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Last updated Mar. 12, 2023 by Peter Jakes
Interviews are vital when trying to fill vacant job positions in an organization or for any academic purposes like grants. Applicants who successfully passed the first stage in the recruitment process are invited to interview, so the organization can pick the most qualified candidates among those who applied for the job. It is good to have solid answers to basic questions, but it is even better to have hands-on answers to a full spectrum of questions that you may likely encounter in an interview. At this stage of your application process, you will not want to mess your chances up by not being prepared for your interviews. Build your resume with Career Builder.
An Interview is like a formal discussion between two parties, where one party asks questions (interviewer) and the other party answers (interviewee). It is used majorly to gather information about the interviewee.
Before answering a question, you need to know the reason the question is asked. You should not only read these questions, but you should endeavor to practice the answers. At the interviewer’s table should not be the first time you are voicing out an answer.
Secondly, during practice, do not just memorize them in your head, read them aloud, voice it out. You can ask your friends, siblings, or colleagues to act as your interviewers while you practice in front of them. You can call this a mock interview. Just make sure that you are fully prepared before any interview.
Keep in mind to respond to every interview question, whether the question is a behavioral question or not. Using an instance from your own experience and background is the simplest way to accomplish this. Also, you can use the S-T-A-R method: talk or discuss a Situation or Task (S-T), the Action you took (A), and the Results obtained (R) (R). That’s what distinguishes your interview response and elevates it to the level of a star!
when you familiarize yourself with the top 100 interview questions and answers, this will assist you in removing fear, increase your confidence in your abilities during the interview, and allowing you to ace your job interview and eventually landing you your dream job. In a job interview, these are 100 questions you are likely to encounter:
1. Can you please introduce yourself/Tell me about yourself?
2. What are your capabilities/Strengths?
3. Do you have any flaws/What are your weakness
4. What made you leave your former job
5. Why did you pick this profession?
6. Tell us how you handle criticism?
7. In your years of working, what are your greatest achievements
8. Why should we consider you for the job/Why should we hire you?
9. Do you think you are overqualified for this position?
10. Do you need additional training?
11. What are your worst regrets, and how do you deal with setbacks?
12. What’s your relationship with your co-workers?
13. Do you mind working for someone younger and with less experience?
15. Will you put your interest ahead of the company’s own?
16. You may not qualify for the position because of your lack of experience.
17. Would you lie for the organization?
18. What does leadership mean to you, and what attributes do you look for in a leader?
19. What are your thoughts on this interview?
20. How did you hear about the position?
21. In 14 years, where do you see yourself in this position?
22. What would you say about your most recent job?
23. How do you perform when you’re not being watched?
24. What lengths will you go to in order to complete a task?
25. How did you handle disagreements with your colleagues at your former job?
26. How do you face challenges?
27. What would you say if your supervisor had an impractical idea?
28. What makes a working environment conducive?
29. What are your Personal Career goals?
30. What are your strategies for dealing with work-related stress?
31. Have you previously held a position of leadership?
32. Describe how you handled the most challenging task you’ve ever faced.
33. What have you learned from your former workplace and coworkers?
34. What kind of company would you like to work for if you had your choice?
35. Let assume you can be any animal, what animal would you choose?
37. Money or a job: which is more important?
38. What do you think your skills should be worth?
40. Will you relocate if necessary?
41. Do you have plans to continue your academics?
42. How frequently do you miss work?
43. What did your previous supervisor think of you?
44. Do you know about the vision and objective of this organization?
45. How often do you read books and what book are you reading at the moment?
46. Have any of your previous jobs resulted in you being dismissed?
47. Do you have any criminal records?
48. Do you know anyone in this organization and how would they feel about you?
49. When do you believe you’ll advance in your profession?
50. What do you believe we can do to increase our sales?
51. Can you meet multiple deadlines?
52. Can you work in other departments?
53. How is the Organizational Structure at your former job/How Relevant was your former role?
54. How would you feel should we not hire you?
55. Let us Know something negative you’ve heard about this Company.
56. Why is there a gap in your Resume?
57. If hired, what/where do you see yourself in your first month with us?
58. What actions do you take to solve problems?
59. Describe how and when you and your team came together to overcome a challenge?
60. What action will you take if your senior colleague is mismanaging the company’s resources?
61. Tell me about your salary history?
62. How do you respond when a tasking project you did is criticized?
65. Did you ever fire a worker? If yes, why?
66. Which areas did your former boss ask you to improve on?
67. What are you looking to achieve in your in this career?
68. How do you define success?
69. Your GPA seems low compared to that of other applicants.
70. How do you motivate other workers when you lack motivation?
71. What is the toughest decision you ever took?
72. Do you have any question(s) for me/us?
73. Sell me this pen
74. We want to know if you have got any medical conditions?
75. Do you intend to have a startup or business of your own?
76. Opinion Question: What do you think about abortion?
77. How well do you allow others to give their opinion on subject matters?
78. Rate your public speaking skills on a scale of 1 to 10.
79. Have you ever deal with a difficult client? How?
80. What triggers you and how do you stay calm?
81. Are you willing to work during the weekend and at night?
82. What is/are your biggest fear?
83. Describe yourself in five words.
84. How do you convince others about your ideas?
85. Are you a leader or follower?
86. Tell us about the time you have ever thought outside of the box?
87. If you discover that the company is into an illegitimate business, what would be your reaction?
88. How Adaptable are you to Change?
89. Do you intend to have children?
90. How many jobs did you apply to?
91. If you could work in any organization, where would it be?
92. You have changed jobs frequently in the few years, why?
93. Tell us about any fun job experience you had?
94. If you won an X amount of money, would you still decide to work?
95. Who do you think are our competitors?
96. Have you been forced to resign from any of your previous roles?
97. Riddle or Puzzle Interview question?
98. Do you engage in public speaking frequently?
99. Tell us what was your favorite class or classes in college? And why?
100. What impact or did you make in college?
Personal Traditional Interview Questions
Traditional interview questions center on your abilities and worth. These types of questions are typically very descriptive. It gives the interviewer a sense of who you are and how you will fit into the job and responsibilities as a whole.
Personal questions are always the initial questions interviews encounter during interviews. They are typically realistic, focusing on your individuality, How you like interacting with people, and your reactions when hired.
1.Can you please introduce yourself/Tell me about yourself?
Tell me about yourself question is frequent in interview sessions because it is a personal question intended to break the ice and get you in a comfortable state of mind. Questions like this are good for interviewees who can brag about themselves, Interviewers can frame it as, Who are you, Introduce yourself, etc.
It is the most unsuspecting interview question, but interviewees fall short because of the wrong introduction and lose the chance of efficiently letting the interviewer know who they are.
When asked, interviewees respond with unrelated answers like their names and nicknames, family stories, and other unrelated personal information. Tip* The interviewer needs by asking this open-ended question wants to access your fast thinking abilities and how easily communicative you are.
How to Answer the “Tell me about yourself” Interview Question
Quash professionalism in your response and don’t be pressed to talk about your qualifications and competency that can be assistive to the Company in achieving its goals and objectives, only because your interviewer already saw this in your Resume/CV. At this point, it is not needed. What will stand you out is using this question to build soft introductory grounds and personal rapport with your interviewer.
Tip* Utilize the past-present-future method. Explain your present career state, and touch on your future goals that will align with the objectives of the company.
Instance 1,
If you applied for the post of sales manager at PLC, your reply would be;
“I am Patrick Sawyer, a creative and innovative sales manager with 7 years’ experience in managing sales of household utensils at Maay LTD. (Who you are)
I managed the sales of their products beyond the borders of these countries as I helped in growing their sales to Ghana, South Africa, and Italy. I have MSc in business administration and marketing which will aid in my effectively driving sales in your organization. (Competency highlights)
Also, I am multilingual as I understand and can fluently speak Hausa, French, English, Yoruba, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese making it easy to communicate fluently with a lot of people. (Why you are here)
This response has given the interviewer insight into my working experience, communication, and managerial skills. You can equally touch your interests outside work like volunteer work, pursuits, and interactive roles.
What are your capabilities/Strengths?
Everyone is unique, although our uniqueness differs due to our personality. Recruiting managers are interested in your capabilities and strengths and whether such abilities align with the needs and objectives of the organization.
Candidates lose job opportunities due to their inability to reply appropriately, for instance, being too modest in their replies. Some brag excessively about their strengths and others talk about skills/abilities that are irrelevant. Respond with more professional traits than personal qualities.
For example, a candidate who applied for a sales manager position and mentioned abilities like dancing, singing, and cooking wouldn’t probably land you the role because the skills are irrelevant to the position you are being interviewed for
How to answer “What are your capabilities or strengths” Interview Question
Recruiting managers expect your answers to relate to the skills you have that are well relevant in performing the job effectively. Tips* List your traits/skills and mention the five strong ones that you think the organization will find helpful, finally, explain instances of your past application of this skill or strengths.
The Recruiter is likely to be more interested in you if your skills sound interesting needed by the organization. Your response should show confidence in your abilities, but don’t brag as you might sound rude. In your responses, add powerful words that bother on leadership, passion, the organization buzzwords, etc. that will impress your recruiter.
Instance 1;
If you applied for a managerial position at a Linguist Organization, your response would be;
“I can speak fluently in different languages and am good at-risk management. This organization deals with people from all walks of life. Different people with different backgrounds and differences in language are major communication barriers. (hard skills)
I can speak almost all major languages in the world like English, French, Spanish, Hindu, Portuguese, Arabic, and mandarin. I have excellent communication skills. Also, I am an expert in risk management, I’m aware some risks are worth taking and risks that shouldn’t be attempted at all. (Transferable traits)
Lastly, I pride myself on my people skills and I am one who commands respect from people. So, relating with people would not be a challenge for me. All these strengths will assist me in handling the company’s resources efficiently. (Professional traits)
Another example is “I take pride in my ability to handle presumably challenging circumstances and provide excellent customer service. With considerable experience in the customer service role, I know how to effectively understand and resolve customer issues. On a related note, I have excellent communication skills, which enable me to collaborate closely with clients, team members, and directors. I am well-known for being an effective team player with a gift for public speaking. This reply accentuates a few strengths and demonstrates to the interviewer why those characteristics are critical for employability skills.”
Do you have any flaws/What are your weaknesses?
Imperfection is the difference between God and humans. We are all not perfectly created and we give room for fallibility, there will always be at least a flaw in your personality.
Companies know hence they ask such questions. Interviewees are expected to be sincere about their Achilles heels or say they do not have a weakness. Also, note that your weaknesses should not adversely affect the position you are vying for. It might be difficult to frame your flaws favorably, but when you pair self-awareness with a definite plan for action, you can rapidly distinguish yourself from other interviweees.
These are the examples of perfect weaknesses to talk about.
- Having the habit of over meticulousness or being obsessive about details. Being detail-oriented is usually a positive thing, and if you spend lots of time on the intricacies of a task, it might be viewed as a flaw. By admitting that you obsess over details, you demonstrate to the recruiter that you are capable of assisting the business in avoiding even tiny errors.
- Having trouble saying “No”. It is an expertise to strike a balance between assisting colleagues on initiatives and effectively managing your work responsibilities. From the standpoint of an employer, an employee that accepts every requests appears committed and enthusiastic, however, he may also be somebody who doesn’t recognize their limitations and wind up wanting assistance or extensions of deadlines to complete their task.
- Inadequate Experience. Each applicant has areas of competence where they can develop. Perhaps it is something special, such as creating pareto chart in Microsoft Excel. It might be a talent like arithmetic, editing, or presentation skills. In any case, expressing what you’d like to improve on demonstrates to the recruiter that you are very much self-aware and like challenging yourself. But, be certain that you do not respond with a shortcoming that is necessary to the position. Among the most prevalent areas in which people require experience are:
Verbal communication, written communication, team leadership, analytics interpretation, work delegation, insightful criticism, and specific programs like Microsoft Excel, Data Analyzation, etc.
- Having a hard time maintain Work-life Balance. Achieving a work/life balance is essential for staying motivated and productive. Although it is undoubtedly noble and demonstrates a good work ethic to devote your time and attention to work, it is equally important to make relaxation, holidays, time with family, vacations and hobbies your priority. This can assist you feeling rejuvenated at workplace, enhance creativity, creativity, and encourage a good perspective. If you want to reveal this issue during your interview, describe how you would have learnt to combine life and work effectively and how you have noticed your job improve as a consequence. You can equally describe why work/life balance is vital to you in your current position.
- Having a Hard time asking foe help. Asking for assistance is a crucial skill if you lack knowledge in a particular field as well as when you are experiencing stress or having a burn out or unable to handle your job. Understanding when and how to request for help demonstrates great awareness of self and assists the company by anticipating potential inefficiencies. Though a strong work ethic and independence are desirable traits, the company should try to seek assistance. If you are aware that asking for help has been hard previously, describe the reason you believe it is useful yet you’ve attempted to strengthen this ability.
How to Answer “What are your flaws or weaknesses” Interview questions
This question is only asking about your professional flaw but unsuspecting candidates talk about their personal flaws which sometimes affect their chance of getting the job. Be smart in your response because your words can be used against you especially if they are damaging. Talk about real and identifiable weaknesses.
Let your skills and behavior reflect on your response, talk about attributes you don’t really possess but will be needed by the role. Speak on the efforts you made to overcome the flaws and how they helped you with acing new tasks in the past.
Tips* The hiring manager is interested in knowing that you have used your weaknesses to conquer and learn new challenges
For example, for a medical-related position, you can say; “I get nervous when speaking in public so I stammer. I communicate well with a few people and colleagues. However, large crowds are do not always make me comfortable. I started improving on myself by joining a public speaking class, reading books on public speaking, and practicing it constantly. Now I do better at communication both in large and small crowds.
Note that this weakness of public speaking is not directly related to medical work. Another example is engineering positions and talking about sales weaknesses.
Whatever your response is, smartly tell the interviewer that you are aware of your weaknesses and you are capable of preventing them from interfering with your work.
What made you leave your former job?
The organization needs to know the reason you are no longer working or leaving your job. Recruiting Managers can frame this interview question in ways like “Why are you looking for a new opportunity?” or “What prompted your leaving your current job?”
What necessitates this question is because recruiting managers do not want to hire a criminal or someone who will tarnish the organization’s reputation. Dot be caught sounding like a gold digger either jumping from one organization to other just because of what the company will offer you.
Tricky as the question sounds, you need to be cautious with your response. The recruiter is trying to assess your longevity on the job, whether you are smart when braced with tough questions and if your character aligns with other company workers. prepare beforehand for this question and let your response reflect your honesty.
You can be genuine and authentic, but don’t make the mistake of fumbling when answering. Prepare a summarized yet honest response and avoiding confidential information about yourself.
How to answer “Why are you leaving your current job’ Interview Question
If your job was terminated due to irregularities in your behavior, show sincerity and openness in your response because some companies do background checks on candidates applying for high positions and false information will lead to disqualification. Another reason you can give is being laid off because of the organization’s corporate restructuring.
If you fired yourself from your former workplace, your reasons should be; I love and want new challenges as I have gained enough experience and need to move to the next level. I just relocated to a new area and my former workplace is too far from my residence, etc.
Ensure your response is positive and portrays someone sure of where he is going, steer the discussion away from your past reasons to your future career needs that are prompting your looking for a new opportunity.
Another example, I work at Maay LTD as a sales manager. My role is the management of all sales and I handled sales of our products beyond the borders of South Africa and we became a household name in Africa, I came up with ideas to extend our market beyond this continent to other continents but the top management did not buy the idea of selling products outside Africa so I left the company because I was no longer being challenged at work and work environment fueled lethargy. I wish to work in a more challenging role that will bring out the best of my skills.
Avoid every form of negativity. Don’t say anything negative about your bosses, coworkers, or the organization. You can, however, converse extensively about your corporate goals or express your dissatisfaction with the company’s current position. Don’t make your response too personal. You may criticize a coworker only to find out that the interviewer knows them.
Why did you pick this profession?
This question can seem irrelevant and throw you off the balance if you didn’t prepare for it. Passion is the biggest motivator; we tend to put more effort into tasks we love wholeheartedly. Some people didn’t choose their desired profession due to grades or university-specific requirements, circumstances beyond their control made them settle for their present career and this can even be influenced by the country of choice of study or lucrativeness of the profession.
Reasons for choosing a career path may make you feel less passionate about a job. Tip* The interviewer simply wants to know how passionate you are about what you do.
It is an open-ended question because some people do not have one profession. Some people possess two unrelated degree courses, some did their MSc and Ph.D. in different courses. So, while answering this question, make sure your answers are related to the specific profession that aligns with the job.
How to Answer “Why did you pick this profession” Interview Question
This question is meant to throw you off balance. The Interviewer has gone through your different academic qualifications. The interviewer should see the passion in your response, you willingly picked the career path that aligns with the role you are applying for. Let the response come from your heart. Tell the interviewer why you picked the career and other things that interest you about the job.
For example, for people who traveled outside their country, and had to take on a different career path, make sure your response is tailored to that role you are applying for. you can say;
“My first degree is in Civil Engineering, however, on coming here, I had to switch to computer programming because I noticed that though I studied Engineering, I have always been passionate about programming, besides, looking at my academic requirements, I am best suited to study, work and excel as an IT expert”.
Tip* Do not confuse your different professional qualifications
If your academic qualifications read different professions, make sure you tailor your responses to that particular profession that fits your job description. For instance, a secretary who is also a writer will not be talking about his passion for a secretarial role if the job he is applying for is the role of a Copywriter.
Tell us how you handle criticism?
Always plan ahead for this question so you don’t get uncomfortable. Prepare your answers in advance. Criticism is usual in all business settings, your work ethics can’t be acceptable to everybody and surely, those not satisfied with your service will surely criticize. The interviewer wants to know how you react to critics.
The hiring manager is particularly interested in how sensitive you are and your acceptance of criticism from co-workers. Tip* The interviewer through this question is looking for “loopholes” and possible reasons not to hire you.
They are looking for qualities that would make you a poor candidate for the position or give other interviewees an edge over you so you can easily be eliminated to reduce competition. You should demonstrate to the interviewer that you are not afraid to be open about criticisms you have received.
How to answer “Tell us how you handle Criticism” Interview Question
It is impossible to satisfy everyone as our views and opinions about things are different from each other, things you classify as inappropriate may be the opposite for others. A professional worker is expected to be in support of criticism, so you have to accept constructive criticism. It is smart to mention criticisms that are unrelated to the job role. Here, you are playing it safe.
Best response,
“I would accept constructive criticism because it is an opportunity to gain more knowledge and experience. If the critic’s opinion seems unrealistic, I will still accept critics because everyone is entitled to their opinion. Explaining my point of view to those criticizing will make it easy for us to understand each other’s points. Criticism helps in correcting mistakes.
You can also mention a weakness of a former job that is actually a strength. For instance, you can talk about people criticizing your late reports because of a thorough review of a work that takes your time. Let your responses show that you are willing to take criticism and improve your weak areas.
Here is a good opportunity to employ humor to your advantage. Be clear. Do not give the impression that you are always criticized or you are perfect. Let your answer shows that your criticisms were used for your personal and professional advancement. Never get defensive while answering this question, it will come off as a big red flag.
In your years of working, what are your greatest accomplishment?
Experienced workers are expected to have achieved something in their former jobs, so the interviewer is interested in knowing what the candidates achieved. Even if you are not experienced, your academic experience should come in handy.
Some candidates mistake career achievements for personal achievements, they think the interviewer is asking for material achievements like getting married, buying a car, building houses, etc. These thoughts are wrong because they are not directly related to your career.
Concentrate on your accomplishments. Did you ace a marathon or volleyball game? This is impressive and demonstrates your dedication and hard work, but if the interviewer particularly questions about your biggest triumph that is not related to your work or your best individual accomplishment, you can chip that in.
Tip* adding an accomplishment that is not career-based is not bad if the interviewer asks for it as a follow-up question.
How to Answer “what are your greatest accomplishments” Interview Question
Begin to answer this question by telling a story to the interviewer. Explain an obstacle you faced, your strategy for solving it, and the success you achieved.
While answering this question, ensure to fill in the blanks. Use the opportunity to connect your accomplishments to the role you are being interviewed for and let it highlight your skills. Make it simple for the interviewer to see the dots you are connecting and how your previous accomplishments could be an advantage to their organization. Be honest about your answers, do not stretch the truth or claim an achievement that is not yours.
Talk about your duties and responsibilities in your former jobs, most significant achievement ( what the achievement is, how you achieved it, reactions from all parties involved), mentioning other accomplishments that may increase your chance of getting the job. Ensure your achievements are not obsolete.
For example,
“I served as a sales manager for Maay LTD between 2015 to 2020, when I was appointed as the sales manager, our sales were limited to our local area alone and we were making little profits. I called an emergency meeting with other sales executives and we laid out strategies to increase sales by expanding our products market beyond our local area. Our strategies worked and we were able to expand sales from Kenya to every nation in Africa. I have received national awards in different business summits for my brilliance.
Another Instance,
“In my previous role as an operations manager, I pinpointed numerous cost-cutting indicators that rescued the organization a lot of money each year without sacrificing vital services. For example, I suspect the staff did not observe when we decided to change to a less expensive office furniture package, however, it made a significant difference in our Company expenditure.
Why should we consider you for the job/Why should we hire you?
This question appears easy, yet finding a proper response is quite challenging. It can also come in the form of “Why do you think you are fit for the position” or “Why should we hire you” Some candidates feel so entitled because they have the highest academic qualification, or because they are looking handsome and smart, or they feel their experiences makes them more deserving of the role, etc.
As a result, these candidates believe they are more deserving of the position than others. Your answer to this question should be a summarized sales pitch of what you can offer the organization. You should prove to the recruiter that you can efficiently perform the job description, you can perfectly fit into the position, you will add value to the organization and you have the skills that give you an edge over others.
How to Answer “Why should we consider you for the job/Why should we hire you” Interview Question
You must tell the interviewer why you are the best candidate for the job. Discuss your competency and how it can help the organization achieve its goals and visions. They know that everyone in the interview met the academic requirements, which is why they were invited for an interview, so you must tell them what sets you apart from the other candidates, and you must do so humbly, you may lose points should you brag.
Tip* Choose 3 to 6 of your abilities or skills that are intimately related to the job description/requisites and use them as the foundation for your reply about what makes you stand out as an applicant.
When rendering your pitch, your aim is to outline why you are better than others. Interviewers ask why you are qualified for the job to determine how well you meet the criteria for the employment and fit in with the organization. You need to prepare ahead for this question. List your qualifications and align them with the job qualifications and description, then blend them into summarized bullet points.
For example, if I am applying for something like the position of general manager at Maay PLC, my response will be: I have 14 years of experience as a general manager in Total plc, I have adequate knowledge of how business works as well as how to properly handle risk and challenges. I am fully cognizant that the organization is interested in developing its business beyond this country. I am the best for the role due to my experience in developing businesses to operate at a higher level. Due to my experience developing businesses to run at a higher level, I am the best man for the job.
To the interviewer, this reply contains a lot of meaning. It shows I understand the importance of the position I applied for and how I can use my skills and experience to assist the company in achieving its objectives.
This is also an opportunity to pitch in what you know about the company through the job description. It is better to show than to tell.
For instance, you stated on the career website that you are searching for a special tutor who is good with kids, patient, and compassionate. For the past three years, I’ve worked as a tutor at a community High school for visually impaired children, where I’ve honed my skill to be polite and understanding while still accomplishing significant academic progress with my students. My experience instructing algebra to kids ranging from age 6 to 17 has educated me on the special strategies for coping with kids of different ages and challenging skillsets while maintaining a pleasant demeanor.
