IT staffing managers are always on the lookout for top candidates as attrition rates continue to climb up, and it’s not just in IT. As digital transformation shows no signs of slowing down in 2022, open positions within the engineering, technology, and support spaces become abundant.
In today’s candidate-centric job market, interviews are no longer just a tool used to vet candidates. Instead, its use has expanded to an avenue to sell organizations to potential employees. Interview questions aim to build meaningful connections and understand deeper what both sides offer in value. If you’re interviewing for a position in these spaces, we’ve curated some questions you can expect to get asked in 2022.
What’s Changed in 2022?
The way we work has drastically changed due to the disruptive changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. This might mean that work structures at organizations you’re hoping to get into have also shifted to accommodate flexibility, such as employing hybrid work or remote work.
While all other basic interview questions remain the same, here are three main questions you can expect to get asked in today’s job market within engineering, technology, and support spaces.
1. Tell me about a time when you had to relearn something you thought you knew.
Reskilling and upskilling are one of the emerging conversations across many industries, especially within the IT, engineering, and support spaces. According to a recent McKinsey Global Survey, 87% of executives say that they are experiencing skill gaps in the workforce. Reskilling and upskilling can help close these candidate gaps.
Talking about how you handle change and adapt also indicates your ability to step into a new skill or expand your learning as the industry requires. It gives interviewers a sense of how well you handle yourself in the workplace in the face of uncertainties.
As flexibility becomes an expectation in the workplace, remember that it applies to both the organization and employee. How well you answer this question says a lot about your professional flexibility and adaptability.
2. What are your pay expectations?
Often, this question had to be raised by candidates toward the end of an interview. However, in today’s market, where employees are put first, you can expect to be asked about compensation early on.
Organizations recognize that candidates across all industries are looking for stability and security. On top of the need for shorter hiring cycles, it can be valuable for both interviewers and interviewees to be transparent about pay and benefits.
3. What has the pandemic made you realize about balancing work and personal time?
Pandemic fatigue in the workplace is real. In taking on new roles, you have had time to process your previous work experiences and have higher expectations for your next one.
So, as we progress in a candidate-centric labor market, both employees and organizations need to be more open about how they operate and mitigate work stress. As well-being drives more and more conversations in the workplace, organizations are now encouraging candidates to set healthy boundaries as a recruitment marketing initiative.
General Interview Questions
In general, interview questions are designed to determine whether you’ll be a good fit for the organization. You may have presented all your relevant background on your resume, but interviewers will want to dig in a little deeper.
Personal interview questions can cover different things, from simple queries about your training and background to deeper ones about your strengths, weaknesses, self-awareness, and career goals. Here are the most frequently asked questions that interviewers ask candidates:
Most Asked Interview Questions
- Tell me something about yourself.
- What are you looking for in a job?
- What is your greatest strength?
- What is your greatest weakness?
- What are you passionate about?
Basic Interview Questions About Your Personality
- Are you easy to talk to?
- How do you evaluate success?
- How would you describe yourself?
- How would your co-workers describe you?
- What makes you unique?
- What motivates you?
Interview Questions About Your Work Ethic
- Describe your work pace.
- Describe your work ethic.
- What do you expect from a supervisor or manager?
- What philosophy do you follow in your work?
- What type of work environment do you prefer?
- What is your ideal organizational culture?
Interview Questions About Self-Awareness
- Do you consider yourself successful? Why?
- What sets you apart from other candidates?
- How do you handle failure?
- How do you handle success?
- What is the biggest criticism you’ve received from a boss and how did you handle it?
- Which part of this job is the least challenging for you?
- Which part of this job will be the biggest stretch for you?
Interview Questions About How You Handle Stress
- How do you handle stress and pressure?
- Tell me about the last time you were angry at work. What happened?
- If you know that your boss, supervisor, or manager is 100 percent incorrect about something at work, how would you handle it?
- Describe a time that you had to manage a problem employee. What happened?
- How would you adjust to working in a new environment?
- What can we expect from you if you’re hired?
Interview Questions About How You Would Fit In
- What made you apply for this job?
- What can you contribute to this organization?
- Why are you the best person for this job?
- Why should I hire you?
Interview Questions About Your Work History and Career Goals
- What is your dream job?
- Do you have a professional development plan? If yes, tell me about it.
- What did you like about your previous job?
- What did you dislike about your previous job?
- What was your biggest accomplishment in your previous role?
- What was your biggest failure in your previous role?
- Why did you leave your previous job?
- How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Tips for Answering Interview Questions
Talking about yourself can be stressful for some people. Others might make the mistake of overselling themselves at the expense of developing a personal rapport with the interviewer. How well you answer interview questions will provide hiring managers with the necessary insight into your personality. Here are some tips on how to answer interview questions.
Be Honest
Honesty truly is the best policy. Even if you try and present yourself as someone you’re not, it will only hurt you in the long run. It’s essential to set expectations early on. Consider whether the job is within your capabilities and whether it matches your personality, work style, and goals.
Exercise Discretion
While being honest is essential, this doesn’t mean you must provide information or details that may cast you in a bad light. Instead, try and be conservative in your responses. Provide only relevant information that can add value to your personality and character.
Show Self-Awareness
Being self-aware is a sign of maturity. Make your interviewer see that you have given thought to your strengths and weaknesses. This means that you are focused on your self-improvement journey.
Be Mindful of Tone and Attitude
If you are uncomfortable talking about yourself, try not to let it show through your tone and attitude. Converse politely and communicate effectively. Approach each question as a rapport-building conversation starter that goes both ways – for both sides to get to know each other.
Do Your Due Diligence
Do not come unprepared. You might be going through a series of interviews in your job hunt, but it’s important to treat each of them equally important. Research your potential organization and review the job listing to ensure that your answers align with the needs and requirements of the position you’re applying for.
Spin Questions to Your Advantage
Interviews are the most effective way of showing how your personality and character traits make you the best person for an open role. When answering interview questions, make sure you put your best foot forward. It might seem tricky, but try to spin questions to your advantage by using each question as a starting line to talk about things that highlight what makes you unique and irresistible to hire.
ACS PROFESSIONAL STAFFING CAN FIND THE BEST POSITION FOR YOU
ACS Professional Staffing is your trusted and reliable staffing partner in today’s unpredictable job market. We aim to connect the best candidate with the best organizations out there. ACS Professional Staffing understands the value of a meaningful working relationship that empowers you to achieve success in your field.
Our team of specialized recruiters can open doors to a wide variety of career opportunities in IT, engineering, finance, administrative support, and more. Partner with us today!