The best way to prepare yourself for a job interview is to think about the questions you’re likely to get asked and decide what you will answer. Then, when questions get thrown your way, you can smoothly field them and make your best impression.
These are some of the questions that Israeli interviewers like to ask:
- “Tell me about yourself.”
This question is vague enough that it’s hard to know what to answer. But this is in some ways the most important question, because it’s usually the first and it’s your opportunity to make a good first impression.
You’ll want to keep your answer brief, about two minutes long, mention your last two or three job roles and what you did there that is connected to the job you’re applying for. If you have relevant education, mention that too. Close by saying what excites you about the job and why you think you would do it well. - “Why should we hire you?”
What the interviewer is really asking is what qualities or skills you have that make you right for the job. Be sure to include examples of how you have manifested them in your past work experience. Leave out generic qualities that make you a good person but have nothing to do with this job. - “What would your manager say about you?”
Here’s another opportunity to showcase your strengths and achievements. Mention things that your manager actually would say, because your interviewer may have already spoken to them and you don’t want to come off as not genuine. - “Tell me about a weakness of yours.”
This is a challenging one. Interviewers don’t want you to mention a weakness which is actually a brag. They want to hear about a real weakness, but don’t stop there. You need to follow it with an example of how you have learned to manage this character trait and do well despite it. - “Tell me about an initiative you took or a complex problem you solved.”
Jobs are all about challenges, so interviewers want to know how you handle them. Tell a story that makes you look good! This question is really hard to answer if you don’t prepare it in advance, so take the time to practice what you will say if you are asked. - “Have you heard of our company?”
Obviously, the answer to this question is yes. But you don’t want to give a one syllable answer. Let them know that you’ve researched the company before you came in and that you know some of the basics. You can mention a fact that you found interesting or ask a question that shows that you are genuinely interested in the company and its product or service. - “What are your salary expectations?”
Sometimes this comes up before the interview and sometimes it’s asked at the interview itself. Come well-prepared for this question by researching what salary range is expected in your industry for this position and deciding what you can live with. There’s more information about this in our article on Navigating the Question of Salary Expectations. - “Where do you see yourself in the next two years (or five)?”
The answer to this question has to show your commitment to the job you are applying for. Think about how you might advance in their company, what skills you can acquire that the company would appreciate and what career aspirations are relevant to this position. - “What’s your biggest failure, and what did you learn from it?”
This is similar to the question about weaknesses. You need to tell a real story and be a little bit vulnerable, but be sure to make it clear that you learned from it and improved as a result. When you tell this story, don’t paint your previous bosses in a negative light, since that won’t reflect well on you (even if you’re sorely tempted). - “Why are you leaving your current job (or why did you leave your past jobs)?”
Keep your answers brief and neutral. Don’t make your previous company look bad, don’t talk about internal politics and don’t make it seem like you’re not a team player. If you were fired, say something like, “The position wasn’t a good fit” or “There were company-wide budgetary layoffs.” If you quit, you can say you were looking for a new growth opportunity. If you’re still working at a company, “The position at your company looks really exciting” can be a sufficient answer. - “Why do you want this specific job?”
This is your chance to talk about your passion for the work you do. You can also mention how much you admire the company and what you would bring to the table. - Do you have any questions for us?”
An interview is often concluded with this question. This is your chance to find out more about the things that will help you make the decision to accept the role if it’s offered to you. Ask questions about company culture, salary and benefits. If you want to know small details, leave them for another time and ask the crucial questions only.
Interviews are a minefield if you come to them unprepared, but if you know what you’re likely to be asked and you decide ahead of time how to approach it, a lot of the stress can be reduced.
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