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How to Answer The Most Frequently asked Questions in Interviews

MBA graduates go through plenty of interviews to land that perfect job.  Many of these interviews contain the same type of questions and if answered properly, it can get the MBA graduate his desired job. These questions are some basic questions which are routinely asked in interviews across the world in 2017. This article aims to shed light on these questions along with the proper way to answer them, which will surely get the candidate hired. One of the most popular questions asked in interviews is the “tell me about yourself” question. This is a casual and unstructured question, where the candidate has to speak his mind and is a classic opener question. The candidate should keep his answer short and to the point, without deviating into his life story. The answer should be specific to the job, including relevant details about skills, abilities and past work experience. It should touch upon the specific qualities possessed by the candidate that is valued by the company rather than winding information about past experience not related to the job. Another incredibly common question is “why should we hire you?” This question is a great opportunity to show the hiring manager how special and unique the candidate is. The most important thing to remember while answering this question is to be specific. The candidate should research beforehand to find out what problems he will have to solve if he is hired for the position and his answer should reflect upon this and how he can solve those problems. He should show the hiring manager just how uniquely he fits in the position and how he can help the company. His answer should reflect his research about the significant details of the company as well as a success story highlighting his achievements and skills. The answer to this question should be finely balanced between being too modest and going overboard and coming off as arrogant. Being vague should be avoided and the candidate should focus more on answering the question by describing why he would be a perfect fit for the job. He should not get discouraged as this question is the perfect opportunity for him to shine. “What is your greatest strength?” – A straightforward question, which should be used by the candidate to showcase his greatest skills. The candidate should grab this opportunity to lead the interview and highlight a strength that is crucial to the position. Doing some research about what the company values is recommended. Some things that the candidate should avoid while answering this question is that; they should not make claims that they cannot illustrate, they should not be too modest or too arrogant and lastly, they should not talk about abilities which are not relevant for the job. A popular question that freaks people out is the “what is your greatest weakness question?” The answer to this question should be tactile; something which isn’t very important to the job and the candidate must show that he has taken steps to rectify it. He must show that he is self-aware and that he has the ability to improve upon himself. It is very important not to sidestep this question and answers like “I am a perfectionist” should be avoided at all costs. When the hiring manager asks the question “why do you want to work with us”; what he is really trying to gauge is whether the candidate wants to be an integral part of the company or not. The answer should therefore, reflect upon how the candidate wants to become a part of the “family”, is not simply there for a paycheck and that his wants coincide with their needs. The candidate should talk be flattering, talk about specific things he likes about the company and how he call fulfill those needs and how perfectly his strengths align with the job position and company culture. “When did you leave your last job” is a question that makes a lot of job seekers very nervous. If the candidate voluntarily left his previous job, then he should explain why. He should point out a specific trait that the company he is interviewing for has, one that his previous company did not. The candidate should use terms like “downsizing”, “budget-cuts” and “bad economy” if they are true. If the candidate was fired from his last job, then he should own up to it and not lie. He should be honest, explain the situation, what he learned from the experience and what measures he has since taken to address those problems. The key point here is to be honest and to give a positive reason. One of the most common behavioral interview questions is “describe a difficult work situation and what you did to overcome it.” This question needs to be answered with a success story that shows the candidate using the skills and abilities relevant to the job. The success story should be short, specific and should showcase the value of the candidate. The S.T.A.R or Situation, Task, Action, Result method should be preferably used. The candidate should make sure that he does not make anybody look bad in his success story and he should make sure that he does not ramble in it. Another common question is “what are your greatest accomplishments?” To answer this question successfully, the candidate should pick one that shows the qualities the company values most. It should show the candidate as a perfect fit for the job and the candidate should show genuine compassion while talking about those accomplishments. No accomplishment is too small, and if it is related to the values desired by the company then it will be more impactful than a “bigger” but unrelated accomplishment. Designed to throw candidates off the course is “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” The answer to this has to be very carefully balanced. The candidate should show ambition but that ambition should also not be unrealistic or lofty. The ideal should show long-term commitment to the company and a realistic growth plan directly related to the position applied for. Most interviews are finished off with “do you have any questions for me?” The candidate should always have questions ready, which are relevant and focused on the company. This will show the candidate’s dedication to the job and his knowledge and passion towards the company. The questions should not be focused on the candidate, should not be too obvious and directed at benefits and holidays. “Do you have any questions for me” presents a brilliant opportunity for the candidate to stand out and he must use it as such. These 10 questions are the most frequently asked questions during job interviews, especially for MBA graduates. The important thing to remember, along with these tips, is to always focus on the needs of the company rather than the needs of the individual, with answers that have been specifically tailored for that particular company. Using these tips, the candidate can hardly go wrong and will have a great chance at landing his dream job.


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