A relaxed guide to job interviews

Job interviews can really freak people out. The idea of getting grilled with question after question isn’t anyone’s idea of fun. But hey, with a bit of prep, you can actually make interviews work in your favour. This guide is here to break down the different types of interview questions and help you tackle them like a pro.

The Basics

Whether you’re applying to be a barista or a big-shot lawyer, there are some questions that everyone gets asked. These are things like:

• So, tell me about yourself.
• What’s got you interested in this job?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Quick tip: Just be yourself, keep it relevant to the job, and talk about stuff that shows you’re in it for the long haul.

The Techy Stuff

If the job’s got a bunch of technical requirements, be ready to get quizzed on them. Like, if you’re up for a coding job, they might ask you to talk algorithms or throw some programming jargon your way.

Quick tip: Take a good look at the job listing before the interview. Make sure you can talk confidently about the skills they’re after, and be ready to walk them through how you tackle problems.

The “Tell Me About a Time When…” Questions

Interviewers love asking about your past experiences to guess how you’ll act in the future. They’ll throw out questions like:

• Can you tell me about a time when you had to deal with a tricky co-worker?
• Talk about a project that really made you proud.

Quick tip: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to keep your answers clear and to the point.

The “What If…” Questions

These questions are all about imagining how you’d handle different work situations. For example:

• What would you do if you missed a project deadline?

Quick tip: Even if you haven’t been in that exact situation before, think about times you’ve shown the right skills and talk about those.

The Resume Drill-Down:

Expect them to poke around in your resume. You might get asked:

• Why did you leave your last job?
• I see you worked at [Company]. What did you learn there?

Quick tip: Just be straight-up about any gaps or short stints at jobs. Talk about them like they were learning experiences. Also, know your CV inside out – it’s your experience, you should know it! If you don’t, change your CV to reflect it.

Your Turn to Ask Questions:

Remember, you’re not the only one in the hot seat. Turn the tables and ask them some questions like:

• What does it take to really succeed in this role?
• Can you tell me about the company’s plans for the future?
• What is the company culture like?

Quick tip: The questions you ask show you’re serious about wanting the job and finding the right fit.

Conclusion

Interviews can be tough, but they’re also your chance to shine and figure out if a job is the right fit for you. Get to know the different types of questions and prep for them, and you’ll be ready to rock your next interview.

And remember, every interview is a chance to get better at this whole job search thing. Take what you learn from each one, tweak your game plan, and keep pushing forward.