There is a reason why so many people dread that one hour in the interviewing room. The rapid crossfire questioning that happens in those chambers is unlike any other place and requires a certain amount of wit to tackle. There are many characteristic questions which are interviewer's favorites, but at the same time are our most dreaded interrogations. How many of us pray secretly for the hiring officer to skip the troubling inquiries? More often than not, however, a difficult query does come our way and we are left with no option other than to face the situation the best we can. To help you out of this sticky place, we have rounded up the most commonly asked hurdles to help you figure out the best way to tackle them.
Tell me about yourself?
A question attracting much hate, this query is a tricky fish to handle. Do you tell about your past achievements or should you attempt to elaborate on your personal life? What is the interviewer really aiming to find? The answer to this question can decide the fate of your interview, so, coming up with a valid answer is critical. Attempt to focus on the present job and how your qualities can be a valuable asset to the company. Keep your personal relations short and try to expand on your work history. When you begin, remember to start as naturally as possible, make sure, all that you say is believable and try to emphasize how well you fit the job description.
Why should we hire you?
This next strike of the interviewer is just as dreaded by the applicant as the last one. There could be any number of things that the employer would be looking to hear when he asks this question. The approach that you need to adopt is present how useful you are for the company. For this, you need to do your homework and have background information on the hiring employers as well as the position in question. Try to make your answer concise and avoid adding too many descriptions of yourself.
What salary are you looking for?
This again shows off a trick question that employers are more than happy to use on their candidates. Of course, anyone would be uneasy in quoting a specific number. What if you asked for an unacceptably high paycheck? Or even worse, what if you undersold yourself to the hiring company? To handle such situations, experienced candidates know how to twist the question into their favor.
Try postponing the salary talk till after the job description, so you know what you are signing up for. One way is to shift the discussion to the employer, in turn asking what compensation packages they offer. It is always important to have a basic knowledge of what salaries are expected of an employee like you. Find it out by using multiple sources online, as well as asking about in your circle to ensure you have the correct range in your mind.
Why did you leave your last job?
Then comes the biggest challenge of all. The probe into your past. This question is inevitable as every interviewer will ask you this question, irrespective of the company. The best way to tackle this question is to volunteer the correct information honestly, but tailored to suit the situation. By tailoring, we mean, that you present this answer, elaborating on your search for new opportunities, instead of focusing on the problems of the last company. Speaking bad of previous employers is a big No, so try to stay off this topic completely.
Out of a whole file of the most asked questions by employers, we have come up with the above statements as some of the most troubling query's that interviewers throw at the candidates. Giving them a quick read before an interview is likely to give you a rough sketch of how to attempt an answer. However, the ultimate result of the interview depends on you, and you alone. Do your homework, research the company well and then attempt your interview with confidence. There is no reason why you won't be selected!