Being prepared for a job interview can make all the difference in whether you land the job. A job interview is an opportunity for you to showcase your skills, experience, and personality to a potential employer and put yourself ahead of others in their thoughts.
Being well-prepared enables you to make a positive impression, demonstrate your value, and increase your chances of being hired. Conversely, being unprepared may come across as disorganised or uninterested, which can significantly diminish your hopes of getting the job. Therefore, taking the time to prepare in advance for a job interview is essential if you’re looking to succeed in your job search.
One of the most important aspects of preparing for a job interview is knowing what questions you might be asked. While every interview is different, some customary questions tend to come up in most interviews and familiarising yourself with these questions and preparing your answers in advance will help you feel more confident and prepared on the day of the interview.
Types of Interview Questions
Job interviews typically involve a mix of different types of questions aimed at assessing your skills, experience, personality, and fit for the role. Some of these will be specific to the role you are applying for, while others will be more general and explore wider elements of your education, career, and personal life.
It's important to be familiar with the different types of questions you might encounter during a job interview so you can prepare in advance and give the best possible answers on the day to help you make a strong case for why you are the best candidate for the job.
- Common Questions - certain questions come up in almost every job interview. These include questions like "Tell me about yourself," "What are your strengths and weaknesses," and "Why should we hire you?" You don't want to be caught off guard, so make sure you have answers prepared without sounding too rehearsed.
- Behavioural Questions - these are designed to assess how you have handled specific situations in the past and often begin with phrases like "Tell me about a time when..." or "Give me an example of...". The interviewer wants to get an insight into how you have dealt with challenges or conflicts in previous roles, how you have worked in teams, and how you have demonstrated leadership skills.
- Competency-Based Questions – these are like behavioural questions but focus more on your skills and abilities. The interviewer wants to know how you have applied your skills in past employment and how you would use them in the position you are applying for. These questions often begin with phrases like "How would you handle..." or "What steps would you take to...".
- Situational Questions - situational questions are hypothetical scenarios designed to assess how you would handle certain situations if they were to arise in the workplace. Here the purpose is to identify how you would approach problems, make decisions, and communicate with others in different situations. These questions often begin with phrases like "What would you do if..." or "How would you respond if...".
- Technical Questions - designed to assess your knowledge and expertise in a particular area, technical questions are often asked in specialist roles, such as IT or engineering. The interviewer wants to know how you would approach technical problems, how you would troubleshoot issues, and how you would keep up to date with new developments in your field.
- Personality Questions - these assess your character, values, and work style to help the interviewer establish how you would fit in with the company culture and work with existing team members. These questions often begin with phrases like "What motivates you?" or "How do you handle stress?".
Although the responses you give might be very similar to some given by others, you, your career experiences, and your approach to problem-solving are unique and will serve as differentiating factors. By understanding the different types of interview questions, you can prepare yourself to give confident and thoughtful answers. Remember to be honest and specific in your responses and to use examples to illustrate your points.
Preparing & Delivering Your Responses
Practising interview responses can help you feel more confident during the interview. Practice with a friend or family member and ask for feedback. You can also record yourself and watch the video to identify areas for improvement.
When it comes to answering job interview questions, there are several techniques you can use to help you stand out from other candidates.
The STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a well-established structure for responding to questions in interviews. Similar to a mini case study, it enables you to provide specific examples of your skills and experience and enhance the narrative with data points and measurable results that will make the outcome more impactful.
- Situation: Start by describing the situation or problem you faced, as well as perhaps the company you were working for.
- Task: Highlight your role and explain the task or goal you were trying to achieve.
- Action: Describe the specific actions you took to address the situation or achieve the task.
- Result: Finally, share the positive result or outcome that came from your actions, making sure you use data, facts, or statistics wherever possible.
The STAR method helps you provide a clear and concise answer that demonstrates your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations. The structure ensures you begin at the beginning of the ‘story’ and follow a logical path until the ending, avoiding the risk of waffling and losing the interest of the interviewer.
Another effective technique is to tailor your responses to the specific job and company you're interviewing for. This involves doing your research ahead of time and understanding the company's culture, values, and goals.
When answering questions, try to incorporate specific examples and experiences that align with the company's needs and values. This shows that you've done your homework and are passionate about the business and the opportunity.
Don't forget about the importance of positive body language. Things like maintaining eye contact, sitting up straight, and smiling when appropriate can all make significant impacts on how you are perceived and the type of first impression you make.
The way you present yourself is just as important as the content of your answers. So, make sure to practice good body language habits and project confidence and enthusiasm throughout the interview. Positive body language can help you come across as confident and engaged, which can make a big difference in how well you respond to questions in your interview and how successful you are in landing the job.
Apache Associates are specialists in IT and Sales recruitment, and we pride ourselves in treating every candidate as a unique individual and go above and beyond to match the right people with the right role. We have a clear approach to recruitment that places an emphasis on people, not on numbers.