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Use the interview answer guidelines to make sure that your interview responses are in line with what the interviewer is looking for.

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Why do you want this job?

Basically the interviewer is asking “Why are you here?” The purpose of this interview question is to make sure that you are looking for the same job that the employer is trying to fill. It is exploring your passion for this business and this work. Why are you interested in this type of work? Provide examples of specific aspects of the work that interest and excite you. Convince the interviewer that you are looking for exactly the type of work that this position is offering. Rephrase in an enthusiastic and positive way the things you have learned about the job from the interviewer, the recruiter or the job posting and your background research. Highlight how your skills and abilities fit in with these job requirements. Ask yourself before the interview “Why do I want to get this job?” and prepare to convince the interviewer of your motivation and passion. Simply repeating your resume details is not convincing. Prepare a compelling job interview answer that leaves the interviewer in no doubt about your enthusiasm for this specific job and company.

Tell me about yourself

The interviewer is trying to find out if you will fit in with the rest of the team and the company. This job interview question also explores what motivates you and whether it is consistent with the position and company. Again avoid just repeating what you have written on your resume. What makes you uniquely qualified to do this job? Try to describe yourself objectively focusing on your key skills and abilities that will be of value in this job. Describe your character as it relates to the inherent job requirements. If you are not sure of what behaviors are required in the position you can use general work-related adjectives such as diligent, persevering, hard working, enthusiastic. Always keep in mind that your response to top interview questions like this should highlight how your skills, abilities, knowledge and character relate to the job and company profile.

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What are your strengths?

One of the most common top interview questions! Describe three or four strengths that highlight why you are the right candidate for the job. Avoid over-used terms and generalizations such as “peoples-person” but rather be specific about your strength and provide hard evidence of it. For example you could state that your strengths are your interpersonal skills and your ability to persuade people. Back this up by describing how these strengths have translated into strong sales or winning customers over. Describe how these strengths could be put to good use in the position you are interviewing for.

What are your weaknesses?

With this interview question the interviewer is evaluating your self awareness and insight rather than your actual weaknesses. Acknowledging a weakness is seen as a sign of maturity and wisdom. Refer to a valid and sincere weakness but turn it into a positive by describing it as an area for development. In your answer detail the steps you have taken to try and improve. Focus on how you have some limitations just like everyone else but you are aware of these and work constantly to improve on them to become a better and more effective employee.

Where do you want to be in five years?

The interviewer is looking for a match of expectations between your hopes and goals and what the job and company can offer you. Referring to goals and aspirations unrelated to the work you are applying for demonstrates a lack of interest in the current position and sends up red flags for the interviewer. It is best to avoid mentioning specific job titles and specific time frames. Refer in a general way to what you enjoy, the strengths you have that you would like to develop, what you hope to learn from your work experience, realistic challenges and opportunities you expect in your chosen career field. Align your goals and successes with the company’s goals and successes.

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Figuring out job interview question and answer strategies can be a nerve wrecking experience particularly for first timers or those that are in desperate need of a job. They would prepare endlessly for days, study self help books about ‘How to face an interview’, memorize answers to ‘expected’ questions etc. This article looks at the psychology of interviewers, job interview question and answer strategies, and what most people do wrong while faced with an interview.
Most people think that attending interviews means answering tough questions. Hence they try to prepare answers to as many questions as possible by reading books related to facing interviews. But it would be humanly impossible to remember all the answers and recall them at the right time. It should be borne in mind that by inviting you to an interview, the employer has already short listed you based on your resume that you are suitable for the job. Otherwise you would not have been called for the interview in the first place. Hence the purpose of the interview is mainly to ascertain three things – that the contents of the resume are true and that you are capable of doing the job, that you would be with the company as long as needed and that you would form a good chemistry with other employees of the company.
Keeping the above points in mind, the questions in the interview are likely to be oriented towards revealing the real you as most people write only good things about them in their resumes – as no one likes to admit that he or she was a failure. Most of the competing candidates would have more or less same qualifications; otherwise they would not have been called for interview and you have to stand out among the crowd by giving intuitive answers in the interview. While others might be busy rehearsing the generic questions, it might actually make it easy for you if you remember the main purpose of the interview as given above.
If you are asked the typical question, where would you see yourself in X years time, a proper response would be that you would want to be in the same position as the interviewer is, both starting at the same time. This type of answer would prompt the interviewer to ask more questions seeking clarifications. It would also send a positive signal that you are serious about the job and that you would stick around with the company. Giving intuitive answers would make you stand out among the crowd and compel the interviewer to hire you. Other points to remember when attending interviews are: questions are expected from you also, show your eagerness to know about the company’s business and lastly clear any suspicions of the employer that he or she might have about your capabilities.
It is not a requirement to learn by heart expected questions and answers by guessing what the interviewer might ask. You just have to remain calm and allay any reservations that the interviewer may have about your capability and the job is yours.

