Personality interview questions are extremely important to judge the personal behavior or characteristics of a candidate. A recruiter needs to assess the overall skills and traits of an applicant before they select him/her for the particular position. It is evident that only knowledge and education are not enough to carry out any responsibilities in either professional or personal life. You must possess the right qualities and attitude to complete them with ease.
In these types of sessions, the employer will try to see your attitude, eye contact, confidence level, ability to handle pressure, decision making abilities, communication skills, interpersonal skills, and body language amongst a host of other characteristics. You have to showcase your abilities appropriately during the entire process of questioning. Be in your natural self by maintaining a balance in your attitude. Overconfidence and aggressive nature may cost you a lot.
There are a number of frequently asked questions given below as a guideline. You can refer to them and be prepared with the answers. It is not only about answering correctly, but a major stress is to be given in the way you answer and handle the question. It involves your articulating skills, body language, delivery style, behavior aspects, voice modulation, persuasiveness, etc.
Sample Questions for Personality Interview
Think of the most suitable adjectives through which you can describe yourself like 'hardworking', 'responsible', etc.
Analyze the job description before preparing this answer. Based on that, you can explain the various responsibilities. There is no harm in adding important bits from your part as well. This will show the amount of knowledge you have and your interest in taking up several responsibilities.
Give a positive answer for this. Multi-tasking is a part of any job today. Multi-taskers are appreciated more than a slow worker. Support you answer with practical examples from your past employment. Freshers may mention about the multi-tasking events or projects from your academic tenure. Take the same approach for handling pressure. These types of questions always work out well if you give practical examples.
It will be beneficial if you can share the creative project with brief description of the project details and how it was handled. It is very important to highlight your contribution clearly.
This is to know how adaptable you are. All organizations want employees who have a flexible attitude towards work and the work place. Thus, be positive and share few instances of changes that you have come across in your career. Freshers in this case may cite examples from their personal and academic life.
Be positive but not overconfident. Answer being diplomatic.
"Through years of hard work and experience, I have learnt a lot to improve my knowledge and skills in my professional life. A room for more learning is always there. I am still learning and on the way of being an expert. Hopefully, with more experience and learning from this organization, I may become an expert very soon."
Project the positive comments by your friends and manager honestly. Relate your answer with the situations based on which they have commented so.
List out all the areas of improvement that you have achieved through the years. Don't hesitate and be honest.
"I have learnt to be more organized and patient..."
This is to see your attitude and involvement in the organizational activities. Fun is also important along with work to rejuvenate yourself. So, the interviewer will always look for an answer which says that you actively take part in all activities.
Never say 'yes' to this answer. Fun activities, which helps to motivate employees and establish the concept of work with fun, are a part of the HR policies in any organization.
Share the points of strength with real life examples from work. Freshers can share examples from their personal or educational life.
Never say that you do not have any weakness to share. Be honest to tell them about your weakness (related to professional area) and how it has effected your work in the past. However, you must convince them that you are working hard to discard these. Share your plan as to how you are working on it. For example, if meeting a deadline is effecting your quality of work, you may share how you are prioritizing the work, making plans for the day/project and trying to cope up the situation.
Draw the attention towards your knowledge and skill set based on which you are the best match for the particular job. Connect their expectations and your skills to give an impressive answer.
Try to share a very common characteristics which they don't like about you. It is better to say something which has no relation to work. Don't say something which may build a negative impression about you.
"My friends, family, relatives and colleagues say that I am too fast while eating food/have stopped playing guitar, which I was extremely good at..."
Give an answer which will project that you are more interested in your work and don't give any importance to unnecessary criticism. But yes, if the criticism is for your good or an improvement, then you take it in a positive way and work on it.
The above personality interview questions are very common amongst employers from any industry. You must evaluate how your answers will be interpreted by the interviewers and prepare yourself accordingly. It is better to practice mock interviews with your friend/s to sharpen the areas which need improvement.