Guidelines for Answering Questions for a Successful Interview

Practice answering common interview questions with a career counselor.

You've crafted a resume and cover letter that has landed you an interview, and you're nervous about that face-to-face meeting. The best cure for those pre-interview jitters is preparation. The more you know about a company's history, mission and values, the better your answers to the interview questions will demonstrate that your qualifications are a good fit for a prospective employer.

Function

The purpose of a job interview can vary depending on the type of interview. Screening interviews are used to narrow down an applicant pool. Questions you might encounter in a screening interview include "what are your salary requirements?" or "what are the day-to-day duties in your current position?" You are more likely to pass a screening interview, usually conducted over the telephone, by rehearsing your responses, and closing the screening interview by asking the employer what the next step is in hiring process.

In a second interview, you are likely to encounter challenging questions; however, in the second interview you have a chance to "toot your own horn," and demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the job. For example, if asked where you see yourself in five years, you can answer the question in a way that shows you want to grow with the company if hired and work there for the long term.

Features

Typical job interviews include questions such as, "why do you want to work for this company?" and "how would you describe yourself?" The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recommends that you rehearse your answers to questions like these before the actual interview. Your answers to interview questions need to demonstrate that you have the professional characteristics necessary to perform the job effectively. For example, when an employer asks you to describe yourself, discuss traits that are related to your work, such as being detail oriented, or well organized.

Considerations

Some interview questions are "tricky," but if you are prepared for them, you can answer them in a manner that puts you in a positive light. One such question is "what are your weaknesses?" The best way to answer this question, as explained in an article on Career Builder's website, is to show how you have turned a potential weakness into a strength. For example, if you have procrastinated at work in the past, talk about steps you took to alleviate the problem, such as attending a time management seminar. If asked why you left your last job, be diplomatic and honest -- avoid complaining about the company, your supervisor or coworkers.

Warning

Certain interview questions are illegal in accordance with state and federal laws, and are enforced by agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The key to handling these questions successfully is to know when the way a questions is phrased violates the law. For example, it is legal for an employer to ask you if you are over the age of 18, but illegal for an employer to ask you for your exact age. If you are asked an illegal question, you can refuse to answer, but this may give the employer the impression that you are uncooperative, cautions the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire's Career Services department. A compromise is to answer the question in a way that applies to the job. Thus, if an employer asks you your age, you can simply reply that you are over the age of 18.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics; Occupational Outlook Quarterly; "Employment Interviewing..."; Olivia Crosby, Summer 2000
• CareerBuilder; How to Answer These Tricky Interview Questions; Kate Lorenz
• University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire Career Services: FAQs About Illegal Interview Questions
• Job Interview Questions: Screening Interview
• BC Jobs: Passing the Telephone Screening Interview
• CNN; How to Answer 10 Tough Interview Questions; Rachel Zupek