Mastering Common Job Interview Questions: A Comprehensive Preparation Guide

Navigating today's job market can be scary. If you have not conducted a job interview for a long time, you will notice many things have changed. As we all know, the job market is competitive, so it's essential to learn the best practices for interviewing.

A job interview can take different forms, each presenting its own challenges and opportunities.

Below are several ways to improve your interview skills and strategies to help you stand out among other candidates.

You Must Research the Company

Some of the first questions they will ask you in an interview are 'What do you know about us?' and 'Why do you want to work here?' Of course, you need a job, but you cannot say that. Employers want candidates to know about their company's values, mission, goals, services, and what is being said about them in the news. In fact, 47% care about this. Knowing about them will show your interest and prove you are not applying in a scattershot way to every job posting. That will not work.

You can use Glassdoor to learn about companies from former and current employees. It is a type of Yelp for employees and does have real posts. I know this because I saw a review of one of my former employers, which was 100% accurate.

THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF INTERVIEWS

Screening Interviews

These are usually conducted by the Human Resources representative and generally take 30 minutes. They want to understand who you are and why you are applying. They will probably refer to experiences on your resume, so be prepared by knowing your work history inside out. Then, if you do well, they will pass you on to the hiring manager who makes the decision to hire.

Behavioral Interviews

Almost all interviewers (85%) will use this format. Its purpose is to have you describe how you have performed in the past, which will show how you will behave in the future, hence the term 'behavioral.' This differs from a hypothetical question asking, 'What would you do if….?' Let's face it, anyone can make up something, so it's not a helpful way for someone to learn about you and the value you can bring.

The best way to prepare for these questions is to employ a S.T.A.R. method to tell your story.

• Situation: Provide the setup and context to discuss how you performed a task or faced a challenge.

• Task: Explain your responsibilities and the goals you aimed to achieve.

• Action: Discuss the specific actions you took to address the situation. Avoid saying 'we' and the 'team.' This will take some practice. Remember, the interview is all about YOU.

• Result: Highlight the results to show how you make an impact.

Typical STAR questions – (these always begin with 'tell me about a time and describe a time or situation):

• Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult colleague.

• Describe a time when you had to complete a project but did not have enough data to do so.

• Describe how you handle conflict in the workplace?

  
  

Prepare by thinking about scenarios you have faced in your jobs and create compelling answers to show how you succeeded.

Case Interviews

These questions are common in the finance and consulting industries. For example, they might ask a complex business question to evaluate your thinking and analytical skills. They want to determine how you come up with solutions when dealing with data. They want to know HOW you arrived at your answer. For example, a typical question could be, "How many e-bikes or McDonald's are in the USA?" The actual number does not necessarily matter. Those who can develop a structured approach to propose solutions or answers logically are 60% more likely to succeed.

Prepare by examining typical case studies to help you develop an analytical approach to solving the problem. For example, if a firm is losing market share, show your understanding of market analysis and devise strategies based on hard data.

Video Interviews

Even before the pandemic, video interviews were becoming popular. They save employers money, and in fact, 67% of employers prefer video interviews. Some of these are live one-on-one. Others will ask you questions and have you record your responses. A committee may also interview you.

Look into the camera when you are answering questions. It might seem hard initially, but it is the best way to maintain the all-important eye contact for good rapport. Make sure you are in a quiet space without people and pets. Test your equipment before the interview. Usually, if it is Zoom, you simply have to click the link, meaning you do not have to set up an account.

Choose a background that is not too busy. Also, make sure you are lit from the front; otherwise, it will be difficult to see your face and expressions. Close curtains and blinds if you have windows behind you. Better yet, set up the computer so natural light comes from the front.

Technical Interviews

These are used in engineering and technical roles to determine your knowledge about specific programs and platforms. They will evaluate your problem-solving skills, give you coding tests, and ask technical questions. If you have experience related to the job, you should do well.

Of course, it will always help to practice, review typical problems, and understand theories and technologies in your industry. In general, 87% of employers feel this is a good way to assess the applicants' skills. LeetCode is a platform that can help you prepare for these technical and coding questions.

