The Two Most Asked Interview Questions & How To Nail Them!

Sit in on any interview, not matter the location, industry or seniority level and you're likely to hear two questions asked by the interviewer. I've debriefed countless hiring managers and candidates after their interview and have heard these two questions raised again and again. They may not be the best questions (I've never been a fan!), but since there's a high degree of probability that you'll be asked one or both of them you need to be ready to answer them.

• Tell me about yourself. I know this isn't phrased as a question, but here's what the interviewer is really asking: "Why should I hire you?" When you think of the question in this way, it makes sense not to launch into a long history of where you were born and how big your family is. Honestly, the interviewer doesn't care! The best way to answer is to keep it concise, to the point and outcome based. Give them a brief 2-3 minute summary of what you could do in this position, keeping it focused on their key outcomes. If these key outcomes are not spelled out in the job description (sadly, most are not) you'll want to ask this of your recruiter or HR rep. A great way to ask them is, "What accomplishments will be expected of me within the first year?" Knowing these 3-6 goals beforehand are a gold mine for you and will help you better frame your answer to this important question.
• Do you have any questions for me? Here's what's going on in the mind of the interviewer when they ask this question. They want to know what's most important to you and they're also trying to gauge your level of interest in the position and company. If you were to ask them how soon you can start maxing out your sick time, it sends the message that taking time off is your most important priority and you can pretty much guarantee that you'll never get a call back from them. Use this question to make a statement to them that you have every intention of being a top performer. You can do this by asking them: "What are the characteristics of a top performer in this role?" You'll learn a great deal about your interviewer by asking them, "What do you love about your position and this company?" This will help uncover their passion and will give you a better understanding of them and the company. The bottom line is to make sure that you always, always, always come prepared with at least 2-3 questions to ask every person who interviews you.

If you go into each interview prepared and ready to answer these two very important questions you'll greatly increase your chances of getting the position


Originally Posted On: Linked In By:Larry Warren