Interviewers break the ice with lines like, “Tell us something about yourself”, to get you flowing. “Tell me about yourself” or “Tell us about yourself” are just a couple of versions of the same. In fact, you may come across rather challenging interview questions like, “Tell me something about yourself that is not written in your resume!”
Imagine, you’ve just aced the “Tell us something about yourself” moment in your interview. But what comes next often leaves many of us sweating. Those follow-up questions can sometimes feel like uncharted territory.
They seem to poke around the edges of our well-rehearsed stories, looking for more. It’s where interviewers try to get past the polished surface to see what we’re really made of. This part can be tricky, right? You’re not alone if you feel this way.
In this guide, we’re going to simplify it for you. We’ll outline the types of questions that usually follow your introduction and show you exactly how to prepare for them. Let’s make sure that when the interviewer digs deeper, they find pure gold – the real you, ready to shine in your new role.
Understanding the ‘Why’ Behind Follow-Up Questions
When interviewers ask you questions after your first big answer, they’re like detectives. They listened to your story about who you are, and now they want to know more. Think of it like when you tell a friend about a movie you just saw, and they start asking about the parts they’re most interested in.
In an interview, the questions that come next are special because they’re looking for three things.
3 Reasons Why Interviewers Ask Follow-Up Questions
They want to know …
- Are you being honest? They want to make sure the great things you said about yourself are true.
- Can you do more? They’re curious if you have even more skills and good points than you first shared.
- Will you fit in? Just like finding the right puzzle piece, they want to see if you will match well with their team and company culture.
They’re not just asking anything that comes to mind. They’ve got a plan. Each question is chosen to dig into your skills, how you act with others, and if you’ll swim well in the big sea that is their company.
Now, let’s get you ready for those questions so you can knock them out of the park!
Types of Follow-Up Questions and Preparations
All the common interview questions that interviewers ask you are their repertoire to understand you as much in-depth as they can in as little time as it can take.
Questions taking Deep Dive into Experience:
Imagine your job interview is a bit like storytelling time. You shared that you’ve been the boss before, leading a team through thick and thin. Nice start! But the interviewers are curious cats.
They want to know the ‘how’ and ‘why.’ Like, how did you get everyone to row in the same direction when the project was like a boat in a storm?
How to Handle Interview Questions Related to Your Experience Deftly?
- Remember a time when you were the leader and things got tough. Maybe a project was falling behind, and you had to find a way to catch up.
- What special moves did you pull to get your team back on track? Did you give a motivational speech? Did you help out with the extra work? Or maybe you found a smart shortcut?
- Keep this story in your mind so you can share it like a champ.
Questions Clarifying Qualifications:
Here’s where it gets real. You’ve got skills, lots of them, but which one is your shining star? It’s like being a superhero, and the interviewer wants to know your main power.
How to tackle the clarifying questions in any interview smartly?
- Look at all the skills you’ve listed in your resume. Which one is the strongest? If you’re great at many things, which one have you used the most to do something amazing?
- Think about why this skill is your number one. Maybe it’s saved the day at your last job or helped you nail a big project.
- Be ready to tell a story about that skill. Like, if you’re a wizard with numbers, maybe you found a mistake that saved your company some serious cash.
Questions Elaborating on Career Transitions:
Let’s say you’ve switched from one type of work to another, like from being a chef to a web designer. The people interviewing you are going to be curious. They want to know why you decided to make such a big change.
They’re not just being nosey; they want to make sure you’re someone who thinks things through and can handle new challenges.
How to talk about questions related to career transition in the interview?
- Think about the real reasons you decided to change your job path. Was it to learn new things? To chase a dream? Or maybe for a big opportunity that you just couldn’t pass up?
- Put together your reasons into a story that shows you’re all about growing and getting better. Maybe talk about what you learned as a chef that helps you be a better web designer now.
- Show them with your story that you’re not scared of new things—you’re excited by them!
Questions Exploring Educational Background:
Here’s where your school days come back to help you. The interviewer wants to know what you learned back in the classroom that will help you in this job. They don’t need to hear about every single class—just the stuff that’s going to help you rock this job.
How to answer interview questions related to your education tactfully?
- Think about the courses you took that taught you something useful for the job you want. Did you take a class in coding that’ll help you in this tech job?