Make sure not to read out from your head, that is answering memorized words. Also, do not make the answer about you, it is about the company.
9. Do you think you’re overqualified for this position?
This question may seem strange, but it is frequently asked during interviews because the interviewer may think you are actually overqualified for the job. Some applicants may possess all of the required qualifications, so the interviewer may ask this question to understand the candidate’s motive for applying.
When a Ph.D. holder applies for a position as a primary school teacher, for example. The interviewer will be concerned because the candidate is automatically overqualified. They want to be sure that you will stick to this position and not hop on to the next job that suits your skills and experience.
They do not want to assume you only want to work for a limited period or use the role you are applying for as “side hustle.”
How to Answer “Do you think you are overqualified for this job” Question
Since your qualification exceeds the specified standards, you must therefore take the following steps if you want to be considered; First, agree with the interviewer that your educational qualifications or work experience are more than enough for the position, and endeavor to convince the interviewer why you want the job. Like saying, you are trying out a new career related to your discipline, etc. Tall about how your expertise can benefit the organization.
For example, thank you for noticing my skills and education, there’s no need to be worried about my certifications because I’m really excited about this opportunity, I’ve always wanted to share my experience and knowledge with people around me. I have gained a lot of experience from my previous job and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with my work colleagues so that we can both help this company reach its goals;
The answer can also relate to salary expectations. In that instance, let your interviewers know that salary is not your priority and you can equally take instructions from people younger than you. Let them know that since you have worked at a higher position, this is exactly the job you need for a career balance.
Assure them that you won’t hop on another job by saying you are willing to sign a 6-monthly contract. If the company is a startup, let them know that you appreciate steady growth and you wish to grow with them while having your experience to their advantage.
For example, Organization downsizing has created generational gaps inexperience in the workforce, and requisite knowledge and skills are not always carried on to the next generation. I could serve as a connector or mentor to the younger team while remaining calm, stable, and dependable on a daily basis. For my previous employer, I relayed the details of a failed software release to a new business manager, who avoided repeating the same mistakes.”
Do you need additional training?
When answering this type of question, you have to be mindful because the question can be tricky; the question is aimed to test your level of confidence in your qualifications and skills and generally assess the level of your skills for the job. If you say NO, you’ll come out as arrogant, and your overconfidence might affect your reputation if you’re unable to deliver as promised; if you say YES, the recruiter may assume you’re unsure of your abilities.
How to Answer “Do you need additional training” Interview question
Because the style of operations or the organizational setting may be different from your previous job, it is best to respond yes. You’ll need the training to help you fit into your job more readily, as well as to identify your weaknesses so that the training may be more focused on them. If your response is a ‘yes, you will say that extra assistance from an expert would be ideal for me because it would make it easier for me to blend into the company’s culture.
Your answer should reflect your skills and your weaknesses. You are expected to talk about parts of the role you can ace perfectly and those you are good at but not really perfect. Let the Interviewer know that you are always open to acquiring new knowledge and skills or improving on the ones you have and acquiring more knowledge and skills from training will help you be of better value to the company.
If your response is No, your response will be; I do not think I need extra training to start working here, with my years of experience, I know how to effectively perform my task without extra guidance moreover, extra training will incur more costs for the organization so there is no need to waste the company resources. However, if the company wishes to do a training for me, I would not say no since this will further boost my skills to serve the company and achieve her goals (Only say NO when you’re confident you can fit in perfectly without help)
Example 2 will be to say “Because of the skills I acquired during my internship workshops, I have some experience creating structures, working with instruments, and adhering to safety protocols. Succeeding in this position will not be hard with a little extra training on the specific types of equipment I will be working with and some industry-specific practice to assist me in improving my workload.”
What are your worst regrets, and how do you deal with setbacks?
This question is used to evaluate how well applicants accept responsibility for their mistakes and how they react to them. The interviewer wants to know how you feel about your mistake and failure because everyone makes mistakes at some point in their lives, and these mistakes can lead to costly errors.
Most applicants lie and deny having any regrets or failures, but interviewers are much more interested in candidates who have had poor experiences and learned from them. Note that you should focus on something minor that may not relate directly to the role you are applying for. Also, your answer should not be one that led to a huge disaster in your former organization.
How to Answer “what are your worst regrets and how do you deal with setbacks” Interview questions
You don’t need to get personal and start talking about regretful moments in your family or with your friends; rather, you should be professional and only talk about regretful moments that are related to your position or your career. The Interviewer is looking for your honesty. Be honest about your past failures but do not present them in a way that poses a risk to the role you are being interviewed for.
You must describe how you felt when you realized your error and how you’ve been striving to prevent it from happening again. My response, for example, would be that my most regrettable incident occurred at my previous employer. The company held a training session on how to utilize new technical equipment for communication; we learned how to use Google Translate to connect with people of various languages.
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My attention was diverted, and I reasoned that I could always hire an interpreter to assist me in communicating with people who spoke a different language. Just a few months later, I traveled to India for business, and on the day I was supposed to sign a multimillion financing deal, my interpreter became ill, and I had to hire another interpreter instead of doing it myself, I almost lost the contract but thankfully, I didn’t.
I’m embarrassed by my conduct, so I hired a professional trainee to teach and guide me on how to utilize smartphone apps to connect with people who speak different languages, so I don’t repeat the same mistakes anymore.
Take a look at how this answer turned negative to positive. The question explains how he learned from his failures. You do not want to come off as a failure but rather, you are an expert at turning a negative situation into a positive one. Always have your specific stories handy and prepare your responses ahead of time. While responding with stories, do not give too many details and avoid blaming others for your mistakes and show your proactivity by not giving excuses for why things went wrong.
12. What’s your relationship with your co-workers?
This question can also come in form of “How do you work well with other people” which is designed to evaluate your interpersonal relationships, such as whether you prefer to work alone or in a group.
The question also aims to find out how much you tolerate individuals around you, pretty unpleasant coworkers. You must respond to this question nicely and professionally and avoid lame answers. This question is a tricky one because interviewers have complained that interviewees do a bad job of answering this question.
How to Answer “What is your relationship with co-workers” Interview Questions
Do not rush to say “I work well with other people” This is always the cliched response. You should make sure your answer highlights the interpersonal qualities that make you fit for the job.
This is the time to show your people skills and how you are good with communication. Interviewers do not want to hire difficult people though they may have solid skills. Even if your role in the company does not require constant communication, do not just stop at “I am a good team player” Make sure your response shows you develop a comfortable rapport with co-workers, clients, and subordinates and can handle workplace conflicts. Avoid negativity because it will be seen as being difficult and quarrelsome too.
An organization is made up of people of various personalities and characteristics. To maintain a calm and pleasant working environment, it is vital to treat everyone with respect. Answer with specific examples but try to keep your responses to work and do not be involved in the personal lives of your coworkers.
For example, “I relate respectfully and professionally with my colleagues, I am nice to them and try my best to assist them in difficult times, I avoid getting involved in people’s matters to avoid trouble, I show my support for colleagues’ ideas if they benefit the company, and finally, due to my listening and understanding skills, I can assist them in difficult situations. I handle disagreements among my coworkers using my judgment and problem-solving skills to maintain harmony and serenity in our workplace”. Or
“My ability to interact with others has indeed been crucial to my progress as a supervisor. For example, my receptiveness to my staff members has assisted me in motivating them and improving their work performance. When I notice that the quality of one of my junior workers began to deteriorate, I met with him to discuss the problem. I empathetically listened to his fears about the daily tasks and we talked about how we could solve his problems while also enhancing his productivity. I am a firm believer in the importance of being able to communicate effectively with, and listening carefully to, employees to enhance their productivity.”
13. Do you mind working for someone younger and with less experience?
This question is intended to determine how the candidate thinks about receiving commands and instructions from someone who is younger and has less expertise in the profession. You must respond to this question cleverly because if you say yes, the interviewer may perceive you as bossy and dismissive.
The interviewer will likely ask this question if a superior is younger than you; your response will reveal much about your personality, including your personal qualities that have nothing to do with age. Basically, Tip* the interviewer wants to fully understand how flexible you are and your ability to be humble and work just with anyone and in any circumstances.
How to Answer “Do you mind working with younger and with less experience” Interview question
Because this can be a very uncomfortable question especially if your interviewer clearly looks younger than you, the most effective approach is to stay optimistic. At the very least, this will demonstrate your capacity to stay focused in bizarre circumstances. Have it at the back of your that you will most likely be reporting to someone younger and with more experience than you. You should be receptive to any work situation and willing to take orders from a younger, less experienced person no matter the circumstance.
Although it is preferable to answer no, the interviewer sees you as modest and eager to accept and obey orders from anyone. It is better not to talk about how your experience will help your boss learn more about the area because it will come across as if you’re there to teach your boss his job.
You can also highlight your willingness to learn new things. Do not let your answers come off as close-minded. Your interviewer will use this opportunity to assess your ability to follow directions. Even if your manager is older than you, it will help the interviewer to know that you are willing to take orders in any unusual situation.
For example, you can say; ”No, I don’t mind working with someone who has less experience; I see it as an opportunity to learn more because my boss is also more experienced in some areas than I am, and being young is an advantage because the team will be more energetic, and I will be happy to share my skills when my boss requests it.”
Another example, The main reason this firm employed everyone is to assist them in achieving their objectives and aspirations. Everyone in the organization has unique skills that will benefit the organization, thus I’d be honored to work with anyone because I can learn and grow from them. Furthermore, no one understands everything, and the purpose is to meet the company’s objectives.
Do not be impolite, rude, or negative while answering your questions. Tips* Never make exceptions with your answer like saying you will be willing to take others if your juniours are professional and more experienced. This will show that you are close-minded. Start searching for job opportunities now.
14. What motivates you?
This question can also be framed as “What drives you to work harder?” The interviewer wants to understand what motivates you to work harder. You should answer this question honestly because your response will reveal how hungry you are for success. No one will hire someone who isn’t passionate about something or who works for the sake of working. Your response will also disclose more about your personality. You have to be truthful about your answers here because it is an open-ended question.
When talking about what motivates you, back it up with examples from your previous work experience and studies. Your answers must be relevant to the skills required of the job you are applying for.
Tip* The Interviewer wants to know what makes you tick, what drives you to succeed, if you will ace the job role, whether you enjoy doing what you are passionate about and how well you will fit into the Organization’s team.
How to Answer “What motivates you/what drives you to work harder” Interview Question
Your motivation can be in the form of learning new things, teamwork, mentoring co-workers, beating deadlines, being ingenuine and creative, thinking out of the box, being a good team player, problem-solving, error spotting, or analyzing complex data. Always come with examples.
You can say that ‘What motivates me is beating project deadlines. I feel this sense of accomplishment when I can look back at my work and feel happy. Visible results also motivate me especially when I see a large number of people using the app I developed and leaving beautiful reviews of it.
Don’t say things like, “I want to work so I can travel out of this place,” or “I want to work so I can purchase a car.” Your response should be relevant to the position. This statement makes it sound like your sole aim for applying for the job is for selfish reasons. Try to reflect on one of your positive attributes that motivates you to work in your response to pique the interviewer’s attention.
For example, if I am applying for a position as a lawyer in a chamber, I’ll say, “I am saddened by the prevalence of injustice and unfairness in our country.” My desire to see justice served for those who have been wrongfully accused motivates me to work harder, and I am ecstatic when justice is served.
Tip* Do not answer this question by stating your motivation for applying for the job or your career goals and aspirations. The interviewer did not ask you that.
Another example, if I wanted to be a manager for a corporation, I would say, “I enjoy assisting people in achieving their positive dreams. I am aware of the company’s aims and vision and am eager to assist her in accomplishing them; I would like to help realize the success of the organization and be a part of her success story.
15. Will you put your interest ahead of the company’s own?
This is a challenging question that may also come as “Are you willing to put the company’s interest above your own”. It may seem like the interviewer wants you to lie. The corporation is attempting to determine which is more important to you: the company or your interests. They’re looking to see if you’re willing to put your personal desires aside for the sake of the firm. Most people would lie because they are desperate for a job, but interviewers can detect lies since no one would risk their interest for the sake of another man’s business.
A lot of people are not ready to give up their personal values, convictions, and value for a job and they should not be put in such a difficult position to succeed in their career. However, when answering this question, note that it is mostly about work ethics. The interviewer wants to know how loyal and honest you are. Your response should be detailed and conscious.
How to Answer “Will you put your interest ahead of the company’s” Interview Question
Your response should show that you would actually put the company’s interests ahead of your own without saying yes because this can be tricky; don’t just say, “Yes, the company’s interests will be ahead of mine,” because you may come off as lying. You don’t want to hurt your chances of landing the job. You should research the company’s aspirations and goals beforehand and see whether they align with your own. Makes sure your answers relate to your experiences and the job description.
Tip* Avoid a yes or no answer, research the company beforehand and use specific answers in your response.
If they’re the same, you can agree and provide job-related examples for the interviewer to consider. For example, if I apply for a job at a law chamber, my response will be: Seeing as the interests of this Firm aligns with mine, which is to obtain justice and equality for all. There will be no conflict of interest because I support justice for all as well, In my previous work experience, I learned the importance of justice and uprightness, I believe I will apply them for the growth of this firm since we want the same thing. I am ready to put the interest of this chamber ahead of my interest as both align.
16. You may not qualify for the position because of your lack of experience.
This question is mostly thrown to College or fresh university grads to gauge their confidence in their abilities. An interviewer can tell you that you’re not qualified for the job due to your little experience, you don’t have to panic much as this is just to demotivate you.
Most applicants will get discouraged, be thrown off balance, and give up at that point, or show signs of desperation. You need to maintain your composure and act professionally so you don’t stall your chances of getting the job. If you can answer the question smartly, confidently, and cleverly, you may land the job.
How to Answer “You may not be qualified for this job” Interview question
Recruiters also throw in this question when they have too many qualified applicants. At that point, they want to choose the best interviewee by elimination, hence, questions like this will shed light on who really should go despite their experiences too.
First, you should agree with the recruiter that you don’t have the required experience and then try to point out the qualities and skills that you possess that will help the growth of the company.
You need to sound so convincing so the recruiter can be more interested in you and this tells more about how persuasive you are. For example, if I am applying for the post of french teacher at secondary school, my response will be, “I am aware I don’t have the required working experience for this job but I possess qualities to need for the job as I have stayed in France for 15 years and I have MSC in french language which makes French easy for me, although I have no official teaching experience. I conduct a French tutorial class for my coursemate during my university days and everyone easily understands. I can easily gain experience on how to teach pupils within a short period.
Another example is; “I know I am not well experienced enough for this job position but my academic qualities and competency are capable of performing this job effectively also, I am a fast learner and I can grasp everything easily.”
This is an opportunity to bring up experiences not directly related to the job but shows your inner resolve to take on new tasks and willingness to outperform should you be given the chance.
17. Would you lie for the organization?
This is a behavioral question that the interviewer uses to access your personality. This question is similar to the one before it but they are different. Yet it is meant to throw you off balance and let the Interviewer access your less honesty and ethos in any given situation. This question is needed to evaluate what matters so much to you between loyalty and integrity.
Sometimes firms may ask employees to lie about something, such as profits or product or service quality; some employees are willing to lie to keep their jobs, while others value personal integrity above all else; they will not lie for the company and are willing to be fired or resign if necessary.
How to Answer “Would you lie for the Organisation” Interview Question
Some companies deal with confidentiality of trade secrets and they will rely on their employers to keep their mouths shut or won’t sell them short. They also want to know if you appreciate doing business legally or resort to fraudulent practices should the need arises.
This is a tricky question because if you just answer yes, it implies that you aren’t honest and that integrity means nothing to you, and if you say no, you risk losing the job, so you need to carefully consider your response. If pressed, speak confidently and show your truthfulness. Do not compromise your integrity or agree to lie totally for the company, this will cast you in a bad light.
If you reply yes, do not just stop at yes. Your response should clarify that you realize that every organization has its standards and code of conduct, and you will follow the firm’s code of conduct. Your answer should be professional but not detailed.
However, if you respond with a NO, You must be clever in your response so as not to hurt the interviewer or company with your choice of words.
Example 1 (My response) “I am aware that all employees are subject to rules and regulations, and I am willing to follow all rules established by the organization as I am sure the company values align with my personal integrity.”
The above response indicates that you consented to lie for the organization, but not directly with your answer; instead, it is phrased more professionally so that the interviewee does not come as someone who lacks personal integrity but kowtowing to the Company’s rules and regulations, whatever it is.
The second part of the response indicates that the Interviewees place high importance on their integrity, hence, stating it courteously so that the interviewer will consider how his personality will impact the organization, either positively or adversely but will do his best to protect the interest of the Organization.
18. What does leadership mean to you, and what attributes do you look for in a leader?
Leadership skills are one of the most wanted skills in an organization because even the last subordinate in a company is a leader to the company’s clients. After all, leadership skills are needed for effective teamwork. The interviewer asks this question to learn how you will inspire co-workers even if you are not interviewing for a leadership role.
You need to prepare ahead for this question by going through the job description to understand what the interviewer wants. Make a list of leadership skills and narrow it down to the ones needed for the job. If you are a fresh graduate, you can mention the leadership skills you acquired during school, academic club, volunteer work, etc.
How to Answer “What does leadership mean to you, and what attributes do you look for in a leader” Interview Question
The best way to answer this question is to use anecdotes and the STAR method.
(S) Situation: Describe the context of the situation. What did you do?
(T) Work. What was the specific task you needed to accomplish? If you were addressing a specific issue, explain what it was.
(A) Action: How did you accomplish the assignment or address the problem (or what skills did you employ)?
(R) Outcome: How did the situation turn out? Did you do a good job on the task? Did you find a solution to the situation?
For example, “My previous job was as a Purchasing Officer for a global firm. Our company’s total procurement was low from the previous quarter but with higher expenditure, so our Managing Director required all procurement staffs to recommend ways to increase purchases while saving costs. I came up with an idea during the presentation on a way to solve the problem. I devised a method that involved adjustments in our procurement strategies. The director was pleased with my idea and handed me the role of implementing the strategy. I spearheaded a 5-man team to develop and implement this new procurement strategy.
We had a tremendous improvement in our procurement strategy while saving funds for the company by 25%. Of a surety, I believe my clear communication with both the management and my team helped us achieve this feat.”
Tip* Practice your answer using the STAR method, focus on the goals of the company and make sure you ooze confidence and enthusiasm in your tone.
Your voice, body language, eye contact, and posture should reflect your leadership traits. Do not slouch on your seat, be shifty with your eyes, keep a low tone, or display a lack of enthusiasm. Let your tone reflect that of a leader. Let your dressing shows that you can take charge of your appearance and importantly, always give credit to other teammates. You are a leader, not a dictator so the former recognizes the efforts others made to help him achieve his results.
19. What are your thoughts on this interview?
This is a common question at the end of an interview. The question appears simple, but it is a little more complicated because if you respond incorrectly, you may reduce your chances, even though all of your previous responses are correct. The response you give is generally determined by how you felt about the interview. The Interviewer also wants to know what you think of them and if you have any questions.
How to Answer “What are your thoughts about this Interview” Interview Question
Even if the interview is stressful, dull, or embarrassing, you must not express this. You must be polite, be professional, and engaging in all responses. Don’t make it seem like the question is too simple or too difficult for you, and while rating, don’t use numerical ratings like 0 to 10 unless the interviewer forces you to, in which case, try not to grade it below 8.
For example, if the interview is a structured question interview, “I really enjoyed the interviewer, particularly how professional you handled it and how the questions were designed”. If the interview is unstructured interview questions whereby the interviewer is free to ask any question, you can say, “The interview is interesting, and I truly enjoyed our conversation.” Although we discussed a wide range of topics, the debate was professional and constructive.
This is also an opportunity to ask questions to further clarify any vague thoughts you have about the recruiter.
20. How did you hear about the position?
Companies utilize a variety of methods to raise awareness about job opportunities. Some businesses can post it on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter, while others use media such as television, newspaper, billboard, radio, etc. Tell the interviewer how you knew about the job, regardless of the medium used (chit chat). The Interviewer genuinely wants to know where the interviewee got his info.
This is because finding the right person for the job is as hard as getting a good job hence, interviewers want to know which of their mediums of the advert was better at landing them good employers and which medium had the most publicity.
Another reason employers ask this question is to make sure you are deliberate about the job and you did not just stumble on the job out of the million jobs you applied for and decided to apply for or “try your luck”. They want an interviewee that is passionate about the company and the role he is about to take on.
How to Answer “How did you hear about this Position” Interview question
Mention your source to the interviewer but keep it short, and explain additional inquiries you made about the firm and position.
You can say you saw the job on LinkedIn, an online newspaper, a career website, or careers page of the company website while you were searching for something unrelated, in the company websites, You were told by a friend or colleague who suggested you supply but who didn’t know about the company, a recruiter contacted you about the opening,
For example, if I’m applying for a position as a social media handler at Maay Plc, I can say that” I learned about the job vacancy on Twitter, I read a sponsored ad on Twitter announcing you’re searching for a social media handler, I checked your official Twitter page to confirm the information and see the requirements. I applied for the position seeing that I meet the specified requirements and qualities.”
Note that while answering this question, do not say you cannot remember or you are not sure, this will give off the vibe that you are not put together. Be truthful about your answer and be sure you do not mention a place the recruiter didn’t place their advert. Another mistake to avoid is looking desperate, letting your interviewer know that you apply for any available and you can just want to be hired by just anyone. Ensure that you don’t go into details.
Some companies recruit fresh grads straight from convocation. Using this type of recruitment method as an example, I can say, I am the best graduating student in my class and the company’s managing director was there at my convocation. I got the invite for this interview through the connection.
21. In 14 years, where do you see yourself in this position?
Some interviewees do not know about their next year, but the interviewer just wants to know how your future goals align with that of the company. As deceptive as this question can be; make sure your answer is tailored according to the company’s aspirations.
You need to prepare beforehand for this question. The world is rapidly evolving, and new methods are being introduced to perform a variety of tasks; artificial intelligence is making some jobs obsolete while also increasing demand for other jobs, particularly in technology-related fields; therefore, you must think carefully before answering this question. Aside from this, you should not be talking about goals that do not align with the job role.
How to Answer “Where do you see yourself in this position” Interview Question
It is critical to have a solid response. Giving a shoddy reply or being imprecise in your response may give recruiters the impression that you are uninterested in your profession, and you are not just a perfect match candidate or are you hiding something. We will give you some tips on how to give out information about the next ladder of your career while also expressing your interest in the position.
Know that the recruiter wants to know two things: the first is how long you intend to work for the organization, and the second is how ambitious and progressive you think you are.
If you’re staying for a short time, when answering the question, don’t make your intention known like saying, “I am just interested in the job for a short time, so I can’t predict the future”.
This response will automatically dismiss you.
Therefore, you need to be as smart and open as possible, make sure your response is in accordance with the company’s vision.
For example, if I am applying for a job, a drone engineer at a tech firm, I’ll say, “The world population is rapidly increasing, and this increase is affecting our mobility; people have difficulty moving easily from one place to another due to traffic; several methods have been used like making portable cars, light rails, etc. to ease transportation stress.
Another option being considered for human transportation now is drones, drones are used to deliver goods and other supplies at the moment. In the next 14 years, human transportation through drones will be realistic and there would be great demand for drone engineers.
