COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND TACTICS

WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?

Research is vital to this answer. Check out the section "Prospective Company Research." You should incorporate language and descriptions from the job posting into your answer. Compose an answer that connects the skill sets you possess to the overall expansion goals of the company or team.

WHAT ARE YOUR SALARY EXPECTATIONS?

Hard stop. Especially in a first round interview or preliminary call with a recruiter, be cautious. You could run the risk of low balling yourself. The danger  is that they are asking for your salary requirements when you don't even know the extent of the responsibilities they are hoping to hire you for. Despite having a job description, it is likely you won't have a realistic grasp of the role until you talk to more stakeholders.

Before responding, turn it around and ask the interviewer/recruiter what they have budgeted for the role.

Alternatively, another way of answering is below in an attempt to avoid revealing salary expectations for the moment.. 

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Example: "I have done research on the salaries for this type of role. Since there are a details of the role we still need to discuss, I'd prefer to wait.  Depending on the responsibilities required of the role, my expectations may change." 

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Suggestion: The recruiter may push for a range at the very least. Make sure you research the role and compensation with other companies so you can set a high minimum, if at all. 5% above the average salary is a good appeasement for the recruiter as well. 

WHY ARE YOU LEAVING OR HAVE LEFT YOUR PREVIOUS EMPLOYER?

Do not bash the company! No matter the struggles you faced with coworkers or workload, those who complain are commonly seen in a negative light. Check out "Changing Direction" for more information on leaving a job. Below are a few examples of neutral responses: 

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1. There was no opportunity for personal development or limited promotion options

2. The company went through a business realignment and the role no longer fell in line with my career goals

3. They went through a merger, so they were either doubling up or doubling down on positions, reducing opportunities for the next five years

4. It was not the right environment to foster my career

WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB?

 Answer the question by discussing the opportunity the role presents short-term and long-term with your aspirations. It has to be more than simply collecting a paycheck. They want to hear a deeper investment that will motivate you to commit to the job. In turn, this is a great opportunity to express what you look for in a company as well. 

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Example: "When I came across this role, I saw several ways in which I could contribute to the overall success of the company. Based on your website and Glassdoor, I realized this company's drive for success and concern for its employees could provide great opportunities down the road." 

DESCRIBE A DIFFICULT WORK CONFLICT AND HOW YOU FOUND A RESOLUTION?

An easy trap to fall into is dwelling on the drama of the situation. Your interviewer is not your gossip buddy. Stick to the facts of the situation that transpired. Formulate your story with following:

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1. Roles involved, including yourself?

2. What type of environment; business, office environment, etc.?

3. What was the problem summed up into a single sentence? 

4. What was your approach to addressing the issue?

5. What were the terms of the resolution?

Example: "As a supervisor, I monitored the floor consisting of call center representatives. One representative was  having issues with one of their peers over a disagreement. I escorted the representative into a confidential space to remove them from the heated situation. We discussed how we can improve their work environment and comfort level. We settled on an action plan and took it step-by-step from there."

HOW DO YOU HANDLE FAILURE, STRESS, OR PRESSURE?

Answering this question can be embarrassing for some. As we move forward in our careers, we look back and blush thinking how we may have handled situations in the past. Since this is often the case, it is a great time to frame the answer around how you have improved. Acknowledge the steps you needed to take to be reliable in high pressure situations. 

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Example: "Over the years, I have learned a lack of communication can result in stressful situations and deadlines. In those moments, I was able to stay calm and work my way through it, sometimes burning the midnight oil such as when we had a last minute board meeting presentation to finish. Moving forward, I am looking for a manager who I can openly communicate with if I need to re-prioritize work, additional help, or an extension (with reasonable notice, of course). This way, important work doesn't get dropped and challenging situations don't get out of hand." 

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS?

There are many directions you can take. You can speak about personal or business goals like owning a home, achieving a position, or whatever is important to you. The important thing is to make sure you don't conflict with the applied position, such as aspiring to work for a different company entirely in five years.

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Suggestion: Even if the dream is not set, take an aspect of the applied role that could lead to a job that is two or three tiers above it. The interviewer wants believe the company has something to contribute to you while you are there, driving your commitment to the company.