Common questions asked by HR practitioners

This post came out from The Straits Times (17 February 2015)
Title - Are you equipped with the knowledge to conquer a job interview?

Some pointers that I've got are:
1. "Tell me about yourself"
2. "What have your achievements been to date?"
3. "Why do you want to work for us and how does this job position interest you?"
4. "What challenges are you looking for in this position?"
5. "Why do you want to change your job"
6. "What is your expected salary?"
7. "Is there anything else that we should know about you that would contribute to our decision?"
8. "Give us an example of a situation where you've faced conflict or difficult communication problems?"

On "Tell me about yourself"

• Identify and memorize some of your attributes. Introduce yourself and describe how your skills make you a valuable asset

On "What have your achievements been to date?"

• Choose an achievement that is work related and fairly recent. Identify the skills used in the achievement and quantify the tangible benefits it had for the organization

On "Why do you want to work for us and how does this job position interest you?"

• The employer wants to know if the job suits you. Make sure you have a good understanding of the role and the organization Describe the attributes of the organization that interest you most

On "What challenges are you looking for in this position?"

• Discuss how you would like to effectively utilize your skills and experiences if you were hired for the job.
• Mention that you are motivated by challenges, have the ability to effectively meet challenges, and have the flexibility and skills necessary to handle a challenging job. You can continue by describing specific examples of challenges you have met and goals you have achieved in the past

On "Why do you want to change your job"

• Do not be negative in your reasons for changing jobs. State how you are looking for new responsibilities, challenges and a different experience in your prospective job

On "What is your expected salary?"

• Avoid giving an exact number. The first person to name a price in a salary negotiation loses. 
• An example of a good answer would be "I expect to be paid in the appropriate range for this role, based on my experience and average median across the industry"

On "Is there anything else that we should know about you that would contribute to our decision?"

• Share about how you keep yourself up to date in the industry and embracing the challenges to achieve the goals set

On "Give us an example of a situation where you've faced conflict or difficult communication problems?"

• This type of question is your chance to demonstrate your interpersonal relations and team working skills. Employers would want to recruit people who will get along well with its colleagues and deliver the company's objectives 

Yours,
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