Furthermore, before going for the interview, you must adequately prepare for this question so you won’t fumble in your answers, research thoroughly on a career path that is related to the position you are applying for. How much time would you typically spend on that employment? What necessary steps do the job requirements within a 5-year duration?
In the career section of some employer’s websites, they will explain the various career paths required of each of their roles. In other to get a true depiction, reach out to professionals and experts in the field through former students, relatives, buddies, or professional groups.
For instance, a software engineer applying for an engineering role at an ICT firm to eventually move, up the ladder will research the company to see if and how the engineers working typically find their way to managerial roles.
You can start by going to the career section of the website and searching it up. Your response can be “As a representative of this department, I’m motivated to keep honing my engineering skills. It has come to my notice that many ICT firms progress from staff engineer to ICT manager, which is something I’m interested in as part of long-term career plan”
22. What would you say about your most recent job?
Another way interviewer frames this question is “why are you leaving your current job” When an interviewer asks this question, he’s trying to figure out how you explain people or places you no longer relate with. Candidates who are dissatisfied with their previous job tend to say negative things about the job. This shows they are unprofessional and unfit to work in the organization. Job candidates need to be smart when replying to this question.
How to Answer “What would you say about your most recent job” Interview question
Even if you disliked your previous job, speak positively about it; don’t disparage the working environment or compensation. Also do not exaggerate the position; otherwise, the interviewer would wonder why you left if it was so fantastic. Explain that you are leaving or you left your recent job for a number of reasons, it could be caring for a loved one, or you needed a change. Your response can be “I am quite doing well in my former job but I am looking for more challenging roles to push me to greater heights.
Tip* While answering this question, ensure you are not giving too much negative information
If you are leaving or you left because you were burned out, your response can be “I am looking for a great role where I can apply my knowledge and skills and at the same time, achieving a work-life balance. The interviewer will be impressed that you are not just a hard worker, but a smart one, besides, emphasis on the type of work environment that makes you thrive.
Furthermore, your response should be relevant to the position; don’t waste time detailing how you and your coworkers interacted in your previous job, such as how you and your coworkers socialize after work, how attractive your female coworkers are, and so on. You can discuss how the company’s resources helped you advance your career and how you want to move on to something better.
For example, you could say, “I enjoyed working at Maay LTD because they are interested in the development of their employees.” Workers are given development training on a regular basis, and top management consults every department in the organization before making major decisions, ensuring that everyone is involved in the company’s growth.
23.How do you perform when you’re not being watched?
Because some workers may struggle to perform efficiently without supervision owing to a lack of expertise, most firms prefer to hire someone with extensive experience. The interviewer wants to know how experienced you are in the role if you work well on your own, or you cant take a step if you are not directed to do so. The interviewer wants to gauge how much you think out of the box. Be careful in answering this question because it will show your leadership and team skills
How to Answer “How do you perform when you’re not being watched?’ Interview Question
You should try to give an example of a situation in which you performed exceptionally well without any form of supervision; your example should include why you were given the task alone, how you felt when the task was assigned to you, how you handled the task, what you learned after completing the task, and how your boss felt about the task.
Tip* Do not go into much detail, your response should show that you are someone that can take initiative when the need arises and not be boxed n a corner.
For example, if I was an auditor at my previous company and am now going to another, I can say, “In my previous job, I help the chief auditor in auditing the accounts of the corporate bank. My supervisor was in China and needed to urgently audit an account; he assigned me this duty, and I was ecstatic since I could finally show off what I had learned. I audited the account and detected certain inconsistencies, which I reported to the corporation, and they were quickly resolved. I completed the auditing accurately and neatly. My supervisor was impressed because he thought I would make some mistakes, but I proved him wrong. I also discovered a new way to do account auditing faster and accurately which I taught my boss”.
Another example: “commercial planes require at least two pilots to fly. My senior co-pilot and I were to fly a plane from Nigeria to Australia one day. My co-pilot had a mild headache before the flight but didn’t report it to the management. However, while in the air, the headache became severe and he was unable to assist any further. I let him rest while I handled the trip issues. He was hesitant at first because he believed I was still inexperienced enough to travel alone. He eventually agreed when the headache was getting stronger and went to sleep thereby leaving me alone to handle the flight from Nigeria to Australia. I was able to complete our journey without a hitch.”
24. What lengths will you go to in order to complete a task?
This question is intended to determine how much you enjoy your work. Work may be demanding and challenging most times, many employees will not work above their typical working hours to complete a task, which can have a negative impact on the organization.
Companies prefer to hire employees who are willing to do practically anything lawful to complete a task even if it means working overtime or utilizing personal resources.
How to Answer “What lengths have you gone in order to complete a task” Interview Question
You must show the interviewer how much you enjoy the job and what you are willing to give up(time) in order to keep it. If you have ever gone above and above the call of duty, you can use that as an example to show the interviewer how dedicated you are.
Don’t use instances that aren’t relevant to the work, and don’t mislead or exaggerate the event to the interviewer because HR professionals are trained in psychology and can detect deception. For example, my response would be,
“I love my job so much that I would go to any legal length to complete a task,” I recall in my previous job when I was in charge of sales,
On December 27, a client placed an order for a number of goods worth $2 million through our post office mailbox, however, we didn’t collect mail from the post office again, so we didn’t receive the mail. On January 2, I went to the post office to send a personal package to a friend, so I decided to check the mailbox although I wasn’t expecting to see any mail. Fortunately, I found the mail and immediately called the number on it; fortunately for us, the order is still valid and closes on January 3rd, which was the next day all workers were off duty, so I immediately went to the company to get the clothes and I immediately traveled to a different state to deliver and secure the deal, despite the fact that the day was my off-day.
25. How did you handle disagreements with your colleagues at your former job?
This is one of the behavioral questions’ employers ask you. Some will ask you to give a specific instance of the conflict and how you handled it. You can’t be comfortable with everyone’s behavior because one might please you and others may irritate you. Interviewers are well aware of this, which is why they ask this behavioral question to see how frequently you clash with colleagues. However, they want to know how calm and professional you can be in the presence of conflicts.
How to Answer “How did you handle disagreements with your former job” Interview Questions
Your interviewer would not want to hire an employer that is difficult to work with, hot-headed, and someone that will escalate small issues into bigger ones. The Interviewer wants to see you communicate properly.
They are interested in seeing an employee who leaves his ego behind and is willing to compromise and work with others to keep the company running smoothly.
When you are thrown this question, know that your interviewer is evaluating your skills in communication and listening, your perseverance, capability to understand other peoples points of view or perspective, and then find a solution or concession that’s in the best interest of the employer in as much as it isn’t something you want.
Tip* While picking a story, make sure it aligns with a negative instance that led to a positive outcome, a didactic experience you will share with the interviewer, and one that didn’t cost the company a lot of time or money.
If you have ever disagreed with any worker before, explain what prompted the dispute, how you managed and ended the conflict, and how you reacted to the conflict. This gives the impression that you have better conflict resolution skills.
Don’t include any cases in which you had to resort to violence to resolve a disagreement, and don’t create the idea that you’re still on bad terms with your coworker.
For instance, “in my previous employment as a sales manager, I had a dispute with a coworker over how he behaved to a customer in an unpleasant manner; he argued that the customer deserved the harsh comments, whereas I calmly let him know that he was wrong and that his behavior was unprofessional. I revisited him later, when he was calmer, and carefully explained to him that it is inappropriate to utter bad words at customers as they’re the ones who indirectly fund our salaries; he quickly realized his mistake and apologized to both me and the customer, and everything went back to normal.”
26. How do you face challenges?
The interviewer knows that every profession has at least one difficult period; nothing is easy, and those who do not handle this difficult moment properly generally lose their promising future.
The interviewer wants to know what you do when you are confronted with a major problem: do you flee? become despondent? or you face and overcome your difficulties?
How to Answer “How do you face challenges” Interview Question
A good employee is always willing to face challenges, so when answering this question, you should project a confident demeanor since the interviewer wants to see that you are determined to overcome struggle.
When attempting to overcome problems, there are several phases to take: First to identify the challenge, examine how it impacts your productivity or work, consider various solutions to solve the problem, analyze (advantages and disadvantages) of these solutions, choose the best option and put in extra effort to solve the challenge.
Example (as a sales manager): When faced with a difficult situation, I maintain my composure; panicking would only cause me to make poor decisions, compounding my dilemma. I’ll confer with my team to get their thoughts on how we should approach the problem, and I’ll choose the best solution. My branch at my previous job was given a significant responsibility to boost our revenues from #1 million to #5 million in six months; it was nearly impossible and difficult. I met with my team and we discussed various options to achieve our goal. After much discussion and critical analysis of our different options like increasing price, adverts, etc. We decided on the best solution, which was to increase our advertising. As a result of increased advertising, we surpassed our target and turned a profit of #7 million
27. What would you say if your supervisor had an impractical idea?
The interviewer can frame this question like “What to do when you are sure your boss is wrong” Because this is a behavioral question meant to trap you, you must exercise extreme caution because the interviewer could use your response against you. Your interviewer wants to see if you have difficulty working with managers and also how you perceive your relationships with your superiors. Relationships with superiors are typically formal, especially in bureaucratic organizations with hierarchical power structures. Correcting your boss is a challenging task.
How to Answer “What would you say if your supervisor had an impractical idea” Interview Question
You have to be very tactical when answering this question. When your boss makes a decision that may have a major influence on the company, your response should be that you will gather enough evidence to prove that his or her decision is factually inaccurate but be polite and calm while answering this. When you have enough evidence, meet with him to discuss the idea. Tell him what parts of the idea are realistic and unrealistic, and how they can be improved.
Tip* Never say such a situation did not happen, that will give an impression that you are lying because this is unrealistic.
Always give an example and in specific words, tell your interviewer how you explained the situation to your boss. Let your interviewer know how positive the result of the situation was. Do not speak ill of your former supervisor.
For example, you can say,
“I have spoken to a former manager about a specific mistake seldomly in the past. My supervisor recently gave my team a project. I realized the information we were given was out of date and we could lay our hands on available recent data. It is very important that we proceed with the project using recent data if we were sure of being successful with it. I approached my boss privately and told him about the error while letting him know about the up-to-date information about the data. He expressed his gratitude and immediately updated the data right away. The project turned out a huge success for us.”
28. What makes a working environment conducive?
This question can also come in the form of “What type of work environment do you prefer” This is asked by interviewers to find out how they feel about your working environment. This question is asked by interviewers to determine if you will fit very well in the company and its culture. It equally assists them in determining which work environment they are most productive in.
In less conducive environments, people are less productive. If your description of a favorable working environment fits well with their work settings, it means you find their organization conducive, but if their work environment isn’t up to par with your definition, it means they’re not up to par with you.
The recruiter wants to know if you love a traditional more formal work environment or an informal office structure? If you’d rather go for a squad approach or do you like working individually? An interviewer will be very interested in knowing where you feel most at ease. An employee can only be their most productive self when they are at ease and have a sense of belonging.
How to Answer “What makes a working environment conducive” Interview Question
Your response should be in line with the organization’s structure. Be honest about answering this question. If there are work environments you do not like, let your interviewer know but let such environment not be related to the job role after you must have researched the company.
Before attending the interview, do extensive research on the company. If you are unfamiliar with the organization’s work environments, you can still depict one that is appropriate for your career. Despite the fact that your ideal work environment should be compatible with the job, a bank candidate should not yearn for a swimming pool.
Tip* Let the Interview know that you can be flexible with your work environment.
For example, say “I’ve worked in a variety of settings and have absolutely loved getting to learn new skills in every one of them. There is no particular environment that will be too difficult to fit in but I do enjoy having a work environment where people are dedicated to rapid growth and getting things done and are enthusiastic about what they do.” This shows that you can fit into any work environment.
If it is about the physical environment, mention that a good working environment must-have characteristic such as good ventilation, a well-structured building, and well-organized offices where everyone can work comfortably.
29. What are your Personal Career goals?
The interviewer wants to assess your level of Confidence and how invested you are in your pursuits. They want to know if your personal goals align with that of the company. Make sure you understand your goals and how to achieve them before you answer the question. Goal-setters are more organized and motivated than those who do not. So, the purpose of this inquiry is to see how well-organized you are. The goals will give the interviewer an insight into your personality.
How to Answer “What are your Personal Career goals” Interview Question
Your goals should be relevant to your profession; do not discuss your personal ambitions with the interviewer. Give reasons for setting goals and, if possible, include a list of some of your accomplishments.
Let the interviewer know that your personal goals align with your career goals and you are passionate about both of them.
Demonstrate to the interviewer that you are enthusiastic about your field.
Demonstrate that you enjoy working in the real world and that you are driven to succeed. You can demonstrate your commitment by drawing on previous experiences.
Indicate your desire to establish a beneficial professional relationship that is mutual with the company.
You must describe how developing your personal goals will help the company’s goals. This question necessitates ingenuity from you. Demonstrate your ability to blend with the organization. Demonstrate how your personal goals, in the long run, can be beneficial to your organization.
Demonstrate your ability to work well with others.
For example, you can say; Yes, I set career goals; I have long-term and short-term targets, for example. My ambition to accomplish all of my goals and objectives drives me to work harder and keeps me organized.
All humans are designed to be exhausted, thus stress is unavoidable. People react to stress in a variety of ways; some become enraged, some become irritable, and so on. Because interviewers are well aware of this, they inquire about the candidate’s stress management techniques.
People who don’t know how to cope with stress are more likely to become enraged, which has a negative impact on workplace relationships. The interviewer wants to know how you handle pressure and how composed you can be in the face of stress. They will also watch the manner you answer this question.
The employer also wants to know if personal stress affects your work.
Prepare for this question before you answer it. Discuss what makes you stressed; people get stressed for a myriad of purposes, including lack of interest in their work, fatigue, pressure, and so on.
Discuss how you react to others when you are stressed; individuals become irritable, moody, unwell, and so on. Provide specific examples when you handled stress positively and show the interviewer how stress can actually be your strong motivator.
Tip* Never tell the interviewer that you don’t get stressed, everyone does.
Discuss how you deal with stress, such as taking breaks, resting, or seeing a therapist.
For instance, you can say, “I understand that stress is unavoidable at times.” When I’m stressed, I unwind by taking a cold bath after work to relieve weariness. In my previous job, each employee was given 30 days of paid vacation per year. Do not mention that you are the cause of the stress.
Another example is “I place a high value on Good pressure, like having a lot of tasks or having a deadline due soon, this helps me stay efficient and engaged. I know that sometimes, stress is a bye product of too much pressure. Nevertheless, I’m quite good at juggling various tasks and timely completing them, which keeps me away from extreme stress. For instance, there was a time I was dealing with 3 mega projects that had almost the same deadlines, which put me under a great deal of stress. But because I made a timeline outlining how I would collapse each project into smaller tasks, I was able to finish all 3 projects earlier than expected and prevented avoidable stress.”
31. Have you previously held a position of leadership?
Another way employers ask this is “describe your leadership experience” This question is meant to see if you’ve ever held leadership positions at a previous job. People applying for high-level positions in the organization should have leadership experience in order to have a greater chance of being hired.
The interviewer may hear your leadership experience in order to assess your capacity to maintain or steer a team of employees. Interviews are aware that team members who have good leadership qualities will last longer in the job and display loyalty. They are also more eligible for the promotion.
How to Answer “Have you previously held a position of leadership” Interview Question
You are expected to show in your response that you can comfortably delegate tasks too. If you were in a senior position at your previous job, you could say YES and discuss your leadership style, its influence in your previous job, how you interact efficiently with team members, your accomplishments as a leader, and using the STAR method to outline the steps you took in achieving your leadership goals in your previous work.
You should in your response demonstrate that you possess the requisite skills and qualities s to aid the organization in reaching its objectives.
For example, at my last employment, I was the general manager for 5 years and accomplished a lot of excellent things, such as expanding sales outside the continent’s borders and receiving both national and international business awards for my leadership qualities. I aim to set a positive example for my followers by doing my best at work and sharing my expertise and experience with them.
If you haven’t held a leadership position before, you can say No but describe the qualities and talents you have that make you a good leader. Carefully pick a leadership experience from a previous role or a significant leadership experience from college years.
For example, “I am aware of what leadership entails. During my college years, I was helping at my local homeless shelter for four years. The management was attempting to boost rate of adoption when I arrived as a helper. I looked into three different homeless shelters and rescues to see what they’re doing to improve their likelihood of succeeding. During this study, I discovered that all three were organizing events in their premises, which boosted the adoption rate. I told the charity supervisor about my results, and she agreed to let me arrange a family vacation celebration for homeless families. I collaborated with the employees and other volunteers to arrange programs and food for the event. I also created posters and distributed information concerning the event via the shelter’s social networks were used to publicize the event. Over 100 individuals attended the event, resulting in 50 new adoptions.”
32. Describe how you handled the most challenging task you’ve ever faced.
This question is tricky and designed to assess a candidate’s problem-solving abilities; Interviewees must be able to resolve issues without the assistance of others.
On a different note, there are numerous approaches to a problem. A particular organization may favor a staff member that employs a calculated, methodical, and defined approach, while another corporation may want employees that jump right in and do everything possible to tackle the need without actually considering the broader perspective.
How to Answer “how you handled the most challenging task you’ve ever faced” Interview Question
Tell your Interviewer a major challenge you experienced but ensure it is a positive one or one that led to a positive outcome. Be explanatory in your response to this question, do not just show what you did, say how you did it and the results you achieved.
Tip* When answering this question, never blame anybody and always remember the bigger picture.
Companies would want to recruit people who can transform obstacles into possibilities. Consider ways of highlighting the method you used in changing the most of a difficult situation in your response. Well, we know that in reality, it is not feasible to wave a wand magically and turn all adversity into a spectacular breakthrough. However, you can always learn from your difficulties and use what you have learned to future issues that will arise. Always ensure to express your learnings and how trials have assisted your growth.
Consider all of the issues you’ve faced since you’ve begun working. Discuss the most important one and how you handled it. For example (as a software developer),
“My biggest problem was When we had an issue with developing the company software, I spearheaded the group that was able to bring the situation under control. My team was able to properly troubleshoot and address the difficulties in a very limited amount of time and the crew was not entirely exhausted. I achieved this feat by inspiring the executive engineering department to devise a technically novel and unique approach that will answer the clients’ problems while requiring fewer hours of development on our part.”
33. What have you learned from your former workplace and coworkers?
Candidates almost certainly learned something from their previous job or coworkers. This question is used by interviewers to determine how teachable a candidate is. Some applicants are eager to learn and are taught many important aspects of the job by coworkers, while others with bad character are not given any professional advice.
Being aware of what you did in past positions can assist The hiring manager to comprehend what you can provide to the current firm. As a result, it’s not uncommon for your interviewer to ask you, “What have you learned from past roles or co-workers?” It is crucial to understand that the interviewer is not asking you about your previous employment.
Rather, the question is about the abilities you gained, what you discovered about yourself, your discoveries about the industry from previous positions.
If you have already mastered important abilities, it will give you an edge and showcase your desirability for the job interview. This will equally make you stand out among other interviewees.
How to Answer “What have you learned from your former workplace and coworkers” Interview Question
It is preferable to discuss career-related lessons learned on the job rather than life lessons or life hacks.
Tip* Do not say you did not learn anything. Make sure what you learned is positive. Do did not speak ill of your former coworkers or workplaces.
Align your answers to qualities and skills you learned which will be useful for the job.
Don’t give irrelevant lessons like how you learned to make a delicacy, your bitter experience with colleagues, etc. Instead, talk about the positive things you learned that are relevant to the job.
Give specific examples of when the lessons were beneficial to you. For example (as a sales manager), I learned a lot from my junior colleagues. As a traditional man, I thought the best way to advertise was through radio, billboards, television, and social media networks, so I concentrated our resources on those alone. However, we were not seeing the results we expected, so my colleagues came to me and explained how we could reach a wider audience by advertising through Google ads. We tested Google Advertising and saw a significant rise in sales because our ads are practically everywhere, including applications and websites.
Speaking Hausa is another thing I’ve learned. Before the debut of our products in China, I struggled with the Mandarin Chinese language, and as sales manager, I must say a few things during the launch program and meet with some business dignitaries. One of my coworkers agreed to teach me the language, and I learned everything there is to know about Mandarin Chinese in just 27 days. On the day of the launch, everyone was taken aback by my fluency while giving my speech. I have learned a lot more through my business.
34. What kind of company would you like to work for if you had your choice?
The question can come in the form of “what is your ideal company” The interviewer wants to know your ideal workplace. They want to find out if their company is one you really want to work in or you just want to work anywhere without focus This question requires critical thinking; the interviewer wants you to visualize how a workplace should be, the types of people who should work there, the type of boss you wish you had, the organizational setting, and infrastructure amenities, among other things.
Although this question appears simple, it is quite difficult to answer accurately. When we imagine something, we tend to think strangely, and visualizing how a workplace should be is no exception.
How to Answer “What kind of company would you like to work for if you had your choice” Interview Question
Your response should The industry is one you are passionate about harking with. Your response should demonstrate that the company’s work activities are one you love.
To the interviewer, this indicates that you are concerned about the company’s interests as well as the interests of other employees.
Let the Interviewer know that for a long time, you have desired to work in their company, for instance, if it is an FCMG Company, let them know that you have always dreamed of work working in an FCMG set up like theirs. Research on the ‘about us and ‘what we do’ part of the company website and tailor your answers to it. Be sincere with your response.
For example (as a sales manager), My ideal firm should be one that has the goal of…, appropriate ventilation systems, and a workforce where everyone can contribute to the company’s success, whether directly or indirectly. A place where I can completely demonstrate my talents and abilities and combine them with those of other employees in order to help the company achieve its goals and advance my career.
35. Let assume you can be any animal, what animal would you choose?
This question is a behavioral one. This question may appear strange or amusing, because why would an interviewer inquire about the animal you adore the most? The major objective for asking this question is to figure out what kind of personality you have; the things we care about reveal more about our personalities; each animal has its own characteristics, and choosing that animal indicates that you share those attributes. The following are some examples of animal characteristics:
1. Dogs: Dogs have a reputation for being devoted, sociable, and protective. If you choose a dog, it signifies you will be faithful and ready to defend the firm at all times.
2. Butterfly: From caterpillar to gorgeous butterfly, butterflies are constantly evolving. Candidates who prefer butterflies are continually growing and seeking to improve on their previous selves.
3. Owls are famed for their capacity to see things clearly no matter what time of day it is. Candidates who pick owls are more likely to see things in a larger context, regardless of the scenario; they are broad thinkers.
4. Dove: Doves, particularly white doves, represent peace. A candidate who chooses a dove is peaceful and laid-back.
5. Tortoises are noted for their slowness, laziness, and cunning. Because of their lethargic lifestyle and dishonesty, a candidate with Tortoise characteristics is negative for the firm.
6. Ants are hardworking and always ready to work; applicants with ant characteristics understand the importance of teamwork and are dedicated workers.
7. Goats: Because goats are notorious for being stubborn and greedy, applicants with goat characteristics will undoubtedly clash with others and mismanage the company’s funds.
8. Lions: Lions rule the jungle and are unafraid of any other animal, regardless of size or height. Lions also travel in packs and will always come to the aid of other members of the pack when they are in distress. Candidates who choose lions are superior leaders; they command respect from all and are always willing to assist their team, no matter what the issue.
