We have all been there. It’s minutes before your interview and you are rattling through a list of possible scenarios and how you could problem solve them to avoid tripping over your words or giving a lackluster answer. However, instead of the last minute scramble, we are here to provide you with ample interview preparation questions and answers. This will ensure you walk out of the room not only feeling confident and qualified, but that your interviewer also views you in the same light.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
While not necessarily framed as a question, this sets the tone for your interview and shows the interviewer how you navigate an open ended response. Although this question is open to interpretation, you should avoid offering up too much personal information. You can share a few key elements such as where you are from, and where you are currently living, but from there you should dive into your career trajectory using a specific formula created by Lily Zhang from The Muse: Present, Past, and Future.
- “Present: Talk a little bit about what your current role is, the scope of it, and perhaps a big recent accomplishment.
- Past: Tell the interviewer how you got there and/or mention previous experience that’s relevant to the job and company you’re applying for.
- Future: Segue into what you’re looking to do next and why you’re interested in this gig (and a great fit for it, too).”
“Utilizing this structure is a productive way to convey who you are as an employee in your field, as well as a jumping point for your interviewer to prepare their follow up questions. Your interviewer should move on from this question with a better understanding of not only your past, but how your future transition fits into their company.” Says Alyssa Mastrangelo, CSS PSG National Recruiting Director.
Strengths & Weaknesses
It is unlikely that you will encounter an interview that does not incorporate questions regarding your strengths and weaknesses. Although you will always answer this question, you should not have a one size fits all response. What will set you apart from your competition is catering your response to the job description. For example, your strength should fall in line with one of the higher responsibilities in the description, and your weakness should highlight a smaller responsibility, which references a skill you would ultimately like to acquire.
What Would You Do in the First 30, 60, and 90 Days on the Job?
This question can be a bit daunting, especially for someone applying to their first job. But, with the right preparation, you will display to the Hiring Manager your readiness as well as your ability to make a direct impact on the company.
- 30 Days: You want to convey here the importance of completing key trainings, understanding the purpose of weekly meetings, as well as getting to know your co-workers and vendors. The first thirty days should be a time of absorption to build a strong foundation with an emphasis on understanding the company culture and your fellow employees.
- 60 Days: By sixty days, you should begin acting upon the knowledge you have acquired. Hiring Managers are looking for you to tackle low hanging fruit that displays your ability to execute without overhauling concrete systems that are at the core of the business.
- 90 Days: After the course of your first ninety days, you should be integrating both knowledge and execution. As opposed to low hanging fruit, this is your opportunity to identify critical areas of change as well as formulate a detailed plan to enact that change. During your interview, the ninety day section is an excellent opportunity to display your leadership abilities by referencing how the team is involved in your overall plan.
Although interviews are notoriously nerve wracking, here at Contemporary Staffing Solutions, we have an abundance of tips on our blog to offset some of that stress. As Recruiters, we also work to place you in positions that set you up for success and fall in line with your background. So, before your next interview, take a nice deep breath, re-read some of our tips, and most importantly, be yourself.
About CSS PSG
CSS PSG (Professional Staffing Group) has been a leading provider of contract, temporary, and direct hire solutions. Nationally supporting staffing solutions with a focus in Accounting & Finance, Human Resources, Sales & Marketing, and Call Center & Office. Everyone at CSS operates with pro-active pipelines, the highest business ethics, a winning spirit in our approach, and a team-oriented workflow with real cross-training. The CSS team coaches you with current business intelligence so that we can timely deliver solutions to meet your expectations.