Job Interview Interview Questions Employers may ask you a variety of questions during an interview. It helps to be familiar with the categories of questions you may be asked so that you may better prepare for the interview. These include general questions, behavioural questions, and situational questions. A. General questions Understanding why the employer is asking the question can help you formulate your response. Below you will find some typical questions including some tips for responding. 1. Tell me about yourself. Intent: This question is usually asked as an ice breaker, to help both the employer and you relax. The employer is interested in better understanding you as a potential employee and how your skills and experience may fit with the position. Response: This is an invitation for you to talk about your qualifications, experiences related to the position, and educational background. You want to add value to your resume. Talk about what you did to get to where you are today, such as how you developed an interest in your field of study, and where you want to go from here. Sell yourself, but keep your answer brief. 2. Why are you interested in a position with this organization? Intent: The employer wants to know how much you know and understand about their company, and their products and services. Response: Show the employer that you have done research on their organization, including their services, products, market information, and competitors. In addition, demonstrate your interest in the company by discussing how your skills and experience will benefit the organization. 3. What led you to complete your undergraduate degree in ________________? Intent: The employer wants to know why you chose your particular field of study and degree program and when you made the decision to do so. Response: Show passion for your field. You may also choose to talk about the decision-making process that led you to select your program of study. 4. What strengths do you feel you bring to this position? Intent: The employer is interested in assessing how well you know and believe in yourself, and whether or not you possess the necessary skills for the position. Response: Describe your strengths that relate to the position and provide examples to support your answer. Possible strengths could include employability skills such as communication, reliability, flexibility and ability to be a team player. 5. Describe a weakness (or 2 or 3…) Intent: The employer is assessing your ability to be self-reflective and critical. In essence, he or she is interested in seeing how well you know yourself and how honestly you can evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Response: State the weakness(es) and describe the measures you have taken to overcome it (them) and improve in that area. Other possible questions: If you were hired, what steps would you take to become an effective team member?
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