The objective of these interview questions is to give you an overview of some of the typical interview questions you can expect during your interview and to help you prepare and get into the right frame of mind.
Experience is the most valuable teacher in most professions and industries, so the hiring manager wants to know more about your career,”What aspects of you background have been the most helpful” The interviewer asks this for two reasons: he or she wants to see if you understand the demands of the position and he or she wants to know if you can handle the challenges of the job.
Wouldn’t it be great if you knew exactly what questions a hiring manager would be asking you in your next job interview? We can’t read minds, unfortunately, but we’ll give you the next best thing: a list of some of the most commonly asked interview questions, along with advice for answering them all.
Question 1: What part of your current role do you find challenging.
Discuss your learning curve so far, how you have gained added skills, e.g. dealing with clients, organization skills, team working skills, time management skills, delegating to a team, coordinating and communicating to internal and external customers etc. Ensure that you have prepared one or two points which you can effectively back up with examples and case scenarios.
Question 2: Why is there a gap in your CV?
If you show any period of unemployment on your CV, prepare to explain honestly. Layoffs are a very common in this century, so do not say that you were a self-employed consultant if you were laid off and working on temp jobs. Temporary employment or an intense job search of several months are both fine. If you took time off to care for a sick family member, state this very briefly and do not dwell on it.
Question 3: Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area. Stay focused on this job and why you are more interested in their company than any other. Anything else is a distraction.
Question 4: What made you move from company A to Company B?
Very important question, why do you want to leave your current situation for this role, be prepared for this answer and put a lot of thought into this. e.g. the company profile has always interested you, your interest in some of their key services they provide, for example if you are a Fund Accountant and have only worked on mutual funds to date and this organisation specialise in Hedge Funds and this is the area you want to get into, Your understanding in how they are rated in the market, how you feel your skills will benefit the company and how this position will benefit you for the next stage of your career and that you are thinking long term.
Question 5: Are there any areas you feel you need to improve on?
Be careful on how you answer this and ensure that you don’t draw attention to a key weakness that you did not mention earlier on, best to follow on from your previous questions answered.
Question 6: Can you describe how you work under pressure?
Use this opportunity to discuss times when you have to make difficult decisions, prioritise work and perhaps delegate.
Question 7: What are your salary expectations?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, That’s a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position? In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a range.
Question 8: Where do you see yourself in five years?
You have to keep this relative to the role you are interviewing for – stay focused and show how you are confident you will have progressed naturally in the Department to X level within 5 years.
Question 9: Describe your career goals?
It is probably better to focus on the short to medium term goals rather than ten years down the line. I guess an immediate goal is to secure this job!!
Question 10: Do you have any questions?
Have some very good questions prepared – Make a list of three of four questions you wish to find out more from them as a company E.g.: their company culture, long term career progression within the company, What type of projects will I be able to assist on? Are examples. Anything that shows you are already visualizing yourself in the role.