5 Questions You Should Know the Answers To

Before you next job interview, make sure that you are prepared for anything that might come up. The interview process is becoming more competitive than ever, and you can no longer trust that showing up and doing your best is going to be enough. With so many people having been out of work for extended periods of time, you can be sure that no matter where you interview, there is going to be someone else who is just as skilled and experienced as you are. How you present yourself at an interview is going to be, for many employers, the make or break factor.

So, before you arrive at your next interview, here are 5 questions that you should already know the answers to:

1. Tell me about yourself – The interviewer isn't going to want to hear about where you went to elementary school, the ages of your children or you favorite color. They want to find out who you are as a person and as an employee. You should have a pre-planned answer to this question that includes the highlights of your education, your previous work experience and any interesting hobbies or interests.
   
   
2. Why should we hire you? – This question is, in my opinion, on of the hardest. As people, we are always encouraged not to brag and to be modest. Although you don't want to brag, this is also not the time to be humble. Tell the interviewer why you are the best candidate for the job. When faced with this question, stay calm and let them know what skills and talents you bring to the table and how you think they would benefit the company.
   
   
3. Where do you want to be in five years? – The right answer to this question is never “doing your job”. When an employer ask you this question, they are trying to determine if you are planning to use this job as a stepping stone in your career or if you are planning to stay employed with the company for a longer period of time.
   
   
4. Tell me a problem in your life and how you managed to solve it– The employer is looking to find out what sort of person you are. Before you go to the interview, you should think about specific instances in your life when you have been forced to be resourceful and creatively problem solve.
   
   
5. How do you deal with work related stress – An interviewer is trying to determine if you are someone who is likely to give up and walk out if you get frustrated during training, or if you are someone who can work through the difficulties of learning a new job. Tell them how you handle stress, even if you think it sounds silly. Spending time with friends on the weekends, working out at the gym or just letting it go and focusing on work are all good answers here.

Being prepared for an interview ahead of time in one of those things that I just can't stress enough. If you plan ahead, you won't find yourself staring across the desk at the interviewer (as I have before) and completely drawing a blank. If you worried that nerves will get the better of you, feel free to write down the key points of your answer on a notepad to bring with you.

What other questions do you think are important to employers? Let me know in the comments.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Be sure to visit PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.