What the Interviewer Really Wants to Know

Compared to some other questions you may get during an interview, queries about your skills and abilities are relatively straightforward. Interviewers ask these questions because they want to know what you’re capable of.  However, do pay attention to what’s below the surface. Think about why interviewers would ask this particular question. For example, a question about explaining a complex subject to a non-expert audience may be both about your subject matter expertise and your ability to communicate with people who have a different background.

How to Answer Interview Questions About Your Abilities

The key to responding to these questions is having plenty of examples at the ready.  You may get a lot of behavioral or situational interview questions. That is, interviewers will propose a certain scenario, and ask how you’ve dealt with it in the past or would deal with it in the future. When you’re faced with questions that start off with “Tell me about…” it can be really helpful to use the STAR technique to devise your answer. With this tactic, you’ll description the Situation (or problem), the required Tasks, the Action you took, and the Result. This will help you tell a relevant story, without rambling. By describing your actions—and the results—you’ll be highlighting the abilities you’ll contribute. 

Sample Interview Questions and Answers

Review a few sample job interview questions and prepare replies that answer the interviewer’s likely intent, as well as what they’re saying on the surface level, and you’ll make the best possible impression.

Question: Tell me about a time when you had to convey technical information to a non-technical audience.

Intent: The interviewer wants to know how you relate to people outside your area of expertise.

Question: Tell me about a time when you worked with interpreting and presenting data.

Intent: If you are in a non-technical profession, this question is designed to see if you are comfortable with information not directly related to your position.

Question: Why do you think that you will be successful in this job?

Intent: The interviewer is concerned as to whether you see this as a career move or stop-gap employment.

Question: Tell me about a time when you participated in a team. What was your role?

Intent: Companies, for the most part, do not want “Lone Rangers”—they are looking for employees who will adapt to the company culture and get along with others. The interviewer wants to get a sense of how you work with others. 

Tips for Giving the Best Answer 

Review the job description, matching your abilities to their requirements. Make a list of keywords from the description that match your qualifications. Review skills lists for your field, job title, and experience so that you can include any related abilities that aren’t mentioned outright in the ad. Prepare a few stories to share. You can’t know which questions you’ll be asked, of course, so it pays to come to the interview with a few relevant stories to share. Choose examples that demonstrate abilities that seem most important to the company. Practice, but don’t memorize. Good storytelling skills will take you far, both in job interviews and in your career once you’re hired, but you don’t want to seem like you’ve committed specific stories to memory, only to shoehorn them into the conversation wherever possible. Focus your practice interviews on developing a high comfort level around the topics that are likely to come up. You’re aiming for a productive conversation, not a monologue.

What Not to Say

Don’t be dishonest. It’s never a good idea to lie during an interview. If an interviewer asks about a skill or ability, and you don’t have it, just say so. Fibbing can only lead to trouble.Don’t ramble. Long or incoherent responses are hard on interviewers, who may get lost in your response or struggle to pay attention. Keep answers succinct and in general, avoid jargon or delving too much into details.