9. Dolphins are compassionate and selfless, always willing to assist people in need. If you choose a dolphin, it signifies you’re kind and kind, and you’d go to great lengths to aid those in need.
How to Answer “Which animal would you choose to be” Interview Question
Now that we know about animals and their characteristics, choose the one that best represents you, but avoid cunning and greedy creatures like goats, snakes, tortoises, foxes, and so on. For example, you can say, “Lion,” since I always stand strong in any scenario and am never afraid to face my difficulties. My team matters a lot to me, and I’ll do whatever I can to keep it safe
36. Rate your qualifications?
You may be asked to appraise your interview performance as well as your academic qualifications by the interviewer. This question is meant to know if only your certificates are what you have to offer.
It is important to demonstrate to the prospective employer that you don’t only possess the q qualifications, but you can efficiently apply them to good use. Move beyond just reminding the recruiter of your relevant certificates, or perhaps important positions, but how much you’ve prepared yourself for the position. Make up your mind to prove to the interviewer why you are better than those with more qualifications.
How to Answer “Rate your qualifications” Interview Questions
If you estimate yourself higher than your qualifications, this answer to this question can be tough. This is interpreted by the interviewer as arrogance and lying about your score. If you rank yourself lower than your qualifications, it indicates that you lack self-confidence and low self-esteem. In order to provide a complete response to this question, Your academic credentials and skills will be graded separately.
If you graduated with honors, you can give your academic qualification a tenth-grade rating, but if you did not, you can give it a seven- to nine-point rating based on your grades. Communication, leadership, and other skills are examples of your abilities. With all of your ratings, you must be truthful.
For example, I give my academic qualifications an 8 out of 10 because my academic grade is second class upper; I give my communication abilities a 10 because I am proficient in all required languages and have no difficulty communicating with anyone or speaking in front of large groups. I give myself a 9 out of 10 for leadership and a 7 out of 10 for computer skills because I am still learning how to use Microsoft Excel and Word perfectly. My general rating is 9 out of 10.
Show your qualifications and certifications for the position while explaining to the interviewer even if they did not directly ask for it. Let us say the job you’re applying for needs exceptional editing abilities, provide a sample or show your editing work portfolio. If you are showcasing a sample from a former employer, make sure you redact confidential and sensitive parts of it.
A different approach to illustrate your credentials is to let your interviewer be aware of what you intend to achieve within thirty to sixty days from the date of your employment. Communicating your potential achievements might provide the recruiter with perspective into the sort of job you’re proficient at.
37. Money or a job: which is more important?
The question can be framed as “Do you care about the pay or the job” Everyone desires to have their needs met and to live a pleasant life. We won’t be able to obtain all of the things we dream of without working, because money is the reward for hard work. The interviewer wants to know which is more important to you: your job or money though they prefer employees that care about the job more.
Recruiters are interested in learning what inspires job applicants to excel. Hiring managers can determine if your goal is professional advancement or just monetary benefit by asking such questions . The proper response might demonstrate to them that your interests show you are an outstanding candidate for the position.
Many employees labor just for the money and have little interest in the satisfaction of their customers or clients; this is especially true of civil servants, who display little excitement for their jobs most of the time.
How to Answer “Money or a job: which is more important” Interview Question
This is a tricky question, so be mindful, picking money over a job or a job over money is a bad idea. You have to find a middle ground. Do not answer ‘yes’ or; no’ and leave it at that. Be diplomatic with your response.
If you accept the position, the interviewer may want to put your honesty to the test by asking you to accept a wage cut. Also, if you prioritize money over the job, the interviewer may view you as greedy and apathetic about the position. Instead, emphasize the value of money and a job in pushing employees to work more.
For example, say, both money and a job are necessary; the job ensures a steady supply of money, while the money motivates you to do a better job. I am a firm believer in progress and achievement, and I enjoy both my personal development and watching others advance and thrive at work. To ensure my personal development, I do all of my obligations as an employee to the best of my ability, but for the firm to constantly get the best out of me and other employees, We need to be adequately compensated for our contributions to the company’s growth.
38. What do you think your skills should be worth?
Another way Interviewers frame this question is “What salary are you expecting?” When asked to determine your pay, you may well be tempted to say hundreds of thousands or hundreds of billions of naira owing to the difficulties you faced in obtaining your skills and the necessity to meet all of your needs. You should be careful when answering this question because though you want the highest salary, you still don’t want to kill your chances of getting the job.
In a 2020 survey of one thousand full-time and part-time employees in the U.S, 73 percent of candidates said salary is the most important factor for determining a job offer, with 58 percent of respondents stating they have rejected an invitation due to low remuneration. What was the most common reason for workers to begin their most recent job search? Job seekers want a bigger pay, as you may have predicted (40 percent).
How to Answer “What do you think your skills should be worth” Interview Question
If you can, defer this question to the last. Respond diplomatically and smartly to this question, as it reveals a lot about how you regard your abilities and qualifications (know your worth). When you ask for a wage that is significantly higher than your qualification, you may appear greedy, so don’t aim too high. If you ask for compensation that is far lower than your competency, the interviewer may believe you have little value so don’t shoot too low
You can use this opportunity to make your response revolve around your interviewer by asking them the salary range. Letting you first know their range will give you more leverage during negotiations of what you want.
Research how much others in your field make, the company’s ability to pay you on a consistent basis, the company’s or state’s minimum salary, and so on.
For example, you may say, “With my professional skill in risk management and 7 years of working experience, I deserved to be properly compensated for my qualifications and expertise, an amount between $180,000 and $200,000 per month should be sufficient to begin.”
Another example: I believe I am entitled to be paid $200,000 per month, to begin with, based on the knowledge required for the job and my level of qualifications; the amount can be adjusted subsequently based on the company’s ability and the country’s minimum wage.
39. What factors can cause you to earn less, and how well would you be willing to work when you are underpaid?
No one wants to be paid a small amount of money, especially for positions that entail physical exertion and stress.
For two key reasons, this question is posed. First, the interviewer wants you to point out your flaws. This is a self-pity trap, and unwary candidates may fall for it. Second, they want to know if you will continue to give your all for the company even if there is a loss and a wage cut is necessary.
How to Answer “What factors can cause you to earn less, and how well would you be willing to work when you are underpaid”
Do not fall into the self-pity trap of disclosing your weaknesses to the interviewer. Instead, focus on your positive qualities and avoid giving the impression that you have any characteristics that could cause you to be underpaid; this demonstrates that you are confident in your abilities.
Second, regardless of the situation, inform the interviewer of your loyalty and commitment to your workplace.
For example, you may say, “I meet all of the requirements for my job,” and “Given my work experience, talents, and academic qualifications, I believe I should be adequately compensated for the efforts I render.” Also, I enjoy being a part of success stories, and while all stories have their ups and downs, I am always willing to give it my all.
40. Will you relocate if necessary?
This question can be framed as “are you willing to relocate” It is aimed at determining whether the candidate would be willing to switch branches if necessary. During an interview, large corporations with several branches will ask this question.
Moving isn’t always the best option. Even if this employment prospect is typically what you’re searching for, relocation does not thrill a lot of people. To evaluate your enthusiasm for employment, most firms will inquire about your willingness to relocate. This question may play a significant role in deciding whether or not you get employed. Here is T when honesty comes into play. When you are not sincere with your answers, it can detrimental to everyone concerned.
The recruiter knows how normal it is to feel concerned about relocating.
How to Answer “Will you relocate if necessary” Interview Question
It is difficult for applicants to move from one area to another, especially if they have duties in their current location or if other branches are less accommodating.
Before applying, you must conduct appropriate research on an organization, such as their branches, and conduct more research on the branch, such as the cost of living, how accessible they are, how to secure the region is, and available social facilities, among other things.
You can say YES if you’re comfortable with everything.
Yes, I am willing to migrate to another branch if the employer requests it; I regard it as a chance to take on new challenges while gaining more experience and contributing my skills to the development of the branch and the company as a whole.
However, if you do not want to relocate, you have the option to say NO and explain why. For example, I would have delighted to be transferred to another branch if the firm required it, but I have health difficulties that necessitate me visiting my doctor on a regular basis. Moving to a different area may put me further away from my doctor, which could have an impact on my health.
It is critical to convey this in the best position possible in your response. Your answer can be, “This is a fantastic opportunity and a role for which I feel I am indeed a perfect match.” I like being employed in this field; however, I would explore migrating depending on the circumstances.
41. Do you have plans to continue your academics?
This question is asked by the interviewer to hear about your academic plans and how long you intend to stay with the company if employed.
Fresh graduates typically use their first job to gain experience and earn more money so that they can further their education. However, their resignation can have a negative impact on the company’s development because they must begin looking for new capable candidates to fill the vacant position, which increases costs as an advertisement for the position and training of new employees are both costly. Companies try to avoid this by hiring people who are committed to staying for the long term.
How to Answer “Do you have plans to continue your academics” Interview Question
Points to note while answering this question.
If your intentions are not to pursue further or higher degrees, tell the recruiter that you want o be attending just workshops, in-company training, and seminars that will keep you current in your area. If your intentions are for further education, explain how you intend to help the firm through obtaining a degree that will be utilized for the job.
Discuss your career objectives. Let them know you wish to keep yourself updated with relevant publications and new technology that may help you achieve your objectives.
Let the Interviewer know of your desire for continual learning but not at the cost of the organization. It will be a smart method if you are. Answering this type of question by concentrating on your efforts at constantly seeking to improve yourself
For instance, If you are satisfied with your academic qualifications and do not wish to further your education, you can tell the interviewers directly, which will remove any doubts they may have, you could say, I have no intention of furthering my education because I am satisfied with my academic success,” but “I will take some refresher programs and training from time to time so that I can gain a better understanding of the latest developments in my profession so that I can be more effective and quality.
However, if you have plans to continue your education, there is a way to tell the interviewer that they may agree. For example, you can say,” I see myself working here for a long time if hired,” even though you have plans to further your education. “I am applying for a distance learning class so I can easily combine my education and job.”
42. How frequently do you miss work?
The behavioral question can be framed as “Are you a punctual worker?” Punctuality is critical for the growth of any organization. Some employees take their job lightly, and they frequently miss work while still receiving monthly compensation from their employer. It is more prevalent among government employees. The interviewer knows what you will probably say but he wants to have an insight into what you think about punctuality.
How to Answer “How frequently do you miss work” Interview Question
No one wants to hire a sloppy worker.
You can tell the interviewer about your timeliness, how many times you have skipped work, why you skipped work, and so on. Do not dwell on personal issues that made you skip work. Your issues should be a major one.
Let the interviewer know that you informed the company before time and gave reasons for your coming late or skipping work. Do not lie and say you have never skipped work in your life. This is not real and you will give your interviewer the impression that you are not a sincere person.
For instance, you could say, “Discipline is really important to me,” and “It is wrong to make money without working.” I don’t miss any workdays; I start to work as early as 7 a.m. and consider leaving at 6 p.m. I understand that all hands must be on deck for the company to continue to develop and be able to pay everyone’s compensation.
Another example: I rarely miss work; in the last five years, I have only missed two days. I had a fever and was unable to go to work; I immediately called my employer, who gave me two weeks off; on the third day, I felt better and started work immediately, despite my boss’s wishes that I rest.
43. What did your previous supervisor think of you?
This question is intended to determine how well you get along with your senior employees. In a survey, 76% of job seekers have nothing favorable to say about their employers. Do not fall into this category even if your former boss was the worst employer. If your boss was your favorite or a torn in your flesh, talking about them to your interviewer requires tact. Some employers see your criticism as your inability to be accountable for your actions.
Most bosses have favorites among all employees; people with a positive attitude are well respected by their bosses, and the boss is more likely to choose that employee as his or her favorite; on the other hand, people with a bad attitude are constantly in trouble with the boss, and only negative comments are made about them. Employers don’t want an employee that will leave the organization and smear the name of the organization or its reputation in the mud.
How to Answer “What did your previous supervisor think of you” Interview Question
When recruiters pose the question, they need to find out: How well do you handle being put on the spot, if you play with others very well, also, the best way you prefer employers to handle you. To avoid saying something you won’t be proud of, prepare very well in advance for this question
no matter how you feel about your former boss, say something nice about your former boss emphasize the good parts of your boss’s organizational structure and also the things you learned from working with them.
Maintain your emphasis on the talents and expertise you are bringing to the table for the role. Allow your strengths to shine through in your response and shift the interview session to the important topic
If you are your boss’s favorite, you have an advantage because you can emphasize your relationship, however, you must remain professional in your response and outline how that fact helped you acquire better skills fit for the present job.
Discuss your work attitudes and cite a few situations when your manager has complimented your job; your example will provide the interviewer a picture of your relationship with your supervisor and how he or she thinks about you.
For example, you could say that I had a good relationship with my former boss because he always complimented me on my leadership skills and calmness. I believe my boss would describe me as a result-oriented person because I like things to be done perfectly with no delays or mistakes, and he would also describe me as a hard worker because he always compliments me on my timeliness and accuracy in completing tasks. When I work with him, I feel at ease because he is always willing to offer his knowledge.
44. Do you know about the vision and objective of this organization?
Many people apply for a job because they see or notice a job opening; they mostly do research on the salaries and the company’s address, and they don’t do any additional research on the company or role. This is incorrect; a serious candidate must do extensive research on the company, the role you’re applying for, organization culture, visions and objectives, and their remuneration. Researching well about the company will help you in answering this question.
Tip* Research also about the hiring manager of the company, knowing details about the likely person to interview you will give you an edge.
You can approach some people you know who work for the organization to help. However, an organization with a good online presence and website will have every information you need on their website to answer this question. Knowing all of this ahead of time will help you assess if you are qualified for the job and respond to any company-related questions.
How to Answer “Do you know about the vision and objective of this organization” Interview Question
The recruiting manager by asking this question simply wants to know if you are very much interested in the job opportunity too. It is competitive out there in job seeking and employers want job seekers who are passionate about not just the organization they work for but what they do.
If you show the interviewer that you have researched well about the company, they will be assured that you will put the same research skills and attention to detail in whatever task you ate assigned to do. Furthermore, You may connect the company’s vision to your objectives and aspirations, which will give the interviewer the impression that you are a natural fit for the company and you have done your research on its goals and ideals.
For example (as an anti-poacher)
I am aware of the organization’s objectives and goals. The long-term goal is to ensure the survival of all endangered animal species in West Africa. Rhinos are currently the most endangered animals in Africa, as poachers hunt for their horns. From what I understand, the current objective of the organization is to stop rhino poaching and prosecute those involved in criminal activities.
My aim and goal are to guarantee the long-term viability of wildlife for future generations, and I completely support all efforts to protect all endangered species.
45. How often do you read books and what book are you reading at the moment?
This question may appear unusual to candidates because it does not appear to be a job-related inquiry, but it signifies a lot to interviewers: people who read books frequently are more intelligent than people who do not read at all. Reading broadens one’s knowledge, and the types of books one reads have a significant impact on one’s behavior.
For example, people who enjoy business books are more likely to think like entrepreneurs and see business opportunities in everything, whereas people who enjoy political books are more interested in leading or manipulating others.
How to Answer “How often do you read books and what book are you reading at the moment” Interview Question
If you read books, mention books you’ve read that are relevant to the role you applied for, explain whatever you’ve learned so far from the book, and mention other books you’re planning to read.
Reading shows that you are inquisitive and eager to learn new things. Ensure you tailor your response to the interview at hand, do not deviate.
For example, At the moment, I am on ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle. this is without a doubt, a very profound work from my observation. It has transformed the perspective I perceive society and my view of it. Furthermore, I learned, and have previously tried, that being present and productive in the workplace is still the most anyone should do in their place of work, for their client, and themselves. The reason for this is when you offer an undivided focus on the presence, and your present task, your performance automatically improves. You will no longer regard work as a means to a goal, for instance, your paycheck to be received monthly or quarterly. This has practically made me see things from an entirely different perspective.
Do not say you read books all the time, you will come off as boring. You can also say you have read a wide range of books, including autobiographies, business books, political books, leadership books, motivational books, and fiction. If you are not reading any book at the moment, you can say
46. Have any of your previous jobs resulted in you being dismissed?
This question can come in the form of “Why were you fired” The intent in addition to other things is to take you by surprise and let you think the interviewer actually knew you were fired whether he knew or not. Before hiring someone, it’s critical to know practically everything there is to know about them.
Should you ever have been fired from your job you must be prepared to explain what happened to your previous job and why you were sacked to prospective employers. You should be honest in your response. It may really be difficult answering this question but you should demonstrate expertise and sincerity. Considering several sorts of replies will assist you in preparing the answer that is most suited for your scenario.
Interviewers will almost certainly inquire if you have ever been dismissed and if so, why? You are likely to be employed unless there is a history of high misconduct or bad performance. They want to know what led to your dismissal and if that event reflects on your personality and character.
How to Answer “Have any of your previous jobs resulted in you being dismissed” Interview Question
You can give the following reasons for dismissal, restructuring of the company, attendance issues, co-worker conflicts, or that your skillset didn’t match with the company’s requirements.
Be honest in your response; some employers run background checks on employees’ CVs and other data, and if any errors are discovered, your appointment may be terminated for providing false information.
For instance, you could say, “No, I’ve never been dismissed from my job.” I had to leave my previous employment due to health concerns. I used to work as a labor supervisor at a stone quarry, and while I did a good job, the stone dust was harming my health and being an asthmatic, I had no choice but to resign.
Remember that if you were dismissed, employers want to know if the event led to your improvement or not. Let your prospective employer know that the dismissal led to your personal growth. If you were fired from your previous job or have ever been fired for circumstances beyond your control, you can also respond carefully to this question.
For example, our management had a disagreement with our biggest investor, and we lost the investor; the company was having difficulty paying everyone’s salary; the management was concerned about their capacity to pay our salaries on a consistent basis, so they asked us to take a pay cut; some employees left as a result of the decision; those of us who stayed worked harder to ensure the company’s continued existence. We couldn’t keep it going for long since the firm was struck badly by the recession, and they had to liquidate, so I and the rest of the workers had to leave.
47. Do you have any criminal records?
This question can come in the form of “Have you ever been convicted of any crime?” Because most people don’t want to be linked with a criminal, hiring an ex-convict, especially one who served jail time for a serious offense, could damage a company’s reputation.
This is a question that interviewers ask to see if their potential employee has committed any laws.
The reason recruiters ask this question is to assess your sincerity, regret, and progress in the face of adversity. However, if you are questioned, you must divulge the details in summary. Making a decision on your phrasing ahead of time might assist to soothe tensions and assist you to portray yourself properly. Companies learn previous criminal history through doing background checks, hence, be sincere. Let them know what happened and not going into too much detail. Accept the blame for your conduct, but steer the conversation to the work immediately Let your response be tailored to what you can accomplish for the firm henceforth.
How to Answer “Do you have any criminal records” Interview Question
You must be honest; obtaining a criminal record of an employee or applicant is simple, as they may check with the jail office or a law enforcement agency; also, lying automatically disqualifies you.
If you don’t have a criminal past, tell the interviewer up front and underline how you follow all rules and regulations in every situation.
For instance, you can say, “I have no criminal record.” I understand that in order for a community to grow and be peaceful, the rules and regulations of the land must be properly enforced. As a result, I respect the laws and regulations of whatever place in which I find myself.
If you were convicted of a less serious crime, you can also answer by describing the offense you committed, how you felt when you were caught, and the lessons you learned.
For example, you can say, I was arrested by the police once for violating the covid 19 law; I left home in a hurry thinking I had my nose mask in my pocket, but I had left it at home, and when a police officer asked for it, I was unable to provide it immediately; I was arraigned in a mobile court, and I was found guilty of violating the covid 19 law. I was given a one-day jail sentence. That day was the saddest of my life since I felt bad about my terrible error, and I swore to use my nose mask from home and follow all protocols from then on.
Let the interviewer know of your current progress if you were convicted of a more serious crime.
48. Do you know anyone in this organization and how would they feel about you?
Before a candidate may be recommended to a company, he or she must possess qualities or skills that will be of immediate benefit to the company. Companies are more comfortable hiring applicants who have been suggested by top executives.
How to Answer “Do you know anyone in this organization and how would they feel about you” Interview Question
Mention everyone you know in the organization, how he or she would feel having you around and your relationship.
For instance, you may say, “Yes, I know someone in this organization, Mr. Ernest Blake, he is my neighbor, and he discussed the current issues the organization is facing, and as a business administration specialist, he urged me to apply.”
He’ll probably think of me as a problem solver and a perfectionist. I am constantly attempting to find solutions to issues. I analyze the positive and bad aspects of my answer while thinking about the issues I’m experiencing. Then I use the one that I believe is the greatest. Mr. Obi Cubana would be delighted to have me take over as business manager.
If you don’t know anyone in the organization, there’s no need to say anything; simply state NO, I don’t know anyone in this organization.
49. When do you believe you’ll advance in your profession?
Recruiters can phrase this question as “When do you expect your next promotion” Promotion is very important in a job; two major factors motivate people to put more effort into their jobs: salary and promotion.
The majority of job interview questions have a certain objective or aim in mind. Maybe they are putting your allegiance to the test or observing how you respond to a challenging question. Occasionally they anticipate you to come clean, and other times they want to see how effectively you pretend. Nevertheless, in extremely rare circumstances, you would be presented with a question with no actual “wrong” response. Rather, the recruiter is just interested in your views to note whether you have an intriguing response.
Workers put forth their best effort in their jobs in order to advance to the next level. When a worker is promoted to the next level, he or she receives a raise in salary as well as other bonuses or allowances, together with increased respect and responsibility. The interviewer wants to learn how you think their promotion system works and what you think you can do to advance to the next step.
How to Answer “When do you believe you’ll advance in your profession” Interview Question
It is okay to discuss your goal for progress with your interviewer during an interview because hard work merits a reward. Furthermore, demonstrating a knowledge of the financial and career advancement implications of a promotion on the firm makes a positive perception on the recruiter. However,
Employers are wary of applicants who make unreasonable requests for progress, hence, it will be wise not to state the precise period when you intend to be promoted. though asking questions about potential promotions during an interview is fair, indicating that you are automatically guaranteed that when you have not proven your mettle might hurt your chances of landing the role.
Before you can be promoted to the next stage, you must have shown your productivity, dedication, and hard work.
Explain how you intend to earn your promotion and how you intend to gain more experience and learn from people at a higher level.
Instance 1 “I absolutely am aware that I need to improve my abilities and experience before getting promoted to the next level. I am willing to put in the time and effort required to finish all of my projects and gain more work insights from others in order to increase my skill and knowledge. I am eligible to be promoted when I think, and the firm believes, that I have gained the necessary skills and experience for the next step.”
Another example: “The company’s policy stipulates that employees with good conduct are promoted every two years. I am ready to put in more effort and maintain a high work ethic in order to be promoted when the time comes”. Or
“What I think is that promotions are earned by working hard and having a positive mindset and productive zest, and I’ve never anticipated one at any of my previous jobs. I believe an individual must demonstrate their worth to the company before contemplating any type of promotion. I’d like to advance in the organization, but I also understand that to achieve this, I’ll have to work for it.”
50. What do you believe we can do to increase our sales?
This is a very technical question, so you’ll need to think about it carefully. You don’t know how the organization operates, so answering it could be difficult. Because you’ve already stated that you can solve problems, the interviewer will want to see you do so before he makes a statement.
