Job interviews filled with interview questions are supposed to provide the opportunity for the recruiting business and the job applicant to meet and develop their understanding of each other.
The aim of this two-way process is to assess the applicant’s ability to do the job properly, find out any personal qualities that are an advantage or disadvantage and judge the general character and personality of the applicant.
With the help of challenging job interview questions, the firm will be able to ask more about the candidate and examine their performance, while the applicants will have the opportunity to clarify aspects of the job description as well as get more details about the vacancy, the organization and reward structure.
Interview etiquette
Interviews need to be well-planned and conducted professionally. Let’s take a look at the interview etiquette both for interviewers and interviewees:
- INTERVIEWER: Organize an appropriate venue (place) where there will be no disruptions such as an empty office space or conference room. Appropriate questions need to be prepared to avoid any discrimination or negative impression of the firm. Job description and person specification must be readily available for the interviewing panel. Study the candidates’ application forms, CVs and Cover Letters to get to know them applicant the interview happens.
- INTERVIEWEE: Prepare for the interview. Research the organization and the industry. Plan on how to get the venue on time. Re-read your CV and letter of application. Prepare answers to questions that are likely to be asked at the interview. Dress appropriately. First impressions count and can have a major impact on the interviewers. Practice interview skills. It will help you to answer questions more concisely and confidently. Do not be late. This will give a very bad first impression and no one likes waiting. Do not be critical. Condemning others such as previous bosses and colleagues will not impress the interviewing panel. Do not falsify answers. Dishonesty to interview questions may eventually surface, with devastating consequences.
The most successful interviews take place when both the recruitment managers have good interview skills and the job applicants are well-prepared for the interview.
Most common job interview questions
The most effective interviews follow a structured approach meaning that the same core questions are being asked of each candidate. Although interviews tend to have some flexibility, such as asking follow-up questions based on what the respondent says in the interview, by asking the same fundamental questions to all candidates, interview bias can be reduced.
Here is a list of common core interview questions:
- Can you tell me a little about yourself?
- How did you hear about the position?
- What do you know about the company?
- Why do you want this job?
- Why should we hire you?
- What are your key strengths?
- What are your greatest professional strengths?
- What do you consider to be your weaknesses?
- What is your greatest professional achievement?
- Tell me about a challenge or conflict you have faced at work, and how you dealt with it.
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- What is your dream job?
- Which entrepreneur do you admire the most?
- Describe your key responsibilities in your last job.
- Why are you leaving your current job? / Why did you leave your last job?
- Why do you think you will fit into this organization?
- What are you looking for in a new position?
- What type of work environment do you prefer?
- What is your management style?
- What is a time you disagreed with a decision that was made at work?
- How would your boss and co-workers describe you?
- How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
- What was the most difficult person you had to work with and how do you manage this?
- What do you like to do outside of work? And, how might this help you in this job?
- What are your salary requirements?
- Do you have any questions for us?
The purpose of asking the interview questions is to find and appoint the best candidate for the vacant job. When you are a job applicant, you can improve your chances of success at interview by preparing answers to those most common interview questions.
Summary
With interviewing remaining as the most common form of employee selection, asking the right interview questions in the right way, will help the firm to produce the shortlist of suitable candidates. In case of multiple rounds of interviews, shortlists may be reduced further at each stage and the final interviews may be conducted with only two or three candidates.
However, with interviewing not being a particularly effective or reliable form of selection, consequently, a number of other selection techniques have been developed to support the selection process including testing and references checks.
