Interview Strategies 3.1 Common interview questions 1

Here are a few of the most common interview questions with advice on how to approach
them.

Tell me a little about yourself.

This is one of the most common interview questions, and it should be one of the easiest to deal with. After all, no one knows more about you than you do yourself. However, it is actually very difficult to answer because it is so open-ended. To answer this question effectively, you need to focus the information you present and tailor it to the specific job and company you are applying for.

There is no single correct way to answer this question, but a simple formula is:

1. Present: Describe your current role and mention a specific skill or strength that the interviewer is looking for.
2. Past: Describe how this strength helped your current or previous employer.
3. Future: Describe what you are looking for in the next step of your career, and how this new opportunity will help you not only to grow your skills further, but also to add value to this company.

Useful language:

PRESENT

• Over the last [X] years, I’ve been [verb + ing]...
• I’m responsible for…
• I’ve been part of…
• I really enjoy…

PAST

• Before that, I spent [X] years…
• That was a great/productive/rewarding experience.
• I learnt a lot about...
• I contributed...

FUTURE

• Although I love my current job, …
• I’m now ready for...
• I can’t wait to...
• ...a perfect fit...

What is your biggest strength?

This question is almost inevitable in a job interview, so you should be well-prepared to answer it. You need to show self-awareness and confidence.

The strength that you mention should directly relate to the job you are applying for. You should refer to the job offer or advertisement to identify the kind of strengths and skills the position requires (see lesson 1.1: Pre-interview strategy).

You should give clear examples of how you have applied the strength you are talking about.

It is common for this question to be in plural form, so you should be ready to describe more than one strength.

Useful language:

• My greatest strength is…
• Without a doubt, it’s…
• I pride myself on…, (and my ability to…)
• I love to…
• I’m very good at…

What is your biggest weakness?

Interviewers ask this question to see if you are conscious of your own shortcomings, and if you have strategies to deal with them. Choose a real (rather than an imaginary) weakness, and one that you are trying to improve. It shouldn’t be a weakness that would stop you doing the job properly.

• DON'T give an answer such as “I tend to work too hard," or, "I’m a real perfectionist," as these do not sound genuine. Interviewers will know that you are manipulating the question, which does not give a good impression.
• DON'T be too honest, or choose a weakness that is impossible to fix.
• DO offer evidence that you are working on your weakness.

Useful language:

• To be honest...
• I have to admit...
• I’m not as good as I’d like to be at…
• ... is an area that I need to work on.
• I recognize that … is not my strong point.
• I tend to…

What motivates you?

This is another very typical job interview question. It is open-ended, which can make it tricky to answer.

The interviewer is trying to find out who you are as a person. They want an insight into how you are motivated to achieve work-related goals and perform well in the job, and how these motivators align with the company’s own goals and the type of role you will be performing.

You should answer honestly when you describe the factors and situations that excite you and make you feel passionate about your work.

You should provide a clear example of an experience that reveals what motivates you.

Useful language:

• There’s no doubt that my chief motivator is…
• I am motivated by…
• What really motivates me is…
• I’m driven primarily by…
• I really enjoy…
• I thrive on…