Wouldn’t it be great if you knew exactly what a hiring manager would be asking you in your next interview?
While we unfortunately can’t read minds, we’ll give you the next best thing: a list of the 31 most commonly asked interview questions and answers.
While we don’t recommend having a canned response for every interview question (in fact, please don’t), we do recommend spending some time getting comfortable with what you might be asked, what hiring managers are really looking for in your responses, and what it takes to show that you’re the right man or woman for the job.
Consider this your interview study guide.
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
This question seems simple, so many people fail to prepare for it, but it’s crucial. Here’s the deal: Don’t give your complete employment (or personal) history. Instead give a pitch—one that’s concise and compelling and that shows exactly why you’re the right fit for the job. Start off with the 2-3 specific accomplishments or experiences that you most want the interviewer to know about, then wrap up talking about how that prior experience has positioned you for this specific role.
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2. How did you hear about the position?
Another seemingly innocuous interview question, this is actually a perfect opportunity to stand out and show your passion for and connection to the company. For example, if you found out about the gig through a friend or professional contact, name drop that person, then share why you were so excited about it. If you discovered the company through an event or article, share that. Even if you found the listing through a random job board, share what, specifically, caught your eye about the role.
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3. What do you know about the company?
Any candidate can read and regurgitate the company’s “About” page. So, when interviewers ask this, they aren’t necessarily trying to gauge whether you understand the mission—they want to know whether you care about it. Start with one line that shows you understand the company’s goals, using a couple key words and phrases from the website, but then go on to make it personal. Say, “I’m personally drawn to this mission because…” or “I really believe in this approach because…” and share a personal example or two.
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4. Why do you want this job?
Again, companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job, so you should have a great answer about why you want the position. (And if you don’t? You probably should apply elsewhere.) First, identify a couple of key factors that make the role a great fit for you (e.g., “I love customer support because I love the constant human interaction and the satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a problem”), then share why you love the company (e.g., “I’ve always been passionate about education, and I think you guys are doing great things, so I want to be a part of it”).
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5. Why should we hire you?
This interview question seems forward (not to mention intimidating!), but if you’re asked it, you’re in luck: There’s no better setup for you to sell yourself and your skills to the hiring manager. Your job here is to craft an answer that covers three things: that you can not only do the work, you can deliver great results; that you’ll really fit in with the team and culture; and that you’d be a better hire than any of the other candidates.
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6. What are your greatest professional strengths?
When answering this question, interview coach Pamela Skillings recommends being accurate (share your true strengths, not those you think the interviewer wants to hear); relevant (choose your strengths that are most targeted to this particular position); and specific (for example, instead of “people skills,” choose “persuasive communication” or “relationship building”). Then, follow up with an example of how you’ve demonstrated these traits in a professional setting.
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7. What do you consider to be your weaknesses?
What your interviewer is really trying to do with this question—beyond identifying any major red flags—is to gauge your self-awareness and honesty. So, “I can’t meet a deadline to save my life” is not an option—but neither is “Nothing! I’m perfect!” Strike a balance by thinking of something that you struggle with but that you’re working to improve. For example, maybe you’ve never been strong at public speaking, but you’ve recently volunteered to run meetings to help you be more comfortable when addressing a crowd.
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8. What is your greatest professional achievement?
Nothing says “hire me” better than a track record of achieving amazing results in past jobs, so don’t be shy when answering this interview question! A great way to do so is by using the S-T-A-R method: Set up the situation and the task that you were required to complete to provide the interviewer with background context (e.g., “In my last job as a junior analyst, it was my role to manage the invoicing process”), but spend the bulk of your time describing what you actually did (the action) and what you achieved (the result). For example, “In one month, I streamlined the process, which saved my group 10 man-hours each month and reduced errors on invoices by 25%.”
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9. Tell me about a challenge or conflict you’ve faced at work, and how you dealt with it.
In asking this interview question, “your interviewer wants to get a sense of how you will respond to conflict. Anyone can seem nice and pleasant in a job interview, but what will happen if you’re hired and Gladys in Compliance starts getting in your face?” says Skillings. Again, you’ll want to use the S-T-A-R method, being sure to focus on how you handled the situation professionally and productively, and ideally closing with a happy ending, like how you came to a resolution or compromise.
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10. Where do you see yourself in five years?
If asked this question, be honest and specific about your future goals, but consider this: A hiring manager wants to know a) if you’ve set realistic expectations for your career, b) if you have ambition (a.k.a., this interview isn’t the first time you’re considering the question), and c) if the position aligns with your goals and growth. Your best bet is to think realistically about where this position could take you and answer along those lines. And if the position isn’t necessarily a one-way ticket to your aspirations? It’s OK to say that you’re not quite sure what the future holds, but that you see this experience playing an important role in helping you make that decision.
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11. What’s your dream job?
Along similar lines, the interviewer wants to uncover whether this position is really in line with your ultimate career goals. While “an NBA star” might get you a few laughs, a better bet is to talk about your goals and ambitions—and why this job will get you closer to them.
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12. What other companies are you interviewing with?
Companies ask this for a number of reasons, from wanting to see what the competition is for you to sniffing out whether you’re serious about the industry. “Often the best approach is to mention that you are exploring a number of other similar options in the company’s industry,” says job search expert Alison Doyle. “It can be helpful to mention that a common characteristic of all the jobs you are applying to is the opportunity to apply some critical abilities and skills that you possess. For example, you might say ‘I am applying for several positions with IT consulting firms where I can analyze client needs and translate them to development teams in order to find solutions to technology problems.’”
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13. Why are you leaving your current job?
This is a toughie, but one you can be sure you’ll be asked. Definitely keep things positive—you have nothing to gain by being negative about your past employers. Instead, frame things in a way that shows that you’re eager to take on new opportunities and that the role you’re interviewing for is a better fit for you than your current or last position. For example, “I’d really love to be part of product development from beginning to end, and I know I’d have that opportunity here.” And if you were let go? Keep it simple: “Unfortunately, I was let go,” is a totally OK answer.
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14. Why were you fired?
OK, if you get the admittedly much tougher follow-up question as to why you were let go (and the truth isn’t exactly pretty), your best bet is to be honest (the job-seeking world is small, after all). But it doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. Share how you’ve grown and how you approach your job and life now as a result. If you can position the learning experience as an advantage for this next job, even better.
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15. What are you looking for in a new position?
Hint: Ideally the same things that this position has to offer. Be specific.
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16. What type of work environment do you prefer?
Hint: Ideally one that’s similar to the environment of the company you’re applying to. Be specific.
