The Singaporean business culture is demanding and competitive. A new employee’s ability to fetch the job will depend on how well they can navigate the interview process. This blog post offers advice on common interview questions in Singapore, including tips on how to prepare your answers ahead of time. Being prepared to answer these questions will set you apart from the competition and help you start your new job in the right direction. Here’s what you need to know when sitting down for an interview.
What are your weaknesses?
The purpose of these questions is to see how honest you can be about your flaws in an interview. Answer the question with a positive spin to counter any weakness you might have. For example, “I’m willing to admit that I’m sometimes too focused on doing things right the first time, which can hurt my productivity if it takes too long.” This statement shows that you are aware of the problem, but that you don’t sweat the small stuff.
Interview Tip: A good way to prepare for this question is to think about what your potential employer might ask you on the drive over to the interview location. What are some weaknesses you could admit to? If you can think up multiple answers, then it will be easier for you to come up with a good response when a recruiter asks this question during your actual interview.
Interview Tip: It’s also important to note that companies usually don’t expect you to have any weaknesses. They know that everyone has their flaws, so try not to make this question more stressful than it is.
What do you know about our company?
This question is a simple way for interviewers to gauge their knowledge of the business. If you say you know the company but can’t answer any questions about their products or services, then this will make them wonder if you did your research before the interview. List off a few positive things about the company, including their latest products or acquisitions, and note how these are keeping them competitive. If asked, you can follow this up with a question of your own, such as “What are some of the biggest challenges you see on the horizon?”
Interview Tip: To prepare for this question, do some research on the company beforehand. The more you know, the more relaxed you will feel and the better your answers will sound.
Why do you want to work at this company?
You have a choice when answering this question. You can be honest and tell the truth about your interest in the company, or you can work up a fluff answer to make yourself sound more impressive. The former can help you get ahead of the competition, but it is not always necessary. If you know of any large problems with the company, be upfront about them and explain how working there could prove beneficial to fixing those issues. If you’re interested in a company based on the opportunity to learn, be honest about that as well.
Interview Tip: Have complete answers to this and other questions by reading the company’s website and performing online research on their products or services. This will show that you know what the job is all about, which will boost your chances of getting hired.
What are your strengths?
Your interviewer might be assessing your personality or abilities during this question. Be honest and explain some of your strengths. If the question is a free-form one, then this is a good way to show that you are interested in the company, which will help you get hired. For example, “I’m great at helping out others with their work, and I would love to do more of that.”
Interview Tip: This question can be awkward for some people and it’s important not to let it throw you off your game. Keep in mind that the interviewers are just asking for a list of your strengths. There is no need to get creative or go into too much detail.
Conclusion
These questions are common in Singapore and around the world. Make sure you practice answering them out loud before going into your next interview. This way, you can make sure that your answers sound natural and that they support your candidacy for the job. You will also come away knowing what kind of questions you can expect at an interview, which will help you feel more comfortable when it comes time to speak with a recruiter in person.
