Interview Tips
Interview Tips
This is something you'll be asked a lot at the beginning of an interview. This question provides
employers with an early preview of your core skills, your personality and your ability to respond to
an unstructured question. A lot of jobs require someone who can think on their feet or present ideas
with crispness and clarity.
Here are three tips that'll help you nail the opener.
Tips
Prepare for this question in advance and have a compelling story about your past experiences.
Pull prominent skills from the job description.
Be “SHE” (succinct, honest and engaging).
Tips
Be authentic - don’t make up strengths that you think the employer wants to hear.
Tell a story about a work experience.
Be sure the strengths you share are aligned to the role you want.
3. What is your greatest weakness?
Though this feels like a tricky question, it’s a good opportunity to shine. This is a place you can
showcase what you’re doing to improve. Employers are looking for humility and whether you’re
committed to learning and growing. The interviewer is assessing whether your weaknesses will get
in the way of doing the job.
1. Be humble.
You want to communicate an authentic story that shows you're self-aware. It is important that you
have to trust you in the role that they're hiring for. It's okay that you don't come off as perfect.
Tips
Employers are looking for self-awareness and personal accountability.
It’s good to be honest about what you’re not great at.
Share what you are doing to actively improve on this weakness.
3. Speak authentically.
How you say something is as important as what you say. So when you're sharing your successes and
you're answering these questions, speak like the best version of yourself and make sure that you're
doing it in a way that allows the interviewers to connect to you.
Tips
Start with the three or four best reasons you’ve got.
Cite results, credentials, and other people’s praise so you don’t seem self-absorbed.
Be concise, and invite follow-up questions at the end.
5. Why do you want to work here?
So you've got a big opportunity to shine. They want to understand what prompted you to apply for
this job. Instead, they want someone who offers very specific reasons for why they want this job.
Tips
Make it about them first.
Show you’ve done your research.
Use this as a key opportunity to outshine the competition.
Speak from the heart.
Tips
Describe a situation where there was a lack of leadership.
Use the word “lead” to help describe the actions you took.
Give credit to your ‘leadership skills’ when explaining the positive results.
7. Tell me about a time you were successful on a team.
You can show that you’ve helped a team move through a challenge, you probably have strong
communication and interpersonal skills. These kinds of “soft” skills are in high demand and make
people successful. Compile a story that uses the "SAR" framework: situation, action, and results.
Tips
Describe a problem that arose with a team.
Outline your key actions with the team.
Explain the positive result based on the work you did.
Give credit to your teamwork skills.
Tips
Share something that relates to the job description and back it with an example.
Look to your recommendations and reviews for ideas.
Be confident and succinct. It’s OK to shine!.
9. Why do you want to leave your current role?
Hiring managers will often ask this question, and test if you are you running away from something,
or are you running towards something? Employers say they want to hire people who are running
“to” a role as opposed to running “away.” However, they are also interested in your honesty when
things haven’t worked out and will give people second chances when they demonstrate hunger.
1. Stay positive.
Employers want to see that you have a good attitude in general. Resist the temptation to say bad
things about your current job, employer, or boss.
Tips
Don’t talk negatively about past roles or former bosses - employers don’t want to work with
people who complain.
Be gracious when things haven’t worked out in the past.
Share some of the ways you’re working on improving.
Tips
Have a clear story with a specific challenge.
Describe the negative impact if you hadn’t resolved the issue.
Discuss action steps you took and talk about the positive impact.
11. Tell me about something you’ve accomplished that you are proud
of.
This question assesses how you define a professional success. Compile a story that uses the "SAR"
framework: situation, action, and results. If the story resonates, the employer will want you to do
similar things at his or her company. You should focus on the impact and outcomes.
Tips
Describe the problem that existed before you took action.
Talk about how you took initiative to solve the problem.
Explain why you are proud of the outcome and what would have happened if you hadn’t
stepped in.
1. Be honest.
The truth will set you free. Try to put the situation into the best light and don't lie; it's bound to
come back and haunt you. So if your job was eliminated through a merger, just say so.
Tips
Expect that they will ask about the gap - prepare for it.
Answer honestly and strategically.
Be confident and succinct.
Shine a light on the good that came out of that time.
