Most common interview questions and how to answer them

Standing out as a promising candidate is more than just eloquence.

Some candidates might think that getting the job means having the ability to tell exciting and action-packed stories during the interview. However, that is not the case. Interview questions are there to get a sense of your skills and qualifications.

Thus, when you answer the standard interview questions, here are some tips by Forbes on what you should include in your answers.

Tell me about yourself?

This question is not just about relating your education and skills qualifications - it is to get to know who you are as a person.  

It is giving you an open-ended question to provide insights into your character and the type of personality you have, and to see if you will fit in with the team.

When giving the interviewers a snapshot of who you are, you can include topics or agendas that you are passionate about or even personal interests that drive you.

Also, you can share your career transitions and the goals you wish to achieve in the short- and long-run.

What was your biggest accomplishment?

This question is an interesting one to answer as it is asking you what made you most proud.

To answer it right, you can think back about what you had done that gave you a great sense of accomplishment.

Also, this answer does not need to be related to something you did at work. Conquering a marathon or finishing up a Master's programme while working, or even non-monetary impact can also be excellent answers.

Ideally, when answering, you may wish to include some background context and an explanation of the actions and the results.

Why do you wish to leave your current firm?

Humans are dynamic creatures, so you don't have to be shy about wanting to leave your company.

In this question, the interviewers could be looking to find out why your current company does not fulfill your work aspirations and to learn more about your career motivations.

Regardless of the reason, the candidate should answer this as honestly as possible and efficiently.

Common reasons can include the current role is no longer challenging and there is no room for expansion, headcount freeze, open to opportunities, or searching for a specific role to grow your skills set.

If the reason is due to a personal nature and you do not wish to divulge too much, it is still best to share with trust as you do not want the interviewers to speculate on their own and get the wrong idea about you.