As the world continues to evolve and change, so will the interview questions at job interviews.
The pandemic has changed the way we work, the development and use of AI means different roles and skills are now in demand for companies to succeed in this new era of work, and changing workforce requirements means organisations have to be innovative in order to attract talented individuals.
One of the primary ways this is done during the hiring process is by changing the interview questions asked.
So, here are some interview questions you should prepare for if you’re going for a job interview in 2022.
1. How did the pandemic affect your career goals?
COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in many plans and given others a new perspective in life. By asking how your career goals are affected, hiring managers are looking for more information about what you’re looking for in a job to see if you’re the right fit for the company.
Answer this question by talking about what you’ve learned about yourself or the world as a result of the pandemic and what impact that has on your career choices. Did you realise you want a job that is more in line with certain intrinsic values? Have you finally decided to make that career change you’ve been dreaming about for years?
Talk about your thought process and take this opportunity to highlight any transferable skills you have.
2. What are some of the challenges you had during the pandemic?
No course or institutionalised training can prepare you for the new challenges and unforeseen circumstances you will have to face in the future. The pandemic is a very good (and universal) example of that and hiring managers will definitely utilise this setting to learn more about how you navigate unexpected changes.
This is a behavioural interview question for you to share ways in which you’ve dealt with problems and overcome challenges. To give a comprehensive answer to these types of questions, start by identifying the challenge you’re faced with and explain the circumstances at hand, then describe what action you took and what the results were afterwards.
3. What is your preferred working style?
During the pandemic, managers have been forced to work remotely with their teams for an extended period of time. This has allowed organisations to explore hybrid working arrangements as options to increase a person’s work productivity and effectiveness.
Post-pandemic, this will be the question most commonly asked in place of “Do you prefer to work independently or as part of a team?” in order to assess which setting you’ll be able to deliver the most value to the organisation.
4. How do you inject an element of creativity into your work?
As the world accelerates the use of AI across all sectors of work, the value of people will no longer lie in technical skills or even in productivity. Your innate human skills and creativity are your biggest assets in this new era of work.
All work roles will demand an element of creativity and innovative thinking, so this is what hiring managers will be looking out for. Share your brainstorming process with the interviewer and give examples of unique solutions you have come up with as a result. Alternatively, share some creative tips you have used in order to increase your productivity or solve problems in your work.
5. Share a time you have gone beyond the job description, to help your colleagues or the organisation.
This question is used to explore your initiative and character. By giving an example of how you have gone above and beyond what is asked of you, the hiring manager is looking to find out how dedicated or passionate you are about your job and the work you do.
You don’t have to give extreme examples of the impact you’ve made in the workplace. Share the little things you do everyday that have the potential to make a big difference. How do you take care of your colleagues when they are feeling under the weather? Do you interact with the cleaning staff at the office? Talking about the simple errands you’ve done in your previous organisation can show hiring managers what matters to you.
6. How have you developed during the pandemic — both personally and professionally?
This question allows hiring managers to look for people who aren’t just full of empty promises but who will also do what they say as well. After all, no one wants to hire a freeloader who’s only good at taichi and criticism but nothing else.
So, take this opportunity to give examples of what you have done during the pandemic. Give more examples of things you’ve accomplished rather than focusing on elaborating one awesome thing you did.
7. How do you practice lifelong learning and continuous upskilling?
COVID-19 has proved that organisations need people who are agile, adaptable and possess the skills needed to adapt to sudden challenges and opportunities. This means hiring managers will be looking out for a candidate’s commitment to self-improvement and independent learning rather than simply efficiency in their current job scope.
If you enrolled in online classes or expanded your technical skills during this period of time, share these experiences as examples of lifelong learning. But if not, share how you have improved yourself or any new interests and hobbies you have developed, and remember to tie it back to learning and self-improvement.
8. How do you deal with failure?
When you’re faced with this question, remember that organisations are not looking to hire someone who has not failed before. Failing is an essential part of life that everyone will experience at some point. In fact, being able to overcome debilitating failure makes you even more of an asset to the company that you will work for.
Answer this question with examples of your failures and how you have remained resilient and persistence in spite of the circumstances. Don’t forget to share how the process in which you overcame that failure. If possible, share an example of failure in which you tried different approaches to overcome it, so you can show off your creativity and problem solving skills.
Want more interview tips to ace your upcoming job interview? Consult our HR consultants at People Profilers for more targeted support.