When you go for a job interview, in addition to the interview questions about your employment history, skills, qualifications for the job, educational background, and future goals, you will also be asked personal interview questions.
These questions will be about you personally – your personality, work style, work ethic, how you handle pressure, what you expect from the employer, and how you would handle certain specific situations.
What the interviewer wants to know
By asking personal questions, the interviewer will get to know you. Personal questions may touch on your passions and motivations, as well as inquire about your personality and how you work. For interviewers, the main goal behind these questions is to determine whether you are a good fit for the job and the company culture.
For example, if the job requires a flexible person who can work overtime to get the job done, but you cannot commit to working extra hours, you may not be the right person for the position. Other companies might be looking for a certain personality type to join the team; they may ask questions to try to discover whether you are enthusiastic or more reserved, or if you are introverted or outgoing.
There are no right or wrong answers to these interview questions, but make sure your responses align with what you know about the job and the company. The company is looking for candidates who meet its requirements; the closer you are to the job description, the better your chances of competing.
Note: However, try to answer each question as honestly as possible, whether while practicing these exercises or when actually responding to these questions in the interview. Generally, impersonating a personality that is not yours to land a job does not work.
Common personal interview questions and best answers
Before you head to a job interview, review these personal interview questions and sample answers to get an idea of the questions you will be asked and the best way to respond to them.
The interview works both ways, so you can also use these questions as a means to determine whether the job is what you are looking for in your next position. These questions can help you identify whether the job is right for you and what you seek in your next job.
Once you sit down and come up with honest answers to these questions, you can feel confident in your ability to answer any question directed at you during a professional job interview.
Personal interview questions about your personality
What they want to know: Your interviewers recognize the personal strengths and wonders of their current team members, and therefore they will be more interested in hiring a candidate they believe can enhance their team dynamics. Your tone and body language in answering these questions are as important as your actual answers – use them to express your enthusiasm and show how you will be a pleasant and dedicated colleague.
What are you passionate about? – Best answers Are you easy to talk to? – Best answers How do you handle pressure and stress? – Best answers What makes you unique? – Best answers What motivates you? – Best answers When was the last time you were angry? What happened? – Best answers More personal interview questions about you – Best answers
Personal interview questions about your background and expectations
What they want to know: These questions are designed to give the interviewer an idea of your career path. How have you trained and prepared yourself for this job? Are you a reliable long-term candidate? These questions are often very open-ended. This is a gift for candidates, as you can focus on painting a useful picture of your experience and background.
Tell me about yourself. – Best answers How would you describe yourself? – Best answers What is your biggest disappointment in life? – Best answers What are your salary expectations? – Best answers More personal interview questions about your abilities – Best answers
Questions
The Personal Interview About You
What they want to know: Personal questions that require you to demonstrate self-awareness and evaluate your actions and opinions can be tough – especially when dealing with your potential weaknesses.
How do you measure success? – Best answers What are things that bother you? – Best answers What are the things that people often criticize you for? – Best answers If people who know you were asked why you should be hired, what would they say? – Best answers What are the hardest decisions for you? – Best answers What is your greatest weakness? – Best answers What is your greatest strength? – Best answers
Personal Interview Questions About Your Work Style
What they want to know: Every employer has specific ways of working. Depending on the industry, you may be asked to work independently, or you may be expected to contribute to a team. Management may insist that their employees work overtime or on holidays when requested. Research the organization before the interview so you can demonstrate how your personal work habits can smoothly align with their operational work model.
Describe a typical work week. – Best answers Describe your work ethic. – Best answers Do you take work home with you? – Best answers How many hours do you usually work? – Best answers How would you describe the pace at which you work? – Best answers What type of work environment do you prefer? – Best answers Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it. – Best answers
Personal Interview Questions About Teamwork
What they want to know: When hiring managers ask questions about teamwork, it means that the job necessarily requires the ability to collaborate and work well with others. Prepare examples to use for times when you were a strong team member and when you proved to be flexible, trainable, and supportive of others.
Do you prefer working independently or in a team? – Best answers Give some examples of teamwork. – Best answers If you knew that your boss was 100% wrong about something, how would you handle it? – Best answers Describe a difficult work situation and how you overcame it. – Best answers
Tips for Providing the Best Answers
Here’s how to ensure you can answer interview questions with confidence.
Research the company. Before the interview, take some time to explore the company. This will allow you to anticipate the personal interview questions they are likely to ask. Read the “About Us” section on the company’s website to get an idea of their corporate mission and/or culture. If you know people who have worked at the company, ask for their opinions about management, colleagues, and the work environment. What personal qualities does the company value in its employees?
Take a test. If you are someone who has not thought much about your personality traits, there are many fun and useful personality tests and job assessments that can help you identify the desirable traits that employers seek (sometimes job applicants are asked to take these tests before the interview so they can narrow down candidates).
Conduct a mock interview. With the questions mentioned here, ask a friend or family member to play the role of the interviewer. Practicing your answers to personal interview questions several times will ensure you won’t get tongue-tied during the actual interview.
Bring questions to ask the interviewer. In addition to preparing answers for common interview questions, you should also have some questions ready to ask the interviewer. At the end of most interviews, hiring managers will conclude the discussion by saying “Do you have any questions for us?” Make sure you have – a simple “no” indicates that you may not be fully interested in the job or the company.
Conclusions
Main
Practice self-awareness. Try to identify the personal qualities and soft skills (people skills) that make you a desirable employee. Then make sure to talk about them in the interview. Learn as much as you can about the company’s process, mission, and culture so that you can assess whether your personality will fit their expectations. Personal interview questions provide a great opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the position. Be honest in your answers and stay positive.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/personal-interview-questions-and-sample-answers-2063477
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