Interview Tips - Commonly Asked Questions
The number one piece of advice when it comes to what to expect in the way of interview questions is this: be prepared to speak about yourself: your work experience, your ambitions. The interview is a chance for the interviewer to get to know you and for you to sell yourself and your skills. Both of these objectives are very difficult to achieve if you are not prepared and willing to speak confidently about yourself.
Q: Tell me about yourself.
A: Oddly, this question catches many people off-guard. Begin with outlining your qualifications, precising your recent career history and future ambitions this sets the tone that you are an ambitious professional first and foremost. Talk about the real passions in your life and don't forget to explain what attracts you to those interests. Try and give the interviewer a sense of what drives you in life, not a verbal resume.
Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: This is an indirect way of finding out how well you will adapt to island life. Sociable people that like sports (especially golf, soccer, rugby, hockey, cricket, softball, swimming, watersports, etc), the outdoors, and community service will generally fit in well and quickly establish a wide social network. If you can't live without weekly visits to the theatre or spending time with your parents and you are being interviewed for a job on a Caribbean island, the interview may not last much longer!
Q: Why are you leaving your current job?
Avoid the temptation to bad mouth your current job or employer. This is an instant red flag to most interviewers. It's normally enough to say that you decided it was time for a change and focus on the positives of the prospective role rather than the negatives of your current job.
Q: What most attracted you to a career in Law/Accounting/IT?
A: Chances are, that in all honesty, you've forgotten. Again, emphasizing the challenges and career prospects are important, but don't shy away from the financial benefits and opportunities for international travel. Don't say "God alone knows!".
Q: What are your strengths?
A: This is the cue for your best sales pitch, so be prepared with a good, short answer. List the two or three qualities you value most in your daily professional life. Some standard responses include
- Attention to detail
- A focus on results
- Ingenuity/Resourcefulness
- Amiability (i.e. the ability to get along with clients, colleagues and other professionals)
- Being a team player
- Leadership (for managerial roles only)
Q: What are your weaknesses?
A: This can be a really tough question, especially if it takes you by surprise. You need to be reasonably honest without indicating a deal-breaking character flaw. Avoid hackneyed responses such as "I'm a perfectionist" or "I work too many hours". A better response is to present a real weakness which you have overcome with some discipline and effort. For example (do not use this!), "I used to find it very difficult to focus on one task at a time. I realized this undermined my productivity so I bought some books on personal effectiveness. I came up with a system of keeping a hand-written "to do" list and started each day by prioritizing the outstanding tasks. I found this helped me focus on finishing one task before starting another. Now I'm fanatical about it."
Q: How would your best friend describe you?
A: This is a very common way of probing an interviewee's character. Focus on personal qualities rather than professional ones.
Q: Why do you think you're suitable for this role?
A: If you have followed our advice in the preparation section, this question should be a walk in the park. Take each requirement/duty in turn, or in small related batches.
Q: Where do you see yourself in three/five years time?
A: Again, avoid an answer that may be interpreted as arrogance or presumptuousness. Keep your responses in general terms, emphasizing advancement and personal/professional development. Don't be afraid to offer an alternative timeline if it suits your prepared answer better: "It's very hard to say at this point, I think in ten years time I would certainly see myself". Avoid answers which indicate a lack of permanent commitment.
Q: Do you have any questions for me?
A: It is good interview technique to prepare several questions for the interviewer, which are related to the role, the company, or the industry. When the opportunity arises, ask the interviewer to bear with you while you go through your notes. If all your questions have been answered, don't force a question for the sake of it. You may want to close by asking if the interviewer has any concerns about your suitability for the role, in terms of experience and qualifications. This will give you an indication of the prospects as well as an opportunity to address any remaining concerns.