Reviewing sample job interview questions and answers can help you answer them the right way, especially if you’re anxious and worried you won’t advance in the recruiting process.
Job interviews can be stressful, that’s a fact. But being nervous and hesitant at the beginning is not the same as not knowing how to answer some of the most frequently asked interview questions. Feeling nervous during an interview is normal; remaining silent or giving a bad answer is not.
That’s why we want to help you respond in the best possible way. In this article, we’ll review some of the most frequently asked interview questions, and tell you how you might respond to each of them.
do you have an upcoming job interview? Here are some examples of common job interview questions and answers. Use them to prepare yourself and know what to say when the time comes.
1.”Tell me about yourself.”
Looking for sample job interview questions and answers? You should start with the most common one, the open-ended question asking you to talk about yourself. Talent analysts often start interviews with this “open-ended question” to get to know the applicant a little better, so much so that it is even one of the top questions in a job interview in English.
The problem with this open-ended question occurs when the candidate starts to ramble on and on about his or her professional profile in general terms. Some applicants make the mistake of mentioning the same information that is on their CV.
It isbest to prepare your answers for a job interview in advance and provide more valuable information. In this particular case, you can talk about how you developed a passion for your profession, and how your skills have helped you develop professionally.
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Let’s look at a sample job interview answer for a job interview in the field of social media:
“I was always a person who liked to investigate beyond the apparent and tell my findings, that’s what led me to study journalism. Over time I discovered science as a more demanding research niche and that’s where I want to specialize, that’s why I was interested in the profile of this company”.
Now watch what kind of answers you should avoid when you are asked to talk a little about yourself:
“These last few months I’ve been trying to figure out what I really want to do. The position caught my eye, so I applied to see how it goes.”
“I’m not usually very punctual. I don’t know if I can make it every day at 7:00 a.m., let’s just say that getting up early is not my strength, but…”.
“I studied at the Benito Perez Lopez school, I did all my primary and secondary school there. Then I went to the academy for a year. I entered university in 2010…”
Keepingthese examples in mind you will be able to know what to answer and what to avoid when it comes to talking about your professional profile. Let’s continue with other cases of frequent questions and answers in a job interview.
. “Why do you want this position?”
This is another of the frequently asked questions in a job interview, and it can also be presented like this: what is it about this position that caught your attention the most? To answer this question correctly in a job interview, it is essential that you review the job profile well in advance and make sure that your experience and knowledge are aligned with it.
Try to find those aspects with which you feel identified or interested. The following is a good example of an interview response for a sales job interview:
“I like dealing with the public and I have been preparing myself in various courses to have better tools. I think this position has what I need to continue developing professionally and improve my sales skills.
Now observe what kind of answers you should avoid when you ask yourself why you want the job:
“Could you explain to me what exactly the position is about?”.
“Well, because so far I haven’t been able to find a job.”
“My parents think it’s time for me to settle down and get a job.”
It is not advisable to apply for a position just for the sake of applying. If the job description doesn’t appeal to you or doesn’t interest you, it’s best to pass on the job opening.
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3. “Why do you want to work for this company?”
This is another typical job interview question. When answering you should demonstrate how much you know about the company you’re applying to. We do not necessarily mean that you know the history of the company or the exact date of its foundation, but what is its line of business, what does it do, what is its organizational culture like, etc.
A good way to know this information is to check their website and social networks. In addition to preparing yourself with this list of sample questions and answers for a successful job interview, it is a good idea to study the company’s mission and vision.
The following is a sample sports marketing job interview answer:
“I am very interested in sports and have advanced knowledge of marketing strategies. I know I can take on the job to promote your products and achieve good results. For me this company is a reference in the sector and I think I can nourish myself professionally working with you”.
This is what you should avoid saying when answering the question:
“I’ve heard they have good prestige and pay well.”
“I don’t know, you tell me, why do you think I should work for this company?”.
“I know they have a playground and you can bring your pet on Fridays.”
Talent analysts expect better answers in a job interview. Answers that only allude to the company’s prestige, benefits and salaries will not make you look like the best candidate.
are you sure there is nothing else that motivates your interest in working at that company? have you asked yourself if you will be able to adapt to their organizational culture? or if you are motivated to work in that field? Think twice.
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4.”Where do you see yourself in five years?”
This is one of the most frequently asked questions in a job interview, as it lets recruiters know your projections as a professional. What’s the worst thing you can answer? Saying that you haven’t thought about it or that you have no idea about it.
We recommend you consider the following sample job interview answer, because it can help you show the recruiter that you intend to grow professionally and help the company meet its long-term goals.
“I see myself working in this company, contributing to the fulfillment of objectives. At that time I also project myself with more tools and knowledge than I have now.”
You should try to answer very confidently and not give the impression that you are answering for the sake of answering. Here are some examples of what to avoid:
“I honestly haven’t thought in so many years.”
“Running my own company.”
And if you are asked where you see yourself in three years, won’t you know either? In order to answer this question, you can make (beforehand) a list of the career goals you would like to achieve.
