The first, or preliminary interview is generally 30 minutes and is what is going to qualify you to move to the next round. Be proud, getting to this stage is an accomplishment in itself. Now you need to prepare how you are going to sell yourself…your skills, qualifications and why you are interested in the position. Here’s how to respond to the most common first interview questions:
- Tell me about yourself.
It seems like a simple question, though for many it is hard to prepare a concise response. This is not where you go into a 10 minute answer telling the interviewer everything about school, your classes, your past jobs. It is really more a high level overview. Try to focus on things that are relevant to this role or type of company. You can also throw in some information about things outside of work, i.e. you grew up in the city, a hobby, etc.
2. Why are you interested in this position?
This is where you can show you did your homework. Study the job description, speak to your skills and experience as they relate to the role. This also gives you the opportunity to show your enthusiasm about the opportunity.
3. What interests you about our company?
Another question which requires research. Go on the company website and learn about their products and services, understand the history, size, company values, any current news, etc. You should be able to articulate how the company is the type of culture or environment is what you are looking for in an employer. You can also check out Glassdoor to see if someone provided possible interview questions you could be asked.
4. Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses.
This goes back to the job description. Study the qualifications and if there are traits they are looking for, focus on those and do not just say the strengths, give an example. For instance, you can say you are organized, but take it a step further and say you use organization to be more efficient, and you have file folders for each of your classes.
Weaknesses-no one ever likes to talk about what they are not good at. Bring up an issue you have resolved-it is more about how have you worked to change your weakness. Examples you can use: “I have a hard time saying no”, “I focus too much on the details”, “I sometimes lack confidence” or “In the past, I’ve been uncomfortable with ambiguity”.
5. How does this role fit into your career trajectory?
Employers want to make sure this is not just a short-term gig. If they are going to invest in training you, they want to know that you are sticking around.
You only have 20-30 minutes to convey to your interviewer that you have the skills to excel in the job, and that you are excited about the role and the company. Since these are pretty common questions, you can prepare in advance. Remember, be concise and add specific examples when you can.
Good luck!
