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Final Interview Questions

final interview questions

So, you’re finally going for that big job you’ve always wanted. You made it through the first couple of interviews, but then it’s time. The final interview is approaching.

And regardless of how confident you are, it’s easy to get nervous and be at a loss for words. A final interview is an intimidating situation and can throw you off your game. Hey, it’s happened to all of us and one time or other! That means it’s important to be prepared. You need to plan for any possibility in the meeting.

That’s why I’ve decided to put together a list of final interview questions to give you the best possible chance of nailing that job.

final interview questions

Examples

Tell me about yourself

This is normally the first question asked in an interview. You’ll probably have already been asked it in a previous round of interviews, but you should expect to hear it again. The final interview is generally conducted by someone high up in the company, and they’re going to want to know all about you.

This is a chance for you to show off your communication skills. Show that interviewer that you can give clear, concise information. There’s no need to go into too much detail; just stick to the facts and express them in an easy-to-follow order.

Let’s not get too personal…

There’s no need to include the ins and outs of your friendships and relationships. The interviewer wants to know about your professional development and suitability for the role. Sure, include some personal details for color, but for the most part, include relevant information about your career and achievements.

Aim to talk about this for around a minute. Any more than that, and the interviewer may lose interest, but any less, then you might sound a bit boring. Plan what you want to say before entering the room and get your statement in chronological order.

Why do you want this job?

An oldie but a goodie! This is an extremely common question to be asked in an interview. And it’s not always easy to answer. You can’t just say “because I need money”! Yes, that’s why we all take on jobs. But the interviewer wants to know what drew you to this role specifically.

This is an opportunity to show them what a great fit you would be. Talk about why the position sparked your interest and show as much enthusiasm as possible. Try to go into detail as it will prove that you have both the know-how, and passion, for the job.

Show interest in the mundane…

Plus, if you can show an interest in the mundane parts of the role, then so much the better. Does the job involve filing? Talk about your love of routine and attention to detail. The goal here is to find the silver lining in every aspect of the job.

What do you know about this company?

It’s time for a spot of flattery. Here, you get a chance to show that you’ve done your research. Convince your potential new boss that you and the company are well-suited to each other. This should be a fairly easy question to answer. You simply need to do a bit of studying. All the information you need is easy to find.

The company website is probably the best place to start. It should have an ‘About Us’ section or something similar. You could also check Wikipedia for extra details.

Know the mission statement…

Try to remember key points in the company’s history. Also, familiarize yourself with their mission statement as well as company ideals and standards. And be sure to avoid mentioning any stains on their past, should as scandals or negative press!

What are your salary expectations?

No one enjoys talking about money. It’s an awkward subject. But at some point during the interview, it needs to be discussed. In an ideal world, the employer would be upfront about the compensation offered in the job posting. But we all know that rarely happens. They’re far more likely to write “competitive salary offered’, or words to that effect.

A good trick here is to check the average salary for similar jobs. That gives you a ballpark to aim for. Start at the higher end of the salary range and allow the company to negotiate down to something that suits you both.

Know your worth…

But don’t sell yourself short. Remember: all companies exist to make money, and most want to spend as little as possible on their employees. Know your worth, and take that into account when discussing your pay.

If you’re unsure about pay rates where you live and want to know more, check out this handy website. It has all the information you need to learn about state minimum wage in your area.

the final interview question

What are your greatest strengths?

It’s time to talk about how great you are! This is a chance to show off a little bit. The employer wants to know exactly what you’re bringing to the table.

Of course, you should try to keep it relevant to the job. Your new boss doesn’t want to know that you can run a marathon in under four hours! A little personal color is fine but generally, stick to discussing your strengths in the workplace.

Use real-world experiences…

If you’re an awesome team player, tell them! Do you have excellent attention to detail? Say it out loud! You know what an amazing employee you are, and you need to let the interviewer know it too!

Try to use real-world experiences to back your statements up. You could talk about a time in a previous job when you handled something well. It always helps if you have evidence to prove that you are as good as you claim to be.

What is your biggest weakness?

If they’ve asked about your strengths, chances are they’ll want to know about your weaknesses as well. The boss wants to get a well-rounded overview of who you are, the good and bad. After all, nobody is perfect!

You need to be honest with your answer. But you should also mention the steps you take to deal with the weakness. If the company can see that you’re trying to overcome the problem, then that’ll impress them even more.

