Job Interview Guide 2022 – This article presents the most frequently asked questions and answers in job interviews in 2022, collected from The Muse, a world-class job search website.
Whenever you apply for a job, one of the things you have to prepare and do your homework on the hard way is to be ready for the interview. The point where you succeed in the interview is that you are the most outstanding candidate, not only in terms of your external appearance but also in how you answer questions so that you stand out in the interviewer’s memory.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if we knew what questions we’d be asked?”
Unfortunately, we can’t read every interviewer’s mind. Every company asks different questions and every interviewer has a wide variety of questioning styles. The best thing I can give to everyone reading this article is a list of the 50 most common interview questions. Of course, if there were only questions, everyone would be wondering how to answer them. So this article comes with advice on how to answer all the questions.
1. Tell me a little about yourself.
This question may seem simple, but many people fail to prepare for it. The key to this question is not to give a complete resume or biography at once. Muse writer and MIT career counselor Lily Zhang suggests using the present, past, and future formula. Talk a little about your current role, followed by your experience, and end with why you’re a perfect fit for the position you’re applying to.
2. Please give me your brief history.
“Tell me about yourself.” This is a common interview question, but providing a resume outlines your answer, so it should focus on grouping your qualifications by past jobs and tell the story of your career, and conclude with a mention of what you can do in the future.
3. How did you hear about this position?
A seemingly innocuous interview question, this is actually a great opportunity to stand out and show your passion and connection to the company. Even if you found the job at random, talk about how excited you were to find it and how it stood out to you. And of course, don’t forget to mention how happy you are to have been called in for the interview today.
4. Why do you want to work at this company?
If what you say applies to every other company, or if your answer makes you sound like every other candidate, then you’re missing out on an opportunity to stand out. Instead, talk about how you’ve watched the company grow and change since you first heard of it. Focus on the organization’s opportunities for future growth and how you can get involved.
5. Why do you want this job?
Every company wants to hire passionate people, so you should have a good answer as to why you want the role. First, start by identifying 2-3 key factors that make the role a good fit for you, and then explain why you love the company. You’ll win the interviewer’s heart.
6. Why should we hire you?
This interview question seems straightforward, but if you’re asked, you’re in luck. It’s for you to sell yourself and your skills to the hiring manager. All you have to do is craft an answer that encompasses three things: you can not only do the job, but also produce great results, you’ll truly fit into the team and culture, and you’ll be a better choice than other candidates.
7. What can you bring to the company?
When interviewers ask this question, they don’t just want to hear about your background; they want to see if you understand the problems and challenges they’ve faced, and how you’ll fit into the organization. And make sure you’re interested in getting a real understanding of any issues during the first round of interviews. After you’ve told them what they’re looking for, connect your skills and experience to what the company is looking for, and share examples of how you’ve done similar work well in the past.
8. What is your greatest strength?
This is an open-ended discussion about some of the things that make you great. When you answer this question, think quality, not quantity. In other words, don’t rattle off a list of adjectives in your head, but pick one or two specific qualities (that are relevant to the position) and provide examples. And if there’s something you’re hoping to mention because it makes you a great candidate, but you haven’t had a chance yet, now’s the perfect time.
9. What do you think is your weakness?
What your interviewer is really trying to do with this question is gauge your self-awareness and honesty, so saying that you are perfect and have no weaknesses is pure suicide. Balance this by thinking about things that you are struggling with but are trying to improve. For example, you may not be very good at public speaking, but recently volunteered to host a conference to help you feel more comfortable speaking to a crowd.
10. What is your greatest professional achievement?
Nothing says “hire me” better than a track record of impressive accomplishments in past jobs. A great way to do this is by using the STAR method: S – Situation, T – Task, A – Action, R – Result. Define the situation and the task you had to complete to give the interviewer some background. Then, explain what you did and the results you achieved.
11. Tell me about a challenge or conflict you faced at work and how you handled it.
If you’re asked, don’t pretend you haven’t been there. Be honest about difficult situations you’ve encountered. Most people ask to find evidence that you’re willing to confront these types of problems head-on and sincerely try to find solutions. Spend time talking about solutions rather than conflicts, and talk about what you would do differently to resolve the problem if you were to encounter the same conflict again.
