4 Common Types Of Interview Questions & How To Answer Them

4 Common Types Of Interview Questions & How To Answer Them

Interviews are difficult and not just for fresh graduates but also for experienced people. Good interview preparation can help overcome these difficulties.
When getting ready for your next job interview, rehearsing interview questions to expect should be a priority.
Knowing the types of interview questions to expect can also help boost your performance if you prepare well.

Here Are The Types Of Interview Questions You Will Be Asked

1. General Job Interview Questions
These are fact-based questions that are used by the interviewer to learn more about you as a candidate. Some of the most common interview questions that fall under this category include;
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1. “Tell me about yourself”
2. “Why should we hire you?”
3. “Why did you leave your last job?”
4. “Where do you see yourself in 5 years”
5. “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” and many more.
When answering these questions, ensure your answers stay on track and focus solely on the professional and how you are a great fit for the position. Use the answers you give to show that you match what they are looking for as indicated in the job description.
Show the interviewer how you are a good fit for the company culture and how there is a match between your career goals and what the company has to offer.
2. Situational Job Interview Questions
These are questions designed to see how you will react to a specific work environment and work related situations.
This means that the questions will be more hypothetical and would be structured to see how you will handle a certain problem, usually one that you will most likely face if given the job.
For example,
“What would you do to resolve disagreements with suppliers?”
The best way to answer such a question is to give an example of when you dealt with a similar situation and the skills and expertise that you used in order to handle that situation well.
Learn How To Answer Common Interview Questions With Our One on One Interview Coaching Services
However, if you cannot relate, you need to tell the recruiter how you think you would react and show that you posses the competences to handle whatever the job throws at you.
3. Behavioral Job Interview Questions
Behavioral interview questions are almost similar to situational interview questions; the only difference is, other than asking hypothetical questions, they ask you to draw on your direct experience.
For Example,
“Tell me about a time when something unplanned happened during your day. How did you deal with it?”
As simple as the question might seem, the recruiter is trying to see if you can handle emergencies when they arise. When answering such a question you can give an account of what happened and how because of your organisation skills you managed to salvage the situation.
A good format to use would be start by describing the challenge followed by how you dealt with the situation and then what the results were. (Quantify wherever possible)
This is a type of question that you need to prepare for, think of possible situations you can use that turned out well in the end so that when it comes to the interview, you don’t stammer and lack something to say.
This is a chance for you to distinguish yourself from all the other candidates with similar qualifications.
4. Odd Interview Questions
Not all employers ask these questions during an interview. However, they are more common than you might think. They are mostly asked when an employer is recruiting for positions that need strong problem-solving skills and high levels of creativity.
For Example,
“How many cars do you think are in Nairobi?”
“How many golf balls does it take to fill an airplane?”
Such questions might seem like they have no value and are irrelevant but they usually help the recruiter find out how creative you are as well as how well you can cope under stress.
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The only way to become better at answering such questions is through a lot of practice. You can also consult an interview coach to guide you if you feel you are unable to do it on your own. It is important to stay truthful and portray confidence when answering the questions.
By Michelle Wanjiku
Michelle is a Communications Officer/ Digital Marketer at Career Point Kenya.

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