As a sequel to the previous post on how to get ready for that major job interview, this post discusses twelve likely questions and ways to answer them as a way to prepare you for that interview. Preparation is the key to a successful job interview; we cannot say this enough. It is very normal to be nervous but the great news is most questions asked by interviewers are recycled and ones you get yourself familiar with them and how to answer, then you're good to go.

Here are 12 top questions that are usually asked by recruiters and clues on how to answer smartly.

1.    “Tell Me About Yourself”.

This question is not about your complexion or position of birth in your family. It is a bit tricky but it is very wise to say something that is aligned with who you are and who the company is and what they are looking for. If asked to describe yourself in one word you could say something like ‘resilient’ or ‘focused’ or ‘strong-willed’. It is very easy to relate these traits to how you can get your work done.
If however you are not limited to any number of words to describe yourself, then you should be prepared to talk about why you’re an excellent fit for the job like:

“I’m an accountant and I have been practicing for 5 years. I’ve worked at a missionary hospital where I handled major healthcare data analysis, finance reports, budgets, tax returns, and budget. I really enjoyed working there but now I want to branch out and practice accounting in another field other than healthcare”.

This is a very smart way of focusing on the relevant experiences and skills you possess.

2.    “What Are Your Biggest Strengths?”

This is where you discuss some qualities you have that distinguish you from other candidates. State those qualities confidently but do not exaggerate. You could answer this way:

“I am extremely focused. When I’m handling any project, I don’t do it only to beat deadlines. I like to finish way ahead of schedule and revise them to make sure I’m handing in a wholesome work devoid of all kinds of error especially numerical errors. Paying attention to details is also one of my greatest strengths. Last year I was able to help the mission hospital get back a huge sum of money on tax refunds which could have otherwise been lost”.

Smart, don’t you think?

3.    “What Are Your Weaknesses?”

Everybody has weaknesses so it won’t be a good idea to say ‘Nothing, I’m okay. I have no weaknesses’ and it would also be tactless to say ‘I’m a latecomer. I find it difficult to wake up early in the morning’. Those answers would be very unwise. Therefore you need to strike a balance. This question is basically to check how honest and tactful you are as a person. Everyone has an area of their lives where they need to improve on so you can say something like:

“Public speaking has always been a huge problem for me since my secondary school days. It terrifies me a lot. But I started to do something about it in the university like speaking up in really small groups like departmental meetings or study groups. It’s a gradual process for me. Even though I still feel nervous when I have to address a sizable number of people but it’s not as bad as before as I can put out my thoughts coherently and get positive feedbacks”.

Sounds pretty honest, right?

4.    “Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years?”

Basically, this question is used to show how committed will be to the job you’re about to be given. Example, if you are asked this question you shouldn’t start saying things like, you see yourself working for another bigger company that might actually be a competition to this one where you are seeking a job. It will be as if you are already dreaming of leaving before you get the job and that is not a smart move. A smart thing to say if you don’t know what else to say could be:

“I see myself leading and training younger generations of accountants that would be employed here with the experiences which I would have acquired so far here by that time”.

5.    “Tell Me about Your Former Job OR Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job?”

If you are tempted to say unpleasant things about your former boss or colleagues or working place at this point in time, please try as much as possible to hold your peace because of this a test of your true character. Instead of complaining about your former boss and job, you can just say you are pursuing other opportunities and ways to broaden your horizon on the job and leave it at that.

6.    “What Are Your Salary Expectations?”

This one can be very tricky and you might even say something very low out of fear or trying to appear modest and then regret it later. The best thing is to do research on how much people in your field with your skills, experience, and educational background are paid. There should be a range e.g between 30,000 NGN to 50,000 NGN. Say the highest range, in this case, 50,000NGN and be open to negotiations. Don’t appear to be rigid on the 50,000NGN, be flexible and state that you are open to negotiation.

7.    “Why Should We Hire You?”

This question can be very intimidating if you are not well prepared and are caught off guard. However, you can simply state that not only can you do the job, but you can also deliver wonderful results and are flexible enough to blend in perfectly with other members of the organization. These three things should be enough to answer this question.

8.    “How Do You Deal With Pressure or Stressful Situations?”

Here you need to express positivity, stating that you don’t let anything stop you from achieving your goals. If it gets too overwhelming that you stop and rest for a while then get up and face the pressure head on to achieve your set goals.

9.    “What Are Your Hobbies Outside Of Work?”

This question gives a little more insight into your personality. It is good to open up about your hobbies. It’s a simple question. But if your hobby is partying all weekend and having a hangover on Monday morning you might want to keep that to yourself.

10.    “What Do You Know About This Company?”

If you know little or nothing it shows a lack of interest or passion. This is why you need to do a thorough research about them and get acquainted with their vision and mission statements. You could say:

“The mission of this company or organization is to help alleviate poverty and suffering in the world … which is something I am very passionate about and would like to help contribute my skills to make this possible”.

11.    “When Can You Start?”

This question doesn’t mean you’ve gotten the job. If you are still employed at the time of the interview somewhere else it might be to check how professional you handle issues. In this case, you don’t say you can start immediately because you’ll need time to discuss transition with your current company. If you are unemployed and can start as early as the next day, then, by all means, say so.

12.    “Do You Have Any Questions?”

You must have a question. It is very necessary. It shows you did your own research about the job and are passionate enough for it. Even if you don’t have anything to ask you could ask this:

“After discussing this job I feel as if I could be a perfect fit for it. I'm curious to know if there is anything I said or did not say that would make you believe otherwise”.

This here shows genuine interest in the job. Trust me; this gives you an edge over those that didn’t ask anything.

These possible questions and suggested answers should make you feel confident for that big interview. Prepare as much as you can and remain optimistic. You’ll do well!