Common Interview Questions and Answers – Part 2

So you are gearing up for a job interview by preparing your responses to some common interview questions that we discussed last time. Remember the list is not exhaustive; the idea is to direct your thoughts to understanding the rationale for the question so that you answer accordingly.

For instance, some common interview questions will be for examples of situations where you demonstrated one or the other behavioral skill that they are looking for:

  • being a team player,
  • leadership,
  • conflict resolution,
  • creativity, and
  • so forth.

Behavioral interview experts recommend the STAR approach here. Describe the Situation or Task, detail the Action you took and list the Results that you achieved.

Yes, I understand that it is difficult to prepare for all settings, but prepare you must. Landing your dream job has never been so tough and thorough groundwork is your biggest ally. So what say we kick up the heat a notch and look at some more questions that you can be ready for?

Where do you see yourself 5/10/20 years from now? OR What are your short-/long-term career goals?

Why are they asking you this?

Few organizations want an individual to be doing the same job for years together. Instead employers believe that an employee should learn from each role that he handles and contribute to the organization by using that learning to go to the next level. Also he wants to get a sense of your ambitions and direction and ensure that there is no conflict with the organization.

So how should you answer?

Or more importantly how should you not. Picture a scenario where you are interviewing a new recruit and ask him this question to which he answers, “I would like to be a Vice President of Marketing.” It is only natural that you think he is over-ambitious for someone who has yet to clear the interview. And what if he is unable to make it to this designation, would he leave then?

Or if he were to say, “I wish to launch my own company in this line,” I am sure warning bells would start ringing in your mind as you mentally label him as competition. And heaven help him if he says, “I would like to have your job.” Your thoughts? It took me 15 years to get here and he wants to do it in 5?!

Stay clear of including designations or any entrepreneurial aspirations that you may have in your answer to this question. And in case you did not know it already, do not discuss personal goals of raising a family or building a house—these are completely irrelevant.

The best approach to this question is to lean towards the generic goals that you have set for your career and tailor it to be appropriate for the role in question. The aim here is to display confidence and ambition to plan ahead and that your plans are in harmony with the company’s goals.

Say something like:

  • I look forward to leading a team of individuals towards realizing crucial business strategies for a diverse company such as this one.
  • In five years, I want to have gained experience in marketing communications and be developing skills in another marketing function.

What are your Salary expectations?

Why are they asking you this?

A potential minefield this one, you cannot hope to win here. The interviewer is probably hoping you slip on this query . . . or maybe he is genuinely interested to know your expectation. There is really no way to tell.

So how should you answer?

I would recommend not getting into salary negotiations during the initial job interview as this may sidetrack into an undesirable area. It is more prudent to steer the conversation away from numbers and express interest in the responsibilities of the position on offer. That way, you have taken the high road and also bought some additional time for more scoping. Alternately you can toss the ball into the interviewer’s court by asking him about their offer to the best candidate.

Do not be in a hurry to accept or reject anything they propose right then and there; instead let them know that you need to think about it. And never, ever say that you are willing to work at whatever salary they deem fit. This conveys the impression of a person who has neither an idea of his individual worth nor a knowledge of the market trends.

Make sure you research the prevailing salary range for jobs similar to the one you are interviewing for. You can use this information later during salary negotiations when the current interview is fruitful.

Say something like:

I am currently more interested in understanding what this position has to offer for my career prospects prior to discussing salary. Can you please elaborate on this?

Do you have any questions?

Why are they asking you this?

You want it simple and true? Because he is vain. No kidding! And think about it—he did spend the last 30 minutes or so getting to know so much about you. The least he can now expect from you is that you have some questions for him, right?

So how should you answer?

This question normally signals that the interview has come to a close. And while you may be relieved that it is over, do not be in a hurry to get out of the room by refusing to ask any questions of the interviewer as this may be interpreted this as a lack of interest. Then again, do not ask questions like, “who are your important clients?”, “How many days can I take off in a year?”, or “What are the perks associated with this job?”

These may seem to presumptuous for a prospective employee. Instead demonstrate that you are really keen on working with the company by asking questions related to the position being offered. It is likely that the questions that you had planned to ask during this part have already been answered in the course of the discussion; if so, let them know so that they appreciate that you have put in some thought and effort for the interview.

You may also use this slice of the discussion to tell the interviewer anything about yourself that you think is important but that was not covered during the interview.

Say something like:

  • Can you give me more details of your training program?
  • What are my career prospects from this position?
  • How does this role impact the company and its clients?
  • I have read about the company’s recent interest in XXX, would I have a chance to contribute to this project?

Conclusion

In addition to the questions that we have discussed here, there are some others that you need to watch out for. These may include difficult ones such as “Why did you leave your last job?” or “Please explain the gaps in your resume.” The best approach towards these is to be honest and avoid criticizing former employers.

Some questions may make you uncomfortable—questions related to personal preferences or family matters may not be relevant to the discussion. If so, refuse to answer or seek more clarification—all with due respect and professionalism.

When it comes to preparing for an interview, many of us suffer from the misconception that we need to brush up on our technical know-how and domain expertise alone. These are however, elementary in today’s competitive job market.

What sets you apart are softer competencies: confidence, honesty, maturity, leadership . . . just to name a few. Understand, appreciate and prepare for this so that you never leave an interview thinking “maybe I could have answered better.” Good Luck!

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About the Author

After more than 7 years in the IT industry, Devmitra has now given into her passion for writing and public speaking. A hard-core Scorpio at heart, she believes in making every event in life a learning experience for the future.

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