30 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS & ANSWERS! (How to PASS Your Job Interview!)

If you want to pass your job interview, there's one thing you must do.

And that is watch this podcast.

I am about to answer the 30 most common questions people like you ask

about job interviews.

How can I prepare for a job interview

if I have an interview coming up within the next hour?

What questions should I ask at the end of my interview?

How can I answer tell me about yourself with confidence?

And also, how can I reduce interview nerves?

If you want to be the best candidate at your job interview,

make sure you watch this podcast.

And also, very quickly, don't forget to subscribe and hit the like button.

I really do appreciate your support.

Okay, here I am in

that brilliant podcast about to reveal the secrets you need to know to get

hired.

Watch this.

Please take notes.

>> Let's start with preparation.

What do top-performing candidates do differently before an interview?

>> There are three specific things top-performing candidates do differently before a job interview.

Number one, they always research the company.

This then tells the interviewer during the interview

that the candidate is serious about working for the company long-term.

Number two, they read the job description before their interview.

This is a smart thing to do

because it tells the candidate the skills

and strengths needed in the role.

That then makes it easier for them to answer questions such

as what are your greatest strengths?

And finally, the third thing top-performing candidates do before their interview is practice a

mock interview.

Now, of course, they can't practice a mock interview unless they know the questions

they are likely going to get asked.

And if viewers who are watching this podcast tell me in the comment section

below the video the job role they are being interviewed for.

I will tell them the exact questions they will get asked,

which means they can then practice a mock interview.

>> And what's the biggest mistake people make when preparing for interviews?

>> The biggest mistake I see time

and time again is

that the candidate has not conducted any research about the company simply

because they are only interested in any job

and they don't really care

which company it is with.

So, you must make sure you research the company before your interview.

If you don't, that is a huge mistake.

>> Research is clearly important.

So, let's make it practical.

How can a candidate research the company before their interview?

>> I always recommend a candidate does three specific things before their interview to

research the company.

Number one, go on to their website about us page

and find out what they actually do.

Number two, find out the different products

and services they sell

and also look at their positive online reviews

because these will tell you the good things customers are saying about the company.

And then finally, number three,

make sure you follow the company on social media

so you are aware of their latest news stories.

>> Once the preparation is done, nerves can still kick in.

What can people do to calm their nerves before they enter the interview room?

>> There is one very simple technique a candidate can do before their interview

to help reduce interview nerves

and anxiety.

And that is to remember this.

A job interview is simply a meeting between you

and a potential employer to find out whether you can do the job

and you will fit into their team,

but also to find out whether you want to work for their company.

Once you start thinking of a job interview as a meeting,

it will significantly reduce nerves.

>> Another thing people worry about on the day is their appearance.

What should a candidate wear to their job interview?

>> You must make sure you dress professionally for your job interview

because it tells the interviewer you care,

you want to do a good job, and more importantly, you have high standards.

If you don't put any effort into your appearance,

then it tells the interviewer you don't really care.

Make sure you dress professionally to stand out from the competition.

>> So, how important are first impressions in a job interview?

>> First impressions are incredibly important.

In fact, the hiring manager will form an opinion of you within the first

7 seconds of the interview starting.

Make sure you arrive on time.

Punctuality will be assessed at your job interview.

If you are late, you probably won't get offered the job.

Again, dress professionally, be polite, smile,

and offer the hiring manager a firm handshake while maintaining good eye contact.

I also recommend the candidate thanks the hiring manager for being given the opportunity

to interview for the position.

The first few seconds of an interview are vital for creating a positive impression.

>> What's the best way to answer, "Tell me about yourself"?

>> The "Tell me about yourself" question is usually the first question a candidate

will have to answer at their job interview.

The hiring manager is assessing communication skills,

and they want to also establish early on in the job interview whether you

have the skills,

strengths, and knowledge to do the job competently.

When answering tell me about yourself, I recommend you use my SEAT structure,

S E A T.

And a candidate can remember my SEAT structure

because they will be sitting down on a seat at their interview.

S stands for the skills they have that match the job description.

E stands for their educational background

and any experience they can bring to the role.

A stands for brief details of any achievements you have attained in your life

so far,

and then you finish your answer with T,

the type of person you are

and what you will do in the role to have a positive impact.

