What an Interviewer Really Wants to Know

Posted by in Career Advice


By now, you should know that the key to landing the job you really want lies in the interview. During the interview, you have the opportunity to really connect with the hiring manager and let them get to know who you are. It's your best chance to market yourself and your skills.

 

In order to do this, you have to spend some time preparing yourself. Traditionally, an interviewer will ask many open ended questions in order to find out who you are and determine if you are someone they would like to work with. During your preparation, you should plan out answers to these questions so that you can make the best impression.

 

Although there are many ways you can go about it, I think that the best way is to approach it is by first understanding what the interviewer is trying to find out. If you think about it, the most common interview questions can be broken down into one of three categories. These categories are: who are you and do you care about making a good impression, what type of person would you be to work with, and do you care about the company or want to do this job.

 

In the first group are questions about your career path, education, skills, strengths and weaknesses. These questions allow the interviewer to get a quick overview of who you are and how you present yourself. Remember that the first five minutes of the interview are when you are making your first impression. Although you will have time to correct or enhance that impression, for the most part – first impressions stick.

 

During the second phase of your interview, the questions are designed to allow the interviewer to determine what sort of employee you would be. This is the part where they are trying to imagine you as part of the team or working in the position. Typically, you'll be asked behavioral interview questions here like – Tell me about a time that you had a conflict with a co-worker and how you handled it. Your answers to these questions should paint a picture of how you deal with common situations in the workplace and give the hiring manager a reason to think that you would be an asset to their team.

 

The third phase of the interview is a little less structured but it's just as important as the other two. During this part you'll have the chance to ask questions and show that you have done your homework and really want to work for the company. You may be asked questions like – “Why do you want this job?”. If you don't have good answers at the ready, you'll give the impression that you simply want any job and aren't very excited about their position.

 

By understanding what the employer really wants to know you can prepare answers that will give them the right information at the right time. Often, we make the mistake of not scripting out answers and thinking that all we have to do is go into the interview with a positive attitude and answer each question off the top of our heads. Although that might work for people who have tons of charm, for most of us, it just makes us look unprepared and we miss out on the chance to paint a cohesive and compelling story.

 

What do you do to prepare for an interview? Do you always research a company before going to an interview? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

 

