How To Answer Job Interview Questions To Get The Job! 

The first thing about job interview questions is that you want to answer each one honestly. There is a difference between telling a story highlighting the positive to make you sound better and flat out lying to the interviewer.  Lies have a way of revealing themselves so you want to always stick with the truth.   

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When answering questions, common fibs that are told include educational degrees that you do not hold, saying that you are a manager when really you are a team lead and taking credit for a project that was completed by a coworker. 

All of these things can make you sound good at the time of the interview, but what if the interviewer talks to your boss about the stellar project you ran for the company when it really wasn't you.  Your boss is not going to lie for you and if you were in the running for the job, you will be taken off the list.  So always be truthful.

The best thing to do is to tell the truth but make what you say, make you look the best you can.  For example, if you were a part of a project, tell the interviewer the part you played and share the success of the project as a whole.  An employee that can recognize and share in the success in others is considered a team player and will be showing a side that is actually preferred by employers.  They want team players unless they are looking for someone who will be working alone.

The best thing to do is to only bring up examples about yourself that are going to highlight your talents and work history in the best possible way.  Don't claim or state anything that cannot be backed up by your references. 



Now, let's get to some important job interview questions.

Job Interview Questions:

Job Interview Questions Subject No. 1:
Procedural Questions

Procedures are a part of life, especially in the working world.  Each company has their own set of policies and rules that they expect their employees to follow.  An interviewer is going to ask questions to determine if you would do things they way they want (for instance making a sale or handling a customer complaint).  Without training, you will not know with any degree of certainty how the company would want you to handle different situations but there are ways to answer that can increase your chances of getting the job.

What an interviewer is looking for in an answer is your philosophy towards circumstances that occur in the company.  Your natural instincts and personality is going to come through at some point no matter what you have been trained to do.  Questions like, "How would you satisfy a customer if they wanted to return something after the return policy has expired?" can be tricky to answer.  The best way to answer them is to
begin with saying, "Of course, if I were hired I would abide by the company's guidelines, but in this circumstance I would...

By starting your answer with this phrase you are showing that you recognize a company is going to have its own policies and ways of doing things and that you are flexible enough to modify your way of doing things to align with those processes.  It's important to note that you should do a little research on the company before the interview to insure that your answers give the right impression by not appearing that you would knowingly go against their policy.    

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Job Interview Questions Subject No. 2:
Be specific When Answering Questions

No matter how nervous you might feel, it's important to 
concentrate on the questions being asked and then answer each to the best of your ability.  The important thing to remember is to really listen to the questions being asked.  

Sometimes the interviewer will ask for a specific example about something.  You will not look good if you present just a general answer that anyone could say without experience.  This can keep you from getting the job. 

These types of job interview questions are known as situational questions.  For example, if an interviewer were to ask about your favorite place to visit when making conversation, you wouldn't want to generalize by saying all of Europe.  Instead you should give specifics such as:

"I love to visit Malaga, Spain where I have a summer house and many relatives.  We enjoy going to the museums, the beach and eating the citie's traditional foods."   

This is the type of answer that will help the interviewer to take you seriously.  You'll actually be giving what you say credibility.  It is obvious that you are providing information from something that actually happened as opposed to making something up just to answer the question.  Potential employers are trying to gauge how you react or perform in specific situations. 

Here are a couple of common questions:

"Tell me about a time you led a team project."  Include what the project was, how many people on the team, and any challenges, including how you overcame them.

"Tell me about a conflict you had with a co-worker."  On this one, only pick situations that had a positive outcome.

Employers today want to know how you are going to perform on the job before they even hire you.  By answering situational questions specifically you can assure the interviewer you have the skills and thought processes that they are looking for.

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Job Interview Questions Subject No. 3:
How To Answer Tough Interview Questions

Each interview has at least one question that you really don't know the best way to answer.  So if you know how to tackle such a question before your interview it will help you find a good answer that will keep your interview going well and keep you from being concerned that you "messed-up."

Do not feel that you have to answer immediately after you have been asked such a question.  You are not on a game show where the fastest contestant to answer wins.  Your interviewers will appreciate that you have taken time to formulate your answer.  If you are concerned by a prolonged silence, don't be, it is normal.  If you have been asked a question that you do not know exactly what to say, ask for a moment to think of an
appropriate answer.  This is preferable to taking a long time to answer without explaining what you are doing.  Just say, "could you please give me a moment?"

If you really can't think of an answer off of the top of your head, ask if you can come back to the question in a moment because it is such an important question.  Relax, but keep trying to think of an answer.  Don't think that if you get to the end of the interview and you haven't answered the question that you are off of the hook.  Even if your interviewer doesn't ask again, it has not gone unnoticed that you didn't respond to a question.  The best case scenario is for you to bring the topic back
to the question and answer it accordingly.  Thank your interviewer for giving you the extra time to come up with the right answer. 

If it is a lengthy job interview question that is broken into parts, break it down and don't try to answer it all at once. You can always ask for parts of the question to be repeated.

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Job Interview Questions Subject No. 4:
Be Thorough but to the Point

If you are a talker and find yourself talking on and on when you get stressed or nervous, or if instead you are the type of person who can't think of what to say, you need to determine before your interview which situation best describes you.  If you don't, you may either talk too much or not enough on your interview. This will not help you get the job.