by Christian Schoyen, leading U.S. job expert, life architect, and author – ASecondLife.com

Everyone knows that the first step to securing a job is a compelling and convincing resume. But most people don’t know that the next step, the job interview, is so important that if you make a handful of common mistakes, you’ll blow your chances and walk away empty-handed.

The Problem: You’ve got the right education, experience, and references, all presented on a well-put together resume. It’s getting you job interviews, but no job offers.

The harsh truth: A good resume gets your foot in the door, but the right qualifications (background and experience) are only the first step toward getting the job. A potential employer wants to know what it would be like to have you around the office every day-your personality and attitude. That comes through in your job interview.

The Solution: Being prepared to properly answer the questions you’ll be asked greatly increases your chances for success. Knowing what recruiters and potential employers are looking for and how they think gives you a distinct advantage.

The Job Interview Secrets No One Tells You

As the founder of a successful global headhunting firm serving Fortune 500 companies for over twelve years, and author of the books: A Second Life, God is giving you a second chance, and Secrets of the Executive Search Experts, well as self help books on “how to get the job,” I have coached thousands of people who have gotten the jobs they wanted. Some of the secrets I shared with them:

Don’t talk yourself out of the job!

When a prospective employer invites you to a job interview, it means your skills meet their requirements and your chances of getting the job are great. The rest is really up to you. Nine out of ten people can shift the outcome of an interview toward acceptance, rather than rejection, if they know what to do-and not do.

- Learn the questions and answers before the interview.

Before an interview, practice giving the right answers to the questions you may be asked-which are usually very universal. The potential employer wants to get to know you better; have you elaborate on your skill set; and figure out if you are a high flyer, go-getter, just a “warm body” who will make no additional contribution outside of minimal expectations-or worse than that, a flat-liner who will actually drag down their company.

- Stay on point.

If a conversation appears casual, don’t be tricked into thinking you don’t need to stay on point and cover key information. Many job seekers are thrown off-balance when a potential employer asks about a hobby, non-work related activity or common interest in the middle of an interview. Answer briefly, but then get back to the real topic at hand: the work done by the company and how you can make a valuable contribution. The reality is: this interview is your only chance to get this job. So don’t close your one window of opportunity by screwing up the conversation.

- How to tell them about yourself.

Every company considers it a great test to see how effectively a job candidate communicates. Practice the format and structure of possible job interview situations-meaning how to get to the point and sell yourself convincingly and engagingly.

Don’t make the mistake of taking only five minutes to tell a prospective employer about yourself. The interviewer will wonder what kind of life you have if you can describe it in such a short amount of time. Don’t focus completely on your skill set and say nothing about yourself as a person, or you’ll lose your potential new employer before you’re halfway through.

Questions most commonly asked during a job interview.

Here are the eight universal questions usually asked during a job interview, followed by how to effectively answer them:

1. Please tell me/us about yourself.

Answering Question #1: Focus on hard facts that the employer needs to know. First of all, convince them that you can do the job you’re interviewing for. Talk about specific relevant job experiences in your background. Companies prefer, for the most part, to hire people who have successfully done the same job, or something similar, elsewhere. If our work experience matches up with what the potential employer needs to have done, then the risk factor that you’ll screw up is very limited.

