Imagine knowing what questions a hiring manager is going to ask you in your next job interview. Unfortunately it’s impossible to know this information unless you find the questions from past interviewees using online forums, or you can read minds. That’s why Escape Campus is giving you the next best thing: the most popular interview questions in English and the right answers for each one.  The more time that you spend getting comfortable and familiar with what questions you may be asked, the more chance that you will get hired! 

Tell me about yourself

This is the classic opening question. It doesn’t matter if you’re applying to be a Chief Executive Officer or a Chinese Translator, this question is loved by all employers. 

The interviewer is not asking you for your complete employment or personal history. Everything you answer needs to show why you’re perfect for the position that you’re applying for. 

It’s a good idea to start off with the main 3 specific accomplishments that you want the interviewer to know. These could be a mix of professional, academic and personal achievements. Finish off by talking about how those achievements link to the job description, this will make you stand out from other candidates right from the start of the interview!

What do you know about the company?

It sounds obvious, but make sure you know the basic information about the company that you’re applying for. This is usually easy to find using the company’s ‘About’ page on their website, and you should understand what products and services the company provides as well as their ‘mission’.

Firstly, show that you understand the company’s goals and mission by using a few keywords and phrases from their website.

Next, put yourself in those goals. You can do this by saying something like, “I really admire and believe in your approach/mission because…” and follow with a couple of personal examples. 

What are your main strengths/ weaknesses?

When talking about your strengths, you should be specific and honest. For example, instead of saying you have ‘communication skills’, you could say you are good at ‘persuasive communication’ or ‘writing emails professionally’, but obviously make these skills relevant to the job that you’re applying for. After that, make sure you give examples of when you have used these strengths in a past job. 

How do you talk about weaknesses and still sound perfect for the job? It’s important to be honest, but not too honest! For example, don’t say, “I’m always late for work” or “I have no weaknesses” because the interviewer will not be very impressed. Think of a true weakness, and how you’re trying to improve it. For example, maybe you are quite shy and find giving presentations hard, but you have recently offered to run meetings to help you get more comfortable with public speaking.

Do you have any questions for us?

This is your chance to work out if the job is right for you, so make sure you have some questions prepared to ask the interviewer. What information do you want to find out about the job/ company? A lot of important information (like pay and working hours) will be discussed in the interview, so think of some less common questions to ask. Questions that focus on the interviewer are a good option, for example, “What is your favourite thing about working here?” or “what are the opportunities like for promotion?” 

Final Tips

Be confident, speak clearly, be friendly but professional, make eye-contact, listen carefully to the questions, bring some water with you, smile and, most importantly: breathe!

Also , find out how to answer the job interview questions in English, in our 4 series of Interview tips!

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