How to Rack Up the Most Common Questions in an InterviewIts an interviewers job to evaluate the prospective candidates in every context and they will probe you, grill and drill deep to find out what point you may just explode and scatter. Everyone wants to hire performers and most importantly employees who can add value to the organization. Here are the most commonly asked questions in an interview and many tend to lose their nerve while answering these: 1. Can you tell me about yourself / Can you introduce yourself?

This hits you almost every time you are sitting in an interview. This question emphasizes on your spontaneity. This question also gets hold of what you answer and whats written on your resume. Anything mismatching in your resume like career goals, professional achievements or education can be easily noticed and thereafter countered by the interviewer. But ensure you dont narrate out your resume and sound like a recorded tape.

Stick to your goals, personal & professional achievements and brief about professional stints. Talk about your hobbies or interests (if any e.g. social work, networking, writing, etc.) and a brief about you family background.

2. Why did you leave your last job / Why are you looking to change?

This is entirely a behavioural question meant to push you hard and assess your decision making skills along with your perspective towards your own career. Interviewers have no great interests in knowing about your previous employer rather they want to understand what drives you to look for another job and in case you already have quit one, what made you do so. Handle this question diplomatically and wait, dont speak negative about your current or last employer.

Money drives everyone but put across the expectations in terms of role, growth and career aspirations on the table rather than just focussing on money as a key driver to change. If you have already left your last job, detail the actual reasons behind that because faking out here will eventually come out in the ref checks. Honesty pays on time and trust me on this.

3. Where do you see yourself in three / five years?

A very straight forward question and most of the times an answer comes right out saying at respectable or decent position with the company. Now what is a respectable job and what is the definition of respect? It is you who will explain and define the dimensions of what kind of role or a position you aim to achieve in 4 to 5 years. Another improper answer oftenly heard is I want to become a Manager in a Good Organization. Now who wants to join a Bad Organization and what makes you think this one is bad or good.

Tackle this question simply by stating your professional goals and chart out your plans briefly that will help you achieve those goals. Instead of being specific, keep the reply little open ended and be realistic. Talking in the air will sound very bold but interviewer can cross counter and deep grill you further asking to explain by examples.

Very recently in an interview a candidate replier to this question which completely started me and damn I was impressed too. Her answer was At your Seat :-)

4. Why should we hire you?

The interviewer will throw this at you looking straight in your eyes with a cunning look and mostly expects a not so funny answer. And few hilarious replies I have heard are:

Because I deserve this positionI guess you have liked my cvI need the job desperately Such answers will get you a C Minus or even a D. The interviewer is clearly asking you to sell yourself and I guess everyone knows their own USPs. Avoid using common terms which are actually a must have skills like hardworking, dedicated and punctual in interviews. Sell yourself pointing at the more important skills like Team Player, Never-Say-Never Attitude, Effective Manager and precise technical strengths which are relevant to your function or the industry.

5. Can you describe your weaknesses & strengths?

We are humans and yes each one of us has some positives and negatives which determine the performance levels and control of our emotions at workplace. By the time this question comes-up, the interviewer knows you well and has identified some of your personality traits at the back of his mind. An interviewer wants to know how honest are you going to be in describing your own Strong & Weak points.

Be honest and subtle because exaggeration here can be terrible and disastrous too. Talk about you strengths and refer some cases at your previous experiences proving the same.At the time of describing your weaknesses please dont ridicule the situation by explaining the poor relationships with you family, colleagues or girlfriends or boyfriends. Close the reply with the statement that I am trying to improvise on the weaknesses and regularly assess the outcomes.

6. What are your salary / compensation expectations?

Yes money is an important part of work and life but dont get that greedy colour on your face. Relax, have patience because it is just a discussion and not an offer letter being released. You should be ready for a discussion and not a debate. Dont get too adamant in intial round of the interview because every company offers a salary discussion opportunity at length. Quote your expectations and keep your reasoning ready behind the same. Do not refer to inflation as any reference point but put in forward your details of exiting compensation and may be the incentives / bonus which you might miss if you quit from you current employment. Close the question by saying We can discuss it and it is negotiable up to an extent

7. Do you have any questions for me / Are there any queries you may want to resolve?

Every time I end up interviewing anybody, I always offer the last round to the candidate. This is an opportunity for you to clarify some queries pertaining to the job profile or the job role. This also gives you few last minutes of the interview where you can indirectly tell the interviewer how well you have gone through the corporate information by asking certain question about business expansion, facility details or even product / service detail. Ask what kind of growth map one can see from this role?

Few weeks back a candidate who appeared for a sales role asked me What do I expect from the candidate for this role? and I had to explain very important details about the job profile and that discussion went further for an hour and it became an interactive session. The candidate could easily modulate the discussion and the interview closed on a very positive vibe.

You definitely want avoid some lame questions for the interviewer:A. What will be the in hand salaryB. When is the salary payroll dateC. Is mobile / datacard / laptop providedD. Do we get a pick and drop facility

All the best for up-coming interviews and dont hesitate to connect with me for any assistance. I will be more than happy to help you out.