But before hitting the hard facts, share information about yourself as a person. Everyone likes people who start out by saying where they are originally from and a little about their personal situation. Then go on to where you went to school and run through your work history. Big time gaps in work history are not good; neither is jumping from job to job if you don’t have a good explanation for why.

2. What do you do outside of work, or what non-work related interests do you have?

Answering Question #2: Companies ask a job candidate this question because most really do want to hire stable people with good, balanced lives.

Incorrect answers are: “I like to hang out at the bars,” or “I have no interests except for watching television.” Nobody wants to hire a bar hopper or someone who spends all of their spare time glued to the television. On the other hand, having too many outside interests can give the impression that they are likely to affect the quality of your work in a very negative way. I have seen numerous occasions where people say that maintaining their social life with friends is important to them-meaning their weekly outings with friends will always be more important than deadlines at work. A negative impression can also be given when people say they engage in a lot of sports activities, either as a participant or a fan, because it can mean that adjusting their schedule to attend or view a sporting event can interfere with or be more important than any activity at the company.

For the correct answers, the key is to show there is balance in your life. Safe activities to talk about are: going to the gym, spending quality time with family, and going to church, the movies, or the theater, etc. Having a unique interest, such as astronomy or something else mainstream (meaning not bizarre), will always be a positive. And because most companies want employees who have stable lives, being married or having a boyfriend/girlfriend is a great plus.

3. What are your strong points and your weak points?

Answering Question #3: Many job candidates are very comfortable talking about their strong sides, but have difficulty stating weak points. Being unable to do so gives the impression that you are not good at assessing yourself-when you may hesitate because you’re afraid you might not get the job. The truth is, everyone has flaws. As a recruiter I don’t mind flaws as long as they don’t affect the person’s ability to do a good job.

If little is revealed, the trick used by many companies is to then ask, “What would your current boss say about your weak points?” And, in most situations, a company that’s considering hiring you will do an extensive reference check and may ask your former bosses this question. Bottom line, by being open you will come across as a person who has nothing to hide-but don’t be so honest it’s ridiculous.

A highly educated young man I considered recruiting a few years ago, nonchalantly answered this question by saying, “I’m lazy. I don’t like to get up early in the morning.” Needless to say, I didn’t refer him for an interview. During over 3,000 recruitments I have conducted as a headhunter, not once has a client said, “Find me a lazy, arrogant job candidate with no drive and initiative.”

Some examples of the best way to answer this question is by saying things such as, “I speak only English and wish I had taken time to learn another language,” or “I can seem too eager because I get so involved in my work,” or “I wish I were better at speaking in front of large groups.” These types of answers convey weaknesses that can be overcome. It’s very important that your weaknesses wouldn’t affect your job performance.

4. Tell me about the previous managers/supervisors that you reported to.

Answering Question #4: N ever talk badly about your superiors or previous superiors (or your coworkers or former coworkers, for that matter). First of all, there’s nothing for you to gain by doing so. Even if you feel your previous superior was totally incompetent, saying so will only backfire by reflecting badly on you. Secondly, it’s a matter of showing respect. And by giving respect to others, you gain respect yourself.

Also, as a warning, I have seen companies and recruiters get so “buddy-buddy” with a job candidate during an interview that he/she drops his/her guard and speaks the total truth about a previous boss, which later in another setting boomerangs at the candidate in a negative way. To be safe, no matter what, just don’t do it.

5. Where do you see yourself in the years to come?

Answering Question #5: This is also a trick question. When you have nothing to say, you come across as having no aspirations whatsoever and if you say too much about big plans, it looks like you’re going to leave the job when a better position or opportunity comes along.

The correct answer is: “My main interest is this job. I want to excel at it and do my very best. That’s my objective and main focus. As far as the future, I would like to believe that I will become better and better at what I do. If this means I will naturally grow into another position with this company, time will tell. But again, my goal is this job and being the best that I can be in this capacity.”

