Tips for Answering CV Questions in Job Interviews

When a job interviewer asks questions about your CV, how should you answer them? Just follow these tips.

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Knowing how to answer interview questions is one huge key to breezing through a job interview. Here’s what you need to know about answering questions based on your CV so that you can stand out and be successful in your job search.

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Why do job interviewers ask CV questions?

There are a few reasons that job interviewers ask CV questions in the first place.

First of all, job interviewers want to know you’re telling the truth about what’s on your CV, and that often means making sure you know your way around it. If you can say the same things about your current job in the interview process as you did on the CV, then the chances are that the work experience is true.

This is not just about whether you truly worked there but also about the truthfulness of what you did.

Job interviewers may also want some clarification about your CV. If there are any red flags on your CV or they want to hear more about your current company, then they’re going to ask you questions about your career goals and your past career path.

Additionally, behavioural interview questions especially often give more insight into how your skills can benefit a company. Sure, you’ve listed your skills and written job descriptions, but what will those skills actually do in a work environment? These questions ensure that you’re able to connect to the company culture of the new job.

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How to answer CV questions with the STAR method

The STAR method of answering interview questions helps you showcase things like problem-solving skills and how you handle stressful situations. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. With this process, you first showcase a situation you were in, talk about the task you had to complete, mention an action you took, and then discuss the result.

This is a great way to answer anything pertaining to the question, “What do you do when you’re in this situation?” If a recruiter is asking you to describe how you do or would act in a specific situation, then the STAR method is extremely effective.

It’s always good to relate your answers back to your CV. For example, if a recruiter asks you about your biggest weakness and you list “detail-oriented” as one of your skills on your CV, you would never want to answer that you have a hard time paying attention to small details. Instead, you would want to show self-awareness. For example, you could say that you have a hard time seeing the big picture.

This relates to your CV as well, indicating that you really are focused on the details – sometimes enough that it impacts your ability to see the bigger picture.

FAQ: CV questions

Q: What questions should I have for an interviewer?

At the end of the interview, the interviewer will typically ask, “Do you have any questions for me?” It’s important that you have a few questions ready to ask, as this reflects very well on you as a team member. Some of the most common CV questions include, “What should I be ready for next?”, “When will I know about a job offer?” and “What does a typical day look like in this type of work?” By having questions like these ready, you’ll seem more prepared and interested in the job.

Q: How do I know which questions the interviewer will ask me?

You don’t. Although there are some common questions that you can prepare for, the best option is instead to practise the STAR method, which is an effective way to respond to any question at the moment. It’s also a good idea to brush up on all the experiences you had in your last job, so you can be more prepared for the questions.

Q: How do I clarify important elements of my CV in the interview?

Look for places where you can indicate these important elements. For example, if you have an employment gap, you could clear this information up in the question, “Tell me about yourself.” Have a list of CV highlights you can feature during your interview as evidence that supports specific skills or qualifications, then include those pieces of information throughout.

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