has been your most meaningful work experience?
Pay attention to the details of a project or challenge where the candidate showed competence and initiative, doesn’t matter if they ultimately weren’t successful. A good answer will include specific details of a quantifiable result from a successful project or valuable knowledge and strategy improvements from a meaningful failure.
- Creativity and initiative
- Problem-solving skills specific to the industry.
- Self awareness and an accurate evaluation of business value
What do you look for in an employer?
The best answer to this question should focus on the overlap between the candidate’s passion and the employer’s goals and objectives. Search for signs of self-awareness, thoughtful career goals, and a keen interest in the needs of the company.
- Accurately articulated career goals
- The desire to meaningfully contribute to the company
- Acknowledgment of the role employees play in meeting company goals
Describe a major workplace problem you’ve encountered and how you handled it.
This opens a window to the candidate where they can describe how well they function under pressure. They should be able to narrate a difficult situation they encountered and how they dealt with it clearly and thoughtfully. A great answer would describe both the actions they took and also the actions they wish they’d taken, upon further reflection.
- Interpersonal skills
- Emotional resilience
- The ability to cope with/resolve conflict
SEE ALSO: Top Interview question for secretary
What qualities make you a team player?
This opens to the job seeker a chance to narrate how they will contribute to workplace dynamics. Watch out for answers that detail how the potential employee would play a part in the success and productivity of others. L the candidate should be:
- Aware of team dynamics
- Capable of subordinating to group functionality
- Interested in actively promoting the productivity of others
What are your career goals, and how do you plan to achieve them?
A great employee is not only ambitious but also cooperative. So they need to discuss a vision for their future that will qualify them as an energetic and functional addition to your team. Look out for:
- A motivating vision
- Interest in skills development
- Interest in the industry and mission of the company
Conclusion
The interview questions above are not designed to be an all-inclusive list, although these are pertinent questions to ask, you should research more on industry-specific related interview questions.