hey everybody Don Georgevich here
with job interview tools and today I
want to give you my top 10 list of job
interview questions and how you can
answer them correctly so let's get
started first one is tell me about
yourself now this is probably one of the
oldest interview questions ever but I
guarantee it's going to come up at every
interview you go on for the rest of your
career
plus it's not just for job interviews
either I've been asked this question in
sales meetings luncheons even while
shopping for a new car now
obviously the way you answer it depends
on the context in which it is asked but
obviously I'm going to cover it from a
job interview point of view and don't
just think you know how to answer this
because your answer could negatively
affect whether you get the job or not
and you want to take your time and
practice what you'll say when answering
this top 10 question even seasoned
professionals who've been interviewing
for jobs for twenty years or more still
fumble their answer to this question and
that's what I want you to be prepared
for so here are some of the things that
you want to do or say when you're
answering this question keep your answer
brief and related to your career and the
position keep your answer on topic and
related to your career while talking
about your journey
tell your interviewer how you got
started in your profession perhaps where
you went to school or what got you
interested in your profession in the
first place and then gloss over a few
jobs and tell them what you liked about
your profession and where you see
yourself heading tell them a few things
that you learned along the way and how
those things have strengthened you now
before your interview and even during
the interview find out what they're
looking for in the ideal candidate for
this position this could be experienced
leadership strengths management
qualities technical abilities you want
to find out what is important to them
and weave those things into the fabric
of your answer that way you sound
like the exact person they're looking
for now don't do these things don't give
your life story because this is of no
interest to them
doing so will derail your interview
faster than you can say next now if
you're changing careers and you have
some older or unrelated experience don't
bring this up because it's pointless
unless you're tying in transferable
experience now don't end your answer
with a question back to the unit
interviewer some people think that this
makes them look smarter when they ask a
follow-up question after delivering
their answer but for the most part I
think is a poor strategy unless a
follow-up question just naturally
presents itself but don't force what my
advice to you is to practice your answer
to this question in front of a video
camera without a script cover the three
main points talk about the journey and
how you got started
talk about what you learned along the
way talk about what you're looking for
and where you see your career heading
and then get your answer down to 30 to
45 seconds at the most and then keep
watching your video and polishing your
answer until you can deliver it
flawlessly and when I say flawlessly I
don't mean from memory but deliver it
naturally and it should sound
significantly different each time you
say it click here to download my sample
answers for tell me about yourself next
question is why should we hire you this
question is your best opportunity to
prove you're the best man or woman for
the job
the key is to discover what they're
looking for and why you're the best
person for the job
since you'll be competing against many
other seeds and professionals you need
to articulate why you're the best person
for the job let them know that you know
what you did in your last job and how
that's related to what you can do for
them in this job you want to connect the
dots for them and show them why you're
the right person for this job
you'll want to do some extensive
research to know what the company is
looking for and the best place to get
this from is the job descript
because employers leave all kinds of
clues in there prove that you can help
the company solve their problems is the
best way to answer this question so here
are some things that you need to do when
you're answering the question why should
I hire you first prove that you're a
solution of their problems prove that
you understand their problems
talk about your understanding of their
business the competitors and problems in
that industry
tell them how you've been successful
before let them know that in your last
job you were faced with similar problems
and you solve them by doing blank and
then explain how you can do blank for
them in this job and when you connect
the dots and demonstrate that you're
showing an understanding of their
business and their problems and then
they will see you as a potential
solution to their problems now don't do
this don't give a vague answer
don't tell them because I'm the best
don't tell them because you're hiring
don't answer their question with a
question now my advice for you when
answering this question this is a great
opportunity for you to sell yourself and
show them why you're the best person for
the job
get your resume out and put it next to
the job description and draw lines from
job description duties and the
requirements to your resume and then
talk about your experience as a solution
to their problems and that's why they
should hire you click here to download
