@SahilBloom: The interview process is never...

The interview process is never fun.

But it’s a real opportunity to stand out.

Master these 10 common questions to nail your next interview:

Question: “Tell me about yourself.”

This isn’t an invitation to recite your resume.

It's a test of whether you can provide a concise, thoughtful overview of your past, present, and future.

Keep it short.

Focus on key decisions and insights that may not pop off the page.

Question: “Why this company?”

Standard test for for shotgun blast applicants.

A generic answer can derail your process.

Do your research. Write down 2-3 unique points about the company that appeal to you.

You won’t get the job with your answer, but you can definitely lose it.

Question: "What would you do in the first 100 days on the job?"

This is a test of your preparation, research, initiative, and humility.

Have a concrete plan for how you would approach your early days.

Be sure fact-finding and learning is a key part of it (the humility aspect).

Question: “What are your strengths?”

Resist the urge to reel off a long list of broad strengths.

Tailor your response to the role and company.

Provide 1-2 key strengths that make you well-suited for this specific job.

Leverage storytelling—bring them to life with anecdotes!

Question: “What are your weaknesses?”

The majority of candidates try to pitch a weakness that is (not so) subtly a strength.

“I get TOO caught up in the details" just means "I’m detail oriented!"

Don’t do this.

Give a real weakness, but also how you're working to address it.

Question: "Tell me about a time you failed."

This is an assessment of:
• Whether you've faced failure
• Your resilience
• How you grew through the experience

You should have 1-2 specific stories to share.

Be as clear as possible—focus on the learnings from the failure.

Question: “What questions do you have for me?”

This is a test of preparation and personality.

Generic questions won’t kill you, but they won’t help either.

Ask something unique and get them talking.

Try this: “What are you most excited about that you’re currently working on?”

Question: “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”

This is an assessment of:
• Your ambition
• Whether it aligns with your growth opportunity at the company

In answering, keep those two in mind.

It’s ok if you don’t have a perfect answer—I still don’t know mine!

Question: “Why are you leaving your job?”

This can be a test for negativity.

Never say anything negative about your former employer—after all, this company may be your former employer someday!

Stay positive—highlight why the new role is a better fit for your goals.

Question: "How do you handle stress?"

Saying you never get stressed is not a viable path with this question.

Stress is a reality—everyone gets stressed.

Talk about 1-2 specific tactics for stress management.

Highlight a time when stress led you to rise to the occasion.

Those are 10 common questions to master if you want to nail your next interview.

Follow me @SahilBloom for more writing on careers, business, and growth.

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