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17. What’s your management style?
The best managers are strong but flexible, and that’s exactly what you want to show off in your answer. (Think something like, “While every situation and every team member requires a bit of a different strategy, I tend to approach my employee relationships as a coach…”) Then, share a couple of your best managerial moments, like when you grew your team from five to 15 or coached an underperforming employee to become the company’s top salesperson.
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18. What’s a time you exercised leadership?
Depending on what’s more important for the the role, you’ll want to choose an example that showcases your project management skills (spearheading a project from end to end, juggling multiple moving parts) or one that shows your ability to confidently and effectively rally a team. And remember: “The best stories include enough detail to be believable and memorable,” says Skillings. “Show how you were a leader in this situation and how it represents your overall leadership experience and potential.”
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19. What’s a time you disagreed with a decision that was made at work?
Everyone disagrees with the boss from time to time, but in asking this interview question, hiring managers want to know that you can do so in a productive, professional way. “You don’t want to tell the story about the time when you disagreed but your boss was being a jerk and you just gave in to keep the peace. And you don’t want to tell the one where you realized you were wrong,” says Peggy McKee of Career Confidential. “Tell the one where your actions made a positive difference on the outcome of the situation, whether it was a work-related outcome or a more effective and productive working relationship.”
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20. How would your boss and co-workers describe you?
First of all, be honest (remember, if you get this job, the hiring manager will be calling your former bosses and co-workers!). Then, try to pull out strengths and traits you haven’t discussed in other aspects of the interview, such as your strong work ethic or your willingness to pitch in on other projects when needed.
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21. Why was there a gap in your employment?
If you were unemployed for a period of time, be direct and to the point about what you’ve been up to (and hopefully, that’s a litany of impressive volunteer and other mind-enriching activities, like blogging or taking classes). Then, steer the conversation toward how you will do the job and contribute to the organization: “I decided to take a break at the time, but today I’m ready to contribute to this organization in the following ways.”
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22. Can you explain why you changed career paths?
Don’t be thrown off by this question—just take a deep breath and explain to the hiring manager why you’ve made the career decisions you have. More importantly, give a few examples of how your past experience is transferrable to the new role. This doesn’t have to be a direct connection; in fact, it’s often more impressive when a candidate can make seemingly irrelevant experience seem very relevant to the role.
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23. How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
“Choose an answer that shows that you can meet a stressful situation head-on in a productive, positive manner and let nothing stop you from accomplishing your goals,” says McKee. A great approach is to talk through your go-to stress-reduction tactics (making the world’s greatest to-do list, stopping to take 10 deep breaths), and then share an example of a stressful situation you navigated with ease.
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24. What would your first 30, 60, or 90 days look like in this role?
Start by explaining what you’d need to do to get ramped up. What information would you need? What parts of the company would you need to familiarize yourself with? What other employees would you want to sit down with? Next, choose a couple of areas where you think you can make meaningful contributions right away. (e.g., “I think a great starter project would be diving into your email marketing campaigns and setting up a tracking system for them.”) Sure, if you get the job, you (or your new employer) might decide there’s a better starting place, but having an answer prepared will show the interviewer where you can add immediate impact—and that you’re excited to get started.
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25. What are your salary requirements?
The #1 rule of answering this question is doing your research on what you should be paid by using sites like Payscale and Glassdoor. You’ll likely come up with a range, and we recommend stating the highest number in that range that applies, based on your experience, education, and skills. Then, make sure the hiring manager knows that you’re flexible. You’re communicating that you know your skills are valuable, but that you want the job and are willing to negotiate.
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26. What do you like to do outside of work?
Interviewers ask personal questions in an interview to “see if candidates will fit in with the culture [and] give them the opportunity to open up and display their personality, too,” says longtime hiring manager Mitch Fortner. “In other words, if someone asks about your hobbies outside of work, it’s totally OK to open up and share what really makes you tick. (Do keep it semi-professional, though: Saying you like to have a few beers at the local hot spot on Saturday night is fine. Telling them that Monday is usually a rough day for you because you’re always hungover is not.)”
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27. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
Seemingly random personality-test type questions like these come up in interviews generally because hiring managers want to see how you can think on your feet. There’s no wrong answer here, but you’ll immediately gain bonus points if your answer helps you share your strengths or personality or connect with the hiring manager. Pro tip: Come up with a stalling tactic to buy yourself some thinking time, such as saying, “Now, that is a great question. I think I would have to say… ”
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28. How many tennis balls can you fit into a limousine?
1,000? 10,000? 100,000? Seriously?
Well, seriously, you might get asked brainteaser questions like these, especially in quantitative jobs. But remember that the interviewer doesn’t necessarily want an exact number—he wants to make sure that you understand what’s being asked of you, and that you can set into motion a systematic and logical way to respond. So, just take a deep breath, and start thinking through the math. (Yes, it’s OK to ask for a pen and paper!)
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29. Are you planning on having children?
Questions about your family status, gender (“How would you handle managing a team of all men?”), nationality (“Where were you born?”), religion, or age, are illegal—but they still get asked (and frequently). Of course, not always with ill intent—the interviewer might just be trying to make conversation—but you should definitely tie any questions about your personal life (or anything else you think might be inappropriate) back to the job at hand. For this question, think: “You know, I’m not quite there yet. But I am very interested in the career paths at your company. Can you tell me more about that?”
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30. What do you think we could do better or differently?
This is a common one at startups (and one of our personal favorites here at The Muse). Hiring managers want to know that you not only have some background on the company, but that you’re able to think critically about it and come to the table with new ideas. So, come with new ideas! What new features would you love to see? How could the company increase conversions? How could customer service be improved? You don’t need to have the company’s four-year strategy figured out, but do share your thoughts, and more importantly, show how your interests and expertise would lend themselves to the job.
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31. Do you have any questions for us?
You probably already know that an interview isn’t just a chance for a hiring manager to grill you—it’s your opportunity to sniff out whether a job is the right fit for you. What do you want to know about the position? The company? The department? The team?
You’ll cover a lot of this in the actual interview, so have a few less-common questions ready to go. We especially like questions targeted to the interviewer (“What’s your favorite part about working here?”) or the company’s growth (“What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?”)
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By Selipha Kihagi
It happens to most of us. You try to be nice and cordial to someone, only to end up being rude. On most occasions you don’t even realize you were rude. But the other person(s) remembers your rudeness vividly. While you can get away with it in some situations, being rude in a job interview is not an option.