6. What do you know about us?

Answering Question #6: The way you answer this questions indicates whether you are prepared. It’s very important to know as much as possible about the company where you are applying for a job. By being able to tell them what you know, they see that you are serious enough to have done some homework before arriving for your interview. Also, by learning as much as possible about the company, you will be able to ask the right questions and engage in an intelligent conversation about the company during your interview.

The key information to learn is the size of the company, the structure, products, services, history, the market, locations, etc., as well as details of the job you’re applying for. Also know about any important events relating to the company and market it operates in that have been covered in the media. This shows that you follow the news and stay up-to-date on what is going on in the world. Plus, you’ll come across as being very smart and truly interested in the company if you can figure ut what competitors the company has and how the company’s products/services are different (better!) than the rest of market.

7. Why do you think you are a good match for this position?

Answering Question #7: This is your window of opportunity to put all the hard facts on the table, convey the ways in which you are a very good match and why you are so unique. Remember, just saying that you are a hard worker and a very pleasant person is a given. You need to come up with facts about what you can bring to the table that others cannot. By thoughtfully assessing yourself, your skills, and experience while approaching your job search, you will have a specific answer to this question. The things you say that stand out could determine whether you get the job or someone else gets it. So, think of facts related to your skill set, your experience, a network you may have developed, or strong job-related interests that will bear fruit in the near future.

8. What is your current salary?

Answering Question #8: Talking about salary can be challenging. If the new job is for a more prestigious company than your previous employer, and the new job tasks are more challenging, you may believe at the start of the process that the job is more important than the pay. But when a job offer comes through, most people change their minds, often saying something like, “But that’s less than I have been making.” Most companies know this will happen, so they pay close attention to the salary question to make sure they are not wasting time on the wrong candidate.

The reality is that everyone, including the job candidate, knows that when they have made a lot more money in the past and accept a big drop in pay for a new job, they are likely to grab the next position that comes along with higher pay and jump ship. This is understandable when someone has a number of years of experience and a certain lifestyle, expenses, and status quo to maintain.

When asked about salary, the trick is to first get the company to reveal a number. Your best approach is to just say, “If you feel I am a good fit for this company and this position, I am sure we will come to terms,” or “The main thing is whether I fit the requirements of what you are looking for, and if that’s so, I would be very happy to receive an offer from you first, because I am very interested in this opportunity.” (Say this even if you are not.) By saying this you keep the focus on getting the job, while not disqualifying yourself because of salary demands. You can negotiate a salary once you know that you truly have their interest-by getting an offer, not before. If they know that in your current job you earn much more than the new position would pay, that’s a different story. Then you have to decide whether taking a pay cut is worth it to you, because they’re probably not going to meet or exceed your current salary.

When you learn at the start of the job search process that the salary range of a potential new job is below what you currently earn, you need to do some soul searching to decide if you still want the job. Simply ask yourself: Will this job take me further down the road to where I want to be in my career? If so, be prepared to answer their salary question truthfully by saying, “My pay today is ‘X’ amount of dollars and I know what my expenses are. I am not sure what your pay range is for this position, but I want to emphasize that at this point in my life, I seek to learn more and expand my skill set. This is more important to me than anything else, even if it means taking a pay cut.”

On the other hand, if you have no other choice but to accept a salary cut-whether it’s due to a bad economy, the chance that your current job may be eliminated, or because you feel unhappy and unfulfilled in your current job-ask yourself if this may be a chance to go in a better direction in life, where you will be experiencing new values and beliefs that can help you grow and evolve. If you believe this is correct, sincerely say to the hiring company that you are venturing into new territory where you genuinely want to try something new and different, and that the position in question is therefore of great interest to you.

Being honest-with yourself and your potential new employer-is the key here. Turn around and imagine that you are a company that is hiring. You don’t want to go through the entire hiring process and then shortly afterward see your new employee jump ship. Being honest will never backfire on you.