13. What are your salary expectations?
This is a question you'll get all too often. If this question arises early, odds are that the interviewer is
really asking: “Can we afford you?” If it arises much later, the interviewer may be hoping that your
salary requirements are aligned to what they have budgeted for this role.
Tips
Know the industry norms for similar jobs.
Talk about ranges, rather than exact numbers.
Make the case that you offer premium value.
2. Keep it short.
Share enthusiastic passion shines through, but don't ramble on endlessly. Doing so might give a good
impression the feeling that you're nervous or that brevity just isn't your strong suit.
Tips
Share something that paints a favorable picture.
Keep it short and sweet.
Don’t bore them with long stories.
Steer clear of the inappropriate zone.
15. Tell me about a time you had to manage conflicting priorities.
Employers want to see how you handle competing priorities, understand the implications of missing
deadlines, and can stay cool under pressure. Respond to this kind of question with a compelling
story that uses the "SAR" framework: situation, action, and results.
Tips
Talk about the most important priority and then share additional priorities and how they
conflicted.
Describe the steps you took to get the top priority done.
Discuss the impact this had on the company or team.
Tips
Break the answer down in two to three year chunks.
Focus on what you can give, rather than what you can get.
Don’t bring up a specific job title that you want to move into one day.
Make it specific to this particular company and position.
17. Describe your leadership style.
To see if you can explain yourself, answering with authenticity is key. Explain values and priorities in a
few words. It helps to determine your approach meshes with the company’s own culture.
Tips
Start by framing your basic style in a few words.
Give an example of your leadership style in action.
Show that you can adapt well to unexpected situations.
Tips
Use an honest example that’s believable.
Explain why it was a mistake.
Talk about what you’ve learned and any steps you’ve taken to show that you’re “working on
it”.
19. Tell me about a time you worked with a difficult person.
Explaining how you’ve been able to handle a challenging person in a mature way demonstrates your
ability to manage difficult moments successfully. Situations come up frequently with difficult people
everywhere. Respond with a story that uses the "SAR" framework: situation, action, and results.
Tips
Describe how the person was ‘difficult’.
Explain the negative potential impact this could have caused.
Talk about how you approached the situation.
Be sure to highlight the positive result your efforts created.
Tips
Pick an issue where your agenda is in the broader interest.
Show how your careful listening helped you reframe the controversy.
Explain how the other person’s change of heart led to a better outcome for all.
21. Tell me about a time you disagreed with someone.
Occasional conflicts are a fact of life. Interviewers want to see if you can work through those
tensions in a respectful way. Compile story using the "SAR" framework: situation, action, and
results. Steer things toward a good compromise, signs of anger or bitterness will count against you,
Tips
Pick an example involving business practices - avoid personal quarrels.
Calmly explain both sides’ point of view.
Show how a compromise or a fuller understanding led to a good outcome.
22. Tell me about a time you created a goal and achieved it.
Strong answers reassure interviewers about your ambition and your determination to press ahead.
Pick a trivial goal, and you’re at risk of being tagged as a slacker. Respond to this kind of question
with a compelling story that uses the "SAR" framework: situation, action, and results.
Tips
Pick an ambitious goal that’s part of a bigger life journey.
Highlight obstacles and show how you overcame them.
Finish with an insight about the way your accomplishment has paid off.
23. Tell me about a time you surpassed people’s expectations.
Employers want to know they are hiring high quality people. If you have a story about surpassing an
expectation, you’ve probably gone above and beyond the call of duty and that’s a great thing!
Respond to this kind of question with a compelling story that uses the "SAR" framework: situation,
action, and results.
Tips
Describe a situation where you thought you weren’t going to be successful.
Talk about what you did to compensate for a bad situation.
Talk about the outcomes of your successful efforts.
Tips
Pick a vivid example and show why it was challenging.
Break down your learning and mastery into three or four distinct steps(“First, I . . . .).
Share a tangible result and speak about it with pride.
The way you respond to this question shows employers if you're engaged, intelligent and interested.
Here are some tips on how to answer:
Tips
Come prepared with 3-5 thoughtful questions.
Ask questions that show you’re engaged, intelligent and interested.
Avoid no-brainer questions or ones related to salary / benefits.