Due to the dynamic nature of interviews, you can’t depend on your previous experience when preparing for another interview. Even in the same organization, interviewers could be rotated, which means each interview candidate might not get the same treatment. The best you can do is to conduct extensive research on the position you’re applying for and the company you’re applying to, and then proceed to the interview with confidence.
Another fact you must note when preparing for interviews is: the more important the position you’re applying to, the tougher the interview would be. This is not a general rule, but you should always prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
On the bright side, if you do your homework well and enter the interview prepared, you have the chance to blow your interviewers away and gain leverage when the time to determine your salary comes. If you’re applying for Canadian jobs, below are some interview question categories you’re very likely to encounter. We’ll go from the toughest to those that seem basic but require attention else you’d flunk them.
WHY DID YOU QUIT YOUR LAST JOB, AND WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE THEN?
This is a very common interview question and is perhaps the most difficult one to answer because you have to decide whether to be completely sincere or withhold some information. While the latter option seems appealing, what many job seekers don’t know is that it’s more a test of your honesty than the actual information you’re going to provide. When asked a question like this, it’s better to be completely honest.
Being honest doesn’t mean you should expose all the bad things about your previous workplace, however. Remember, your potential employers are also looking to see what you’d say about them in other places if they hire you and you quit later on. Be honest, but also keep an overall positive demeanor.
WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES?
This is a particularly tricky question, but here’s a rule of thumb: be confident about your strengths and how they can be applied to your job, and be honest about your weaknesses, but let the interviewer know how what you’re doing to improve on them.
WHAT’S YOUR SALARY EXPECTATION?
Whether you’re transitioning into a higher job position or just switching workplaces in the same role, it’s important that you know the current market worth for your skillset. Keep this in mind and avoid giving a definite figure; instead, try to determine the exact things you’ll be doing in your new job position, and make estimates based on these roles.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS MOVING FORWARD?
This might sound like your recruiter is beginning to care about you, but what they really want to know is how long you intend to stay with them. Answer with goals you wish to achieve with the company, and don’t mention switching jobs or becoming an entrepreneur anytime soon, even if you’re planning to do that.
LET ME KNOW YOU BRIEFLY
This seems like the most basic question you could be asked, but it’s deeper than that. Reveal only relevant information, and try to streamline what you say about yourself to the job position you’re applying for.
