We all go into interviews expecting to be asked a handful of questions we hear every time, but do you know what your interviewer is really asking you? Today, we are going to give you an inside look at some of the most common interview questions you will face while job searching, what the questions mean from a recruiter’s standpoint, and how to best respond to make sure your answer gets to the root of the question.
“Tell me a little bit about yourself”
Translation: “Tell me why you’re right for this position.” When interviewers ask this question, they are prompting you to provide reasons or examples as to why you would be a good fit for the job. It may sound surprising but many people respond to this by launching into their life story, listing their favorite movie, what hobbies they participate in, how they spend their free-time, and pretty soon it starts to sound like they’re reading off their online dating profile. This information has no real relevance to your recruiter. Instead, this is where you really want to stress your skills, qualifications, and experiences that make you a good choice for the position.
“What do you know about our company?”
Translation: “Would you be a good spokesperson for our company?” By walking into an interview with a good idea of the company’s mission statement, operations, and their history you are communicating to your recruiter that you are interested and knowledgeable about their business. Employers are looking for candidates who will exemplify the values of their company as a whole, as well as be able to be an ambassador in interactions with consumers or other businesses. This is value that interviewers notice right away and that is often high on their list of important criteria when selecting a new hire.
“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
Translation: “Do you care about your work?” Employers are looking for someone who is passionate about their work and who will provide longevity to their company. They want to know you have ambition and the intent to grow and develop in your new role, and not just stay in the same position for a few months before finding work somewhere else. Talk to your interviewer about your aspirations and goals to grow in your career and how this position will help you on your path to reach those goals. Candidates that can effectively communicate how they plan to grow within a company are usually those favored for the position in question.
“Tell me about your experience at _____ job”
Translation: “Tell me about how you interact with coworkers.” The way you speak about companies and people you’ve worked with in the past is something recruiters take note of. You want to highlight positive experiences, but its important to also make your interviewer aware of any issues you’ve had in the past. Say you didn’t agree with a certain management style, or disagreed with coworkers on how tasks should be completed and ended up leaving the position; you still want to discuss these difficult topics with your recruiter but you want to make sure you do it in the right way. Be sure to check our “Ask the Recruiter” post concerning discussing resignations during an interview:
Ask The Recruiter: How to Discuss Resignations in Your Interview
“Do you have any questions for me?”
Translation: WERE YOU LISTENING?! You should never respond to this question with “No”. Never. In the context of the interview, having zero questions by the end communicates a lack of real interest and gives your interviewer the impression that you weren’t listening too closely. Always walk into your interview with a few questions in mind, and be prepared to adapt in case your questions are answered by the recruiter. This requires thinking on your feet and coming up with questions during your interview.
-Tyler Geeve, Marketing and Recruiting Assistant