YMCA employment expert shares the 10 most common interview questions
September is here, which means many students are heading back to school…but what if you’re not?
What if you’re on the hunt for a new job — or your first-ever job?
Landing an interview is just the first step. Next up is acing it. To help you do just that, YMCA Employment Resources Consultant Barbara Bator is here with the 10 most common interview questions and tips for answering them:
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
This question serves as an icebreaker and gives the interviewer an opportunity to learn more about you.
If you feel nervous, just remember that you’re an expert on yourself! Take a deep breath, smile, and provide an overview of your professional background. Briefly describe your qualifications, education, and expertise. Include a few personal characteristics and key accomplishments that tie back to the position you’re applying for.
2. What previous experience do you have in this kind of work?
Interviewers will ask this question to find out if you’re the right candidate for the position and to determine how long it will take you to become a productive member of the team.
Go above and beyond listing your experience: provide an example of your achievements. It will help the interviewer visualize you in the role. If you led a successful project in your last position or school program, discuss the steps it took for you to reach the end goal.
If you don’t have any experience, discuss past work you’ve done that may be similar, any transferable skills you have, and how quickly you adapt to new environments.
3. Why are you looking for a new job?
An interviewer asks this question to discover any difficulties you may have had in your last job and any reasons why they shouldn’t hire you.
Don’t speak negatively about your previous employer. If you weren’t happy in your last position, focus on what you’re looking for in a new one, like better opportunities for growth. If the last company you worked for closed down or you were laid off, discuss your commitment and contributions. Finally, if you’re new to Canada, you can say that you left your last workplace so that you could immigrate here.
4. How do you get along with co-workers?
With this question, interviewers want to find out whether you’ll fit into their work environment.
Many employers look for candidates with soft skills, including teamwork. Describe your experience working as part of a group or team at your last workplace, volunteer placement, or school program. Slip in the positive qualities that make you a good team player, such as flexibility, your easy-going nature, and adaptability.
5. What are your strengths?
This question gives you an opportunity to show how well you know yourself and how confident you are in your abilities.
Focus on the strengths mentioned in the job posting. Play up your positive qualities, such as patience, attention to detail, reliability, and efficiency.
6. What are your weaknesses?
Interviewers who ask this question want to know what your problem areas are and whether they can be improved through training.
The best way to answer is to honestly describe a weakness and the steps you’ve taken to overcome it. Don’t describe skills that are crucial for the job; choose something unrelated. For example, if you’re interviewing for an administrative position, say you’re not the greatest public speaker, but you’re working on it in public speaking classes.
7. What type of supervisor do you work best with?
This question helps an employer decide whether you two would have a good work relationship and the kind of support they would need to provide you. For example, a manager who prefers to be more hands-off likely won’t pick a candidate who says they need constant reassurance.
Don’t criticize or complain about past managers. Instead, share your preferences from a positive perspective. A good example is: “I really appreciate managers who can give constructive criticism in a way that’s positive and non-judgmental.”
8. Can you describe a situation when you had to complete a task under a tight deadline?
Interviewers ask this question to see if you have the right skills and qualities for the job.
The best way to answer it is to use the STAR technique. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Give an example of a situation that happened in the past, the assigned task, what action was taken, and the final result.
9. What are your salary expectations?
This question helps an employer determine if you’re aware of current salary ranges in your field and if your salary expectations are in line with what they’re willing to pay.
Let them know you’re flexible and that you’d work for whatever is fair based on your qualifications and years of experience. If you have to give a number, aim for a range rather than a specific amount. For example: “I’ve done some research, and I’m looking for opportunities that pay between $20 and $22 per hour.”
10. What do you know about our company?
The interviewer wants to know if you understand what you’ll be working to support.
Do your research in advance! Show your interviewer you know the company’s vision, mission, products and services, and positive impacts it’s had in the community and/or around the world.
Need help landing a job? Book a free one-on-one consultation with a YMCA employment specialist. YMCA Employment Services staff can help you develop a career path strategy, build your resume and cover letter, and improve your interview techniques through mock interviews.
About Barbara Bator
Barbara Bator is an employment resources consultant at Mississauga YMCA Employment and Community Services. She assists members in the resource centre, helping them find information, set goals, and conduct self-directed job searches. She also liaises between job seekers and local employers to identify recruitment opportunities.
