Not surprisingly, many of the same questions pop up in interview after interview, regardless of company size, type, or location. I have chosen the most common along with appropriate hints and answers for each for inclusion in this article. Remember: There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, only good and bad ones.
Substance counts more than speed when answering questions. Take your time and make sure that you listen to each question there is nothing quite as a lengthy, intelligent answer that is completely irrelevant to the question asked. You wind up looking like a programmed clone with stock answers to dozens of questions who has, unfortunately, pulled the wrong one out of the grab bag.
Once you have adequately answered a specific question, it is permissible to go beyond it and add more information if doing so adds something to the discussion and/or highlights a particular strength, skill, course, etc. But avoid making lengthy speeches just for the sake of sounding off. Even if the interviewer asks a question that is right up your "power alley", one you could talk about for weeks, keep your answers short under two minutes for any answer is a good rule of thumb.
Study the list of questions (and hints) that follow, and prepare at least one solid, concise answer for each. Practice with a friend until your answers to these most asked questions sound intelligent, professional and, most important, un memorized and unrehearsed.
"Why do you want to be in this field?"
Using your knowledge and understanding of the particular field, explain why you find the business exciting and where and what role you see yourself playing in it.
"Why do you think you will be successful in this business?"
Using the information from your self evaluation and the research you did on that particular company, formulate an answer which marries your strengths to their's and to the characteristics of the position for which you're applying.
"Why did you choose our company?"
This is an excellent opportunity to explain the extensive process of education and research you've undertaken. Tell them about your strengths and how you match up with their firm. Emphasize specific things about their company that led you to seek an interview. Be a salesperson be convincing.
"What can you do for us?"
Construct an answer that essentially lists your strengths, the experience you have which will contribute to your job performance, and any other unique qualifications that will place you at the head of the applicant pack. Use action oriented words to tell exactly what you think you can do for the company all your skills mean nothing if you can't use them to benefit the company you are interviewing with. Be careful: This is a question specifically designed to eliminate some of that pack. Sell yourself. Be one of the few called back for a second interview.
"What position here interests you?"
If you're interviewing for a specific position, answer accordingly. If you want to make sure you don't close the door on other opportunities of which you might be unaware, you can follow up with your own question: "I'm here to apply for your Public Relations Assistant opening. Is there another position open for which you feel I'm qualified?"
If you've arranged an interview with a company without knowing of any specific openings, use the answer to this question to describe the kind of work you'd like to do and why you're qualified to do it Avoid a specific job title, since they will tend to vary from firm to firm.
If you're on a first interview with the personnel department, just answer the question. They only want to figure out where to send you.
"What jobs have you held and why did you leave them?"
Or the direct approach: "Have you ever been fired?" Take this opportunity to expand on your resume, rather than precisely answering the question by merely recapping your job experiences. In discussing each job, point out what you liked about it, what factors led to your leaving, and how the next job added to your continuing professional education. If you have been fired, say so. It's very easy to check.
"What are your strengths and weaknesses?"
Or
"What are your hobbies (or outside interests)?"
Both questions can be easily answered using the data you gathered to complete the self evaluation process.
Be wary of being too forthcoming about your glaring faults (nobody expects you to volunteer every weakness and mistake), but do not reply, "I don't have any." They won't believe you and, what's worse, you won't believe you. After all, you did the evaluation you know it's a lie!
Good answers to these questions are those in which the interviewer can identify benefits for him or herself. For example: "I consider myself to be an excellent planner. I am seldom caught by surprise and I pride myself on being able to anticipate problems and schedule my time to be ahead of the game. I devote a prescribed number of hours each week to this activity. I've noticed that many people just react. If you plan ahead, you should be able to cut off most problems before they arise."
You may consider disarming the interviewer by admitting a weakness, but doing it in such a way as to make it relatively unimportant to the job function. For example: "Higher mathematics has never been my strong suit. Though I am competent enough, I've always envied my friends with a more mathematical bent. In PR, though, I haven't found this a liability. I'm certainly quick enough in figuring out how close I am to monthly quotas."