- If you had a big project or did something really cool in school that’s like what this company does, that’s what they want to hear about.
- Connect the dots for them. Show them how what you learned in school is just what they need for this job. If the job is all about writing and you were great in your English classes, that’s the kind of thing they’re looking for.
Questions Discussing Career Goals:
Think of this like the interviewer asking you to share your roadmap for the future. They want to peek into your crystal ball and see if the path you’ve charted for yourself includes them. They want to know, what are your biggest career aspirations.
It’s kind of like asking if you plan to be a long-term traveler with them or just a short-term visitor. And all of this starts with you being clear about your main career goals!
How to answer questions about our Career Goals impactfully?
- Be honest with yourself first: What do you really want from your career? What are the big wins you’re aiming for?
- Now, think about how this job fits into that dream. Is it the perfect next step? Maybe it’s like that one class you need to graduate.
- When you talk to the interviewer, share your plan and show them how their company is a key part of it. It’s like saying, “Your company is the school where I can take that class I need!”
Questions Understanding Personality and Fit:
This is when the interviewer turns up the heat to see if you’ll sweat. They want to know if you keep your cool when deadlines loom and the pressure mounts. It’s their way of asking, “When the kitchen gets hot, do you turn into a master chef or do you want to get out?”
How to handle questions related to your job fitness in interviews?
- Think back to a time when things got super stressful. Maybe your computer crashed on the day of a big assignment, or the busiest day at work fell on the same day half the staff was out sick.
- Have a go-to story where you were the calm in the storm. It should show that even when the chips were down, you played your hand like a pro.
- Practice telling this story so it feels natural. You want to come across as the person who not only survives the storm but dances in the rain.
Questions Probing for Cultural Fit:
This is the interviewers trying to figure out if you’re going to get along with the other people at work. They’re big on team spirit and want to make sure you can join in the fun and be a team player.
How to handle questions related to culture fit?
- Think back to a time when you worked with others and everything just clicked. Maybe it was a group project in school or a time your work team pulled off something awesome.
- Find a story that shows you’re great at working with others. Perhaps you helped solve a disagreement, or you stepped in to help a teammate when they were swamped.
- Be ready to tell this story in a way that highlights how much you value teamwork. It’s not about taking all the credit; it’s about how everyone working together made something great happen.
Strategies for Crafting Your Responses
Tell a Story:
When they ask you something, don’t just list facts. Wrap your answer in a little story. Like, if they ask about your skills, don’t just say, “I’m good at sales.” Tell them about the time you were the top seller for six months straight at your last job.
Tip: Use the STAR method – Situation, Task, Action, Result. Start with the setting, explain the task you had, what you did, and how it all turned out in the end.
Keep It Relevant:
Make sure your story matches what they’re looking for. If the job’s all about teamwork, your solo victory in a hotdog eating contest might not be the best story, even if it’s impressive!
Tip: Before the interview, read the job description again. Think of stories from your past that show you have the skills and experience they want.
Be Genuine:
They want to know the real you. So, if you’re more of a quiet thinker than a loud go-getter, that’s okay. Share stories that show off your actual strengths, not what you think they want to hear.
Tip: Reflect on what you’re proud of in your work or school life. What moments make you think, “Yeah, I did good”? Those are the stories to share.
Practice Out Loud:
Talking in front of a mirror or to a friend can help you get comfortable with your stories. You don’t want to sound like a robot, but you also don’t want to be umm-ing and ahh-ing too much.
Tip: Record yourself if you can. Play it back. Does it sound like a conversation, not a speech? Good. That’s what you’re aiming for.
Show Your Enthusiasm:
Let your excitement for the job show in your voice and your words. If you’re excited about the job, they’ll be excited about you.
Tip: Think about what makes you really want the job. Is it the work itself? The company’s mission? Let that shine when you talk.
And there you have it! Just like a chef who knows the secret to a perfect recipe, you now have the ingredients for responses that will leave your interviewers hungry for more. Remember, every question is a stepping stone toward showing off the real, awesome you.
So go ahead, and share those stories that sparkle with your personality, align with your goals, and fit right in with the company culture. You’re not just answering questions; you’re giving them a preview of the great things you’re bringing to their table. Now, take a deep breath, believe in yourself, and let’s get them to say, “Welcome aboard!”