When it comes to which job interview questions make job seekers most nervous, a few stand out. According to a LinkedIn News poll they are:
“What’s your greatest weakness?”
When it comes to tackling these and other interview questions, experts have one word of advice: Prepare.
“Nothing gets us out of dread more than preparation,” according to Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, entrepreneur and author of “ChoosePossibility.” She says, “These three are some of the most common questions you get asked,” so you can think ahead and come up with your answers in advance. Here’s how to get ready.
‘What’s Your Greatest Weakness? Interviewers Want To See ‘Self-Awareness’
Your interviewers know you’re human and they don’t expect you to have no weaknesses. They want to see that you know you have areas that you can use some improvement on. You need to show them that you are aware of these areas and show them what you are doing to improve them.
With this question, they’re looking for “self-awareness, not perfection”. says Singh Cassidy.
‘Why Should We Hire You? What Are Your Strengths’
When an interviewer asks, “Why should we hire you?,” answer by being “very specific about the qualities and skills you bring to the table as it relates to the role,” says Andrew McCaskill, career expert at LinkedIn.
Start by making a “list of your … strengths,” says Singh Cassidy, then read the job description and a bit about the company’s mission and “attempt to guess what they need.” Look specifically where your unique strengths would be advantageous to the company.
‘Tell Me About Yourself’ For This You Should Come Up With 3 or 4 Points Of What Other People Would Say
ABOUT YOU.
Interviewers who prompt you to tell them about yourself might be trying to get a sense of who you are as a person or trying to see if you have the experience for the role.
Before attempting to answer, Singh Cassidy suggests that you should try to ask a clarifying question, such as, “Would you like to understand more about my career history, or would you like to understand more about me personally?
Have a few ideas in mind that could work depending on which answer you get. “I might go three or four points about what people would say about me inside work, and then three or four points about what people would say about me outside of work,” she says.
Final Words Of Advice
The key thing with these and any interview questions is to anticipate them and practice your answers ahead of time. That way you will come across as self-assured and, most important, well prepared for this interview.