Imagine you just graduated and have managed to fill out applications, send tons of CVs to companies and finally you got the response you have been looking for. You have been invited for a job interview.
Being a first ever interview, the feeling of nervousness and the thought of being interrogated can get the better part of you. This is because you don’t have much experience about how to conduct yourself in an interview. If you are in such a situation, don’t panic because we have a list of sample interview questions and answers for fresh graduates in Kenya.
Since you are a fresh graduate, don’t expect to be asked questions about your previous work experience because you have none. Instead, there are other vital aspects for which you will be tested. So below are few questions that are specifically for fresh graduates during their interview.
Ruth Mesude, an Account Manager at Perion, advices on the best way to answer them if you a fresh graduate in Kenya
Interview Questions And Answers For Fresh Graduates In Kenya
1. Describe Situations Where You Have Used Your Leadership Skills
When asking this question, the interview wants to know whether you have leadership potential. In a recent survey on what employers look for in graduates, 64.3% of the employers considered leadership experience in determining the best candidates. This is because such graduates are found to be outspoken, team players, flexible as well as those who take initiative.
If you want to respond to this question the right way, Ms Mesude urges one to always consider your academics, volunteering experience, jobs and internship when answering this question.
A good example would be in the lines of;
“My group members selected me as group leader for our final year project and I was able to delegate tasks and motivate group members. We received an “A” for our presentation.”
2. If I Were To Ask Your Professors To Describe You In Three Words, What Would They Be?
According to Ms Mesude, the first step in preparing to answer this type of question is to analyze the requirements of the job for which you are interviewing.
“Review the employer’s job advertisement and descriptions of similar offerings from other employers. List the personal qualities and skills that the employers seek the most,” she says.
For instance, if it is for a Management Trainee Job, a good example can be this one
“My sociology professor and academic advisor recently nominated me to be the student representative to the sociology department. She cited my leadership ability and verbal skills as reasons for her nomination,”
See Also>>> How To Answer An Interview Question About Your Former Boss
3. Did You Prefer Working Independently Or In Groups On School Projects?
When an interviewer pops this question, he or she wants to know if you’re a team player or would rather work on your own. This is a tricky question to test your personality because at the work place, there will instances where you will need to work alone and sometimes you may need to work as a team. Let the interviewer know that you are a good team player.
A good answer would be something like;
“I am a team player. I know that being cooperative, open minded, and focused are important aspects to being a successful team member. I feel more motivated when I work with a group,”
4. What Salary Are You Expecting?
Salary questions are very tricky and can be worse especially if you are just fresh in the job market with no experience.
Ms Mesude advices that one can ask the interviewer how much they are offering for the position, although most will most probably be reluctant in giving you an answer.
“It is good to do your research about what the salary is and always give a range and not a static figure,” she says.
The other best way to not lock yourself out of the job offer is to express interest in the job more than the salary.
You can say something like;
“Salary is important but work is most important, and at this level i am more interested in developing my skills for the betterment of the organization after which the compensation will follow.”
If you are new in the job market, now you know the interview questions and answers for fresh graduates in Kenya. The best way to nail a job interview is thorough preparation. Show the interviewer that you understand the job description and answer the questions with confidence.
