Job Knowledge Interview Questions Examples

What Salary Do You Expect To Make

Talking about salary is never really comfortable, but its part of almost every job interview. Some companies might require you to give an exact number, or at least a salary range expectation, so be prepared with some numbers just in case. However, if they dont ask, you dont have to name a number. Giving a number might limit you to the amount you quoted, when the company was actually prepared to pay more.

Do your research on job search sites like Indeed or Glassdoor to find out what the market value is for that position. Then, when asked the question, say something like, My expectation is that Id be paid the market value.

Tell Me About A Time You Supported A Co

With this question, the interviewer wants to understand if you are empathetic, supportive, and above all, a team player. In your answer, explain how you realized your co-worker needed help and how you extended support. But remember not to say that you helped a colleague at the expense of your own work. Employers want to see if you can help out a colleague without losing sight of your own goals.

Example Answer: At ABC Company, I worked in the accounts payable team, ensuring our payments were made timely. This one time, I observed my colleague in the accounts receivable team struggling to get payments from our clients and I offered to help get her work up to speed. So, one day I made collection calls with her, knowing my work could wait until the next day. Seeing her discouraged and demotivated, I felt it was the right thing to do. I also shared with her some tools and techniques I used to keep my work organized.

Questions About You And Your Abilities

“Tell me about yourself” is something you will hear in just about every interview you have.

The interviewer may ask this at the start of the interview to see how well you deal with an open-ended question. Your answer is your chance to get the interviewer interested in hiring you.

Think hard about this question before your interview. Dont just give a list of your skills or the reasons why youd be a good employee. Instead, think of situations in the past that show how you used your skills.

For example, if youre applying for a job where you need to deal with customers, tell the interviewer how you used patience and good communication skills to handle a tricky situation.

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Possible Answer To Tell Me About A Time You Made A Mistake

Early in my career, I missed a deadline that ended up costing us a really big account. There were a lot of factors that contributed to this, but ultimately, I was the one who dropped the ball. From that experience, I went back and thought really hard about what I couldve controlled and what I wouldve changed. It turns out that I was not nearly as organized as I thought I was. I sat down with my boss, asked for suggestions on how to improve my organizational skills, and a few months later I was able to score an even bigger account for the department.

Provide An Example Of When You Used Effective Time Management And Achieved Success

Structured Answer:

Situation:

While working in an internship programme with a team of four other interns, two of them decided not to continue with the internship.

Task:

As a group we had been asked to assist with a major client project, helping to formulate a digital strategy before the end of our first month on the internship.

Action:

Although the company were going to reduce the workload that had been allocated to the group, I spoke with the manager and the remaining intern and we agreed to take on all of what had been originally agreed for the four of us.

I reviewed the work schedules, allocated new responsibilities and worked two hours longer each day unpaid.

Result:

We managed to make a significant contribution to the clientâs strategy and delivered all of our obligations as agreed. I was commended for taking on additional responsibilities efficiently and professionally.

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How Do You Make Decisions

This is another one of the most common interview questions youll hear.

You may also hear this phrased as a behavioral interview question, like, Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision? How did you handle it and what did you decide?

With any of these decision-making job interview questions, hiring managers want to know that youve made good decisions in the past and are comfortable making a tough decision under pressure. Demonstrate this, and theyll feel more confident that youll be able to make good decisions in your next job, too while working for them.

So to show the hiring manager that youre the right fit, prepare to explain how you organize and structure your decisions. The best answers will show that youre calm and follow a logical system when you make important decisions.

Answer sample 1:

Answer sample 2:

What Would You Like To Achieve Within Your First Month On The Job

If a candidate has researched the company and the position, he or she will have some idea of what is expected of them and what they aim to achieve when they arrive. Top candidates will set realistic goals that will benefit the company and showcase their skills.

Red flags: The candidate does not have an answer or says they will know more once they have undergone orientation.

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Nailing The Dreaded ‘tell Me About Yourself’ Question

“So, tell me about yourself.” It’s a common interview question that tends to come up early, which means it’s a great opportunity to make a good impression. Interviewers use this one to learn about who you are as a person before delving into career questions. Before the interview, spend time getting to know yourself. Not in a deep, meaningful Eat Pray Love kind of way just understand where your strengths lie and how to talk about them.

What Are You Looking For In A New Position

The easiest way to answer this question would be to simply say that youre looking for whatever the company is offering.

