By Dan Simmons

Interviews—and interview questions—are becoming more and more sophisticated.  Companies are constantly devising new ways in which to uncover the candidates they want on their team.  That’s why it’s important to be as prepared as possible when you land that all-important face-to-face interview.  We’ve come a long way from “Where do you want to be in five years?” (although that question is still asked in some interviews).  Below are five questions you may encounter during your next interview.

Why do you want to work here?

Simple, straightforward, and logical . . . but believe it or not, many candidates aren’t prepared for this question.  It’s not enough to know why you want to work there, though.  You have to articulate why, too.

What can you do for us that other candidates can’t?

Another straightforward question, this one is designed to ascertain what separates you from the other candidates being interviewed.  Differentiation is very important, so conduct an honest and thorough analysis of your skills, experience, and personal characteristics.  Then decide what makes you different.

Describe one major obstacle or challenge that you overcame during the past year.

This is a behavioral-based question.  The interviewer wants to assess your ability to identify and overcome adversity, as well as the steps you took in order to do so.  Why?  Because you’ll probably employ similar measures if you work for them.

Identify and describe two past projects, one of which was a success and one of which was a failure.

Another behavioral-based question, this one is designed to gauge how you work under pressure, but more importantly, how you react to failure.  How you react to failure is often considered more important than what led to the failure, so be sure to carefully word your answer.

How would your best friend describe you?

It seems like an odd question, but the interviewer wants to see the way in which you respond (body language, gestures) just as much as how you respond.  And it would be a good idea to be ready for the possible follow-up question: “You don’t mind if we call your best friend, do you?”

Is it possible to be ready for every possible question?  Probably not, because you never know what they’re going to ask.  However, you can increase your chances for success by preparing for the questions above before your next interview.

"What Nobody is Telling You" is an article series put on by Continental Search.

Dan Simmons Bio

Dan SimmonsDaniel C. Simmons is a Certified Personnel Consultant who has been recruiting since 1991. Dan has won over twenty awards in the last decade with the Top Echelon Network, America’s leading placement network including Placer of the Year in 2009 & 2010.

Frequently Dan also is a recruiter trainer and has been featured at various Top Echelon Conventions and online as a speaker for various webinars. He has also been published in The Fordyce Letter the recruiting industry’s #1 magazine.

Is Your Company Looking for Great Candidates? Contact Dan Today!