15 interview questions you should be prepared to answer

Today, we’re joined by Ali Schwanke, Founder and CEO of Simple Strat, the marketing agency for companies who are serious about growth.

Ali has been on both ends of the stick with regards to job hunting. Here, she speaks from her experience as a recruiter, breaking down the interview questions you should be prepared to answer for a potential employer.

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The interview is one of the most important aspects of finding a new career. Whether you’re looking for a position with more responsibility, or making a lateral move to better accommodate your personal life, commute or side hustle goals, you have to nail the interview to move on in the process.

We’ve interviewed many candidates in building and growing our team at Simple Strat and we’ve discovered that interviewing is not something that comes naturally to everyone. However, like many things in life, the more you practice, the better you get, and the more comfortable you become with interviewing scenarios.

Because interview questions can run the gamut, we did a quick poll of the questions asked in our local business community – these were the most popular questions asked in an interview:

1. Why do you want to work here?
2. What do we do here [at this company]?
3. Tell me about yourself. Who are you?
4. Describe a challenge you’ve had in working with people. How did you overcome it?
5. What did you dislike most about your previous job?
6. If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?
7. If I were to talk to a current or former boss, how would they describe you?
8. When was the last time you were wrong?
9. Tell me about a time you had to execute a bad idea.
10. What are you most proud of that’s NOT on your resume?
11. What are your top strengths?
12. Why should I hire you? Why shouldn’t I hire you?
13. If I asked your current or former coworkers, what would they say your biggest flaw is?
14. Tell me how your current skills fit with the outcomes needed for this job?
15. What questions do you have for us/me?

**And this one isn’t really a question, but something you should always do – have a few questions prepared of your own. Candidates without questions seem like they didn’t do their homework or aren’t truly interested in the job.

While you may not get these specific questions in your interview, there will likely be similar questions. If you’ve spent time preparing and practicing your responses, you’ll shine as a top interviewee.

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About the Guest Author:

Ali Schwanke is the Founder and CEO of Simple Strat, the marketing agency for companies serious about growth. For more marketing, business, and career tips, follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @alischwanke.

Looking for more advice? Visit our careers advice section here.

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