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Interviews can be stressful and anxiety-inducing, but they don’t have to be. With the right amount of preparation, you can walk into your next interview feeling calm, collected, and ready to make a strong first impression.
To help you prepare for your next interview, let’s take a look at how to answer common interview questions, why interviewers ask them in the first place, and some helpful tips for nailing interviews.
How to Answer Common Interview Questions
According to Forbes, only about 20% of job applicants receive an interview. This means that if you’ve made it this far, then you’re already ahead of most of the competition. To turn this interview opportunity into a job offer, you need to answer your interview questions in a way that proves that you’re fit for the role.
While many interview questions will vary greatly by your industry, you’ll get a lot of those terrible, nebulous ones that you feel like you’re always answering wrong. These questions are common across all industries, and they include:
- What is your greatest weakness?
- Can you tell me a little about yourself?
- Why should we hire you?
- What makes you stand out from other applicants?
- Why do you want to work here?
- What is your five-year plan?
- How did you resolve a conflict at work?
- How do you define success?
- What are your salary expectations?
- Do you have any questions?
Knowing how to answer these common interview questions allows you to set yourself apart from the competition and make a strong first impression.
What is your greatest weakness?
This can be particularly difficult to answer because it can feel like you're forced to explain why you’re not fit for the role. However, you can use this question as an opportunity to demonstrate how you're constantly self-improving.
For example, you can say, “I struggle with organization, but I’ve taken self-management courses, and now I can stay on track and hit deadlines.”
Can you tell me a little about yourself?
This question gives you the chance to explain how your professional background makes you the ideal candidate for the role. Rather than going into details about your personal life, discuss your recent work experience, relevant skills, and career aspirations.
When answering this question, be sure to keep it brief and tailored towards the position you’re applying for. When wrapping up your answer, mention why you’re excited for the position and explain how it aligns with your career goals.
Why should we hire you?
To answer this question effectively, you should briefly explain how your skills and qualifications align with the needs of the company you’re interviewing with.
Most companies put what they’re looking for in their job applications, so you can use this information to draw comparisons between what they want and what you have to offer.
What makes you stand out from other applicants?
You can use this question to highlight your unique skills, qualities, and experiences. To do this, you should:
- Discuss something that is unique or rare about yourself
- Support your claim with a specific achievement or experience
- Explain how this unique skill, quality, or experience will help you in the role
If you’re at a loss for words and don’t know what makes you unique, you can always discuss your work ethic, ability to grow and improve, or passion for the industry. Be sure to personalize your answer and demonstrate how your unique qualifications align with the company’s needs.
Why do you want to work here?
This question helps you prove that you’ve done your homework and you're excited about the job role. To do this, thoroughly research the company and identify its mission, values, and recent achievements.
This will help you explain why you’re impressed with the company and how your goals and skills align with theirs.
What is your five-year plan?
You don’t need a step-by-step roadmap to answer this question effectively. Instead, you need to prove to the interviewer that you’re driven, ambitious, and capable of long-term thinking.
When explaining your five-year plan, you should focus on the direction that you want to grow in. Explain the goals and skills that you hope to achieve in the near future, and mention how the job you’re applying for will help you accomplish them.
How did you resolve a conflict at work?
To answer this question, you can use the STAR method:
- Situation—Set the scene of the problem
- Task—Explain what the challenge was
- Action—Explain how you solved the problem
- Result—Explain how your actions led to a positive outcome
By using the STAR method, you can effectively explain how your problem-solving skills can help resolve problems in the workplace. When using the STAR method, be sure to keep your story brief and avoid placing the blame on others.
How do you define success?
When answering this question, you can explain what motivates you, what you value in your work, and how you measure personal and professional growth. Make sure you mention how your definition of success relates to both personal and team success.
What are your salary expectations?
To prepare for this question, you should research what the normal salary range is for the position you are applying for. Based on your prior experience, you can make either the lower or higher end of the usual salary range.
When letting the interviewer know what you expect to make, be sure to mention that you’re flexible and open to hearing what they usually offer for the position.
Do you have any questions?
Most interviewers will ask this at the end of the interview, and you should never say that you don’t have any questions for them. Instead, you can ask them:
- Can you tell me more about the team I’d be working with?
- What challenges might I face in this role?
- What does a typical day or week look like in this role?
- What opportunities are there for professional development or career growth?
- What are the next steps in the interview process?
Asking these questions will let the interviewer know that you’re genuinely interested in the role and you’re evaluating whether the role is the right mutual fit.
Why Do Interviewers Ask These Questions?
Although these questions might seem generic and nebulous, there are very specific intentions behind every question. Some of the reasons why you’re asked these questions in interviews include:
- See if your personality fits in with the team
- Make sure you’re in it for the long haul
- See how you are likely to act in a challenging situation
- See how your brain works/organizes information
- See if you’re a liability in challenging situations
Just as you need to make sure that the position you’re applying for is right for you, the interviewers need to make sure you’re the right fit for the job role.
5 Helpful Tips for Nailing an Interview
To help you perform well in an interview and make a strong first impression, here are five helpful tips:
- Research, prepare, and practice your answers
- Show up early to calm nerves
- Have a few highs and lows at the ready to talk about
- Find out how you can spin negatives into positives or show how you’ve grown because of those lessons
- Believe in yourself
It’s common to feel nervous or anxious before an interview, but with the right preparation, mindset, and confidence in your abilities, you can walk in feeling confident, focused, and ready to make a strong impression.
Read our related article for a full guide on how to prepare for an interview.
Prepare for Your Next Career With REDC
The REDC at Yavapi College offers the tools and resources you need to kickstart your next career. Whether you need help with writing a compelling resume, building interview skills, or connecting with potential employers, we provide expert guidance and support every step of the way.
Explore our career resources today to see how REDC can help you land your dream job.