Interviews. There’s no exact science; you can nail one easily, be sort of off the next. It can often come down to chemistry. But there are a few sure-fire tips that can ensure you make a lasting impression for all the right reasons.
Our tried-and-true interview principles that we know will help you land the job are simple:
- Be prepared
- Be positive
- Be yourself
So, whether you have an in-person or video interview, the way you answer these commonly asked interview questions will more than likely land you that second interview.
Tell me a bit about yourself?
Why is this question asked?
This is more often than not the opening question in an interview, for good reason. It gives the interviewer an immediate overview of your personality, experience, achievements, character and skills. They may also be assessing your communication style. The way you answer this question will likely frame the all-important flow of the interview and form a lasting impression. Getting it right is essential.
How to respond
Although a fairly simple and seemingly casual question, it requires a fair bit of thought and preparation. For an in depth study on how to nail this answer, we’ve dedicated a whole article to getting it right, where we outline questions to prompt your thinking and advice on how to structure and deliver your response.
In a nutshell:
- Plan what you want to include – keep it job-centric to start – your career start, progression and goals, then round it out with a little bit about you as a person with interests and pursuits.
- Give them the highlight reel – focus on your strengths
- Be succinct – don’t waffle on and express yourself with confidence.
Describe a challenging situation at work? What did you do?
Why is this question asked?
Obviously, the interviewer wants to assess your problem-solving ability. What may be less obvious is they are also assessing your definition of ‘challenging’. Does your perception of difficult align with the scale of difficulty and type of challenges related to the opportunity you are interviewing for? Your interviewer will also get a sense of your resilience, resourcefulness, accountability, flexibility, communication and persuasion / influencing competence.
How to respond
As this is a behavioural based interview question the best way to respond is using the STAR approach.
- Situation
- Tasks involved
- Action you took
- Result or Outcome
Interviewers love a STAR answer, it gives them everything they’re looking for.
Select a challenge that is complex, recent, and one that is relevant to the challenge(s) you may face if successful in securing the role. The position description or your recruitment consultant can guide you on the areas to focus on. Common challenges include: stakeholder management, delivering quality results under pressure, and prioritising work. Leadership roles could cover uplifting staff engagement and performance.
Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?
Why is this question asked?
This mostly applies for permanent positions, most employers want employees who will stay and grow with the organisation. This question helps employers understand whether your career goals align with the job on offer and organisation more broadly. It also gives a sense of how long you’ll be likely to remain with the organisation, based on whether it can satisfy your longer-term goals or not. Some organisations will be looking for ambitious candidates, while others prefer individuals who are seeking stability and would be happy to remain in the current role for an extended period.
How to respond
Be clear but flexible. Careers are rarely linear these days and unexpected opportunities come up all the time. It’s not unusual for organisations to create roles around high performers. That’s why you should focus your response on the type of work you enjoy and the areas in which you would like to gain further experience. However, if there is a clear promotion pathway or the organisation is quite hierarchical, talk about where you’d like to go within that structure. Remember to balance being confident with being realistic.
Be clear but flexible. Career trajectories are rarely linear, unexpected opportunities come up all the time. It’s not unusual for organisations to create roles around high performers. That’s why you should focus your response on the type of work you enjoy and the areas in which you would like to gain further experience. However, if there is a clear promotion pathway or the organisation is quite hierarchical, talk about where you’d like to go within that structure. Remember to balance being confident with being realistic.
And if you don’t want to progress? It’s okay to honestly express that too. You may be looking for a stable role to nestle into because you have other things going on in your life that take priority over career progression. Ideally, teams comprise a mix of various career and life stages; it would be a manager’s nightmare if all of their direct reports wanted to be CEO in the next three years.
Why are you interested in this opportunity?
Why is this question asked?
The hiring team wants to know if you have a genuine interest in the role and organisation, rather than just kicking tyres. Additionally, they are keen to understand your motivations and what’s important to you. This helps them determine if there is a strong match between what you want and what’s on offer, not just right now, but also into the future.
How to respond
Research the organisation. Tell them what you find interesting or inspiring about the opportunity and why want to work there – be specific and genuine. If you notice something that could be done better, sometimes they like to hear that too, especially if it relates to the role. It shows an interest in adding value and bringing a fresh perspective to the team. In some cases, motivation, passion, and enthusiasm can eclipse skills and experience, especially when you consider which of these can be more easily taught. If you are excited by a role, express your excitement. Be honest about what’s important to you and ask for more information if needed.
Why are you looking to leave your current role/ last job?
Why is this question asked?
Interviewers will be assessing any potential risks and looking out for any red flags, such as performance issues. Equally, they will be listening for issues your former employer couldn’t resolve that you may also encounter in the job you’re interviewing for, e.g., seeking more challenging work, or being able to work remotely full-time. Your response can also provide insights about what you value and how you could add to the organisation’s culture.
How to respond
In short, positively. It’s better to frame your response to focus on what you are looking for and the environments you will thrive in than to project negativity by sharing your boredom in your current role or wanting to get away from a tyrannical manager.
Do you have any questions for me/us?
Why is this question asked?
The extent of thought and preparation as well as your interest levels can be gauged by your response to this question. Someone who demonstrates a deeper level of thoughtful curiosity about a job will be moved to the top of the pile above someone who asks how often they’ll get paid and whether they can have three weeks off at Christmas.
How to respond
Ask questions you actually want to know the answer to! Reflect on what’s important to you. What would you want to know before starting? Thinking about the type of information that will help you decide between multiple job offers can also be helpful. If the salary hasn’t been shared with you before the interview, it’s best to follow up after the interview. For the interview, consider asking questions that will help you learn more about:
Ask questions you actually want to know the answer to. Think about the type of information that will help you decide between multiple job offers if you’re weighing up your options. If the salary hasn’t been shared with you before the interview, it’s best to follow up after the interview. Consider asking questions that will help you learn more about:
- The interviewer/hiring manager: “How long have you been in with the company? What do you like most about working here?”
- The role: “Can you tell me about the performance management framework? Will I have clear benchmarks to know that I’m doing a good job? Does that tie into any professional development programs?”
- The organisation: “What are some of the key strategic initiatives planned for the next 12 months? Who are your main competitors? How do you differ from them?”
- The culture: “How does the team work together and collaborate? How long have most people been with the company?”
If this all of this has already been covered in the interview and you draw a blank at the end, a handy tip is to say, “I was going to ask about…but you’ve already covered that, so thank you!” This shows that you came prepared, but their interview adequately gave you the information you were after.
Bonus Round
“What are your strengths and weaknesses” is a question that is increasingly being retired in place of role-specific and behavioural-based interview questions.
In case you are asked, preparing a list of strengths and development areas is a good way to heighten your self-awareness and prepare for interviews. Avoid clichéd ‘weaknesses’ such as “I work too hard”. Instead ask yourself, “what skills would I like to possess in three years’ time that I don’t have now” and answer that question instead. Coming up with specific examples that demonstrate your strengths is also good interview preparation that also puts you in the right mindset and boosts your confidence.
Finally, good luck. Make sure you have a glass of water handy for refreshment, because we’re sure when you get started, you’ll confidently sail through the interview.
If you are on the market for your next IT opportunity, take a look at our job board to see all of our current vacancies. You can also register with Clicks via the Job Seekers page. If you know an IT professional looking for work, we have a fantastic referral program that can earn you $500 for every great person you send our way.
