Interview Questions

Tell Me About Yourself

The smart candidate always prepares for a job interview. She does her research.  She runs through hundreds if not thousands of practice interview questions and refines her answers until they’re tailored, precise, and perfect;and interviewers know this.

Stating a clear and concise answer here is crucial. Don’t give your complete employment (or personal) history.  Be specific about your goals and expectations, discuss how you believe your qualifications are in-line with those required of the position, and be ready to explain why you chose this particular company when applying.

By asking an unstructured question like this the hiring manager is able to get a good idea of your ability to think and adapt on the fly.  Start off with the 2-3 specific accomplishments or experiences that you most want the interviewer to know about, then wrap up talking about how that prior experience has positioned you for this specific role.

Anyone can prepare for a situation that they know is coming, much like anyone can prepare for an interview question that they know is coming. Rather than simply parroting back something you’ve studied for hours, you’re being called on to speak freely and off the cuff. Their job is to find the perfect candidate and weed out the less than ideal matches — and it’s a tough job, especially when faced with hundreds of candidates who have all worked equally hard.

Why are you interested in this role?

Researching the company or organization you are applying to is an integral part of the application process, and this question is an evaluation of whether or not you have already done such an essential task.

When asking her interview questions,the interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you’ve given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is an opening. Failing to have any knowledge of the company/organization you are applying for will appear to be indicative of a lack of interest or commitment to the application, and to the position itself, whether or not that was your actual intention.

The employer is looking to see that you are interested and ready to invest your time into such an opportunity.  Failing to have any knowledge of the company/organization you are applying for will appear to be indicative of a lack of interest or commitment to the application, and to the position itself, whether or not that was your actual intention.

Prepare to answer interview questions regarding the origins of the company/organization, their current activities, and their objectives for the future.

What are your goals?

Be specific about your goals and expectations, discuss how you believe your qualifications are in line with those required of the position, and be ready to explain why you chose this particular company when applying.

For example, “I’ve selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices.”

Good luck (though you won’t need luck when you know how to answer the interview questions they’ll probably ask), and happy job hunting.