Interview Questions And Answers | How to Ace An Interview

The Companies Expert
5 Oct 202118:04
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video script offers a comprehensive guide on acing a job interview. It covers essential strategies for answering common interview questions, such as 'tell me about yourself' and 'why should we hire you', emphasizing the importance of tailoring responses to the job description. The script also advises on handling sensitive topics like salary expectations and weaknesses, and provides tips on discussing future aspirations and reasons for leaving previous roles. Additionally, it highlights the significance of demonstrating soft skills, maintaining a positive attitude, and understanding non-verbal cues to show that you would be a valuable team member.

Takeaways
  • 📄 Start with a concise summary of your resume in 45 seconds when asked 'Tell me about yourself'.
  • 💼 Tailor your answer to 'Why should we hire you?' by aligning your skills and experiences with the job requirements.
  • 💰 When asked about salary expectations, avoid giving a specific number; instead, request more details about the job.
  • 🚫 Address the question about weaknesses by discussing a positive trait that has a minor negative side effect, which you then counteract with another positive action.
  • 🔮 For questions about future aspirations, express a desire to advance within the role based on performance and taking on new responsibilities.
  • 🤔 Be prepared to discuss your reasons for leaving a previous job honestly, but without burning bridges.
  • 💡 Show enthusiasm for the current job opportunity without speaking negatively about your current or past employment.
  • 🏢 Demonstrate knowledge about the company by researching their website, products, services, industry, and competitors.
  • 😌 Handle questions about stress by confidently stating you manage it well and avoid going into unnecessary detail.
  • 📖 Prepare for 'Tell me about a time' questions by memorizing 10 work-related stories that showcase successes, failures, and conflict resolution.
  • 🤔 Ask insightful questions at the end of the interview, such as about challenges, company culture, or a typical day in the role.
  • 🌟 Remember that interviews are about showcasing your soft skills, attitude, and fit within the company culture.
Q & A

  • How should you answer the 'tell me about yourself' question in a job interview?

    -You should answer this question by summarizing your resume in 45 seconds, starting with your oldest material and ending with your most recent job, and then conclude by expressing your excitement for the opportunity.

  • What is the best way to respond to the question 'Why should we hire you?'

    -You should respond by discussing how you meet the job requirements listed in the job posting, explaining how your skills, education, traits, and experience align with what the employer is looking for.

  • How do you handle the question about salary expectations in a job interview?

    -Instead of giving a specific number, you should request more details about the job expectations before providing a salary figure. If pressed, ask about the approved salary range for the position or give a wide range to avoid being eliminated due to high expectations.

  • What is a good strategy for answering the question about your weaknesses?

    -A good strategy is to mention a positive trait that could have a negative side effect, but then explain how you mitigate that negative aspect with another positive action or skill.

  • How should you answer the question 'Where do you see yourself in five years?'

    -You should express your expectation to be advancing in the job based on your job performance and taking on new responsibilities, without committing to a specific role or title.

  • What is an appropriate response if you were fired from your last job?

    -You can mention a point of contention in your last role, such as a change in job responsibilities that you were not interested in, without bad-mouthing your previous employer or boss.

  • How do you answer the question 'Why do you want to leave your current job?' without saying anything negative?

    -You should say that you are ready to do more and then explain what you would like to do more of, focusing on the aspects that this new job offers.

  • What should you do to prepare for the question 'What do you know about our company?'

    -You should research the company beforehand, including its products or services, industry, competitors, and what sets it apart from its competitors.

  • How should you handle the question 'How do you handle stress?'

    -You should briefly state that you handle stress very well without going into details about past stressful situations that could reflect poorly on you.

  • What are some tips for answering behavioral-based questions like 'Tell me about a time...'?

    -Prepare and memorize 10 work-related stories from your past that cover successes, failures, and conflict resolutions, and be ready to adapt these stories to fit the specific questions asked.

  • What are some good questions to ask at the end of a job interview?

    -You could ask about the challenges ahead for the role, what the interviewer enjoys most about the company, or request a description of a typical day for someone in the role.

  • What are two essential points to remember for passing a job interview?

    -Express genuine interest in the job by connecting your strengths to the job requirements, and maintain a positive attitude without showing frustration, disappointment, or boredom throughout the process.

Outlines
00:00
📝 Introduction to Acing the Job Interview

This paragraph introduces viewers to the video's purpose, which is to provide a crash course on acing a job interview. The speaker outlines a strategy for answering the common 'tell me about yourself' question by summarizing one's resume in 45 seconds, starting from the oldest to the most recent experience. The speaker emphasizes the importance of ending this introduction with a statement about why the candidate is excited about the opportunity.

05:00
💡 Handling Common Interview Questions

The speaker discusses how to tackle various common interview questions, such as 'why should we hire you?' and 'what are your salary expectations?' For the former, the advice is to align one's skills and experiences with the job requirements. Regarding salary expectations, the speaker advises against giving a specific number and instead asks for more details about the job. The paragraph also covers how to discuss weaknesses without revealing actual flaws and how to talk about future aspirations in a way that aligns with the job.

