Top 10 Interview Questions

Prepare to Ace the Interview!

You will almost certainly be ask some or all of the top 10 interview questions below. Prepare your answers in advance and practice with a friend until you can deliver the answers fluently.

Preparing and practicing you answers to the top 10 interview questions will give you confidence during the interview, confident applicants get hired

Key points to remember when answering the top 10 interview questions.:

• Be confident
• Relax, sit comfortably in the chair, do not lean forward or slouch back
• Keep your answers brief and to the point
• When ask to give an example of...Have your story ready!
  (Hiring Managers like examples of accomplishments, be specific)
• When ask a tough question, stay calm, take a moment to think before answering
• Be yourself, be personable and be honest

For a comprehensive source of interview information, follow the link to Interview Tips where you will find professional advice, techniques, guides and excellent strategies to ace your interview.

Top 10 Interview Questions
& How to Answer Them

This is the top of the top 10 interview questions. You will almost certainly be ask this question. The interviewer wants to know what it is about you that will benefit their company.

The key here is to prepare your answer in terms of your skills and accomplishments in relation to the qualifications required in the job posting.

What are your strengths?

You will be ask this question, there is no excuse for not having the answer for this one ready, Be Prepared. Ideally, the employer would like to select a candidate who's strengths match all the job requirements.

Choose three or four of the most important qualifications listed in the job posting.

What are your weaknesses?

Be very careful when answering this question. Do not say you have none! Do not choose a lack of skill or experience in any of the required qualifications listed in the job posting.

Try to identify a weakness that could be seen as a strength. For example, you know the team thinks you are demanding when it comes to quality. Explain that you are working on educating employees on the overall benefits of making quality a priority from the beginning of every project.

Tell me about your Achievements

Select an achievement directly related to the job opening. Identify the skills you used and quantify the achievement.

For example, my biggest achievement has been to identify new niche markets for products, resulting in a 25% increase in sales. Hiring Managers love numbers, try to use an example of where you can support your answer with hard data.

Are you happy with your career?

Obviously you have to answer, Yes. Follow with a brief explanation of what it is about your career you are most happy with. The best answer would be one including items from the job description.

What is the most difficult situation you faced and how did you resolve it?

This question is designed to discover what your definition of difficult is and your ability to take a logical approach to solving problems.

Select a work place problem not caused by you. Briefly explain how you defined the problem, developed options and executed the best option for a positive resolution.

What do like about your present job?

Answer this question in terms of likes corresponding with qualifications listed in the job posting. Be positive, if the job involves customer service, explain how you enjoy using your people skills to successfully resolve service issues.

What do you dislike about your present job?

Be very careful when answering this question. Do not be negative about your job and above all do not be negative about your current employer.

Try to give your answer a positive spin. For example, if the position involves customer service, state you would really like to achieve 100% customer satisfaction, realizing no company can make all of it's customers happy all of the time.

Why do you want to leave your current employer?

Do not be negative about your current employer. Explain you are looking for a new challenge and would like to be involved in the types of project they do.

Why have you applied for this particular job?

The employer is looking for evidence the job suits you and you will fit into the organization.

Here is your chance to demonstrate you have researched the company and are familiar with their mission statement, core values and the types of products or service they specialize in. Your answer should include how you would like to use your expertise to contribute to the continued growth and success of the company.

Now that you will ace the top 10 interview questions, consider a few additional interview tips listed below.

Interview Preparation Tips:

1. If you are not familiar with exact location of the interview, visit the site prior to the interview. The last thing you need is to be getting stressed out trying to find the place using internet directions which are not always accurate or easy to follow.
2. Dress appropriately. The rule of thumb is to dress at the level of the position or one level up
3. Leave in plenty of time to allow for traffic...You don't need the stress and frustration of sitting in traffic thinking you might be late
4. Arrive 5 to 10 minutes early, no earlier, if you are early, wait somewhere nearby to time your arrival appropriately
5. Present yourself in a professional manner, maintain eye contact, smile when appropriate, be personable but don't overdo it. The employer is not not looking for a friend or a comedian.
6. When the hiring manage is speaking, listen intently and of course, never interrupt
7. Conclude the interview with a firm handshake and thank the interviewer for their time
8. Follow up the interview with a thank you note the same day

Best of luck on your interview!

Prepared for top 10 interview questions, return to the Home Page