People need to look at the long term and understand that their own best interests should be driven by seeking knowledge and job growth more than immediate gratification, because the payoff down the road will be tremendously higher than just working for the paycheck and the ego. A hunger for more and more money is such a strong driving force that many people even go into fields/jobs/careers that don’t provide them with much fulfillment besides making money. Money is important, in that you should always try to ensure that you are paid market rate. But you should never turn down great opportunities because of greed for a short-term paycheck when the long-term payoff is usually greater when you are driven by a quest for knowledge in areas where your passions can thrive.

A proven system for making your job search more successful is detailed in the life manual, A Second Life, God is giving you a second chance. It contains an extensive chapter with detailed guidance on how to find a job, interview tips, winning the job and creating a job insurance policy once you’ve got the job. It also tells you how to fully develop all five key areas of life, so that if you are struggling in the job market, you won’t feel like the world is going to end. Go to the Web site: ASecondLife.com to download a free book excerpt and articles containing more job/career tips.

Don’t you wish every job interview question would go exactly as you predicted? You know, the interviewer asks questions just the way you imagined?

Unfortunately that rarely happens. You have to be ready for anything. That means you have to think through alternative strategies. And be prepared to answer questions you couldn’t anticipate.

But after all is said and done, there’s only ONE essential that will finally make the difference in terms of your candidacy. It overshadows everything else that may happen in the interview.

You will move forward to the next step only if the interviewer likes you!

That’s right! In the final analysis, once you’re in the interview, it’s less a matter of convincing the interviewer that you can do the job than of convincing them you’re the kind of person the want. That means they have to like you!

So, how do you do that? Here are some tips to keeps in mind:

1. Enter the room with a smile. Look the interviewer directly in the eye. Extend your hand for a firm handshake.

2. Be prepared to break the ice with a friendly comment. Could be about anything . . . the weather, a sports event, you’re trip to the office, where or what you ate last night at the BBQ, your pet, etc.

3. Let the interviewer control the pace and discussion climate.

4. On the other hand, don’t sit like a bump and just passively answer all questions that come your way. You want to turn this into a dialog. Be prepared to ask intelligent questions.

5. Be ready to answer objections without getting defensive. Identify in advance where your weak spots are and practice a comfortable answer.

Once again, remember, whether you get a job offer or move onto the next step depends a great deal on how much the interviewers like you. Of course, your qualifications to do the job are important.

But, don’t forget, you were invited to the interview because someone had already reviewed your background and decided you would be worth talking to. So, your main task is to make youreself likeable!

The recruiter holding the interview will have a list of questions to ask you, but do you have a list of interview questions to ask? Your questions for interview are as, if not more, important than the interviewers! You also need to learn the right interview answer to each specific question.
Unfortunately the increasing job cuts due to the global credit crunch means a lot more people will be going through the interview process for fewer jobs, so it stands to reason that those who are better prepared for the interview question and answer game (because that’s all it is a game!) stand a far better chance of landing that dream job.
Now job interviews are always stressful, even for seasoned job seekers who have gone on countless interviews.
The best way to reduce the stress is to be prepared. Take the time to review the “standard” interview questions you will most likely be asked. Also review sample answers to these typical interview questions. Then take the time to research the company. That way you’ll be ready with knowledgeable answers for the job interview questions that specifically relate to the company and industry you are interviewing with. Your task in the interview process is to make the HR manager (or the interviewers) job as easy as possible, do that and it will be a walk in the park!
Many of the interview questions they will ask you are to be expected. I have listed a couple of the more common ones below that people seem to have problems with, study them and plan your answers ahead of time so you’ll be ready to deliver them with confidence.
What Are Your Weaknesses? This is the most dreaded question of all. Stay away from personal weaknesses like “I’m a manic depressive’ and go towards professional traits, especially ones you are actively working to overcome like ‘my design skills aren’t great’ (do not use if you are going for a job as a designer!) But then emphasis that you are taking action to improve this skill, for example ‘to get over this I am taking a course on Photoshop’.
What is your salary expectation for this job? Here they are looking for two things, one can they get you on the cheap and two have they got the budget to be able to afford you! The answer should always be fired back at the interviewer, ‘I’ll need more information about the job and the responsibilities before I can discuss salaries but can you give me an idea of the range you have budgeted for?’ This will put them on the back foot and should give you some valuable information on whether or not to continue with the interview.
A couple of final tips. When you give an interview answer always try and answer in the positive rather than the negative (especially avoiding negative comments about past employers).
Maintain eye contact with the interviewer at all times, don’t look down at your shoes when searching for an answer.
Try and make time to rehearse your questions and answers with a friend before the interview, as they say ‘practice makes perfect’.
Dress for success, it is far better to be over dressed for an interview than under dressed (it shows you are making an effort).
Good luck on your job hunting.

