How to get through the job interview

You have every right to feel nervous about job interviews, especially if it’s for a job you passionately want to get, but at the end of the day they tend to boil down to just five main questions. Mastering the technique of properly answering these questions should help you on your way to a successful career.

The first question you are nearly always asked is: why are you interested in this job? This is your opportunity to show how you can add real value to the company, should they choose to hire you. The interviewer wants to know whether you are capable of the job in question and it’s up to you to show them you are. Make sure you have done your research both on the company itself and the position you are applying for.

When you are asked why you are leaving your current job, it’s best not to dwell on issues such as the fact that you did not get on with your boss/other employees etc., even if this were true. It’s best instead to focus on the positive, especially if you have retrained or gained additional certification in order to change your career. Let them know if you are looking to make a strategic move in order to enhance your career.

It is always a good idea to read the job description carefully, so when you are asked about your strengths you are able to give examples of how great your strengths are in the specific fields in which the employer is looking. If they need someone with excellent organizational skills, detail your qualifications in this area and give specific examples of how you put them into practice in your previous job.

In a similar manner, when it comes to your weaknesses it is important to ensure that you are prepared to highlight areas of weakness that you are working on to try and improve, such as IT skills. In particular, you could talk about any seminars or workshops that you have attended in order to try and increase your skillset in these areas.

When the interviewer asks why they should hire you it’s a good idea to focus on your top skills that make you the perfect candidate for the job. Showing that you would be committed to developing along with the company shows commitment and dedication.