Almost every interview you step into is going to ask the same questions. They may be phrased differently, or they may be geared towards different industries – but they’ll probably be asked.
By preparing confident answers to these 4 questions, you can give yourself the edge over other potential candidates and hopefully secure your dream job.
Could you tell me about yourself and describe your background?
Your life is a story, and your interviewer wants to know it. Make sure your life story is short, to the point and interesting. A good story needs an attention-grabbing beginning, a riveting middle, and an ending.
Talk about what struck your interest in your profession and use that to lead to your education. In your story use your history, education, and passion to connect with your prospective company.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
An interviewer will be impressed if you have formed short-term and long-term goals. Talk about the kind of job you’d eventually like to do and the various steps you will take to get there.
Your goals will help to show your determination and ambition, which are desirable
What’s your greatest professional accomplishment?
Pick a situation from your working history that you’re particularly proud of and use the STAR method to talk about it.
(S) Situation – Describe the situation and the context in which the event took place.
(T) Task – Talk about the tasks you had to complete.
(A) Action – Explain the actions you took to address any challenges or responsibilities.
(R) Results – Explain the kind of results you achieved. E.g. “Increased membership by 20% over 3 months” VS “Improved sales.”
How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
The ability to stay calm under pressure is a highly prized talent. Share a story about a time when you stayed calm in a stressful situation. If you’re still working on your reactions to pressure, acknowledge that and share what steps you’re taking to improve yourself.
For more interview advice head to our resources page.