Top 12 Interview Questions for Freshers

Congratulations! For your way through the initial short listing process. The initial short listing may happen by looking at the resume available in the online portals, or you may have sent it to the recruiters or you may have received a phone call.

Now is the turn ahead is dependent on how you perform during the important round Face to Face. During the interview the interviewer will judge your various skills which are required for the tasks which you will do post the selection. Thus, you need the right way to introduce about yourself means the kind of thoughts you possess, your educational qualifications, professional qualifications which should be showcased in a way that you the only person suitable for the position through your confidence and poise. Of course, dealing with personal interviews or face to face interviews becomes much easier and builds your confidence from one round to another or one interview to another. But how a fresher should prepare himself for the interview, do not worry; this article may help you to prepare yourself for the interview as a fresher or a first time interviewee.

Confidence: A Core Interview Problem faced by fresher’s

It is a human tendency where most of the people lack confidence for most of the things they do for the first time. Even the Interview cannot be taken from the list.  Furthermore, most candidates do not lack on the qualification or skills rather they lack on the confidence due to the nervousness. For this very reason, they find themselves lost and confused during the interaction as they do not concentrate on what the interviewer is asking and sometimes few candidates are busy frisking their own hands. Knowing common questions beforehand can be very much helpful and builds self confidence in front of the interviewer.

Remember, sometimes the questions may be asked differently where the answer is same.

This question may also be asked as below

Take me through your resume.                  or                          may I know about you.

Understand what the interviewer wants to know when he asked you to tell him about yourself.

The interviewer uses this question as icebreaker to make the candidate comfortable. Moreover, this question also gives a chance to the candidate to set the tone of the interview and to present them in the best possible light. Importantly, as a candidate you should tell about yourself to the interviewer beyond the things present in your resume.

How to answer:

Prepare well for this question and answer smartly. It would be better if you give a quick but well-defined summary of your background.

Here are a few cues:

• Talk about your professional self, precisely.
• Don’t go into your whole life story as the interviewers are least interested to know about.
• Talk about your achievements and strengths,
• Indulge in specifics, but don’t narrate your resume.

The Right Answer:

As candidates are much aware about their strengths and weakness, thus most candidates take it for granted that they know the answer to this question. Later, during the interview they find it hard to frame the answer and lands in difficulty.

Why this question:

This question is to test how you will respond to something like this and that is why you need to put in some thoughts and preparations to get it right. Despite being one of the most widely asked questions in job interviews, interviewees tend to mess it pretty often.

How to Answer:

Never give the complete list of your strengths or weakness. Instead, sit, think, relax, choose one or two skills and explain why you consider having those strengths. You need to understand the strengths of yours should even be beneficial to your company and its growth. Some prior research will provide you with enough clues for that. And, even if you have an impressive list of strengths to your name, try not to come across as too arrogant.

Stay positive throughout your answer. You can begin by saying – “I have strong ethics while at work. When I have to meet some deadlines at work, I try to complete it within the stipulated time or ahead of that. While I was in my college…”

The Right Answer:

The question that follows is something you can amalgamate with your previous answer.

Why this question:

In line with the weakness, mention one or two weakness and only those weaknesses which have a right impact on the company. You should never showcase or say your weaknesses which harm or may weak the company.

According to an interesting write-up on ‘The Business Insider‘, – What Hiring Managers Really Want To Know – the question is a test of character. If I were to liken it to an onion, it is a question with multiple layers, which can be peeled through for each of them.

The first layer is obvious – there are looking for cues or red flags on why they should not hire you. Next, they are looking at your ability to be prepared and maintain composure in a difficult setting. They also want to know how self-aware you are and whether you’re doing anything to overcome them.

What are they ‘really’ asking:

Summarizing the points given above, here are the real questions nestled within a broader ‘What are your weaknesses’.

• Why should we not hire you?
• How do you react in a pressure situation?
• How self-aware are you?
• Would your weaknesses impact your job performance?
• What are you doing to improve on your weaknesses?

How to Answer:

Do not say that you don’t have any because that’s practically not true! In fact every person will have some weakness. Instead, talk about your weaknesses and talk about how you are working towards eliminating them.

Here one should demonstrate their weakness which in turn has a positive impact on the work or the company or both.