Things can go really against you despite your thorough preparation for a just a couple of ‘types’ of interview questions. However, it is possible to ignore or forget the other types of possible interview questions. This brings us to different ‘types’ of interview questions, along with traditional questions or questions pertaining to your core skills.
Types Of Interview Questions
It is crucial for you to be able to anticipate different types of questions that may come up in an interview. Let’s categorize them into three types:
1. ‘Out of the box’ questions and hardcore questions are the traditionally asked ones that cannot be readily anticipated. They may or may not be related to the job at hand, and are designed to see how well you can ‘think on your feet’.
2. Questions That Test Behavior And Problem Solving Abilities. These aim to find how you have conducted yourself in difficult situations and how will you do if the situation were to repeat itself. Interviewers always want to test you for unexpected and accidental circumstances.
3. Lastly, There Are Illegal Questions which are sometimes cleverly framed. These are aimed to find out your nationality, religious or ethnic background, marital status, etc. Illegal questions are not always intentional, but sometimes they are. The world isn’t fair, and you may as well know this going in.
Sample Questions
Let’s look at some samples from two categories:
Traditional Questions/Behavioral Questions
1. Tell us about yourself. In my humble opinion, the most overused and overworked, and unfortunately the most likely first question in any interview. This question can be manifested in any form. As there is no right or wrong answer to this, this is an open-ended question, most often used by inexperienced interviewers. However, if this question does come up (and you should assume that it will), then stick to answering strictly in business terms; NEVER volunteer personal information.
2. Why do you want to join us? This is another question belonging to the same category as the earlier one but usually follows it. As such, it is routinely predictable and you should have your answer ready. You need to list the benefits of your joining them from both points of view (the employer’s first, then yours).
3. How would you describe yourself? Adopt a realistic approach towards this question and use adjectives like ‘honest’, ‘hard working’, etc., instead of the overused/ambiguous answers like ‘courageous’ or ‘results-oriented’.
4. ‘Describe a situation which demanded working overtime’ (or any variations on this question). If you have been in the corporate world for any length of time, you should have encountered this scenario. This question is devised only to see how you will possibly conduct yourself, as the new employer is probably anticipating similar situations happening should you be hired.
5. ‘Tell me about a decision that you made which was a bad one’. This may well be a hypothetical question. But if you had had made a bad decision, a ‘positive you’ will explain this in a structured mixture of truth, admission, failure analysis and so on. In other words, logically turn a potential negative answer into a positive one – avoid making yourself look incompetent at all costs.
Let’s take a look at some possible illegal questions. Employers know they aren’t supposed to ask them, but many do anyway (and some in different variations, so as not to be overtly illegal):
Illegal Questions
6. Does your religion preclude you from working weekends? (overtly illegal question)
7. Are you planning to have kids? (designed to reveal your family status, or perhaps your sexual orientation)
8. When/Where were you born? (A clever way of finding out your age or ethnicity)
9. Your last name sounds unusual; what’s your origin? (designed to reveal your ethnic background)
As a job seeker, you will invariable come across all types of interview questions. There are as many different types of questions as there are interviewers. It pays to be aware of the many types of questions that you will encounter – doing so will ensure that you handle such questions with confidence.