Following our recent article on how to get a job after being rejected in job interviews, we thought it best to share a few pointers on what could be the problem. And being rude in a job interview tops the list of problems that could cost you the job. So, how do you know if you were rude or not? As mentioned earlier, being rude sometimes is not intentional. It just happens. You try your best to be professional, but it happens. And unfortunately this happens in the most important situations.
Being rude in a job interview is one such important situation as it determines if you remain unemployed or you finally get a new job. Below are 5 ways you are being rude in a job interview. Read through and work to be better in your next interview.
How You Are Being Rude in a Job Interview
1. Not answering interview questions
You are probably wondering how this is so. Wanjiru Chabeda is a Recruitment Account Manager at Corporate Staffing. She confirms to having had an interview with a candidate who did not respond to her questions. When asked what was wrong, the candidate just said nothing. It is anyone’s guess that the said interview did not proceed and the candidate did not get the second interview. So, are you a victim of not answering questions?
It could be that you got anxious or that you don’t know the answer to the question asked. But not saying anything does not tell the recruiter or interviewer that you don’t know the answer. It just portrays rudeness and there is no getting back from this one. Being rude in a job interview could mean that you never get invited to any more interviews, even though you are well qualified. Learn more here on how to answer interview questions you don’t know the answer to.
2. Not knowing information about the company
It goes without saying that you must do extensive research about a company before going for the interview. What does the company do? Who are their competitors? What are their products or services? What is their recent news? Did they launch a new product? You must have the answers to these questions before the interview. If there is information about the company that is available on the internet, learn it. This is because if you don’t, it could be translated as you being rude in a job interview. And no one wants that.
However, please note that this is more important to those having their first interview with the hiring company. If your first interview is with a recruitment firm, chances are that you don’t even know the company that is hiring. So don’t bother about that too much. This is how an interview with a recruitment firm is different.
3. You arrive late and forget (or not care) to apologise
You will be surprised how many candidates have fallen prey to this kind of rudeness. It will not matter if you were 5 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour late to the interview. If you do not apologise for it, this will portray you as you being rude in a job interview. So, to be on the safe side, make sure you are always 10 minutes early for any interview. But if you are stuck in the crazy Nairobi traffic, let an apology be the first thing you do. And please avoid explaining yourself, unless of course the interviewer asks why.
An interviewer can be late and not apologize, but you can’t. It is one of the common double standards in the hiring process. It may be wrong, yes, but then again the interviewer has the power and you don’t. It is one of those situations you cannot control and sometimes very intentional. Some recruiters and employers have revealed to being late for an interview on purpose, so they can see how the candidate reacts.
4. Having an attitude is considered being rude in a job interview
You know how most employers say they would pick a candidate’s attitude over experience and qualifications? Well, it is very true and the renowned billionaire Richard Branson is a great supporter. So is your local billionaire Chris Kirubi. Employers and recruiters want to be associated with candidates with a great attitude. Not those who seem to undermine others or who consider themselves too good for certain jobs or people. So, what attitude are you portraying in the interview room?
Some candidates have been said to belittle their interviewers because they are younger than them or because they look less experienced. Well, you will not get the job if you are belittling someone who has the power to say yes or no to you. They could be less experienced or even much younger than you, but they are your gateway towards getting that job you applied for. So why not put your attitude in check? You could have all the qualifications needed and the experience that is top notch, but if you have a bad attitude then you don’t get the job.
5. Excusing yourself to answer a phone call
Oh yeah? So the interviewer is wasting your time and keeping you from more important things? If you didn’t think the interview was important, why did you show up in the first place? You know there are other well qualified candidates who consider the job very important, right? And that right there is exactly how the interviewer will interpret a situation where you excuse yourself to pick a call.
It is considered being rude in a job interview and will always put you on the wrong side of the interviewer. It will not matter how well the interview could be going. So, always put your phone on silent and live through the few minutes of the interview.
In the end
Being rude in a job interview is considered the worst mistake any candidate can do. Why? An interview is a chance to prove why you are the right candidate for the job and your being rude in a job interview is the complete opposite of right. Remember that interviewers, younger than you or lesser experienced, are there to judge your suitability. It may resonate to you as not your ideal setting, but then again you do want to get hired in that job, right? Learn to keep your rudeness in check and the interview will go smoothly.
Got something to say on interviews? We’d love to hear it below. And while at it, follow us on LinkedIn here for more career advice and jobs.
One of the most dreaded interview questions by Kenyan job seekers is; Why did you leave your last job? Most people are not sure what to say because the answers given can change the interviewers perception of you either for better or worse.
No one wants to loose their chances at interviews because they did not know how to go about a certain questions. In this light, here is how you should go about answering the question.
How Best To Answer; Why Did You Leave Your Previous Job?
“The first thing you need to know when answering this question is not to lie. We always do a follow up with the previous company to confirm the grounds of a candidate leaving, so it’s best to always tell the truth.
While saying the truth is important in answering this question, people leave jobs because of different reasons and some could put you at a disadvantage and end up losing out on the job. It could be that you resigned because you hated your boss, or your job was too much or maybe the new manager made life difficult for you or you were fired for one reason or the other.
Whatever the reason, you will have to give a believable explanation if you really want the job and to guide you for your next interview, here is how you should go about answering this question.
How To answer If you resigned;
“I realized I had learned about everything in my position and was open to change. For this reason, I did not want to lose focus from my job so I decided it was best to leave and refocus on my career. I needed to find a job with more growth potential.”
This tells the interviewer you are not only applying for the job because you are jobless, but because getting that job now is part of your well laid out plan. Find here common interview Questions and Answers in Kenya
How to answer if you were fired;
“The way I envisioned my roles and the overall direction of the company was in contradiction to that of my manager/boss. So, after a number of meetings and talks, we decided that it would be best to part company.”
This answer does not lie, it tells that you were fired but also communicates that you know what you want in your career and are willing to work for it.
However you decide to go about this question, make sure it does not open up grounds for more questions from the interviewer. You do not want to say something you never planned to. Want to pass any job interview? This article demonstrates how.
These are a couple of tips needed by interviewees to survive the rigorous interview sessions organised by employers.
Job hunt is a very stressful aspect of one’s life; it takes motivation and being positive to get the right and dream job. Interviews usually bring tense to job seekers. The more confident you feel, the more chances of gaining the interviewer attention.
