Do you ever feel nervous that your qualifications won’t be enough to get you your desired job? Do you worry that you will mess up your job interview or that the interviewer will take you by surprise?
Of course, you can never be completely prepared for every question your interviewer will ask. However, growing comfortable with and knowing the answers to some of the most common interview questions can help.
Here, we will talk about some common interview questions and discuss ways to answer them to impress your new building services employer.
Why Should We Hire You?
“Why should we hire you?” is a common interview question. It presents you with the best chance to sell yourself and to convince the interviewer that you deserve the job. You can use this moment to stand out, especially as a building service engineer.
When answering this question, you should try to mention the things you did not get a chance to highlight in the rest of the interview. You need to make sure your answer sets you apart from other candidates and showcases something unique about you.
You should show the interviewer that you are genuinely passionate about this job and that you care about the organisation and the culture it seeks to provide.
If this question is asked at the beginning; then you should explain how your personally ethics and values align with the companies values – so don’t forget to do your research.
What Are Your Weaknesses?
This question makes most engineers nervous, mainly because it is difficult to strike a balance between saying you’re perfect and naming a weakness that will put them off of hiring you.
To answer this, you need to keep two things in mind. Firstly, you should not name a weakness that might hinder you from performing well in the job you are applying to. For example, you don’t want to say you struggle with deadlines when it’s a vital part of an engineer’s job to meet them.
Secondly, choose a weakness that you are trying to fix. For example, if you say you have problems with time management, you can explain how you’re attempting to fix this and even ask for suggestions – this would show you’re coachable.
What Are Your Strengths?
For this question, you need to sell yourself further and set yourself apart from other candidates.
When talking about your strengths, pick out two or three good ones which you can prove through stories or experience. You should always elaborate on the strengths you mention and talk about how they will help you in your job, benefit the organisation, and set you apart from other candidates.
Where Do You See Yourself In X Number of Years?
This question is challenging because the answer you give can create any kind of impression. If you mention that you are ambitious, they may think you will not stay at the job for long. If you say you see yourself working for them, they might think you aren’t goal-oriented. There is no way to tell what the interviewer wants to hear.
Through this answer, you should show that you are ambitious but also have realistic goals. You should communicate a sense of flexibility while also incorporating the job you are applying for. If you do not see yourself working for them in the next few years, you can mention that the job will play a huge role in helping you determine your plans.
As with many of the questions, you need to show that you can strike a balance.
Why Do You Want This Job?
Interviewers ask this question to make sure you have done your research and that you are actually passionate about the job. This is your chance to showcase why you would be a good fit and how excited you are to work with them.
First, you need to align your skills and values to the job description. For example, if you are good at public speaking, a job that involves presentations and speeches would be perfect for you. Mention how the tasks required of the candidate align with your values and skills.
Second, you need to talk about why you’re excited to work at that specific company. You can mention a project of theirs that resonated with you or a part of their culture that inspired you.
Final Words
Before you give an interview, you should practice answers to some common interview questions as listed above. You should develop some techniques and rehearse some qualities that would improve your chance of getting the job. Almost all of these answers require expressing your passion and proving that you have done the necessary research.
Nervous about your next big interview? Contact one of our team to discuss a plan of action.
Author: Alex Cole is a Specialist Building Services Recruiter with Responsum. He’s always interested in networking with Building Service professionals. He loves talking football, is hoping to get on the property ladder soon, and visits Tenerife every year!
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