Getting shortlisted for the interview round can be as anxiety-inducing as exciting. The pressure to convert the interview and put your best foot forward is where the actual assessment begins. You are judged for your first impression based on how you are dressed up, confidence, self-awareness, goals, and values aligning with the organization, and the list is unending. While we cannot foresee what questions will be asked in the interview, a set of hygiene questions can help you with overall preparation, considering different possible sets of aspects you should know about. Let us jump right into it!
1) Sing them your story- The “tell us something about yourself”:
The ‘Tell us something about yourself is not only a good ice breaker in the interview but gives the interview a net of subjects from which he could know you better and guide the interview. It is an opportunity to speak of things you could not mention in the CV but is valuable enough to prove you as a qualitative fit for the organization. This question can be used to tell the interviewer your story woven in passion, facts, and reasons leading you to the recent interview and why you belong there. Doing the same helps to keep your answers well structured and concise. You could connect it with your background, interests, and aspirations. While discussing your work, touch upon the challenges you faced, your actions to address them, and the results you achieved to make it more relevant and authentic. Also, do not forget to mention your key learnings to show what you have extracted from it all till now.
2) Why this organization?
While this is an important question that is never ignored in an interview, it is one that you should also ask yourself too before applying for any company. The company’s work and core values must align with yours to not create any dissonance. Organizations also look beyond the basic answers like more prominent brands and better pay and expect you to have a strong valid reason. The position, work environment, and organizational culture should align with your short and long-term goals. It would be wise to show them that you have the values, skills, and vision they hold and hence want to be a part of the tribe, connecting your offerings with their expectations.
3) Your strengths and weaknesses
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is asked to check if you can analyze your shortcomings and strengths, be self-aware, and work on properly using them. Understanding this also tells them that you would be able to rationally understand the same for your team and delegate and manage accordingly. This question can be answered using the STAR method- Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
Hence, it would help if you took the time to introspect and write down your strengths and weaknesses. It is helpful to answer situations or actual events, i.e., how your strength helped you in the past or how your weakness impeded you. Also, it could be tempting to downplay your weaknesses and emphasize your strengths; the rather candid and thoughtful response is usually highly appreciated. But to take care, while being candid help, it should be taken care that your state’s weaknesses should not be insurmountable. Show the panelists that while you are aware of your weaknesses, you are trying to conquer them.
4) Long term/short terms goals
To answer this question, you need to introspect on what you like doing, what skills you need for it, and if you want it to be your career. It is essential to separate hobbies from earning stints to help you decide what you want to do in terms of career perspective. Being transparent with this will help you set your long and short-term goals. After you know them, you will also be able to analyze if the current job profile you are applying for sits in your goals or not. If it does not, but you are desperate for the job or otherwise, you need to mold your story to prove that this helps you reach where you want to belong and is what you do; be it to reach your long term goal or as a short term millstone in a longer journey. The proper intent is what is considered.
5) Why the job profile?
The first step to answering this question is keeping your calm and understanding why the interviewer asks this question. Try to outline your goals, objectives, skills, and passion and emphasize how this profile makes you closer to it. Instead of providing a generic answer, make it personal. Talk about how it fits your developing skills and career aspirations. Try to fit in the organization in your response. Be sure to mention the benefits they will provide you in terms of skill development and career advancement and how you will revert about the same in your performance.
6) Why did you leave your last job?
While this question does not apply to freshers, it is generally asked for a background check to verify the candidature and his nature, intentions, and attitude. Saying negative things about the previous organization is taken as a negative reply. Continuous switching jobs shows disloyalty or a money-centric mindset. It is advisable to have valid reasons prepared and thought of before presenting yourself for the interview for every career decision taken, in general.
Personal interviews are an exercise that allows panelists to know you better. So try to make it a discussion rather than just answering questions. And as much as they choose you for the job, you decide to work with them or not, hence stay confident and make the right choice. We hope you convert to your dream job and never have to crib about work. To find full-time jobs visit us.
