Questions About Why Youre A Good Fit For The Job
These questions will usually make up most of the interview. The interviewer wants to find out whether you and your skills are a good fit for the position. This is your chance to show that you stand out from the competition.
The interviewer might ask in-depth questions about:
- Your work-specific or technical skills, which could include using a software program, repairing a piece of equipment, or teaching a class
- Your employability or transferable skills, which are the personal, teamwork, and fundamental skills you need to succeed in every work situation
- Your greatest weakness and strength
If you dont have many work-specific skills, don’t worry. Many employers will hire individuals based on their personal skills, teamwork skills, and fundamental skills such as communicating well and solving problems because they know they can train you to do the technical work that is required for the job. Plus, you may have already picked up some of these skills through school, sports, or volunteer work.
If you are asked about your greatest weakness, do your best to frame it as a growing strength, and do not choose a weakness that would prevent you from doing the job. For example, you can talk about times youve improved your skills after recognizing a weakness or making a mistake. Maybe you are prone to mistakes because you like to work fast, but now youve learned that its more efficient to take your time and do the job right the first time than to rush it and have to fix mistakes later.
What Do You Know About This Company/organization
A quick search in the About page of the company/organization you are applying for should be enough, right? Well, yes and no.
Think of this as an open-ended question. Theres no real wrong answer here, other than:
Incorrect Example
I dont know anything about this organization. In fact, how did I end up here? Can you guys call me a cab real quick?
However, the more you actually know about the company, the better your chances of getting hired.
Imagine 2 equally competent candidates:
Which one would you pick? Exactly, the second one!
So, with this job interview question, you want to convince the recruiter that youre the candidate #2.
Now, how do you do that? Well, a rule of thumb here is to do some Googling before the interview and learn the following about the company:
- What does their product or service do?
- What impact does the product / service have?
- Whats the company culture like?
- What are the latest news about the company? How are they performing?
- …And pretty much whatever other type of info you can dig up.
Possible answers:
- Sample Answer 1:
I hadnt heard about you until recently, actually. I found out about through your job ad on RandomJobBoard.
- Sample Answer 2:
What Interests You About Our District
What They Want to Know: Youd be amazed at how many entry-level teaching candidates fail to research school districts before their interviews. Hiring committees ask this question to see if youve been interested enough to do your homework and learn about the needs of their school district.
As the parent of a 4th grader in the district, I have experienced firsthand how warm and welcoming the teachers and administrators are. The feeling of community the school district works hard to foster and maintain is something I have never experienced in any of the schools I attended or taught in. Everyone knows my daughters name, my name, and you can tell that everyone in the school is genuinely happy to be there working with the students and their families.
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No matter how many you go on, job interviews can always be nerve-wracking. You put on your nicest clothes, print out your resume, and remind yourself to smile real bigand just when you think everything is going well, the interviewer hits you with a curveball question you arent prepared for.
Luckily, youre not going to let that happen again and youre planning ahead to ace this months interview. The best way to for anything is to do your research ahead of timewhich is why were here to help.
If youre preparing for a big interview during COVID-19, prepping beforehand with these 15 interview questions will help you get one step closer to that dream job.
Top 10 Accounting Interview Questions
Lets finally get into the nitty-gritty aspects of accounting. These are number, ledger, math, etc. specific interview questions you may want to ask as a recruiter for an accounting position. Theyre also the questions you should have answers to as an accountant looking for a job offer.
What is the difference between accounts payable and accounts receivable ? This question is something every accountant should know, and your bookkeepers should also have a firm grasp of these terms. This might be a situation where how you answer is more important than what you say since its common financial knowledge.
Explain the difference between deferred revenue and accounts receivable? This is another basic knowledge question. Accounts receivable is money youre expecting to receive from customers for goods/services that have been provided. Deferred revenue is money youve received from customers, but you havent yet provided the goods/services.
Which accounting platforms or software have you worked with? Answer honestly, even if you have no experience with the platform and/or software this company uses. Make sure you let them know that youre trainable and that all the software is basically the same.
How do you minimize the risk of error? Spell out how you perform your work, then how you review and crosscheck. This should be explained in laymans terms, so the interviewer knows you understand completely.
