Author: Zuzana Kocáková

The interview questions you will receive from a potential employer are various. However, they are always combined so that the other party can see what experience you have, what your character is like and whether you are a suitable candidate. If you’re going to a job interview and want to know what questions you might encounter, we’ve put together the most common ones with answers.

Job interview definition

Job interview is a common part of the recruitment process. During the interview, the potential employer meets with the candidates for the job and finds out whether they are suitable candidates.

What many people forget is that a job interview is a dialogue. You should therefore actively talk to your future employer and ask questions yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask him things about the company, work processes or other areas that interest you.

We recommend:

The length and format of interviews vary depending on the employer. Online interviews have also become popular in recent years, saving time and energy. However, as a general rule, if you are shortlisted, companies will usually contact you directly.

Types of job interview questions for an employee

At the job interview, your future employer will ask you a few questions. Your answers should be prompt, clear and understandable. Ideally, they should be shorter but concise. When answering, try to avoid constantly jumping off topic or making irrelevant comments.

The questions included in the interviews are usually very similar. Employers will be interested in your experience, education and future plans. If you want to prepare for them in the best possible way, we’ve listed the most important questions for you below. Plus, we didn’t skip answering the interview questions.

The most common job interview questions with answers about you

The skills and abilities on your CV (Read also our article Resume skills tips) may reveal something about you, but HR professionals want to know more. That’s why the interview includes questions that relate directly to you, your achievements, education and work experience.

This category usually includes questions such as:

Job interview introduction – tell us about yourself

This question or challenge will not bypass you in a job interview. Therefore, briefly describe the key milestones in your life. Tell them where you studied and where you gained the necessary experience. Avoid overly personal topics and areas that are not relevant to the job interview.

Try to appear confident but not arrogant when answering. Back up everything you say with facts and arguments. Don’t make anything up unnecessarily, because HR staff will eventually uncover the bigger and also smaller lies.

For many employers, admitting a mistake, error or weakness is also sympathetic. So don’t be afraid to mention them in a monologue full of superlatives and achievements.

Why did you leave your previous job?

Tell your real reasons for leaving or having left your previous job. Rather than saying outright that you had a bad boss or a low salary, mention that you’ve been considering a change for a longer time because of a better future outlook or because of goals that have been unfulfilled for a longer period of time.

If you did not terminate your employment by your own choice, briefly describe what preceded it. But certainly don’t lie.

How would your supervisor or colleague describe you?

Feel free to use the feedback you received in your previous job to answer this question. But be careful not to highlight qualities such as friendliness, hard work or responsibility without any context. To an employer, it might seem like you’re making things up or don’t know how to answer the question correctly.

Therefore, always add to the characteristics the situation in which they were manifested. For example, when you say that colleagues rated you as reliable, detail how they were able to rely on you for a project.

More questions about you

You will also encounter the following questions in interviews:

• What are your strengths and weaknesses? When answering, focus on the things that are key to the position. But apart from the strong ones, don’t forget about the weaknesses so you don’t look arrogant. When you mention your cons, you show the employer that you know about them and can therefore work on them.
• What motivates you? Be honest, but avoid saying that the only motivation is money or employee benefits. Think about what your chosen job can give you and mention it in the interview. Suitable motivation is, for example, gaining more experiende, partial freedom thanks to home office work, working for a large and well-known company and so on.
• How do you cope with stress? Stress is a normal part of our lives today. Someone handles it better, someone worse. HR staff want to know which group you belong to and whether stressful situations are causing you problems. However, the answer “I handle stress well” will definitely not be enough for them. Instead, describe one of the stressful situations you’ve experienced and show them how you dealt with it.
• Why should we employ you? This question is one of the most difficult interview questions. In fact, it is quite complicated to answer it without appearing superior. But you can at least try. Tell the recruiters about your experience and how they can help the company. For example, if the position is a home office, say that you have worked this way before and don’t mind communicating remotely. Besides, you can also say something like: “During our conversation, you mentioned that you needed to fill this position as soon as possible because you need one more person to work on the project. I can come in immediately and help resolve your difficult situation.”

Job interview common questions about the company

Recruiters also like to ask questions about the company you’re applying for. Through them, they find out what you know about it and whether it was just one of the many companies you sent your CV to.

This category includes questions such as:

What do you know about our company?

No one expects you to know the entire history of the company and its every milestone. On the other hand, you should definitely know what kind of business they are in and what services or products they provide. You can also mention its greatest achievements or the clients its works with.

We recommend:

All the important information is on the employer’s website. Finding and studying it will take you no more than a few minutes, but it could give you a significant advantage in an interview.

What can you bring to the company?

If you’re looking for tricky interview questions, this is one of them. The recruiter uses it to check that you understand what is expected of you in the job and that you are ready to start work immediately.

So start with the qualities that are key to the position. For example, if you’re a Java developer, tell them you know several programming languages that the company uses most often. This can help you in many areas without additional training.

Then add a few more specific points you would address in the first weeks after starting your job. This will show the recruiter that you really know what the position requires and that you are ready for it.

