1. Tell me about your soft skills
Soft skills are those indefinable qualities that you can’t learn in school: communication, problem-solving ability, empathy, organization, and so on. Effectively, this question is “Tell me about yourself.” It’s a chance to focus on what’s unique about you. What do you bring to the table that nobody else can? If you can give examples of how you have used these attributes professionally, talk about this in your answer.
2. Have you ever used [a particular skill] to deliver a project?
Your interviewer is interested in particular skills listed on your resume, especially technical skills for which you have qualifications. However, just because you’re qualified doesn’t mean you know how to deliver results in a business environment. Do you have any practical examples to show you know how to give? If not, you can talk about times you have used your skills, such as academic projects or hobbies.
3. What do you like most about working in this environment?
This question is a chance to show your engagement and demonstrate how you might fit into the existing team. Good things to focus on include the opportunity to work with a great team, interact with customers, innovate, hit targets, and learn about the industry. If you don’t have experience in a similar environment, discuss what you’ve enjoyed in previous jobs. What are the circumstances under which you excel?
4. You’ve never worked for a company like this before. How will you adapt?
Even if you’re making a giant career leap, you still have transferable skills that can be used anywhere. Your ability to communicate, problem-solve, work well with others, have a sense of ethics, and be punctual can help you succeed in any environment. Tell stories demonstrating these qualities and how you’ve applied them in other environments. If you have experience adapting to a new environment, talk about that and share details of how you succeeded.
5. How would your professional qualifications help in this job?
Part of this is a test of the strength of your professional qualifications. You should be able to talk about what you learned while studying and how it applies to a practical setting. If you have experience using your qualifications at work, talk about this. Share details of how it helped you to create value for your employer. If you need further qualifications to succeed, discuss these and your plans to attain them. It shows that you are ambitious and engaged with the industry.
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