You’re guaranteed to hear them, so let’s think about what to say
While these may not be the hardest job interview questions to answer, they are some of the most common. The hiring manager has probably heard a thousand answers to every question, so how can you make yourself stand out in your job search?
Interview question 1: Tell me about yourself.
This question will probably be the first out of the gate. First impressions last forever, so don’t go overboard. The hiring manager isn’t asking about what you got for your first birthday party or your favorite food. A few facts about yourself, like where you go to school, what you want to do after you graduate and your favorite hobby, will do just fine.
Interview question 2: Why do you want to work here?
This question requires a little homework. Try not to say, “I love the #6 combo” (although the Spicy Chicken sandwich at Wendy’s is my favorite too). Even though the sandwich is delicious, it’s not really what the hiring manager is asking you. Maybe you’ve had a friend recommend you, or maybe you love the customer service you get every time you come. Maybe in your research you read that it’s a fast-growing company. Giving a thoughtful answer will help you stand out.
Interview question 3: What’s your greatest strength?
You’ve got to nail this question. Your interviewer is asking you to brag about yourself, so brag on. Maybe you work well on a team. Maybe you’re a people person and everyone naturally gravitates to you. Mention your best trait. If, however, your greatest strength is dominating at Modern Warfare 2 or holding your breath for 17 minutes, you should not mention it. Your strength should be work-related.
Interview question 4: What’s your biggest weakness?
Here it’s best to mention one good thing you do to a fault. If one of your strengths was, “I’m detail-oriented,” here you could say, “Sometimes I focus too much on the small things.” Immediately follow up your weakness with something you’ve done to address it: “So I’m very careful to stay on task and to always have a good idea of what the end result should be.”
Interview question 5: What would you do if….?
You saw a customer steal something? You saw a co-worker steal something? You saw your friend steal something? A customer yelled at you? A co-worker yelled at a customer? This question comes in many forms, but mostly they just want to know that they can trust you. The safest way to answer this question is to say you’d always tell a manager and let them handle the situation.