Do not count waking up late, drinking, smoking, etc. as your weaknesses.

The Right Answer:

Moving from one place to another in the same city or from once city to another may sometimes difficult for some or may be exciting for some others. However, when a recruiting manager asks you this question, he is looking for something different than what you are thinking. He wants to judge your level of enthusiasm and passion for the job role also, how comfortable you are, if you were asked to shift to some other branch in the future based on the requirement of the company.

Why this question:

A recruiter who asks this question is more privy to the demands of the job position than the candidate. And they’re filtering candidates on different counts – one being flexibility and availability at different locations and the other being an inclination to go places for the job can be immediately or may be some time later.

They are also checking on your enthusiasm and willingness for the job on offer and the company.

 What are they ‘really’ asking?

With this one question the recruiter asks you:

• Would you be open to travel for the job?
• Would you be open to transfers for the job?
• Would you be able to come in, when required?
• Are you really keen on this job?

How to Answer:

While answering this question, emphasize on your willingness to work with the company. Show your enthusiasm for the job role.

Don’t respond with a ‘No’ even if you are not willing to relocate.

The Right Answer:

This question is necessarily not asked to judge you on your job role. By asking this question, an interviewer wants to get an idea of how you are as an individual.

Why this question:

A recruiter might be interested in knowing about your health, energy level, or your ability to gel with your colleagues. Doing things apart from the job means that you are an all-rounder and your hobbies give an insight into the type of person you are.

Also, do highlight the hobbies which are related to the team activities say for example, your hobby is playing cricket through this an interviewer even judges that you are a team player and how it helps when you are on work.

Never mind even your hobby is listening to music, be upfront and say what your hobbies are.

What are they ‘really’ asking?

Specifically, the question behind the question on your hobbies and interests depends on who is asking it. If it’s the HR or the first-line recruiter, they want a better understanding of you as an individual and your commitment levels to your interests.

If it is from your reporting manager, then it’s to get a better sense of you and whether they would be able to get along with you, beyond the formal office structure.

How to Answer:

There are certain hobbies and interests’ that should obviously not be discussed in an interview. Even if your favorite time-pass is partying, it is advised not to say it at all. Same goes for activities like gambling, drinking, smoking, or any other illegal activity.

While answering this question, make sure that you are honest and your hobbies are genuine. Don’t say that you are a fitness enthusiast even if it’s been more than a year since you last hit the gym.

Whatever you say, be prepared for follow-up questions. For example, if you say you love watching movies, be prepared for the last movie you watched, or the type of movie that excites you or even narrating the movie.

In short, include these things:

• Mix professional and personal interests
• Mention positives – things that contribute to you (health, education, learning)
• Mention positives with community good – volunteering, green initiatives, helping others
• Include your passions and be prepared for follow-ups

The Right Answer:

When you hear this question during the interview, it sounds as a simple question and most exciting question of their interview. But stay positioned as this doesn’t necessarily indicate that you have been selected for a position.

Why this question:

Usually, employers ask this question when they hire for an immediate joining and the position is essential to company’s operations.

What are they ‘really’ asking?

The recruiters are judging your position right now – how eager you are for this position and how soon would they be able to close it, if they hire you.

A quick as soon as possible means you need this job straight up – maybe you’re between jobs and gives them an upper hand in the negotiation process.

How to Answer:

While answering this question, avoid sounding too desperate (even if you want to start it right at the moment!).The best way you can respond to this question is by conveying that you wish to start it as soon as possible as you have graduated and ready to work.

• Communicate your eagerness to join soon.
• Factor in your current commitments – for a fresher these could be the time you graduate, any upcoming plans
• Give a clear date
• Ask about the company’s needs and requirements

The Right Answer:

When a recruiter asks you this question, there may be a lot of answers arising in your mind – “I would like to move up the hierarchy”, “I want to be the best version of myself”, “At your role”, or “I want to see myself as a consultant.” However, you should refrain from saying any of these out loud in an interview.

Why this question:

An open-ended approach to knowing about your career goals, this is an attempt to learn about the maturity level of the candidate, their willingness and dedication to the prospective job.

What are they ‘really’ asking?