Be poised and hold your head high with these useful interview tips:
1.) Body Postures
Usually the mind controls all our actions and movement, but it is possible to use the body to trick the mind into feeling a certain way. Slouching or slumping and crossing your arms are all examples of closed off postures, and when we feel small, we tend to exhibit these poses. If you spend a little time opening yourself up and exhibiting the postures of the confident, you can build a sense of assurance just by your actions. Spend several minutes practicing “power poses,” or opening yourself up, spreading your arms, walking tall, and looking the part.
2.) Be audible while speaking and put a smile
If you are not audible enough while speaking, Practice deep breathing, this will relax your diaphragm and your vocal cords, which will result in a voice with more resonance and a somewhat lower tone and more breath to give power to your speech.
I recommend adding a few singing lessons, the instructor can teach you how to use the cavities in your head to create even more resonance. Once the interview starts, it’s extremely difficult to correct our speaking problems because we may be too nervous or we just plain don’t notice them. Practice speaking your answers out loud so you can hear your voice and correct any nervous intonations, pitch problems, or pacing issues before you go to your interview.
Smiling reduces stress that your body and mind feel, almost similar to getting good sleep, according to recent studies. And smiling helps to generate more positive emotions within you. Smile often before your interview to get in the habit of doing so, and you’ll feel more comfortable offering a genuine smile while you’re greeted and when you’re being interviewed.
3.) Prepare, Practice and Rehearse answers loudly
Before going for any interview invitation, you must be fully prepared. Being prepared for interview gives a feeling of confidence. You should be well-equipped, rehearse potential interview answers with a friend. “Look at the skills, experience, knowledge and personal qualities you have and think of examples showing how you developed these.
4.) Win over your anxiety and fear
For some job seekers, nerves can be disabling. Something happens when they walk through the door of the interviewer’s office. Cold sweat trickles down the back of their knees. Their minds draw a blank when asked basic questions like, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?” or, “Why would you like to work for this company above all others?”
These candidates feel like they’re back at school in front of a crowded assembly, unable to make those words pass their lips. The easiest way to combat fear is by not using excuses. Instead, you need to look for positive approaches to accomplish your goal. Don’t let fear, nerves and stage fright keep you from the job interview you want. “Sometimes nerves take over and you don’t show who you are.”
5.) Dress appropriately
Before you say a single word to the interviewer, you have already made an impression based on how you’re dressed. Every company has a different dress code; how you dress at the job may have very little to do with how you dress for an interview. Dress in a manner that is professionally appropriate to the position for which you are applying. In almost all cases, this means wearing a suit. A dark-colored suit with light colored shirt is your best option.
Source: Tori.ng
By Selipha Kihagi
As the number of people applying for various positions continues to rise, employers are finding aptitude tests an ideal way to select the best candidate. Aptitude tests are designed to measure a candidate’s ability to perform tasks and deal with important information under various working conditions. These tests can be numerical – where you are tested on statistics and figures, verbal or personality based.
The aptitude tests you encounter will depend on your profession, the position you apply for and the employer.
Why do employers want you to take aptitude tests?
You may have wondered why some employers are keen on taking you through the hustle of an aptitude test. Or why your qualifications are not enough to warrant your suitability for a particular role. Well, employers do have their reasons and whether you believe in their reasons will not matter much if you want to get hired.
When employers ask you to take aptitude tests, they believe that your results will show if you can perform well in the job or not. How high you perform on the tests will translate to how high a performing employee you will be. The other reason why employers want you to take the aptitude tests is so they can reduce the number of qualified applicants.
With the shaky economy contributing to job cuts, open positions receive a ton of applicants that even recruiters cannot sift through. To avoid leaving out qualified applicants based on simple mistakes on their CVs, employers use aptitude test scores to select the best candidates.
That said, below is everything you need to know about aptitude tests.
All You Need To Know About Aptitude Tests
1. There is no standard pass mark in aptitude tests
Aptitude tests are usually scored in figures and percentages. For example you could score 28 out of 30, 6 out of 10 or have an 80% score. This though is just a figure and whether you pass or not will be dependent on other people’s performances. What does this mean? As mentioned earlier, there is no standard pass mark you will be required to meet.
Employers will use past performances of people in your area of study to gauge your performance. For instance, while a test score of 25 out of 30 may appear great performance to you, if the average score of other people in your profession is at 27, then that becomes a low score. And if you score 6 of 10 in a personality score and the employer is looking for a 9, then you miss out on the opportunity.
2. Aptitude tests are done online or on premise
When was the last time you were in an exam room? Some professions will take you back to a classroom scene during their recruitment process. You will be required to sit among other candidates for the aptitude test, which can be nerve-wracking.
Alternatively, employers can send the tests to you online and you can do them at the comfort of your home. The two cases will also apply if you are working with recruitment agencies for your tests, but the advantage is you get to make the choice.
3. Contrary to popular belief, you can control your aptitude test scores
You may have heard that you never know what questions will be asked during the aptitude tests. Well, while this may be true there is a high chance that you can know exactly what to expect. These tests are just like the exams you had in school; if you prepared beforehand then your chances of passing were high and vice versa.
Just as practice makes perfect for common interview questions, so is it true for aptitude tests. Practising taking these tests in a controlled environment and timing yourself through the whole process will help you ace the aptitude tests without question. Luckily you can find free versions of these tests online, but if you want a more professional and accurate test, then you should consider paying for one. In some cases, if the tests were from a certified provider, employers can use those results instead of taking you through another aptitude test.
4. Even the smartest of applicants can score low in an aptitude test
Are you great in math? Do you enjoy manipulating figures and solving problems? Well, that’s all good. But to ace an aptitude test in Kenya, you will require more than mathematical prowess. Aptitude tests are always timed and psychologically altered to tap on your reasoning and logic. They also contain more than the numerical aspect, meaning you will be required to portray a personality that is able to deal with difficult people in the office too.
Some people make the job search process harder than it needs to be. Obviously it’s not their intention to make an already difficult journey any longer. But sometimes job seekers (unwittingly) do things that work against them.
So, if your search has dragged on longer than you’d like, see if one of these reasons might be the culprit. Just know that before you start reading that all of these behaviors are totally fixable once you identify them.
1. You Keep Your Search Between You and Your Laptop
Getting a job is a team sport, and savvy people build teams of advisors who work to help them succeed through support and advice. For example, some people are best at helping you identify strengths and weaknesses. They can review your resume, make introductions, and provide honest feedback.
Others will encourage you when you’re ready to throw in the towel. So, don’t let your computer be your only confidant. Reach out to your network for help and support.
2. You Only Apply Through Traditional Means
Whether you’re targeting smaller firms or big brands, don’t forget that many companies pay a referral fee to employees who find the next hire—meaning there’s something in it for everyone when you get referred. And, it’s the best way to get hired.
