THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS AT A JOB INTERVIEW

Querido estudiante,

Cuando te preparas para una entrevista de trabajo en inglés, es fundamental estar listo para responder preguntas que pueden ser decisivas en el proceso de selección. Cada pregunta tiene como objetivo no solo conocer tus habilidades y experiencias, sino también entender cómo te alineas con la cultura y los objetivos de la empresa. Además, es una gran oportunidad para demostrar tus habilidades en inglés.

En esta guía, te presento algunas de las preguntas más comunes en una entrevista en inglés, junto con ejemplos de respuestas que te ayudarán a destacarte y a practicar el idioma. Recuerda que la clave está en personalizar tus respuestas, basándote en tus experiencias, y en demostrar un interés genuino por el puesto y la empresa, mientras usas el inglés de forma clara y efectiva.

¡Espero que esta información te sea de gran ayuda, tanto en tu desarrollo profesional como en tu aprendizaje del inglés!

Aquí tienes las preguntas con algunas posibles respuestas que espero te ayuden!

1. «Tell me about yourself.»
   • This question is typically asked to understand more about your background, work experiences, and career goals.
2. «Why are you interested in this position?»
   • Interviewers want to gauge your understanding of the job and your motivation to apply.
3. «What do you know about our company?»
   • This question tests whether you have researched the company and are interested in becoming part of it.
4. «Why did you leave (or why are you leaving) your last job?»
   • This question helps employers understand your motivations for seeking a new job.
5. «What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?»
   • This is a common question used to assess your self-awareness and professional development skills.
6. «Can you describe a time when you faced a significant challenge at work and how you handled it?»
   • This question is designed to understand your problem-solving skills.
7. «Where do you see yourself in 5 years?»
   • Interviewers ask this to understand your long-term career goals and assess if they align with the company’s path.
8. «How do you handle stress and pressure?»
   • This is to evaluate your resilience, coping mechanisms, and your ability to maintain productivity under stress.
9. «What are your salary expectations?»
   • This helps employers understand whether they can afford your services and if your expectations align with their budget.
10. «Do you have any questions for us?»
    • This question assesses your ongoing interest in the job and gives you an opportunity to ask about the company culture, specific job duties, or expectations.

SOME POSSIBLE ANSWER

1. «Tell me about yourself.» : «I’m a professional with X years of experience in [your field/sector], with a strong background in [specific skills or areas of expertise related to the job]. Recently, I’ve been involved in [a project or achievement], which has [result or impact]. This experience reinforced my passion for [aspect of your profession], and I’m eager to bring my skills and enthusiasm to a new challenge.»
2. «Why are you interested in this position?» :»This position attracted me because it aligns perfectly with my skills and interests, particularly [specific aspect of the job]. I am impressed by your company’s commitment to [something you admire about the company, like innovation, community involvement, etc.]. I see a great opportunity here to contribute my skills in [specific skill] and [another skill], while also growing in the [specific area] aspect of my career.»
3. «What do you know about our company?: «I’ve researched your company extensively and am impressed by [specific achievements, projects, values, or goals of the company]. Your commitment to [something specific about the company’s mission or values] resonates with my professional values and goals. I am particularly excited about [an upcoming project, initiative, or aspect of the company culture], and I’m eager to contribute to your team’s success.»
4. «Why did you leave (or why are you leaving) your last job?»: «I am [leaving/looking for new opportunities] because I’m ready for a new challenge and to further develop my career. While I’ve gained valuable experience and skills at my current/previous job, such as [specific skills or achievements], I feel that now is the right time to explore opportunities that align more closely with my career goals, particularly in [specific area relevant to the new job].»
5. «What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?» :»One of my greatest strengths is [a strength that is relevant to the job], which is demonstrated by [a specific example]. As for a weakness, I’ve found that I [a weakness], but I’m actively working on it by [what you’re doing to improve]. For example, [a specific improvement or outcome].»
6. «Can you describe a time when you faced a significant challenge at work and how you handled it?»: «Certainly, there was a time when [briefly describe the challenge]. I addressed it by [describe your actions], which involved [mention any key skills or strategies used]. The outcome was [result], and it taught me valuable lessons in [what you learned], which I’ve since applied to my work.»
7. «Where do you see yourself in 5 years?»: «In five years, I see myself as a more developed professional in [your field], having taken on challenging projects and contributed significantly to my team’s and company’s goals. I aim to be in a position where I can lead projects/initiatives and mentor others, leveraging my skills in [specific skills or areas]. I’m particularly interested in [a specific area of growth or interest], and I believe this position will be a crucial step towards that goal.»
8. «How do you handle stress and pressure?» : «I handle stress by maintaining a balanced approach. I prioritize tasks based on urgency and impact, and I use [specific strategies, like time management tools, mindfulness, etc.] to stay focused and calm. One example is when [briefly describe a situation], where I [what you did]. This approach allows me to remain productive and ensure high-quality work under pressure.»
9. «What are your salary expectations?» : «I’m looking for a salary that reflects the experience and skills I bring to the position, as well as the industry standard for similar roles. I understand that the range for this position is [if you know the range], and I’m looking for something in that range, considering my [specific experience or skills that justify your expectation]. I’m open to discussing this further based on the overall compensation package and the opportunities for professional development.»
10. «Do you have any questions for us?» :»Yes, I’d love to know more about [specific aspect of the job or company you’re genuinely curious about]. Additionally, could you tell me more about [another question about team dynamics, company culture, or expectations]? Finally, I’m interested in understanding how success is measured in this role and what the key priorities would be for the first six months.»

Approaching each question with a mix of personal insight, research about the company, and clear career goals can help demonstrate your value as a candidate while also assessing if the opportunity aligns with your professional aspirations.