Competent salesmen dedicate a significant amount of time discussing services and products to new consumers while not neglecting existing clients who may require more items or longer customer care. When questioned how you may increase sales, emphasize tactics you’ve used in past sales roles or highlight effective sector marketing possibilities. Prevent using textbook responses so that your comments don’t come out as manufactured, too simple, or scripted.
How to Answer “What do you believe we can do to increase our sales” Interview Question
You must maintain your composure and reflect on what you have learned about the business, especially how it is administered. If the interviewer does not provide any further information on the company’s sales operations, you will have to improvise. Consider how you will increase sales if you own a firm.
For example, (smartphone producing company) There are few things I’ll do to increase sales, examples are;
1. Increase advertising: Advertising is critical for businesses, especially new firms; however, if the best medium outlet is not utilized or the advertisement is not directed to the proper target, money and other resources are lost. This organization has spent a lot of money on radio advertisements for its products, but sales have not grown substantially. This is due to the employment of the incorrect medium in promoting the mobile phone; consumers need to see how the phone appears visually, not through voice, therefore advertising using videos on TV and social media networks such as Facebook, Telegram, Instagram, Twitter, and others will assist.
Some firms also utilize complimentary items to provide to influencers and celebrities so they may use them and promote them to their friends and followers. Celebrities have loyal fan bases that will do anything they say; simply hire them as ambassadors to keep their fans informed about new products and public events.
2. When it comes to raising sales, branding and packaging play a significant role. People prefer to buy items with a sleek design because they feel it appears more current and unique than those with a shabby appearance. Improving the design and packaging of mobile phones will encourage people to buy the product.
51. Can you meet multiple deadlines?
Managing time is an essential component of any position you are applying for, irrespective of business. Your capability to manage to be in control of your time has an influence on your level of productivity and shows how well you utilize your work resources. This time-based question will assist the interviewer in truly assess how effectively you organize your work and manage your time.
Some tasks require urgent attention, and failure to complete the task before the deadline can affect the organization. Companies prefer to hire people who can complete multiple tasks at the same time and complete them on time.
How To Answer “Can you meet multiple deadlines” Interview Question
You should tell the hiring manager how important you have the time and your plan to perform tasks accurately without making mistakes. This answer gives the impression that you are a hard worker and more organized than before.
Instance 1; Your response can be, “I am certain that some jobs need immediate attention. Regardless of how onerous the burden of working for the company’s growth is, I will explore the best approach to make an urgent request to It. If the work is not done within the time frame specified, it may be jeopardized. I do not hesitate to call my competent colleagues for them to assist me in completing the task more quickly. I don’t whine about having too many tasks or use it as an excuse for not doing it on time since it makes others believe I’m a slacker.”
Instance 2
“I value meeting up with my work deadlines; therefore I employ project planning software to keep abreast of all my projects and their timeframes. With each news task that arises, I attach them to my program list and note the due date, and this aids my prioritizing task that must be finished first on the schedule list. I often divide huge projects into manageable, tinnier, and more achievable tasks, this helps me in finishing them quickly in the minutes or days before the due date, but when it becomes extremely much for me, I request my supervisor to extend the deadline so I can sort it out one after the other. I believe that if I am given the requested tools needed to perform the task, I will be done in time”.
52. Can you work in other departments?
The hiring manager wants to know versatile and flexible the applicant is. A lot of employees find it hard switching fast, easily, and comfortably into new departs like from a receptionist to a customer care representative.
Sometimes organizations transfer workers to other departments or replace someone’s role, versatile workers are an advantage to the organization because they can fit in anywhere with minimum or no training required for them to become an expert.
To successfully address these questions, you must be able to define your top multi-tasking qualities.
Let the interviewer know that aside from what is written in your resume, you can equally perform better in other fields or departments they move you to and you know what you’ll bring to the game.
You may have strengths which might be a unique group of talents or expertise obtained in a different sector or role. Describe a specific aspect of your experience, then go through a few key takeaways from that role.
How to Answer “Can you work in other departments” Interview question
If you are multiskilled, do not be afraid to tell the interviewer explicitly that you can adapt to another department by discussing your credentials and abilities, naming the department where you can perfectly integrate into, and how useful you will be in certain areas. First explain how flexible and multi-tasking you are, give an example of previous work or experience related to the job role you are applying for, where you needed to switch departments or you helped take over the tasks of a co-worker in the meantime because he sacked or unavoidably absent.
Go ahead to explain how you integrated easily. Talk about the results and the positive remark your supervisor or boss had to say about it. Conclude by telling the recruiter that you can equally exhibit your versatility and flexibility in the current position you are applying for.
For example, for someone who studied finance and business administration, you can say, I can fit well into different departments like the Administration department, Finance department, and sales department because I have MSC in marketing and I served as a sales manager in my previous role. For someone who is less versatile and is unable to cope in other departments, you can still respond but it is necessary to show your willingness to assist in other departments if the need arises.
For example, you can say, I’m yet to work in other departments as my experience and expertise are limited to my job position but if the need arise for me to work in another department, I can easily learn about the department and position within a specific period.
53. How is the Organisational Structure at your former job/How Relevant was your former role?
An Interviewer always asks this question to know more about the relevancy of your position in your previous work. Interviewers are more interested in people who are top of the hierarchy because they have the experience and better skills than people at the bottom of the chain.
How to Answer How is the Organisational Structure at your former job/How Relevant was your former role” Interview Question
Explain the organizational structure of the organization you last work, your position in the hierarchy, people above you and people below you, your responsibility and function.
Instance 1, your response should be At my last work, I was the director of the sales department. The general manager, who is also the chief executive officer, has the greatest responsibility in the company; his powers are assigned to three departments: personnel management, accounting, and sales and production. Each department is led by a manager, and I am the manager of the sales and production departments. I am responsible for the production and sales of all company products, and I have two subgroups reporting to me: sales representatives and labor workers. I layout plans and strategies for sales representatives to follow to increase our sales, and I plan for labor workers, so we can increase production at a lower cost.
54. How would you feel should we not hire you?
A lot of people don’t do well with rejection. This is an attitude that will seep in if the recruiter finally hires you hence, they want to know how you deal with rejection. Thi question can also be framed in a more positive way as “Why shouldn’t we hire You” No one likes to be rejected, even if they meet the qualifications for the post or job. While in an interview, companies ask a range of questions to evaluate whether you’re a good match for the firm, or if you will be effective and productive in the job, and how much you can impact their long- and short-term organizational objectives.
Recruiters may ask this inquiry to discover a variety of facts about you generally. The first one is what sets you apart from other applicants they may be considering. That is, what do they stand to gain by employing you over another applicant? They may also pose this tough question to assess how you deal with challenging circumstances since it can derail applicants. It might be tough to describe why you are the ideal candidate for a position and some applicants suddenly start feeling bad.
When they don’t get what they want, some individuals become upset and nasty. If you start being disrespectful towards the interviewer, you will be instantly dismissed, therefore you should be professional or at least act like one.
How to Answer “How will you feel if we do not employ You” Interview Question
Turn this negative question into a positive one. Don’t brag like you deserve the job even if you are well qualified for it, you need to give a calm response and you should sound like you are still encouraged that you will get the job.
This type of negative tough question enables you to sell yourself and prove you will be a valuable asset to the firm; turning every seemingly negative situation into a positive one. Responding to it successfully will enhance your prospects of progressing in the recruiting process. Deviate from the question and focus on selling yourself. Do not just say, “I won’t feel bad” but know that employers want to understand the concept of “cultural fit” that hiring managers occasionally use to exclude and discriminate against prospective job applicants who they think do not behave, think, or look like extent employees, although unwittingly. You can in the alternative talk about “culture add,” or your capacity to contribute new and valuable ideas and input to the team hence they should hire you.
Culture adds to the company’s strength by broadening its workforce’s experiences and viewpoints.
Instance 1; you can say, I would feel sad if I wasn’t employed because I am very sure I meet all the requirements. I know that even if I do not look, act or behave like other existing employees, I still believe that by being part of the organization, I can come up with new ideas or different ways of doing things. I won’t be discouraged because rejection is normal and it is part of the challenges all humans have to face. Should I not be what the company wants, I would want to know the reasons I wasn’t hired”
Just use every opportunity in the interview to sell yourself.
Instance 2; I surely can establish good communication ties with a variety of clientele, I should be hired for this role. I am enthusiastic about helping individuals in my community who are needy, which sustains my motivation and thrill about performing excellently. I realize that you require a professional who can be constantly present for occasions in the lives of your clients. I have a perfect record of attendance for weekly mentoring sessions and client meetings. Additionally, I have relevant experience, as I have taught over fifteen recruits to become acquainted with daily operations and equally to feel relaxed in the new positions.”
55. Let us know something negative you’ve heard about this Company.
Every Company has something negative about them no matter how small. The negative aspect could filter from former employees or anyone who knows people working in the organization. They want to know the latest gossip about the organization, people spread rumors and gossip that can damage the reputation of the company, asking applicants what they have heard about the company is a way to also get the review of the general public and find out where confidential pieces of information leak from. This is your opportunity to say the positive things you know about the company and what the company is up to. If you don’t know much about them, the assumption will be made that really you aren’t very interested in the job. Because, if you really were interested, you would know enough about the company to answer this question well.
How to Answer “Let us know something negative you’ve heard about this Company” Interview Question
The employer wants also to find out if you are someone that likes dwelling on the negative rather than looking at the brighter side of things. Since as a professional, it’s not really necessary to say yes to this, saying yes could portray that you involve yourself in gossips which is very unprofessional for a worker also your words can be used against you if you talk about confidential information as they will not hesitate to find out the source. It is best you say you don’t know any negative comments about the hiring company or its competitors.
Do your research on the company, from their website and newspaper publications. Check the Company website for information such as “About Us,” “Vision,” “Product lines (or Operations),” “People,” and so on.
Look up the company’s name on Google to see what comes up. Customers? Competition? Raves? Blasts?
Search the Company on social media and their LinkedIn Company Profile and look at other workers of the company profiles with whom you may share the link.
If the organization is a publicly listed firm, the must be releasing annual reports and notice of general meetings which will have plenty of information on revenue, locations, managers, important executives, and much more. Be up to date with what the company is saying about global trends, the business world, and politics. Use snippets of the information you gathered during the research to answer the question.
For example, you can say, I don’t engage in unhealthy discussion because it pollutes my mind so I distance myself away from gossip and I don’t spread rumors but have heard about how this company support and motivates workers to realize their potentials and help all parties in achieving her goals and objective and the latest…”
56. Why is there a gap in your Resume?
Before answering this question, know that you are not alone. A lot of job seekers have an employment gap in their history. Job applicants who have been out of work for some time maybe a year or more are usually faced with this question, and it can sometimes be tricky for the applicant when giving their response. The interviewer will be curious to know the reason and what you were doing during your time off.
An employment gap or gaps in your CV will not always prohibit you from progressing through the recruitment process. However, hiring managers will want a justification and explanation for this. ensure you prepare ahead of time for this question and plan on how you will handle this employment gap confidently and positively.
How to Answer “Why is there a gap in your Resume” Interview Question
Explain to the interviewer why you were out of work, were you fired or you resigned. Tell them what happened like why you resigned or got fired and don’t sound like you’ve been doing nothing during your break, try to display the skills you’ve learned and how you’re keeping up to date with recent development in the profession.
You need to focus on being honest without getting giving up too many details. You can basically say: “I [ what caused your unemployment].” Throughout that period, [what you did you do in the interim] Getting back to work was on my mind during that time, and I’m eager and prepared to do so now.
Instance 1,” I resigned because I needed to further my studies in business administration so I can gain more knowledge on how to run a successful business. I’m now a business administration Ph.D. holder and I’m ready to put my newly acquired knowledge and skill to use. Don’t try to give the impression that you take breaks frequently and you’ll still go on break again when employed as this shows that your stay with the company is for a short term.”
Instance 2
DO NOT SAY “I resigned from my last job because I felt the need to further my education, I have completed my BSc program and there are still plans to further my studies to MSC and Ph.D. I needed a job so I can raise more money to attain an MSC degree. This response will disqualify you instantly because it shows you are not truly interested in the organization.”
57. If hired, what/where do you see yourself in your first month with us?
This question won’t be so tough for any applicant who Is quick, proactive, and smart. Hiring managers want to know your expectations and also use your knowledge and experience to predict the future. People who lied about their working experience or made research about the job position or organization would be unable to answer the question. This is the reason going for a job interview without adequate preparation or researching the company is a sure recipe for failure.
The best part is that you can be truthful and at the same time tell people whatever they want and to hear. If you have reasonable goals for the role? If you are a goal-oriented person? Does this particular employment match with what you have in mind?
Consider the following Consider where this role may reasonably lead you, and how that matches with some laid down larger career ambitions for the company.
How to Answer “If hired, what/where do you see yourself in your first month with us” Interview Question
You must conduct extensive study on the organization’s structure, vision, and culture. This can assist you in visualizing where and how you fit in. Make inquiries about the employment opportunity, such as what it includes and the talents required. It would be ideal if you could meet someone who has or works in a comparable job so that you can better anticipate the future. Following receipt of this information, you can answer with where or what you see yourself doing in the next 30 days; your response must demonstrate excitement for the position.
Instance 1, Your response can be, “Within the first month of my job as a Procurement and Supply Chain Manager, I would get to know everyone in my department and become acquainted with everyone so that we could relate as a team and work together to achieve great things for this firm. In the first three weeks, I would have analyzed our manufacturing and sales processes and immediately begun setting plans and strategies to boost sales and minimize production costs. Don’t exaggerate, and if you’re not confident in your abilities, be realistic so the hiring manager believes you’re not lying to get the job.”
58. What actions do you take to solve problems?
This type of question is frequently classified as problem-solving interview questions and it has no definite format whether correct or incorrect response. Employers prefer innovative, solution-oriented, and proactive individuals for filling different roles, so they’re keener in the method you would employ to resolve an issue than you delivering any “appropriate” response.
Recruiters try to forecast how you might address a work challenge for the organization in the future depending on your past problem-solving approach or how your response is during the interview session. Problem-solving questions like this are equally utilized to evaluate how well you have mastered some crucial industry-specific technology, procedure, or technique.
A smooth sail does not a competent sailor make; those who meet difficulties and are able to overcome them are highly seasoned and mature when faced with a challenge. The hiring manager asks this question to determine how stressed you feel when pushed, whether you stay disorganized or relaxed, and then try to discover solutions to the problem.
How to Answer “What actions do you take to solve problems” Interview Question
I’m calm anytime I face challenges because already have a strategy that will help proffer a solution to any issue that may arise during the discharge of my duties. Use the STAR method and explain in summary your problem-solving approach.
1.As this is the initial stop, figure out what’s wrong. You can’t fight something you don’t understand, therefore I constantly attempt to figure out what the problem is and how it affects me while I’m performing my work.
2. The source of the problem: The next step is to look into the source of the problem and try to figure out what measures were done that resulted in the problem.
3. Conduct research: Now that I know what the problem is and what caused it, the next step is to conduct more research on the issue, such as contacting individuals who have had similar problems and how they addressed it, as well as the side effects of their remedies and other pertinent information.
4. Solution: Now that I know everything there is to know about the problem, the next step is to write out possible solutions, The next step is to brainstorm potential solutions to the problem and then select the best one.
5. The solution’s outcome: I check to see if the solution helped resolve the problem after applying it.
Example 1:
“I had an experience a few months ago when the Organisation I was working with was preparing to launch a new brand. My group found out about a week before the launch that a key component of the product will delay the release. I quickly sought to negotiate with a different supplier, but as I found one, they couldn’t guarantee that they will meet our deadline. Nonetheless, I maintained as much poise as practicable all through the circumstance, informing managers and our various heads of departments of the problem. Thankfully, the product experts were able to swiftly modify the component, allowing the company to utilize another component that we could immediately access and the new part ended up being 30% less than the original component! We completed our task on time and minimized costs.”
59. Describe how and when you and your team came together to overcome a challenge?
This interview question is asked to gauge how you collaborate with a group to overcome a challenge. You can’t work in an organization without collaborating with other employees, all departments and workers need to coordinate well so the company can witness growth. This question is being asked because they want to know how you perform in a team as most people just stay idle and let other team members do the task.
How to Answer “Describe how and when you and your team came together to overcome a challenge”
Don’t just place your focus on your effort and skills to get the task done like the previous question above this. The question is based on the whole team members, so you have to give credit to everyone. Talk about your role in the team and how you and the other members harnessed individuals skills together to do the task.
Your response can be, “I worked with a lot of teams to execute different projects and we are always successful, I want to talk about how t, “I have collaborated with several teams to execute different projects and we were always successful; I have an experience where largest difficulty the firm experienced was addressed by myself and my team members.” The firm suffered a significant loss in the previous year, so management summoned employees and divided us into three teams (smith, sharp, and smart). Each team was instructed to research potential new ventures the company might engage in with limited resources. I was assigned to the Smith team, which had six people. The first step was to research all of this profitable industry. We initially considered airplane manufacture, but the cost of production and investment was prohibitively expensive for the firm Finally, we considered road transportation, and everyone agreed that further study should be conducted since it is less expensive and more affordable, and we were financially capable of doing so. Owing to our experience with vehicles, three of us were assigned the duty of researching the best vehicle to use on Nigerian roads, while another member was allocated to research pricing and where to acquire it due to their bargaining abilities. We conducted the necessary study on road transportation and submitted it to business management, who were quite impressed with our proposal. Team Sharp’s idea was real estate. All of the company’s resources were channeled into the two businesses, and after the fiscal year, the transport department made 45% more profit than the agriculture department.
Summarize tour response as much as possible, the example here is to serve as a guide and give you an insight.
60. What action will you take if your senior colleague is mismanaging the company’s resources?
Behavioral questions are meant to get you discussing a previous event to offer the interviewer a real glimpse at how you handled a difficult issue this instance, a disagreement with your employer. Previous performance is the perfect predictor of future success.
By discussing how you managed a previous disagreement, you provide the recruiter with an understanding of how you might manage a future, occurrence, displaying your level of maturity, interpersonal skills, and readiness to stand out against those in authority.
Your response to this question will say a lot about your honesty and interpersonal relationship skills. When a senior staff especially your own boss is mismanaging the company’s fund. You actually shouldn’t find it tough to report this kind of event. You should be very cautious about it because you could lose your job if your employer pulls his strings and the establishment is bound to crash if the mismanagement continues.
How to Answer “What action will you take if your senior colleague is mismanaging the company’s resources” Interview Question
You surely don’t want to be involved in office politics because it can be very difficult and tricky for you. So, you should be professional and show some empathy in your response.
For example; I would first try to meet him or her first and ask why he is mismanaging resources, I want to see from his point of view why he involves himself in the mismanagement of company funds even though I don’t support his view.
Then try to point out the likely result of his present actions and those who will be affected. Mismanaging the company’s limited resources will cause more damage than he thinks, the company won’t be able to pay its employees again and if it continues, we might liquidate and everyone will be laid off. Will he feel happy if he is responsible for the discharge of hundreds of workers? he can be sent to jail for fraud and this would tarnish his reputation and ruin his career”.
If after speaking with him and he does not refrain from mismanaging then I’m gathering enough evidence that would prove he is mismanaging the company’s resources and then report to the top management so the necessary disciplinary process can be taken. I will do this diplomatically.
61. Tell me about your salary history?
This is a trick question because organization asks in order to know the amount, they should be paying you, in most cases, companies pay less than 10% extra of your salary range i.e someone who earns between 100,000 to 120,000 wouldn’t be paid more than 110,000 to 130,000 so be smart about it but you should try to exaggerate the figures. When you’re applying for a new position, it’s normal for the companies to inquire about the Interviewee’s pay history during the Interview.
Employers are interested in knowing, what the interviewee’s basic salary is if they get compensation, the average amount for a bonus, and extra remuneration or benefits, stock options, such as 200k matching, paid time off, stock grants, and how much they are expected to contribute to medical insurance. If you anticipate additional remuneration, such as an initial sign-on bonus, transfer help, or green-card financing as part of your choice to change employment, let the firm know right once. The pay history slip examples demonstrate how to design a salary history slip.
The fears that candidates bring to compensation discussions are usually a result of feeling that they may price themselves too low, and therefore miss out on receiving a big increase over their current compensation, or they are afraid of pricing themselves too high and then having the company turn around and say “we can’t afford you”.
How to Answer “Tell me about your salary history” Interview Question
You will surely be tempted to lie about it and increase the range to something much higher than the value of your position, no need to lie or give exact payment, just respond cleverly.
We advise you to do thorough research. Browse about different remuneration ranges of the company you applied for and companies like it to learn more about what the market is willing to pay for your talents and experience. You should do your research to see if you can access any salary data for the firm you’re interviewing.
Another and most crucially, be truthful. Do not make the mistake of making up numbers. Let your current salary representation be precise, such that can be checked and verified. If your concern is that that your salary is too low in comparison to the prevalent range, express your concerns. “I am now earning $XYZ, but I believe it is poor in comparison to other people with my background earn. Henceforth, I will seek yearly pay in the $123 range.”
Should you be concerned that your remuneration is excessive, you can inform the recruiter that the job and experience you bring are just as essential to you as what you are being paid. Your response can be, “I presently am paid $$$ however, I can adjust on my remuneration requirements, based on the job role and the possibility for my professional advancement,” With this response, you are showing the company that you will not be “tied in” to a specific salary.
If you are not open to answering the question for one reason or the other, let your interviewer know. For Instance, your answer can be, “I’d love to tell you about my salary history, but I signed contracts in my previous employment not to disclose any sensitive information to third parties; a staff salary is part of the secret list, and only the staff and company should be aware of it.” I’m sorry, but I can’t break the contract agreement since it’s unprofessional and might result in legal action. You may, however, research how much others in my position earn.”
62. How do you respond when a tasking project you did is criticized?
Everyone has experienced criticism and rejection at some point but not everyone has the ability to control it properly and also some feel disorganized when they give their best in a task but no one support it. The Interviewer is interested to know how well, professional and how you act when criticized and given another method or direction to perform any given task.
Are you arrogant when redirected? or you are humble and ready to learn from others?
When posed with the question to recall a moment when your project was critiqued, truly, do not parry this question, you should respond with an honest critique of your project a boss, supervisor, or manager did. Whether the criticism is valid, constructive, or unfounded criticism is another matter entirely.
The Recruiter wants to assess your capacity to deal with criticisms. The interview session is not the right place to air your grievances about being unfairly indicted or getting the blame for other’s errors.
Do you become enraged or use obscenity with the individual who was criticizing you? Or do you face up to your mistake and devise a strategy to enhance your performance to prevent future criticism?
How to Answer “How do you respond when a tasking project you did is criticized” Interview question
You could begin by emphasizing good performance reports and accolades for your skills. Now, describe how you feel when your work is critiqued. Explain it in such a manner that you perceive it as a training class in which you receive suggestions on how to improve your performance. Discuss how you handled criticism of your work, what you learned, and how you worked on it.
In your response, let your example be a real one.
Describe an instance in which you received genuine feedback from your employer.
Give pertinent facts and statistics to assist paint a true depiction of the scenario. Demonstrate that you are coachable. Do not come across as aggressive or that you are still outraged.
Instead, make use of this chance to demonstrate your willingness to learn and grow. Try to provide an instance with a favorable conclusion. If your narrative begins with a boss criticizing you, it should conclude on a positive note.
Show how this feedback helped you boost your self-confidence. Demonstrate how you transformed a negative event into a positive learning experience.
