When preparing for a job interview, most applicants research in the company’s profile and try to put together a professional look. It is good but not many prepare for personal interview questions which are the wild card in any interview. You can never be sure on what personal questions the interviewer will ask, but you can still do some preparations on your own. One of the most important things to work on is your presentation. You don’t want to appear fake at any point in the interview. Today, we have come up with a list of the most common personal questions you might be asked by an interviewer and the best responses for these questions as well.

Common Personal Interview Questions & How to Answer

1

Tell me about yourself.

You need to remember that this is a job interview and the interviewer is not necessarily interested in knowing your life history. The best way to respond to this question is to divide it into three parts. The first should be a summary of your career history. Keep it simple and short. Secondly, talk about your accomplishments and finish off by giving a brief description on what you intend to achieve in the future. Thirdly, say something about your career goals with one or two sentences, which is supposed to relate to the position you are seeking.

2

Why do you want this job?

Of course the idea of more money is at the top of your list, but you must not mention money. The best answer should reflect on your personal goals. Give compelling reasons on why this job appeals to you on a personal level and why you intend to stick with the company for a long time.

3

What do you consider to be your greatest personal weakness?

This is a tricky question because you need to sound honest yet capable. It’s best to think ahead on this one and it need not to be relevant to the position you are interviewing for. You can say you get too engaged in your work that you rarely make time for yourself. You can also say that you do not get enough time to exercise because your job involves a lot of deskwork. Remember that you also need to add a point on how you are working to improve on your weakness.

4

Why should I hire you (instead of somebody else)?

This question is basically asking why you are the best person for the job. Tyr to mention your strengths in answering this question. It’s always important to have a good understanding on what the company needs so as to answer this question effectively. Talk about your unique strengths.

5

Tell me what you know about this company.

You must conduct some research on the company. Whether you are interviewing for a job as a clerk or head of department, you need to know what the company is all about. Search for the most recent news and do some background checks about the owner or CEO. This can make you stand out and show that you are really interested in joining the company.

6

Finally, do you have any questions to ask me?

Interviews are not just about the interviewer. The interviewee can also ask questions about the company. This actually shows that you are eager to learn more about the company and work with them. If the job benefits have not already been covered, you need to ask about that. You can also ask how your role fits into the overall operations of the company and how soon you can start, which shows that you are eager to work. Prepare questions you want to ask beforehand to avoid an awkward silence after asking a question. Be careful not to ask questions that have already been addressed.

25 Personal Interview Questions

  1. Give us a little introduction about yourself.

  2. Why do you want to leave your job? Or, why did you leave your previous employer?

  3. Tell us about your best or worst employer/subordinate/colleague.

  4. What are some of the challenges you currently face in your job that are often overlooked?

  5. Do you have any preferences on the kind of people you prefer to work with?

  6. Give us an example on a situation where your judgment was helpful.

  7. What did you dislike the most about your previous job?

  8. Do you prefer to take your time with tasks or do you work better when under pressure?

  9. What is most important to you – meeting deadlines or providing quality work?

  10. Highlight some of your best strengths and weaknesses.

  11. List three accomplishments that you are most proud of in your career.

  12. What decisions do you find most difficult to make?

  13. What do you dislike about your current employer?

  14. What words do you think your boss would use to describe you?

  15. Give us three words that describe you the best.

  16. How do you critic your friends and colleagues?

  17. What tasks do you have most challenges delegating?

  18. Why are you interested in this position?

  19. What kind of rapport and environment do you wish to maintain with your colleagues and subordinates?

  20. How do you motivate weaker team members?

  21. Give a description on how you prioritize and organize your day.

  22. Do you think your team would do a good job without you? How?

  23. How do you gauge a subordinate’s productivity?

  24. Are you better at planning or implementing?

  25. Give examples of ways you have positively changed your present company.

Tips to Remember When Answering Personal Interview Questions

1

Do your homework. Always be prepared. Do your homework about the company and be ready to show it to the interviewers. Know what the company is all about, try their products and get a more personal feel on what they offer. Of course your research will only give you information that is available in the media, but it doesn't hurt to show the interviewer that you have done some research.

2

Look the part. Dress up appropriately and this also requires some research on the company’s corporate culture. You need to be looked like that you can be part of the company and you take serious of the interview. It’s not just about the dressing or groom yourself. You also expected to keep your hands clean and nails well-manicured; trim you hair and brush your teeth. Don’t wear clothes with stains.

3

Think before you speak. You don’t need to answer a question immediately after it is asked. You want to have some time to digest the question and come up with a good answer. The hiring manager understands that you cannot answer questions with ground breaking speed. Taking your time also helps you relax and have time to recollect your thoughts. Your answers are bound to be more rational when you think them through as opposed to simply jumping from one point to another. This is one of the most important interview tips you will ever receive.

4

Be passionate but not over the top. It’s good to show your enthusiasm, but remember not to be overly excited. Going on and on about how you really want this job and adore the company sounds a little too needy and you might come off as extremely desperate. Be confident and simply show your interest to the job.

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