Is it a job interview or a quiz show?

At least 10 questions are asked during a regular job interview that lasts half an hour. Some of them are pretty basic and simple, but some can be tricky and some can be even confusing. Sometimes seating face-to-face with your interviewers makes you feel like you are a contestant on a quiz show trying to win a million dollars or something like that. The only difference is that no lifelines are available. You can not phone a friend or ask the audience, you can not even see answer choices!

The good news is that hiring managers are not as inventive as TV hosts are and they all ask similar questions. Here are some of those questions along with useful tips on how to handle them.

What can you tell about yourself?

Actually, it does not matter if you are applying for a position of a personal shopper or NASA astronaut, anyway the very first thing you are asked is what you can tell about yourself. It seems to be a rather basic question, but do not disregard the importance of beforehand preparation – write your answer and rehearse it at least several times.

It is important to be concise so do not go all David Copperfield there. There is no need in telling the story of your whole life. Instead, give them 3-5 sentences and mainly focus on your prior accomplishments and relevant professional experience. Since this question will be the first thing you are asked, make the answer a short self-presentation to your interviewer. Make sure to mention your last job position, your background and education, your reasons for searching for a new job and current aspirations.

What are your salary expectations?

First of all, no shilly-shallying here! You should decide what salary you want to get from your new employer before even entering the company building. In order not to underprice yourself, make sure to check out so-called salary comparison tools. Services like Salary.com, Glassdoor.com, and PayScale will help you analyze the pay level for positions similar to yours. You may even refer to the data from these services to substantiate your salary expectations.

At the same time, it is just as important not to overprice yourself. Let the interviewer know that you are flexible and willing to discuss payment matter if it is necessary.

What are your strengths/weaknesses?

All employers are eager to know what traits you consider your virtues and vices. Those two questions always go hand in hand. Do not be too humble when speaking about your strengths, and in terms of your weaknesses, don’t be too forthright. Remember that your ultimate goal is to not only survive through this interview and land the job but to become a part of the company and work there “happy ever after”. That is why feel free to brag about your skills and experience as long as it is at least half-true. And when mentioning your weaknesses, be sure to mention what you did (preferably) or at least what you plan to do to eliminate them. For instance, if you say that you are bad at public speaking, add that you have signed up for some courses to improve this drawback.

Why do you want to work for us?

Well, they are basically asking you to flatter them a little bit, so do it! Say why you think this company is so great and why it would be such a good place for you. The more passionate you sound the better! To answer this question, you should naturally learn everything there is to learn about this company. You should know all the relevant documentation and online company resources backwards and forwards. Employers appreciate people who take an active interest in their activity, so make them understand that you are an expert here.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

This is the most hated question for the majority of applicants. I mean, who the hell knows what I will be doing next weekend never mind in five years. However, the question was asked and you must answer it. By asking it your future employer actually tries to find out whether your plans and ambitions for the future coincide with his plans and ambitions. Will you still be willing to work at this company or is it just a temporary position? What kind of promotion and salary raise do you plan to get in the company over the years? It is important to be realistic but ambitious at the same time.

How did you hear about the position?

Well, if you simply stumbled upon their job-opening while scrolling job search engine results, there is not much you can answer. However, if applying for this position was a piece of advice from your friend or acquaintance, make sure to share this contact of yours. Even if this person is not some big cheese, your employer will be interested in the applicant who has already built up a network of professional contacts.

Can you tell us about your previous position?

Aren’t we all curious about exes? Your future employer will definitely want to know what your previous job experience was like as well as what your reason for leaving was. You can be honest but you’d better not be negative. Even if you had some problems with your boss or colleagues, do not gossip and do not blame anyone. If you speak ill about your previous employer, the interviewer might logically assume that in the future you could probably speak ill of their company as well. That’s why never air your dirty laundry in public and concentrate on positive aspects of your past professional experience as well as your future aspirations.

Do you have any questions?

Finally! Your anguish is over! This is officially the last question you’re asked during a job interview. Moreover, this is your golden opportunity to get even! Fire questions at your torturers and ask them everything you want to know. Usually, you have time to ask no more than 3 or 5 questions so set your priorities straight. You can find out whether the company provides its employees with free cookies or clarify your future job duties and responsibilities. If you are feeling bold enough, you can even directly ask your interviewer whether he thinks you fit the bill for this position and what chances you have to get the job.