COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND HOW TO ANSWER THEM.
By Mr VIDAMBU Sam.
1. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF ?
The interviewer is not interested in hearing stories; they simply expect to know your academic and
professional achievements, your name and the institution you currently work for. Take a minute to
introduce yourself, and state your recent academic qualification and your relevant experience (if any).
''My name is [Your Name] and I am a recent graduate of [University Name] with a Bachelors of Science
in [Degree]. I am a highly motivated and adaptable individual with a passion for learning and growth. I
thrive in fast-paced environments and constantly look for ways to improve and take on new challenges.
In my previous role as a [Position Name] at [Company Name], I was responsible for [List of
Responsibilities]. I have a proven track record of success in [List of Accomplishments].
I am excited to learn more about the [Position Name] position at [Company Name] and believe that my
skills and experience would be a valuable asset to your team.''
2. WHY DO YOU THINK YOU ARE THE BEST CANDIDATE?
The recruiter expects you to tell them about your professional achievements and the unique skills you
possess that will add value to the organization. If you are a Customer Care graduate then you should tell
them that you are a good listener and patient; these are the qualities the employer is looking for.
"I believe I am the best candidate for this customer care role because of my skills and experience, as well
as my passion for helping others. I have a strong academic background in customer care, and I have also
gained valuable experience through my internships and volunteer work. I am a good listener and I am
patient, which are essential qualities for a customer care representative. I am also a team player and I
am always willing to go the extra mile to help my colleagues and customers.
In addition to my customer care skills, I am also a highly motivated and adaptable individual. I am always
willing to learn new things and I am always looking for ways to improve. I am also a quick learner and I
am able to grasp new concepts quickly.
I am confident that I have the skills and experience necessary to be successful in this role, and I am eager
to learn more about your company and how I can contribute to your team. I am also passionate about
helping others, and I believe that my customer care skills would be a valuable asset to your company."
3. WHAT AREAYOU YOUR WEAKNESSES?
The question is not simple as it looks; most candidates go blank when they face this kind of question.
Take your time in explaining why you can’t leave the office before you complete a task. You can also
inform them how you are quick to trust a person, which in most cases makes you a victim.
For example, if you are interviewing for a customer care role, you might say that your weakness is that
you are a perfectionist, and that you sometimes have trouble letting go of tasks until you are absolutely
sure that they are perfect. You could then explain that you are working on this by setting deadlines for
yourself and by delegating tasks to others when necessary.
Here are some other examples of weaknesses that you could mention in an interview:
Procrastination: "I sometimes procrastinate on tasks that I don't enjoy, but I am working on this by
setting deadlines for myself and by breaking down large tasks into smaller ones."
Delegation: "I have difficulty delegating tasks to others, but I am working on this by learning to trust my
colleagues and by giving them clear instructions."
Communication: "I sometimes have difficulty communicating my ideas clearly, but I am working on this
by practicing my communication skills with friends and family members."
Organization: "I can be disorganized sometimes, but I am working on this by using to-do lists and by
setting up systems to help me keep track of my work."
Public speaking: "I get nervous when I have to speak in public, but I am working on this by taking public
speaking classes and by practicing giving presentations to friends and family members."
No matter what weakness you choose to mention, be sure to explain how you are working to improve it.
This shows the interviewer that you are self-aware and that you are committed to personal growth.
4. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS?
The employer wants to know whether you are ambitious or you’re the kind of a person who secures a
job and then you forget about yourself. Answer the question by stating how you intend to further your
studies and grow professionally as you strive to meet your employer’s goals.
(It is important to tie your goals to your employer's goals because no employer would be willing to hire
and invest in a rookie who will leave their organization in a year or less after they have invested in
training the individual).
"In five years, I see myself working as a customer care manager, leading a team of customer care
representatives and helping to ensure that our customers have the best possible experience. I am also
interested in developing my training skills and becoming a mentor to new customer care
representatives.
I believe that my skills and experience in customer care, as well as my passion for helping others, make
me a good fit for this role. I am also a quick learner and I am eager to take on new challenges. I am
confident that I can achieve my goals and become a valuable asset to your team."
5. HOW DO FRIENDS DESCRIBE YOU?
The question is testing your personal attributes, when answering it ensure that you don’t over
exaggerate. Take the shortest time possible to state the best attribute you possess that you believe will
add value to the institution.
My friends would describe me as a good listener and a caring person. I am always willing to help others,
and I am always there for them when they need me. I am also a good communicator, and I am able to
connect with people easily.
6. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS COMPANY?
Before you enter the interview room, ensure that you go through the company website to read latest
news, company profile, goals, management team, objectives, vision and mission; they will help you
answer this question.
(where the company is unknown, do your research and be familiar with the business/industry you desire
to build your career).
The question expects you to briefly describe what you read on their website and not what you imagine
of the company.
