Companies and recruiters pay very close attention to applicant responses to job interview questions. This is often the first time that a recruiter or employer gets the opportunity to speak with an applicant in person and get a sense of what the applicant may be like to work with. In addition, job interview questions put the candidate “on the spot” and can test how prepared they are for the role. Because of this, we recommend that you spend at least thirty minutes in preparation.
In preparing, it can be helpful to review sample job interview questions. We recommend that you record practice responses to the following job interview questions, then review the tips provided to see if there is anything you can improve!
What do you know about our company so far?
Tips
- Do your research! Between the job posting, the company website, and further information you can find online, you should come into the interview with lots of information about the company.
- Job interview questions like this can be a temperature check to see if you think you are a good fit for company culture.
- Stay positive. In your research, you may have come across some negative press about the company; it’s not a good idea to bring it up unless it is addressed directly in the job interview questions.
Why did you leave (or why are you looking to leave) your last job?
Tips
- Don’t let job interview questions like this take you off guard, especially if there were complicated circumstances surrounding your previous job. Practice, practice, practice!
- While it’s important to come off well, it’s also important to be honest in responding to job interview questions. Remember that the employer will probably be conducting reference checks.
- Make sure to emphasize what you have learned from your experiences at your previous job.
What salary range are you looking for?
Tips
- Again, do your research! Websites like glassdoor.com can be useful in getting an idea of what the company pays for the job you are applying for. They can also sometimes provide job interview questions asked by the company in the past!
- Don’t be the first to name a price, if at all possible. It puts you at a disadvantage in negotiations.
- If you have no other option than to name a price, give a range.
Do you have any questions for me?
Tips
- Always have a few questions ready for the interviewer to show off the amount of preparation you have put into the process.
- Good job interview questions for you to ask your recruiter include questions about job description, work environment, and the next steps in the interview process.
- Finally, don’t forget to ask your interviewer about when you should expect to hear from them!