For example(sales manager), you can say; My boss was always satisfied with my work because I put in so much effort in doing my job faster and accurately but sometimes when working with my team members, they might see things from another perspective from mine thereby leading to a difference in our opinion. What I do in this situation is to understand what I am doing wrong and ask for their opinion on how to correct my mistake.
In my previous role, there was a decline in sales that year, so I mapped out a solution to solve this problem. So, I decided to increase our advert campaigns by signing celebrities as our brand ambassadors, other managers criticized the decision because I didn’t consult them before making the decision and the organization was not financially buoyant to run these deals. So we came together and worked as a team to find ways to improve sales and then we were able to provide a solution to the constant drop in sales. I learned my lesson to consult others before making a vital decision as I can share from their experience and knowledge.
63. What are your hobbies?
When you have hobbies aside from your work, it helps you to discover your interests and become a more well-balanced individual. Aside from the recruiter asking you to expound on your career history, experience, and education as stated on your CV, they may also want to inquire about activities you enjoy doing for pleasure or how your weekends are spent.
We all have what we love doing apart from working. when we are free or off duty, there are activities we find interesting so the interviewer wants to know what we do and how it could affect your job.
How to Answer “What are your hobbies” Interview Question
Juxtapose the job description’s requirements with your list of hobbies and interests. This phase helps you to draw obvious parallels connecting your talents and those that the recruiter is likely to bring up during the interview. Always be brief with your hobbies description. Don not get carried away talking about how you are passionate about gardening. Relate your hobbies to the skill required for the job.
Though you have a variety of interests and hobbies besides your work, it is best to focus on those that are directly related to the new role you are applying for. Some examples of frequent extracurricular activities to discuss during an interview are: Volunteering, charitable or community service as well as travel, Sports such as team or small league competition, cycling, Painting, Sports or other forms of exercise, Hiking, Writing, Singing, Arts, and crafts are examples of creative arts. Gardening or cooking.
First, identify the relevant hobbies of yours related to the job role. You could be a work maniac or not, so you can’t say you engage in another job task when free as working doesn’t seem to be a hobby, Let the interviewer know your outside interest. Do not say your hobby is work. Do not try to impress the interviewer by claiming you wake and sleep on top of work
For example, you can say, I have much outside interest apart from working, I like reading books and magazines, dancing and listening to reggae music. My Best hobby is traveling and going on adventures, this is what influences my decision to be a travel agent or tour guide, so I can assist people in choosing the best travel destination. Here, you have been able to mention hobbies related to your job.
64. Who are your role models?
They want to know who inspires you. Everyone has someone they want to emulate part or all of their lifestyle. The people we use as our role model says a lot about our personality.
Discovering a fellow person who exemplifies who you aspire to be isn’t supposed to be simple. That is why it is an excellent question.
Be intentional in your choice as you respond to this question. Consider the qualities you desire to have and the goals you aspire to attain. Determine whether the stereotyped super man or woman is your superman or woman.
The capacity to identify and convey the qualities that are important to you to your interviewer demonstrates a certain amount of maturity. And besides, the interviewer is not without flaws.
You and your role model could share a personal professional journey, challenges, such as a handicap or a familial circumstance. Maybe you share a social barrier, such as gender, ethnicity, background, or region. That doesn’t matter
How to Answer “Have you got a role model” Interview Question
Don’t tell the employer that you inspire yourself so you look like you don’t have any role model, this might sound odd to the employer. So, just talk about someone who is a leader or famous for the good things they have done. It is advisable to pick someone whose work relates to your line of work.
A recruiter asking about your role model is a different way of inquiring what characteristics are essential to you or what traits do you aim to imbibe.
For example,
“Many people, like Ben Carson, Kevin Hart, late Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Barack Obama, inspire me. But it is Goodluck Jonathan who most inspires me; I am impressed by his work ethic and his active lifestyle. He is one of the finest civilian presidents Nigeria has ever had, and his outstanding good work and governance helped Nigeria become one of the best-developing countries in Africa during his term.
Before becoming governor, he was the deputy governor of Bayelsa. Then as a deputy president to this country’s president. He was a leader who cared about the growth of this great nation and the interests of the people, which is why he stepped down gracefully after losing his attempt for a second term. He could have used his power to influence the election results, but he acted in the best interests of the people. Everyone praised him for his humility, and he was chosen chairperson of the African Union peacekeeping operation. His leadership abilities genuinely inspire me.”
65. Did you ever fire a worker? If yes, why?
This is to test your sense of judgment and how humane you are when people commit mistakes. Also, if you fire people too often for little error, that is an abuse of office and power. Firing people is not easy but we have to do it for the greater good and growth of the company.
Every firm must let an employee go, and recruiting executives want to understand how you would handle such a circumstance. This type of interview question helps applicants to demonstrate how they prioritize the requirements of the company over the demands of individual employees.
A recruiter may also pose this question to check if your private sentiments are interfering with the growth of the organization. When you are asked If you have ever dismissed someone, and how you felt about it?” applicants should emphasize how the dismissal was essential for the firm’s well-being. Nevertheless, if you have never fired someone before, you must say this plainly and truthfully.
How to Answer “Did you ever fire a worker? If yes, why” Interview question
If you’ve fired a worker, you can say yes and explain the reason why you fired the worker, you should only fire a worker for professional misconduct not due to a personal grievance with you, firing someone for matters unrelated to the job would paint a real negative picture of you.
For example,
“Yes, have fired a worker before, in my former managerial role, I hired a young woman to run our sales in another part of the state. She never acts professionally with customers as she was always quarreling with them. I talked to her in regards to her behavior and how it can affect the image of the company, but she was not willing to change. I was left with no choice but to decide between letting her go. Although I felt bad about it and I still do but the success of the organization is more important.”
Another example,
“Have had to let some workers go in the past, a few years ago, the company warehouse caught fire and property worth millions of dollars were completely destroyed. These affected the company’s financial strength and it would be impossible to pay all workers salaries for a few months. The management held meetings and It was decided that I should be given the responsibilities of discharging workers whose positions were less significant to the company. This was really tough but I had no choice but to do it.”
66. Which areas did your former boss ask you to improve on?
The interviewer wants to find your weak spot, interviewers use different trap questions to make job candidates mistaken say more about their weaknesses, you need to be very cautious and you might talk about weak spots that are likely to affect your chance of getting the role.
You can list anything that isn’t directly linked to your job but that you’re curious to educate yourself on. For instance, if you’re an economist but want to be a Team Member later, you’ll want an opportunity to advance your leadership skills. You may offer that you would want to lead a conference or program, to begin with, merely to broaden your set of skills in the long run.
How to Answer “Which areas did your former boss ask you to improve on”
Be mindful of your words, so you don’t fall for the trap, talk about your skills and mention some areas your boss always wants you to improve on.
For example, you can say, My last boss always commend me for my effectiveness and expertise but he wants me to improve on three aspects.
- Executing tasks faster: whenever we are assigned tasks, I’m always the last person to submit because I take lots of time to go through my work for it to be perfect and improve on areas that need correction. Even if I have never missed a deadline, my boss wants me to complete my job faster he was always satisfied with my job.
- Language: I’m fluent in English, Spanish, French, Yoruba, and mandarin. But when I was transferred to another branch in France, I have a problem communicating with clients who don’t speak English so I have to use an interpreter whenever I have a meeting with a client. Although, I had no problem communicating with my coworkers because it is mandatory to be fluent in English before you can be employed
- Public speaking: I get nervous when asked to give public speeches so I stammer most times. This was my biggest big weak point as a sales representative it affected my work a lot. To overcome this challenge, I enrolled in a public speaking class and I have improved a lot.
Another Answer
“Throughout my previous work, I dealt with many of consumers over the phone and I excelled at it. But, because a few other individuals in my department were in charge of most of the emails related to customer support, I noticed I’m a little shaky in this aspect. I believe that email communication is critical in customer care since one or two erroneous words might result in the content being misinterpreted. Hence, I’ve been researching and brushing up on a few finest ways for ensuring client satisfaction through email communications.”
67. What are you looking to achieve in your in this career?
The interviewer asks for two major reasons, the first reason, they want to know what motivates you to progress in life and how confident you are in realizing your full potentials.
This is researching before the job interview as much as you can about the business and the career trajectory you could pursue in the company. The way you answer will determine how far you get in the application process. Next, investigate what you can find out about other employees at the company.
Be truthful in your answer if you want to demonstrate why you are a good match for the firm. Recruiters can detect when an answer is not genuine, so always be sincere in your response. Concentrate on genuine responses that demonstrate your ability to perform successfully on the work at hand. Refrain from making income and work perks the focal point of your response. Answering in this manner places the emphasis on your desires rather than the firm’s.
How to Answer “What are you looking to achieve in your career” Interview Question
Tell them about how you set your goals like short-term and long-term goals, give reasons why you set goals, and how you realize them. Mention the goals you set, those you’ve achieved, and those you’re still working to achieve.
They may also be determining if you will be a suitable long-term match for the firm. If you are searching for a chance to advance inside a company, or will your plans take you to another soon?
For instance, if you’re a Medical Doctor and you’re applying for a health Institution that requires Medical Managers but doesn’t employ many Medical Practitioners, telling the hiring manager that you’re planning to utilize the professional development program to go back to university for your Medical Manager won’t go over well.
Do their LinkedIn profiles reveal their professional paths? What are they? talents, and aspirations? Consider how you fit into the business culture and how your previous experience has equipped you to thrive.
Review the firm’s narrative on their website and social media accounts, look at their LinkedIn profile and look for current news items about the organization.
For example,
“Priorities are important to me because they help me keep organized and focus on finishing the job or goal before moving on to the next. I am a goal-oriented person, and I prioritize it. I have set short and long-term objectives. My initial short-term professional aim was to advance my education from master’s certificate holder to doctoral degree holder, which I accomplished. My long-term objective is to go to a management position and help develop the organization so that it can surpass other comparable companies on a worldwide scale. This company has a lot of potentials to do better than it is doing now; it has the potential to expand beyond this continent (Africa) to other continents and surely compete with other top companies in the industry if properly managed by a capable hand.
68. How do you define success?
Success means getting the desired result from an input. But the hiring manager wants you to define success based on how your view. He or she wants to know your work ethic, your measurements system, and how you plan to achieve it.
Irrespective of the role you’re looking for or the sector in which you operate, you may expect certain standard questions from the prospective employer during a job interview. An example of such a question is how you define success. Hiring managers frequently like to know how you define individual, team, and company success in order to assess your eligibility as a recruit for the firm.
Companies and recruiters frequently ask about your measure of success because your response to this question reveals vital information about your objectives, personal life philosophy, and professional aspirations.
How to Answer “How do you define success” Interview Question
First define success according to how you view it, try to explain what you understand about success, and explain how you were successful in a particular role or task.
Consider your professional accomplishments. Consider your previous roles’ accomplishments. List the and consider what made the accomplishment seem like a success. Aside from your thoughts, make a note of any praise or acknowledgment you got from coworkers or superiors.
Analyze how you reached your previous accomplishments. After you’ve compiled a list of your prior accomplishments, consider what contributed to your success. Include milestones, visits, chats, or other signs that you were on the right track.
Discover what the firm believes to be a success. Know how the firm defines success if at all possible. You can use part of that phrasing in your answer.
While trying to explain success, you don’t really have to relate it to business only, talk about anything so far it correlates with your definition of success. Check the company’s mission statement and values on their company website to get a sense of what success means to them.
Compose your response ahead of me. Create a potential answer using the info you obtained. Start by offering a clear definition of success, drawing on both your own prior experiences and the industry’s advice. Next, give an example of success, from either a prior role or from a forecast depending on the role for which you’re applying.
For example,
“Success, to me, is when you achieve more than you imagined. When you outperform expectations, you are successful. My final year thesis as an agriculture student was to research why birds create soft eggshells and devise a method to fix this problem; I had the necessary resources to complete the assignment. I split my experiment bird into different cages and fed them different foods. I decided to combine broken eggshells with one of their feeds and soon realized that the bird not only has the strongest shell but also the strongest bone and seems healthier than other birds.
My supervisor praised my efforts and informed the faculty about my study; everyone was impressed, and I was approached by two feeding manufacturing companies to educate them about my methods; I was also given a job, which I refused due to personal reasons. The objective was for me to just finish my project course, but I not only finished it, but I also introduced new nutrients and was generally welcomed.”
69. Your GPA seems low compared to that of other applicants.
Academic qualification matters a lot in some organizations, they use GPA in determining people who are eligible to be called for screening or interview. When a candidate has a lower grade than others, you are already at disadvantage to others so the candidate needs to be clever with the response.
With the appropriate viewpoint, you can easily justify a low CGPA
GPAs are simply a measure of the amount of time and effort you invest into education. Many students look further than this and decide to focus their efforts on other things like part-time work.
For others, it’s sports, associations, and other side projects/business pursuits, while for others, it’s clubbing, partying videogames, or other forms of distracting escapism. You must be honest with yourself, your response, and also assess how you spent your school days and what you did prioritize
How to Answer “Your CGPA seems low to that of other applicants” Interview Question
Give a valid reason why your GPA Is low but you have to be very careful while giving a response. So, you won’t give an unreasonable excuse.
Irrespective of how you twist it, most recruiters will be unimpressed if you tell them your GPA is poor because you spent a lot of time goofing around in school From a different angle, SOME interviewers may be thrilled if you spend all of your goofing yet maintaining a high GPA including having the relevant skills and experience needed for the job.
An excellent and typical scenario reason is that coursework does not motivate you. If you’re not enthusiastic or driven about anything, you’ll struggle to succeed at anything either. This is very fair. Everyone is different, but we’re all assessed the same way under the CGPA standard. Hence, if this is your case, you could want to discuss what you ARE enthusiastic about or what inspires you. Sell yourself better than other candidates. A high GP is not really needed to land a good job. You must, however, be skilled in what you do.
Example 1
“When I finally got admission into a university due to recurrent health and family issues, I skipped classes and attended night party, I missed few first year’s exams so I failed them and decided not to retake them due to stress and I focused on building my GPA the following year.”
This response shows that you are reckless and you will surely be disqualified. Give a responsible and reasonable reply that will convince the hiring manager to take a keen interest in you.
Example 2,
“I understand if my GPA is the lowest among all candidates, I had to combine my part-time job with my part-time classes when others were focusing on just their education, I was focus on catering for myself, siblings and furthering my education. I was so busy and had a tight schedule coupled with a little bit of reading time. I am proud to graduate with the second-class upper.”
Example 3
“Yes, I believe my GPA accurately predict my performance in college and grad school. I treated my studies very seriously and worked really hard to achieve the marks I did. I am pleased with my accomplishments. But, in addition to academic accomplishment, I’d want to highlight my social activities, where I exhibited leadership, time management, and interpersonal skills.”
70. How do you motivate other workers when you lack motivation?
This question is a behavioral question the interviewer asks to assess your internal drive and how much you influence others even when you are not feeling like it. Sometimes we just need a little push to realize our full potentials, interviewer is curious and is interested to see if you are the type of individual that gives other people the little push they need to realize their potentials. While working together as a team, someone might be discouraged and feel less, as a leader or co-worker, how do you motivate them and what course of action do you take. This is also a test of your team skills.
How to Answer “How do you motivate other workers when you lack motivation” Interview Questions
In your response, explain to the interviewer what you say or do to someone who you see is depressed or less motivated.
Best Answer,
“If I discover that a coworker or team member is suffering from low self-esteem and is less motivated to work, I will call the worker aside and have a one-on-one discussion with him or her. I will ask for the cause of the problem so that we can identify the issue at hand, and the next step is to advise and support the worker in believing in himself/herself. I recall seeing in my previous job that our sub-editor seemed hesitant to work.
So I approached him to inquire what was going on and how I could assist, and he stated no one ever praised him for his hard work. I informed him that he is an essential part of the firm and that we all appreciate his hard work and accomplishments. Because he craves attention, I constantly compliment him whenever he works, and I was nominated for the most industrious worker at our annual dinner and award night, which I ultimately lost to the sub-editor.”
In answering this question, the Individual approach is the key.
71. What is the toughest decision you ever took?
This is another question that is meant to expose your weakness, whether as a worker or manager, this is the point where you are forced to make a decision, the hiring manager wants to know which decisions gave you a tough time and why?
Your prior actions in tough situations might reveal your principles and ethics. Applicants that follow their industry’s requirements of transparency and ethical conduct are preferred by recruiters. This question can reveal how an applicant follows business rules and answers to ethical quandaries, demonstrating their dependability and willingness to help their team.
Employers may wish to assess your decisiveness and confidence in your decisions, as well as your capacity to justify your conduct. The manner you use to explain a difficult choice in the past may reveal the mindset and approach you’d bring to their firm.
How to Answer ‘What is the toughest decision you ever took” Interview Question
Think of a tough decision and when you were left with no choice but to take one, the outcome of it.
Pick a good previous choice that is relevant to your previous work experiences. Addressing decisions related to your chosen profession demonstrates to the employer how you would perform in a comparable capacity. Where you don’t have any professional experience, consider actions you’ve taken in your life or school that may suggest the desired attitude for recruiters in your sector. Discuss what variables influenced your choices and how you weighed the benefits and drawbacks of each option.
Discuss your mental process when attempting to utilize the best option. Explain how your decision affected both you and the company. This demonstrates that you accept responsibility for the results of your decisions and you are accountable.
For example;
“I don’t make difficult judgments until I have all of my facts straight; I first consider how it will affect the individuals involved and possible methods to make it easier.
For example, in my previous job as a manager, I received a complaint from a customer about the rudeness of one of our employees; I apologized on behalf of the employee and called him to my office so I could tell him about his mistakes; a few days later, another customer reported him again, and I called him and gave him one last warning because I hate to fire workers, and I thought he would listen. So I had no choice except to fire him, which was difficult for me.”
Another example;
“Changing my career path was the most difficult decision I’ve ever made. I always wanted to be a pilot when I was a youngster because I admired pilots so much. I discussed my ambition with my uncle, and he advised me to be clever and hardworking, as well as to focus on my academics in order to satisfy the academic requirements for admission to aviation school.
So, I braced myself and established my goals, which were to pass my O’levels and A’Levels. I studied harder, passed my exam, and was admitted to aviation school right away. My parents were not financially sufficient; therefore, they were unable to raise my school fees, which were #20 million; I attempted to aid them with my contributions.
I was able to work part-time as a receptionist at a hotel, but my efforts and theirs were insufficient to earn the necessary funds, thus my admittance was withdrawn. It was extremely hard for me because I was forced to change careers in order to further my education and get a suitable job. After careful consideration, I decided to switch to aeronautical engineering because it is comparable to my ideal job.”
72. Do you have any question(s) for me/us?
This question is underrated, everyone ignores the question when asked because they seem uncomfortable with it and they try to avoid it. This question with a positive reply can boost your chance of getting the role you might give a good impression of yourself to the interviewer. When you ask a question, it shows that you are interested in the positions you are applying for and you are confident.
How to Answer “Do you have any question(s) for me/us” Interview Question
Asking questions is very important after the end of an interview, this shows you actively participated rather than just sitting around. An intelligent mind asks questions. It is also an avenue to get clarified ion issues about your job and the interview. Ask of interesting and catchy but it must be related to the role you are applying for.
Examples of questions you should ask are;
1. What are the skills a candidate must possess for me to get this job?
2. Is there any concern about my qualification?
3. How is the work schedule?
4. Will there be any training?
5. Which team will I be working with or do I have to work alone?
6. What are the steps to take during the recruitment process?
7. I would like you to describe the company’s culture?
There are some questions you should avoid asking the interviewer as they can give the wrong impression about you.
Examples of questions to avoid are personal questions, salary questions, rhetorical questions, non-work-related questions, etc.
73. Sell me this pen
This question is mostly asked applicants applying for a sales or marketing position, your recruiter may put you on the spot by asking you to sell them a pen, a writing pad, a plastic bottle, or anything else. Why a responding, maintain your calm and poise and remain witty and charming, use your body language to your advantage by sitting up straight, making eye contact, and showing the interviewer that you can manage this situation.
If you are a passionate salesman, this question will not be an issue. That is why you have to adequately prepare for this question so that, even if you have what to say, your body language while answering it won’t give off a different vibe.
How to Answer “Sell me this Pen” Interview Question
Listen carefully, let your answer show that you understand your customer’s wants, be precise about the item’s characteristics and advantages, and finish strong, just like you would if you were actually completing a sale.
Bear in mind that the major reason your recruiter is asking this question is to assess how effectively you perform when under duress or taken by surprise.
The nonverbal indicators will help you appear composed and self-assured, irrespective of the substance of your sales speech. Although you don’t have a beautifully crafted sales pitch ready to go at a drop of a hat, try to project confidence as you respond to this question.
The easiest way to get started is to pose questions first. The urge is tremendous to get into a lengthy sales speech immediately away. However, keep in mind that a successful salesperson spends the greater time to educate themselves about their prospective customer’s objectives, ambitions, and difficulties so they can tailor the sales pitch to the customers’ needs.
Furthermore, while connecting your sales pitch to specific customer’s demands, emphasize the characteristics or benefits of the item you are selling. This is very important because the pen has to come with value for its utility.
For instance, does your pen come with a particularly smoother flow of ink? Will this help your customer in better writing? Maybe it will help your customer write quicker or more easily, emphasize on this. What color is the ink? Red ink shines out more on paper. When you’re finished with the sales pitch, don’t make the mistake of saying anything flimsy like, “So yes, that’s how I’d pitch that…” Instead, recap your major arguments and then demonstrate to the recruiter that you know how to conclude your points.
We also advise you to go and watch the movie “Wolf of Wall Street” to understand how Leonardo Di Caprio answered the question “Sell me this Pen”. It is highly recommended as you will learn a lot about this type of interview question.
74. We want to know if you have got any medical conditions?
Medical status is one of the most important criteria for some positions, especially for jobs that require physical energy. Hiring companies ask this question as they want to know if you are medically fit for the role you applied for. Several medical conditions can be grouped into mild and serious health conditions. If you have any medical conditions, tell the interviewer and what steps you have taken
to treat it.
Some mild conditions are less likely to affect your job, there is absolutely no need to talk about it but if you have got any serious condition like cancer or mental illness, etc. Don’t hesitate to let the interviewer know.
How to Answer “We want to know if you have got any medical conditions” Interview Questions
If you have any mild medical conditions that can affect your job? If yes, talk about it but don’t give out too much information on the illness, don’t be dishonest in your response, and don’t exaggerate so you won’t give the hiring manager much reason to worry about your health.
Best Answer,
“I don’t have any serious medical condition, but I did have asthma when I was younger, I have never disclosed about my health during interviews because I don’t go for jobs that will affect me in that sense and the illness doesn’t affect my performance and I’m always taking precautions when doing a task that might trigger the attack.”
Another example:
“I have this night blindness as I find it very difficult to see well in dark areas, especially at the night. This condition doesn’t affect my performance because my type of job can only be done in the day and I have no problem seeing in daylight”.
75. Do you intend to have a startup or business of your own?
A lot of salary earners aspire to be entrepreneurs if given the chance and some already have their businesses on the side. Most job offer conditions come with Non-compete clauses. This means that employees are not to engage in businesses that will clash with their work or their employee’s interest. A lot of employees may have startups and also working. The reasons could be that Probably the profit from the business is not something to boast of hence they had to get another job to finance the business. They could have failed in their last business venture, hence, the need to start afresh.
