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Welcome to your guide…

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21 SHORT ANSWERS TO 12
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INTERVIEW QUESTIONS!
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Copyright © PassMyInterview.com. All Rights Reserved.

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For personal use only.

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21 SHORT ANSWERS TO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
 www.PassMyInterview.com

Q1. Tell me about yourself?
SAMPLE ANSWER:
Thanks for inviting me to be interviewed for this position. Over the years, I have built up lots of
experience that is a match for this role. I am a good communicator, I can manage lots of tasks, I am a
solid team worker, and I am always looking to improve. My main strengths are the fact I will always try to
help your business grow and I will do that by being loyal, acting as a positive role model for the company,
and ensuring everything I do is to a high standard.

Q2. Why do you want to work for us?

SAMPLE ANSWER:
I want to work for you because you have a track record of achievement, you have a great management
team running the business which means I will always be supported, and you are always looking to

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improve and innovate. This is a place I feel I will be constantly pushed and challenged, and where I will

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happy in my work.

Q3. What experience do you have relevant to this position? 12

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SAMPLE ANSWER:
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The experience I have is perfectly aligned with the job description. This includes dealing with customers
of all types, including responding quickly to emails and calls and responding to customer complaints in
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line with company procedures. I have experience working at pace and managing a large workload. I have
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experience in planning and organizing my work so it is always completed on time, and I have experience
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working under pressure alongside other members of a team.

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Q4. Where do you see yourself in five years?

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SAMPLE ANSWER:
I see myself still working for you either in the same role as an experienced and reliable member of the
team, or having gained advancement to a higher level. I am looking for long-term employment with your
company and I plan to become an integral part of your team and its ongoing success.

Q5. What are your main strengths?

SAMPLE ANSWER:
My strengths include my ability to learn things quickly and to work to high standards. I will never let you
down when it comes to completing important tasks or meeting project deadlines. I am a strong
relationship builder, I will be a positive work colleague to be around, and I will take good care of your

21 SHORT ANSWERS TO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
 www.PassMyInterview.com

customers. Other strengths include my fast pace of working, my ability to manage pressure in the
working environment, and my ability to solve problems without troubling management.

Q6. Why should we hire you?

SAMPLE ANSWER:
You should hire me because I have the skills needed to match the job description. This means I will
come into the role and make an immediate impact. You should hire me because I am confident, I will
quickly fit into your team and company culture, and I will always go out of my way to help your business
achieve its financial and commercial goals.

Q7. Why do you want to leave your job?

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SAMPLE ANSWER:

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I want to leave my job because I genuinely feel I have reached my full potential there. My employer has

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been great to work for and they have always supported me, but I am now ready for a new challenge with
an exciting company that has ambitious plans for the future!
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Q8. What are your weaknesses?
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SAMPLE ANSWER:
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My weakness is the fact I find it hard to say “no” to people. In the past, this has resulted in me taking on
too many responsibilities. I am generally a people pleaser who wants to help everyone but I need to learn
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when to say no so that I don’t ever become overwhelmed.

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Q9. Why is there a gap in your employment?

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SAMPLE ANSWER:
I took time out of work to go traveling because I wanted to explore different countries and experiences
that were different from my home life. I also wanted to do this whilst I was young to get the most from the
learning experience. I found the traveling experience to be hugely beneficial and it helped to improve my
communication skills and my levels of patience and understanding.

Q10. What can you offer us that someone else cannot?

SAMPLE ANSWER:
I can offer you a level of commitment to your long-term goals that I believe is unrivalled. I want to stay
working here for a long time and be a part of your plans. I can offer you a level of enthusiasm and

21 SHORT ANSWERS TO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
 www.PassMyInterview.com

positivity that is rare amongst employees. This means I will always be upbeat, positive about the future,
reliable and flexible, and a good person to be around in the workplace.

Q11. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.

SAMPLE ANSWER:
In my last role, I worked as part of a team that always excelled in everything we did. Our greatest
achievement was helping the business to increase sales by 22% in my last year. We did this by
improving the customer service standards and by asking customers to leave online reviews after their
shopping experience. This helped to build trust between the company and potential customers.

Q12. Tell me about a time when you made a mistake.

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SAMPLE ANSWER:

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I made a mistake when I first started working in my last job. My manager gave me an administrative task

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to complete in a set time, and in my eagerness to do a great job, I failed to listen to the brief properly.
When I told him I had finished, he pointed out the mistake I’d made. I felt awful for letting both my
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manager and myself down. I apologized and made sure I never made the same mistake again.
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Q13. How do you handle pressure?

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SAMPLE ANSWER:
I handle pressure by always planning the work I am going to do in the week ahead. If I know what I need
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to do, I can organize my mind and my workload accordingly. I handle pressure by considering what could
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go wrong or what challenges I may encounter in my work. Finally, I handle pressure by remaining calm
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and focused intently on the task that needs completing without any distractions.
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Q14. What are you looking for in your next job?

