Are You A Team Player
Wherever youre applying, the answer to this question should be a Yes!
Even if youre applying for a completely solo role, chances are, youre still going to have to work in a team occasionally.
Wed recommend being very specific about your answer here – dont just say yes. Give the interviewer an exact example of when you excelled at working with a team.
Possible answers:
- Sample Answer 1:
Im much better at working in a team than alone, actually. Thats what I love about working in advertising – everyone has their own specific type of a creative spark, and when you combine it all, magic happens!
Im good at both leading and following in terms of creativity and brainstorming. Im also super receptive to others ideas, and do my best to help them execute it without nay-saying or criticism.
- Sample Answer 2:
Yep, definitely. I excel at team-work.
This one time while working at , I was assigned to an existing team working on a web application for a business process management company.
They were working on a tight deadline, and needed help on the API side.
I optimised their development cycles and oversaw a team of three developers while collaborating with the other two dev teams.
Everything went pretty well, and we managed to finish the project on time.
Could You Please Tell Us A Little Bit About Yourself
This is not exactly a job interview question, but a typical interview opener especially when the job interview is being conducted by an inexperienced or unskilled interviewer. Logically, a good interviewee would think of asking the interviewer to confirm exactly what information they want answered, but there is a better way to answer this question professionally and succinctly.
The key point is to not repeat everything youve stated in your resume. Recruiters will have read your resume prior to asking you this interview question, therefore you dont need to recite it. However, you should make reference to impressive achievements or relevant work experience when touching down on your professional background.
I suggest you learn to answer this question with a three part, pre-planned marketing statement that can more or less be reused from interview to interview. Start with a brief summary of your career history I am a Marketing Manager with 10 years of experience working for global software companies in the UK and abroad.
Then, talk them through briefly how your career developed but dont just repeat what they can see on your resume. Talk to the interviewer more in terms of what youve learnt or achieved. Mention a recent accomplishment that you are proud of that will also capture the potential employers attention . You really want to focus on what makes you exceptional and how your skills and experience match the requirements of the job.
Why Do You Think You Can Help This Company Grow
How to Answer: Beyond perusing your prospective employers website, think about how you, specifically, can contribute to their mission.
Example: Because of my experience being on the journalism side, I can help this company grow its public relations efforts because I know how to communicate with reporters.
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Give An Example Of A Time When You Handled A Major Crisis
Feel free to reframe the question. This is similar to asking âCan you give an example of a time when you had to cope with a difficult situation?â or âGive an example of a time when you had to cope under pressureâ. However, âcrisisâ is a much stronger, more emotive word. You may find it easier to give an example if you think back through your work experience, study, extracurricular activities and travel and come up with a time when you had to cope with an unexpected problem.
Question: What Is Your Greatest Weakness
I hate the greatest weakness question. Everyone knows its a trap, and everyone knows the candidate is going to say something trite .
Focus on them: Dont pick a weakness that will disqualify you for the job, but do give a real answer.
When you give a real answer, you are being genuine. You are admitting you have some growth opportunities and are not perfect. But you can include that you already have a plan to overcome this weakness through training or practice .
Some people even insert a little humor in their answerI wish I was better at tennis. You can, too, if you feel like the interviewer has a sense of humor. But, be sure to quickly follow with a serious answer. Showing you have a lighter side is usually a good thing.
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What Would The Person Who Likes You Least In The World Say About You
Imagine that your job interview has been going along swimmingly. You feel a kinship of sorts with your hiring managerand then they ask you this question. You might feel surprised since theyre asking you to pick a trait about yourself that is negative.
But theres a trick to this question. Youll still need to pick a quirky characteristic . Then, instead of just mentioning that youre impatient, turn it into something positive. Show how being impatient works in your favor as a remote workermaybe it means that youre a stickler for deadlines or that you will always follow up with a coworker who might lack quick communication skills.
For example, Theyd probably point out that Im impatient. However, I feel that it makes me a better worker as I rarely miss deadlines, I respond to emails quickly, and I regularly get answers to questions I have.
How Many Tennis Balls Can You Fit Into A Limousine
1,000? 10,000? 100,000? Seriously? Well, seriously, you might get asked brain-teaser questions like these, especially in quantitative jobs. But remember that the interviewer doesnt necessarily want an exact numberthey want to make sure that you understand whats being asked of you, and that you can set into motion a systematic and logical way to respond. So take a deep breath and start thinking through the math.