However, due to their financial capability or lack of experience, they can’t start instantly therefore, they need to get a job so they can make more money and gain more knowledge. The interviewer wants to know when or if you plan on leaving them to start your business or if you have plans to retire as soon as they have their startup. This question is to test your loyalty and longevity on the job. No employer wants an employee with divided attention.
How to Answer “Do you intend to have a startup or business of your own” Interview Question
The question is quite tricky because if you say “No”, the hiring manager might think you have a donkey mindset and no big dreams, if you say Yes, you may raise concern for the organization because you’ll be leaving soon and confidential information might be at risk. You need to be very clever about it but be honest, don’t put your plans in detail.
For example, if your reply is No, you can say,
“I Have thought about having my own business and I did but it didn’t go as planned, so I realized I only perform better in a large group or team. If yes, you can say, Yes, I have plans to start my own business, I’m planning on selling Volkswagen automobiles when I finally get to retire from active salaried work.”
76. Opinion Question: What do you think about abortion?
This is simply an opinion question; many unsuspecting applicants have been a victim of this question and lost their chance of landing the job. Opinion questions are hard to answer because your perspective can be different from the interviewer’s own and you are likely to reduce your chances of getting the job.
How to Answer “What do you think about abortion” Interview Question
There are no other options for answering this question other than to ask another one; replying to it may lead to more questions, which may place you in a hot seat, which you do not want. However, if you’re astute enough to direct the question back to the hiring manager, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about his/her perspective on the subject, and you’ll have suggestions for how to reply that align with the interviewers.
For example, you may state, “There are many ways we regard abortion; in some nations and religions, abortion is a crime and a sin, but in others, there is nothing wrong with abortion.” In Nigeria, abortion is unlawful and it is inappropriate to go against the law but in countries like China or America where abortion is legal, Would you think of keeping a pregnancy that you are not mentally and financially capable of taking care of?
77. How well do you allow others to give their opinion on subject matters?
One of the most crucial talents that employers seek is great communication abilities. It is required for successful teamwork, which will lead to improved project cooperation. It applies to almost every business.
Employee engagement is essential for improving internal communication. Keeping efficient communication open ensures the company and the people underneath them are on the same wavelength. This implies that employees feel confident in the job at hand, and supervisors are assured that team members are carrying it out appropriately.
But keep in mind that effective communication skills and strategies in the workplace, personal communication, and business communication are not the same. However, all of them are very essential to an organization’s future growth.
This is important for applicants going for managerial or sales positions. Are you the type of boss that just give orders? or, you are the type that that listens and consider other people’s opinion and view?
Leading a team is not an easy task because of the many responsibilities associated with it. It is your sole responsibility to ensure the success of the team and if your team fails, you take full responsibility. So, you need to coordinate with each of your team members to perform better.
How to Answer “How well do you allow others to give their opinion on subject matters” Interview Question
Because you are looking for a management position, which is also a leadership one, you should have strong listening skills. Your response should demonstrate that you listen to and learn from other people’s perspectives without condemning them. Give an example of when you listened to the opinions of others.
For example, you may say, “I enjoy hearing other people’s perspectives on a topic; not only do I comprehend the scenario, but I also get more information when others speak.” In my previous firm, as the general manager, I decided on business plans for each department to work on. Despite employing a new business strategy, there was no significant difference or improvement in the company and this made me concerned.
I then devised a new plan, so I gathered all sub-managers and field specialists for a conversation on how to build the firm, and I asked everyone to provide suggestions on tactics we might employ to maximize our profit. Everyone provided fantastic recommendations that were even better than the one I had thought of. We meticulously evaluated all recommendations from all angles before settling on one method that succeeded.
Since then, I have sought the advice of others before making important decisions.”
Another example;
“I used to be an egocentric worker because I was always looking for ways to be recognized and rewarded for finishing a task. I always meet with my employer to give me a large task that will draw more attention, and because he is always pleased with my work, he always assigns me the duty. Unfortunately, I made a mistake while working on our most important project, and as a result, we missed out on some lucrative transactions.
My employer came to see me when I was emotionally down, and he pointed out my error, which was my selfishness since I didn’t ask for anyone’s aid; he told me that asking for help was a sign of weakness. That doesn’t make me a terrible worker, but I can utilize that chance to learn from them, and I’ve started asking for other people’s opinions and collaborating on tasks. I’ve altered my way of thinking and improved myself significantly since I began seeking information from others.
78. Rate your public speaking skills on a scale of 1 to 10.
This is another interview question set to test you. The question sounds easy because you are being asked to judge yourself and I am sure you don’t want to give a poor impression of yourself but as easy as it sounds, it is somehow difficult to respond appropriately.
How to Answer “Rate your public speaking on a scale of 1 to 10” Interview Question
The hiring manager wants to know how effective your skills are and how confident you can be with them. The recruiter is interested in how you evaluate your communication abilities. Rate your public speaking/communication abilities on a scale of 1 to 10. Do not give yourself a 10, and remember that everyone is not faultless, and you don’t want to come out as arrogant or lacking in openness to feedback and development. Also, don’t lie or brag about it as you can miss your chance.
Alternatively, do not underestimate yourself. You don’t want to give the impression that you’re a communication failure! Let your rating stay between 7.5 and 9.5 while remaining fair and straightforward. To support your response, provide an instance of your great communication skills.
For example, you can say, “I rate my skills 7 out of 10 because sometimes I get nervous when asked to give a public speech especially when the audience is many. My skill is the only thing affecting my work and has enrolled in a mastery class to improve myself. Another example:
I rate my skill 10 out of 10 my skills are good and effective; I am very fluent in all required languages and my skills are exceptional. My colleagues always find it easy when I’m communicating with them and my former boss always assign me 19the task of taking speech anytime we have a public event.”
79. Have you ever deal with a difficult client? How?
Dealing with an angry or difficult client can be stressful especially when the fault is not from you or the company so the interviewer is interested in how the applicant’s problem-solving skills, Fast decision-making abilities, and professionalism are when in this type of tense situation.
Clients become irritated and unpleasant for a number of reasons. Though some of these factors are valid, others are not, a prospective recruiter wishes to be certified that you can settle a difficult issue with a client to all party’s satisfaction. Hiring managers ask these questions to assess applicant’s problem-solving abilities, rapid decision-making techniques, and capacity to remain calm under pressure. Recruiters are also seeking employees who are excited about the job despite the obstacles it entails.
How to Answer Have you ever deal with a difficult client? How?” Interview Question
This is to test your professionalism; you need to show that you are patient and are a good problem solver. Give examples of when you had an altercation with an angry or dissatisfied client and how you handled it.
First of all, listen to the client and ask follow-up questions. Repeat and summarize all that you have heard from the customer and ask him or her to affirm or negate your understanding of what you have heard. Let the customer know you understand why they are upset. Give them a direct and simple apology. Ask the customer what he desires to be the course of his solution. How he wants the issue to be resolved. Maintain your calm, composure, and compassion. Remember to speak in a soft tone.
Or you can say, I understand how hard it is to deal with an angry Client especially the nagging and violent types. But it doesn’t matter how rude and violent they might be, I try to remain calm and respectful because an angry customer indicates an error in my service and I make sure to give the best services.
So, I first try to calm them down and then ask for the difficulty the customer is experiencing. After understanding the client’s problem, the next thing is to explain to the client what happened and what lead to the problem. Then I take the best course of action to solve the matter and apologize for the inconvenience caused while performing my duties.
80. What triggers you and how do you stay calm?
This is a behavioral question. The interviewer wants to know your reaction to a typical situation that riles you up. A job seeker Is expected to be cool and calm always while working with a client and coworker calmly and respectfully. But In some situations, we have reached the limit of our tolerance and we tend to lose our cool and vent anger at what made us angry. Interviewers understand it is normal to get angry but no one wants to employ someone who reacts violently when annoyed or someone who gets angry too often.
How to Answer “What triggers you and how do you stay calm?” Interview Question
This is your opportunity to list your soft skills. This tells the interviewer more about your personality. Your personality or traits might not fit the organization’s structure or job position. Some position or organization requires someone who is a tough disciplinarian and someone with this mentality tend to be ” a no mistake man” who gets angry at any mistake or poor performance. People with this mentality are majorly given a leadership position in the company.
If you as a person have this mentality and you are applying in the organization, your response can be, “I don’t get angry randomly but I get irritated when I see myself around negative and lazy people especially those who are using their negativity to affect others who are positive.”
For organizations that culture is flexible, someone who wants the position must be cool-headed and slow to anger. If you possess this quality, your response can be, “I’m a cool and positive person and I have no problem relating with anyone. I know it’s normal to get angry sometimes but I always try to avoid a situation like this by listening to what someone expects from me and I tell them my expectations also. When you already know the do’s and don’ts of other people, you can relate well with them”.
If the trigger was your fault, don’t bring it up. Don’t bring up a situation when you put yourself in an unnecessary triggering circumstance. Don’t show that you are the cause of the unnerving situation.
Do not show the interviewer that too much stress riled you up and heated the situation. You shouldn’t dwell on how freaked out you were. Acknowledge the presence of anger but try to focus on how you coped with it rather than how much it did upset you.
Employ relaxing methods. If you begin to feel worried shortly before the interview, take a few deep breaths to calm yourself. You can take a breather or a glass of anything that calms you, before your response. This will allow you some time to get yourself composed before your response.
81. Are you willing to work during the weekend and at night?
Questions like this are common with recruiters. In this situation, stay calm and give a smart reply to the interviewer. Certain conditions could make you work overtime not excluding weekends.
First thing first, the applicant should be clear in the interviewer’s expectations of demands. In some cases, if/when asked to work overtime, let it be about what you can offer in that particular role and see if you can work on their demands.
You must discuss the factors during the interview than it is for you to commit to a job that is not suitable for you. Be confident about it. Don’t sound confused in your response. Make it simple and if you are unable to do so, make sure to tell the interviewer and give solid reasons for this. You should show flexibility in your answers.
How to Answer “Are you willing to work during the weekend and night” Interview Question
While saying you can work extra hours, make sure to add that you expect that this overnight work comes with an extra benefit or pay.
“If such a situation happens. Yes, I am willing to work extra hours. My hunt for a long-term job opportunity has been ongoing for some time, and I believe this is ideal for me. As you can see from my resume, I have experienced continuous and solid development and transparency. And I’d be delighted to replicate the same pattern of accomplishments and stay with your firm. I’m thinking about how, as a global business, you have a lot of leadership possibilities that come up from time to time. I would be overjoyed if I could work my way up to a position of leadership here.”
Another example:
Yes, I am happy to work overtime, provided I am getting paid and getting the resources needed to work without any hindrance. And if it’s not going to affect my health or my social life.
82. What is/are your biggest fear?
This is a behavioral question because you are talking about a part of your life a lot of people see as personal and wouldn’t want to talk about. These questions summarize everything going on in your everyday life. It is your light, not the darkness that most frightens you. When you are faced with this question, you have to be honest and truthful about it. Be known for who you are not what you are. Don’t paint yourself in a negative light and be honest about your answers.
Every single person has workplace anxiety and fears. They want to know how you control your fears rather than what it is. This is your opportunity to turn your weakness into strength. In rare cases, if you are thinking of saying that you don’t have any fears. It might make you believe that the hiring organization will give you the role.
How to Answer “What is/are your biggest fear” Interview Question
In your response, give an example of a moment when you overcame job anxiety. It can be a deadline you are struggling to meet and needed creativity to meet the deadline, such as enlisting the assistance of your team members and pulling a few all-nighters to complete the deliverables.
While confronting your anxieties is a good thing, your interviewer is interested in hearing what steps you’ve taken to overcome them.
Recruiters want to see that you are proactive in dealing with your anxieties and that you possess hands-on strategies in place to manage or conquer them, even in the workplace. This also displays confidence and attentiveness. Everyone experiences fear.
Example 1.
“My greatest worry was that I would always be incorrect. When I was elevated to the position of manager in my previous job, I found it difficult to make some judgments. I was concerned that I would make blunders that would jeopardize the company’s operations. Once I was at ease, I began to learn to trust my judgment. This gave me the confidence I needed to manage a successful firm.”
Applicants frequently freeze up or believe they must be harsh on themselves in order to react whenever they are asked this question. This is intended to demonstrate that you are aware of your flaws and are working hard to conquer them.
As a result, make an effort to talk confidently not only when answering this question, but throughout the interview session. This demonstrates that you are at ease in your skin and you are ready to take action to conquer your workplace anxieties and fears.
Another example:
“My greatest fear was speaking in public. It was difficult for me to talk to a crowd or gathering. I begin to feel anxious when I am around people. Earlier last year, I began to take public speaking courses and it taught me how to handle my fears practice them with others.”
83. Describe yourself in five words.
The interviewer wants you to describe yourself in few words. Talk about yourself. Talk about your qualities and align with the skills you believe are to succeed in a particular role. The key is to explain your specific experiences and attributes that make the hiring manager have the impression that you are fit for the role you are applying for. Demonstrate how you can use your attributes to drive success with quantifiable results. Describe your traits and strengths to the hiring manager. Be confident and straightforward.
How to Answer “Describe yourself in five words” Interview Question
While responding, let your answer show passion. Companies are interested in recruiting individuals that show they are passionate about the company’s work because passion conjures up images of commitment and loyalty. When you show your enthusiasm for your work, it means you are naturally devoted to excellence and great results. Show your attention to detail and organization.
Let your interviewer know you are a people person. Some job seekers are naturally gregarious, talkative, and adept at making themselves at ease in gatherings of complete strangers. This trait is very useful for customer service and sales workers.
People management abilities may be taught as a course. However, some people instinctively gravitate towards being the leader in any group situation they find themselves in. Recruiters frequently seek natural leaders for positions of both leadership and non-leadership since they set the pace for others and a good example and can increase team morale. Show the interviewer that you are result-oriented.
A results-oriented applicant thinks about the final objective and is aware of the resources that will be required to get there. Employers understand that when they recruit a performance-oriented employee, that person will go to any length to complete the task.
Effective communication skills are required for long-term success in nearly every profession or sector, but they do not always come readily to everyone. Effective communication makes for a successful employee.
Show your organizational skills. An organized recruit is a detail. It means the company can rely on to meet deadlines. Organization skills are important in administrative jobs, project management, and other professions requiring procedure and adherence to quality.
Do not just respond in this manner. Unless you are ready to put it all in a sentence.
- I am very passionate about my work because I can do it and I love what I do.
- I am ambitious and internally driven.
- I am organized
- I do love meeting new people, learning about their cultures, am self-oriented, and am an excellent communicator.
- I am diligent and creative.
- I am extrovert and ethical about my work.
- I am self-motivated I am loyal and reliable to the core. -I am conscious of my surroundings and abide by rules and regulations.
Best Answer
“I’m a born leader. As I enjoy assisting others, I’ve been promoted to some leadership position in nearly every job I’ve held. Though I am not occupying a leadership role, coworkers typically approach me with questions or complaints or concerns, because if I don’t have the solution, I’ll at least put them in the right way. After a few months with the firm, I was elevated to a leadership position in the last two positions I was promoted to before I left. ”
84. How do you convince others about your ideas?
Hiring managers can rephrase this question in the form of “Tell me about a time you influenced someone”
In this case, the interviewer is inquiring about your persuasion skills, like the ability to make reasonable arguments and negotiate with others, communication skills, and corporate credibility. If you understand how to tailor your response about your impact or influence on someone, it will help you exhibit your abilities and indicate to recruiters that you’re a competent candidate for the job.
The hiring company wants to drill you down to ask about the specific times you have influenced others including the circumstances leading to the situation, what you did, and the outcome. When answering this question, reflect on the times you have influenced others to accept the idea that this is the right decision for them to take. Don’t make it opinion-based, rather base it on facts.
How to Answer “How do you convince others about your ideas” Interview Question
Examples of persuasive abilities to use are
- Recognizing the needs and feelings of others
- Modeling the characteristics, you want others to copy
- Creating an argument using critical thinking or logical reasoning
- Communicating your views clearly
- Choosing the appropriate mode of communication for the right circumstance or person
- Negotiation strategies
- Creating meaningful connections
- Identifying similarities and differences with each person or group
- Listening actively
- demonstrating that you are an expert or a reliable source on a specific topic
- Being composed and calmly assertive
- highlighting the good elements of a decision or circumstance
When you describe a time you influenced an individual, it demonstrates that you fully comprehend ways of identifying and meeting the needs of other people around you or solve unique problems, It also indicates that the interviewee understands what influence and impact entail. Influencing someone frequently involves selecting the right mode of conversation for a specific person’s interests or a particular scenario.
If you find it hard remembering an instance, the following instances can help you:
- Persuading a coworker to accept your point of view
- Changing the behaviors or habits of a person or a group
- Making a persuasive argument that has a direct impact on someone
- Negotiating an increase in your wage, job requirements, or other working condition
- Assisting people in accepting a change in circumstance or policy
- Managing a Group
- Obtaining project approval
- Bringing a difficult sale to a successful conclusion
- Mediating or settling a dispute
- Helping others in setting, working toward, or attaining their objectives
- Establishing an agreement or making a compromise
Sample Answer
“When I was the manager of my previous firm, the company had continued to operate with a certain client for many years owing to inactivity. Rather than alternative possibilities, it was simple to renew the vendor contract every year. My boss was adamant about not exploring other possibilities.
I discussed and assessed the other top providers in the specific field before presenting the alternative. It would still be his final decision on who he would work with in the long run. After much deliberation, we decided to consider four providers, including the incumbent. As a result, our firm chose a new provider with higher characteristics and functionality at a cost of more than $300,000 each year.”
85. Are you a leader or follower?
As an Interviewee with leadership qualities, there are do’s and don’ts to consider when answering the question “Are you a leader or a follower?”
DOs
- Talk about the times you have followed instructions successfully.
- Talk about when you assumed responsibilities and took charge.
- Let them know that you understand the context in which one should be a leader or a follower.
- Highlight the things that would benefit both a leader and a follower.
- Mention past experiences.
- Be confident so that the interviewer will know you possess the capabilities to assume both roles and you can change based on the needs of the position.
Don’ts
- Don’t say you are just a leader and talk about just your leadership traits.
- Don’t say you are just a follower and talk about just your followership
- traits.
- Don’t try to dodge the question in a way that that you try to act submissive and dominant.
How to Answer “Are You a Leader or a follower” Interview Question
Sample Answer
“I am an excellent leader as well as a good follower.” I lead when I’m supposed to lead and follow when I’m supposed to follow. I pay attention to my superiors and follow precise directions. I demonstrate my abilities as both a leader and a follower. I constantly strive to give my all to please both my leader and my followers, as well as to be competent in my obligations to individuals and organizations. I always present myself in my finest light. It makes no difference whether I am a leader or a follower. Everyone around me is pleased with my job. And I have the appropriate mindset and temperament to be a leader. As a leader, I do not consider myself to be the king of people or organizations; rather, I regard them as colleagues, bosses, and apprentices.
86.Tell us about the time you have ever thought outside of the box?
This is a challenge to test your knowledge and creativity and your ability to stand on your own and do something amid bureaucracy. Your answer is not really necessary to have to be a tremendous breakthrough or an invention in your former work. The hiring manager wants to know if you are able to think on your feet and solve issues.
In this situation, Give the best version of yourself (pitch yourself to the interviewer) and show them that you are innovative enough to think about a solution to a rising problem. Pick an event when you were very pleased with an outcome. Or you could think of when you wowed your employer where you prevented an adverse problem from occurring, it can be an unexpected turn of events on a project or something personal.
How to Answer “Tell us about the time you have ever thought outside of the box” Interview
Consider your best accomplishments. Typically, conquering a working obstacle yields a fantastic reward. After you’ve listed all of your accomplishments, select the instance that is most relevant to the position you’re looking for. Make certain that you give a positive example. Do not start your answer with you doing something drastically wrong, even if you show that you eventually fixed it.
The interviewer may see you in a negative light since you should not have made such a thoughtless error in the first place. Using the STAR method, showcase your talents and abilities in your response. Make sure you practice ahead of time and that your response sounds natural and not scripted.
Example 1
“We observed a drop in consumer rate at my previous job owing to a local economic downturn. For the first time in many years, I recommended to my employer that we should start generating business outside of our immediate area. He agreed, and the notion changed everything for us. Today, we can proudly say that we are one of the leading companies in the country. And, prior to my departure, we were considering going worldwide.”
This relates to the question above.
The interviewer will incline to ask why you had to leave your former employer when the company has plans in going global and be one of the leading companies in the world. You shouldn’t be surprised at this question when it is being asked and give an honest and straightforward answer as this will make the hiring manager know if you should be given the role or not.
Another example,
“I left the company due to certain reasons in which I wasn’t really satisfied with how things were being done in the organization.
I deserved to be where I am rewarded for my efforts and contribution to the organization. I asked for a raise but my employer felt otherwise whereas there was a huge turnaround for us and was raking in profits than we have ever done. I needed to be where my skills are needed and where I am appreciated.”
87. If you discover that the company is into an illegitimate business, what would be your reaction?
This is an unusual interview question meant to put you on a spot with the interviewer. Answering this type of question can be tricky. You don’t want to rope yourself in or jeopardize your chances. At the same time, you want to make your stance clear and show your integrity and ethics.
It is illegal to throw this type of question to interviewees but some recruiting managers do not care. It can be out of ignorance or willful disregard for the law. An interviewer should ask questions that are related to the applicant’s work skills. But in any scenario where you are faced with this kind of question. you need to be diplomatic and at the same time truthful to the hiring manager.
How to Answer “If you discover that the company is into an illegitimate business, what would be your reaction”
If you notice the illegal business, relate this to your direct supervisor and if he does nothing about it, report to the above him until you have exhausted the chain of command in the office.
Whatever you do, make a habit of documenting your findings by preserving copies of mail correspondences and taking notes during such activities. don’t be too hard on yourself if you are at crossroads. If you’ve done your best, you’ve quit the work and find a better job.
Sample Answer,
“It will upset me to discover that the organization I am employed in is engaging in criminal behavior. But I will first ask myself how I should proceed? I can alternatively tell my employer that I am quitting. However, in other cases, my conscience or financial position may force me to stay and try to resolve the issue before just quitting. If I can’t solve the issue, I will leave.”
Another Sample Answer,
“In a business establishment, employees have a vital role to play in maintaining certain work ethics. Whenever I suspect fraud, it is my basic duty to report to the authorities. As an employee, I should always justify the high standards in my workplace. That is the only way client(s) will trust and respect what we do as an establishment.”
88. How Adaptable are you to Change?
This question can be phrased as “How do you adjust to change?” Ruminate on this question and think of your reaction to it in advance. It will assist you to prepare for your interview and make your response confident. Recruiters want to note down your manner of adjusting to rapid and frequent changes in the office. Because certain sectors are fast-paced, change can be of benefit to both the company and workers to develop teams that can handle this while being adaptable when presented with specific difficulties.
How to Answer “How Adaptable are you to Change” Interview Question
Use the STAR technique to assist you in answering correctly. This implies you’ll need to describe a circumstance, what you will do in that instance, a description of the action you performed, and the outcomes of that act. Consider a scenario in which you have to exhibit the abilities the recruiter is searching for. Make sure your example is a single incident that succinctly relates your past experiences to the skills that are needed for the job.
Do not be in a rush, take a few moments to consider the best way to communicate your response. Utilizing few minutes to pause and collect your thoughts will most likely not upset your interviewer, and you will offer him a better answer because of this rather than rushing your response and jeopardizing your chances. Include every detail that illustrates your capacity to adjust to change and be positive about it rather than hiding and crying in the bathroom. Relate precise facts to the successful results you accomplished and how they reflect on you as an individual and an employee of the company.
