Frequently Asked Interview Questions and Answers
While attending the HR interview,you should prove that your qualifications and job exposure meets all the criteria demanded by the employer.In other words,you should sell your abilities before the buyer ie. the employer.And a good home work before interview will surely help you to climb the target hill
A number of frequently asked interview questions and their answers are given herewith.
Question 1 Tell me about yourself.
Most of the interviews begin with this innocent question.Many candidates go unprepared for this question and skewer themselves by telling their personal matters and old job history
Answer:Start with present and prove how you are the best suit for the vacant position,Be sure to illustrate with specific examples of your responsibilities and especially your achievements, all of which are geared to present yourself as a perfect match for the needs he has just described.
Question 2 What are your greatest strengths?
This question seems like a softball lob, but be prepared.You know that your key strategy is to first uncover your interviewer's greatest wants and needs before you answer questions. And from Question 1, you know how to do this.
Answer:As a general guideline, the 10 most desirable traits that all employers love to see in their employees are:
1.A proven track record as an achiever...especially if your achievements match up with the employer's greatest wants and needs.
2.Intelligence...management "savvy".
3.Honesty...integrity...a decent human being.
4.Good fit with corporate culture...someone to feel comfortable with...a team player who meshes well with interviewer's team.
5.Likeability...positive attitude...sense of humor.
6.Good communication skills.
7.Dedication...willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve excellence.
8.Definiteness of purpose...clear goals.
9.Enthusiasm...high level of motivation.
10.Confident...healthy...a leader.
Question 3 What are your greatest weaknesses?
Beware - this is an eliminator question, designed to shorten the candidate list.
Answer: Disguise a strength as a weakness.
Example: “I sometimes pressurise my people too hard to achieve targets."
Question 4 Why are you leaving (or did you leave) current position?
Never badmouth your previous industry, company, board, boss, staff, employees or customers. This rule is inviolable: never be negative.
Answer: Be straight forward and never use unwanted remarks about your previous boss,team or previous company pilicies.Make sure you’ve prepared a brief reason for leaving. Best reasons: more money, opportunity, responsibility or growth.
Question 5 Why should I hire you?
Please attend the interview with well prepared to answer this question.
Answer: By now you may understand employers expectations fro a person who serves for the vacant position.So your answer should be the exact matching for that question which explains you are the best match,than anyone else.
Question 6 Where do you see yourself five years from now?
One reason interviewers ask this question is to see if you’re settling for this position, using it merely as a stopover until something better comes along. Or they could be trying to gauge your level of ambition.
Answer: Reassure your interviewer that you’re looking to make a long-term commitment.Tell him “I am definitely interested in making a long-term commitment to my next position. Judging by what you’ve told me about this position, it’s exactly what I’m looking for and what I am very well qualified to do.
Question 7 Why do you want to work at our company?
This is a hidden question,to check you back ground home work about the company.If you dont know the companies pros,its gone.
Answer: Express the positive factors of the company,which you noticed from your studies.Give brief but concrete reasons for your interest in that firm
Question 8 Why have you been out of work so long?
A tough question if you’ve been on the beach a long time. You don’t want to seem like damaged goods.
Answer: A tough question if you’ve been on the beach a long time. You don’t want to seem like damaged goods.Example: “After my job was terminated, I made a conscious decision not to jump on the first opportunities to come along. In my life, I’ve found out that you can always turn a negative into a positive IF you try hard enough."
Question 9 Why have you had so many jobs?
Your interviewer fears you may leave this position quickly, as you have others. He’s concerned you may be unstable, or a “problem person” who can’t get along with others.
Answer: : First, before you even get to the interview stage, you should try to minimize your image as job hopper. If there are several entries on your resume of less than one year, consider eliminating the less important ones.
Question 10 May I contact your present employer for a reference?
If you’re trying to keep your job search private, this is the last thing you want. But if you don’t cooperate, won’t you seem as if you’re trying to hide something?
Answer: Express your concern that you’d like to keep your job search private, but that in time, it will be perfectly okay.
Question 11 “The Salary Question” – How much money do you want?
May also be phrases as, “What salary are you worth?”…or, “How much are you making now?” This is your most important negotiation. Handle it wrong and you can blow the job offer or go to work at far less than you might have gotten.
Answer : Never bring up salary. Let the interviewer do it first.If your interviewer raises the salary question too early,say,, “Money is important to me, but is not my main concern. Opportunity and growth are far more important."1. Never lie about what you currently make, but feel free to include the estimated cost of all your fringes, which could well tack on 25-50% more to your present “cash-only” salary.
Regards,
Shijit.
From India, Kochi
122While attending the HR interview,you should prove that your qualifications and job exposure meets all the criteria demanded by the employer.In other words,you should sell your abilities before the buyer ie. the employer.And a good home work before interview will surely help you to climb the target hill
A number of frequently asked interview questions and their answers are given herewith.
Question 1 Tell me about yourself.
Most of the interviews begin with this innocent question.Many candidates go unprepared for this question and skewer themselves by telling their personal matters and old job history
Answer:Start with present and prove how you are the best suit for the vacant position,Be sure to illustrate with specific examples of your responsibilities and especially your achievements, all of which are geared to present yourself as a perfect match for the needs he has just described.
Question 2 What are your greatest strengths?