10:01
🤔 Navigating Tricky Interview Scenarios

This section provides strategies for answering difficult questions about leaving a previous job and wanting to leave a current job. The speaker advises honesty when possible but also suggests tactful ways to avoid negative impressions, such as not badmouthing previous employers. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of not revealing being fired unless necessary and suggests focusing on the desire to take on new challenges.

15:03
🔍 Preparing for Company-Specific Questions

The speaker explains that preparation is key when it comes to answering questions about the company. It's important to research the company's website, understand their products or services, the industry they're in, and their competitors. The speaker also highlights the value of knowing what sets the company apart from its competitors, which can give candidates an edge in the interview.

🌟 Demonstrating Soft Skills in the Interview

The speaker emphasizes that job interviews are primarily tests of soft skills, rather than technical abilities. The focus is on whether the candidate would be a good fit for the team and company culture. The speaker advises on maintaining a positive attitude, being accommodating, and showing good communication skills. The importance of body language, presentation, and avoiding inappropriate behavior is also discussed. The speaker encourages viewers to remember their value and the idea that the right job is out there for everyone.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Job Interview
A job interview is a formal meeting between a potential employer and a candidate to assess the candidate's suitability for a job. In the context of the video, it is the central theme where various strategies and responses are discussed to help candidates perform well in this critical process.
💡Resume
A resume is a document that outlines a person's professional history, including their previous jobs, skills, education, and accomplishments. It serves as a marketing tool for job seekers to present themselves to potential employers. In the video, it is mentioned as a reference point for answering the 'Tell me about yourself' question.
💡Salary Expectations
Salary expectations refer to the amount of money a job candidate anticipates will be offered for a position. It is a sensitive topic in job interviews, and the video advises on strategies for discussing this without committing to a specific number, to avoid potential elimination from consideration.
💡Weakness
A weakness is a characteristic or aspect of a person's abilities or personality that is considered a disadvantage. In job interviews, candidates are often asked to discuss their weaknesses. The video suggests framing any perceived weakness in a positive light by connecting it to strengths and improvements.
💡Future Goals
Future goals refer to the ambitions or objectives a person has for their career progression. When asked about future goals in an interview, it's an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their motivation and alignment with the company's direction. The video advises focusing on growth and new responsibilities within the context of the job being interviewed for.
💡Last Job
Referring to the most recent employment, 'last job' is a common point of discussion in interviews. The video emphasizes the importance of discussing the reasons for leaving a job positively, without badmouthing the previous employer or position.
💡Company Research
Company research involves gathering information about a potential employer to understand their products, services, industry, and competitors. The video stresses the importance of this preparation step to answer questions about the company effectively and to demonstrate interest and initiative.
💡Stress Management
Stress management refers to the techniques and strategies used to cope with pressure and maintain a healthy work-life balance. In the interview context, the video advises candidates to convey their ability to handle stress without going into unnecessary detail about past stressful situations.
💡Behavioral Questions
Behavioral questions are a type of interview question that asks candidates to describe past experiences and actions, particularly in relation to work scenarios. The video recommends preparing and memorizing specific work-related stories to effectively answer these types of questions.
💡Interview Questions
Interview questions are the queries posed by interviewers to assess a candidate's qualifications, experience, and fit for a job. The video provides strategies for answering a variety of common and important interview questions, emphasizing the need to communicate strengths and fit for the role.
💡Soft Skills
Soft skills are personal attributes that enable effective communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence in the workplace. The video highlights that job interviews are primarily a test of soft skills, aiming to determine if a candidate would be a good fit for the team and company culture.
Highlights

The first question in a job interview is often 'Tell me about yourself' or a variation of it.

When answering 'Tell me about yourself', briefly go through your resume in 45 seconds, starting with your oldest material and ending with your most recent.

For the question 'Why should we hire you?', address the job requirements and explain how you meet each one.

When asked about salary expectations, avoid giving a specific number and instead request more details about the job expectations.

To answer the question about weaknesses, use a template that highlights a positive trait with a minor negative side effect that you've overcome.

When asked where you see yourself in five years, express a desire to advance based on job performance and taking on new responsibilities within the role.

If asked why you left your last job, be honest but avoid bad-mouthing your previous employer; focus on the positive reasons for leaving.

For the question 'Why do you want to leave your current job?', emphasize your readiness to do more and how the new job aligns with this readiness.

Research the company before the interview by scanning their website and understanding their products, services, industry, and competitors.

When asked about handling stress, respond positively and avoid going into detail about past stressful situations.

Prepare for 'Tell me about a time' questions by recalling and memorizing ten work-related stories from your past.

At the end of the interview, ask about challenges for the role, what the company enjoys most, and a typical day for someone in the role.

In the interview process, show enthusiasm for the job and explain why you're a good fit without appearing desperate.

Avoid showing frustration, disappointment, or boredom at any point during the interview process.

A job interview is a test of soft skills, not technical skills, which are usually assessed through the resume.

Demonstrate your soft skills by having the right attitude, being positive, accommodating, and showing good communication skills.

Ensure your presentation, including dress, appearance, and behavior, is appropriate and professional.

Remember that a job interview is about proving that you're someone the company would want to work with, which can sometimes trump technical skills.

Everyone has unique value and the right job is out there for each person; it's about finding the right fit.

Transcripts

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