Popular Interview Questions and Answers: Why do you want this job?

Does your blood freeze and your lungs constrict at the thought of being asked, “Tell me about yourself” in a job interview? If so, grab a blanket and take a deep breath. A little bit of thought and preparation can give you peace of mind walking into your interview—and a solid strategy for answering commonly asked questions.

Most Popular Interview Questions:

Tell Me About Yourself

Interviewers want to identify whether you’re a good fit for the role. Do them a favor by helping them understand how your skills, experience, and personal characteristics will contribute to the organization. Keep it brief; they likely aren’t looking for your complete work history. Prepare for this question by researching the desired role and crafting an answer that speaks to how a previous role (or your current job) has helped you develop the skills you need to succeed in the new position.

Why Do You Want to Work at This Company?

If your interviewer asks this question, they want to know if you’ve done your homework. Don’t disappoint them. Visit the company website and social profiles to learn what is unique about the company’s mission, vision, and values. Devise a specific answer that shows a genuine interest in joining the team.

Why Should We Hire You?

You may feel awkward tooting your own horn, but this question gives you the perfect opportunity to sell yourself. Think of ways your skills and strengths will deliver results for the company—with examples of past accomplishments, if possible. Be ready to discuss how you’ll mesh with the team and culture. Deliver your answer with confidence and a smile, showing as well as saying that you’d be a positive addition to the company.

Tell Me About a Challenge You’ve Faced at Work—and How You Resolved It

Interviewers expect you to have experienced conflict at work, and this question is designed to see if you’re an employee who is resolution-focused and able to learn from mistakes. Be honest about a tough situation you’ve faced but don’t complain or blame. Instead, focus on what you’d do differently next time to prevent the problem and what you learned from the experience.

Do You Have Any Questions?

Don’t answer “Nope!” and miss an opportunity to show interest in the company, the position, or your interviewer! You can also use this question to identify whether the job is a good fit from your perspective. Job interviews can often make you feel like you need to come up with the “right” answer for the interviewer, so don’t forget the job has to work for you, too. Create a list of questions and bring it to the interview. If all your burning questions are answered by the end of the session, you can always ask, “What’s your favorite thing about working here?” or something else that invites your interviewer to share a personal experience.

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