The job interview is the last hurdle on the way to your dream job. This part is pretty same as same as getting preparation from medicine interview tutors. For most applicants, this is associated with a lot of nervousness. However, if you know the typical questions in an interview, you can prepare for them, go into the interview with a secure feeling and convince with self-confidence. This article deals with the most frequently asked questions about what HR managers aim for with these and how best to answer them.
Questions in the job interview – What recruiters want to know
In the job interview, the focus is not necessarily only on the applicant’s specialist knowledge. Although people like to ask about knowledge and experience, recruiters are primarily interested in the personality of the applicant. They want to find out if you fit into the team and the facility, how you work, what kind of person you are and how you deal with conflicts.
If you are invited to an interview, your CV has usually already convinced you. In a personal interview, it should now be determined whether the personal characteristics are also convincing. This is not only important for employers – but applicants can also get a good impression of a possible future job here.
Questions in the job interview – the right preparation
You can prepare very well for many typical questions and work out the right answers. It can be especially helpful to jot down key points and practice the conversation. It is important not to prescribe complete texts, but to practice speaking freely.
Stay authentic
When preparing for an interview, applicants should keep in mind that authenticity plays an important role. HR professionals quickly recognize standard answers and phrases, so you shouldn’t memorize answers from the internet. Ideally, you take some time to come up with clever answers of your own that are tailored to both the job posting and you personally.
Interview questions and appropriate answers
There are different types of questions as well as special questioning techniques that can be distinguished. These have different goals and backgrounds, so the right answers look different.
Open questions
If there are open questions, applicants have the opportunity to tell a little more about a topic. These are the questions in the job interview for which you should prepare particularly well. Applicants who know exactly what they want to say don’t run the risk of digressing and forgetting important points.
Can you tell us something about yourself?
This question is about self-presentation. You should summarize the most important information about yourself in three to seven minutes. Applicants can orientate themselves on the most important points in their CV and the key points “I am – I can – I want”. You start with basic information like name, age, nationality and education. Work experience can focus on the essentials and emphasize skills and knowledge relevant to the job. Ideally, you can round off the self-presentation with goals for the new position, for example how to improve processes in the new facility or what special qualities you would like to bring to the table.
What do you know about our company/our facility?
Applicants are expected to do some research about the facility beforehand. That doesn’t mean you have to memorize all the data. However, applicants should know the basic information about the institution. The recruiter can therefore assume that applicants are genuinely interested in the position and have a rough idea of what to expect. If you are applying to be a nurse in a hospital, you should know, for example, whether it is a large or small clinic, how the department in which you will work is structured and whether there may be special treatment methods or other peculiarities.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths aren’t about singing your own praises. HR managers want to know whether the applicant’s profile fits the position. It should be noted that things that are taken for granted, such as punctuality, are not strengths, but are assumed. Therefore, applicants should focus on qualities that actually set them apart from others. It is particularly well received if you can prove your strengths with examples. In this way, nurses can underpin their communication skills and assertiveness based on a specific situation with a patient.
The weaknesses are all about showing that you are self-critical, deal constructively with your own weaknesses and, ideally, are already working on them. Perfectionism is not something people like to hear here, as it is a very common “weakness”.
Motivational questions
HR managers use motivational questions to find out whether the values and goals of the company match those of the applicant and whether there is genuine interest in the institution and the advertised position. It’s about the attitude towards the work, the way you work and the reasons you applied.
Why did you apply to us?
Applicants should always have a convincing answer to this question in the interview. In this way, the recruiter can find out whether you only half-heartedly decided on the facility because you couldn’t find anything better, other facilities have already canceled or whether you really believe in the job description.
What does success mean to you?
There is no single definition of success, so the question is of particular interest to employers. First and foremost, they want to know whether the person’s professional goals match the job offer. Success is also seen as a driving force, so the personal passion for the job can be clarified at this point. For a nurse, doing a good job and having happy patients can mean success. However, if you apply for a higher position with management tasks, for example as a ward manager, it is expected that applicants strive for good promotion prospects and the assumption of responsible areas of activity.
Colleagues enjoy working with you?
This question is about healthy self-evaluation. Similar to the question about the strengths, one should also refrain from a hymn of praise here. Ideally, you have a few suitable examples from everyday working life that support your own statements. Depending on which position you are applying for, you should also make sure to find a middle ground between team player and leader when describing yourself. For example, a medical assistant who has a talent for keeping track of things and is valued for this by colleagues can demonstrate not only organizational talent but also leadership potential.
