This document provides guidance on how to effectively answer the top 10 questions commonly asked in job interviews. It explains why interviewers ask each question and provides examples of both poor and skilled ways to respond. Key advice includes relating responses back to the job description, providing concrete examples, focusing answers on benefits to the employer, and asking thoughtful questions of one's own.

1. ACE THAT INTERVIEW
INTRODUCTION
ACE THAT INTERVIEW

2. ACE THAT INTERVIEW
1. Tell me about yourself
2. What are your weaknesses / greatest failure?
3. What are your strengths?
4. Why are you leaving your current job / role?
5. Why did you apply for this position/why do you want to work for us?
6. Where would you like to be in 5 years time?
7. Why should we hire you?
8. What salary are you expecting?
9. How do you explain a gap in your employment?
10. Do you have any questions?
INTRODUCTION
ACE THAT INTERVIEW

3. “tell me about yourself”
why ask?
80%
stress question
silence
long ramble
‘set the scene’
can you supply what they want?

4. poor
hobbies, home-life, ancient history, personal matters,
verbatim cv, politics, religion:
cliche answers:
d, have 3 children which take up a lot of my time and I love
“I am a team player”
“I have excellent communication skills”
“I am the best salesperson ever!”

5. skilful:
you must sell what they want to buy
give; examples, overview, logical progression & how you
match their needs
what do they want:
• strategic plan - 3-5 years
• job description
• annual reports
• company newsletters
• articles
• social media
• company website
• industry specific sources
• newspapers
• outside environment

6. “what are your weaknesses”
why ask?
negative / behavioural question
seeks to uncover problems
& un-nerve
assesses your ability to:
take risks
face challenges
critically reflect & change practice

7. poor
“what are your weaknesses”
painfully honest
lay out all your shortcomings
comedian!

8. skilful
“what are your weaknesses”
things you have overcome
commitment to self development
act on critical reflection
one skill more developed than another
don’t mention skills that directly affect selection

9. “what are your strengths"
why ask?
proven track record
match of skills with need

10. poor
what are your strengths?
takes credit for others work
doesn’t provide examples
sweeping statements
arrogance
humble
rambling
“I am good a motivating people”

11. skilful
what are your strengths
couple of key skills
not arrogant or humble
skills that match company needs, wants, problems or goals
remember - sell want the employer wants to buy

12. “why are you leaving”
why ask?

13. poor
why are you leaving your current
role / job
-ve response
lying
‘bad -mouthing’; manager, colleagues, company, customers or job
personality clashes
didn’t get on
you weren’t ‘understood’

14. “why did you apply for this position”
why ask?
what interests you - role & company ?
sound reasoning & judgement
how can you articulate

15. poor
why did you apply for this position
flippant
non-specific
comedian
“because it pays more”
“because you advertised in the local paper”

16. skilful
why did you apply for this position
could include*:
• more responsibility
• more opportunity
• what’s most interesting about the role / company?
(*could add higher salary, but not as the primary reason)

17. “where would you like to be in 5 years time”
why ask?
gives indications you are:
• ambitious
• career orientated
• committed to them

18. poor
why should we hire you
mentioning particular job titles
showing lack of commitment
being a comedian
“doing your job”
“lying on a beach”
“not here!”

19. skilful
where would you like to be in 5 years time
explain you want to be in a position where
your; continually developing skills, talents &
responsibilities can best serve the company
Again relate this back to information search
you have carried out prior to the interview

20. “why should we hire you”
why ask?
interviewer wants an answer that:
• reiterates your qualifications
• highlights what makes you unique
• up-sells your positive personality traits
• shows how you can benefit the company
must provide evidence

21. poor
why should we hire you
recapping the job role description
bad mouthing other candidates
outright arrogance
verbatim re-read of your CV
why this job will benefit you (not them)

22. skilful
why should we hire you
show evidence of how you can address their;
wants, needs, goals and problems
concentrate on the benefits to them (not you)

23. “what salary are you expecting”
why ask?
what are you are worth?
what can they ‘get away’ with
have you done your research?
how well can you communicate
“how much do you think you are worth?”

24. candidates fear this:
too high - out of the running
too low - de-value yourself, held to ran

25. poor
what salary are you expecting
give a specific figure
don’t go too low
don’t give an expansive range
don’t lie about your current salary

26. skilful
what salary are you expecting
research salary averages:
your experience
your geographical location
this information, ask the interviewer what the

27. “how do you explain a gap in employment”
why ask?
what are your reasons?
are any gaps beneficial to them?
can you articulate well

28. poor
how do you explain a gap in employment
-ve
‘someone else fault’
no reason
lying

29. skilful
how do you explain a gap in employment
sound but truthful reason
how gaps have increased your skills
• raising children
• gaining further qualifications/training
• a period of self employment*
• freelancing or consulting*
• owning your own business*
• volunteering*
• exploring or travelling*
(* add to cv timeline)

30. what if you were fired?
more difficult to explain
?explain you need a role that uses different strengths
(do these match what the interviewer wants?)
emphasise the steps you have taken
be +ve
don’t blame anyone else

31. “do you have any questions”
why?
how well can you communicate?
are your questions well considered?
are you prepared?
can you leave a +ve impression?

32. poor
do you have any questions
no questions
asking about; salary, benefits, holidays
leaving a -ve impression

33. skilful
do you have any questions
+ve uptempo impression
ask about interviewers areas of interest -
show developed communication skills
if all else fails ask if they need any
clarification from you

34. for the full version of this course, including videos,
examples and unique answer templates please
see
https://www.udemy.com/ace-that-interview-
answer-the-top-10-questions-like-a-pro/#/
Sarah Simpson MBA, BSc, FIntLM,
Dragontooth Training
www.dragontoothtraining@gmail.com