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ASK the Expert
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The most successful candidates demonstrate their skills with stories. They tend to be more successful than the “very technically proficient” because they connect to the interviewer. Most interviewers do not have technical expertise in your field. They hire based on overall qualifications, how you work with others, and cost. Preparing for different types of questions allows you to be your “authentic” self and feel more comfortable in the interview. In any interview, you typically encounter several different types of questions:
1. Straightforward questions are the most commonly asked questions basically found in every interview. The interviewer asks about you, the role, and specific job-related tasks. Straightforward questions include: "Tell me about yourself, your previous role, how your background prepares you to do the job, and why you want to work for this company."
TIP: Straightforward questions are primarily about fact checking and getting to know basic information. Google a list of the “top 25” interview questions, set a timer, and write as many answers out as possible in 25 minutes. Count on being asked these questions and prepare for them by having a 30 second elevator pitch and a basic understanding of the role and the company.
By Amy Rossi
Help! Interview Questions stump me.
How should I prepare?
Congratulations…you have an interview, so you probably have the basic knowledge, skills, and abilities that a candidate should possess. You walk in dressed to the nines with your resume, ready to tell the company all the reasons that you are the best QUALIFIED candidate.
STOP! You might quickly pigeon-hole yourself as a one-dimensional candidate who is only technically proficient, not a well-rounded candidate capable
of adapting to shifting priorities. Candidates focused solely
on the “technical” are often stumped by good-worker habit
based questions.
RELAX! An interview is an opportunity to see if you are a
good fit for the position and company and then to compare
you to other candidates interviewing for the position. The
interviewer is trying to ‘picture’ you in the role and get a
‘feel' for how you will work with other members of the team.