12. Tell me about your leadership skills.
You don’t need a fancy title to demonstrate your leadership skills. Think about a time when you started a project, took the initiative to propose an alternative process, or helped motivate your team to get something done. Tell your interviewer a story, being clear about why you’re telling it and how it ties into the job application.
13. When have you disagreed with a decision at work?
What they want to know from you is how you handle conflict professionally and learn from the experience. Describe how you initially came to terms with disagreement, and relate it to the changes you tried to mediate, find middle ground between conflicts, and end by saying how this experience will help you in the role for which you are interviewing.
14. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.
Even if you don’t want to dig up your mistakes, if you’re trying to impress, the key is to be honest without blaming others, telling them your mistakes honestly, and telling them what you learned from them.
15. Tell me about a time when you failed.
This question is very similar to the previous one, so you should approach it in the same way. Pick a real failure that you were able to be honest about. Start by showing how you failed, then lay out your story and explain what happened. Close by sharing what you learned.
16. Why did you leave your current job?
This is a tough one, but you can be sure you will be asked. Try to keep it positive. You won’t gain anything by expressing negative thoughts. Show that you are eager for new opportunities and that the role you are interviewing for is a better fit for you.
17. Why were you fired?
If you lost your job due to a layoff, you can simply say that the company restructured and your position was one of the non-viable ones. But if you were fired for performance reasons, your best bet is to be honest and tell how you grew from the mistakes that led to your dismissal. And if you can tell how you would adjust to your current job, you will have a better outcome.
18. Why did you take a break from work before starting work again?
Maybe you’re caring for children or elderly parents, dealing with health issues, or traveling the world. Maybe it’s taken you a long time to find a suitable job. Whatever the reason, you should be prepared to address the gaps in your resume with some seriousness. If there are skills or qualities you honed or acquired during your time away from work, practice asking and answering those questions.
19. Can you explain why you changed your career path?
Don’t skimp on this one and explain why well. Give some examples of how your past experience can translate to the new role. It doesn’t have to be a direct connection. This makes a bigger impression when a candidate can demonstrate how seemingly unrelated experience is relevant to the role.
20. What is your current salary?
Hearing this question can be stressful. There are several possible strategies you can employ. You might deflect the question away from salary by asking about the actual job role, mention what you’ve researched, the company’s competition, or simply give a rough figure if you think it would be helpful in asking for a higher salary for the role you’re applying for.
21. What do you like least about your job?
One thing you shouldn’t even think about doing is letting your answer turn into something that makes you sound like a ranter, talking badly about your previous company or how much you hated your boss and coworkers. The easiest way to handle this question mindfully is to focus on the opportunity for the role you’re interviewing for to get an offer that your current job doesn’t have.
22. What are you looking for in a new position?
State your life goals that your old job role did not specifically address.
23. What kind of work environment do you like?
Do your research on the company you are applying to. Your answer should reflect the specifics of the company environment.
24. What is your working style?
This is a very broad question, which means there’s a lot of flexibility in the answer. You might talk about how you communicate, how you collaborate across functions, how you work more effectively, or how you approach team leaders and manage individual tasks. Try to keep all of these answers positive.
25. What is your management style?
The best managers are strong yet resilient, and that’s something you need to showcase in your answer to this question. Share your best managerial moment, or the time you turned a low-performing employee into a high-performing employee.
26. What would your boss and coworkers say about you?
Keep in mind that if you make it to the final round, the company may call your former boss or coworker for references, so be very honest with this question. Try to bring up strengths and characteristics that you didn’t mention anywhere else in the interview. Mention your strong work ethic or your willingness to work on past projects, etc.
27. How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
This is another question you might feel tempted to avoid, but it is important not to ignore. Talk about coping strategies, communication strategies, being proactive, and de-stressing at work. If you can give real examples of stressful situations, it will make your decisions and management decisions much more impactful.
