Although it is almost impossible to predict what questions you will be asked in an interview, there are certain ones which are particularly common and come on regular basis. The simple looking can actually prove to be very tricky sometimes. They need to be answered carefully.
Following are some most common interview questions and answers asked in job interview for freshers and experienced job seeker.
- Tell us about yourself.
- What are your greatest strengths?
- What are your greatest weaknesses?
- Why are you leaving the previous job?
- What are your hobbies?
- Why should we hire you?
- Are you willing to relocate for work?
- Where do you see yourself five years down the line?
- Why do you want to work for this company?
- Do you have any questions for us?
10 Most Common Interview Questions and Answers
1. Tell us about yourself.
How to Answer – Start with your present situation and explain why you are well qualified for the position. Remember that the key to all successful interviews is to match your qualifications to what the interviewer is looking for.
2. What are your greatest strengths?
How to Answer – Prior to any interview, you should have a mentally prepared list of your greatest strengths. You should have some examples ready, which illustrate a time in the past when you have demonstrated these strengths.
3. What are your greatest weaknesses?
How to Answer – Even though the interviewer has asked for weaknesses, any admission of personal shortcomings may make you incompetent. Assure the interviewer that you can think of nothing that would stand in the way of your performing in this position with excellence. Then quickly review your strongest qualifications.
4. Why are you leaving the previous job?
How to Answer – This question is asked to professionals and experienced applicants. Never bad mouth your previous employer, company, board, boss, staff, employees or customers. Don’t be secretive and state honestly what you would be hoping to gain from moving to new company.
5. What are your hobbies?
How to Answer – This is a commonly asked question in all jobs interview i.e govt. jobs or private jobs interview. The interviewer tries to gauge about your personality and how fit you can be for the company’s culture. You can talk about your own hobbies and interests here. This part of your answer should refer to your extracurricular activities like Community service, Volunteer work, Competing on a sports team, meeting people etc. Avoid sharing hobbies that can give a bad impression such as gambling.
6. Why should we hire you?
How to Answer – Whether your interviewer asks you this question explicitly or not, it is the most important question of your interview. No matter what questions they are asking you verbally throughout the interview, the one question that keeps through their mind is this “why should we hire him/her?”. If you have not convinced them that the answer is positive one by the end of interview then you will not get the job. So help them towards a positive answer!
7. Are you willing to relocate for work?
How to Answer – You need to understand the purpose of this question. The purpose is fairly obvious to find out if the candidate is willing to move to a different location. Fresher candidate do not say yes at once. This will show your desperation to be a part of the company.
8. Where do you see yourself five years down the line?
How to Answer – Assure your interviewer that you are looking forward for making long term commitment. Tell them that this position is exactly what you are looking for and that you have the appropriate skills to carry it out effectively.
9. Why do you want to work for this company?
How to Answer – The best sources for researching your targeting company are annual reports, the corporate newsletter, contacts you know at the company or advertisements and articles about the company. Equally, useful is the company’s website and articles elsewhere on the internet about them.
10. Do you have any questions for us?
How to Answer – This is the last question that usually interviewers ask during an interview and probably your very first chance to ask a question. This is your chance to really belief out, so don’t say that you don’t have any question to ask. Instead, prepare at least five questions in mind about the company and ask them to your interviewer which can show you’re interested in doing the job and willing to know more which creates a positive impact.