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Top 10 Interview Questions And Best Answers
Review these most frequently asked interview questions and sample answers, and then prepare your responses based on your experience, skills, and interests. Remember that its less about providing the right answers and more about demonstrating that youre the best candidate for the job.
1. Tell Me About Yourself – Best Answers
This is one of the first questions you are likely to be asked. Be prepared to talk about yourself, and why you’re an ideal candidate for the position. The interviewer wants to know why you’re an excellent fit for the job.
Try to answer questions about yourself without giving too much, or too little, personal information. You can start by sharing some of your personal interests and experiences that don’t relate directly to work, such as a favorite hobby or a brief account of where you grew up, your education, and what motivates you.
You can even and showcase your personality to make the interview a little more interesting.
2. Why Are You the Best Person for the Job? –Best Answers
Are you the best candidate for the job? The hiring manager wants to know whether you have all the required qualifications. Be prepared to explain why you’re the applicant who should be hired.
3. Why Do You Want This Job? – Best Answers
Be specific about what makes you a good fit for this role, and mention aspects of the company and position that appeal to you most.
4. How Has Your Experience Prepared You for This Role? – Best Answers
Other Questions To Expect
You can also expect the interviewers to ask some common questions, such as:
- Tell us about your research. This is the time to talk about your med school experience, but be sure to add something more to the conversation that the interviewer couldnt just read on your CV or application.
- Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years. This is a great opportunity to talk about your vision for your future in medicine, and its also ok to talk about your personal aspirations if youre comfortable doing so.
- What is the most pressing health issue today. Youre not expected to cure cancer or right inequalities in healthcare tomorrow, but this question shows that your passion for medicine extends beyond a facilitys front doors.
- Scenario-based questions. Dont be surprised if the interviewer poses a scenario and asks how youd handle it. It could be a difficult patient, a clinical procedure, or a conflict between two coworkers. Just pause, gather your thoughts, and answer honestly about how you would handle it.
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Tell Me About A Challenge Or Conflict Youve Faced At Work And How You Dealt With It
Youre probably not eager to talk about conflicts youve had at work during a job interview. But if youre asked directly, dont pretend youve never had one. Be honest about a difficult situation youve faced . Most people who ask are only looking for evidence that youre willing to face these kinds of issues head-on and make a sincere attempt at coming to a resolution, former recruiter Richard Moy says. Stay calm and professional as you tell the story , spend more time talking about the resolution than the conflict, and mention what youd do differently next time to show youre open to learning from tough experiences.
Behavioral Interview Questions And Sample Answers
Here are some common behavioral interview questions you may be asked during a job interview. Review the responses and consider how you would answer the questions, so you’ll be prepared to give a strong answer.
As you can see from the sample responses, it’s important to be ready with specific examples and anecdotes.
While you don’t need to memorize answers, have a sense of what experiences you would share and how to describe them to the interviewer. You’ll want your examples to be both clear and succinct.
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What Skills Would You Bring To The Job
While this is similar to questions like, Why should we hire you? or What can you bring to the company? it allows you to be more specific about your work ethic, style and unique abilities as it relates to the role.
An impactful answer will discuss your hard and soft skills and use the STAR method to illustrate how your unique skills might benefit the team or organization.
Example answer:I can make anyone feel comfortable in a new environment, which makes me a good fit as a human resources assistant. In my previous position, a new employee came to me and told me that she didnt think she was right for the company culture. After talking to her for a few minutes, we realized that she felt too much pressure to participate in company events. I started introducing events that involved fewer competitions and more casual environments, and she quickly grew more comfortable with her team.
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Give Me An Example Of A Time You Made A Decision That Was Unpopular And Explain How You Handled Implementing It
Managers sometimes have to make difficult decisions that aren’t popular with all employees. The interviewer wants to know how you handle this situation and how you implemented the new policy or plan. A great answer is one where you show you moved forward with the decision but communicated your reasoning to garner the support of more of the employees.
Example:“I took over management of a gym where the trainers were allowed to cover one another’s shifts without the knowledge or approval of management. I didn’t like the uncertainty involved, because if someone failed to show up for a class, there was no way to know which trainer was supposed to be there. I implemented a new policy that required trainers to go through management to make schedule changes. I also explained the problem with the previous approach and how this would resolve any possible issues.”