Group Interviews

These types of interviews gauge how you interact with and collaborate with others. Since some of the most important soft skills employers seek are collaboration, interpersonal interaction, teamwork, and communication, paying attention to your performance is essential.

You will be asked questions, and the group will discuss the best answers. The interviewers will observe how each of you responds. The best way to manage this is to listen carefully to others and be thoughtful in your responses to solving a problem.

TYPICAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS TO EXPECT

• Tell me about yourself.

  What are your strengths and weaknesses?

• Why do you want to work here?

• What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your job?

• How long do you think you will stay here?

• What has been your biggest accomplishment on the job?

• What do you like and dislike about your job?

• What is an aspect of yourself that you would like to improve?

  
  

You cannot go into an interview and 'wing it.' Plan your answers in advance and be ready to tell your story. If they ask you about a strength, always use an example. In fact, it is important to use examples throughout the interview. This will prove you have the skillset and will know how to respond on the job.

You want to show you know you can do the job well. This can be done by using examples to talk about your accomplishments. The only time you will sound conceited is if you have an arrogant personality.

ADDITIONAL TIPS TO STAND OUT

Listening Is Essential

Pay close attention to their questions. Try not to get ahead of yourself, thinking about what they will ask. The last thing you want to do is ask them to repeat a question. Silence is also okay. If you need a couple of seconds to reflect and think about how to respond, that is better than starting to talk and realizing you cannot take back what you said.

You also CANNOT guess what they want to hear. Remember, this is all about YOU, and you know yourself best. Suppose you have several stories prepared in advance. In that case, you can draw on different examples, so you do not have to say, "As I mentioned before."

Dress Appropriately – Attire Matters

Your goal in the interview is to impress. Do some research on the company to get an idea of its culture. You do not want to distract yourself by wearing too much jewelry, showing tattoos, or too much cleavage. Unfortunately, employers WILL form an opinion based on your attire.

Women should wear a suit, a blouse with a jacket and skirt/slacks, or a dress. This applies to both video and in-person interviews. Men should wear a suit and a tie or, at minimum, a jacket and dress shirt. Both should avoid perfume and cologne. Make sure your clothes fit well, your shoes are polished, and most importantly, that you like your outfit. Choosing the proper attire reflects professionalism; research the company culture to guide your choices.

Once you start the job, you can dress according to the employees' attire. A study by OfficeTeam found that 70% of executives believe attire affects the interviewer's impression of the candidate.

Arrive Early for an In-Person Interview

Try to get there 10-15 minutes early to calm your nerves. You might even go to the location in advance to scout out the parking and familiarize yourself with the area.

Follow Up After the Interview

It is important to send a follow-up thank you note to the interviewer within 24 hours of the interview. Highlight what you would enjoy on the job and reiterate how your skills align with their needs.

Ask Questions

Most likely, the interviewer will ask if you have any questions. If you do not have any, say goodbye to a callback. You must have questions and ideally, they will be organic, having come up during the interview.

You can also plan to ask questions in advance. For example, "How will my performance be evaluated? "Is this a new position? What trends are they are seeing in the industry?

And do not ask about benefits like vacation and sick time. Of course, these are important but only bring them up once you are offered a job.

FINAL TIPS

It's a cliché, but you only get one chance to make a good impression. It is important to practice, practice, and practice. Record yourself on video and listen to the audio first to hear any filler phrases (like, you know, umm). Then, watch the video with the audio. What are your nonverbals? Are you using your hands a lot? Are you looking away rather than at the camera?

Once you have mastered these skills, you will do well. Since you won't usually get feedback from employers (typically due to legal reasons), I suggest you practice with a trusted friend, on video or in front of a mirror.

Finally, and this is important, prepare long before you get an interview. You will need more than a couple of days in advance to get it right. If you follow all these suggestions, you should be able to ace your interview.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you want to learn more about interview preparation and mock interviews.

Contact me if you would like to schedule a free phone consultation.

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