The job interview is a crucial step in your job search. It is your chance to present yourself and convince a potential employer that you are the right person for the vacancy. Good preparation can increase your chances of success in the interview and help you land your dream job.

When preparing for a job interview, there are several aspects you should consider. The first and most important is to understand what is expected of you. This includes finding out about the company: its culture, its values, its market position and the latest news from and about the company. Also know the details of the vacancy you are applying for so that you can address specific tasks and challenges in the interview.

It is equally important to prepare for possible questions from the recruiter. It's not about memorizing pre-prepared answers, but about developing well-founded and convincing stories that demonstrate your skills, experience and achievements. You should expect both standard questions and questions that relate to your personality, your motivation, your skills, your attitude to teamwork and your future expectations of the company. These questions will allow the interviewer to analyze your ability to analyze and solve problems and assess your ability to integrate quickly and effectively into a team. You can prepare for the content of your answers to these types of questions accordingly.

Before the interview situation starts, the recruiter asks whether the journey to the company went well, whether a drink is desired or similar. The recruiter is already checking how good the applicant's small talk skills are. So don't give a monosyllabic answer, but prepare yourself for this question with just a few sentences.

When the interview starts, you will often be asked: Tell me about yourself!

This question serves as an introduction to get to know the candidate and assess their communication skills. Don't tell me what is already on your CV, but try to tell a short story that is characteristic of you and highlights a particular character trait. This introduction should not be too long, but should arouse interest in more. This is followed directly by the standard interview questions.

The 10 most common standard interview questions

Researchers at the University of Leipzig have investigated how different types of job interviews affect the impression of applicants. They came to the conclusion that there are ten typical questions that applicants can prepare thoughtful and convincing answers to in order to get the job. Here you will find an overview of these questions and possible strategies for formulating your answers.

1. why do you want to work for us?

To answer this question, you need to be able to analyze the industry well and classify the company according to its position. In terms of skills, you should only describe those that are relevant to the position and that you have.

Example answer: I highly value your company for its innovative strength and its leading role in the (name industry). I believe that my skills (name skills) can help the team to achieve (name company goals).

2. what do you know about our company?

If you provide concrete figures and information about the company's products and services in your answer, you will show that you take the job seriously and can convince the employer of your merits.

Sample answer: Your company is a pioneer in (describe the industry) and has made important contributions to (projects or products). It is known for its sustainable development strategies, which I greatly appreciate.

3. how would you describe your strengths?

It is important that you are truthful here, without embellishing or attributing skills to yourself that you do not have. It is best to emphasize these strengths clearly in an anecdote.

Sample answer: My strengths include (give examples, e.g. problem solving, leadership), which I have used successfully in the execution of (name tasks or projects). I can tell the following story ...

4. what are your weaknesses?

It is important to understand that you do not have to list all your weaknesses when answering this question. It is often asked to test how you behave in a stressful and unpleasant situation. Whether you are able to check yourself, adapt and work on your mistakes.

Sample answer: I can sometimes be too obsessed with detail when I'm working on projects. However, I am actively working on improving my time management and prioritizing the important tasks.

What you should not answer is your tendency towards perfection or your impatience. In other words, supposed weaknesses that are actually strengths. Your craving for chocolate or your lack of skills on the dance floor also don't belong in a job interview. An answer that is as neutral as possible is also recommended - for example: I find it difficult to remember the names of my colleagues at first, but this will improve over time.

The best approach is: This is my weakness. I have recognized this as such and this is what I am doing about it. For example: I have stage fright when I have to give a speech in front of large groups of people. I realized this back when I was at school, which is why I used many situations in everyday life and also in my previous position to give speeches in front of lots of people. Just recently, for example, at the birthday of our sports club chairman. I gave the eulogy there. The stage fright is still there, but I'm on the right track.

5. where do you see yourself in five years' time?

If you answer this question, you don't have to build castles in the air to impress your employer. Don't describe sky-high goals.

The best answer would be: I want to grow as a (job role) and have more positive impact on (specify area or projects). I see myself as a team leader working on (type of project). A relaxed answer like this shows that you are able to plan and move towards your goals step by step.

6. how do you deal with stress and pressure?

Although we all deal with it in our own way, this question is easy to answer: I use time management and prioritization techniques to organize my tasks effectively. Also, regular exercise helps me to keep a clear head. Don't tell them that you go to the pub after work or smoke marijuana to relax. It's important for your employer that you don't deal with pressure and stress with bad habits, but that you know how to manage them.

7. how do you resolve conflicts within the team?

If you have had an interesting, positive experience, talk about it in the interview. If not, a general answer will suffice: I approach conflicts constructively and try to understand the points of view of everyone involved. A spoken word is never as harsh as a written reproach. I believe in solving problems through direct dialog, understanding and compromise.

8. how do you motivate yourself?

This is where you can show enthusiasm by talking about simple ways to motivate yourself. For example: I am motivated when I achieve clear goals and get recognition for my work. It helps if I know what is most important for my company at the moment. I can align my behavior with this and thus make my contribution. I also appreciate the opportunity to learn and develop in a professional environment. When answering this question, it is important not to show that you are lazy or see work as a chore.

9. tell us about a project you have led!

This question should be answered truthfully and specifically, without exaggerating. The answer can be as follows: I led a project (name the project) where we achieved (name the results). My leadership approach was (describe management and communication strategies).

The point is to showcase your organization of successes, so review your project management and people management skills. Praise your team and emphasize that the success was not solely due to your project management, but that the team as a whole performed well.

10. do you have any questions for us?

From my own experience, I can say that this question can be confusing. If you don't have any specific questions, it's a good idea to answer in the following style: Yes, I would like to know more about the upcoming projects and how I can contribute to their success. I am also interested in how the company supports the professional development of its employees.

Better prepare for this by having at least five questions ready to ask. There will be a separate article on this topic, where I will pre-formulate several interesting questions for you to make your ultimate interest in the vacancy credible.

If you want to increase your chances of being invited for an interview, start with your application documents by making them look as professional and modern as possible. What do you think of our application designs?

In conclusion to the standard questions: Even if some of these questions are not asked, you can demonstrate your skills and show that you are interested in the company with a well-formulated answer. They can also easily be used as part of the answers to the other questions, which I will discuss later.

This article on job interviews is part of a whole series of articles on the topic. Follow the links to read more articles.

• Best comprehensive article on the job interview
• Questions about your strengths and weaknesses
• Job interview: 10 personality questions
• Job interview: 10 questions about your motivation
• Job interview: 10 questions about your skills
• Job interview: 10 questions about teamwork
• Job interview: 10 questions about your expectations of the job