How to Answer the 7 Most Common Interview Questions | Best Answer Examples!

Self Made Millennial
14 Oct 202217:57
EducationalLearning
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TLDRIn this video, Madeline Mann, a human resources leader and job search strategist, shares proven formulas for answering the top seven job interview questions. She emphasizes the importance of crafting concise, relevant responses that highlight professional achievements and align with the company's needs. Mann also provides an eBook, 'Job Interview Secrets,' to assist job seekers in their preparation. The video aims to transform the frustrating job search into a strategic job shopping experience, guiding viewers to present themselves effectively and negotiate the best possible career path.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Learn top job interview questions and answers with proven formulas.
  • 📈 Utilize the 'Job Interview Secrets' eBook for comprehensive preparation.
  • 👩‍💼 Introduce yourself professionally, focusing on your current role or professional identity.
  • 🌟 Highlight 2-4 quantifiable achievements to captivate the interviewer.
  • 🎯 Explain why the company and role are the best next step for your career.
  • 🙅‍♀️ Avoid discussing personal life details when answering 'tell me about yourself'.
  • 🔍 Answer 'why did you leave your last job?' with positivity and brevity.
  • 💪 Describe a strength relevant to the role and back it up with a story.
  • 🛠️ Address weaknesses by naming one you're improving, explaining how, and showing results.
  • 🏆 Tailor your 'why should we hire you?' answer to the role's specific challenges.
  • 🔮 When asked about future goals, focus on career growth aligned with the company's direction.
Q & A
  • What is the purpose of the video?

    -The purpose of the video is to teach viewers the top seven job interview questions and answers, providing proven formulas that have helped many people secure jobs.

  • What does the speaker offer as a resource for job interview preparation?

    -The speaker offers an eBook called 'Job Interview Secrets,' which contains questions, answers, examples, and formulas to help with interview preparation throughout one's career.

  • What is the speaker's background and area of expertise?

    -The speaker, Madeline Mann, is a human resources leader and job search strategist who has been featured on ABC, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and more.

  • Why do interviewers ask 'Tell me about yourself'?

    -Interviewers ask this question to orient themselves about the candidate's professional background, as they may have only briefly reviewed the resume before the interview.

  • What is the three-part formula for answering 'Tell me about yourself'?

    -The three-part formula includes: 1) Introduce yourself professionally with your current role or a statement about your professional identity, 2) Share two to four quantifiable achievements in reverse chronological order, and 3) Explain why the company and role are the best next step for your career.

  • How should one respond to the question 'Why did you leave your last job'?

    -One should respond with a short, positive answer, focusing on the reasons for leaving without dwelling on negative aspects of the previous job or company.

  • What are the common mistakes people make when answering 'What are your strengths?'

    -Common mistakes include listing generic descriptors, making it an elevator pitch, and being overly humble instead of focusing on a strength relevant to the role and providing an illustrative story.

  • How does one effectively answer 'What are your weaknesses?'

    -Effectively, one should name a legitimate weakness they are working on, explain the steps taken to improve it, and articulate the results of those efforts, all while ensuring the weakness is not a deal-breaker for the position.

  • What is the interviewer's intention behind asking 'Why should we hire you?'

    -The interviewer's intention is to hear solid reasons why the candidate is the best fit for the role, allowing them to advocate for the candidate within the hiring panel.

  • What should one avoid when answering 'Where do you see yourself in five years?'

    -One should avoid discussing personal goals, mentioning a desire to work in a different industry, expressing an interest in owning a business or freelancing, or stating a desire for the interviewer's position.

  • How should one handle questions about salary expectations?

    -Initially, one should avoid giving a specific number and instead express openness to the best overall fit and package. If pressed for a number, one should provide a range based on thorough research of the company's pay scale and comparable companies.

  • What advice does the speaker give for job applicants when filling out an application that asks for salary expectations before an interview?

    -The speaker advises job applicants to either leave the question blank or write that they are flexible, or to conduct thorough salary research and provide a range that is slightly higher than the average found, ensuring the lowest number in the range is still acceptable.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Job Interview Preparation and eBook Introduction

The video begins by emphasizing the importance of preparing for the top seven job interview questions. It introduces an eBook called 'Job Interview Secrets' that contains questions, answers, examples, and formulas designed to assist job seekers throughout their career. The video also mentions the creator's credentials and offers a free worksheet to help viewers master answering the 'tell me about yourself' question. The segment concludes with advice on how to respond when asked about salary expectations, highlighting the importance of not revealing a specific number too early in the interview process.

05:00
🧐 Mastering the 'Tell Me About Yourself' Question

This paragraph delves into the common pitfalls of answering the 'tell me about yourself' question. It advises against sharing personal details or life stories and instead focuses on providing a concise professional summary. The speaker introduces a three-part formula for crafting the perfect response: introducing oneself professionally, highlighting key achievements (preferably with quantifiable results), and explaining why the interviewee is interested in the role. The paragraph also touches on the importance of connecting with the company and demonstrating passion for the job.