This question seems like a softball lob, but be prepared.You know that your key strategy is to first uncover your interviewer's greatest wants and needs before you answer questions. And from Question 1, you know how to do this.
Answer:As a general guideline, the 10 most desirable traits that all employers love to see in their employees are:
1.A proven track record as an achiever...especially if your achievements match up with the employer's greatest wants and needs.
2.Intelligence...management "savvy".
3.Honesty...integrity...a decent human being.
4.Good fit with corporate culture...someone to feel comfortable with...a team player who meshes well with interviewer's team.
5.Likeability...positive attitude...sense of humor.
6.Good communication skills.
7.Dedication...willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve excellence.
8.Definiteness of purpose...clear goals.
9.Enthusiasm...high level of motivation.
10.Confident...healthy...a leader.
Question 3 What are your greatest weaknesses?
Beware - this is an eliminator question, designed to shorten the candidate list.
Answer: Disguise a strength as a weakness.
Example: “I sometimes pressurise my people too hard to achieve targets."
Question 4 Why are you leaving (or did you leave) current position?
Never badmouth your previous industry, company, board, boss, staff, employees or customers. This rule is inviolable: never be negative.
Answer: Be straight forward and never use unwanted remarks about your previous boss,team or previous company pilicies.Make sure you’ve prepared a brief reason for leaving. Best reasons: more money, opportunity, responsibility or growth.
Question 5 Why should I hire you?
Please attend the interview with well prepared to answer this question.
Answer: By now you may understand employers expectations fro a person who serves for the vacant position.So your answer should be the exact matching for that question which explains you are the best match,than anyone else.
Question 6 Where do you see yourself five years from now?
One reason interviewers ask this question is to see if you’re settling for this position, using it merely as a stopover until something better comes along. Or they could be trying to gauge your level of ambition.
Answer: Reassure your interviewer that you’re looking to make a long-term commitment.Tell him “I am definitely interested in making a long-term commitment to my next position. Judging by what you’ve told me about this position, it’s exactly what I’m looking for and what I am very well qualified to do.
Question 7 Why do you want to work at our company?
This is a hidden question,to check you back ground home work about the company.If you dont know the companies pros,its gone.
Answer: Express the positive factors of the company,which you noticed from your studies.Give brief but concrete reasons for your interest in that firm
Question 8 Why have you been out of work so long?
A tough question if you’ve been on the beach a long time. You don’t want to seem like damaged goods.
Answer: A tough question if you’ve been on the beach a long time. You don’t want to seem like damaged goods.Example: “After my job was terminated, I made a conscious decision not to jump on the first opportunities to come along. In my life, I’ve found out that you can always turn a negative into a positive IF you try hard enough."
Question 9 Why have you had so many jobs?
Your interviewer fears you may leave this position quickly, as you have others. He’s concerned you may be unstable, or a “problem person” who can’t get along with others.
Answer: : First, before you even get to the interview stage, you should try to minimize your image as job hopper. If there are several entries on your resume of less than one year, consider eliminating the less important ones.
Question 10 May I contact your present employer for a reference?
If you’re trying to keep your job search private, this is the last thing you want. But if you don’t cooperate, won’t you seem as if you’re trying to hide something?
Answer: Express your concern that you’d like to keep your job search private, but that in time, it will be perfectly okay.
Question 11 “The Salary Question” – How much money do you want?
May also be phrases as, “What salary are you worth?”…or, “How much are you making now?” This is your most important negotiation. Handle it wrong and you can blow the job offer or go to work at far less than you might have gotten.
Answer : Never bring up salary. Let the interviewer do it first.If your interviewer raises the salary question too early,say,, “Money is important to me, but is not my main concern. Opportunity and growth are far more important."1. Never lie about what you currently make, but feel free to include the estimated cost of all your fringes, which could well tack on 25-50% more to your present “cash-only” salary.
Regards,
Shijit.
From India, Kochi
Thanks for sharing the informative tips. I would like to add that during interview candidate should also try to analyze the nature of the job and only if job suits to personal profile or expertise or the interest, only then one should say OK to the offer.
From India, Delhi
From India, Delhi
Be only honest and truly about yourself..thats only the way to get the suitable job... Thats all in my opinion
From Syrian Arab Republic, Damascus
From Syrian Arab Republic, Damascus
Nice question bank... we can add more questions into the same such as total exp., relevant experience, current Designation, Team size, current location, prefered location, major Self Assesment/Self rating, company's profile description i.e. company is into which industry/area, sift timings (current and favourable)....
We need to prepare for these questions as well.....
regards,
Richuka
From India, New Delhi
We need to prepare for these questions as well.....
regards,
Richuka
From India, New Delhi
Hi Shijit ,
I am a MBA student of Pune University and will be doing my summer project in HR shortly. Can U plz guide me of the do's and don't while doing a summer project in an Orgn. How can the summer project act as a key, towards getting an job offer of HR in the same organisation ???
plz help.:?:
U can mail me at -
Thanks and regards,
Poonam
From India, Pune
I am a MBA student of Pune University and will be doing my summer project in HR shortly. Can U plz guide me of the do's and don't while doing a summer project in an Orgn. How can the summer project act as a key, towards getting an job offer of HR in the same organisation ???
plz help.:?:
U can mail me at -
Thanks and regards,
Poonam
From India, Pune
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