So, don’t be afraid to ask friends, relatives, and contacts to refer you to open positions where they work. So long as you’ve done your due diligence beforehand and you’re considerate about it, they’ll likely help you out if they can.
3. You’re Only Going After Big Companies
If you cannot name five up-and-coming organizations in the industry you’re targeting, you don’t really know the sector as well as you think you might.
Lesser-known companies may not be as sought after as the Google’s and Microsoft’s of the world, but they may just have a culture where you’ll thrive and the opportunity you’re looking for. If you’re pursuing big-name firms because they’re all you know, you need to expand your search.
4. You (Always) Communicate Assertively
Many people strive to project a sense of control and competency. That makes sense because in order for others to have confidence in you, you need to have confidence in yourself.
However, if you overdo it, you can turn people off. Allowing yourself to be honest—when networking, for example—can help others connect with you more easily.
Nobody wants to be sold anything, and most people are not impressed by bravado. Remember that being vulnerable from time to time may be one of the best things you can do for yourself as a job seeker.
5. You Doubt Yourself
Some people spend precious emotional energy assuring themselves that the hunt is taking as long as it is because they simply aren’t good enough. And when you stop believing in yourself, you’re in trouble.
Don’t rush into a decision like taking a position you feel uneasy about or heading back to school simply out of fear. Instead remind yourself of all the reasons you might not be getting a call back that have nothing to do with you (like if you’ve been applying to roles you truly aren’t qualified for).
6. You Don’t Play to Your Strengths
The other day I worked with a student who had an unbelievable talent for numbers, yet the roles she had applied for only marginally allowed her to use her unique talent. So, while she had a skill that differentiated her from others, she wasn’t targeting jobs that allowed her to demonstrate what she did best.
Ask yourself what it is that you excel at, and don’t be scared to use these attributes as a starting point. Target roles that would maximize your talents: You’re more likely to get a call back—and achieve greater job satisfaction and career success after you’re hired.
Are you a status quo job seeker—someone who’s afraid to be bold? The time may have come for you to create a plan that fits you. Be creative. Generate big breaks for yourself by going against the norm and trying what has not been done before. And above all, sidestep these common mistakes, which are only getting in your way.
Credit : themuse.com
Writing a CV is hard work and there are no shortcuts. The most important thing to remember when you are writing this document is to convince the recruiter or hiring manager that you are suitable for the job. With this in mind let us look at the irrelevant details that you should leave out when writing a CV.
Irrelevant Details to Leave Out In a CV
1. Unnecessary information under Personal Details.
Many job applicants make a mistake when they present a CV with a whole list of entries in the personal information section, most of which add no value.
For instance, stating that you are a Kenyan does not need to be stated on the CV. If you are a foreigner applying directly to companies for a job you may indicate this.
There is also no need to write Kiswahili and English as they are the national languages of Kenya. If the job requires for you to be able to communicate in a specific language then follow the instructions on the job advert and tailor you information accordingly. Putting your national ID, Drivers License or Passport number is unnecessary on the CV. Employers who need this will ask you to attach the necessary document.
“Apart from the name, physical address, telephone number and your email address, all other details you include on the personal information section are deemed irrelevant,” Ms Melody Mwendwa, a Professional CV Writer at Corporate Staffing Services says.
The career advisor goes ahead to fault job seekers who include their gender and religion on their CV. Once the recruiter sees your name, he or she will be able to know whether you are a male or female so that you don’t have to mention it again. Again, mentioning your religion or tribe for instance is unadvisable as it is a pointer of bias.
2. Passport Photo
Unless you are applying for a job in the entertainment or an airline industry and part of the instructions is to put a photo, never include a picture of yourself with your CV.
Your photo is likely to convey the wrong message to the recruiter age among other factors that could inadvertently lead to discrimination. There is no need to go to that extent so play it safe and leave the photo off your CV.
3. Irrelevant work experience
The main purpose of your CV is to showcase your skills and experience relevant to the job you are applying for. Your CV is not an autobiography of every job you’ve held since you graduated as it is a marketing document.Want to include all work experience in a CV?
So, unless something you did more in high school will be important in your application, you don’t need to list every irrelevant job or internship you had. It’s totally OK to leave some out of your CV if it will not add any value.
Instead for each former job, think about what you did or achieved that will be required (or will hold significant value) in your next role and showcase it. Before writing a CV, ask yourself these 4 questions
The average recruiter will spend a few seconds reviewing your CV before deciding if it’s worth being considered.
When you only have this limited time to make the right impression, you have to make every word on your CV count.
This may seem like a softball, get to know you question—but really it’s your chance to make an unbelievable first impression.
So don’t just spout of random anecdotes about your life or—worse—recite your resume (they already know that information!). We know it’s hard to brag about yourself, but you need to use this question to make it crystal clear why you’re awesome and why you’re the perfect person for this job.
Transcript
Interviewer: Have a seat. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Jimmy: Well, you know, I always say I make a very big first impression. You’d probably be surprised to know that my first word was [beep].
Interviewer: You may be tempted to tell your whole life story, but don’t. Interviewers really don’t want to hear it. Let’s try that again.
Jimmy: [Sigh] This question’s always so hard…
Interviewer: We know. Talking about yourself is a little hard, but it’s kind of the point of an interview. So let’s try that again, but this time, with a little more confidence.
Jimmy: My name is Alex Green and you can reach me at [email protected]. From 2009…
Interviewer: Yikes. Don’t just recite your resume, either. Your response to this question should be like a mini elevator pitch. Here, try the present, past, future structure. This is one sentence highlighting what you’re doing today, one sentence highlighting a relevant past experience, and a third sentence highlighting exactly why you’re excited for this job.
Jimmy: Well, I currently work as a content marketer where I help promote brands by creating blog posts, ebooks, and videos. In the past, I’ve worked with all sorts of marketing channels, from social media to emails. I’m really, really excited about this opportunity, where I’ll get to combine all of those experiences to help a startup like yours grow.
Credit : themuse.com
Learning to negotiate salaries during an interview can be quite a daunting task. Most people dread it since you don’t want to aim too high and lose out on the job or aim to low and risk selling yourself short.
Speaking to Mr. Tom Kamaliki HR Manager at ICAP Kenya, he shares some of the best tips on what these right ways are and what mistakes should be avoided.
