Interviews are often the most dreaded part of the job-hunting process. Many people are afraid, if not anxious, to undergo an interview process because of so many reasons. However, interview is an integral part of the hiring process. In fact, it is often said that your resume gets you the interview, while the interview gets you the job.

So if you happen to get an interview, be glad as you are a step closer to getting that job you’re aiming for. If you are feeling anxious about the interview process or if you’ve never been to any interview before, here are the Top 10 interview questions that Employers often ask. Take them to heart. Prepare for them. And Get that job that you really really want.

10. Can you tell me something about yourself? This is a very common opening question in most interviews. The reason being, the interviewer wants to hear you speak while he/she browse thru your resume. Second, it gives the interviewer an idea how you speak. Best way to respond to this is by breaking the ice. If you can, start with a light humor like stating your full name and a funny nickname if you have. Very briefly, highlight your educational attainment and the jobs you handled in the past. Just say the position and industry that you worked for. If you worked for a very popular company in the past, it will help if you mention them but don’t be too detailed, lest there will be nothing to talk to anymore during the course of the interview. Your objective should be just to break the ice and endear yourself to the interviewer.

9. How did you learn about this job? They want to know how you learned about the job. Make sure you know this before you go for an interview. You don’t want to make things up as it will ruin your image right off the bat. It’s understandable that an applicant submits many applications to different companies but when you got an interview; make sure you know all the circumstances for that application. If you learned about it on a job site (Internet), say so then add what you know about the job requirements. This gives an impression that you are really serious about the job you’re applying for.

8. What do you know about us? This is often asked to test whether you are serious about the job and whether you have a good grasp of your interviewer’s business. If you know some important things about your prospective employer’s company and how it operates its business, chances are you can add value to their organization.

7. What was the reason you left (or leaving) your previous company? Employers are always curious why you left. This question is very tricky as there seems to be no right answer for this one. The common answer for this is for “career advancement” or you want to find a “more challenging career.” Although, sometimes this can be true, prospective employers are not buying it anymore. These answers sound canned and insincere. The best answer to this really, is to be honest. If you got retrenched from your previous job due to economic crisis, say so. If your contract expired, say so. These answers are honest and understandable given the present economic climate. Moreover, it does not have any bearing on your qualifications so you can afford to say it.

6. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Alas, the dreaded question as this normally puts the interviewee in a very uncomfortable situation. You don’t want to brag and you don’t want to disparage yourself either. Best way to handle this is to preface your strength with, “my colleagues often say that I…” then mention some of your positive attributes. Somehow, this lessens the appearance of bragging. As for weaknesses, cite some. It creates an impression that you’re honest. And by mentioning some of your weaknesses, it gives credence to the strengths you mentioned earlier. Trick is cite just one or two “harmless” weakness and cite 3 or more strengths. Remember, be honest and confident.

5. What makes you think you’re qualified for this job? If you got to the interview round, that means you are indeed qualified for the job. You just have to articulate it in a manner that assures the interviewer that he will be making the right decision. Answer this question confidently by relating your qualifications with the job requirements defined in the job description. So, make sure you know you have read the JD (job description) before you show up for the interview. Use some of the exact phrases/words used in the JD, it will be music to the interviewer’s ears.

4. What do you think is your best achievement so far? The answer to this question is not limited to your career achievements only. If you have real significant achievements in your university days that show leadership, courage or creativity, then highlight it. Tell it in a way that sounds like you’re telling it to a colleague and not to someone you are trying to please. Engage the emotion of the interviewer while you tell your “shining” story. Smile while you tell your story as it makes your achievement more significant and worth telling.

3. What can you contribute to this organization? This question is related to item # 5 (job qualification) and the trick is to know the JD by heart. When an interviewer asked this question, he or she wants to hear an answer that shows you are driven and willing to inject fresh new blood to the organization. Sometimes, there is nothing much unique that you can offer in terms of talent or skills, they have some of that already and you might just be an addition. A new hire normally implies a fresh infusion of vigor to the organization. Phrase your answer in such a way. Show them that you are driven to succeed and you will do more than the minimum.

2. How much is your expected salary? If you get this question, that means you performed well in the interview. Now they want to know if they can afford you. Normally, the best way to handle this is to let the company decide on your compensation depending on your qualifications. “Negotiable” is the short answer but phrase it in a such a way that says, “it’s up to you.” By not saying any expectation, you don’t drive away a potential job offer if your expectation is beyond their budget, neither do you inadvertently drive down a potentially high salary offer. If the interviewer really pressed, just mention your last previous salary then let them decide. However, if you will not accept any job lower than your expectation, then by all means, say the minimum salary that you expect.

1. Why should we hire you? This is like the summary question and therefore, you must give a summary answer. More often than not, the interviewer has already made a decision at this point. He or she just wants to validate it. There is no exact answer to this. If you feel you did well in the interview, don’t ruin your chances by being overly clever or pushing yourself too much. Just mention some of the positive qualities you have and assure them that getting you to join their team is a decision they will never regret. Keep it short and sweet. If, however, you feel that your interview performance was not good. This is your last chance to impress the interviewer. Keep it short but direct to the point. What they heard last is what they normally remember the most.

There you go. The Top 10 Interview questions that employers often ask and how to answer them. The key here is to be prepared. Good luck and happy job hunting. (10/3/10)

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