How to Correctly Answer Interview Questions
Job interviews can be stressful. You want to make a good impression and persuade the company to hire you. But you also need to be honest and answer the interview questions truthfully. Though some interview questions have no one right answer, knowing the most common interview questions and the kind of information they're meant to solicit can help you to make the most of your job interview.
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Instructions
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Identify the types of questions employers are most likely to ask in job interviews. Job hunting handbooks and websites list many sample questions. The questions tend to fall into several broad groupings: behavioral questions to give the interviewer a feel for your personality, informational questions that provide facts about yourself and your work history, and problem-solving questions that test your critical thinking. Make a list of the types of questions employers might ask and divide them into categories.
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Compose answers to these common questions. Relate your answers to the job at hand. If you are asked to tell about yourself or describe situations that relate to proposed problems, follow the STAR approach: describe a Situation you found yourself in, relate the Tasks you performed in that situation, name the Actions you took and the Results you achieved.
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Write a two- or three-sentence statement about yourself. Use this statement to answer questions along the lines of "Tell me a little about yourself."
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Practice an interview with a friend or family member. Have the person ask you the questions on your list, and you give your answers until you can deliver in a comfortable and natural manner.
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Review your resume. The interviewer may ask questions about your education or job history. You want your answers to match with the information on your resume.
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Review your interview etiquette. Shake hands firmly, look the other person in the eye and sit up straight. Speak clearly and don't fidget. Don't act nervous even if you are. Presenting a calm demeanor gets easier with practice.
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Tips & Warnings
If an interviewer asks you a question to which you don't know the answer, don't be afraid to admit your ignorance. Provide a solution, such as: "I don't know that answer, but it's in our style book."
References
Resources
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