SAMPLE ANSWER:
I am looking to work as part of a team that is positive, who is ambitious, and wants to get things done
quickly. I am looking for a job where I am pushed, where there is plenty for me to do, and where I am
continually learning and developing. I am also looking for a job where I will get to make a positive
difference to the objectives of the business. We spend a lot of time at work and I want that time to be
productive and fruitful.

Q15. How would you handle conflict with a co-worker?

21 SHORT ANSWERS TO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
 www.PassMyInterview.com

SAMPLE ANSWER:
I would handle the conflict by quickly ascertaining what the problem is and by speaking to the other
person in private to see if we could find a resolution that we were both comfortable with. If I needed to
compromise then I would consider doing so because the success of the team must always come above
everything else.

Q16. How did you hear about this position?

SAMPLE ANSWER:
I became aware of this position because I follow you on social media and I also have a Google alert set
up on my phone that told me as soon as a position was advertised. I have been interested in working for
your company for some time, and as soon as the right job came up, I was ready to apply.

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Q17. How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?
SAMPLE ANSWER:
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I would deal with them by always adhering to your customer service guidelines and by following several
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important steps. I will LISTEN to the customer and let them explain what has happened. I ASK THE
CUSTOMER RELEVANT QUESTIONS and APOLOGIZE to show that I do genuinely care. I then
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OFFER A SOLUTION to their complaint that I am confident they will be happy with, before ACTIONING
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the resolution quickly. I will then INVESTIGATE what has happened so lessons can be learned for next
time.
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Q18. What did you like least about your last job?
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SAMPLE ANSWER:
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I liked virtually everything about my last job apart from the fact that I didn’t feel we were as ambitious as
we could have been. We had a great management team and some talented people in the business but
the appetite for progression and more success wasn’t always there. Although I’m quite an ambitious
person, I always respected the fact that this was not the direction the owners wanted to take their
business in.

Q19. What motivates you?

SAMPLE ANSWER:
I am motivated by moving forward, by feeling that I am making progress at work, and by always having a
personal goal to work towards. If I do a good job at work, I will always achieve my personal goals. For

21 SHORT ANSWERS TO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
 www.PassMyInterview.com

example, I am currently saving up for a deposit to buy my first home, and to achieve that goal, I need to
do well at work and earn a regular income.

Q20. What are your salary requirements?

SAMPLE ANSWER:
I carried out some research before the interview and the average salary for this role is between $24,000
and $32,000. Although I feel I am worth the higher end of the salary scale, I understand I need to prove
to you my worth. Therefore, I would be comfortable with a salary of $29,000 and I believe you will see a
good return on your investment for that amount.

Q21. Do you have any questions for us?

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SAMPLE ANSWER:

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Q. What are the main challenges the business is facing right now and how could I help you in this role to
overcome them?
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Q. What advice would you give to the successful candidate who wants to do well in this role?
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Q. What would you need me to concentrate on in the first 30 days of starting if I become a member of
your team?
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How to Use These Interview Questions and Answers:

These interview questions and answers are intended to guide you in your preparation for your job
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interview. These questions have been picked by the PassMyInterview team because we believe
that they are the best representative of what you will face in your interview.
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The sample answers in this resource are collated from years of experience and research in the
recruitment sector. The answers confidently display the appropriate qualities and competencies
that the interviewer expects from successful candidates.

Read the sample answers carefully, and take note of what skills and competencies they
demonstrate. You might notice that, when the question asks for examples, the answer uses the
STAR method to construct the response:

21 SHORT ANSWERS TO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
 www.PassMyInterview.com

Situation. Start off your response to the interview question by explaining what the
‘situation’ was and who was involved.
Task. Once you have detailed the situation, explain what the ‘task’ was, or what needed
to be done.
Action. Now explain what ‘action’ you took, and what action others took. Also explain why
you took this particular course of action.
Result. Explain to the panel what you would do differently if the same situation arose
again. It is good to be reflective at the end of your responses. This demonstrates a level of
maturity and it will also show the panel that you are willing to learn from every experience.

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In order to get the best possible results, apply this system to your own examples and

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experiences in working life. These sample answers are intended to inspire you to create your
own responses to the questions.
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Disclaimer:
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PassMyInterview is not responsible for anyone failing any part of any selection process as a
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result of the information contained within this resource. PassMyInterview and their authors
cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions within this resource, however,
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caused. No responsibility for loss or damage occasioned by any person acting, or refraining from
action, as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by PassMyInterview.
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IMPORTANT: All resources, products, content, and training from PassMyInterview is intended for
educational use only, as an aid to help you prepare and come up with your own honest answers.
You must not copy (plagiarise) these answers in your interview. Instead, follow the guidance near
the end of this pack under the heading “How To Use These Interview Questions And Answers”
and use these suggested answers as an educational aid to help you generate your own unique
and honest answers. PassMyInterview is not acting in conjunction with, or associated with, any
third-party organisation.

Get more guides, books and training courses at the website www.How2Become.com.

21 SHORT ANSWERS TO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
 www.PassMyInterview.com

Copyright © PassMyInterview.com. All Rights Reserved. For personal use only.

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21 SHORT ANSWERS TO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS