Top 10 Questions for a Personal Interview (Plus Tips for Answering)
During an interview, you can expect to be asked about your past jobs, your skills as a professional, and the company itself. They may also ask you more general questions about yourself. It’s a good idea to practice answering these kinds of questions before an interview so that you look confident and calm. Questions for a Personal Interview
In this article, we talk about some of the most common personal questions asked in interviews and give tips on how to answer them.
10 questions about yourself, with answers as examples
Before an interview, people often practice answering professional questions about their qualifications and skills in a certain field. Employers will probably also ask you some more general questions about yourself. These are about who you are, how you work, how you handle stress, and other things that show who you are. These questions are just as important as those about your skills because they help show your personality and how well you’ll fit into the company’s culture.
Here are 10 examples of these kinds of personal questions and some tips on how to answer them well:
1. Tell me about yourself.
This is where you say what you want to say in a short amount of time. In other words, it’s a brief description of who you are. Here is a good place to tell the interviewer two or three things you are proud of. Finish your answer by saying how these things have made you ready for this role. Talk about your education, your work history, and one other important thing.
Example: “I just finished college and got my degree. I went there to study advertising. I made the Dean’s List every semester I was in school and did three internships. I worked as a waitress while I finished my degree. I also did internships.”
2. What do you do well and what do you need to improve?
The key is to make a list of strengths that matter and weaknesses that don’t. Write down three good things and two bad things. The interviewer will use your answers to these questions to decide whether or not to hire you, so try to think of answers that are unique and related to the field. There are two good ways to deal with weak points:
- Give a flaw that has nothing to do with how well you can do the job.
- Try a funny phrase like “eating French fries.” This will break the tension, leave a lasting impression, and probably surprise the interviewer.
Example: “I would say that some of my strengths are that I can communicate well, pay close attention to details, and work hard. One thing that makes me weak is chocolate. But I also tend to be too kind and take on other people’s problems, which can be tiring.”
3.Can you tell me about yourself in three to five words?
Try to see how this answer fits in with the job. Contrary to what you might think, pointing out a flaw with a word (as long as it’s not too big) will show the interviewer that you know where you need to improve.
“If I had to describe myself in three to five words, they would be loyal, passionate, funny, and careful.”
4. Why did you leave your last job?
It’s important not to say anything bad about your current or former employer. Instead, say you want to find better jobs or advance in your career. Give it in a way that shows why you’d be a better candidate for the job.
You can give a simple answer if you were fired from your last job. Just say, “Unfortunately, I was let go,” and leave it at that.
“I want to learn more about this field, and I know that I can do that here.”
5. How much do you hope to get paid?
Money can be a sensitive topic, but there are polite ways to talk about it. You can try asking the interviewer what they think someone in the position should be paid.
But always do your homework ahead of time and find out how much people in this position make. Once you have a range in mind, always give the higher number based on your skills and experience, but make sure to show that you are flexible. You should tell the interviewer that you want the job and are willing to negotiate.
Example: “I’d like to make between $45,000 and $55,000 per year. I know it’s an entry-level job, but I want it because I have the skills and experience for it.”
6. Do you work better alone or with others?
They could be looking for a specific answer, depending on the industry and the company’s values. But a good worker should always be able to get along with others and find a compromise. If you’re not sure, say that you like both.
“I love working with other people, but sometimes I need to take a break and think of ideas on my own.”
7. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Being ambitious is almost always a good thing, just like being able to work with other people. Show how well you can think about the future and dream. Try saying that you want more responsibilities at a company that values you, your skills, and your ideas.
Example: “I want to be a well-known art director at an ad agency that values my skills and helps me keep growing. I hope I’ll have opportunities to lead some creative projects.”
8.If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
This question may not seem important, but it shows how well you can think on your feet. There’s no wrong answer here. The employer wants to see creativity and relevance, so pick a response that shows what you’re good at and who you are.
Example: “If I were an animal, I’d probably be a deer because they are loyal, friendly, and careful, just like me. And a little surprised by how bright the lights were.”
9. What do you do when you’re feeling overwhelmed?
You want to show that you can deal with stress in a positive and helpful way. Try talking about some of the ways you deal with stress, and then tell a story about a time when you handled something stressful well.
Example: “When I’m stressed, I like to close my eyes and take some deep breaths. Then I write down all the things I need to do and put them in order of how important they are. I work on one part of the problem at a time from there.”
10. Do you have anything to ask me?
Most interviews end with this question, so make sure you have at least two or three questions ready to ask. There is a right way and a wrong way to answer, even if it doesn’t seem important. You can also use this time to figure out if this job is right for you. Do they work well enough for you?
Focus on the company and how you can improve there. Don’t ask about salary or benefits, for example, at this point. Those questions can be answered by the human resources department if you get the job. It’s fine to ask about ways for employees to grow, new products or services, the computer technology you’ll be using, and how the team or company is set up. Asking the interviewee about their time at the company is another way to find out how happy they are.
Examples:
“When did you start working there for the first time?”
“What brought you to where you are now?”
“What’s your favorite part of your job?”
How to give more in-depth answers to personal interview questions
Check out the business.
Find out what they do for a living, who their competitors are, what their culture is like, and what they value. This will help you tailor your answers and guess some of the questions you might be asked.
Prepare questions
Even though you might get answers to some of your questions during the interview, you should always have some good questions to ask at the end. Bring a written list with you to the interview, or write them on a legal pad. This shows that you are responsible and interested in the job, as well as professional.
Try getting an interview.
Before your interview, try practicing a few times. Even though you don’t want to sound like you’re reading from a script, this will help you practice the words and phrases you want to use when the real thing comes.
Do a test to find out who you are.
A personality test could help you figure out your strengths and weaknesses if you have trouble knowing yourself. So, you will have a better idea of how to answer some of the more personal interview questions.
Don’t feel bad.
Talk to yourself the day before about what you can do well on the job. Keep a happy, sure-of-yourself attitude on the day of the interview and all through it.