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  • David F
    David F
    bravo
  • Melissa Kennedy
    Melissa Kennedy
    Thanks Teddy! That's some very useful information. Behavioral Interview question can be extremely challenging. They are supposed to sound like "off the cuff" answers, but you should have stories that are "mostly scripted" memorized and ready to go.
  • Teddy F
    Teddy F
    Most companies have switched or are switching to a "behavioral interview" format. Make a list of behavioral interview or open ended questions which almost always have three sections: What was the situation, what did you do-what was YOUR impact or choice - what was the outcome.  Make a list of "tell me about a time when, or how did you handle" xyz situations and plug in examples highlighting your best performance examples.  Then use it at a cheat sheet and study up your own experiences in the context of behavioral or open ended questions.  Sometimes it is difficult to think of specific examples of past experiences on the fly or with the nerves of an interview thrown into the mix. Go online and research behavioral interview questions.  You can find many lists of the most common behavioral or open ended questions and work on what your answers would be to those. Even if you end up in an interview that does not ask behavioral interview questions, you will be so used to plugging in your "best of" examples into work related situations that you will be much more prepared for any interview AND you will be an expert in highlighting your positive selling points in a specific manner, showing what value you can bring to a company. It is a huge advantage.  I was part of a behavioral interview team for many years and there were some candidates who looked great on paper but just completely fell apart in trying to answer open ended questions in the format we required.  We would often end the interview early if the candidate struggled with answering the questions per instructions.  People who can ace a behavioral interview can ace any interview. It's a huge advantage to any applicant. HUGE
  • Melissa Kennedy
    Melissa Kennedy
    Thanks for the great comments! @Sue - You're comment made me laugh!! Yes, sometimes you do just want any job. We've all been there for whatever reason. It's sort of like dating and it's helpful to think of it that way. Maybe a man just wants to have someone to go out to dinner with or do some activity with and (within reason) they really aren't that picky. For them, almost any woman would do. So, they ask you out on a date and you agree. Wouldn't you want them to at least PRETEND that they there was something about you that they really liked. It's not really a lie, because there probably is something that makes you stand out as a really good option. It's the same for a job. Even if you really just want any job, go out of your way to give the impression that you're really interested in this specific job. There has to be something about the job that interests you. Everyone wants to feel special, hiring managers are no different.@Alan C, those questions are really hard, especially when you haven't been in those situations. Here's what works for me: Before the interview, write down a list of the most common questions like that. Then, prepare an answer for each one, but start backwards. For example, if they say, "Tell me about a time that you had a conflict with a co-worker?" Ask yourself what they are trying to find out or what are they really asking. Most likely, they want to know how you deal with conflict at work. So, decide what your answer is, then think of an example, even if you have to be creative and make up or exaggerate some it, that clearly demonstrates how you handled the situation. No one is going to check and make sure that each example you give is 100% true. Also, by preparing answers in advance and sort of memorizing them, you can be certain that you're making the best impression you can.@Cornelius - I have no idea, you should check with someone in your country. I've never heard of this.
  • Lorraine W
    Lorraine W
    This information is so helpful because I have apply for jobs that I really was over qualified for , but I am not a real outgoing person it takes a while for me to open up, and I possibly did not answer those questions with excitement or preparedness.
  • Cornelius A
    Cornelius A
    I have problem when an interviewer ask me how much I want to be payed. Some companies will advertise a ctc starting from R17500.00 to R25500.00 ZAR "market related" or there will be no amount just the statement "market related". What is market related? You don't get that information on the internet when you do your research and you will never get that information from the companies HR department as it is seen as confidential information. This is a very common question in South Africa's interviewing processes. It feels as if a bomb is going to explode when I get ask that question. My most common answer to that, as I have learned in time is "pay me what you thing I am worth to this company" and believe me I never hear from the company after the interview.   
  • Sue M
    Sue M
    re your advice: " ... Why do you want this job?”. If you don't have good answers at the ready, you'll give the impression that you simply want any job ......"What if it IS the case? I am 64 years old looking for a part time job to keep me active mentally. I've HAD 3 careers at this point in my life. I don't want another career, just a job. I will give you 110% and I am a darn good employee and stay at employers for long time, (6 yrs, 15 years, 7 years) How do I answer that question?
  • AlanC
    AlanC
    I am very good at the job I am applying for.  I just don't do good in interviews.  I understand the reason for  all the questions but a lot of them just don't apply. How can you answer a question when you have never been in that situation like "Tell me a time when you...."
  • Jonathan W
    Jonathan W
    I go In and say I need a job, they say are you good. I say, the best and I get my 30 bucks an hour like a good boyBut I live in oil country....
  • Dian T
    Dian T
    Before reading about the important things about going on interviews,I would be lost.But after reading the differentways and the importance of being prepared I feel a lot more reassured that I will come out of an interview feeling satisfied.
  • Gary S
    Gary S
    This breaks down a somewhat mysterious process into something more understandable. The remaining mystery still remaining is what they saw in you if you were not their first choice. Thanks for what you covered in your article.  
  • Mary F
    Mary F
    Yes, I do my preparations before the interview.  My cover letter has gotten me several interviews because I take the time to research the company and put some of that information in the cover letter.However, instead of knowing about the company, it would be more beneficial if you could learn more about the job before the interview.  With so many HR restraints in the job hiring process, it means that there are always too many applicants who get the interview, but aren't at all suited for the position.It seems to me that with recruiters given a quota to meet, it is like overbooking on airline flights.  Get as many applicants into the application process, and hope that you can fill the position, and not have to turn away qualified applicants.With too many people and too few jobs, the recruiters have created a whole industry out of the desperation of job seekers plus the legal restrictions of companies seeking employees.Straight talk is needed in the job market, not "strategies".  This strategizing is just another way for someone to sell you something - the right way to get a job!
  • James S
    James S
     Thanks soooo much for this article.  It's the best pre-interview advice I've ran across in a long time. Love the way it's broken down and best of all...makes PERFECT sense!  I can totally grasp the concept from the interviews prospective.  I can't wait til my next interview which hopefully will be in a few days.  I've always heard that you should be able to control your own interview and these steps are so down to earth, smart and simple but allow you to be confident and show yourself as a great fit to your new potential employer or hiring manager..thanks again!
  • JUDITH ANN M
    JUDITH ANN M
    I would think being prepared before going to an interview is obvious to the hiring manager and gives a good impression of interest to the company
  • Norma F
    Norma F
    Very vague and doesn't answer the question "What an Interviewer Really Wants to Know".  This is just general information that everybody knows.
  • Sheri V
    Sheri V
    Beneficial information since I have an interview tomorrow my hope is to land the job and get out of my current career.
  • Isabel B
    Isabel B
    I research the company's website and I will download and read the financial statement if available. I will also read and news articles posted on the website. If the website does not have the financials and it is a public company, I will go to sec.gov and look for the financials.
  • Larry S
    Larry S
    I always want to know some things about the company I am applying, MISSION STATEMENT ETC...
  • ileana f
    ileana f
    Read your article about what an interviewer really wants to know and found it to be right on target. However, I would have loved to have had some examples of appropriate answers to the interviewing questions.
  • Donna H
    Donna H
    I just wanted to comment and say that I agree that it is very important to do your research on a company before your interview. This to me tells the employer that you are interested in the company. It also will help you in the questions that you decided to ask the employer. You want your questions to be questions that are specific to the job and the company. This way it will make you look more competent.
  • Patrice W
    Patrice W
    I have two interviews coming up this week Thurs. & Friiday.  I did research both companys and have read your articles for good tips on the whole process.  I have been out of work for the past 7 months with only a handful of interviews. Any help at this point is a blessing.Thank you! Patrice
  • Stephanie N
    Stephanie N
    I think that knowing about the company that you wish to work for is very important.
  • Melissa Kennedy
    Melissa Kennedy
    @Nanette, congrats on the great job. It's such an amazing feeling when all of your hard work pays off. Definitely researching the company is an important step. It allows you to really target your marketing to the employer. Good luck with the new job!
  • Nanette E
    Nanette E
    In preparing for an interview I always research the company's website and any recent news on the company. If they list a mission statement it's a wonderful tool to use for presenting information. I recall questions that have been asked of me in previous interviews and think about how I would answer them if I had the chance again. Most companies ask the same things with slight variations. I don't like to rehearse answers too much. Coming off as well rehearsed can also be a negative. I think more in terms of the best examples of past situations in my business experience that show I handled things in a positive, efficient and responsible manner toward a positive outcome for the company I worked for. Example: I won back the confidence of a disgruntled client by supplying thoughtful and efficient customer service. I describe the steps I took to make that happen; asked what they needed/expected, listened to them and repeated back their needs in confirmation, communicated often on day-to-day process supplying reports on progress in a timely manner. The outcome was a renewed contract instead of a termination.NEVER say a negative word about anyone, previous client, co-worker or employer.I've just landed a great job with a wonderful company. Thank you.

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