Knowing common personal questions (and answers) for interviews can improve your chances of getting a job if you are recently graduated. Regardless of your educational background and specialization, the way you answer these common personal questions can have a significant effect on your chances of getting hired. Knowing how to answer these questions is a valuable skill and it requires research and practice. In this article, we discuss the common personal questions (and answers) for interviews, explain why they are asked by the interviewer, and provide suitable answers.
Tell me something about yourself?
To excel in personal interview questions like this, you should not state your personal life, hobbies, etc. You should better talk about your professional life, achievements, experience, and the relevant things. Your answer should be in the direction that the interviewers get convinced that you are the right person to fit in the job. Your answer should state your strengths, accomplishments, and managing skills you have. It is the very first question in an interview, and this leaves an impact. Try to build a good report with the interviewers by answering this in the required way. Try to be specific and not vague.
Can you list your strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths: The interviewer typically asks this question to see the area where you are most confident. However, you have to be able to find the right balance between showing belief in yourself and not seeming overconfident. Example: “I am very good at mathematics and anything numbers-related. This is why I started to get into coding and I am already a fairly experienced Node JS backend developer.”
Weakness: This question usually either follows the previous one or the two are mixed together. You should think of various shortcomings that you have and that you are willing to work to overcome. They shouldn’t be directly linked to the responsibilities of the job you are applying for, however. Example: “I sometimes have difficulties with time management and I end up spending much of my personal time working or studying. However, this is something that I constantly work on, with better results each day.”
What are your hobbies?
Asking about your personal time is a way for the interviewer to see what kind of personality you have and how you unwind after work. You should show enthusiasm when you answer but also reassure the interviewer that your passions are not likely to interfere with your work. Example: “My biggest passion is basketball. A knee injury kept me from trying out for my high school team, but I play as often as I can. I believe sports keep you physically and mentally healthy while instilling discipline in you.”
Why should we hire you?
This question aims to evaluate how you perceive your own skills and how confident you are in your own abilities. The best way to answer this question is to mention the skills and qualities you have that would be helpful for the job you’re applying for. Example: “I am very good with numbers and have an almost obsessive attention to detail, so I think I am very well-suited for the role of a junior accountant at your company.”
Where do you imagine yourself in the coming five years?
Most employers want to elicit the time you are going to stay with them. They want you to assure them that you will be staying with the company. They want you to excel, but in the same company. You can have the desire to grow, but at the same time, you should be a promising employee for the company. Never mention the things like you are in the company to gain experience only or something like that.
What reason do you have behind leaving your previous job?
When asked about the reasons for leaving the previous job, you should always try to refrain from blaming. You should not blame the company, colleagues, boss, or the working environment. If you do this, this may indicate the negativity in you. Despite this, try stating a good reason. You can say that you were not facing enough challenges in your previous job. It shows that you are looking forward to new challenges and are interested in them. It also reflects upon the enthusiasm you have for working on challenging projects. Top interview questions can often refer to this as a benchmark of serious intent.
What makes you interested in this job?
By asking personal interview questions, the employer wants to know how much you know about their company and what you want from them. Make sure that you have researched thoroughly about the company. You should know about the founder and CEO of the company. You should also know about the vision of the company and the services they provide. It leaves a good impression and also shows the interest you have in the job. Try correlating your goals and ambitions with that of the company. You can assure the employer that you want the job to improve your skills and knowledge, and their company is a good place for that.
We hope that these personal interview questions and answers are refined and give you good ideas about expressing things. People have skills but forget to brush them up. Being pre-prepared for a few things is always good. Best of luck!
