Gain Confidence with this tips

1. Tell me about yourself. 

Give a clear, concise and compelling outline of who you are and what you’ve achieved. Let  your interviewer see something of your personality and interests, and explain to them why  you believe that you’re the person they’re looking for. However, avoid getting bogged down  in too much personal detail at this stage. Instead, focus on the key skills and experience that  you have that are relevant to this job. 

A good tactic is to discuss your present, your past, and your future. Start by summarizing your  current position. Then, fill in details of skills that you’ve gained from previous roles. Finally,  explain how this new job represents your ideal next step. 

If possible, include one or two specific, measurable achievements, such as improvements that  you’ve delivered or performance targets that you’ve exceeded. Use this question as an opportunity to demonstrate how you are ideally suited to this role. And show your confidence  and enthusiasm from the start. 

2. Why do you want to work for this company? 

Demonstrate your knowledge of the company: it’s history, where it’s going in the future,  and what its priorities are right now. And make clear that your own career goals point the  same way.  

Explain how your key strengths will help the company to move forward – and how working  there will allow you to excel. Be as specific as you can about why this company, above any  other, is the best place for you to have an impact, and why you’re so excited to apply.  

3. What interests you about this particular job? 

Show that you know exactly what this job entails, why you’d enjoy it, and how well-equipped  you are to take it on. As with the previous answer, link the role to your career ambitions and  goals, outlining why it suits you so well at this stage in your career. 

Make it clear that you’re aware of the challenges involved, and that you’re excited about  facing them. And be sure to focus on what you have to offer, as well as how you’re hoping to  benefit in return. 

4. How did you hear about the position? 

No matter how you did hear about it, emphasize what it was about the role that interested  and excited you. This is also an opportunity to highlight your professional connections, and to  explain any existing links with the company that fueled your desire to apply. 

Overall, show that you’re well-informed about your industry, organized in your approach to  career development, and eager to seize good opportunities when they arise.  

5. What do you know about our organization? 

Show that you have a clear picture of the past, present and future of the company. It’s  important to know key facts, such as how long it’s been in business, where it operates, and  how well it’s doing financially. Say something about the market it operates in, including any  current challenges or trends.  

But also talk about the company’s values, and how these inform its targets and goals. And  mention something that you’d like to learn more about – if you were to secure the job.

6. How has your career so far prepared you for this position?  

To prepare for this question, identify the most important skills and experience that you’ll need  to be successful in this role. Then, choose an achievement or lesson that you’ve learned in  your career so far that relates to each of these Success factors. Three or four examples will be  enough to make your case persuasive – as long as you include specific details, and mention  measurable results.  

7. Why do you want to change roles? 

Depending on your reasons, this can be a tough question to answer. It’s important to keep  your response as confident and forward-looking as possible, so that you actually come across  as more attractive to a new employer, not less.  

Don’t use this question to admit to failings, or to complain about your existing role – even if  you dislike your current boss or department. Instead, explain what you’ve learned, and why  you decided it was time to move on. Phrase your answer positively. For example, you could  say that you’re looking for a new challenge or want to learn a new skill. 

If you were let go from your previous job, be honest about it! Even setbacks like this can be  phrased positively – as opportunities to refocus your goals, to learn from your experiences, to  be resilient, and to forge ahead.  

8. What is your greatest professional achievement? 

The best example that you can give here will be something that relates to the job you’re applying for. Think of an achievement that you’re genuinely proud of. That way, you’ll show  your passion for the job, your high professional standards, and a clear understanding of what  real achievement means in your field.  

Prepare a few examples, so that you can choose one that showcases something that you haven’t had a chance to address already. And explain them using the STAR method. This  should cover: 

• The Situation that you were in.  

• The Task that you had to accomplish.  

• The Actions that you took. 

• Your successful Results.

9. Tell me about your worst boss. 

This is a tricky question. So answer it with a mix of honesty, diplomacy and positivity. Pick a  real example (make sure it’s not about someone working in the company you want to join), but  be discreet about the person’s identity.  

Focus on one aspect of their behavior, and explain exactly why this made it difficult for you to  do your job well. Talk about how you dealt with it, what you learned in the process, and how  it’s influenced your own approach to leadership since.  

10. Describe a conflict that you faced at work – and how you dealt with it. 

Again, be honest in acknowledging that conflicts do occur, but demonstrate how you are able  to handle them reasonably and professionally. Pick an example when you were able to recognize a problem and explain how you found an effective way to deal with it. Perhaps you  were able to defuse some tension in a heated team meeting or encouraged people to see  others’ perspectives. 

Remember, conflict can be valuable in some circumstances – for example, during a brainstorming session. But show that you understand when conflict becomes toxic, that you  know how to anticipate it, and that you can head it off before it causes damage.  

11. How good are you in a crisis? 

This question allows you to define what a crisis is in your role or industry, and to outline the  skills that you’ve developed to handle one if it occurs. Use a couple of carefully chosen examples to demonstrate key strengths, such as clearheadedness, initiative, problem solving,  and common sense.  

This is also a chance to show that you have the confidence and the interpersonal skills  needed to lead others through difficult times. 

12. When have you demonstrated leadership skills? 

Start by explaining what good leadership means to you, and back up your points with examples. Leadership plays a part in almost every role, to some extent, so you should be able  to demonstrate leadership credentials whatever stage you’re at in your career.  

The STAR method (see question 8, above) is a good way to structure a clear and memorable  answer. Talk about a time when you had a specific leadership challenge to overcome, and  how you used skills such as strategic thinking, empathy, decisiveness, and clear communication to do so.

13. Describe a time when you showed initiative. 

Initiative covers a number of key professional skills, including confidence, being a self-starter,  spotting problems and opportunities, and coming up with creative ideas. For this answer, tell a  story about a time when you not only showed initiative, but also achieved something measurable as a result.  

14. When have you been innovative at work? 

Again, innovation is a concept that encompasses many important attributes – the confidence  to think and act differently, the creativity to find new solutions, and the flexibility to cope as  things change.  

Think of a time when you spotted a need to be innovative. What did you do? What was the  positive impact of your new approach for your team and your organization?

15. Why should we hire you? 

There are three points that you need to cover here: 

First, show that you can do the job well. Use some punchy pieces of evidence that reflect your  experience, attributes and skills. Then, demonstrate your knowledge of the company and the  new role, to show that you’ll be a good fit. 

Finally, pull out the most impressive relevant achievement from your career so far, to set your self apart from rival candidates. 

16. What are your greatest strengths? 

Focus on a few of your most impressive strengths – especially the ones that relate closely  to this job. It’s a good idea to pick strengths that you know the company needs – for a spe cific project, perhaps, or to solve a particular problem – even if they’re not the ones you use  most often. 

As always, choose a clear example of each one in practice, showing the impact that it’s had at  work. And seize the opportunity to talk up any strengths that haven’t figured in your answers  so far. 

17. What makes you unique? 

Think about why people choose to come to you for help or advice on certain things, rather  than anyone else. This a great way of framing your unique abilities, without appearing boastful. Talk about your accomplishments, too – for example, when you were the first to do  something, or when you achieved more than anyone else. 

And, since everyone’s career trajectory is unique, show why your particular mix of skills and  experiences makes you the candidate best suited to this role.

18. What are you hoping for from this role? 

Use your answer to show that you have a detailed understanding of the role, and ambitious  expectations for what you can achieve in it. Demonstrate your enthusiasm, and talk about the  ways in which you’d benefit – for example, by being challenged more, by learning new skills,  or by enriching your experience in the industry.