How to tackle the most common job interview questions

Did you know that the average successful job search takes around 22.1 weeks? During this time, candidates go through a variety of recruitment processes until they finally secure their sought-after job. 

Being aware of and preparing for the most common job interview questions not only offers a competitive edge over other candidates, it also means you can undertake the interview with more confidence. Want to know which questions are the most common in a job interview and what they're really trying to find out about candidates? Read on to learn all about it.  

What types of questions are asked in job interviews and how should I answer them?

John Lees, author of "The Interview Expert: How to Get the Job You Want", says that "even relatively smart people don't prepare very well for interviews", improvising instead, which leads to many being much more nervous when it comes to making an impression. According to Lees, "nervousness is intimately related to underperforming".

Having an impeccable CV doesn't mean it's easy to secure a job, because the various job interview questions are designed to delve deeper into who you are on both a personal and professional level. Hence, it's vital to properly prepare for a job interview and not leave a thing to chance. 

If you knew what questions were going to come up in an exam, the chances of passing would be greater, right? The same is true with job interview questions: the better-prepared you are, the greater the likelihood of securing the job you want.

Personal questions

Personal questions in a job interview are designed to find out more about the candidate's personality. However, these shouldn't be confused with certain intrusive questions about your personal life, such as your marital status or whether you plan to have children. If you are asked such questions, you can refuse to answer them as they are unethical. 

How would you define yourself?

Candidates should always be prepared for this type of open question, because they're often asked during the selection process. 

To give a suitable answer, you have to analyse yourself, both personally and professionally, sell yourself as best as you can and make it clear that your skills match the advertised job. Take the opportunity to demonstrate your best qualities, but don't exaggerate and do stick to the truth: responsible, flexible, open-minded, sociable, self-sacrificing, proactive, etc. It’s best to link your qualities to your personal or professional experience. 

You can also deliver your response as an elevator pitch, i.e. a short speech lasting less than 30 seconds during which you explain who you are, what you want and what you're doing to achieve it.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This is another typical question in job interviews. Their aim is similar to the previous question, with the main difference being that in this case, they also want you to discuss your weaknesses. 

With this question, it's important not to fall into the trap and provide reasons to be rejected. Instead of mentioning actual weaknesses, talk about areas to improve to become a better professional. For example, if you are indecisive, you might say that your decision-making could be improved. Likewise, when it comes to your strengths, remember to talk about these with restraint, as bragging can be counterproductive.

Questions about education

Questions about your education and training aim to find out more about your studies. Don't just recite your CV -the interviewers will have it in front of them, so they already know the details. 

The purpose of this sort of question is to delve into why you chose the path you did and what kind of experiences you've had, as well as which skills and abilities you've acquired and why these might be useful in the job you've applied for. 

What did you study and why?

You should give a positive overview of everything you've studied so far. If you have taken any courses that don't quite fit with the job, try to give them a spin that focuses on the soft skills acquired: team work, empathy, communication skills, etc. 

If your background includes any experiences that could be construed as negative, such as dropping out of a degree, turn these into positives, for example: it allowed me to discover my true path. Above all, don't forget to highlight the skills that are most suitable for the job. 

Your work experience

Questions about work experience are also the order of the day at job interviews. The interviewers will want to check whether you're used to working in an environment similar to the advertised job. 

They will also want to know what experience you have and how you would rate it. It's important to be honest and mention every experience that has helped you to learn something new and to grow professionally.

Why did you quit or get fired from your last job?

When faced with this question, you should be as sincere as possible, but be careful not to shoot yourself in the foot. 

For example, instead of saying that you felt like you didn't fit into your previous job, you might reply that your day-to-day work wasn't challenging and that's why you're looking for new opportunities. Whatever the reason, don't criticise your old company, boss or colleagues, because that's a sign of distrust and disloyalty. 

Did your previous job live up to your expectations?

Before you attend a job interview, you should analyse your prior work experience to identify which goals you achieved, and which remain to be met. In this way, you can link your previous expectations to your current ones, thus demonstrating that you're a non-conformist and want to keep growing professionally. 

Questions about the company itself

It's common to be asked questions about the company or business advertising the job. Their aim is simple: to discover whether you've bothered to find out about them, what they do, their corporate culture, projects, etc. 

Why do you want to work with us?

Avoid the obvious responses or those related to pay, as these can put you in a bad light. Instead, demonstrate that you've done in-depth research on the company, show that you share their values or that you love the projects you've seen on their website. 

Questions about soft skills

Soft skills are increasingly important in the world of work; so much so that, according to a LinkedIn study, some 57% of managers consider soft skills to be more important than hard skills. Hence, it's ever more common to be asked about these.  

Do you prefer to work alone or as a team?

Teamwork has become one of the most valued soft skills for companies. Answer positively, with an example of how you have worked in a team from your previous jobs or studies.

Where do you see yourself in five years' time?

The aim of this common job interview question is to probe whether you have a long-term career goal, ambition and leadership spirit. Leadership is one of the most valued soft skills. 

How would you tackle a dispute at work?

This question is designed to find out if the candidate has crucial skills such as emotional intelligence, empathy or listening skills.

Questions the candidate can ask the interviewer

Before bringing the interview to a close, the recruiter will give you the chance to ask some questions. If you have any, now’s the time to ask. If you don't, then you can help yourself to stand out by enquiring about the position and the company in question. Do some prior research and prepare a few questions. Here are some ideas:

• What is the best thing about working for this company?

• What challenges and opportunities can your company offer me?

• Is there an internal training programme?

• How is the company structured?

• How will the selection process play out?

If you want to be successful at a job interview, having a solid mix of competencies, work experience and soft skills will open many doors. It's vital to continue to improve these areas to enhance your career prospects.

Banco Santander, as part of its contribution to society, spearheads the Santander Open Academy which offer the opportunity to study and train with prestigious institutions and acquire the skills most in-demand at companies today.

If you’d like to continue training to develop the skills and abilities that allow you to stand out from the crowd, head over to the Santander Open Academy website. Find out first-hand which skills companies are hunting for, and give yourself a competitive edge and enhanced employability. The future is in your hands!