Many people find themselves looking for new jobs at unexpected and hard times. Most people know there are common questions they will be asked during a job interview, many people even have been asked these questions before. But nonetheless, too many people are unprepared for these questions. Read on to find out the top 10 questions you will likely encounter in an interview along with good and bad responses, and how to prepare your answer with confidence.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Bad Answer: “My strength is I’m a hard worker. I can’t really think of a weakness, maybe I get too stressed when I miss a deadline.”
Good Answer: “I pride myself on being a ‘big picture’ guy. I have to admit I sometimes miss small details, but I always make sure I have someone who is detail-oriented on my team.”

This is a hard question for many. Before going to an interview, you need to sit down and evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.

When analyzing your strengths, there are 3 types of skills you can look at:

Knowledge Based: Acquired from education and experience (e.g., computer skills, languages, degrees, training and technical ability).
Transferable Skills: Your portable skills that you take from job to job (e.g., communication and people skills, analytical problem solving and planning skills).
Personal Traits: Your unique qualities (e.g., dependable, flexible, friendly, hard working, expressive, formal, punctual and being a team player).

Assessing your weaknesses is much more difficult. Everyone has weaknesses, but who wants to admit to them, especially in an interview? The best way to handle this question is to minimize the negative trait and emphasize the positive. Select a trait and come up with a solution to overcome your weakness.

Why should we hire you?

Bad Answer: “Because I need and want a job.”
Good Answer: “From our conversations, it sounds as if you’re looking for someone to come in and take charge immediately. It also sounds like you are experiencing problems with some of your database systems. With my seven years of experience working with financial databases, I have saved companies thousands of dollars by streamlining systems. I’m confident I would be a great addition to your team.”

Probably the worst (but most honest) thing you could say in response to this question is “Because I need and want a job.” Employers already realize you want a job. What they really want to know if what you can do for them.

To answer this question, you need to develop a top notch sales statement. You are basically selling yourself with this response. Like a salesman trying to sell a product, giving more information will make you unique and appealing to the employer.

Look at the job description. What does the employer stress? What is required? What will it take to get the job done? Now look at what you have to offer. All of this information can be transformed into an excellent answer to the question.

Why do you want to work here?

Bad Answer: “Because you have an opening, and I need a job.”
Good Answer: “Based on the research I’ve done, this company is an industry leader. When I visited your Web site, I found some impressive information about future projects you have planned. This is the company I’ve been looking for, a place where my background, experience and skills can be put to use and make things happen.”

The obvious answer to this question is “Because you have an opening, and I need a job”. As true as this is, it won’t help you in an interview.

When an employer asks this question, they are basically looking to see if you picked their company for a reason or if you’ve been sending resumes to anybody that’ll have you.

To prepare for this question, go to the companies’ website. Look at what they do. Read their mission statement. Find out who the president and who other key members are. Knowing this information will allow you to let the employer know that you know why your here, and this is the company you want to work for.

What are your goals (Where do you see yourself in 5 Years)?

Bad Answer: “My goal is to go back to college and get my MBA.”
Good Answer: “My goals are to grow with XYZ Company so I can continue to learn and take on additional responsibilities.”

Do not discuss your goals of returning to school or starting a family. The employer is not interesting in hearing about these types of goals, as nice as they may be.

Instead, try to respond to this question by including the company in your answer. The employer is interested to know if you are looking to settle down into a career or if you are going to be clearing your desk within a year.

Why did you leave (or why are you leaving) your job?

Bad Answer: “They didn’t pay me enough” or “Me and my boss didn’t get along so I was let go”
Good Answer: “I’ve decided that is not the direction I want to go in my career and my current employer has no opportunities in the direction I’d like to head.” or “I was laid-off from my last position when our department was eliminated due to corporate restructuring.”

What if you are just tired of your job, don’t like your boss, or need a change? The tricky part is telling the interviewer the reason you are leaving but not sounding like you’re “burnt out” on your current job.

The first rule of thumb when answering this question is never bad mouth your previous employer. It will make the employer wonder if you would be a difficult employee, and wonder what you will say about them if you eventually look for another job.

Before you go to the interview, sit down and write down why you are looking for a new job. If the reasons seem negative, try to reword your reasons so that they reflect that you are doing this to better yourself and your future.

When were you most satisfied in your job?

Bad Answer: “I was most satisfied when I received a well deserved raise.”
Good Answer: “I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me.”

Employers are well aware that giving their employees raises boosts their happiness. What they are really looking for in the question is what you enjoy doing and why. Employers want to make sure the people they hire are doing work that they enjoy as this will lead to better overall performance and motivation.

Look back at your last job. Try to pick out the activities and tasks you performed that you found the most enjoyable. Think about why you found these things to be enjoyable. This will help you not only in the interview, but also will help you land a job that you enjoy.

What can you do for us that other candidates can’t?

Bad Answer: “I can show up to work on time every day and I can keep myself busy without being nagged.”
Good Answer: “I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly.”

This question should be answered in the form of an assessment of your experienced, skills, and traits. Employers want to know what makes you unique. What makes you any better than the next guy.

If you spend some time thinking about what you are good at, you can easily pick out a few select key things that would be valuable to an employer that not just anybody could claim.

What are three positive things your previous boss would say about you?

Bad Answer: “I don’t know, you would have to call and ask.”
Good Answer: “My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor.”

A list of good things your boss might say about you should hopefully be an easy question to answer. A good place to start when thinking about how you would answer this question is to refer to your most recent performance evaluation. How did you score in different areas? What kinds of things did your boss compliment you on?

What salary are you seeking?

Bad Answer: A figure way above or way below the industry standard based on experience.
Good Answer: Use this salary tool to estimate your salary potential.

A big mistake many people make when asked this question is say a number much too low. Employers purposely ask you this question because they want to know if they can get you at a reasonable rate compared to other similarly qualified candidates. It is absolutely imperative that you research the going rate for the position you are seeking.

Another big mistake people sometimes make is ask for too much with the intentions of negotiating the salary down to a more reasonable level. Unfortunately the interview process is not the time for negotiations, and putting a high salary on your head is going to reduce the odds of you making the cut.

Make sure you do you research so you know exactly how much you should ask for when the question arises.

If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?

There is no best answer to this question. The question is a psychological question employers ask to see how quickly you respond. This question is interchangeable with a slew of questions that are designed to catch you off guard.

The best way to handle these types of questions is to quickly say the first answer that pops into your mind.

In Conclusion

All of the above questions are asked frequently enough that you should rehearse your answers at home. There is nothing worse than knowing what you want to say and not being able to say it or portray it the way you want. Write it down a couple times. Read it aloud. Once you know how you will respond to questions, you will walk into the interview with confidence that the employers will subtlety pick up on.

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