5 Things Interviewers Want to Know About You

What an interviewer really wants to know.


Job interviews can be really stressful. They take a lot of preparation and they are the make-or-break part of your job search. Even if you prepare great answers for the most commonly asked interview question, there are still plenty that you haven't even thought of. It's hard to know what the employer is looking for and even worse, what assumptions they are making about you. It's enough to drive even the calmest of us into a stammering pile of nerves. So what can you do?


First, take a deep breath. You don't have to answer every question perfectly. During the interview, the hiring manager or interviewer is trying to find out who you are, what you can do and if you are a good fit for the company. Of course, interviewers like to hire people who have charisma and who make a great first impression, but there are many other factors that go into deciding if someone is a good choice for a job opening.


Here are 6 things that interviewers want to know about you:


What you know - This includes your background, training and skill sets. They want to find out if you have the skills to do the job and if you are someone who thinks outside of the box or someone who prefers to stick with tried and true methods. Neither of these are wrong, but most employers know which type of person they are looking for, depending on the position they are trying to fill.

How do you handle change or conflict - Employers want to know that the person they hire has a good handle on social and interpersonal skills. 


Balance - If you say that you've always done an excellent job at everything you have ever done, have no weaknesses and already know everything, then the employer might think that you aren't realistic. Don't be afraid to show how you have grown, that you are aware of the areas where you need more growth and that you aren't always perfect. Of course, you don't want to overdo this, but don't be afraid of everything you think isn't "perfect" in your work history.


Blaming others and trash talking - When they ask about previous employers and other times that you have worked as a team, don't take this as an opportunity to pull out all of the dirty laundry. In fact, you should never, ever talk bad about anyone during an interview. Employers are listening to what you say in order to find out if you are the type of person who gives credit to others and if you are able to take responsibility.


Personality type - The interviewer wants to know what kind of person you are. When you answer their questions, they are looking to find out if you are have compassion, wisdom and the willingness to listen and think before acting. For any job opening, the hiring manager has an idea of what type of person they are looking for and what qualities are best suited for the job. Know what they are and make sure that you show those sides of yourself when answering questions during the interview.


Just being able to understand what the employer is looking for is the best first step to preparing for your interview. Do some research to find out what skills and talents the company needs and frame your answers in that direction.


What do you think about this list? Are there other things you think are important? Please share your thoughts in the comments.


By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for ManufacturingWorkersBlog and Nexxt. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.