my sample answers for why should we hire
you number three what are your greatest
strengths now they're asking you in a
broad sense so ask yourself what are you
best at doing are you a good leader
are you a good manager of your time are
you a great communicator are you a good
planner are you good at convincing
others of your ideas whatever you are
best at doing give the interviewer the
top two or three things you excel at
when answering this question do these
things first research the Job
Description
find out what they are looking for and
then leverage your strengths to match if
leadership is something they are looking
for then talk about your experience as a
leader and projects that you've led you
always want your strengths to be well
aligned with the requirements of the
position you're applying for talk about
your strengths as a solution to their
problems now don't do this when
answering the question don't rattle off
a list of strengths that are out of
context with the job don't list personal
strengths like you're a good parent
don't list strengths that are you're
unable to articulate through work
experience don't tell them that you're
not sure don't tell them that you don't
have any and don't be modest with your
answer because this is an opportunity
for you to sell yourself click here to
download my sample answers for what are
your greatest strengths and number 4
what is your biggest weakness most
people are afraid of this question
because it asks you to tell them
something that you're not good at doing
but if you're like anyone else you have
a lot of weaknesses even me so don't
sweat it there are two good ways to
answer this top 10 question first talk
about a weakness and what you have done
to overcome it and that way it's not a
weakness anymore second talk about a
weakness that isn't related to the job
perhaps a personal weakness you can talk
about a weakness as it's a weakness for
you but the interviewer will see it as a
strength that's my personal favorite is
to turn a weakness into a strength now
do this when you're answering the
question what is your biggest weakness
when talking about your weakness show
what you've done to overcome it so it's
not weakness anymore number two
talk about a weakness that is not
related to the job talk about a weakness
so that your interviewer sees it as a
strength now don't do this when
answering this question don't say that
you don't
have any weaknesses don't tell your
interviewer that you're perfect in your
work and you have no weaknesses don't
tell them a real weakness because
chances are it's not really a weakness
at all and you're just overly critical
on yourself don't worry we all are don't
tell them that your weakness is a lack
of tolerance for people who ask stupid
questions though one day I'm going to
say that really that my advice for you
if you have absolutely no idea what to
say consider saying something like I can
get frustrated with people who miss
deadlines especially when my work
depends on them completing bears click
here to download my sample answers for
what is your biggest weakness number
five why do you want to work here now
this is a genuine question and all I
want to know is what you like about the
company its products or services so what
is your driving reason for wanting to
work for them have you always had a
lifelong goal of working at Google or
Goldman Sachs I mean this is your chance
to express why you want to be a member
of their team and most importantly the
contributions that you feel you will
make as a loyal employee now this
question helps weed out desparate job
seekers who are just looking for a job
and not a lifelong career so do this
when answering this question tell them
what you like about their business is it
their products reputation services
whatever it is express your interest in
it this is a great time to compliment
them on the products or reputation you
will want to dig deep to find out what
it is that attracts you to them and
express it now don't do this don't tell
them you like their location don't tell
them that you heard they pay well and
have great benefits
don't tell them because you heard it's a
great place to work don't tell them
because your friends work there don't
tell them you want to work there to get
some experience my advice for you try to
connect your reason for wanting to work
there with something personal or
emotional maybe when you were a kid you
saved a little kitten from
harm and you felt really good about that
and since that moment on you knew you
always wanted to help animals and that's
why you want to be a vet today click
here to download my sample answers for
why do you want to work here
number six why did you leave your last
job now unless you're still working
you're going to get asked this question
even if you're working they're still
going to ask you why do you want to
leave but more often than not it's
you're not working chances are that you
were laid off terminated or you just
quit so you just have to let them know
the reasoning behind why you're not
working it's your most recent job now if
you left of your own free will then
explain why you left and what your plans
were if you were fired because of
performance reasons then a simple
explanation is all that's needed but
make sure that your lack of performance
reasons will not affect the requirements
for this new job so if you were laid off
then just tell them that many of us were
laid off due to the economy and slowing
sales of our company and products but
