What are your working points? Where do you see yourself in five years? Why are you leaving your current job? As a job applicant, you can get anxious in advance from the barrage of difficult questions that await you. Afrinik highlights a handful of common examples that you might stumble upon. We also give you some intelligent answers and tips right away.
Important to know: you cannot give ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers to many questions. The questions are designed to find out how you are put together and why you make certain choices. Always make sure that your answers reflect who you really are so that you don’t fall out sooner or later. Adding a nuance in a positive sense is always a good idea because you ultimately want to leave a good first impression.
Can you tell us more about yourself?
There is a good chance that this question will come up as an icebreaker. Make no mistake: this is an important question. Don’t start chattering about small things, but prepare yourself well for this question. Grab your resume and pick out the highlights of your career. Are you going for a first job? Then explain how certain life experiences make you a suitable candidate. Also, try to limit your answer to five minutes. There is still a lot waiting for you.
What are your working points?
A classic among interview questions. In any case, avoid answers like ‘I’m always late,’ and ‘I can be aggressive’. Also, avoid inside headlines like ‘I’m a perfectionist,’ as this is too obvious. ‘I am sometimes too hard on myself when I make a mistake, but I learn from those mistakes is a good example of how you can give your answer a positive twist. Don’t put yourself down, but try to be honest about your downsides. Work points are pretty okay, and no one is perfect.
Why are you leaving your current job?
Is your current boss a bitch, and do you hate your coworkers? Keep that to yourself. It can deter your potential employer from entering into a partnership with you. Be honest, up to a certain limit. Take a closer look at your resume and find out what made you want to switch jobs. Indicate the positive sides here, too: you are looking for a challenge and more responsibility, and you want to grow as a person and employee.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
The answer to this question obviously depends on the job you are applying for. Ambition can be desirable, but not everywhere. Make sure you know the hierarchical functioning of a company beforehand. Be realistic. Do you want to promote within the company quickly? Describe well how you want to do that.
Why should we choose you?
This question, which often closes an application round, gives you the chance to stand out from the crowd. Answer with your experience and talents, but also tell us about yourself as a person. What are your interests and characteristics? Why do you think it is important to collaborate with colleagues? Why are you suitable to strengthen a team? Which assets suit the job? Sell yourself based on who you really are without even mentioning your flaws. They have probably already been discussed.