To begin with, he states that all salaries are negotiable. “People have this mentality that it is only people in senior positions who can negotiate yet I myself have had to negotiate with people like drivers and cooks. So long as a job is salaried there is always room for negotiation. The only people that I can think of who don’t have the capacity to negotiate would be entry level job seekers or the likes of graduate trainees.”
In regards to what factors determine the need for salary negotiation, off the top of his head he can think of five.
One, the most obvious one is education and experience. “That will never lack in any negotiation and is a key determinant of the amount you will get”.
Two, cost of living. Should the cost of living be high, most definitely people would want a higher salary to cushion themselves.
Three, salary history. “As an employer I would want to know what you have been earning in the past so as to determine what amount would be appropriate to offer you in the future”.
Four, rare skills and industry. If you have a skill where only you and a limited number of people in your industry can perform such as nuclear physicists then that will work to your advantage.
Five, responsibilities and scope of the work. If you have a lot of duties or your job duties are major that would be a good reason for salary negotiation. For example if you have a high risk job that may involve you putting yourself in harm’s way and really adds to the value of your organization, salary negotiation would suffice.
What about mistakes? He says that, “I have seen instances where people go out and get masters degree and then approach me that they want a salary increment since now they’re over qualified. This never ends well in their favour since I can’t give such a person a pay rise.” If you want the salary increment, that Masters degree that you’re flaunting, has to first add value to the organization. If it doesn’t, then my friend you will end up talking to yourself.
Two, people need to check the requirements of the job they have before going for further studies. “There is no point in you getting a masters in a field where an employee with a diploma can get the same job. As an employer I wouldn’t give you the pay rise you requested but would rather hire the person with a diploma. More so if he’s more qualified and experienced then you are.”
Three, the wrong perception of an organization. “Some employees leave smaller companies for bigger ones thinking they will earn more since the organization is bigger. For example if a person leaves telecommunications company A for B, since B is bigger and it made let’s say 3.5 billion before tax, it doesn’t necessarily mean that now company B will be able to offer you 1 million.”
So what tips would he give an employee negotiating their salary? One, be confident in yourself, your experience and your skills. “Don’t be desperate and blurt out that you will take any amount since the economy is bad or that you have so many problems and need the money really badly. Stay professional”.
Two, do a proper survey of how much the pay is for people in your capacity and with your skills. That way you’ll be able to gauge your range and determine your worth.
Three, don’t ignore job interviews simply because the salary they’re offering isn’t what you think it should be. “After all, isn’t that why it’s called a salary negotiation? Just attend the interview and listen to what they have to say and who knows you could get a bigger and better job with a better salary than originally offered.”
His parting shot? Be confident and be flexible. Know your worth as an employee and what you’re willing to take. If there’s some room to flex, do so and don’t be too rigid.
By Selipha Kihagi
When was the last time you paid attention to the information in your employment contract? As a job seeker in Kenya, you may be too happy to get hired that looking through your employment contract appears a waste of time. Many people will only look at the salary details and if pleased, go ahead to sign without too much thought on the rest of the information. While this may appear innocent in the beginning, the impact of doing so will come to haunt you later.
You will want to call out your employer on a particular injustice but the contract you signed won’t let you. Taking leave for example; you may decide to accumulate your leave days so you can take them on a two weeks streak (as is provided for in the Employment Act), only for your employer to say no. Not because he or she is the worst boss, but because the employment contract you signed states otherwise. At this point you become helpless.
This and more is why you should always pay attention to the details of your contract.
Information Every Employment Contract in Kenya Should Have
1. Employee’s contact details and name of employer
The contract you sign should clearly state your name, age, permanent address, gender and any other contact information necessary. The contract should also include the name of the employer as an employment contract is between two entities; the employee and employer.
2. Your Start date, probation period and duration of contract
The employment contract you sign should have the actual date you commence working for the company and information on your required probation period. It should also state if and when you will be confirmed as a permanent employee and when the contract is to end.
According to the Kenya Employment Act, probation should not be more than 6 months but can go up to one year with the consent of the employee. This is why you should be keen on what your signature agrees to.
3. Place of work and responsibilities
Your employment contract should be clear on your duty station and other particulars related to your work. It should state if you will be required to travel from place to place and inform you of any transfers to come. Also, the duties and responsibilities for the role in question should be clearly stated. These duties are provided in detail in your job description, which should be part of the contract.
4. Remuneration details on the employment contract
Being that this is the section where most people pay attention to before signing the employment contract, be keen on the details included. According to Kenya’s Employment Act, every contract should provide information on the actual salary, method of calculating pay, any deductions to be made and other benefits such as insurance cover and allowances. Read more about what the Kenyan law says about salary here.
Also, it should be clear on when the salary will be paid and the method of payment. Will it be in cheque or bank transfer? Will you get paid every end month, beginning or every two weeks? So if your employer has not paid you in two months, refer back to your employment contract.
5. Working hours and leave days
Millenials today want to dictate the number of hours they work and most do not see the logic in clocking in at 8 and clocking out at 5. But even as this is the case, the employment contract should stipulate your expected working hours and if you will be required to work outside those hours. It should also clearly state your entitlement to leave days as well as information on how leave will be taken.
Remember to pay attention regarding the accruing of leave days as most companies will always mention this, with most referring you to company policy. It should also cover information on sick leave, maternity and paternity leave, as well as how the days will be calculated. If you work Saturdays, make sure to confirm if that is counted as a working day.
6. Termination of employment & disciplinary matters
This is the other key area when it comes to an employment contract in Kenya. To avoid any misunderstanding, the employment contract should be clear on the terms and conditions of termination. It should contain information on the notice period, grounds under which an employee can be terminated and pay entitlements thereafter.
The employment contract should also state clearly the disciplinary measures to be taken on an employee for any absenteeism or any breach of contract. Important to note though, disciplinary measures may not be provided for in the employment contract if a company has less than 50 employees.
7. Your employment contract should include information on changes
An employer is expected by law to document, in writing, any changes made regarding the employment contract you sign. The notifying of changes should be done not later than one month after the change is made. This particular information and other details on Company policy should be included in the employment contract you sign.
The employment contract covers the terms of your employment and by signing the document, you commit to every written word. So, to ensure you do not commit to something you wouldn’t be comfortable with, always read through the employment contract. And if you signed yours in a hurry, look back at what you agreed to so you are not taken by surprise at a later time.
Selipha is the Communications Officer at Corporate Staffing Services, a leading recruitment firm that offers free job placement and Career Advisory Services.
There are a few select phrases that no job seeker wants to hear in an interview. “Go ahead and see yourself out,” is one of them. “Did you know that your fly is down?” or “Please, stop crying,” are likely others. But—let’s face it—those aren’t exactly commonplace (at least, I certainly hope not).
