Most Common Interview Questions

Job hunters are not the only individuals who are stressed by back-to-back interviews. Interviewers and hiring managers can be equally stressed out or nervous while preparing a list of interview questions to be asked. One reason for this phenomenon could be that such recruiters are not seasoned interviewers and lack experience when it comes to pitching interview questions. Icebreaking interview questions are, in reality, behaviour-based questions that help put both the candidate and the interviewer at ease while simultaneously throwing light on the interpersonal and communication skills before the interview commences.
When you enter the interview or conference room, the first question is generally designed to give you the opportunity of introducing yourself so that you feel relaxed and comfortable in the room before specific interview questions are hurled at you. Generally, icebreaking interview questions are broad and have a wide scope; yet, they can have tremendous potential in altering the course of the interview.

When it comes to job interviews, you are not going to bag the job on the basis of right answers provided; however, you can lose a potential job when you provide a wrong answer. Although icebreaking interview questions will be general questions about yourself or the day’s proceedings, keep in mind that this is the recruiter’s primary impression of you. If you provide the wrong first impression, chances are high that you may not make the cut. Therefore, be careful.

After you have entered the conference room or the recruiter’s office, an innocuous question like “Did you face any difficulties locating our office?” can effectively break the ice. Some candidates answer, “Not at all” or “Yes, but I managed to find it with some local help.” If you are extremely familiar with the region, indicate how because it could ease that small talk before the official interview commences.

Some of the most common icebreaking interview questions are given below:
• Can you tell me something about yourself?
• Did you face any difficulties locating our office this morning?
• Have you been in these premises before?
• Would you like to have a glass of water or some coffee?
• Do you like the present weather?
• Why have you applied for this job?
• If there is a super-hit movie that has been recently released, you may be asked something like, “Have you seen XYZ movie?” or “Who was your favourite character in XYZ movie?”
The most crucial aspect of answering icebreaking interview questions is building a good rapport with the interviewer. As previously mentioned, you will not get hired by answering the icebreaking question in a smart way; however, answering the question in the wrong manner may dampen your chances of getting selected.

Tips
• Provide an answer that is related to the question, while being polite and brief. This is not the time to blurt out your entire life story to the interviewer.
• Be excellent in your communication skills. Using slang words and non-standard English may give off an unprofessional and careless first impression.
Even before the commencement of the actual interview, the interviewer or hiring manager is trying to form an assessment of your suitability to the position you have applied for. How you greet the recruiter, your handshake and attire, and whether you have developed a good rapport with the receptionist are all an intrinsic part of a recruiter’s preliminary evaluation. When the hiring manager or recruiter arrives to greet you in the waiting room, if you nod or acknowledge the team member who made an announcement with regard to your arrival, chances are high that you have made a positive impression on that team member. Such incidents may indicate your ability to carry out effective interactions with other colleagues and co-workers at different levels in the organisation.

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