Explain how you believe the abilities you exhibited in this narrative will assist you to achieve in the position for which you are seeking.
Example
“Because of the quick speed of the hospitality industry, it is critical for a server in a restaurant to continually adapt to change.” I notice that I adjust quickly to changes—for example, I was working a busy evening shift when a huge group came suddenly. Despite the fact that our dining room looked to be full, I acted fast and rearranged the dining tables to accommodate the additional visitors. Consequently, we had our best sales night of the year. I’m excited to put these abilities to use as a part of your team as I adjust to change by thinking swiftly when unexpected events emerge.”
89. Do you intend to have children?
Questions regarding your family dynamic, ethnicity, sexual orientation or questions like “How will you manage leading an all-male team?”, your nationality or race like “In which country were you born?”, your religion, faith, or age, number of children you have, gender, etc, are considered illegal interview questions. however, they are nonetheless often asked by Hiring Managers. Though that’s not always done maliciously, the employer may simply be attempting to strike up a discussion and may not understand those questions are illegal to ask job seekers.
Legally, recruiters are not permitted to inquire about your plans to have kids. The main reason some interviewers ask is that they do not wish to recruit someone who will take some months out for maternity leave every year or two years or within the first 6 months of employment because they will be forced to do so as they are mandated by law. Employers are not permitted to discriminate based on personal circumstances. Just like we mentioned before, they can also ask this question bona fide, without being aware that it’s unlawful.
How to Answer “Do you intend to have children” Interview Question
Once an interviewer wants to ask you an unlawful job application question, you must first determine if it is worth stating to your interviewer that such question is unacceptable, and if so, how to develop a response that will put you in a position to obtain the job without accepting employment whose terms you will regret.
You may still wish to respond to it and then decide whether or not to do so later. When asked such a question, you can always connect any inquiries about your private life or similar back to the job-relevant interview answers at hand.
You can respond by saying “Well, I have not reached that level yet.” However, I am extremely excited about the new opportunities at your firm. “Could you please elaborate on that?”
Further, Do not say, “Yes, I and my husband are attempting conception.” I appreciate you for inquiring!”
Don’t reveal anything about your private life. It has no link to your career.
Instead, state, “To be honest, my private life is the last issue in my thoughts as at the moment.” At this stage in my life, I want to concentrate on my profession and obtain a place in a huge corporation.”
The best option is to just respond with a “no” because the company has no business asking that but you can provide an ambiguous answer that demonstrates that your aim is your profession, this should improve your interview prospects or chances of landing the jobs.
90. How many jobs did you apply to?
This should not be a difficult question for applicants to answer because the interviewer wants to know how many jobs you applied to before being asked for an interview. Don’t be alarmed by the inquiry; they want to know whether you have or have had other choices than them, as well as the outcome of past jobs.
How to Answer “How many jobs did you apply to” Interview Question
Do not just mention one or two or any number. Go ahead to explain that you have been applying desperately and you have sent over 100 applications. Let them know that the particular job you are interviewing for is the 3rd job you have applied for in a month.
Answer
“I have applied to at least three jobs in the last one month and this is my third application. This is my second interview invite, I went for the first 2 days ago however, I am more interested in working here hence, I have not replied to the first interviewers. I truly believe I have what it takes to be the perfect employee and I know that my skills will be more useful here than in any other organization.
91. If you could work in any organization, where would it be?
The hiring manager might ask you this. Well, it may seem tricky to the applicant. But the hiring manager will ask this question to gain an insight into your true aspiration. No employer will want you to use working in their company as a gateway to better opportunities even if that is the case. Your response lets the hiring manager see how the position you have applied for matches your future plans that they know nothing about.
Secondly, it gives the interviewer an insight into your wants professionally. If you applied to the manufacturing industry, is that really your plan? Maybe, your interest is in the food or finance industry. So this question comes so the hiring manager will know if this is where you want to be.
How to Answer “If you could work in any organization, where would it be” Interview Question
Your response should show that you are a focused job seeker and not one that runs from industry to industry in confusion, not knowing the right place they should be.
Make your answer concise and focus on the position to show them that you have thought deeply with an eye to the future. Tell them about your career goals and try to be honest with them.
Showing your desire to fulfill similar responsibilities makes it an appropriate response. Avoid mentioning competitors and keep your preference for certain companies out of your response. You have to focus mainly on the position in question while discussing your job in front of the interviewer.
Example,
I truly want to work for the FCMG industry and this particular organization is one I intend to be with because from my research, I love the company culture, their dedication to growth Nand the interest they invest in their employees. It is on my top list of the best companies in the FCMG industry. This place is where I would rather ba and that is the reason I’m here”
How to Answer “If you could work in any organization, where would it be” Interview Question
I want to work for your company. I can already tell the kind of environment I would thrive in as I keep getting positive feedback about the internal training programs organized by your company which has also been helpful to me. I am searching for career opportunities where I can assume full responsibilities of my work and excise more autonomy.
92. You have changed jobs frequently in the few years, why?
Hiring managers want to know why you are changing jobs, so they can have an idea about what is important to you in a job and how to take control of unexpected matters that may arise. There are a lot of ways you should answer this question. So, take ad deep breath and try to prepare a thoughtful answer that will convince the hiring manager and he/she might be considering hiring you. There are lots of reasons that made you change careers.
The issue with frequent switching of jobs is as follows: A lot of people look for a comparable position with a major company. This implies they won’t get promoted in either business. A recruiter will see this as a red sign.
It might indicate dissatisfaction with whatever role you occupy. For this reason, regardless of your reasons for changing jobs in the past, ensure you base your reaction on circumstances over which you have zero power. No one is advising you to falsify information. Various things outside of your control might have an impact on your work position. Concentrate your reaction on these factors that prompted your frequent job changes. Your job change should be nothing less than 6 months or more. If the change of employment more regularly than that, that may render you ineligible.
How to Answer “You have changed jobs frequently in the few years, why” Interview Question
Job hopping is described as changing employment more frequently than every 1 or 2 years. People no longer frown at it as it was a decade ago.
So, when you reply to this interview question, even if you have been job-hopping, don’t be discouraged answering this question will need some preparation on your part even if you are not job-hopping so you won’t give your interviewer the inclination that you intend job-hopping.
Job-hopping is on the increase now and millennial job seekers believe that shifting professions may help them advance in their careers. Nevertheless, this does not make it easy to simply respond in an interview.
Though you haven’t found your ideal career or workplace as a “fit,” Companies value loyalty.
While answering this question, do not let the interviewer know that you left the same job position over and over again, for instance, you left a software engineering job repeatedly. Also, let the interviewer know that with each new job, you advanced your skills and qualities, show the interviewer these skills and relate the skills to the job.
Do not lie about your reason for living, tell the interviewer in detail because he may research further. Let the interviewer know that this particular role is what you have been looking for for a long time and you don’t intend to jump it for another job. Tell the interviewer that you understand loyalty and commitment. Go ahead to tell them in your response that you were looking for something which you have found. This will show you are mature and desire career growth.
Your reasons can be
- The company I worked for decided to shut down.
- I felt unwanted in my previous job.
- I decided to further my education.
- I got laid off.
- I am looking for better career opportunities.
- Starting your own business
- A better position in another company
93. Tell us about any fun job experience you had?
To obtain a better understanding of your job, an interviewer would most likely ask you to describe any fun experiences you had in your former place of employment. Your response might reveal how much you respect your company’s time, work ethic, and if you prioritize work or not. Although this inquiry is pretty safe and innocuous, it may reveal some unpleasant tendencies in the candidates. This allows you to list your skills to achieve fulfillment in your career. Talking about past experiences contradicts the recruiting company’s goal and may raise a red signal for them. Try to center your response on a fun work experience that also benefited the company.
How to Answer “Tell us about any fun job experience” Interview Question
It’s essential to prepare yourself adequately when answering this type f interview question. The question can be framed as “What beautiful and enjoyable experience you had at your former job?” When discussing a wonderful time at work, never bring up incidents in which you disregarded your obligations or acted improperly. Work experiences that contradict a company’s objectives are a big red signal for recruiters. Your attitude demonstrates to a recruiter that you recognize professional boundaries. It also shows that you are not seeking pleasure at the company’s expense. Ensure to phrase your answer in a positive way. We advise that you share a circumstance that was both pleasurable for you and useful to the organization. Always Strive to streamline your response to a single topic.
Example 1,
The fun job experience I ever had at work was a competition the managers arranged last summer. It was an exciting competition to see who was the KING OF SCRABBLE and checkers and the winner and was given an all-expense-paid trip to America. It was really a great game-building exercise and I had the opportunity to talk with other co-workers that I did not know well.
Example 2,
One of the fun jobs experiences I had at work was during a charity fundraising where my other colleagues and notable leaders came together to raise funds for the less privileged. I enjoyed this because we rubbed minds and had a massive impact on the lives of many people. We were also awarded the best company for the year because of our humanitarian work in saving lives. I felt tremendous joy because I was happy to put a smile on people’s faces and also met new people.
94. If you won an X amount of money, would you still decide to work?
The purpose of this hypothetical inquiry is to learn about your priorities and personal beliefs. The recruiting manager wants to determine if you are a good match for the position. He/she is interested in your priorities and personal beliefs. They seek personnel who share the company’s cultural values. The recruiting managers want to know whether you will leave their firm if a better offer comes knocking.
How to Answer “If you won an x amount of money, would you still decide to work” Interview Question
Best Answer,
“To be honest, the idea of working could appeal to me since I would be smiling in my sleep every night. That being said, if I had $90 million (which is a lot of money), I’d think of a million ways to invest it in order to generate more money. I mean, even the world’s wealthiest men and women strive to make more money; they have made significant contributions to the advancement of mankind and make huge gifts to charities and organizations in order to make the world a better place”.
Best Answer 2,
“I will still work because I like what I do and I think I will love to be involved in my chosen career. I feel comfortable whenever am working and it helps in my self-development. Even Bill gates as one the richest man in the world still work to make more money.
95. Who do you think are our competitors?
Recruiters ask this question to how well you know the company you are applying for. If you aren’t aware of the companies competitors, it may be difficult for you to contribute to its competitiveness. This shows that if you are prepared for the interview and have a bit of knowledge of the market. This requires advanced preparation.
As an applicant, you should be expecting this question and be ready for it, give an answer that will convince the hiring manager for him to take you seriously.
Companies frequently inquire about candidates’ knowledge of competitors for these reasons:
- It informs them of how much research the candidate conducted.
- It informs them of the applicant’s level of expertise with that particular product.
- It indicates whether or not they comprehend the product by comparing it to rivals.
Here are some pointers to get you started:
- Conduct research about the firm and its main competitors
- Interpret the question rather than reporting on it
- Discuss the industry and market trends.
- Discuss what distinguishes the company from the competition.
This question can be daunting to candidates at times; nevertheless, it should not be difficult for you to answer if you demonstrate that you are prepared for it.
How to Answer “Who do you think are our competitors” Interview Questions
You will find it hard adding to this company’s competitiveness if you are unfamiliar with the organization’s competitors. Your response to this question demonstrates if you’ve sufficiently made your preparations for the interview and you have a general grasp of the business. You should endeavor to make a list of all the key organizations in that industry and conductive a competitive analysis to give you a deep insight into all of them and show your interviewer that you are knowledgeable about the industry.
While responding, analyze the data you’ve acquired instead of merely stating it in your response.
As you are answering, bring the emphasis home to yourself at the least point during your response. Be ready to discuss trends, Industry, and market developments, as well as what distinguishes this company from its competitors.
Example 1
“I conducted research, and it appears that rival A is outselling your product owing to their superior line functionality. Given the upgrades for the next generation that will be published later this year, I believe you will be able to reclaim a significant amount of the market share. This update will put you ahead in terms of functionality and will also save you money. I have a strategy to assist your firm in maintaining low costs and competitiveness; I wish to utilize my skills with enhanced efficiency.”
Don’t ever belittle the company in any manner, especially while addressing possible areas for expansion. Never indicate that your competitors are the same thing or superior to you.
Do not only recite facts about the firm; show that you know what you’re talking about. Never
attempt to improvise. If you accidentally provide even one piece of inaccurate information, you are at risk of losing confidence in your recruiter.
This question can be scary, however, if you’re prepared for it, it won’t be a big obstacle. If you’re planning to work with the organization, you should be aware of those facts.
Example 2,
Before applying for this position, I performed some research and discovered certain areas where your firm falls short. Your firm should investigate and strive to grow into regions where your products are required and desired. As a brand strategist, I think I have the talents and ability to help take your firm ahead in collaboration with other creative minds in this organization. According to the report, your company’s online presence is becoming more important, and there are several chances to go worldwide. There are several areas where I feel your rivals fall short, and I want our firm to seize control and strive toward them.
96. Have you been forced to resign from any of your previous roles?
Applicants should always expect this question in interviews. It is normal for the hiring manager to ask this question about your previous role. He/she will use your answer to know the type of issues that may arise should the company hire you. Be careful and calm your nerves when answering this question. Be honest about it, the interviewer might want to run a background check on you to confirm your story and they are likely to contact your former employer for confirmation.
How to Answer “Have you been forced to resign from any of your previous roles” Interview Question
Understand that recruiters do not ask specific questions for asking sake. They expect you to describe your job experience and why you reasonably left your previous employment. Understand how your previous workplace handles job references and verifying employment for staff who terminated their job rather than being fired. Do your research on the prospective firm’s reactions to potential employees and recruiters who call previous workplaces for confirmation. Hiring managers are sometimes not interested in the reasons that made your previous workplace force you to quit. But they will definitely want to know if you are eligible for hire or your previous recruiter feels you can be rehired.
Respond to the interviewer’s inquiries regarding your former work without sounding defensive or hung up. Write down your responses and extensively review them until you can explain them smoothly. emphasize highlighting your work performance history in your responses. Discuss your successes and achievements, however. don’t avoid direct inquiries about why your employer asked you to quit. Do not hide a job dismissal, which is the same thing as neglecting to provide facts that may result in your dismissal. ensure you describe your previous boss in a positive light.
Example 1
Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was forced to leave my previous job since I was unable to reach monthly sales targets as an affiliate marketer. Marketing was not my strong suit, but the company’s boss was impressed with my abilities and customer service. I had to refocus my efforts on client relationship management. This employment has aided in the development of my communication abilities.
Example 2,
I had to quit my previous position owing to health issues, and I needed medical treatment. My previous boss was hesitant to let me quit, but he had the little option because I needed to be replaced. I am now free of the disease and fully recovered. I can promise you that this will not happen while I am working for you.
97. Riddle or Puzzle Interview question?
Riddle or puzzle interview Questions are one technique for a recruiter to assess not just your problem-solving abilities but your lateral thinking capacities. These sorts of interview questions are frequently asked in programming job roles, software engineers, analysts, designing, and also coder positions, as an applicant you should expect this type of question because they may appear surprisingly in the interview.
Endeavor to practice analyzing and solving these sorts of questions as you practice your interview answers because the hiring manager wants to know your ability to solve real-world problems and mental competency.
How to answer Riddle or Puzzle Interview question
To be fully prepared, always for an interview with a writing pad and pencil or paper. Find and solve Brainteaser questions before the interview. Start your response by considering the sort of riddle or puzzle your interviewer wants you to solve. When you’ve determined the type of puzzle or riddle, you’re seeking to tackle, you may employ problem-solving techniques to assist you in locating the answer. If you notice any pieces of the jigsaw that you believe you don’t understand, you can request from your questioner for an explanation.
There are interview problems that may get quite complex, and it might assist to elucidate some of the facts provided by the challenge from the interviewer. Inquiring for an explanation might also demonstrate to your interviewer that you are looking for knowledge and the resources you need to assist you to ace your task. It is possible that your employers get impressed with your commitment and initiative to grasp what is expected and your set of skills too.
If confronted with solving a riddle that requires arithmetic or a quantitative idea, basic mathematical techniques are frequently used. Use existing data and techniques to assist you to tackle challenges that the brain teaser question may require. While responding, Explain the method and reasons for your answer as you go over your interviewing puzzle and riddle questions. Describing your thinking while you solve an issue allows the recruiter to understand how effectively your plan is, your reason method, and your method of fixing issues under pressure.
Letting your interviewer know how you came about your solution helps you to demonstrate your abilities and showcase your attitude to challenges. Though your solution is erroneous, you have utilized analytical reasoning, logic, and critical thinking to solve the problem.
Example 1
Destiny’s mother had 4 children. The first child was named January, the second was named February, the third was named March. What was the fourth child called?”
When answering this question, you should think it through before giving any answer and don’t rush to give out the answer.
Answer; The fourth child is Destiny. Why?
Example 2
An equilateral triangle has three ants at its corners. Each ant moves in a random path along the triangle’s edges. What is the likelihood that no ants will collide along with the triangle? Use probability to solve this problem.
Answer; “There is a 50% probability that the ants will never meet and a 50% chance that at least two will collide. As a result, the ants must all proceed in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, which reduces the original 50 percent probability of the ants colliding to a 25 percent possibility, because half of 50 equals 25.”
98. Do you engage in public speaking frequently?
This is one of the key competencies for most job roles. The question can come in the form of “Have you ever froze when speaking in front of an audience?
Tell me about your group presentations abilities, Is public speaking one of your phobias?, If you’ve ever delivered a speech in front of people, how many were they?”
When you want to answer this question, choose one of your best moments of public speaking, even if it is was in front of your peers or school debate. Your main goal is to tell them about your presentation. Speak with confidence and let the hiring manager be wowed at your intelligence. If you are yet to do any public speaking, be truthful and honest about it because it could be a criterion to getting the job. And if you are given the job, the hiring manager would instruct you to enroll in online public speaking courses, and with the help of your colleagues, you will be able to speak in public.
How to Answer “Do you speak in public frequently” Interview Question
This may be dependent on the work type, but one of the important abilities for such work function may be the capacity to make presentations in front of people. G generally, the greater the degree of the job role, the more public speaking abilities and presentation skills are required.
Nevertheless, the company size is usually strongly proportional to this demand. If the company is small, the more probable it is that the interviewee will be asked to make a public presentation, even if in junior capacity roles, but the speeches will be more relaxed and less professional.
Choose your finest instance of public speaking, though it may be simply in front of a tiny number of coworkers or club members, or your classmates. The goal is to discuss how you prepared for it, the presentation proper, and your audience feedback. Always give examples
In my former work, I was one of the speakers in a seminar organized by the company in collaboration with other top companies. It was a large gathering of 120 people about our new project launch. I worked with members of my team to create an approach by developing a 5- minute clip we put together. That was just the intro, then we used PowerPoint and hands-on to revealed what was coming in the launch. It was widely accepted that we were applauded with a standing ovation at the meeting. We receive positive feedback from the audience and even the CEO told us he was looking forward to the product launch.
Another example,
Yes, in my former work, we organize a yearly competition in colleges aiming to provide scholarships and prizes to students that came out top. I was one of the lead speakers in a gathering of over 1700 students and it proved to be a great experience. Students that came out top get to intern with our company. This helps to prepare them for their future.
99. Tell us what was your favorite class or classes in college? And why?
These are called “Top Culture fit” Questions. This college question is often asked to graduates or for Internship jobs and interviewees with no prior working experience. This could be somehow related to the role you are applying for. This displays your willingness to continue learning through your career.
When internship candidates have little way of relevant experience, the question comes in handy for the hiring manager. When you want to answer this question, pick a class that correlates with your chosen career. It could be a class you earned an A grade. Or you could talk about a tough class where no one got an A but you managed to be one of the few to earn a B. Talk about how you prepared for the class in the world of work.
How to Answer “Tell us what was your favorite class or classes in college? And why” Interview Question
The interviewer intends to learn about your interests and to see if your approach to your academics is strategic. Thoughtfully examine all the classes you’ve taken in school and let your focus be on the classes that influenced you the most before the interview. Talk about the professor.
What is it that the professor and course share in common? Did you acquire new skills from the class or it caused you to reconsider your life prospects? When you reduce the selection down to a few classes, concentrate on the class that meant the most to you. For instance, if a class assisted you in overcoming a significant professional or personal challenge, make sure you let your interviewer know.
The only way to provide a meaningful response is to be as specific as possible. Hence, in furtherance to measuring the impact, the class had on you, also discuss the teacher’s approach to teaching and if they contributed to anything particular to make the learning process simpler and more enjoyable for you. After you’ve explained why you chose this class, conclude your response by discussing how the learning experience has impacted you. If at all feasible, measure its influence by demonstrating how it leads to larger learning.
For example, one, the classes in my majors were my favorite in college and they got progressively interesting each year. It was taught by the head of the department and he brought it together with theory and practical application in my future work. I excelled in that class and passed the industry certification exam.
Another example, one of my favorite classes in college was during my b.sc days as I was very active and participated in Psychology classes. It was an interesting and competitive class as my colleagues compete with one another to top the class. It was intriguing and educative. You compete and use that opportunity to learn from others. I loved how the lecturer made the session enjoyable and devised exercises that pushed us to broaden our vocabulary and learn the class rapidly. Overall, the learning experience taught me that when you dig in, you realize why people do what they do, it made me start seeing human behaviors with a different eye, which is something I intend to take into account when I begin my work career.”
100. What impact or did you make in college?
People who participated in extra-curricular school activities fare better in teamwork and can withstand work politics. The Hiring Manager may ask you this Interview question during your interview session to assess your engagement and dedication to the academic institution when you were a student. If you did participate in educational clubs, community service, sports, Student Government, hobbies, organizations, arts, or other forms of extracurricular activities, you should tell the interviewee about them.
Recent graduates always encounter this interview Question. This is being asked for 4 solid reasons.
-He/she is interested in how you were able to assess the areas for improvement in your college.
-To know if you were positive and proactive for a change in your college.
-He/she wants to know if you were content with the status quo or if you were seeking to make changes.
-The positive impact you have had in the lives of others.
Your interest as a student will also give the interviewer an insight into what your future academic or secular prospects are.
How to Answer “What impact or changes did you make in college” Interview Question
When you want to answer, try to think of an area where there was a great opportunity for change, one you were actively involved in a way that will help bring positive change to your college. Sometimes, academic feats can signal that the interviewee will achieve more work-related feats too.
Another reason you may be asked this question is to determine how fully invested you will be in the company environment and culture. Some employees can only streamline themselves to work and will not get actively involved in any other affairs of the company for their benefit or the company’s benefit.
The hiring manager can also ask this to examine your knowledge of your educational deficiencies and how you intend to grow or enhance your different professional talents as it regards your career and works productivity. Make sure your response is honest, and add one or two major talents from schools related to the job you’d like to improve.
Instance 1
In my university days, I was an executive of the Student Union Government during my last two years. Some classes in my school lacked some basic social amenities. We did a student survey and discovered that the areas lacking such. We provided the students with a variety of study areas to accommodate their needs. We also organized a digital skill webinar and with the help of our head of department, we were able able to invite successful alumni to come in to speak at the event.
Instance 2
While I was still in school, as the course representative of my department. I and other executives had a positive impact on the life of students ranging from, providing loans to students to pay their fees, provision of exercise books and textbooks for the university library, and organizing a yearly talent competition where the winner and runner-up are awarded scholarships and other prizes.
FINALLY,…
We know by now; you are ready and well-equipped to take on any job interview and ace it. Go prepared!