How to answer typical questions in a job interview

Behavior-based interview technique

At Academic Work, we use a behavior-based interview technique. This involves delving deep into the behavior that has proven successful in the role.

In other words, we do not focus on your personal characteristics, but ask questions related to your past behavior and look for specific examples of how you have acted in previous situations.

A few examples of behavior-based interview questions

• Tell us about a challenging goal you have set for yourself or worked toward in your studies or at work. What was the goal? How were you involved in setting the goal? In what way was it a challenging goal? How did you work to achieve the goal? What was the result?
• Tell us about a situation where you had a plan for how you would work, but circumstances changed while you were working. What changed? How did you respond? What was the result?
• Tell us about a project or work task that you planned yourself. How did you plan it? What were your priorities? How did you ensure that you followed the plan? What was the result?
• Give an example of successful collaboration with a colleague. What made it successful? What did you contribute to the collaboration? What was the result?

Other typical questions during the job interview

Tell us about yourself

Prepare and think through in advance what is relevant for the interviewer to know. Focus on telling them what is relevant to the specific position you are applying for. Consider describing yourself in the most favorable light, focusing on who you are as a person and the career and educational choices you have made.

Why are you applying for this position?

This question allows you to explain your motivation and what specifically about the position caught your interest. Did the job duties sound exciting, do you see an opportunity to develop and learn something new, or do you perhaps have a special interest in this particular company? Think about what attracted you to the position and try to convey this to the recruitment consultant.

Why should we hire you?

This is probably the most important question you will be asked during your job interview. The right candidate must be able to explain why he or she is the right person for the job. This may be personal qualities, skills, or experience—the most important thing is that you clearly communicate what a potential employer will gain from choosing you. In addition, you can highlight what motivates you about the job and, therefore, how you can do a good job.

What are your strengths?

Focus on highlighting qualities that are related to the specific position you are applying for, but also highlight your qualities in general. For example, talk about feedback and praise you have received from previous colleagues. A good way to demonstrate your strengths is to give specific examples. Explain, for example, how you plan and prioritize your tasks. This will help you avoid empty words and clichés.

What do you need to develop in yourself?

Here, it is important that you are honest and humble about your weaker sides—we all have room for improvement. Explain how you work to improve and develop yourself, as well as what goals you have for your personal development.

Another way to discuss your weaknesses is to focus on a personal trait that can be seen as both a strength and a weakness.

For example, if you say that you are a strong-willed person, this can be associated with a number of other positive traits, such as being courageous, confident in your opinions, and pushing forward with your suggestions. On the other hand, the flip side of the coin is that you may find it difficult to compromise, which you should reflect on during the job interview.

Why did you choose to study what you are studying?

Explain the background for your choice of study. Was it an interest at a particular point in time, or has your interest changed over time? If you were allowed to choose your study program today, would you make the same choice? Highlight what you think has been exciting and challenging about your education.

Which of your previous roles do you think are most relevant to the position?

Again, it is important that you understand what is required for the specific job you are applying for. This may be specific qualifications or skills, experience you can demonstrate from previous jobs, specific projects, or perhaps knowledge you have gained from an education or a course. Give examples and explain how they match what is required in the job advertisement.

Are you someone who easily takes responsibility?

Tell us about a task where you took responsibility – either alone or in collaboration with others. How do you approach taking responsibility? Does this seem like a motivating factor, or do you prefer when the responsibility lies with someone else? If you like having responsibility, is this something you seek out yourself, or would you prefer to be given it as you grow in the position? There are no right answers here; describe yourself honestly. Feel free to mention how you feel about working independently.

How good are you at collaborating?

We all have experience working with others, whether from school or previous jobs. Give examples of good teamwork, explain what went well, and try to be as specific as possible. Also mention what role you played in the collaboration, what role you usually play in a team, and how you help the group move forward. This question usually leads to a discussion about whether you prefer to work alone or in teams—based on what you think the advantages and disadvantages are and why you prefer one method over the other.

How do you handle stressful situations?

In order for the recruitment consultant to form a coherent picture of who you are, it is important that you are specific. Give a specific example of a situation where you felt stressed. What happened, and how did you handle it? Try to be clear when describing how you feel when you are stressed and how you experience stress.