Interviews: FAQs
The Interview Process
For almost every successful job application, follows a subsequent interview process. This comes in the form of either an in-person or online interview with your employer, or even a video interview where you submit your answers via an online application where review is necessary for the next steps to the recruitment process.
The consulting industry, like most other industries, requires a step-by-step procedure to attain a desired role in a company or agency. Along with dressing appropriately, being on time and practising the correct mannerisms, acing your interview is one of the most crucial steps in the recruitment process. Hence, here is how to score almost perfectly (perfect being your perfect delivery) on your next interview with some sneaky tips and tricks on how to answer commonly asked and curveball questions!
Common Interview Questions
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
There is almost no doubt that this is the first question your next employer will ask! It sets the mood for the rest of your interview, and allows your interviewer to build their first impression on you as a person, both professionally and personally.
1) Do not forget to introduce yourself!
Mention your name, your qualifications and relevant past experiences in terms of academics or work.
2) Highlight your key skills (either technical such as programming skills, or soft skills such as good communication and teamwork).
Remember to cater this to your companies’ desired skills - this will help your interviewer acknowledge your great fit for the role.
3) Be unique!
Never forget to add your own little spark. Whether it’s a personal hobby, passion to go above and beyond, or even your extreme love for the team culture and work, here’s a chance to stand out from the crowd. Do not be afraid to be different and strive to show your interviewer that you are needed in their team!
What is your greatest achievement?
If you're weighing out a few of your greatest achievements, be sure to pick your most recent one! Discussing more recent achievements will help the interviewer to gauge a better understanding of your current skills.
Once you have identified your chosen greatest achievement, briefly talk about the context of the experience but mainly focus on the outcome. What have you achieved and how well have you achieved it - are the questions you should be asking yourself. You should also remember to answer this question without too much storytelling.
What are your salary expectations?
Research is extremely crucial for this question. For every company, there is a given range for initial salary expectations. Through thorough research of your desired company, set yourself an average salary that coincides with the company’s salary range. However Indeed recommends to set the bar above your expectations (but not too high) when you answer this question.
To simplify, here is an example. If you expect $60,000, do not provide the range between $55,000 and $65,000. Instead, answer with a range of $60,000 to $65,000.
Don’t forget, be clear in your answer. This will highlight your research, your passion for growth, and also, your confidence in reaching for bigger, long-term goals.
Curveball Questions
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
We’ve summed up the tips that Glassdoor has for this question below:
1) Firstly, really know your career goals.
Make sure you’ve contemplated exactly what your long term goals are for your career. These could be some very specific achievements you hope to fulfill.
2) Secondly, find a link between your goals and companies’ goals.
To assist in creating this connection, review the companies’ job descriptions and see if you can find any desired experiences and skills that you can offer. It is also great to mention the experiences and skills that you hope to improve on, with correlation to your passion for growth in a company you wish to join.
3) Finally, see if the company will help with your personal career goals.
You’ll need to determine whether the company you’ve applied for can help you gain expertise to achieve the goals you set for the long term. This could also help you determine whether the position is right for you or not.
What is your biggest regret?
Think about professional experiences that you’ve regretted. Identify a professional experience that you wish to have handled differently, and how you developed from it. It can be helpful to consider experiences you’re currently already working towards rectifying, so that you can showcase your need for growth and self-development.
How to word your answer?
Describe how you’ve handled your experience candidly. Be honest, be real and be concise.
Now, explain what you learned from this experience. It is important to show how self-aware you are and whether you've thought seriously about your career trajectory.
Then, explain your next steps. You can conclude your answer by explaining what steps you've taken to move forward from the situation. This can help show hiring managers that you're a proactive problem-solver, who takes ownership of their professional growth.
From 1-10, how would you rate your technical skills?
The interviewer would likely mention specific technical skills in the job posting or job description. First, on a scale of 1-10, discuss how skilled you are in their technical requirements. Try to avoid giving yourself a 10 as no one is perfect, and you do not want to come across as overly confident or someone who has no room for improvement. Alternately, avoid giving yourself too little credit! Try to remain in the 7.5-9.5 range while staying honest and accurate. Make sure to list the programs, apps, or systems in which you’re confident in!
The Next Steps
With these tips and steps in answering some of the most commonly asked interview questions and curveball questions, be sure to prepare through thorough research and practice to ace your next job interview! With the right attitude, passion and of course, the technical and soft skills that are necessary to advance into your desired role, you’ll be guaranteed your dream job in no time!
References
Clark, B., 2022, How to Answer “What Is Your Greatest Achievement?” Interview Question, Career Sidekick, <https://careersidekick.com/greatest-achievement-interview-question/#:~:text=The%20bottom%20line%20is%3A%20If,it%20was%20a%20significant%20accomplishment>.
Glassdoor Team, 29 June 2021, How to Answer the Interview Question 'Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years' Like a Pro, Glassdoor, <https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/guide/where-do-you-see-yourself-in-5-years/https:/www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/what-is-your-biggest-regret-questionhttps:/www.mockquestions.com/interview/Performance-Based/On-a-scale-of-1-10-how-would-you-rate-your-technical-abiliti-3318890.html/>.
Indeed Editorial Team, 30 June 2020, Interview Question: "What Are Your Salary Expectations?", Indeed, <https://au.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/interview-question-what-are-your-salary-expectations#:~:text=By%20aiming%20higher%2C%20you%20can,range%20of%20%2445%2C000%20to%20%2450%2C000>.
