Have you ever applied for a job and got to the Interview stage and you received a rejection letter? This has happened to the best of us- It is painful but it also comes with asking yourself a series of questions: “Where did I go wrong?”, "Maybe, I’m not that good for the job?”, “Will I even get a job?”.

During the Interview stage, a lot of factors are considered by the recruiter or the interviewer and that includes how best you answered some key basic but yet important questions and this part may or may not ultimately decide your fate.

In this post, I will highlight some of these basic interview questions and pointers on how to answer them to increase your chances of getting hired in your next job application. It will be practical so get ready to visualize it.

The first question is “Can you introduce yourself?”  This is usually the first question to be asked in an interview. Here, the interviewer is trying to either break the ice or know more about your background or assess your communication skills.
Interviewer:  Can you introduce yourself?
Answer Format: Give a brief summary of your professional background, and highlight relevant experience, skills, and achievements. Start from past to present and end with your future. (Don't give your life story). The shorter, the better. Lastly, tailor your response to the role you are applying for.

Answer Sample: My name is Sade Adu, I started my career as a project coordinator at Learning Hands Initiative, an NGO, where I supported project planning and scheduling, then I moved on to Montage Inc., where I successfully led a team to deliver a major software upgrade three months ahead of schedule, reducing costs by 20%. Currently, I manage cross-functional teams at Michael Wesley Ltd, where I recently implemented a new CRM system that increased sales efficiency by 30%. With a PMP certification and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, I’m excited about the project manager role at (Company Name) because of your innovative approach to technology. I look forward to bringing my skills in project planning and team leadership to your team.

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The next question is “ Why did you apply for this position?”. The interviewer is trying to see if you have a good understanding of the role and also assess the relevance of your skills and experience.

Interviewer: Why did you apply for this position?
Answer format:  Highlights aspects of the role that appeal to you and align your skills and career goals with the job description. (Sincerity is key)

Answer Sample: I'm drawn to this role because of (Company Name)'s focus on pioneering projects and your emphasis on innovative solutions. My experience in managing successful IT projects and improving systems efficiency aligns well with your needs.

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One of the practical questions you might be asked in an interview question is “Can you describe a challenging situation at work and how you handled it?” Here, the interviewer is trying to see your approach to challenges, decision making and, implementation of solutions and how it may apply to the position.

Interviewer: Can you describe a challenging situation at work and how you handled it?

Answer format: Here’s where you apply the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Use the star method to structure your answer. From citing an example to mentioning your role in addressing the challenge, the actions you took and the positive outcome. You are one step closer to getting the job!

Answer Sample : 

S-Situation: At Montage Inc., We were faced with a critical challenge when a key software project was behind schedule by two months, leading to our client’s product launch.

T-Task: As the project manager, it was my responsibility to get the project back on track and also meet the client’s deadline.

A-Action: I conducted a deep review of our project plan which helped with challenges. I then reallocated resources, delegated tasks to my team, and also implemented daily stand-up meetings to improve communication and track progress more effectively.
R-Result: Through these efforts, my team not only caught up but completed the project two weeks ahead of the revised schedule. The client was extremely satisfied with our efficiency and quality of work and this led to securing a new contract with them.

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Another question you could be asked is “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” This is a very common question and the interviewer’s aims to assess your level of self-awareness and sometimes honesty and also to understand how your strengths and weaknesses might have impacted your success in a role.

Interviewer: Can you share with me your strengths and weaknesses?”

Answer format: Highlight 2-3 strengths with relevant examples. Also, acknowledge 1-2 weaknesses you might have but make it known that you are working to improve them. End it with how both strengths and weaknesses have influenced your work.
Answer Sample: 

Strengths: One of the key strengths I have is my ability to stay organized and manage multiple priorities simultaneously- this is crucial in making sure that timelines are met. For example, in our recent software launch, this skill helped me manage a cross-functional team and ensure that all deliverables were completed before the stipulated deadline. Another strength is my communication skills and this has helped me keep a lot of teammates and clients aligned with our goals and remove any misunderstandings.

Weaknesses: A weakness that I have been able to identify is that I tend to focus on short-term solutions rather than long-term in a highly stressful situation. I have been improving this by prioritizing long-term strategies and this has led to more sustainable decisions in projects.

My strengths have helped me alleviate misunderstandings and build a team of amazing people with diverse backgrounds and skills. Working on my weaknesses has made me more efficient, helping me adapt and manage stressful situations.

The last question is “ Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years”? (The number of years might be below or above 5).
The interviewer is trying to gauge your long-term goals, your ambition, commitment and to see whether you are looking for career growth within the company.

Interviewer: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Answer format: Outline where you see your career heading, align it with the role you applied for, and show how it fits into your long-term goal. You can also mention specific area(s) (emphasis on specific) you would like to grow and how you would be able to achieve it within the company.
Answer Sample:  In the next five years, I see myself growing into a senior project management consultant role where I take on more strategic responsibilities. I’m interested in leading larger, more complex projects, teams and mentoring junior project managers- as this aligns with my passion for driving project success and helping teams develop. I also plan to pursue a certification in agile methodologies, which I think will add to my present skill set and add to the company’s operations.

With these few points of mine, I think I have been able to give you some pointers on how to answer basic yet important frequently asked interview questions. Also, remember that answering these questions correctly doesn’t guarantee you getting the job, it only increases your chances of being hired.

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