As a student, there seems to be no end of interviews. Universities, internships, apprenticeships, jobs – I could go on.
For me, I find job interviews the most frustrating. ‘Why do you want to work for us?’ Why do you think? I need to pay my rent, why else?
Obviously, there are more to job interviews than this, so let’s have a look at some of the questions that might pop up, and how you can answer them.
Tell me about yourself
Not strictly a question, but maybe one of the scariest parts of a job interview. Where to start? How much is too much? Is this a good portrayal of myself?
One of the easiest ways to tackle this ‘question’ is to think of yourself in the third person. Imagine that your friend had to come in and do the interview on your behalf. What would they say?
Why do you want to work for us?
Aside from the obvious (money!), take the time to consider this question before you go into your interview. What made that job stand out to you in the endless reem of Indeed/Reed/Glassdoor listings?
Think about your passions and your goals. Have you had experience of working in this environment before? Was it a good experience?
See also: The Pros And Cons Of Doing An Apprenticeship
What can you bring to the company?
Consider your individual skills and how they match up to the skills and qualifications that are essential and desirable on the job specification. If you are able to mention any of these in your interview, with concise examples, you will immediately stand apart from other candidates.
Where do you expect to be in five years?
It’s easy to become fixated on the next five weeks, let alone five years. Unless you are absolutely determined to work towards one goal, this question can be intimidating.
Again, reminding yourself of your personal and career-based goals will benefit you for this. A safe response to this is to discuss what you want to learn, and how keen you are to develop yourself by meeting any and all opportunities that come your way.
Imagine you were faced with this scenario: (Example) How would you deal with this?
This interview question is a tough one as there is very little you can do to prepare for it. However, if you are able to turn this scenario into something that you have faced yourself, it will be much easier.
Potentially, your interviewers will have heard the exact same response to this question five times already that day. If you are able to make it unique, it highlights that you are already able to deal with such a scenario, making you a more attractive candidate.
Whether it’s an interview for a shop assistant, a marketing executive or a history teacher, having a strong awareness of your own strengths and limitations is what will get you the job that you want.
With all the luck in the world – go and smash it!
Read next: When Should You Start Applying For Graduate Jobs?