Interviews can be nerve racking and tortuous if you are not prepared. While the interviewer can ask anything there are always a few questions out there that are difficult to answer or can trap you into saying something you do not really mean. With a great sample interview question and answer you can prepare yourself for these tough points in an interview and come out looking like a star! So let’s look at these 8 great sample interview questions and answer them with style!1. Tell me about yourself.

Often used as an opening to an interview and is scary because it is so open ended. You could keep the answer short, or long. You could be brief or detailed. You have so much choice of what you can put into this answer it can be confusing and flustering … which is exactly how it is designed. This is usually just the first question however, they have many more to come so putting everything in would be foolish. What the interviewer wants if a quick summary of why you are the best person for this position. Use it as an opportunity to sell yourself and humanize yourself to the interviewer at the same time. Keep it short and to the point and let the interviewer get the other information out of you by other questions.2. What is your greatest weakness?

Don’t you hate this one! What do you do? Do you say you have none? Surely a sign of an out of control ego. Do you say you are a workaholic? Surely a sign of a liar or someone who considers working hard a weakness!? Fumbling with this question really shows a lack of understanding of what an employer is looking for. No person is without weaknesses and interviewers understand that, what they are looking for is some honesty and introspection. You can do this and still look like a great candidate for the job by presenting them with something that actually is a weakness of yours but also explain how you plan to fix this shortcoming. This shows honesty and a drive to better yourself and will make you look much better than any glib answer you can make up to avoid letting a weakness out!3. What are your long term plans?

This can be easier for some than others, if you have a good long term plan for your career you can probably let fly with your prepared objectives. For some though the future can be less clear. However in either case what the interviewer wants to know is how is your long term goals going to help his business, not your own. If you’re long term plan is to own your own business that is not what he wants to learn, he wants a good employee with plans to improve his company. Always focus on a long term plan that is beneficial to your interviewer’s long term plans too.4. Do you work well in a team?

No one in their right mind answers ‘no’ to this question but the interviewer is actually looking for proof of you being a team player more than a straight yes or no answer. Give the employer some examples where you have worked well in a team, especially focus on those times where working well as a team has given some success. Team sports, other workplaces working in teams, interest groups you may be involved in. If you name more than one or two it truly shows your ability and enthusiasm for working with others and being a sociable person which will be easily integrated into the workplace.5. Have you ever had a conflict with other co-workers or your boss? How have you resolved this?

Conflict is always a part of life and is no different in a workplace. The interviewer wants to know your social problem solving skills but also wants to know if you are a combative person. Answering no to this usually encourage the interviewer to dig deeper looking for any conflict you may have had even if minor. It is best to pick a single example and show how you skillfully solved the problem to everyone’s advantage. It is best not to give too many examples lest the interviewer thinks you are a trouble maker however.6. How would you describe yourself?

This is an interesting question and the tone of how you answer it often has more to do with the content of the answer. You want to appear friendly and confident without being too egotistical not too shy. Be honest with yourself and tell them your personality strengths not your weaknesses and present them clearly and quickly, you do not need examples unless they ask for them.7. How has your education and previous work prepared you for this job?

This is a question where they want concrete examples of how you would fit the role they are offering. It is also important to show behavioral examples on how your general attitude would be good for their business not just your job specific skills. Give them a few examples that showcase your skills, attitude and work ethic. If you do not have much experience concentrate on your attitude and examples from life or study that could be modified to show applicable skills.8. Why should I hire you?

This one can surprise many people with its directness. There is no room for doubt here you have to be confident that you ARE the best person for the job and don’t be afraid to show it. The interviewer is also looking for confidence, passion and commitment so you should give them a short powerful speech that shows these qualities without being over the top and obviously out of your depth.

While there are thousands of other sample interview questions and variants on each sample interview question as well these are some of the most asked and toughest questions you will encounter. Remember confidence without ego with good preparation is the key to success, no gimmicks or tricks can be used against a good interviewer.Good luck!