Here is an example of how to answer the question "What do you know about our company?" for a
customer care role at Google:
"I know that Google is a multinational technology company that specializes in Internet-related services
and products. It is one of the world's most valuable companies, and it is known for its innovative
products and services, such as the Google Search engine, the Android operating system, and the Google
Cloud Platform.
I am also familiar with Google's mission statement, which is to 'organize the world's information and
make it universally accessible and useful.' I believe that this mission statement is very important, and I
am excited to learn more about how Google is working to achieve it.
I am particularly interested in working for Google because I am passionate about customer service. I
believe that Google is a company that values its customers, and I am committed to providing them with
the best possible experience."
7. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION TO ASK THE PANEL?
This is usually the last question that the interview panel asks interviewees; if you fail to ask them
questions, you will lose some marks, always have a question to ask no matter what. Ask them whether
they have plans to expand their business, whether they support employees to further their studies and
how they motivate employees. You can pull a surprise by asking when you would start, it shows
confidence.
Here are some questions you can ask the interviewer at the end of your interview:
- What are the biggest challenges facing your team right now?
- What opportunities are there for professional development and growth in this role?
- What is the company culture like?
- What are your expectations for the first 90 days in this role?
- What are the next steps in the hiring process?
You can also ask more specific questions about the company's plans, products, or services. For example,
you could ask:
- Do you have any plans to expand your business into new markets?
- Are there any new products or services in the pipeline?
- How do you measure success in this role?
Here is an example of how to ask the question "When would I start?" in a confident way:
"I am very excited about the opportunity to work at your company, and I am eager to learn more about
the role. When would I start if I were offered the position?"
8. WHAT IS YOUR SALARY EXPECTATION?
The question is tricky because as a fresh graduate you don’t have a clue what to be paid; simply ask
them what they pay others of your level, if they fail to give a satisfactory answer then give them a
reasonable range. Ensure you do your research before you go for interview room because you must be
asked this question.
"Given that I am a recent graduate, I am still familiarizing myself with industry-standard compensation.
However, I have conducted thorough research on salaries for comparable roles in this region, and I
understand that the typical range is between Ksh. 30,000 and Ksh. 40,000 per month. While I am flexible
regarding my salary, I am keen to ensure that my compensation aligns fairly with my qualifications and
the value I bring to the team."
Last but not least, Delete these from your CV.
1. Marital status.
2. Your high school and primary details if you have attended college.
3. Your date of birth.
4. Your religion.
5. Your hobbies. Nobody is going to shortlist your CV because you love traveling. Unless it is a travel
agent job.
6. Inappropriate email addresses (e.g. Dramaqueen, CaroMsupa, crazygamer, PartyAnimal4Life not
going to get you a job): Use professional email like "[Your Name]@ [Email Provider]".
7. Long paragraphs: Use bullet points to make it clearer (also, most recruiters don't have time to read
through all your words).
8. Irrelevant work experience. Example you are applying for nutrition job and you indicate that you have
been working as a sales executive of nivea.
9. Irrelevant Skills . Example Applying for an Accountant position but mentioning “Heavy Machinery
Operation”.
10. Lastly remove your ID number.
Irrelevant stuff you include to make your CV long might in most cases work against you.
Quick CV fixes to save you from job rejections:
1. Replace your career objective or Bio with a strong professional summary .
2. Ensure target role keywords demonstrated in your resume.
3. Start each sentence with a strong action verb.
4. Make your template/formatting consistent.
5. Optimal use of white space (Not too much).
6. Save resume with your name (Last_First_Resume).
7. Always submit your resume as a PDF (Especially if format is complex).
8. Showcase your achievements than listing duties.
9. Ensure your document is ATS friendly.
10. Make it clear, concise and free from errors.
The work of commentaries is to comment. The work of critics is to criticize. And the work of toxic critics
is to see negative things in everything.
To God Be The Glory.
By Mr Sam VIDAMBU (0743480435).
Vidambu is a professional academic mentor with over 5,000 high schools in Kenya running his academic
programs.
His Academic Mentorship Programs are about content mastery skills, content retention techniques,
content delivery approaches, proper revision strategies, proven reading cultures, practical study habits,
target setting, among other great topics.
He is a Trainer of Principals during KESSHA conferences and teachers.
He is the President of Global Student Mentorship Center, He is an author, and a Tutor.
To Have Vidambu launch the Candidates Academic Mentorship Programs in your school and be a Class
Mentor kindly call/text/whatsapp 0743480435 (Sam Vidambu).
He has physical individualised holiday programs. To mentor your child on academic excellence whatsapp
him 0743 480435.
Kindly Forward This Article To Whatsapp Groups of the Teachers, Parents and All The Principals you
know.
To Be Added To His Whatsapp Group Full of Principals and Teachers To Receive His Mentorship First
Before Anyone Else Kindly Whatsapp His Number (0743480435).
You Are Blessed.