However, there’s one dreaded set of words that’s sure to crop up in any job interview. Words so terrifying that they immediately cause your leg to twitch and a nauseous feeling to wiggle its way up from your stomach to your throat.
Tell me about a time when…
“Oh, crap,” you think to yourself. You were more than prepared to spin your weaknesses into strengths and talk about why you’re the best fit for the open position. Heck, you can even recite the company’s mission statement from memory—in three different languages.
But, this? This part you’re not adequately prepared for.
Let’s face it—having to think of specific examples from your professional history is already challenging. Add in the element of needing to transform them into captivating and relevant stories to engage and impress your interviewer? Well, suddenly you’re tempted to just stand up and walk out.
Not so fast! These inevitable behavioral interview questions are definitely nerve-wracking. But, they’re nothing you can’t handle.
The first step is to make sure that you already have a few key interview stories queued up and ready in your back pocket. Once you have a solid roster of examples ready to go, it’s time to polish up your delivery. Here are the five key elements you’ll want to incorporate: Put them to good use, and you’ll be sure to save yourself the embarrassment of rambling on without a point or purpose.
1. Answer First
Yes, being prompted to tell a story in an interview is enough to send you spiraling into panic mode. But, there’s one important thing you need to remember here: These prompts are called behavioral interview questions. Emphasis on the word questions. This means you need to provide an answer to something specific, and not just launch into a long-winded explanation about something that’s completely irrelevant.
The best way to ensure that you drill down to the meat and potatoes and give the interviewer exactly what he’s looking for is to start your story with a concise, one-sentence response, before elaborating on those nitty-gritty details. While you’re telling a story, you don’t need to weave in tension and suspense the way an award-winning author would. Your main concern should be answering the question.
For the sake of example, let’s assume that your interviewer asked you to talk about a time when you made a mistake.
What This Looks Like
“A professional mistake that still sticks in my memory is when I mixed up the date for a large meeting my department was hosting.”
2. Provide Context
Now that you’ve given a brief answer, it’s time to expand and provide some background information. After all, a one-sentence response won’t be enough to satisfy your interviewer. She’ll be left wondering exactly how you managed to goof up that date. What was the fallout from your blunder? What did you do to fix it?
So, it’s time to give the context of the situation. Don’t get so bogged down in minor details here. Your interviewer doesn’t need to know that it happened on a rainy Tuesday or that you were feeling particularly groggy from that huge burrito you ate for lunch. Instead, zone in on what’s important and actually helps to provide some clarity to the situation.
What This Looks Like
“My department was coordinating a training session that our entire company was set to attend in order to learn about a new process we were implementing. We had tentatively scheduled the large meeting for the middle of May. But, when we changed the date to a week earlier, I neglected to make that change in my own calendar. The meeting was a week sooner than I thought, forcing me to scramble to get things pulled together in time.”
Credit : themuse.com
If you’re thinking about taking a new step in your career, your resume’s probably high on your mind. When’s the last time you updated it? How will you transfer the skills from your current job or industry to a new one? How will you set yourself apart from other candidates? How long and horrible will this revision process actually be?
Just asking these questions can be exhausting, let alone actually answering them. And, if you’re not fresh off the job search, the thought of thinking everything through and creating an interview-worthy resume can be exhausted.
Fear not! We’ve come up with the 20 basic rules that will get you that much closer to success.
1. Keep it to One Page
This is a biggie! If a hiring manager’s spending six seconds looking at your resume, he or she might not even get to the second page! Unless you’re applying to be an executive or a partner somewhere, one page will be sufficient and is a widely accepted “best practice.” To cut it down, remember the purpose of it—it’s not to showcase everything you’ve ever done, but rather to show that you have the background, skills, and experience for the job at hand.
2. Avoid Spelling or Grammar Errors
Another biggie. There are some recruiters who will discount your resume the second they see a spelling or grammar error. Although it can be painful, make sure you don’t just read over your resume several times, but also that you have a friend take a peek, too.
3. Watch Your Tenses
This is another common error that can really hurt you in the eyes of hiring managers. As a general rule, if something on your resume is in the past, use the past tense (managed, delivered, organized) and if you are still actively in the role, use the present tense (manage, deliver, organize).
4. Avoid the First Person Pronouns
As a general practice, don’t use words like “I” or “me” or “my.” So, instead of saying “I hit and exceeded company sales quotas 100% of the time” say “Hit and exceeded sales quotas 100% of the time.”
5. Send Your Resume as a PDF
Saving your resume as a PDF (rather than a Word and document) freezes it as an image so that you can be sure hiring managers see the same formatting as you. If you send it any other way, there’s a chance that the styling, format, font, and so on, could look different on their computer than yours.
6. Label Your Resume File Correctly
Too many people save this important document with random or generic file names like sgks123.pdf or resume.pdf. Remember that recruiters can see the name of the file that you send them and also remember that they get tons of resumes every day. Make it super clear whose resume they should click on by saving it under a logical name like FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf.
7. Format in a Logical Structure
Even more important than naming the file in a logical manner is laying out your resume in a logical manner. How you lay it out really depends on where you are in your career path and what you’re looking to do next. While chronological the default, it’s not always the best way to make your case. Muse writer Lily Zhang lays out the other options that might work better for you.
8. Make Sure It’s Easy to Read
You might be tempted to just shrink the text to get your resume to fit on a page. (Which is funny, because remember all those times in school when you made it 12.5 to make it longer? Life!) While you can adjust the size to some degree, never go below 10-point font.
9. Keep it Organized and Visually Appealing
Remember how hiring managers usually spend just six seconds looking at your resume? Help them maximize that time by making your resume super clear and easy-to-read. You want each section bolded (maybe capitalized) and each job title bolded. Make your life easier by using a template.
10. Keep it Consistent
Just like you want your verb tenses to be consistent throughout, it’s also important that the formatting is, too. If one title’s bold, the other titles should be bold. If one bullet point has a period at the end, the other bullet points should have that as well.
11. Include Context
When you list out your experience, be sure to include context. What city, state (or country) did this job take place in. Did you travel and operate in multiple cities? What dates did you have that experience? Was it for five months or five years? Context matters!
12. Quantify as Much as Possible
Anyone can say that he or she excelled at his or her last job. So, you need to prove to the hiring manager that you truly did. Numbers, percentages, and supporting facts go a long way in showing that you have a track record of success. For example, rather than saying “successfully hit sales quotas” as a bullet point in your resume you should say “successfully hit sales quotas 100% of the time and exceeded goals by 25% in the last 5 months.” You can even do this if your position doesn’t involve using numbers.