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What Motivates You At Work
Number 13 of our guide to the most common job interview questions and how to answer them ‘what motivates you at work?’ This will often catch graduates off-guard so it’s important to make sure you are fully prepared to answer it.
Want to boost your employability and increase your chances of job interview success? Find out the best way to answer this interview question, example answers as well as what to avoid when answering…
How to answer what motivates you at work?
Tell Us About A Challenge Youve Faced And How You Handled It
Focus on a specific work-related challenge and talk about how you overcame obstacles, used it as a learning experience, used the resources around you , and ended up with a positive result! Thats how to answer this interview question. Keep it work-related, not personal.
- Explain the situation, the task you needed to accomplish, and what method you chose
Dont:
- Talk about an argument you had
- Talk about a challenge that you didnt overcome, or didnt find a solution for
Answer example:
In my last job, we were facing a tough deadline and my boss was out for the day. Our client was expecting a project to be delivered by 5:00 PM, but we were far behind schedule. I took the lead on the project, delegated tasks to the four other team members in a way that I thought would utilize everyones strengths best. And then I re-organized my own personal tasks so I could dedicate my entire day to contributing to this project as well. The project was a success and we delivered the work on-time. I went on to lead more projects after that, and used what I learned to be a better project manager.
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What Are The Three Traits Your Top Performers Have In Common
Great candidates also want to be great employees. They know every organization is different — and so are the key qualities of top performers in those organizations. Maybe your top performers work longer hours. Maybe creativity is more important than methodology. Maybe constantly landing new customers in new markets is more important than building long-term customer relationships. Maybe the key is a willingness to spend the same amount of time educating an entry-level customer as helping an enthusiast who wants high-end equipment.
Great candidates want to know, because 1) they want to know if they will fit in, and 2) if they do fit in, they want to know how they can be a top performer.
Whats Your Current Salary
Its now illegal for some or all employers to ask you about your salary history in several cities and states, including New York City Louisville, North Carolina California and Massachusetts. But no matter where you live, it can be stressful to hear this question. Dont panicthere are several possible strategies you can turn to. For example, you can deflect the question, Muse career coach Emily Liou says, with a response like: Before discussing any salary, Id really like to learn more about what this role entails. Ive done a lot of research on and I am certain if its the right fit, well be able to agree on a number thats fair and competitive to both parties. You can also reframe the question around your salary expectations or requirements or choose to share the number if you think it will work in your favor.
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Where Do You See Yourself In 3 Years
At the moment, from where I am in my marketing career, I believe in the next three years I would like to put all my effort and hard work into this job.
I hope to see myself climbing more steps in the hierarchy.
The position of Senior Manager or General Manager is what I wantto be in the next 3 years.
How Would Your Boss Or Coworkers Describe You
This question is pretty much the same as what are your greatest strengths, the only difference is that it should be from the point of view from your boss or coworkers.
Here, you want to focus on your traits and achievements that youve previously been praised for .
There are at least 2 ways to answer this question:
1) Describe a specific situation where you excelled at work
Sample Answer
Theyd say Im super hard working. During my weekend-off, not one, but three of my coworkers got sick, and I had to spot for them.
The weekend was peak season in Nantucket, so the restaurant was getting seriously overwhelmed. All of a sudden, we went from being very prepared for the season, to complete panic.
Had to jump between serving, bussing, and line-cooking, but overall, managed to survive through the weekend successfully.
2) Quote a performance review
If youve previously worked in an office job, youre probably all too familiar with these.
Did your boss give you a glowing performance review? Make sure to mention it here!
Sample answer:
Well, in my last performance review in September, my boss described me as someone who takes initiative.
My position as a PR manager involves constantly keeping track of our clients brand reputation, and if something goes wrong, dealing with it as fast as possible.
In a lot of cases, you need to be very proactive – if you wait for your entire team to have a meeting on how to deal with the issue, it might already be too late.
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Tell Me About Your Career Path How Did You Get Here And Where Are You Going Next
Christy Hopkins, HR Consultant at Fit Small Business says, Candidates should be prepared to explain why they moved companies, changed roles, or have any gaps in employment.
Ideally, your answer should form a clear narrative that highlights your growth from one role to another, ending with what you plan to do next.
If you moved because of employer squabbles or a bad boss, skip it. Focus on what you learned in your role, even if its a lesson in handling disagreements with your boss.
