On the job with Rania: Prepare for the common interview questions

I am not a fan of scripts. Spontaneous chats and reactions are often more personal and sincere. But when it comes to job interviews there are certain questions that you must have a ready script for. Trying to come up with a safe response on the spot can be a tricky practice.

You don't have to memorise potential answers. All you need to do is to give common job questions a little bit of thought ahead of time. After all, many of these are predictable. In fact, most of them are widely posted on online forums, and you might have heard them before in job interviews. This doesn't make them less awkward or less critical in how a prospect employer may judge your ability to handle tough situations and keep your cool.

The more you think about these questions, and perhaps discuss them with a friend, the more natural you will be able to phrase your responses when it is time to do so.

Reason to hire

A hiring manager may begin a job interview by asking why, in your view, the company should hire you. To answer this question, think about it as an invitation to explain how your qualifications meet the job requirements. This also is an open question. So you can format your response in whatever way that works for you. You may select one personal or professional theme — for example being creative or dedicated — and tie it to your skills and qualification. One reason to prepare ahead for this question is to avoid focusing on a particular detail that may not, in reality, matter to the employer. For instance, if you suggest the employer should hire you for having a particular certification, you might be shooting yourself in the foot if your reason is considered insignificant.

Weakness points

A request to mention your points of weakness or strength is familiar. While detailing strength points is often easier since you're probably in a mindset for showing off your qualifications and positive characteristics, a self-confession of weakness points can be tricky. Remember: you're in a job interview not in a psychiatrist's office. So don't be carried away with detailing your personality problems. Instead, have a list of three to five points of weakness ready to answer this question ahead of the interview. Coming up with this list may prove how difficult the situation could be if you're trying to do so on the spot. Focus on issues that are work-related, and preferably can be seen in a favourable way — working too hard, being over-competitive, etc. Still don't move on without a short comment on how you're conscious of your shortcomings and how you manage them so that they don't get in the way of daily work or coworker relationships.

Best and worst

Employers are keen to know your motivations, what you take pride in, and what disappoint you. One way to dig into this area is to ask a job candidate to tell an exceptionally positive or negative experience. It is essential to think of what message a hiring manager may draw from your tale. Think ahead about the whole scenario and discuss it with your partner or a friend to make sure the message you're trying to communicate is clear. For instance, if you're telling a positive experience that led to a major success, make sure you stress on points such as how you went above and beyond the call of duty, how you worked and shared credit with others, etc. If you're telling a worst experience, be ready for follow-up questions regarding anything that might ring alarm bells concerning your performance or judgment. You must have a relatively happy ending that explains what you've learnt from a tough situation.

Work-life balance

Have a clear answer in your mind about how you will answer a question about your priorities. Two points to remember: don't over-promise in an attempt to project dedication to a demanding job. Many employees value employees who are able to balance work and life and therefore are more productive. Second, don't intentionally undermine your career commitment. An emotional monologue about your family being your top priority may send the wrong message. You must strike a balance in your response that reflect your own realistic expectations and meet the employer needs, if you're keen to win the job. You might even quantify by saying, for instance, that you're will to accept travel for a maximum of a week per quarter or you don't mind working every other weekend if needed.

Rania Oteify, a former Business Features Editor at Gulf News, is a journalist based in Seattle.

Common job-interview questions matter