I also recommend you keep your answer to tell me about yourself to approximately

60 seconds in duration.

>> And why do so many people fail interviews, even when they're qualified?

>> They usually fail interviews because of three main reasons.

Even though they are highly qualified and they have the experience necessary,

they lack three things.

Number one, positivity.

You must be positive.

It doesn't matter how much experience you have.

If you are not positive or if you are negative in your interview,

you will not get the job.

The second thing is showing flexibility and adaptability.

If you are not willing to be flexible in your job description

and also adapt to change quickly in the workplace,

again, you will not get offered the job.

And the third thing is the candidate does not show a willingness to continually

learn and improve because they think they know everything.

It does not matter how much experience a candidate has,

they should always be willing to learn and accept feedback from their manager.

>> So, it's not just about qualifications.

What are interviewers really looking for?

>> Hiring managers look for four specific things.

Number one, they always look for someone who can actually do the job.

This is called competence.

Number two, they look for a candidate who is positive

and who will fit into their team quickly.

Number three, flexibility.

This is very important.

Flexibility with your job description

and a willingness to help the company out in times of need.

And number four, they look for self-discipline.

Someone who can organize their work independently and who will need minimal supervision.

>> So, how can candidates stand out from everyone else being interviewed?

>> The easiest way for anybody in a job interview to stand out is

to give the hiring manager examples of previous strong work performance.

For example, if the hiring manager says to you, "What's your greatest strength?"

and you say, "One of my strengths is being able to solve difficult problems."

Back that up with a specific example of

when you have solved a problem in a previous job role.

>> What should people never say in a job interview?

>> There are several things you must never say in a job interview.

If you say any of these things, you will not get offered the job.

Number one, do not share any personal problems you are going through during the

interview.

They are irrelevant to your ability to perform the job role competently.

And the second thing you should never say is anything negative

or disrespectful about current

or former employers,

co-workers, or managers.

If you are negative about previous co-workers or managers,

the hiring manager will probably think it's you who has the problem.

>> How should you answer the question, "Why should we hire you?"

>> The best way to answer the difficult question, "Why should we hire you?"

is to say that they should hire you for three reasons.

Number one, you are flexible in your job description

and you tend to complete more work than the average person.

This means the hiring manager will get a greater return on your salary from

the average candidate.

The second reason they should hire you is

because you always take ownership of problems

and your continuous development.

And finally, this is a brilliant one.

You should say that they should hire you

because you have created a 30-day plan of action

that tells the interviewer what you will do in the role to add value

in the position.

And you can give the hiring manager this 30-day plan at the end of

your answer.

If anyone wants to download my brilliant 30-day smart work plan of action

that they can give to the interviewer,

they can click that link in the top right-hand corner of the video at

any time and head straight through to my website,

passmyinterview.com.

>> Sometimes interviewers dig deeper after an answer.

What are probing interview questions?

>> Probing questions are becoming more commonplace in job interviews.

A probing question is where the hiring manager asks further questions to clarify what

you said in a previous answer.

For example, the interviewer says to you, "What are your greatest strengths?"

And you say, "One of my greatest strengths is I am good at customer

service."

The hiring manager then follows up with a probing question like this.

You just said in your answer that you were good at customer service.

Tell me about a time when you delivered excellent customer service.

Always be prepared for probing questions,

especially when you say you are good at a specific skill,

but you don't provide evidence.

>> That brings us to questions where candidates need strong examples.

What's the secret to answering behavioral interview questions?

>> Behavioral interview questions are some of the toughest questions a candidate will have

to answer in a job interview.

Behavioral questions include, tell me about a time

when you had to overcome a difficult challenge,

tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure,

or tell me about a time when you worked on a team.

The best way to answer these

and other behavioral interview questions is to always use what is called the STAR

method,

S T A R.

You begin your answer by telling the interviewer the situation you were in.

You then give brief details of the task that needed doing.

You then give in-depth details of the action you took to complete the task,

and you then finish your answer with R, the result following your actions.

Always use the STAR method

when answering any behavioral interview question

because the STAR method is recognized by all hiring managers.

>> What if someone has no experience?

How can they still impress?

>> If a candidate has no previous work experience, they can impress in two ways.

Number one, by showing positivity and a willingness to learn.

