How to Answer Structured Interview Questions

Before attending your job interview, give yourself an advantage by being prepared for how to answer structured interview questions. This interview, and the way you handle it, will make a difference in wether or not you are offered the job.

Knowing how to answer structured interview questions can help you land the job by sounding more professional and prepared. This extra preparation gives you time to think about how you want to answer the questions.

Before going to the interview, spend time researching the company. You will give yourself an advantage if you know:

• What they do
• Who their clients are
• A little about their history
• Other important public facts about the company

You can use this knowledge in your interview.

This is almost always the first question presented in an interview. The answer perspective employers are looking for is short, simple and job related. You do not want to go into your whole life story from birth to now. Instead touch on:

• Your education
• Your previous experience
• Any talents or hobbies you have that make you a good job candidate
• It is OK to mention if you are married or have children

Every boss wants to know why you want to work for him. Know ahead of time what appeals to you about the job. Avoid answers like:

• I don’t know.
• The money.
• It looks easy.
• My mom/wife/girlfriend told me to apply.

If you researched the company before the interview, you can use that to your advantage here.

Example: “I am familiar with your company and know you are number two in sales for industrial paint. My degree is in marketing and I enjoy spending time doing home improvements and am impressed with your product.”

Now is the time to focus on what you can bring to the company.

Be careful with this question and keep it business related. It is not uncommon for your strength to be your weakness. For example, your strength is you are a hard worker. Your weakness then may be that you are a workaholic.

Another way to approach this question is to mention your solution. For example, if your weakness is your typing skills, you can mention you are taking a class to help you become more proficient. Employers like to know that you are willing to grow.

During the interview, your potential employer is trying to find out about your goals. He is looking for someone who is reliable and plans to stay with the company long term. A good answer involves moving up in the company and some type of growth. Avoid answers like retirement or traveling around the world.

At some point during the interview, money will come up. Be prepared with a fair request based on your salary history and the market. Also consider your previous job experience and education.

Some will argue to ask for more then you want to give you some wiggle room in negotiations. This is appropriate if you are in a position where you have a lot of valuable experience and are in high demand. If it is your first job, be careful or you might push yourself outside the market, and you may not get the job simply because they do not think they can not afford you.

This just a small sampling of questions you will be asked at an interview. To feel comfortable on how to answer structured interview questions, have a friend or parent conduct a mock interview for you.

There are numerous resources online to help you prepare for an interview, including:

• 50 Common Interview Questions
• Resume Tips and Job Hunting Advice
• Quintessential Careers
• Resume and Interview Dos and Don'ts: An Interview with an HR Manager
• How to Dress For Your Interview

The day following your interview, send an Interview thank you letter to keep your name in front of the employer and thank him for his time.

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