13. Name Drop (and Title Drop) Like You’ve Never Done Before
This is your chance to brag. If you got a promotion or a raise because of your performance, you should mention it. If you worked with the CEO of the company or were a point of contact for a large, corporate customer, mention their names! This goes a long way in showing that you can run with important people. It shows that you’re confident. It shows that you’re capable. (Of course, make sure you’re presenting the facts accurately and not exaggerating.)
14. Don’t Include References
Don’t use any of your precious space to include the names and contact info for your references (or to write things like “references available upon request”). This document’s for recruiters to decide if they want to talk to you, not your references. If they get to the point in the application process where they want to speak to these people, they will reach out to you and ask for those names. Until then, no need to mention.
15. Use Your Judgement When it Comes to Creativity
Some industries are more creative than others. If you’re working in digital media or design or elementary school education, it might make sense for your resume to be creative and colored. If you’re applying for a job in finance, operations, or most corporate jobs, you probably want to keep it black and white and structured. Be thoughtful when it comes to your creativity (or lack thereof).
16. Don’t List Everything You’ve Ever Done
There should be a purpose for every word. When you’re writing and editing, ask yourself this question, “Will this sentence help me get the job I want?” If not, you should consider editing that sentence or removing it.
17. Think About the Person Reading Your Resume
It’s important to remember that there’s a real person reading this. And it’s also important to remember that it’s her job to find awesome candidates to interview and present to her boss or team. It’s also not her job to do you any favors. So you should think about her when you’re writing your resume. How can you make her job easier? How can you write your resume in such a way that she gets excited when she sees it, thinks you’re perfect for the job, and is willing to put herself out there by presenting you to her team.
18. Think About What Makes You Different
It’s important that you be yourself during the application process (obviously putting your best foot forward). This includes what you write on your application materials. Don’t hesitate to show who you really are, your likes and interests, your personality, what makes you unique, and so on. While this definitely requires some judgment calls (for example, expressing personality when applying for a traditional role in a traditional industry might not be the best move) it could ultimately be the thing that sets you apart and gets you hired.
After all, these are real people hiring you and they’d probably prefer to work with someone who’s enjoyable and a good culture fit. And if your personality isn’t a fit for the job, you probably wouldn’t have been happy there any way so it works out for everyone.
19. Think About the Specific Job You’re Applying To
One of my favorite tricks to help communicate that you are the perfect person for a job is to read the job description and list out key phrases. Then, when you’re writing or editing your resume, find ways to incorporate those words and phrases from the desired job description into your resume. This can be super useful when a machine or human recruiter skims it.
20. Think of This as a Storytelling Document
Many of the tips that I’ve mentioned all point to the general idea that your resume should clearly and concisely tell the story of “you”—helping hiring managers understand why you’re the right person for the job. This is, in fact, the entire purpose. Ultimately, when you re-read and edit it, make sure that it tells the story of your background, the skills you gained along the way, the experiences that you’ve had, and makes it crystal clear why you’ve ended up where you are today and why the role that they are hiring for is the perfect next step for you.
Credit : themuse.com
By Selipha Kihagi
In a job interview in Kenya, it is very common for a candidate to encounter this interview question. In the case you do not get this exact one, the alternatives include, Why do you think you are the best candidate? Why are you the right fit for the position or the other one; what value would you bring to this position? These three interview questions are another way for recruiters and employers to ask “Why should we hire you?”
So, whichever format of the question you encounter, this interview question is meant to give you a platform to make your case. You may ace all the other interview questions, but if you are not sure or do not convince employers on why they should hire you instead of the other suitably qualified candidates, then you are ruining your chances. Find out in this article top interview questions & answers in Kenya.
Why is this Interview Question important?
Before you mouth whatever answer that comes to mind, you must first understand what interviewers want to learn about you through this question. Ask yourself, why is this question important in the job interview? What do the interviewers want to know? Your answers to these two questions should lean towards you marketing yourself for the position.
At this point, employers already know that you are qualified to do the job, but the question is; can you convince them you are the best? Below are 3 ways you can convince interviewers about your suitability through the question, why should we hire you?
3 Interview Answers to the question: Why Should We Hire You?
1. Emphasize that you meet all the requirements for the position
Interviewers will ask questions to see if you meet the requirements stated on your CV and if truly, you possess what the position wants. So, your answer could focus on a specific skill that was emphasized in the job description. For example;
“As I was going through the advert for this position, I realized that you were very specific on finding a candidate with FMCG sales experience. From my CV, you can see that I have 3 years sales experience working in Company X, which is in the FMCG industry but I believe what makes me stand out from the rest is my great people skills. Through this I can easily develop and maintain new relationships with colleagues, clients and even senior managers in my delivery process, which I believe would bring great value.”
2. Focus on your years of experience
The most important aspect of a new position is usually the experience. Employers have confirmed in a survey here that they will almost always give priority to candidates who have the experience they are looking for. Why? Employers don’t want to use a lot of time training new employees. So, if you have relevant experience, here is a sample answer;
“Well, I possess the 5 years accounting experience that you are looking for in this particular role, evidence of various achievements from my previous positions and expertise in using different accounting software. Also, from working in a very interactive environment in my most recent position, I developed great communication skills that will allow me to adapt quickly to a new environment and start contributing immediately.”
3. For new graduates, focus on your interest for the job
As a fresh graduate whose only experience lies in the industrial attachment you had in campus or the volunteer roles you picked up, focus on showcasing your confidence and interest in the role. When you don’t have much experience, being confident in the little you got will go a long way. Use this sample answer as a guide;
“When I was looking through the job posting, I noticed that you were very particular about someone with great communication skills. While I may be new to the job market and this particular industry, I worked as a receptionist and customer service representative during my industrial attachment where I was able to successfully interact with customers and clients.
I also tactfully responded to customer complaints, earning me congratulatory messages from my direct supervisor. I believe that this experience, my passion in customer service and attitude to excel in whatever I set my mind to makes me a great asset to your company.”
You may not have the experience but if you confidently gave such an answer, I doubt any interviewer would be hesitant to hire you. If these answers are not what you are looking for, this short video guide here gives you a guideline on what to remember when answering this question.
Was this article helpful? Let us know in the comments.
Selipha is the Communications Officer at Corporate Staffing Services, a leading recruitment firm that offers free job placement and Career Advisory Services.
