Hiring managers want to know some very specific things about you. They may each ask the questions in different ways but it is helpful to know the general categories of interview questions so you can better prepare yourself. Here are six things that hiring managers want to know about you.
- Tell me about yourself. This question is designed to find out the most information in the shortest amount of time. Your preparation should make you confident enough to sound like you are speaking off the top of your head. The meat of this question is your accomplishments and your passion. In just a few moments tell them the things you’re most proud of and why you love doing them.
- Why do you want to work here? The hiring manager is trying to find out how much you already know about the company. Not just the facts and statistics that you can find on their website, but also about the company culture and how you fit into it. You need to show that you know what the company does, what they stand for, and how your specific skills and talents can benefit them.
- Short and long term goals. This is where you need to communicate how their business can help take your career to the next level. Make your answer match the company’s own vision for their future. Also be sure to describe what kind of responsibility you want to develop.
- Why did you leave your last job or why are you looking to leave? This question may need to be handled in a delicate manner depending on the circumstances. It is designed to raise red flags for the interviewer and you don’t want to air any dirty laundry. Don’t say anything negative about your former boss or coworkers. Simply talk about your interest in development. However, if there were mistakes that caused you to have to leave your last job find a way to be honest but describe how it made you improve as a person.
- What are your strengths? Most people default to vague answers such as “I am very organized,” or “I am very creative.” In truth this answer should have to do with specific situations that proved your value. Describe how your meticulous record keeping saved your last company over a million dollars in one fiscal year. Offer a story about customer service where your handling of the situation turned an irate customer into a calm and reasonable one.
- Philosophical questions. These inquiries can be phrased in many ways. The hiring manager may ask you “How do you define success?” or “How would you describe a perfect leader?” The idea here is for them to understand how you think. What you say isn’t always as important as how you say it. Pause for just a moment before responding and be genuine in your answer. If you are disingenuous it will be discovered quickly once you start working and the job may not be a good match.
Are you looking for your next interview opportunity? Contact the professional recruiters at StaffEx to see how we can help you!