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Make A List Of Examples
Interviewers develop questions to determine how successful a candidate will be, given the specific tasks of the job. Obviously, you want to present your experiences as clearly as you can, using real examples, and highlighting situations where you were successful.
Learn how to use the STAR interview technique to give well thought out and complete answers.
Do You Prefer To Work On A Team Or Independently
Theres no right or wrong answer here, but you want to be diplomatic. Regardless of whether youre an extrovert or an introvert, its crucial your answer clearly shows that youre versatile. Share your preference, but also keep the role itself in mind. If youre an event planner, hopefully you like working with others.
For a great answer, include two positive examples: one in which you worked well with a group and another in which you worked well on a solo project.
I love working on a team. When I interned with XYZ Company, there were issues with a few fellow interns not getting along. I intervened, organized a social gathering for the group, and it really helped them put their differences aside. We finished the summer on a great note and came up with the best ideas by putting our heads together. At the same time, I enjoy working independently when necessary. In school, I prided myself on never missing an essay deadline. That was because Im able to put my head down and focus.
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Your Interview Is More Or Less Coming To An End When The Interviewer Asks You Do You Have Any Questions For Me
Never say no as this is perhaps the worst response ever given by any interview candidate! Remember that interviews are not integrations but are business conversations where both the parties should ask and respond to questions. Coming back to the situation, the best answer for a fresher is as follows:
Q: What Is Your Greatest Weakness
A: Do not say you have none that is not realistic. The interviewer / recruiter is trying to gauge your self-awareness. You have two options – use a professed weakness such as a lack of experience on your part in an area that is not vital for the job. The second option is to describe a personal or professional weakness that could also be considered to be a strength and the steps you have taken to combat it. An example would be: “I know my team think I’m too demanding at times – I tend to drive them pretty hard but I’m getting much better at using the carrot and not the stick”. Position your weakness as an area for improvement to demonstrate your willingness to learn and develop.
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Question: Why Do You Want This Job
There should be a heartfelt answer on this one. Your gut should be giving you the answer.
Although, if the reason is about money, location, work schedule, benefits, and other factors not tied to actual role, you may want to think a little more about your answer. None of those reasons are important to the hiring manager.
Focus on them: They want to hear that this job is exactly what youve been thinking about as a next step in your career.
Of course, the follow-up question theyll ask is: How so?
Be prepared to answer with your rationale for how this job meets your professional needs and how you can contribute at your highest potential while in this role. People want to feel like their work means something. There is nothing wrong with sharing that feeling in a thoughtful way.
Common Behavioral Interview Questions:
Questions about your past behavior at work are becoming increasingly common in job interviews. They often start with the sentence, tell me about a time when you With these, your interviewer wants to check that you know how to behave professionally and in line with their company culture.
Coming up with relevant examples can feel especially daunting in an interview, especially if you do not have much career experience to draw upon yet. Once again, however, the secret is preparation. Try to revise a short paragraph about:
- Your biggest career success so far
- Your biggest career failure so far
- A time when you made working life easier for your team
- A time when you made a positive impact
- A time when you made a mistake but cleared it up
- A time when you kept working under pressure
- A time when you disagreed with your boss
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Why Employers Ask Behavioral Questions
Behavioral questions are designed to learn how you would respond to a specific workplace situation, and how you solve problems to achieve a successful outcome.
Behavioral interview questions are generally formatted by presenting a situation, inquiring about what action you have taken to respond to something similar in the past, and what the result was.
The interviewer will ask how you handled a situation, and you will need to respond with an explanation of what you did. The logic is that your success in the past is a positive indicator of your success in the future.
Essential Tips for Answering Top Behavioral Questions
Question: How Did You Find This Job
You may have found the opportunity through research on ideal jobs where you can make the most impact and hope to grow professionally.
I would also hope you looked for companies that you feel meet your standards for corporate culture, investment in employees, successful business model , and any other aspects you feel are important to you.
Make sure you can go into a little detail on what you found in your research.
The job may have found you. In that case, you can say you were contacted by HR or a recruiter who felt you were a good fit. But dont leave it there.
You should still mention you did your homework and verified that this is right for you as a potential contributor to the companys success, and as a good match for what youre looking for in an employer.
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