Tell the interviewer you are hungry to learn

because you want to build a long-term career in

that industry and specifically with their company.

And number two, when answering behavioral interview questions, if you don't have any experience,

tell the interviewer what you would do in that situation.

>> Another question candidates often worry about is weaknesses.

How should a candidate explain weaknesses in a job interview?

>> One of the hardest questions in a job interview is what is your

biggest weakness,

and there is a specific way a candidate should answer this challenging question,

and that is to be honest.

Tell the interviewer what your biggest weakness is.

Do not say, "I don't have any weaknesses." and certainly do not say,

"My biggest weakness is I work too hard." or "I am a perfectionist."

The question, "What is your biggest weakness?"

assesses honesty because we all have weaknesses and self-awareness.

If you are aware of your weakness,

you are more likely to want to improve on that weakness.

For example, my biggest weakness is, "I am an impatient person."

But, that's a good weakness because it tells the interviewer,

"I will get more work done than the average person."

Other brilliant weaknesses include public speaking, delegating tasks to other people,

and having difficulty saying no to people, which means you sometimes overcommit.

Tell the interviewer what your weakness is and, more importantly,

what you have been doing to improve.

>> How should someone answer questions about conflict at work?

>> Whatever you do, do not say you would tell your manager about the

conflict so they could deal with it.

When answering the question, "How would you deal with a conflict with a coworker?"

the hiring manager wants to hear you say

that you would try to resolve the conflict independently first of all.

So, I would say this.

First, I would assess my words

and actions to make sure I was not causing

or contributing negatively to the conflict.

Next, I would meet privately with my coworker to ascertain their views

as to why the conflict has occurred before holding open

and honest conversations with them to find an amicable solution

that empowered us to overcome the conflict for the team's benefit.

>> Let's move on to motivation.

What's the best response to why do you want this job?

>> Say you want the job for two reasons.

Number one, you are very passionate about this role and industry.

Again, you want to build a long-term career in this industry

and you know you will only achieve

that goal if you do great things.

And the second reason you want this job is

because it is with their company.

Tell the hiring manager you have researched their company

and you are attracted to their workplace values,

their positive workplace culture, and their senior management team who, based on your research,

support employees so they can reach their full potential.

>> And how important is body language during interviews?

>> Body language is very important.

Always make sure you sit upright,

rest the palms of your hands on top of your knees, smile,

and maintain good eye contact.

Body language, again, tells the interviewer

that you are a good communicator

and you want to make a positive impression.

The best thing to do before a job interview is sit down in front

of a mirror and take a quick look at your body language.

Don't slouch in the chair.

Look at me slouching now and then look at me when I sit upright.

There is a huge difference.

Always demonstrate good body language and interview technique throughout your job interview.

>> How can candidates sound more confident when answering questions?

>> There are three things a candidate can do to sound more confident

when answering any interview question.

Number one, pause before giving your answer.

This demonstrates confidence and you are also considering the best answer to give.

Number two, always use structured answers to the questions.

And number three is brilliant.

Where possible, use numbers in your answers.

What do I mean?

If the hiring manager says, "Why should we hire you?"

say, "You should hire me for three reasons."

If they say to you, "Why do you want this job?"

"I want this job for two reasons."

When you use numbers, it increases engagement with the hiring manager.

And again, it demonstrates good structural interview technique.

>> A lot of interviews happen online.

So, let's talk about that.

What's your advice for virtual or Zoom interviews?

>> Number one, make sure you are familiar with the online interview platform.

This is very important.

The last thing you want to do is log on for your online

or virtual interview,

and you don't know how anything works,

and the hiring manager can't see or hear you.

Get familiar with the platform.

Number two, log on 5 to 10 minutes before the interview starts.

Make sure you do this because this demonstrates punctuality.

And number three, make sure your background is organized.

And again, you dress professionally.

>> Is it okay to take notes into an interview?

>> Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to take notes with you into a job interview,

but only refer to them if you get stuck.

And you can say this, "If it's okay with you,

I will just refer to the notes that I have taken before the interview."

That tells the interviewer you are prepared.

Don't read from your notes, but only use them if necessary.

>> Okay.

So, what should candidates do if they don't know the answer to a question?

>> If you don't know the answer to any of the interview questions,

you have two options.

