You’re all up to speed on what a one-way video interview is and have learned about best practices for successfully completing one. Now, how do you go about answering the one-way interview questions? You definitely want to seize this opportunity to show the recruiter or hiring manager that you are a good fit for the job and that you are sincerely interested in the company and position.
Below you will find several of the more popular questions recruiters and hiring managers ask in one-way interviews along with tips on how you can form great responses:
Why are you interested in this position?
Take this opportunity to talk about how your past experiences have helped to prepare you for this job. You should also mention any success you experienced in a previous position that will show that you are the right candidate.
What do you know about our company?
There is no reason that you shouldn’t be able to answer this question. Thanks to the internet, you can easily look up anything you need to know about a company. The recruiter or hiring manager is asking this to see if you’ve done your research prior to the interview, therefore, make certain that you do. Research the company by browsing their website, reading articles about their accomplishments, and checking out their social media accounts (if any) to get an idea of their company culture. You don’t need to recite every single fact you find, but make sure you mention at least some of the following:
- The type of product or service the company sells
- How long the company has been in business
- The company’s recent accomplishments
- What the company culture is like and how it relates to your values and personality
What are your strengths?
Your response should relate to the job description and your ability to perform the tasks assigned to you. For example, if you are being interviewed for a position where you will be leading a large group of people discuss your strong communication skills and ability to work with a variety of people and personalities.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
There is no perfect answer to this question because responses will vary depending on the industry and the individual. A recruiter or hiring manager simply wants to find out how well you plan ahead and if your goals match those of the company. It’s important, though, to avoid saying anything that makes you seem abrasive, short-term minded, or lacking in goals.
What is your ideal work environment?
This question is asked so a recruiter or hiring manager can determine if you’d be a good fit for a company’s culture. Be honest in your response. If you would work well in a large, bustling office, say so. If you prefer working in a small office so you can easily collaborate with colleagues, explain why this is important to you.
Describe your work ethic.
Again, this question is asked to find out how well you can fit into a company’s culture. Describe how important it is to you to complete all of the tasks assigned to you effectively and efficiently.
Tell me about yourself.
Don’t answer this question by rambling on about your hobbies and your pets. Use this as another opportunity to direct the recruiter or hiring manager’s attention to your skills and accomplishment to really impress them. Talk about what interests you about the industry and what you hope to bring to their organization.