Summary
Most interview questions are asked to assess the candidate’s ability to handle the job for which he/she is being interviewed
A mix of good knowledge, right attitude and confidence is necessary to crack job interviews
Interview questions that are generally put up to Business Management students in job interviews are mostly focused on the candidate’s abilities to lead groups, work in a team, delegate tasks and other management skills. Though one cannot prepare for everything that could be asked during interviews, some questions are repeated often enough.
Preparing for these questions based on your own interests and skills will definitely increase your chances of securing your dream job with a little more ease. Most of these questions are abstract and behavior-based, which helps the interviewer assess your underlying capabilities and also your ability to handle the job for which you are being interviewed.
Tell us something about yourself
This is one of the most frequently asked questions in an interview and holds a lot of weightage for your final selection. Your communication skills are mostly judged by the interviewer while you present your answer for this question. Prepare a short and crisp answer to this question as being prepared will ensure you do not ramble. Focus on the course you have completed and your accomplishments; then try to relate them to the job description you are being interviewed for.
Why are you interested in this job?
This is another frequently asked question. Through this question, the interviewers try to look for those aspirants who really want to join them and those who are fit for the job. You need to provide some tangible reasons for wanting the particular job. Make sure that you know the job description. Remember one thing, recruiters definitely would not want someone who is just randomly coming for interviews hoping to get into the company.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
This is one question that looks extremely harmless, but it can get you to dig a pit and throw yourself in it. So prepare thoroughly. List out your strengths that would benefit the job and the organisation as a whole. List out three strengths that set you apart and which you can also relate to the job. While listing your weaknesses, never ever tell the recruiter any negative points about yourself. Always see to it that you relate your weaknesses to an aspect that is, in fact, good for the job.
How would your friends and teachers describe you?
Highlight your personal and professional attributes which will help to indicate your personality as a student and classmate. It would be better if you don’t make something up. Paint an accurate but attractive picture of what you are really like.
What are your hobbies?
Interviewers often ask such questions to get an insight into your personality and understand how you would fit in a workplace environment. Mention if you are into sports and other such activities because it marks you as a team player. Of course, it is okay if you don’t play any sports. Just make sure that you do not lie about your hobbies as the interviewer probably has years of experience in his/her field and will be quick to catch anything that might not sound true.
What are your short-term and long-term goals?
Prepare the answer to this question well as it shows your clarity of thought. Your short-term goals should be practical, concrete and achievable, while your long-term goals should reflect your ambition, passion and personality.
Hypothetical questions
Business management Graduates are asked a lot of hypothetical questions related to leadership skills, time management skills, teamwork, conflict-handling skills, problem-solving skills and other management skills. These questions are put up so that the recruiter can gauge your ability to perform in real-life situations and how you are going to face the challenges that will crop up in the course of your daily activities.
Why should we hire you for this job?
Blowing one’s own trumpet and doing it tactfully is not an easy feat, but it has to be done. Do it as tactfully as you can, keeping in mind that other students with the same credentials as yours are also being interviewed for the same job. While answering this question, it is important to highlight your skills as an individual and explain how they set you apart from others.
What motivates you?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question as everyone’s answer will be different. But illustrate your answer with examples and explain why something actually motivates you.
Do you have any questions for us?
Most interviewers will ask this question at the end of the interview. Be prepared with some good questions to ask them. Some simple examples would be your growth prospects in the organisation and its performance management system.
However, this is not an all-inclusive list. You may be asked some totally different types of questions by the interviewers. Remember that the key to cracking any interview is confidence. If you have good knowledge of your domain, have the right attitude and are confident enough, you can easily crack the interview.
Kulneet Suri is senior director at the Institute of Management Studies (IMS)Noida and an alumna of Harvard Kennedy School.
Last updated on 16 Jan 2022