10:00
🚫 Navigating Tricky Interview Questions

The speaker discusses strategies for answering difficult interview questions, such as why an applicant left their last job. It outlines three rules for responding: keeping the answer short and positive, showing confidence, and avoiding negative comments about previous employers. The paragraph then moves on to address common mistakes made when answering the 'what are your strengths' question, emphasizing the need to avoid cliches and elevator pitches. Instead, a two-part formula is suggested: naming a relevant strength and illustrating it with a story.

15:03
🌟 Handling Questions About Weaknesses and Future Goals

This section provides guidance on answering questions about weaknesses, advising against common tactics like claiming to be a perfectionist. Instead, it suggests a three-part formula: naming a legitimate weakness, explaining steps taken to improve it, and articulating the results of those efforts. The paragraph also addresses the question 'where do you see yourself in five years?', cautioning against discussing personal goals or showing disinterest in long-term commitment. It suggests focusing on how the role aligns with career growth and offers tips on what to include in the response.

💰 Discussing Salary Expectations

The final paragraph focuses on the delicate topic of salary expectations. It advises against providing a specific number during the first interview, as it may lead to being eliminated from consideration or undervaluing oneself. The speaker recommends stating openness to the best overall fit and package. If pressed for a number, job seekers should conduct thorough research on industry standards and company-specific salary ranges. The paragraph concludes with a suggestion to aim for a salary range that is slightly higher than the researched average, ensuring that the lowest acceptable number is still a satisfactory outcome.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Job Interview Questions
The core of the video's content revolves around strategies for answering common job interview questions effectively. These are inquiries that employers use to gauge a candidate's suitability for a position. The video provides formulas and examples for responding to these questions in a way that can increase the likelihood of being hired.
💡Answer Formulas
Answer formulas are structured templates or guidelines that job seekers can use to craft their responses to interview questions. These formulas are designed to help candidates provide concise, relevant, and impactful answers that highlight their qualifications and fit for the role.
💡Professional Summary
A professional summary is a brief statement that encapsulates an individual's professional identity, experience, and career objectives. It is meant to provide a snapshot of who the candidate is professionally and why they are a good fit for the position they are applying for.
💡Quantifiable Achievements
Quantifiable achievements refer to measurable accomplishments in one's professional life that can be expressed with numbers or statistics. These achievements provide concrete evidence of a candidate's capabilities and impact, making them more compelling to potential employers.
💡Salary Expectations
Salary expectations are the anticipated income or compensation that a job candidate believes is appropriate for the position they are applying for. It is a critical aspect of the job interview process, as it can influence the employer's decision to extend an offer and the terms of that offer.
💡Long-Term Goals
Long-term goals refer to the future objectives or aspirations an individual has, typically over a period of several years. In the context of a job interview, discussing long-term goals can demonstrate a candidate's ambition, commitment, and alignment with the company's future plans.
💡Hiring Panel
A hiring panel is a group of individuals from an organization who are collectively responsible for the recruitment process, including interviewing candidates and making hiring decisions. They represent different departments or areas of expertise within the company.
💡Self-Improvement
Self-improvement refers to the process of identifying areas for personal or professional development and taking active steps to enhance one's skills, knowledge, or behavior. In the context of a job interview, discussing self-improvement can demonstrate a candidate's commitment to growth and adaptability.
💡Job Description
A job description is a document that outlines the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills required for a specific role within an organization. It serves as a guide for both employers and job seekers to understand what is expected of the candidate and what the candidate can expect from the position.
💡Interview Preparation
Interview preparation involves the research, practice, and strategizing that job candidates undertake to increase their chances of success in a job interview. This process can include reviewing common interview questions, understanding the company and role, and practicing responses to anticipated inquiries.
Highlights

The video provides top seven job interview questions and answers with proven formulas.

An eBook called 'Job Interview Secrets' is available for further guidance.

The speaker, Madeline Mann, is a human resources leader and job search strategist.

The importance of being concise when answering 'Tell me about yourself'.

A three-part formula for answering 'Tell me about yourself': Professional introduction, highlight reel, and why you're there.

When answering 'Why did you leave your last job?', keep it short, positive, and confident.

Avoid listing descriptors and making it an elevator pitch when answering 'What are your strengths?'.

For 'What are your weaknesses?', name a legitimate weakness, explain how you're working on it, and articulate the results.

To 'Why should we hire you?', review the role, discuss relevant experience and skills, and ask the interviewer for their perspective.

For 'Where do you see yourself in five years?', focus on career growth and alignment with the company, not personal goals.

When asked about salary expectations, initially avoid giving a specific number.

Salary research is crucial before providing a salary expectation range.

The video offers a free worksheet to help master answering 'Tell me about yourself'.

The speaker has been featured on ABC, New York Times, Bloomberg, and more.

The video aims to turn job seekers into job shoppers.

The video discusses common mistakes made when answering interview questions.

The importance of storytelling in illustrating one's strengths and weaknesses.

The video provides a practical approach to handling the 'Where do you see yourself in five years?' question.

Transcripts
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