When asked a question, an interview wants enough information that will help them understand what you are talking about, but not extraneous irrelevant information.

If you are answering a question using an example from your previous or current job and there is a lot of jargon or acronyms, try to use more common place terms that more people are familiar with or explain what you mean in the beginning.  If you are asked to describe a time when you lead a project, explain what the project was about, how many people you managed and any key points that demonstrate what a great job you did.  What you don't want to do is get side-tracked and give details that aren't relevant to the question.  The interviewer is not going to be interested in a play by play of the entire project, what people said or did that was annoying, etc.  All they want to know is your role in the project. 

Remain on topic; take a moment before answering a question to organize the details in your mind.  You don't want to start answering, get sidetracked and forget the point you were trying to make.  If you stay on topic and know what you are going to say, you are going to be able to keep the interviewer's attention.  Practice at home speaking to an interviewer about the projects you have participated in that are relevant to the job you're seeking, and use this information as a guideline.  

If you are a person of few words, practice with a friend or family member before your interview.  Learn how to expand your answers so you give thorough information without leaving the interviewer wanting more.  But if you are in doubt, less is better. An interviewer will ask follow-up interview questions if necessary.

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Job Interview Questions Subject No. 5:
Don't Make Assumptions

In an interview setting you want to be viewed as someone who understands what is necessary and can deliver the expected results, more than just in the interview room. You should not just assume that you will.

The easiest and best way to avoid assumptions is to ask for clarification after any interview questions you need more understanding about.  If a question is ambiguous or you really aren't sure what they mean, ask them politely to explain it to you. 

Sometimes, without meaning to, an interviewer will use company jargon or acronyms in a question or in conversation.  You can respond by saying, "I'm sorry. I'm not familiar with that term, could you explain it to me please?"  Not only will this show that you are paying attention but it will also demonstrate that you have an interest in the company and what they are about.

When you are answering a question and you need to include company specific terminology, be sure to explain what you mean.  In addition, you cannot assume that your interviewer will know what you are talking about either.  Take a moment to either set up your answer with the required information to understand what you are talking about or pause and explain certain phrases or words.  Better yet, if you can use common terms in the place of company specific ones, it is the preferable way to go.

Last, but definitley not least, don't assume that you have the job.  No matter how confident you are that you are the most qualified person for the position, it isn't yours until you have received a job offer.  You are arrogant to think otherwise. Make a good impression by keeping the right attitude that you are still competing for the job and sell yourself accordingly.

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Job Interview Questions Subject No. 6:
How To Respond To Taboo Questions

Not all interview questions are acceptable.  There are certain topics that should not be brought up and information that a potential employer has no right asking you to give them.  Some of these questions are not legal and others while legal may leave you feeling uncomfortable. 

You do not have to answer certain questions, but how you let the interviewer know this can determine if your application will continue forward.

For more information on questions that should not be asked or that you do not have to answer, contact your local government office that handles labor relations.  They can provide these guidelines to you at no charge. 

If interview questions are being asked about your private life (and you are uncomfortable answering them), you do not have to.  You can kindly tell the interviewer that you plan on devoting the time you spend at work to work, and that your personal life if private.  Try to move on from there.  If the interviewer keeps pressing, you will have to decide if the job is worth it to you.   If the interviewer keeps pressing, you will have to decide if the job is worth it to you.

It is your decision to provide the information you do, however, know your rights beforehand. But you can still decide to answer a question that should not be asked.  Keep in mind that if a 
potential employer wants details about how you spend time outside of work it may be because they expect their employees to put in a lot of extra hours and they are trying to 
gauge if you have commitments that would prevent you from doing this.

Other interview questions, such as sexual orientation, past relationships, and other lifestyle choices have no business in an interview setting.  If there is a physical aspect to the job and a
medical evaluation is necessary, this is typically done by a doctor or other medical professional who will give you clearance.  The interviewer should not ask for these details.

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Job Interview Questions Subject No. 7:
What Questions Are Appropriate For You To Ask?

Once you make it to the end of your interview and the interviewer says it is now your turn, they are asking if you have any questions for them.  You should have a few.

Here are some examples of questions:  "How did I do?" and "Are you going to hire me?"

Here are questions you can ask to otain information on how you performed and to determine if the company is a right fit for you.  Although it is not acceptable to ask how you did in an interview, it is okay and encouraged to ask what the next steps are and the timeline for them. 

Depending on how this is answered, you may be able to figure out their reaction to you.  But this is not full-proof and is not a guarantee.  If they take the time to explain all the checks they need to go through, how many people they have left to interview and so on, they are probably interested and want you to understand that there is still steps left in the process.  If they only tell you that you will hear from them within a certain period of time via letter, it
isn’t as promising.

Look at the opportunity to ask your own job interview questions as your chance to interview the company.  Of course you have done your research prior to attending and have made up a list that you wrote down before attending.  Show your preparedness and pull out the list to ask your questions.  Things like company direction and expansion show an interest in the business.  Feel free to take notes; it can earn you brownie points.  Ask questions that are important to you as well, if vacation time and benefits are a deal breaker for you, find out now what the company has to offer.

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Job Interview Questions and all associated materials and related studies are the complete work of the site's author, Margaret Lukasik, and cannot be copied by any means without her express written permission.