Look at it from the point of view of the potential employer. Would they hire someone if they answered this question with:

A good salary. And uhh, well, thats about it!

This answer pretty much says that the moment they get a higher paying offer, theyre going to jump ship!

Instead, explain to the interviewer that this job at this company is the perfect fit for you. Mention what your short-term and long-term career goals are, and how this position ties to them.

Im looking to further apply my machine learning skills that I developed during my 2+ years of work at . There, I used to do programmatic ads model design.

Now, Im looking for an opportunity to work on a larger scale project that involves setting up programmatic ads for audiences of more than 10 million people.

I believe that worked with such a large-scale project will allow me to progress significantly faster in my career.

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Why Do You Think You Are Suitable For This Role

You need to describe how your skills, knowledge and experience match the job outline, while also explaining your motivation and goals.

Example answer:

I have always wanted to work as an exhibition designer for a museum that embraces cultural changes and provides a sensory experience for its visitors. My degree helped me to develop key artistic and organisational skills, while the experience that I gained from working at my local museum has been the ideal preparation for a career in this field. I would relish the opportunity to be part of the team that works on the concepts for your upcoming exhibits and collections.

Key Competency: Motivation And Commitment To Career

It is likely you will be asked why you wish to work for this company in particular, and what distinguishes this company, for you, from its competitors. This question requires you to discuss your knowledge of the firm in detail and prove to your interviewer your desire for a job.

To answer this question you should describe:

• The key strengths this firm has over its competitors in the industry .

• What appeals to you personally about the firm .

• Other relevant factors you find interesting .

You may also be asked what you believe you will be doing during your first year on the graduate scheme. You should be particularly clear about exactly what it is you will be doing. If you cannot answer this question, you are unlikely to be successful.

If you are currently unsure, it is perfectly acceptable to contact the firm’s graduate recruitment departments before applying to discuss anything you do not already know about the job.

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General Interview Questions About Skills

These are some general interview questions about skills you may encounter:

Related:

Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years

There are three big reasons interviewers ask where do you see yourself in 5 years?:

So, pick a work-related goal of where youd like to be five years from now, and make sure its slightly challenging or ambitious-sounding.

You dont want to say, I see myself in the same position five years from now.

And make sure to share a goal that is related to the type of job youre interviewing for. You want to sound like the experience youll gain in this job fits your long-term goals.

Otherwise, theyre going to be scared to hire you. Why would they offer you the job if it doesnt fit the goals you described to them? Youd be unsatisfied, bored, and would probably quit within the first year. No company wants this.

• Show youve thought about this topic and question
• Sound ambitious and motivated
• Be realistic. Dont say you want to be CEO in five years if youre entry-level
• Make sure your answer is related to this job. They wont hire you for a job that has nothing to do with your 5-year goal

Dont:

• Be sarcastic or give a joke answer like, I plan on having your job
• Say youre not sure, or say youd be happy staying in the same role for five years

Example interview answer:

They may also ask, What are your career goals so prepare to answer that, too. You can read career goal examples here.

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What Are Your Career Aspirations

Career aspirations are bigger and loftier than career goals. With this question, interviewers are asking: What kind of career would make you happiest ? Your aspirations might revolve around what kind of company youd like to work for, what tasks youd like to do, who youd like to help, or how youd like to be seen by your colleagues. So to answer this question, talk about what would energize and fulfill you and connect it to the position youre interviewing for. Be specific about how this job will help you achieve your career aspirations.

Types Of Job Interview Questions To Help You Dig Deeper

If you want to identify the best candidate for a job, you have to ask the right questions during the interview. And that takes preparation.

You need to evaluate not only the job candidates skill sets and experience but also how the interviewee thinks. That requires you to ask the right types of interview questions, with both closed-ended questions and open-ended questions.

Other kinds of queries can produce even more nuanced information to help you with your hiring decision. Here are four types of interview questions employers ask, including when to use them and pitfalls to avoid.

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Explain A Creative Solution You Implemented To Solve A Problem

This question aims to get insight into your level of creativity and problem-solving abilities. Consider sharing an example that offers a unique solution.

Example:”I approach budgets as unique challenges and like using my creativity to stay below budget. If an initial design concept exceeds my budget, I find alternative ideas. For example, a canvas backdrop was too expensive for a television commercial, but a muslin backdrop was well below cost and provided softer backlighting.”

