Commonly Asked Questions in an Interview

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An interview is one of the very, if not THE MOST important part of a job application process. It is the first face-to-face interaction with the employer. This is often the final hurdle before getting a job.

When so much is riding on this one 30 minute – 1 hour meeting, it is very important to be well-prepared for the same. It is also equally important to look and feel confident. All formalities aside, the interview is a meeting where the employer wants to get to know the person applying for the post, to make a judgement whether he/she fits well at the company. While the body language and basic etiquettes are good indicators for this, most employers have a set of questions that they ask during the interview. Here are a few commonly asked questions by the employer during a job interview:

 

1) Why do you want to work at our company?

This is probably the most asked question in any interview. It is a way for the employer to understand what your perspective is about the company and the job position. It is also a question that helps them understand how aware and passionate you are.

It is generally not recommended to answer this question with the most obvious response, “For the money”. The best way to tackle this question is to research the history of the company before the interview. Coming up with a response that relates your answer to the job description and also portrays your interest in the company and the field of work is the ideal way to go forward with this. Displaying your knowledge about the company and its employees shows your seriousness and level of commitment.

 

2)   Why are you interested in this field of work?

While the entire meeting tends to have a very formal tone, this is one of those rare personal questions. Expect this question and prepare for it before the interview. Try to answer this as genuinely as possible. Referencing an honest story behind your motivation can really help the employer understand your passion for this career choice.

 

3)  What are your key strengths and weaknesses?

It is important to expect this question at the interview. The major reason that employer may ask this question is to get a sense of how self-aware and versatile you are. There is no trick to the answer. Express your strengths and weaknesses while relating them to how they might affect your performance at the job.

 

4)      Where do you see yourself in five years?

 Many employers may ask this question in various ways. The purpose of this question is to understand your career objectives. It is recommended to describe the company as a part of your future goals. This can show enthusiasm for the job while displaying an optimistic outlook.

 

5)      What is your salary expectation?

And now to the bell of the ball. The question that every interviewer has to ask, your compensation. While this is a very job specific question, it is always good to have a sense of what the average salary for that type of job is. Asking for slightly lower than the average can go a long way in making a good impression. It is probably not the best to ask for a higher-than-average compensation as that may lead to a shift in perspective/tone of the interview.

 

6)      Do you perform better in a solo or a team-based environment?

 Except for a few exceptions, there is only one correct answer to this question. Companies prefer people who work well with a team. Employers give a lot of care and attention to the work environment. They want people to feel comfortable at work. A team-based person fosters this culture and employers are happy to take them on board.

 

The reason these questions are common ground in any interview is because they give a holistic view of the person as a whole. Qualification is not the only thing required to get a job these days. Employers like to hire people who in their opinion can not only be a good fit, but also take the company forward. They want to understand the drive and the motivation of an individual. These questions help give them a fair idea about the same. Therefore, it is best to be prepared for questions like these in any interview. Practicing mock interviews with these questions can do the trick.