5 questions that are very often asked during a job interview

Everyone who goes to a job interview tries to predict its scenario and the questions that will be asked during it. Getting to know the questions that recruiters are willing to ask can help the candidate prepare for the meeting and, as a result, increase their chances of getting a job.

Candidates who are invited to an interview always wonder what they will be asked by recruiters. Will these only be questions about the experience gained? Will they test their knowledge of a given area or knowledge of specific programs? Will they test motivation and creativity? Although it is difficult to predict the exact wording of the questions that the recruiter will ask, you can prepare a sample list that will include the most popular ones.

The greatest success?

When answering this question, it is worth choosing a professional achievement that is most appropriate to the position for which the candidate is applying. The candidate’s statement should show what determined the success of the entire project, e.g. good organization or the ability to work under time pressure. The candidate should also emphasize their role, mention whether they used someone’s help, what difficulties they encountered along the way and how they dealt with them. If the candidate cannot yet boast of professional success, he should choose an example from his private life or from his university days.

When talking about their successes, the candidate should describe in detail which solutions used in the project were created on their initiative and which of them they made on their own. If possible, it is also worth supporting your achievements with numbers, e.g. a percentage increase in the number of orders or cost reduction – says Magdalena Szewczyk, Team Leader at LeasingTeam Professional.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This question, very often asked by recruiters, is usually aimed at examining the motivation and willingness to develop the candidate. For people who have not thought about the answer beforehand, it can cause consternation. How to answer them so as not to lose your chance for a job? It is worth mentioning that you should develop in areas that are key for the candidate at the moment, and by the way, it is good that they are also consistent with the needs of the organization. You can also answer more generally that you still want to work in a given department or a specific industry, but in a higher position. Such an answer should be well received by the recruiter.

Why should the employer hire you?

To answer this question, the candidate should know the description of the position they are applying for and be aware of what competencies and skills are in demand. If the candidate’s previous experience and predispositions are consistent with the company’s expectations, the answer to the question of why the employer should hire him or her should not cause him difficulty. It is enough to compare the employer’s expectations towards the ideal candidate for a given position, with arguments that will confirm that this person meets the requirements. It is worth presenting the benefits that the company will have by hiring the candidate. Such a benefit may be, for example, good knowledge of the program that the company intends to implement soon.

It is also worth emphasizing your motivation to work in a given company. For this purpose, even before the meeting, you should gather as much information as possible about the company, learn about the scope of its services or products offered. A candidate who knows the company and its position on the market will find it much easier to justify why they would like to work there – says Magdalena Szewczyk from LeasingTeam Professional.

Expectations towards the supervisor?

The purpose of this question is to verify whether the candidate fits into the company’s organizational culture and whether he will be able to work effectively with his future supervisor. Each manager has a different management style, which is why it is so important to confront his management style with the candidate’s preferred one at the interview stage. If the supervisor likes to have everything under strict control and the candidate needs a lot of autonomy, the cooperation will not be successful for either party. It is worth it for the candidate to talk openly about their preferences and factors that may determine their satisfaction with cooperation with a given supervisor. The focus should be on issues such as professional relationships, approach to employee development, substantive skills. You should avoid talking about the flaws of your current superiors and focus on describing what the ideal supervisor should be like.

A good match between the employee and the supervisor is crucial for the success of their future cooperation. Therefore, the HR department often organizes the second stage of the interview with the candidate, in which the future supervisor also participates, so that both parties can learn about each other’s expectations – comments Magdalena Szewczyk.

Financial expectations?

Before the candidate answers the question of what salary for a given position will satisfy him, he should obtain full information from the recruiter about the scope of responsibilities for a given position. This will allow him to more objectively determine the amount of his remuneration, which will result from both the scope of duties in a given position and experience and competences. To do this, he should read the salary reports for the position he is applying for in advance. This will help determine the real amount that the candidate will be able to offer to the employer. To provide the recruiter with information about financial expectations, it can be helpful to prepare the so-called range of expected salary, both in the gross and net amount.

When determining the amount of the base salary, it is worth asking about the bonus system and non-wage benefits such as: sports card, medical care, gift vouchers or training. A clearly defined motivation system will certainly help to determine the candidate’s financial expectations – believes the LeasingTeam Professional expert.

Preparing a list of questions that are most often asked during a job interview, thanks to the ubiquity of the Internet and access to many guides for job seekers, is now becoming easier and easier. Knowing the sample questions and answers will certainly help the candidate feel more confident during the meeting with the recruiter and present themselves better. It is worth taking advantage of this opportunity.