How job interview questions must be answered?

Are you ready for that all-important job interview? I’m sure that if you’re reading this you must be thinking about applying for a job abroad or in an international corporation. Most interviews are designed not only to check if you’re fit for the job, but also examine your command of spoken English.

Q1: Tell me about yourself.

Talk about what you’ve done to prepare yourself for the position and use a recent example to back it up. Ideally, you should go on for about 2-3 minutes and then ask if they would like to hear some more details. If they do, keep using examples to prove how your background and experience were useful in real-life business situations.

A sample answer is as given below:

My name is Lubis Muzaki. My friend called me Lubis. Lubis is my name, but not surname as like as batak tribe. I’m graduated bachelor of mathematics education. I am now programmer in Aratec Indonesia, Inc, South Jakarta. I am from Banyuwangi and then wander to Jakarta. I live in Jakarta since November 2013 ago.

Q2: What are your weakness?

1.            Straightforward

2.            Impatient

3.            Sensitive

4.            More talkactive

5.            Trust people very quickly

6.            I can’t say no when someone ask for help

7.            Gets nervous when talk to strangers

8.            To speak lie is difficult for me

9.            I am a bit lazy about which I am not interested

For example :

 I can’t say no when someone ask for help. I was spending a lot of time and energy for other people and not spending nearly as much time for myself. It was frustrating especially since I brought it upon myself. I slowly realized if I wanted personal time, I needed to learn to say “no”.

Q3:  What are your strengths?

Prepare a list of your proficiencies and choose three or four that are the most relevant to the job you are applying for. Concentrate on discussing your main strengths. Avoid popular clichés, such as:

I am a good team player…

I am a good negotiator…

I work very hard…

Focus on your more dynamic skills, such as:

I learn quickly.

I have a strong determination to succeed.

I have a positive attitude.

I can relate to people and achieve a common goal.

I make friends easily.

Remember that you may very likely be asked to give examples of the above, so be prepared.

Q4: What are your career goals and where do you see yourself five years from now?

The key here is to focus on your achievable objectives and what you are doing to reach those objectives.

Sample Answer: “Within 5 years, I would like to become the very best mechanic your company has on staff. I want to work toward becoming the expert that others rely on. Hopefully, this will allow me to take on greater responsibilities with the company if the opportunity arises. I am also working towards additional certifications in the field to enhance my career potential.”

Q5: What experience do you have in this field?

Never say ‘none’. If you’re applying for a job in a field totally unknown to you, think of any experience you’ve gained in learning new skills. Try to look for similarities between your previous jobs and the prospect one and come up with some examples of how you adjusted to the new situation, for example:

I’ve never worked in cosmetics before, but in my previous job I’ve learned a lot about sales and marketing and I’m confident I’ll be quick to learn the ropes of your industry very quickly.

Q6 : What kind of salary do you need?

A question that can catch anyone off guard. Unless you have done some research and know precisely what your expectations are,try to avoid being the first to put the figure on the table. The best way to do this is by stating that your salary expectancy depends on the amount of responsibilities you’d have to take on. Do not have a specific amount in mind and do not be afraid to ask for more than the average industry wage. It is much better to provide your interviewer with a wide range rather than a specific sum,

For example:

I’ve asked around and I know that a marketing manager doing a similar job in Berlin earns about EUR 3700 a month. Given that my job would also require organising three training seminars a month, I’d expect my salary to range between EUR 4000 and EUR 4500.

Sample Answer: “I’m sure that your company offers a fair, competitive salary for someone with my education / training, skills and experience. I am also willing to negotiate for the right position.”

Sample Answer: “I will need more information about the job and the responsibilities before we can discuss salary, but it would be great if you could give me an idea of the salary range you have budgeted for this position.”