Example Answers for Interviews

Excellent example answers for interviews. Have convincing interview answers ready for these tricky job interview questions including:

• Tell me something about yourself that is not on your resume
• Why do you want to work here
• Tell me about a new skill you developed recently
  

Prepare good answers using the example interview answers provided here and be confident of your ability to handle any question that comes up in the job interview.

Example Answers for Interviews 
3 tough interview questions

Prepare a good answer for this interview question that explores your suitability for the job.

Tell me something about yourself that I don't know from your resume.

This is a variation of the common interview question "Tell me about yourself" and is a little more tricky to answer. The interviewer is trying to get a better sense of who you are by asking this question. Focus on a skill, interest or talent that does not fit into your resume work experience but that indicates a positive attribute that would add value to the job and company.

Here are some more examples:

"I managed a band in high school. I was responsible for advertising the band and organizing gigs. I did all the admin including making sure the band got paid. It was a way to earn some extra money and taught me useful principles about marketing and management."

"I have a younger sister who needed a lot of extra help with her academics. I spent many hours tutoring her and helping her with homework. I found it rewarding when her marks improved significantly and it taught me about patience and perseverance."

"I am a keen collector of sports memorabilia. I love to search online for bargains. I also visit yard sales to find interesting items. I have built up a good collection, learned how to value items and my negotiating skills have really improved!"

Top tips for answering "Tell me something about yourself that is not in your resume"

The right way to answer this interview question is with a concise answer that highlights a positive quality that will be an asset in the position and to the company.

• the quality or attribute you highlight should have some relevance to the job opportunity and fit in with the company culture
• it should be an authentic and genuine answer that provides the interviewer with a fuller picture of who you are
• your answer should be brief and concise, one item is sufficient
  
• keep it positive and avoid negative stories
• keep it professional by not oversharing or providing inappropriate or sensitive information
• avoid vague generalizations like "I am very creative", focus on a specific example in your interview answer.
  

Examples of scenarios to focus on include:

• classes you have independently signed up for
• skills you have taught yourself
  
• volunteer work
• freelance jobs
  
• societies or groups that you belong to
• sporting challenges you have met such as running a certain distance or your contribution to the success of a sports team
• awards you haven't included on your resume
• certifications not included in your resume
  
• community organizations you belong to
  
• fundraising
  
• a hobby or interest that develops skills that could be used in the workplace such as attention to detail or communication skills
  

Find sample interview answers to the question Tell me about yourself

Why should we hire you?

What are your strengths?

What are your weaknesses?

Walk me through your resume

Example answers for interviews include answers to questions that explore your knowledge of the company.

Why do you want to work here?

Using your background research find two or three specific reasons why you are interested in the company. Possible aspects that attract you to the company include the reputation the company enjoys, the type of people employed by the company, the future direction the company is taking, the opportunities in the company and the products and services offered by the company.

Example answers for interviews include:

"Your company has the best service record of all its competitors. The reviews I read from customers were outstanding. Your approach to customer management is innovative and the results are excellent. I also learned from your website that you have some exciting future projects in the pipeline including the ..... project which really interests me."

"Apart from your reputation as a top service provider I was struck by your commitment to the community. Your involvement in the XYZ project is admirable and really adds value. I identified the same commitment to your employees in the company staff development programs that I read about. Your company value systems are closely aligned with mine."

There are no right or wrong answers to this question. Your answer should reflect your knowledge of the company and your understanding of how you fit with the company.

More top sample interview answers for Why this Company?

Related interview questions you are likely to be asked include:

What interests you about this position?

Where else are you interviewing?

View sample interview answers for these challenging interview questions.

Interviewers like to know that the job candidate adopts a professional approach to the job, works hard and takes responsibility. Expect  interview questions that explore your diligence and professionalism.

Tell me about a work-related skill you developed recently.

Focus on a skill that you have worked on to improve your job performance. Typical example answers for interviews might include:

• learning a new software application or computer skills
  
• attending a training program
• learning how to operate certain equipment or follow a procedure

Select a specific skill that would add value to the job and company you are interviewing for.

"I worked hard to develop my computer skills in my last job. I learned XYZ package and this helped me to process the customer management data more efficiently. I asked the company to send me on a training program to master this software and it really paid off."

"I wanted to improve my time management skills as I had to juggle a number of demanding priorities in my previous position. I signed up for an online course that I could do in my spare time. It taught me a number of useful techniques for planning and organizing my work tasks."

Essential interview questions and answers

How to answer hard interview questions

Behavioral interview answers

Prepare for behavioral interview questions that explore the competencies or behaviors required for successful performance in the job. Behavioral Example Answers for Interviews

Know how to answer the 3 most common interview questions

The Top 10 Interview Questions Guide with sample interview answers will ensure that you are well prepared for frequently asked interview questions.

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