Introduction
It can feel like everything hinges on one interview, and the nerves can easily get to you. This feeling is normal.
But rather than letting it be the be-all and end-all of your career, allow it to be a learning process.
Interviews take practice. The more interviews you have, the better you’ll be at answering questions and seeing if a company is the right fit for you.
And to some degree, you must be able to sell yourself and your experience as the right match for the position.
If you’re wondering what to expect and how to start preparing, keep reading.
What types of interviews are there?
Here are a few of the most common interview formats:
Online interviews
Online interviews are quite popular as remote and hybrid work has increased over the last few years.
They have a few advantages compared to in-person interviews:
- You can set your notes up how you’d like and have documents in front of you during the interview.
- Location doesn’t matter as much.
- Your schedule is more flexible.
There are a couple of things to remember when having an online interview.
Firstly, make sure that you have a stable connection and that you’re in a quiet space, such as a room or office, so that there won’t be too much noise or interruptions.
Ensuring that you make a good first impression, which can make a huge difference.
Secondly, make sure to enter the online interview room about 5 minutes before the interview itself. Being on time will show that you’re punctual and respect others’ time.
Group interviews
There are two types of group interviews.
The first is more common, where multiple company employees interview an applicant. This is also known as a panel interview.
The other is where multiple applicants are interviewed at the same time.
These interviews are held online or offline, and you may not always know they are taking place.
Unless specified, prepare yourself for an unexpected group interview.
One-on-one interviews
One-on-one interviews can happen in the beginning or end stages of the interview process, depending on an organization’s preferences.
These interviews are a good way to build rapport with company individuals and get insight from the interviewer’s personal experience.
Practical tests
Many jobs require a specific skill, experience, or inclination for a role or position.
Practical tests, sometimes with payment, will be given to the applicant if they pass the initial screening. When this happens, the type of test usually depends on the organization’s preference and the role you’re applying for.
This test may be conducted in person, or it could be a self-test or task at home.
Rounds of interviews
It’s possible that there will be more than one interview to go through before receiving a job offer.
Usually, 2-3 interviews are typical, with some organizations pushing for 4-5 interviews before making a final decision.
Although, having too many interviews isn’t always seen as a positive thing and might be a sign of a toxic work environment. It’s best to carefully assess the situation as you go.
Here are the possible interview rounds you could participate in:
- Initial screening: do your skills and abilities fit the position?
- Technical interview or test
- Cultural fit or behavioral interview
- Panel (group) interview
- Final interview: usually with higher management
How do you prepare for an interview?
For thorough preparation, it’s best to have answers and multiple references ready to refer to during the interview.
Nowadays, there’s an emphasis on data and references to back up your experience.
Not only talking about your previous roles or tasks but also the positive contributions they had on the organization.
When an unexpected question comes up, these references come in handy.
It’s also important to research the company itself so you’re familiar with what they do, how they started, and what they’re currently working on.
I’ll go through the most common questions asked in interviews below!
Common questions
1. Introduce yourself
“Tell me about yourself,” the interviewer says.
This vague question is daunting and, without much direction, can leave you feeling like a deer in the headlights. But with preparation, you’ll be a pro.
When answering the question, focus on your recent career rather than your personal hobbies and interests.
You could mention a degree or certificate you completed and some key work experience.
End your answer with what you’d like to focus on going forward with this position or a similar job role.
Example answer: “Tell us about yourself”.
My name is Jenna, and I am from South Korea.
I majored in design and user experience (UX) at the University of Seoul, where I was also part of the film and media society.
Since then, I’ve been working as a designer for start-ups and gaining experience by working in collaborative team spaces.
Now, I’m looking to gain new skills by leading a team of designers.
2. Reason for a career change
If you’re shifting careers significantly, organizations will probably ask why you decided to change and how the change aligns with your experience or interest.
Perhaps you worked at a marketing company, but now you want to start developing, or the degree you completed doesn’t match your desired role.
Showing interest and initiative for this change will be beneficial to you. Highlight relevant experience and motivators for the change.
The question might sound something like:
- Why did you decide to make a career change?
- Your degree was ABC. Why are you applying as an XYZ?
- What motivated you to go from an ABC to an XYZ?
Here’s an example to refer to. Keep in mind everyone’s experience will be different.
Example answer: “Why did you decide to make a career change?”
Having studied technical education and working at a high school for a year, I realized it wasn’t what I wanted.
While I love education, I felt drawn toward the corporate and professional space of content creation and design. So, I started learning design in my free time and practicing those skills.
I managed to work at a design company for a few months as an intern and built my portfolio. Now I know it’s something I want to do long term.
3. Reasons for resigning
If you’re switching from one company to another, a common question might be why you decided to leave the old company.
You can be honest, but remember, it’s best not to speak ill of previous workplaces.
If there was any bad blood, you should show rapport with previous companies otherwise organizations might be wary of hiring you. It suggests that you might create drama or cause issues.
A few go-to answers include:
- I feel like I learned everything I could, and there was no more room for professional development.
- I want a fresh start, and this company would provide that for me.
- I’ve gotten too comfortable and want to challenge myself with something new.
You could even include a disclaimer in the beginning.