Tips For Answering Job Specific Interview Questions

Check the Job Requirements. Before you go to an interview, check the job requirements listed in the job posting to which you responded. Make a list of the skills you have that match those requirements. Review the list prior to the interview, and if you need a “cheat sheet” jot down the list on the notepad you bring to the interview with you.

Show What You Know. Show the interviewer that you know how to do the job by giving specific examples of hands-on knowledge you have when responding to interview questions. When you respond with actual on-the-job experiences and situations you have encountered at work, you’re showing the interviewer what you know instead of just saying you can do the job.

Showcase Your Skills. The company has a specific skill set in mind. That’s why you were selected for an interview. The skills you listed on your resume and mentioned in your cover letter got you the interview. Be sure that you know exactly what’s on your resume or CV and the information you entered if you filled out a job application. Highlight the most relevant skills during your interview.

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Why Did You Leave Your Last Job

The best practice here is to be honest, but dont go into all the details . You should never sound like youre complaining, whining, or bad-mouthing your former boss or peers, regardless of how miserable they made you feel. Even if you were fired, theres a better way to approach the topic.

The most important thing for the interviewer to know is that no matter what happened at your last job, you learned and grew from past experiences and are actively working to improve moving forward. Try to frame the real reason for leaving within positive statements. And never lie about your experiencesthe truth is just one phone call away for the hiring manager.

How Do You Handle Stress

How you handle stressful situations is an indicator of your ability to solve problems. Employers want to hire candidates who react to stress constructively, so its important that your answer to this question demonstrates personal growth.

Spend some time thinking about your response to stressful situations and provide an example that communicates your abilities around perseverance, resilience and stress management.

Example answer:Im able to stay calm when I focus on the bigger picture and break down my projects into smaller tasks. I always start by asking myself, What is the ultimate goal Im trying to achieve? From there, I make a list of immediate and long-term action items with achievable but ambitious deadlines. Even if the big project is due tomorrow, I ask myself, Whats something I can tackle in the next 30 minutes? Before I know it, Ive made significant progress and that impossible project doesnt seem so impossible.

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Show Off Your Industry Knowledge

During your interview preparation, you will have read a lot of information about your client and the wider industry as a whole thanks Google. Show your knowledge by dropping in a question about current events, for example:

• How do you think the recent merger between your two main competitors will affect the future of the industry?
• What impact do you think the new regulations coming into force next year will have on the company?
• I heard you were recently acquired by a large international company how likely is it that this role could be relocated in the next five years?

What Are Your Greatest Strengths

Heres an opening to talk about something that makes you greatand a great fit for this role. When youre answering this question, think quality, not quantity. In other words, dont rattle off a list of adjectives. Instead, pick one or a few specific qualities that are relevant to this position and illustrate them with examples. Stories are always more memorable than generalizations. And if theres something you were hoping to mention because it makes you a great candidate, but you havent had a chance yet, this would be the perfect time.

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Preparing For The Interview Of Your Life

Now that you know why interviewers ask specific kinds of questions, youll be able to prepare the answers that are most likely to land you the job. Lets pay close attention to the first two interview questions we talked about:

• Questions about you and your abilities
• Questions about why youre right for the job

These are key areas of any interview that need your special attention.

How To Answer Questions About Past Earnings

It would be naive to pretend that money is irrelevant when you’re job hunting. Talking about earnings can be really uncomfortable, but it’s part and parcel of the interview process.

Your interviewers will want to know how much you made at the past positions on your CV, especially your most recent role. This is all part of the salary negotiation process they want to know how much you’ll accept. Unfortunately it can put you in a sticky situation, as it’s likely they’ll look to offer you something close to your last position even if it was underpaid. There’s also the risk they’ll back off if they think they can’t afford you, not knowing that you’re willing to take a pay cut for the right role .

If you’re currently underpaid, say something along the lines of: “I’ve always felt that salary history is a private matter. However, based on my accomplishments and talents, I think a compensation level of £X to £Y would be appropriate.”

If you’re making a lot more than the salary range and are willing to take the cut, address it head on after revealing or being asked about your current salary. Explain your reasons for taking the drop to reassure your interviewers that you’re serious and won’t regret the decision later. For example, “I’m passionate about working in this industry so a drop in salary is a small sacrifice” or “This role has different responsibilities than my current one and I feel the compensation you’re offering is appropriate.”

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