Job Interview Questions and Answers - How to deal with tough questions

Job interviews are stressful no doubt, however if one is properly prepared then there are umpteen chances that he or she will be able to crack the interview.

The job interview questions and answers does not only test a candidates intellect but it also test the candidates presence of mind, his patience and his overall attitude.

Every candidate who comes for a job should be properly prepared. An unprepared mind will make fool out of himself in the interview room. Every candidate who comes for the interview has almost the same qualification and the same aspiration. So it is imperative for a candidate to distinguish himself from the crowd; personal branding of oneself is a must and it always plays a pivotal role in a candidate's success.

At present there are no guides on job interview questions and answers which focus on personal USP. USP a marketing concept stands for unique selling proposition; a candidate USP will create a distinct image of the candidate in the mind of the interviewer which will distinguish him from the rest of the candidate. The job interview questions and answers session tests a candidate's mettle, his preparation and his ability to influence the interviewer. Some typical questions which are generally asked are: describe yourself, why do you want to join our company, how do you handle stress, are you a team-man, what is a your expected salary, why should we hire you, what is your work ethics, what is your dream job, why did you leave your previous job, describe about your previous work, do you have any question to ask and so on.

The candidate should be prepared with his personal profile but while presenting it, it should not appear as a rehearsed activity. While presenting the personal profile a candidate should mention his educational qualification, his family background and his achievements. If the achievement is in the relevant field for which the candidate has applied then it should be mentioned very clearly. Answers should be precise and to the point. While answering, the candidate should address everybody, make proper eye contact, should have proper body language and should always carry a pleasant smile on his face.

The candidate should state that he has relevant qualification for the post for which he has applied, he is a team man and for him work is more important than money but it should not be overstated. About why did he leave his previous job a candidate should be honest but should not allow the focus to shift in this direction. On being asked about the expected salary; the job-seeker should not make the first statement as he may end up losing if the employer was willing to pay more. The job interview question and answers slightly differ for a fresher and for a work experienced. For a fresher the focus is on his education and his other relevant skills whereas for a work experienced the focus is on his previous work. No job interview question and answer guide will help a candidate unless and until he believes in himself.

David O'Neill is a career expert and a writer. Find out more about job interview questions and answers and tips at his website: Job Interview Handbook.