ECR's Top 5: How to answer questions during a job interview
It is best to be prepared!
Here are five ways to make sure that you answer the most basic interview questions that will win over your future employer:
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1. Tell the recruiter about yourself
There are many ways you can do this. As they will have your Curriculum Vitae (CV), they have a good sense of who you are and what you all about already.
So it's best to answer the question by telling them about things that aren't on the CV. Leave out personal things. Talk about your time in a workplace setting. For example, talk about a situation where things were hectic, as well as how you managed to stay calm throughout the whole experience and bring it to a positive conclusion.
2. Describe your work experience
Skim through your CV and make sure to indicate clearly where you have worked as well as what it was like working there.
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Highlight three highs and lows of working in each of those previous jobs you had. It's important that the recruiter knows all about how your experiences in the previous jobs helped you become the person you are now.
3. Highlight strengths and weaknesses
This is where you showcase all the things that you're quite good at. This should be aspects that compliment your personality as well as make you effective in the work place.
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Never mention just one strength. Make sure to use what you think the employer would have written in the job spec. There are specific requirements or positive attributes required for each job you apply for.
4. Long and short-term goals
This is where you tell the recruiter what you hope to achieve in your professional career. This is in the form of short and long-term goals. Short-term goals are things that are now. What you want to do or achieve now this year or within the next couple of months.
Then your long-term goals would include things that you want to work on for the foreseeable future. These are tasks that you can work on now that will end up being a major success in the future. An example of this would be devising a five-year plan of your life.
5. Having your own set of questions
This is arguably the most important part of the interview process. After all the questions are answered, the recruiter will want to know if there are any questions from your side.
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It's important that you show the recruiter that you're serious about the job you applied for and ask questions about the job in question. By talking to people who are associated with the company, it gives you a sense of information that will be of benefit to you.
Plus it shows the recruiter that you are prepared, and shows initiative and excitement about the prospect of working at the company/organisation.