warm that up a little bit and put it in
your own word so it makes sense and it
sounds natural so do this when answering
this question if you left of your own
free will then tell them why you left
and reflect positively on your former
employer and tell them that it was a
hard decision to make
but you felt it was the right decision
for you at the time now if you're fired
then be as brief as possible and explain
why if you were laid off due to
downsizing or the economy then tell them
this as long as they're true now if you
were fired tell them what happened and
accept responsibility for it now don't
do this don't badmouth your past company
boss or coworkers don't say that the pay
was bad and you wanted more money don't
say that the hours were terrible don't
say that you could not get along with
your past manager don't lie if you were
terminated and don't defend yourself or
place blame on the employer my advice
for you in answering this
now remember you're not there to defend
why you're fired you're there to talk
about what you can do for them so it's
very important to keep your answer brief
when answering this question if they
want to know more they will ask you but
don't volunteer too much information
because it will make them more cautious
about you now more than anything if you
were fired accept responsibility for
what happened because this shows courage
and then explain that they were right
and you were wrong but that you learned
from this experience and you're a better
person because of it click here to
download my sample answers for why did
you leave your last job number 7 what is
your biggest accomplishment though many
people believe this is the same as the
other top 10 question what is your
greatest strength but it's really a
completely different question and here's
why an accomplishment is a noteworthy
high-profile task or project that you
worked on or completed basically you
accomplished something and it may or may
not have played To Your Strengths your
strengths might be in managing people
but your biggest accomplishment was
writing a white paper that was published
in Scientific American magazine do you
see the difference do this when
answering this question about your
accomplishments
first it's best to talk about a
noteworthy accomplishment that is
aligned to the requirements for the job
you're applying to treat this somewhat
like a behavioral question and answer it
using the star method set up the
situation talk about what you did the
action and then talk about the results
of what you your project or your team
accomplished it's best to use a work
related story but if you're out of good
stories consider as a last resort a
personal story or a personal
accomplishment now don't do this when
you answer the question don't think that
you need a grand accomplishment where
you saved your last company from failure
don't use a personal accomplishment
unless absolutely necessary
avoid using a
Bushmen that does not cast you as the
hero avoid using an accomplishment that
is not related to career my advice to
you pick something you did in your
career that has meaning to you and
helped your last or current employer
pick something you enjoy doing and then
it made you feel good about doing it
optimally pick an example that is
related to the job or your career or the
type of company that you are
interviewing with click here to download
my sample answers for what is your
biggest accomplishment number eight
describe a difficult problem you were
faced with in your career and what you
did to overcome it now this question is
sure to come up and though the
interviewer asked how you dealt with or
solve the problem he really wants to
hear how you worked with a team of
people to solve a problem this is a
problem-solving question that tests your
critical thinking skills
and is looking for two pieces of
information your definition of difficult
and how you handle the situation now
this is a great question for showing
that you were creative and capable
problem solver I mean you should have at
least one of these stories ready to go
so do this when answering the question
first prove you were capable of handling
any problem that may arise in your new
role your story should be one which puts
you in a tough position were you
analyzed and discussed a problem reached
a conclusion and that you came out on
top be concise talk about the people you
had to work with and what was expected
of them and how you tied it all together
to reach a goal a success story will be
your best selling point in answering
this question the story you tell should
demonstrate that you have all it is
required to excel on this job now don't
do this don't say bad things about your
past colleagues managers or your company
don't tell them a rambling story that
jumps from one story to the next don't
tell them how you fix the lightbulb or
ng
the copy machine avoid telling a
personal story unless you have nothing
else to say my advice for you the best
way to answer this question is by using
a good team player example maybe you had
to work with some very difficult people
to accomplish a project or task that no
one else wanted to work with but you
were able to get everyone working
together to complete the project with a
tight budget and a deadline and keeping
everyone in line and getting the whole
project completed on time and under
budget you want to set up your answer
using the star behavioral method where
you talk about the situation the action
