I have gone to many interviews, mock interviews, and have discussed interview questions in class. Most of the same questions are used at any interview. Sometimes some of these questions catch you off guard. It's important to know how to answer these during an interview. It shows your interviewer you are prepared. Here are the ones interviewers have asked me.
"Tell me about yourself"
This is the first question I've been asked at numerous interviews. The first time I was asked it, I really didn't know what to say. I've learned that the best thing to do is be honest. Tell them about projects you're working on, clubs you participate in, or sports you enjoy playing. Tell them what keeps you busy during the time you have in between classes and work. Employers want to know if you are a well rounded person.
"What are your weaknesses?"
This question can be really hard to answer. It's hard admitting your weaknesses especially to a potential employer. I've learned that knowing your weaknesses will be beneficial in the long run. You can work with them and make them your strengths eventually. Be honest about your weaknesses. For example, if you aren't good at customer service, explain that to them.
"What are your strengths?"
This question usually ties along with the weaknesses one. For me, this is a super hard question because I don't like bragging about what I'm good at. Use your answer to brag about what you're good at. For both the strengths and weaknesses questions, I usually come up with a list before I go to the interview so I know what to say.
"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
Asking a college student where they see themselves in 5 years may seem crazy. Most the time, I don't know what I'm doing within the next week. I usually answer this question by telling them things like working for a good company, buying a house, and being financially stable. I usually tell them my goals that I want to achieve by then.
"Why did you apply for this position?"
For this question, you can say things like you want to learn more in this field, reasons you find the position interesting, or what you want to gain from the experience. This might be the kind of job you see yourself in once you graduate. Tell them all the reasons you applied for this job.
"Tell me a difficult experience at a previous workplace. How did you deal with it? What was the outcome?"
Employers want to know what situations you have dealt with in the past. This could be anything from an angry customer to a fight between coworkers. This shows employers you have dealt with hardships in the workplace and you know how to get through them.
"What accomplishments are you most proud of?"
Tell employers your top accomplishments. It could be as simple as passing a class that was very hard or becoming president of the club. Employers like to know you will strive to reach your goals.
"Do you work better under pressure or with enough time to organize?"
This question could go either way. It's really just a question to figure out what kind of person you are. As long as you're honest, there is no wrong answer.
"What do you know about our company?"
Always remember to do research about the company you apply to. You might be applying for a IT position but the company might be an insurance agency. Knowing what the company does shows employers you really are interested in the position.
"Why should we consider you?"
This question usually comes close to last of the interview. Use your answer to this to sum up all the good you have said about yourself. If you think you can make a positive change in the company, explain why and how you could do that. Tell them all the reasons you would be the best fit for the company.
Interviews can be scary but if you can answer these 10 questions, that's already half of the interview! These questions will come up over and over again in interviews so make sure you are prepared!
