Facing job interview questions can be high-stress and anxiety-driving situations, especially if you are new and inexperienced in interviews. Understand, if you have been called for an interview, it is evident that there is a job available, and the interviewers need you.

Job interviews are a simple discussion that an interviewer has with you to find reasons to hire you. All they want is to check whether you are fit for the job and are the best option among the potential candidates.

For a fresher, things are simpler, there is no previous job match to be checked, or past achievements or records. They want to confirm whether you fit the position in the organization.

Before we discuss the commonly asked interview questions, let us first understand the mental make-up of an interviewer.

Employers set up most of the interviews around behavioral questions, this is because companies take it for granted that most of the relevant learning for you will happen on the job.

They are interested in testing your intelligence rather than memory. While what you have learned in college is indirectly or distantly related to the interview.

Unfortunately, we can not read minds, otherwise, it would have been great if you knew exactly what questions interviewers will ask in the job interview. While we can’t say exactly what they will ask, here are common interview questions and advice on how to answer them.

Let us understand what are the most common job interview questions and answers according to hiring experts.

1. Tell me about yourself.

This is one question that interviewers always ask candidates. Interviewers like to hear stories about candidates. The purpose is to check on their communication skills and train of thought. It is also one of the most common interview questions for freshers. Candidates can answer such questions without giving out too much or too little information.

Candidates, especially freshers can discuss a relevant incident that made them take up the profession. You can elaborate by adding your academic training and your passion for the subject or the industry you are working in. While the experienced candidates can cleverly spruce up with your work experience to make you a great fit for the job.

2. How did you hear about this position?

Interviewers are keen on knowing how you came across them. They want to know whether you are actively seeking out their company, recommended by a current employee, or heard of them from a recruiter.

Just suiting for a job may not work, interviewers are looking for candidates willing to join the company for mutual benefit. Try to convince the interviewer that you chose their company for reasons such as their vision and mission.

And if someone has recommended you for the position, be confident to divulge their name. The purpose is to be enthusiastic about how you’ve learned about them and interested in taking your career forward with them.

3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Attempt such questions by cleverly answering with a high degree of self-awareness and professionalism. Try to portray your strengths without bragging too much.

Be very precise and on point with your strengths, explain to your interviewer what you are good at.

Candidates should discuss their strengths in such a way that their positive points are highlighted.

While answers about weaknesses should sound convincing and honest. When sharing information about your vulnerable side, frame your answers in such a manner that the weakness can be transformed into strength later on.

4. How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?

Many jobs are stressful. This interview question is to understand whether you hold down the fort or crumble under pressure.

The sole purpose of this is to know how a candidate handles job-related stress or how they perform under stressful situations at work. Whether personal or work-related, employers look for candidates who can deal with a range of stressful situations.

Here, candidates can provide instances of how they have handled stress well in the past. Candidates may also share times when pressure made them work more productively and helped in motivating them.

5. How do you keep yourself organized at work?

Interviewers want to bring on board who can make sure to get the job done. Time management is an important soft skill that promotes productivity and efficiency. Candidates who are organized use their time, energy, and resources more wisely than those who are not. Hence, employers are looking for candidates who have their systems for staying on track with the work beyond the company’s schedules and workflow plans.

Citing relevant examples, experienced candidates may discuss their prior work experience, and describe the tactics, tools, and methods they used to remain consistent and organized in those jobs. Fresh candidates can discuss time management strategies used during their education.

6. Would you like to tell us why you took a gap year?

Since the world is changing so fast, some professions may see gaps in the resume as negative. Though a gap year will not prevent you from moving ahead, the interviewer will expect an explanation.

Candidates can provide a short but truthful explanation without going into unnecessary detail, while further explaining how it has benefitted and prepared them for this role.

7. What did you do in the last year to improve your knowledge?

This question may come up as a result of the pandemic. Interviewers may want to know how candidates used their time judiciously pandemic. If you have spent time honing your professional skills, discuss how the skill or knowledge that you have gained or learned helps you perform better in the job that you are applying for.

However, you don’t have to feel nervous about answering this question if you have not spent your time brushing up on skills or taking courses.

Your answer will help the interviewer gauge your willingness to invest in yourself to grow and expand your skill set into the future.

8. Why are you leaving your current job?

As with many interview questions, it is important to learn what the interviewer wants to know when asking a candidate this pertinent question in an interview. When answering this question, candidates should get straight to the point without beating about the bush.

Explain your reason for the exit in a sentence or two. Based on the reasons you provided for your job change, be prepared that the interviewer may ask you some follow-up questions.

It is advisable to share good positive reasons to change jobs such as, you wanted to change your career path, or you got a better job opportunity, or maybe you were underutilized or overqualified for the job.

9. What are your salary expectations?

The topic of remuneration is not always easy to discuss and is one of the most asked interview questions. Since every position is budgeted, the interviewer wants to ensure your compensation expectations align with what they’ve calculated for the job.

The interviewer may be checking how much you value yourself and your work. They may also want to check whether you’re at the appropriate professional level.

Candidates who ask for a higher amount than other candidates may be too senior for the role, while a salary expectation on the low end could indicate candidates with less experience level than the job requires.

It is advisable to discuss a salary range rather than a specific number during the interview while leaving room for negotiation.

10. Why should we hire you?

This is one of the trickiest interview questions asked most of the time though it may sound simple.

The best way to answer is to highlight your positive points to the interviewer.

Without sounding overconfident, it is just the time to brag about your skills, experiences, and how good you are in your area of expertise.

Avoid talking too much in your response, if you blubber too much, then the interviewer will lose interest in you. Here, candidates need to be unique and exclusive from the potential pool of job seekers.

Conclusion

The list of questions is endless. You’ll need to answer each question with poise and passion.
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