28. What do you like to do in your free time?
Sometimes interviewers will ask about your hobbies or interests outside of work to get to know you a little better, to find out what you’re passionate about and what you spend your free time doing. This is another opportunity for you to let your personality shine through. Try to be professional and be mindful of your answer, which may make it seem like you spend all your time focused on something other than the job you’re applying for.
29. Do you plan to have children?
Questions about your family status, gender, nationality, and religion may be a matter of personal preference. The interviewer may just be trying to have a conversation and may not realize that these are limitations, but you, the interviewee, should try to push questions about your personal life back to the job for which you are applying.
30. How do you organize yourself?
Interviewers will often ask how you organize yourself to ensure you can handle the workload. Describe any specific systems or methods you use and explain how they benefit you and your team. Just make sure your answers are concise and organized.
31. How do you prioritize your tasks?
Your interviewer wants to know how you manage your time, use common sense, communicate, and adapt when needed. Start by talking about a system you’ve found works for you to plan your day or week, whether it’s a to-do list app or jotting down your priorities with colored pens. You can also explain how you handle last-minute requests or unexpected changes in priorities.
32. What are you passionate about?
You are not a robot programmed to work and then shut down. You are a human being, and if someone asks you this question in an interview, it is probably because they want to know more about you. Therefore, the answer needs to be directly related to the type of job you are applying for.
33. What inspires you?
Think back to what energized you in your previous roles, and identify what made your eyes light up when you read this job description. Make sure your answer is relevant to the position and the company you’re interviewing for. Try to relate a story to illustrate your point. Be honest with this question, as your enthusiasm will be conveyed through your honest answer.
34. What is your pet usually angry about?
Most likely, they want to make sure that you will be successful in their company, so try to choose something that doesn’t clash with the culture and environment of the organization while still being honest. Describe how you handle conflict. What have you done to handle conflict in the past? Have you tried your best to stay calm? You can answer this question short and politely.
35. How do you like to be managed?
This is another question about finding the right fit, both from the company’s perspective and your own. Think back to what has worked well for you in the past and what hasn’t. What did previous bosses do that motivated you and helped you succeed and grow? If you can cite a positive example from a past boss, it will make your answer even stronger.
36. Do you consider yourself successful?
You can view this as an opportunity for the interviewer to get to know you better and position yourself as a great choice for the job. First, answer “yes” and explain how the role you’re interviewing for fits the qualities, skills, and experience you’re proud of. Talk about your outcomes and focus on your accomplishments, while not forgetting the teams you’ve worked with.
37. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Be honest and specific about your future goals, but also consider your realistic expectations, ambitions, and whether the position aligns with your goals and growth. The best solution is to be realistic about where the position will take you and answer accordingly.
38. How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
Having goals shows that you care, are ambitious, and can plan ahead. It demonstrates self-motivation and organizational skills, and it makes you appear to have a purpose in life. You need to be specific about your goals and relate them to the job.
39. What are your career aspirations?
Career ambitions are bigger and higher than career goals. Your ambitions might be about what kind of company you want to work for, what kind of work you want to do, who you want to help, or how you want to be seen by your coworkers. So to answer this question, talk about what energizes and fulfills you. Be specific about how this job will help you achieve your career goals.
40. What is your dream job?
The interviewer wants to know if the job opening is a match for your ultimate dream job. Your best bet is to talk about your goals and ambitions, and tell how this job will get you closer to achieving those goals.
41. Which companies are you interviewing with?
They may be asking this question because they want to see how serious you are about the job and the position. They are trying to find out who they are competing against for the job. For your part, you need to show your enthusiasm for the job. You don’t want to give the interviewer the impression that the company has power over you, so be honest about applying or interviewing for another job for the same position, and then explain why this position seems like the best fit.
42. What makes you unique?
They ask because they really need the answer. Give them a reason why they should choose you over other similar candidates. The key is to make your answer relevant to the position you’re applying for, so the fact that you’re a fast runner, a good swimmer, or learned some combat skills isn’t going to be enough to get you the job if you’re applying for a management or finance position. Try to find what draws people to you, and be sure to provide evidence of those actions to back them up.