Number one, ask the interviewer

if you can revisit the question at the end of the interview.

This gives you more time to consider your response.

And the truth is, they will probably forget to ask you the question anyway.

And option number two is to say to the hiring manager, "I do apologize.

I don't know the answer to that question.

However, I will research it once I get home after the interview has finished,

and I will email you with my answer."

>> Another question that can feel awkward is salary.

What should a candidate do to answer salary expectation questions?

>> When answering the difficult but critical question, "What are your salary expectations?"

use my rule structure, R U L E.

R stands for research.

Tell the interviewer you have researched the salary range for your job role

and industry before applying.

You can research the salary range on the website glassdoor.com.

U stands for understanding.

Tell the interviewer what your understanding is of the salary range.

L stands for like.

Tell the interviewer the exact salary you would like in the role.

And E stands for exceed expectations.

Tell the interviewer what you will do to exceed expectations for the salary you

would like.

Let me give you a quick example response to that question,

"What are your salary expectations?"

that uses my rule structure.

I have researched the salary range for this role and industry before applying.

My understanding is the salary range is between $55,000 and $60,000.

I would like a salary of $59,000, and for that amount,

I will exceed expectations by being flexible in my job description,

demonstrating loyalty and trustworthiness,

and always taking ownership of difficult problems so you receive a brilliant return.

Use my rule structure to get the exact salary you would like.

>> How should candidates explain employment gaps?

>> If a candidate has a gap in their employment history,

the hiring manager will probably say, "Why is there a gap in your employment?"

The key to answering this difficult question is to explain to the hiring manager

how you benefited from your employment gap.

For example, if a candidate took a year out of work to go traveling,

they could say this,

"My employment gap is because I wanted to go traveling to experience different cultures,

languages, and ways of living.

My travel experience has made me a more patient

and well-rounded individual who values others' perspectives."

>> What are the best questions a candidate should ask at the end?

>> If the hiring manager gives you the opportunity to ask questions at the

end of your interview,

it's a good sign.

Whatever you do, do not ruin it by asking silly questions such as,

"How soon can I get promoted?"

or "I have a holiday planned soon.

If I'm successful, can I have time off for it?"

Those type of questions aim to find out what you can get from the

position.

You need to switch it.

I recommend a candidate asks these three questions.

Number one, "What advice would you give to the successful candidate who wants to

excel in their work for your company?"

My second question is,

"Can you tell me more about the team I would be a part of

in this role and their responsibilities?"

And my final third question is,

"Is there any additional information I can read to learn more about your company

while I wait to hear the result of my interview?"

Those are three questions that are guaranteed to impress any interviewer.

>> How do you leave a strong final impression before the interview ends?

>> Finish your job interview by saying this.

I just want to say thank you again for giving me this opportunity to

interview for the position with your company.

The interview process has made me even more excited about the possibility of working

here.

Good luck with interviewing the other candidates,

but I do hope

that I am successful

and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

>> The interview doesn't really end when you leave the room.

What should someone do immediately after the end of an interview?

>> Within 24 hours of the job interview finishing,

I recommend a candidate follows up with the hiring manager.

They can send them an email.

What should they put in that email?

Well, there's a video right there that explains everything a candidate needs to know.

>> If someone only had 1 hour to prepare for an interview,

what should they focus on?

>> There are two very quick things any candidate can do

if they have an interview coming up within 1 hour.

Number one, research the company, find out what they do,

products and services they sell, the positive online reviews,

and follow them on social media.

And number two, make sure you read that job description.

It will give you lots of clues

as to what the hiring manager is looking for from the ideal candidate.

>> And finally, what advice would you give to someone who keeps failing interviews?

>> There is one thing a candidate should do if they keep failing interviews,

and that is to prepare top-scoring tailored answers.

In fact, they can get me to write their answers for them based on

their CV or resume,

the job role they are applying for,

and the company they want to work at.

I, based on my 30 years experience as a recruitment expert and hiring manager,

will write their answers for them based on their skills, knowledge, background, and experience.

This service comes with a full money-back guarantee.

That means if they hire me to write their answers for them

and they don't get offered the job,

I will refund their payment.

They can find out more about this service by clicking

that link right now

and going through to my website passmyinterview.com.