Interviews can be intimidating, no matter if you’re just starting your career or are a veteran job seeker. You’re waiting in an office lobby or Zoom waiting room—nerves may have you on edge as you wait for the unknown of what this impending conversation will hold.
An interviewer can only ask so many questions within the time that you have together. Because of this, questions are often layered to give you the opportunity to address question subtext and leave a strong impression. Understanding why your interviewer may be asking some of these common questions can be very beneficial as you prepare for the conversation and form your answers.
Keep it natural
Knowing what is expected of you and what questions will be asked of you will help you appear more natural. At the end of the day, a successful interview looks like an authentic conversation between you and the interviewer. Setting the right tone at the start of the interview goes a long way in fostering an impactful, informative discussion. Of course, you want to stay professional—but that doesn’t mean you have to be stiff or rigid.
Stay positive
Whether you’re being asked about an old job that made you miserable or a gap in your skillset, focusing on the good is always the best route to take. What can you highlight that shows your ability to make meaningful contributions?
Avoid gimmicks
You might also interpret this as “be honest.” Enthusiasm and confidence are obviously important things to bring to the table during your interview, but so are honesty and authenticity. Steer clear of cliches or cheesy pitches.
Focus on what is relevant
You know to study the job description—but while you’re doing that, take note of what in your background would naturally transfer. When possible, give STAR answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Don’t be afraid to take a pause or ask clarifying questions
These two habits can show the interviewer that you want to give a thoughtful answer. If a brief pause would help you form a strong and relevant answer, just communicate that you would like to take a few seconds to think about the question. On the other hand, if you don’t understand what the interviewer is asking, it’s perfectly okay to ask that the question be explained or repeated.
Practice answers ahead of time
While you don’t want to sound overly-rehearsed when you’re answering questions, it can be helpful to prepare answers to ensure that you’re giving the most relevant information possible. Think ahead on the scenario-based questions you might be asked (e.g., tell me about a time when you had to deal with conflict on the job.), and jot down a few talking points that you want to be sure and touch on.
Be confident
There’s no room for imposter syndrome here. This is the time to be your own hype-person! Your resume was intriguing enough that the hiring manager wanted to book time with you—now it’s time to lean into your skills and contributions.
Interviews go two ways
No matter how much you may want the job, you’re interviewing them
just as much as they’re interviewing you. It’s important to be authentic in your answers to help both you and the hiring manager determine whether the role is the right fit.
Every interview experience is unique, but generally, there are a few key areas that the conversation will focus on:
*Who you are and what skills you would bring to the role
*How you will fit in and/or add to company culture
*How you respond to challenges and conflict
*Your professional goals and desired career trajectory
Tell me about yourself.
One of the most common ways interviewers kick off the conversation is with an open-ended prompt along the lines of “Tell me about yourself.” It may be helpful to think about this prompt as a request to pitch yourself. This is your chance to frame your value proposition and really highlight what you’re bringing to the table.
EXAMPLE ANSWER: “I’ve been working in digital marketing for three years. At my current role, I oversee campaign analysis for several clients and focus on ROAS optimization. Over the course of my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work on campaigns for clients in all kinds of industries, from cosmetics brands to software companies. I’m known by colleagues for being detail-oriented and a team player. I love using data to help inform creative strategy, which is why I was particularly interested in this digital marketing analyst role at your company.”
How would you describe yourself?
When an interviewer asks you to describe yourself, they’re seeking details about how your traits and skills match up with the competencies they think are necessary to succeed in the position. Though you have a variety of options when choosing how to respond to this question, the most important thing is to explain why your particular experiences and qualifications make you the ideal candidate for the position.
EXAMPLE ANSWER: “I’m definitely a people person. I love being able to meet new people and form positive relationships with those I work with. That is one of many reasons that I love working in client success. Forming and nurturing client relationships makes me excited, especially when I get to do that on behalf of a company like yours that is providing real solutions to real problems.”
What motivates you?
The interviewer is interested in learning more about your motivation for achieving workplace objectives and working well. The hiring manager will also be looking to determine if the things that drive you are compatible with the objectives of the business and the position you would be filling.
EXAMPLE ANSWER: “I’m a results-driven person. Knowing that I’m working towards a specific goal, preferably one that is measurable, gives me a lot of confidence and direction in my day-to-day. In my last role as an inside sales representative, our team had some very aggressive goal Q4 goals. I worked with my manager to break that large goal down into smaller milestones which made reaching—and then surpassing—that goal feel less daunting.”
What are your strengths?
Most often, interviewers use this question to see whether your skills align with the firm’s needs and the job’s responsibilities. The interviewer wants to know if you are a good fit for the job you are applying for. The interviewer’s objective is to match your qualifications to the abilities required for the position.
EXAMPLE ANSWER: “My greatest strengths are my time management and organizational skills. I’m good at being able to prioritize tasks in a way that allows me to work quickly without compromising quality. I am careful to keep an organized workload so that even when unexpected requests or roadblocks arise, it’s easier to keep my head above water and stay on track.”
What are your weaknesses?
Interviewers use your answer to evaluate your capacity to recognize your flaws and willingness to overcome them. Your answer should illustrate a time when you struggled with a particular aspect of your job and show how you were able to overcome it.
EXAMPLE ANSWER: “I love talking with my coworkers because it helps us form relationships, which is important for morale. However, I sometimes can let conversations run on for too long and allow it to be disruptive to the day. Over time, I’ve learned ways to manage this so that I can still socialize with my team and accomplish everything I need to in a day. One way I do that is by setting timers on my phone to hold myself accountable.”
What should I know that’s not on your resume?
A resume can only tell a company so much about you. One way for an interviewer to gain perspective on who their candidates are is to ask an open-ended question like this one. Your answer should be an authentic representation of who you are and what qualifies you for the job.
EXAMPLE ANSWER: “I got my certification to teach yoga last year and lead a class every Saturday. When I first moved to my city, I barely knew anyone else who lived here and I started taking classes to meet people. Since I started teaching last summer, I’ve been able to help the studio by helping them choose and set-up a CRM to keep communications and client information organized.
Want more tips? Download Hubspot’s full interview guide here!