43. What should I know that isn’t on your resume?
This is a good sign if the interviewer is more interested in you than what’s on the resume you’ve sent. This means they’ve read your resume and determined that you might be a good fit for the position. Try to mention positive qualities, details that can be revealed from your resume, such as experiences, tasks, assignments, or goals that make you excited about working in this position.
44. What will your first few months in this role be like?
The interviewer wants to know if you have done a good job of researching how to get started with the company if you are hired. What will your first month, two months, or three months be like? So think about the details and aspects of the company that you are looking for. You might talk about getting to know your desired coworkers, talking things out, and taking initiatives to show that you are ready to get started. Be hands-on and involved from the start. A good answer will show that you are thoughtful and caring about the job.
45. How much salary do you expect?
The first thing to do to answer this question is to consider your salary requirements in advance. Look for similar jobs and find out how much they pay. Take into account your experience, education, skills, and personal needs.
46. Do you think we could have done something better or different?
You want to give a solid answer without belittling the company. Start by saying something positive about the company or specific product you’re being asked to mention. When you’re ready, begin by introducing your constructive suggestions. Use some of your experiences to inform the perspective you’re bringing to the table, and explain why you want to initiate these changes. End with a question that opens up the minds of others.
47. When can you start?
If you’re ready to start right away, you can offer to start within the week. But if you want to let your current employer know, don’t be afraid to say so. People will understand and respect what you’re planning. Taking time off between jobs is perfectly legal, even if you just want to mention that you have a prior commitment that you’re considering joining.
48. Are you willing to move?
While this question may seem like a simple “yes” or “no,” it’s actually more complicated than that. The simplest scenario is that you’re open to moving and would be willing to take the opportunity. But if your answer is no or something else, briefly explain why you can’t move. And it’s totally fine to say that you want to stay where you are for personal reasons, but would be open to considering moving if the need arose.
49. How many tennis balls can you fit in a limousine?
You may be asked brain teaser questions, especially quantitative questions. Remember, interviewers never want exact numbers. They want you to understand what is being asked and how well you can respond in a structured and logical way. So take a deep breath and start thinking through the math. It’s okay to ask for a pen or paper to come up with your answer.
50. If you were an animal, what would you be?
These are seemingly random personality tests. There are no wrong answers, but your score will be based on how well you relate your answers to your strengths, weaknesses, personality, and the job you’re applying for. Think of strategies to buy yourself time to think and choose the best answer.
51. Could you please try selling me this pen?
If you’re interviewing for a sales job, your interviewer might offer you a pen on a table, a pad, a water bottle, or something else. The main thing they’re testing you on is how you handle a high-pressure situation, so try to stay calm and confident and use your body language to convey that you can handle this, as if you were actually closing the sale.
52. Is there anything else you’d like us to know?
When the interviewer asks you this open-ended nonsense, don’t panic. If there’s something you want to say but haven’t, say it now. Or you can briefly summarize your qualifications at this point in time.
53. Do you have any questions you would like to ask us?
An interview is not only an opportunity for the employer to get to know the candidate, it also means you have the opportunity to get to know them. What do you want to know about the position? The company? The department? The team? You can find out all of this in an actual interview, or ask the interviewer about the interviewer’s opinion of the company to gauge the employee’s attitude towards the company.
Conclusion
In total, there are 53 Job Interview Guide 2022 items that have been compiled to provide guidelines for those who are preparing to find a job or are about to go to a job interview.
Admin would like to not recommend giving a canned answer to every interview question. But Admin would like to suggest taking the time to understand what you may be asked, what the interviewer is really looking for, and what will show that you are the right person for the job. Consider this list of questions and answers. When you actually use it, don’t forget to add emotional intelligence, expression, body language, and manners to increase the percentage of success in this job interview.
Good luck with your job interview and hope you get the best job.
Reference:
Your 2022 Guide to the Most Common Interview Questions and Answers
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