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5.”What is your biggest weakness?”
This is one of the examples of job interview questions and answers that most affect the recruiter’s final decision. To answer, think about those criticisms you’ve most often been given, and what you’ve done to overcome them.
We all have areas in which we can improve. To answer this question well, it’s best to be transparent. If you have anger issues or are very temperamental, you should work on that, as these are weaknesses that may concern many recruiters.
However, the worst answers regarding this question have to do with candidates who disguise their weaknesses as strengths. Here’s a sample answer for a job interview where you are asked about your weaknesses:
“I tend to have high expectations for processes and when they don’t happen as expected, I get frustrated. However, I am working on improving. It has helped me a lot to work on flexibility, imagine different possible scenarios and incorporate creative activities into my daily routine.”
As you can see in this example, with one of the most frequently asked questions in job interviews, the important thing is to demonstrate a need and a desire to improve. On the other hand, these are the kind of answers you should avoid:
“I’m a perfectionist.”
“I work too hard.”
“My biggest weakness is that I have too many strengths.”
“I don’t think I have any weaknesses.”
Saying in a job interview, that you have a hard time managing your time and pointing out that you are working on it is much better than saying you don’t have any weaknesses or that you are too much of a perfectionist. Don’t hide your weaknesses. Remember that no one is perfect.
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6.”Do you have any questions?”
There are types of interviews where the interviewer asks at the end if everything is clear or there are any questions. Some applicants often respond that they have no questions, which for many HR managers qualifies as one of the biggest mistakes in a job interview.
Although it is thought that in the scheme of frequently asked questions and answers in a job interview, the one who asks is always the recruiter, it is well seen that talent also asks questions. the reason? It can be interpreted as a lack of interest in the position they are applying for. Therefore, it is advisable to have two or three questions for the interviewer. Here are some examples so you know what to answer:
“I would like to know what are the goals you have for this position in the short and medium term.”
“What is the work environment like within the company?”.
“How do you manage peaks of overwork, do you use overtime, or do you reinforce the team in a timely manner?”.
These are questions you can ask the recruiter. Try to ask one or two on a case-by-case basis. It will be time to ask many other details once you are selected.
7. “Why do you want to change jobs?”
Questions related to your previous job, the boss you had, or the activities you had are usually questions that encourage you to talk about the negative. So you should be very careful when crafting your answers in a job interview. Pay attention to the following example:
“In my previous job I completed a learning cycle that was valuable to me. From my previous boss I learned (express here what you consider you have learned). But I understood that I was not going to learn anything more there and so I decided to look for other opportunities for my professional growth”.
When thinking about your answers for a job interview, focus on the positive side of your experience and express your need to seek new professional horizons. As you can see, it will be better to close a dependency relationship in the best possible way, since it will leave a point in your favor for new searches.
8. “What is your desired salary?”
Yes, we know that it can be very uncomfortable that moment when you are asked about your salary pretension. However, you must have a clear answer, as this is one of the questions frequently asked in job interviews.
Your answer will have a lot to do with your level of experience and your financial aspirations in relation to this. In any case, if the job interests you, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to get it. Therefore, it is very important to have some answers prepared for a successful job interview.
If you are a highly qualified and experienced professional, you will surely have a clear amount of money and you are going to propose it without hesitation. But maybe you are a young person just starting out in your working life and your priority is to get your first job. Whatever your case, we all want to have the best possible salary, don’t we? Take a look at this example so you can plan your answers in a job interview:
“I have the best expectations regarding my salary given my background and skills, and considering the ranges that are handled in the labor market I have thought about (…)”. In some cases a counter-question can be a good strategy. “And what would be the range that the company is managing?” “I consider that due to my experience I would aspire to start with (…)”.
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9. “Do you like to work alone or in a team?”
Sample answers to this frequently asked job interview question are going to depend on the position you’re applying for. But in most cases, every job requires interaction and integration of a group. And at the same time, problem-solving skills.
If you want to have good answers for a job interview, look at the following example:
“I feel comfortable working in a team, I think it is very nurturing, but I also like to have spaces of concentration in which I can advance tasks more individually, I think it is healthy to know how to balance both situations.”
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10. “Why do you think you’re the right person for the position?”
This is the last item on our list of frequently asked questions and answers in a job interview, and it may be one of the most important. The idea is for you to demonstrate why they should choose you over the other candidates.
Don’t worry if you can’t think of answers for a job interview in which you are asked to justify your profile. We’ll give you an example that can be very useful, and that you can surely use to surprise recruiters:
“I consider that in addition to meeting the knowledge and skills needed for this job, I have developed a series of skills or soft skills that allow me to be flexible, communicate assertively and work in a team.”
Pointing out those things that make you a well-rounded professional can be very helpful when competing with other people for a position in a company.
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With these sample job interview questions and answers, you’ve already won part of the interview. Remember not to disguise your weaknesses as strengths and convey confidence when speaking.
see you soon!