you took and then the results you
achieved click here to download my
sample answers for describe a difficult
problem you faced and how you dealt with
it
number 9 where do you see yourself five
years from now many job seekers are
afraid to answer this top ten question
because an answer that is inconsistent
with the current position could
disqualify them but at the same time who
wants to be doing the same thing for the
next five years the best and safest way
to answer this question is to give an
answer that is based on the logical
progression of the position that you're
interviewing for that way you're showing
them that you want to do the current job
at hand but as you get better at it you
would like to take on more
responsibilities and challenges and grow
in that position so do this when you
answer the question your answer should
reflect your commitment to the job get
them a real plan for this position and
where you see yourself going in it you
show them how you'll do it and the
resources that you'll need along the way
to prove you have solid plans on how to
attain your future goal now since
they're looking five years in the future
allow them to visualize you in this
position five years from now show them a
natural progression of you in this role
be realistic with your 5-year plan now
don't do this don't tell them that your
plan is to use this position as a
stepping stone in your career
or they'll feel like that you're using
them for your own personal career gains
don't give them an impossible five-year
plan that is absolutely inconceivable
don't tell them you want their job
that's far too threatening don't tell
them that you want to work here for a
while
and then move to another company that is
your dream job my advice to you when
answering this question
start with your short-term career goals
or goals for the position and then move
towards the long-term and explain why
that is the direction you want to move
it if you don't say why it's harder for
them to figure out if you're just
sprouting off a meaningless answer or if
your heart is really in it click here to
download my sample answers for where do
you see yourself in five years okay this
one is number 10 top 10 questions do you
have any questions for us now this
question usually hits jobseekers like a
ton of bricks and most of them will
simply say no and that's the worst
response you can give because it signals
to the employer that you're not very
interested in this position and anyone
who's seriously considering making a job
commitment to an employer will certainly
have many questions if they don't
they're not as serious about the job or
they're just desperate and willing to
take anything you should have a good
handful of questions already planned out
before your interview you want to ask
them questions that will help you
qualify them as a place you want to work
you may not realize this but you are
interviewing them too and you have the
right to tell them no thanks just as
much as they do so do this when you're
answering this question ask meaningful
questions that will help you qualify
them as an employer for you your
question should reflect what you can do
for the company ask them questions about
the position and their goals for the
position as this will be a sound
demonstration of your sincere interest
highlight some of the things that you
discovered about the company after your
research
ask the hiring manager if they feel you
know if you'd be a good fit for this
position now don't do any of this never
say no don't ask random questions for
the sake of asking questions don't ask
questions that are unrelated to the
position don't ask about benefits unless
you're wrapping it up and you are on the
topic of discussing salary and benefits
my advice for you create a list of
questions before the interview that will
help you qualify this employer as a
place you want to work at ask questions
that will help you decide if you want to
work there or not
as you're going through your interview
weave in your questions throughout the
conversation and get them answered
because you don't want to wait until the
end and then ask all your questions at
once because you'll likely be out of
time my advice for you create a list of
questions before they have you that will
help you qualify this employer as a
place you want to work at ask them
questions that will help you decide if
you want to work there or not as you're
going through the interview weave in
your questions throughout the interview
ask them questions while they while the
interview is going on and get them
answered because you don't want to wait
until the end to ask all of your
questions as you'll likely be out of
time
as you ask questions throughout the
interview your interview will be more
like a conversation and you'll be viewed
as a stronger and more genuine candidate
one who's truly interested in this job
and is doing his or her due diligence
click here to download my sample answers
for do you have any questions for us
alright that wraps up the top ten job
interview questions and how to answer
them if you're looking for more
questions and answers I have an entire
book called the complete interview
answer guide with over 130 different
questions and answers in it with my
strategy for how to answer each question
I hope you enjoyed this video because I
had a great time making it for you for
more great answers to interview
questions tips advice get signed up for
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