Most employers ask similar questions in an interview. Be prepared. Putting your answers together before the interview will help you to stay focused and to feel more comfortable. When formulating your answers, remember to focus on how your skills and experience make you the best person for the job.

Common questions include:

What do you consider to be your major strengths?

What do you consider to be your major weaknesses?

Why do you want to work for this company?

What are your short-term goals?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

What did you like most about your last job?

What did you like least about your last job?

How would your coworkers describe you?

How do you manage multiple tasks/projects? Please give an example.

How do you deal with stress and/or deadlines? Please give an example.

Do you prefer to work independently or within a team?

Who isn’t nervous during a job interview? Even the most self-assured candidate is going
to have a moment or two of self-doubt. But the trick is to keep this to yourself and portray an image of confidence. This is what a potential employer wants to see if you are not confident in your own abilities why should they be. Here are a few ways to exude
confidence.

Make eye contact, nothing is more of a dead give away of poor self-confidence than a person that will not look someone in the eye. Walk up to your interviewer,extend your hand and look in them in the eye when you greet them and express your pleasure of meeting them. And don’t beat around the bush when you are talking. Saying thinks like, “Well, I kind of helped with a project but I didn’t run it myself,” screams I do not think I am worthy of this position. Instead, say this, “I assisted in a very successful project and played a key role in bringing it to completion.” Your role in the project may not have
changed the perception the interviewer has of you has.

If you haven’t been on very many interviews or it has been some time since you last attended one, it is understandable to be nervous. The more interviews you complete, the more confidence you will gain in your abilities to sell yourself. And you have to
remember that if you were not qualified you would not have gotten the interview in the first place. Use that knowledge to your advantage and instill confidence in yourself. As a back-up measure, get some friends or family members to remind you of all of your great traits and what makes you special – an ego boost before an interview can certainly
boost your confidence level.

Look up the company website and study the history, about us page, and the products and services that are offered. Even if you are pretty sure you are not going to be quizzed on how the company came to be, it will give you insight into how the company operates and their philosophy. By of these factors should influence how you answer your questions. If it is obvious they place high value on team players, you should brainstorm situations when you have displayed this trait.

If you are applying for a sales position, you can be prepared for any role playing questions because you have taken the time to learn the company’s products and services.
It will be impressive to your interviewer that you have taken the time to research the information. It shows a commitment to details and a true interest in the company.

Another way to prepare for an interview is to complete a practice run with a friend or family member. Have them ask you questions and answer them as if you were already in the interview, don’t break character during the role play either. There are many questions that are asked in a typical interview (what are your strengths and weaknesses) don’t let them come as a surprise to you – practice so you can answer with confidence.