Repeating the above point, here are what they’re really asking:

• Your goals
• Your willingness to continue with the brand
• Whether you would be a good role fit

How to Answer:

So, how do you answer this question? You can be honest and still answer them what they expect to hear from you. Just think about where this position can actually take you and how that is in line with your broader career goals in a realistic manner.

The best you can do is be honest and try to keep your answer relevant to your job and the industry. Don’t share your plan of writing a novel in five years when you are applying for the position of a Programmer.

The Right Answer:

Another tricky question asked commonly – especially at startups, mid-size companies and with volume-oriented roles, like sales. So, be ready for this one if you’re going to one of these interviews.

Why this question:

The question doesn’t mean your company is planning on ruining your weekends. But depending on workload, companies do need flexible candidates who can handle the pressure at the work place and work late as and when required. These days the organizations especially the service industry is looking for the professionals who are flexible with the work shifts and week offs.

What are they ‘really’ asking:

The recruiter is asking you:

• How flexible are you?
• Can you take initiative to sacrifice personal time for a situation?
• Can you handle workplace pressure?
• Can we rely on you to step up, if required?

How to Answer:

Ideally, a carefully enthusiastic response towards being occasionally willing to do so is a good way to go.

If you aren’t comfortable with it for some reason, state the reason politely. Or you can just say that it would be fine once in a while but you normally prefer maintaining a work-life balance.

Also, this can be certain question when you mention yourself as married in marital status. The recruiter is keen to understand the work and life balance so that it does not impact the work when offered different shifts or rotational week offs.

The Right Answer:

Although this question comes so straightforward, the answer is complex. At the interview stage, when you have still not been finalized for the role, you won’t wish to give the chance up with an ambitious number. Neither would you want to commit to a small number and put yourself in a corner.

Why this question:

From the interviewer’s perspective, this question is an obvious filter – whether the candidate would realistically fit the company’s budget or not. It is also a judgment call – on maturity, self-awareness and industry awareness.

What are they ‘really’ asking?

Here is a list of questions they are really asking:

• Have you thought about your worth?
• What kind of salary do you expect?
• Do you fit our budget?
• What is the scope of negotiation?
• Should we select you?

How to Answer:

Just because they are asking doesn’t mean you will get what you quote. In fact, it’s a test as well. Do not say something that doesn’t go well with the position or beyond position expectation. Do your researches before you quote any number? And, in other words, be realistic and keep in mind. You can also get expectations about the salary from the initial phase of short listing your resume and also from portals such as Naukri.com, timesjobss.com or monster.com when applying for the job.

Note: Never quote a definite salary figure which draws a negative impact on you from interviewer perspective.

The Right Answer:

With this question, interviewers choose to filter the desperate candidates from the prepared ones. This question is not just about company knowledge but your dedication to the position that’s available and the company it’s available with.

Why this question:

Questioners make this inquiry to know whether you mind enough to do explore about the part and the organization before coming to go to the a meeting. They will probably enlist individuals who need a particular occupation in the organization and somebody who is energetic about working there. They additionally need to judge your level of interest to know things.

What are they ‘really’ asking:

Here is what they’re really asking:

• Are you really serious about this job?
• Have you invested time and effort in researching about our company?
• How well do you know us? Our sector? Our strengths and Weaknesses?
• Should we invest in you and bring you in as an asset to us?

How to Answer:

If you didn’t do your homework well, you can’t actually answer this question without stumbling and guessing. More similar questions can be raised, so be prepared with enough information to build your answers on. After all you should be aware and well known with the organization whom you have chosen to work with.

The Right Answer:

It is an unsaid rule that companies look for employees who can gel in well with their teams. Team players are future leaders, and a candidate who can’t work well in a team is more of a liability to the company than an asset.

Why this question:

Beyond core skills, the move towards finding the right-fit candidates is also dependant on their employability skills. It is these, which ensure that a candidate remains productive for the organization and helps it along on an upward trajectory. And team skills remain core to these employability skills.

What are they ‘really’ asking?

The recruiters are asking you:

• Do you gel well within a team?
• How do you perform, when you have to collaborate and coordinate with both within the department and outside?
• Would you be a negative influence on the team? Would you hinder or hamper operations?

How to Answer:

Provide instances from your college or internship life to tell your interviewer how you are as a team player.

The Right Answer: