Question: Tell me about yourself. (OR) Explain something about yourself except resume.
This question may sound very simple, but try answering this question now with any preparation hardly few of you will be able to speak for 2 minutes or more. Many candidates, unprepared for the question, skewer themselves by rambling, recapping their life story, etc.
REASON: The interviewer is not our “Friend” or “Buddy” who knows us on regular basis; he is someone whom we are going to me for the first time. So, in the first meet we need to project ourselves in the best possible way; as the saying says “First impression is the best impression.”
BEST ANSWER: Start with the present and prove why you are well qualified for the job. The best way to be successful in all interviews is to match your qualifications to what the interviewer is looking for. In other words you must sell what the buyer is looking for.
NOTE: Preparing self intro doesn’t mean you by-heart it, just be organized and keep the order in mind.
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Question: What are your greatest strengths?
This question is a very complex one and can be answered only by doing self-introspection. Knowing your own strength and weakness is the best way to shine in any field.
BEST ANSWER: The key point to be taken care while answering this question is to connect your greatest strengths with interviewer’s greatest needs.
Prior to interview, you should have a list mentally prepared of your greatest strengths. Also, you should have a specific example or two, which illustrates your strength, an example chosen from your most recent and most impressive achievements.
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Question: What are your weaknesses?
Beware it is an ELIMINATOR question. If you admit your weakness it will definitely earn you ‘A’ for honesty, but an ‘F’ for the interview.
BEST ANSWER: Disguise your strength as a weakness.
Assure the interviewer that you don’t have any weakness that can stop you from excelling in future. Another way to answer this question describe your likes and dislikes, making sure that your likes match with the job profile the company is looking for.
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Question: Why should I hire you? (OR) How to you stand different from others?
This is a deadly question because if answered without preparation you will mess up for sure and it may lead to your elimination.
BEST ANSWER: To answer this question in the best possible way, know the needs of the employer. Collect as much as information as possible regarding the company before attending the interview. Also, match the needs of the employer with your strengths, this will give you upper leg over other candidates and increase your chances of selection.
Whether the interviewer asks you this question or not but it will be always running through his mind, so it is better to walk him through by matching his requirements and your strengths. For this you can even use your real life example if it matches with the job profile.
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Question: I feel you are overqualified for this job. (OR) Aren’t you overqualified for this job?
Interviewer will ask this question mainly because of your answers reflect that with your knowledge and skills you might find the job petty or unsatisfactory and leave soon.
BEST ANSWER: This question will test your convincing capability. Best way to convert this negative question to positive is to show him the benefits of you joining his company then stressing on your strengths. This question arises mainly because he feels you might leave his company on getting better opportunity. So, assure him that you are going to work with him for a longer time.
For example: (This is the answer I had in my mind when I was going to attend interview for the first time. I request you not to copy it.) “Being a fresher and seeing the present job scenario, I am looking for a long term commitment. Also being a fresher you can mould me according to your need into any technical area.”
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To be continued… (follow this blog to get regular updates)
Ankit Shah's Blog 