Are you actively looking for a job right now and your resume has caught the attention of an employer? Congratulations! The job interview is coming up, but you don’t really know what questions to expect? Don’t panic! In this article, we will help you prepare for your interview by answering 5 key questions that can be asked during your interview.

 

Why are you the ideal candidate for this position?

 

First and foremost, it’s important to know your value, that is, what you want and what you’re worth. To prepare for this, before the interview, you can write down 5 professional strengths that you have and that you could use to answer this question. 

If you are going to be interviewed in the near future, you will definitely be asked this question. It will allow you to highlight your skills that are related to the position for which you have applied. You must therefore find qualities that correspond to you and to the keywords used in the job advertisement. It is also important to use qualities that set you apart from other candidates, such as particular talents or professional successes that characterize your career path: this can make a clear difference with your direct competitors! It is also important to show the employer what value you could bring to the company and why your presence on the team could be beneficial.

 

Why did you leave your job?

 

This question may seem awkward at first, yet it is important to answer it as honestly and sincerely as possible. Employers value openness and honesty from their employees and may dig if you seem to be hiding something so you might as well be transparent! 

However, you must be careful how you answer this question. First of all, it is imperative that you remain professional, i.e. you cannot speak ill of your former employer or colleagues as this would be extremely unpopular with the person interviewing you. It is better to try to formulate a constructive answer that will not put at fault the people you used to work with. 

Next, you can clearly explain your reasons for starting your job search. There can be many reasons and there are no wrong answers: salary that no longer meets your expectations, no possibility of advancement, bad work environment, relocation, career change, etc. That said, whatever the answer, it is best to avoid spreading yourself too thin by answering the question briefly and clearly. If employers want more details, they will tell you.

Finally, if you were unfortunately pushed to the wall in your previous job, there is no shame in saying so. It’s best to play it straight and say that you’ve learned from your mistakes and are ready to move on.

 

Why do you want to work remotely?

 

If the company you want to work for offers telecommuting, you will not escape this question during the interview. There are many possible answers to this question, so you should answer from your own perspective. However, we will be able to give you some guidance on some of the answers you might use. 

First of all, telecommuting allows you to work in different spaces: whether it’s from home, a coworking space or a coffee shop, you can vary your work locations regularly and not get tired of the routine. Also, if you want to work from home, you can create your own personalized workspace and be more comfortable than if you were working in the company’s offices. 

Also, telecommuting can have a big impact on productivity, especially if you are easily distracted. You can explain to your employers that you can concentrate more easily when you are in your workspace rather than in the office. 

You can also use the economy card. Indeed, telecommuting allows you to be more economical on certain expenses: between transportation, food and work clothes, this way of working can allow you to save some money. 

If you are comfortable with technology, you can mention the fact that you are comfortable working remotely, because you know how to use communication platforms or other computer software efficiently. 

The purpose behind your answer to this question should be to show your employer that you can work independently and effectively from a distance. 

 

 

Can you tell me about a challenge you faced and how you overcame it?

 

This is probably the question that will best set you apart from other candidates in your interview. You can prepare this question in advance so that you can easily answer it on the day. First, we recommend that you think about the different situations you may have encountered in your past jobs, internships or other professional experiences. These can be situations where you managed to find solutions, situations where you managed to overcome obstacles, etc. The important thing is to show how you met the challenge by explaining the situation, the actions you took and the results obtained. You will not be judged on the importance of the challenge, but on how you went about meeting it.

 

What are your weaknesses?

 

This question should be answered with a pinch of salt. On the one hand, you can’t say that you have no weaknesses to the employer, and on the other hand, you shouldn’t mention too many weaknesses either, so as not to scare the employer. 

There are some flaws that should not be mentioned during the interview. Flaws related to ego, for example, could be frowned upon, especially if the position you are applying for requires you to work in a team. You should therefore adapt your shortcomings to the position you are applying for. 

It is strongly recommended that you cite flaws that you can “turn into qualities”. For example, if you mention impatience, you can say that you are certainly impatient, but that this pushes you to work efficiently and to be constantly in action. You can also emphasize how you try to correct these shortcomings. 

 

 

To land a job interview, think BOM!

Ready to get started? The BOM app allows you to refer someone or apply for jobs directly yourself while receiving a monetary reward when you or the referred person is hired!

Think you’re the right person for a job? Propose yourself! Enter your name and contact information and a member of the BOM team will contact you by phone to validate your interest and evaluate your resume, and finally submit your application to the employer for a job interview.

Once the hiring process is complete, a member of the BOM team will contact you for the promised reward. It’s simple, secure and effective.