What is an Interview (Job Interview) ?
A job interview is a conversation or dialogue between a potential employer and a job seeker. During the interview, the employer has the chance to interrogate the applicant and review their qualifications, appearance and general fitness for the job opening.
Most companies or employees conduct job interviews before hiring workers or employees. In order to make it through the interview and secure that job, you need to be adequately prepared. First, you need to familiarize yourself with the questions likely to be hurled at you. You also need to dress well and look decent, no company would like to hire someone who doesn’t look decent enough to attract and handle their customers with dignity.
Here is a list of questions you are likely to encounter while in the interview room.
1. Tell us about yourself?
The interviewer is not interested in hearing stories; they simply expect to know your academic and professional achievements, your name and the institution you currently work for.Take a minutes to introduce yourself, and state your recent academic qualification and your relevant experience (if any).
2. Why do you think you are the best candidate?
The recruiter expects you to tell them about your professional achievements and the unique skills you possess that will add value to the organization. If you are a Customer Care graduate then you should tell them that you are a good listener and patient; these are the qualities the employer is looking for.
3. What are your weaknesses?
The question is not simple as it looks; most candidates go blank when they face this kind of question. Take your time in explaining why you can’t leave the office before you complete a task. You can also inform them how you are quick to trust a person, which in most cases makes you a victim.
4. Where do you see yourself in five years?
The employer wants to know whether you are ambitious or you’re the kind of a person who secures a job and then you forget about yourself. Answer the question by stating how you intend to further your studies and grow professionally as you strive to meet your employer’s goals.
(It is important to tie your goals to your employer’s goals because no employer would be willing to hire and invest in a rookie who will leave their organization in a year or less after they have invested in training the individual).
5. How do your friends describe you?
The question is testing your personal attributes, when answering it ensure that you don’t over exaggerate. Take the shortest time possible to state the best attribute you possess that you believe will add value to the institution.
6. How do your friends describe you?
Before you enter the interview room, ensure that you go through the company website to read latest news, company profile, goals, management team, objectives, vision and mission;they will help you answer this question.
(where the company is unknown, do your research and be familiar with the business/industry you desire to build your career).
The question expects you to briefly describe what you read on their website and not what you imagine of the company.
7. Do you have any questions?
This is usually the last question that the interview panel asks interviewees; if you fail to ask them questions, you will lose some marks, always have a question to ask no matter what. Ask them whether they have plans to expand their business, whether they support employees to further their studies and how they motivate employees. You can pull a surprise by asking when you would start, it shows confidence.
8. What is your salary expectation?
The question is tricky because as a fresh graduate you don’t have a clue what to be paid. Prior to attending the interview, make sure you do research on what they pay others of your level, Then add something like 5,000 on top. That way, you will set the standard not too high nor too low, hence the odds shall favour you. Ensure you do your research before you go for interview room because you must be asked this question.
9. Why did you leave your previous job?
Never make negative remarks about your former employer, just answer the question in a positive context that does not in any way tint the name of your former employer. In any case, you might not be looking up to work for that company forever, and no one would entertain you giving negative remarks about them in your future interviews.
You can tell them that you wanted to expand your mind and maybe work with a more goal oriented firm. Give an example with theirs.
10. When were you most satisfied with your Job?
The panel wants to know what motivates you, so take the time to give your best motivators. Don’t exaggerate though, just state what motivates you to work better, whether its working environment or your personal preferences.
