By Susan P. Joyce
Interviewers seem to have
favorite questions that they always ask every job candidate. The best way to impress interviewers is to have thought about the question and prepared to answer it in advance.
Some of these questions will also be asked while networking or just talking with family and friends. Get comfortable answering
them.
Smart job seekers prepare in advance for those questions so they can answer them effectively, impressing the listener and moving closer to a job offer. Some people find it helpful to write out their answers. Others just make notes. Which ever method you choose, take the time to prepare.
If you can, have a friend or family member ask you the questions, and then answer them without looking at your notes. Or, practice in front of a mirror. Whatever works best for you.
Why Employers Ask These Questions
The questions asked in a job interview may seem random and weird to you as a candidate. Often the interviewers are not trained or experienced in job interviews, so, for some employers, a job interview can be very weird.
Usually, solid reasons exist for asking each question. Hiring the wrong person can be a very costly mistake, so interviewers are
highly motivated avoid being responsible for making a hiring mistake.
Basically, employers have 3 main reasons for asking every job interview questions:
- To decide if you are qualified for the job -- can you actually do the
job?
- To determine if you are a "good fit" for the organization -- will you be a good subordinate, co-worker, or boss?
- To learn how interested you really are in the organization and the job -- are
you applying for every job you see or are you sincerely interested in this job?
Stay focused on the job, the job requirements, the employers, and your fit for the job when you answer these questions. Resist the urge to "spill your guts" and NEVER bad-mouth a current or former employer. You are just moving on in your
career.