Is There Anything Else Youd Like Us To Know
Just when you thought you were done, your interviewer asks you this open-ended doozy. Dont panicits not a trick question! You can use this as an opportunity to close out the meeting on a high note in one of two ways, Zhang says. First, if there really is something relevant that you havent had a chance to mention, do it now. Otherwise, you can briefly summarize your qualifications. For example, Zhang says, you could say: I think weve covered most of it, but just to summarize, it sounds like youre looking for someone who can really hit the ground running. And with my previous experience , I think Id be a great fit.
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What Are Some Good Job Interview Tips
1. Arrive early and engage in friendly communication with other people there in order to get used to connecting with people.2. Set up Google alerts for the industry and company youre interviewing with. This way youll be up to date with any recent news and can bring it up in the interview.3. Turn the interview from an interrogation into a conversation between peers. Ask questions and get some back and forth going between you and the interviewer. This will lower your nerves and you come across as more of a colleague or a peer to the hiring manager.
Where Do You Expect To Be In Five Years Time
This is another question that allows you to show off your employer research and your understanding of your chosen career path. Youâll want to come across as enthusiastic, but not arrogant. Tailor your response to reflect the nature of the organisation, the sector, and your own experiences and skills. Specific details will impress.
Graduate recruiters use some questions as much to see how you cope when youâre put on the spot as to elicit a truthful answer. This question is a test of your ability to think on your feet and come up with a diplomatic response. Whether you sidestep the question by saying youâve always got on well with your employers, or describe a tricky situation youâve experienced that highlights your potential, you need to avoid attacking your previous employers.
If you’re asked about your biggest failure in your interview, chances are the recruiter is interested in finding out how resilient you are, and whether you can cope with setbacks. Find out how to use this question as a way to show your strengths and convince the employer that you are the right candidate for the job.
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What Are Your Biggest Strengths
There are two answers you could go for here: what your actual strengths are, and what you think the hiring manager or HR representative wants to hear. We would most certainly suggest you go with the first answer.
For this question, you would want to narrow your answer down to at most three strengths. Pick 1 or 2 skills that would help you really excel at the job, and 1 or 2 personal skills.
Not sure which ones are your top strengths? Check out the table below to learn which ones perfect for your field:
After picking your strengths, back it up with a situation or story that shows how you have used it to benefit you on the job.
After all, words are just that – words. The HR cant know whether your natural leadership is an actual strength, or just means that you were super active in your high school class.
As you probably already know, this is one of the most common interview questions out there, so make sure youre prepared for it before facing the HR manager!
Possible answers:
- Sample Answer 1:
My biggest strength is that Im good at picking up new skills. Ive worked a variety of different odd jobs – things like working as a waiter, house-keeper, cook, and a lot more .
For most of those jobs, I ended up picking up all the needed skills within 1 or 2 weeks .
So, Im pretty sure while I dont have any experience as a bartender, I have the right certification, and I believe I can get good at it within a week or two.
- Possible answer 2:
Is There Anything Else We Should Know About You/why Youre The Right Person For This Job
How to Answer: This is actually one of the more common questions interviewers ask, even though its somewhat casual and may seem unnecessary especially if youve already spent a good amount of time with multiple interviewers.
But just in case this is thrown in at the endhave an answer in mind. It can be simple after all, youve likely already discussed a lot. But prepare a brief, conclusive pitch about how youre motivated and capable because your past experiences have prepared you well for the tasks at hand.
Example: Given my experience in , I am confident that Im the right person for this job.
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Why Is There A Gap In Your Work Experience
In most cases, a gap in your work experience doesnt really mean anything. You probably have a very good reason for it.
The interviewer, however, will definitely ask about it, and you should answer adequately.
Theres no secret sauce to answering this question, just let the recruiter know about your situation, whatever that may be:
- Maternity leave
- Caring for a sick family member
- Time off to pursue further education
- Relocating to a different city
- Working on a personal project
Whichever the case may be, just explain the situation in brief and move on.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that if you were laid off at work, or you quit and had trouble getting a new job, you should be very subtle about it.
If the interviewer knows that youre struggling to find a job, youre going to give them the upper hand in salary negotiations.
Possible answers:
I had a baby and had to take maternity leave.
- Sample Answer 2:
My father was sick, so I had to be the one to take care of him full-time over a few months.
