COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Tell us about yourself?

The interviewer is not interested in

hearing stories; they simply expect 

to know your academic and professional, achievements,

your name and the institution or hotel you currently work for.

Take a minutes to introduce

yourself, and state your recent

academic qualification and your

relevant experience (if any).

2. Why do you think you are the best candidate?

The recruiter expects you to tell them about your professional achievements and the unique skills you possess that will add value to the organization.

If you are a Customer Care graduate

then you should tell them that you are a good listener and patient;

these are the qualities the employer is looking for.

3. What are your weaknesses?

The question is not simple as it looks; 

Most candidates go blank when they

face this kind of question.

Take your time in explaining why you

can’t leave the office before you

complete a task.

You can also inform them how you are quick to trust a person, which in most cases makes you a victim.

4. Where do you see yourself in five years?

The employer wants to know whether, 

you are ambitious or you’re the kind

of a person who secures a job and

then you forget about yourself.

Answer the question by stating how

you intend to further your studies and

grow professionally as you strive to

meet your employer’s goals. (It is important to tie your goals to your employer's goals because no employer would be willing to hire and invest in a rookie who will leave their organization in a year or less after they have invested in training the individual)

5. How do friends describe you?

The question is testing your personal

attributes, when answering it ensure

that you don’t over exaggerate.

Take the shortest time possible to

state the best attribute you possess

that you believe will add value to the

institution.

6. What do you know about this company?

Before you enter the interview room,

ensure that you go through the

company website to read latest news,

company profile, goals, management

team, objectives, vision and

mission;they will help you answer this

question.(where the company is unknown, do your research and be familiar with the business/industry you desire to build your career)

The question expects you to briefly describe what you read on their website and not what you imagine of the company.

7. Do you have any question to ask the panel?

This is usually the last question that

the interview panel asks

interviewees; if you fail to ask them

questions, you will lose some marks, always have a question to ask no matter what.

Ask them whether they have plans to

expand their business, whether they

support employees to further their

studies and how they motivate employees. You can pull a surprise by asking when you would start, it shows confidence.

8. What is your salary expectation?

The question is tricky because as a

fresh graduate you don’t have a clue

what to be paid; simply ask them what they pay others of your

level, if they fail to give a

satisfactory answer then give them a

reasonable range.

Ensure you do your research before

you go for interview room because you must be asked this question.