Something like, “While I have enjoyed working at the company, I feel like it’s time for new professional challenges to grow my skill set.”
You can expand on these answers with personal thoughts or experiences for a well-thought-out answer.
4. Motivation for application: Why did you apply?
Organizations want you to show interest in the position and company.
So you might get asked, “Why did you apply for this position?”
You can talk about a few keywords from the job description that grabbed your attention and the specific tasks you’d like to take on.
This question presents an opportunity to mention something about the company that stood out to you from your research.
For example, maybe you looked at their website or LinkedIn page and saw an article about their research and how you’re inclined to learn more about that topic within your job position and tasks.
This kind of answer will show initiative and that you care about the company.
5. What are your strengths?
Companies want to know what you’re good at and how it fits the position’s criteria and responsibilities.
They’ll most likely ask you, “What are your strengths?”
Come up with a list of two or more strengths and back them up with real-life examples from your experience.
Here are a few you could use:
- Communication
How you dealt with a conflict issue, your work transparency, or clear team communication for time-sensitive tasks.
- Problem-solving skills
There was a problem at work and you came up with a solution to manage it well.
- Attention to detail
You’re a meticulous worker and can catch minor errors within the expected time, ensuring high-quality outcomes.
- Work ethic
You take work seriously and manage your time and tasks well to ensure productivity.
- Willingness to Learn
You’re new to an industry, so proving and showing your willingness to learn new things will be an advantage. Back it up with a reference to learning something new for the first time and how it went well.
Example answer: “What are your strengths?”
I adapt quickly. Once, when our team had to switch project management tools, I mastered the new software fast to help keep us on schedule.
6. What are your weaknesses?
This one is a bit of a trick question. Knowing where you need growth is important, but it’s crucial to have a positive response to what could be considered a negative question.
Choose a weakness that could be positive, too.
Here are some suggestions:
- Taking on too much work
- Impatience
- Being overly critical
- Difficulty saying no
- Perfectionism
For example, maybe your weakness of “taking on too much work” means that you do a lot of work. Showing that you have strong work ethic.
Or your weakness of being overly critical means that you’re worried about quality and paying attention to details.
Example answer: “What are your weaknesses?”
I consider myself a perfectionist. So, if I’m designing something, I might spend longer than necessary on that task to make sure the project is right. I’m constantly working on this issue to improve my time management.
7. What are your career goals?
Organizations want to know if your career goals align with the position you’re applying for so they know you are committed and won’t pull out unexpectedly.
These questions are usually, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” or “What would you like to achieve in your career?”
When asked this question, consider your potential role in the company and the company’s needs.
You also want to emphasize professional growth and how this position or company can help you get there.
Make it specific to your goals but flexible enough to align with the company.
Example answer: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
In five years, my goal is to be in a leadership role, growing my skills in international communication and customer service.
The company's global-client reach and collaborative approach will help me enhance my skills in the customer service industry.
8. Tell me about a challenge and how you handled it
Organizations want to see how you handle a challenging work environment.
A question often asked is, “Tell me about a challenge you had and how you handled it.”
It’s important to reference an example in your job role. Highlight the issue, your role in dealing with the problem, how you dealt with it, and the positive outcome of the issue.
Back it up with numbers or data, such as reducing costs, increasing sales, minimizing production time, and others that will apply to you.
Example answer: “Tell me about a challenge and how you handled it.”
At my previous company, our outdated inventory system caused frequent stockouts and overstock issues.
As Operations Manager, I introduced a new forecasting tool and trained staff on its use.
This reduced stockouts by 20% and excess inventory by 15%.
End of interview questions
Once you’ve answered their questions, they’ll ask you, “Do you have any questions for us?”
Having a few questions lined up to ask after the interview can show that you put in extra effort and care for the interview and make you stand out.
Here are some potential questions for the interviewer:
- What does a day in my role look like?
- Do you have any hesitations about my background or skills?
- What do you expect me to accomplish in the first few months on the job?
- What are the opportunities for professional development at the company?
- How would you describe the work culture?
- Can you tell me more about the team I would be working with?
- What are the biggest challenges the team is currently facing?
- What are the next steps in the interview process?
Asking around three questions should suffice, but feel free to ask more.
Feedback and review
After the interview, reflect and see where you could make improvements, or write down any unexpected questions they asked.
It’s likely that the organization won’t provide you with feedback if you don’t get the job, but if they do, write it down and make a mental note of it to see what you can do better next time.
While it can feel tiresome, reflecting on the interview will help you with future interviews.
Business English tips for job interviews
If you’re applying to an international or abroad company, confidently completing the interview in English will be an advantage.
But if English isn’t your first language, participating in an English interview might feel unfamiliar.
Make sure to brush up on common business English vocabulary and phrases.
We recommend RedKiwi to improve your English listening and speaking skills. Watch videos focusing on business and a variety of job industries to familiarize yourself with corporate English.
You can even get tips on resumes, cover letters, and interview questions.
Conclusion
Interviews can be a little scary, but I’m confident you’ll only get better at them with these tips.
Once you have a few key points and references memorized with backed-up data, you’re sure to fly through the interview.
Just remember, you’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you! Good luck.