Answers to avoid…

Do not say you’re bad at timekeeping! And don’t mention anything too serious. You shouldn’t lie here, but don’t go overboard with how bad you are at something. And above all, stay away from tired old answers that try to trick the interviewer. “I’m too much of a perfectionist” is not a weakness, and the boss knows it. Trust me; they’ve heard it all before.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

This question is designed to test your ambition and drive. The interviewer wants to know that you’re a go-getting individual. They also want to know if you’re planning to stick around.

The best answer here is probably that you want to be in a higher role in the same company. That shows that you intend to be loyal to your employer. It also tells them that you have the drive and work ethic to go for promotions.

Realistic expectations…

That answer might not be entirely truthful. You might be hoping for a career in the same industry but with a different company, and are using this one as a stepping stone. The interviewer will not want to hear that, though, so it’s best to avoid saying it.

Stick to your expectations in your work life too. This is particularly important for women. Employers should not ask you if you’re planning to have children, so this question can be a sneaky way of finding out if you’re likely to need maternity leave.

What are you passionate about?

Now it’s time to get a bit more personal. With this question, they want to know the real you. What are your hopes and dreams? What do you love in life?

Most final interviews questions have a roughly specific answer the employer is looking for. But here, you can think outside the box. There’s no right answer this time.

Show your personality…

You can use this answer to let them know that you’re a good person as well as a good employee. Tell them how you want to make the world a better place. This could be pursuing social justice issues or simply looking after your family and those around you.

Or you can relate it to your work. Explain how technical challenges inspire you. The choice is yours.

the final interview questions

What makes you different from other candidates?

This is a tricky one to answer. Unless you’ve done previous group interviews, then you have no idea who else is applying. It’s difficult to know what they might bring to the table. So, don’t think about them. Concentrate on yourself! Show the interviewers that you have what it takes.

Call on your previous experiences, both in and out of the workplace, to show why you’re the best. Explain your unique perspective on the role and how that makes you special. It’s all about being creative to make yourself stand out among the pack.

A head above the rest…

If the boss can see that they’re getting a fresh idea, then they’ll be thrilled. Employees always love candidates who can look at things from different angles. Take your time before the interview to think of a truly interesting answer to this question.

Do You Have Any Questions To Ask?

There’s only one correct answer to this. “Yes, I do!”

The employer needs to know that you’re genuinely interested in the job. You have to show them that you want to know more. And a good question from you can make or break an interview.

What should you ask?

Try asking for a deeper understanding of something you already know. If you’ve done your research into the company (as you should!), then you can ask for more information about their procedures or values. Not only doesn’t this show you’re eager to learn, it tells them that you’ve made the effort to get to know them before the interview.

It’s also a good idea to ask about opportunities for advancement. This lets the boss see that you’re a driven employee. And it’s never bad to ask about their expectations for you, as it shows that you want to do your best in the role.

Understand the working environment…

A website such as Glassdoor is a fantastic place to get inspiration for the questions you’re going to ask. It allows you to read reviews of the company written by previous employees. This gives you a better understanding of the environment you’ll be walking into, meaning you can plan your questions accordingly.

Additional Interview Advice

You can never be too prepared, so why not take a look at my guides on how to Answer Why Best Candidate Position, What Are Your Career Goals, Why Do You Want To Work Here, or perhaps How To Answer What Are You Passionate About, What Makes You Unique, as well as How Do You Handle Conflict, and What Are You Most Proud Of.

The STAR interview method has been proven to be very effective; I like using the interactive STAR METHOD INTERVIEW: Interview Journal: Notebook for practice in conjunction with The STAR Method Explained: Proven Technique to Succeed at Interview, or The STAR Interview: How to Nail the Interview and Land Your Dream Job.

Furthermore, we also found Amazing Interview Answers: 44 Tough Job Interview Questions with 88 Winning Answers, How to Answer Interview Questions: 101 Tough Interview Questions, or how about the INTERVIEW with DESIRE and GET HIRED! and Get That Job!: The Quick and Complete Guide to a Winning Interview all available online in 2023.

Final Thoughts

No one likes job interviews. But we all have to do them. And the key to acing one is preparation, and now you have an idea of what questions might be asked in your final interview.

Think carefully about what your answers should be. And put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes: what would you love to hear from a potential new employee? Don’t wait until the morning of your interview to start thinking about this. It’s important to do it in advance. A successful candidate is always a well-prepared candidate.

So, what are you waiting for! Take a deep breath, get into that interview, and knock their socks off!

All the very best preparing for the Questions in your Final Interview!

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