Other questions about the company

The following questions also come up in interviews:

• What do you think this position entails? Base your answer on the information given in the advertisement and on the employer’s website.
• Do you know what kind of person we are looking for? This information should also be included in the advert to which you have responded.
• Why us? Talk about what attracted you most about this job offer and how it is different from the other job offers and also mention the company as a whole. It is ideal to mention, for example, the possibility of working from home fully or partially, flexible working hours, interesting company benefits and so on.

Interview questions for interviewer

When you know what questions employers ask in an interview, it’s time to move on to the next area. We’ll talk about what you should be asking employers.

As we have already mentioned, the job interview = dialogue. So your job is not only to answer, but also to ask questions. Don’t rely on the fact that you will come up with your questions during the interview. You may not know what to say when it’s your turn. And you definitely don’t want that.

Go through both the employer’s website and the job offer you responded to before the interview. Write down everything you can think of accordingly. In addition, you can also be inspired by our questions:

• What will my working day look like?
• Is it possible to do this work partly from home?
• What team will I work in?
• What are the working hours? Flexible or fixed?
• Is it a permanent job or a freelance job?
• In what direction will the company develop in the incoming years?

Sensitive interview questions

How to answer interview questions that are sensitive? It is best not to answer, because the recruiter should not ask such questions. As a rule, this includes questions and topics related to privacy, sexual orientation, religion or marital status, such as:

• Do you have children?
• Are you pregnant?
• Are you married?
• Are you planning to have a baby anytime soon?
• What is your state of health?
• Who did you vote for?
• Do you drink? Do you smoke?
• What is your religion?
• What is your sexual orientation?

If you encounter similar questions, answer as follows:

• If it is possible, I would prefer not to answer this question.
• I would like to focus on the prerequisites and skills related to the position.
• I don’t think this question has anything to do with the job.

What else to think about before the interview?

The question of how to prepare for a job interview troubles almost all candidates for a new job. If you have a meeting with a prospective employer or recruiters, follow this advice:

• Find out ahead of time where the meeting point is – if you’re driving, check parking options. Leave the house with enough time to avoid traffic jams or other unexpected situations.
• Dress properly – the right outfit leaves the right first impression. Outfit choice should be adapted to the position and the company culture. You can choose more comfortable clothing, but avoid tracksuits or other sports and home clothes.
• Bring all the necessary documents – make sure you have your ID and a printed CV. Next, take a notepad with a pen to take notes and other documents, such as a cover letter, if the recruiters have asked you to do so.
• There are some things to avoid completely – chewing gum during an interview or smoking before a meeting. It’s also ideal to turn off the sound on your mobile phone so it doesn’t disturb you during the interview.

Make a good impression at the interview

The interview is your chance to impress a potential employer and show that you have what it takes to land your dream job. To really succeed, you need to prepare for the job interview properly. Find out what questions recruiters ask most often and how you should answer them. Then, don’t forget the right clothes to make an impression, punctuality and all the necessary documents.

Workplace bullying is a problem that occurs in many companies. Fighting it is difficult and complicated, because it may not be caused by employees alone. Bullying can also be done by the supervisor himself. What forms of bullying behaviour at work we know and how to deal with them?

Characteristics of workplace bullying

Bullying at work can take two forms:

• mental,
• physical.

In most cases, the mental/psychological form, in which insults and humiliation are used, dominates. The other employee or supervisor often chooses the “weaker” victim. This means a person with a lower status at work or someone who, by their nature, cannot or does not know how to defend themselves adequately.

Bullying, especially psychological bullying, can be difficult to recognize at first sight. Apart from the unpleasant feeling, it often leaves no clear trace. However, if it persists for longer, it can lead to serious consequences such as depression or burnout. That is why we should not underestimate it and should start fighting it as soon as possible.

Workplace bullying and harassment – a criminal offence

There is currently no law in Slovakia that explicitly defines workplace bullying. However, there are two laws which anyone concerned about this issue can use.

Specifically:

• Labour Code – Act No. 311/2001 Coll., which relates to workplace bullying.
• Anti-discrimination Act – Act No. 365/2004 Coll. on equal treatment in certain areas and protection against discrimination and on amending and supplementing certain laws.

Workplace bullying section

The key provision is Section 13, within which you will find the principle of equal treatment, together with a reference to the Anti-Discrimination Act. In addition, § 13 paragraph 3 is important and states that the exercise of rights and obligations in the context of employment relationships must be in accordance with good morals.

Equally important is paragraph 7 of § 13. On its basis, an employee has the right to lodge a complaint in relation to a breach of the principle of equal treatment or in relation to a breach of rights and obligations arising from employment relationships.

In the context of workplace bullying, a number of other paragraphs from section 13 can be used, including the ninth paragraph. On the basis of this, the employee may bring an action in court if he considers that his rights have been violated in accordance with Section 13.

In the law, namely in § 13 paragraph 8, you will also find protection for an employee from harassment and victimisation in the employment relationship for filing a complaint, complaint or petition with the competent authority to initiate a criminal prosecution. The purpose of this paragraph is to prevent the bullied victim from being afraid to address the problem simply because of fears that the supervisor might fire them or cause other problems.

Workplace bullying – Labour Inspectorate

Victims of workplace bullying can contact the Labour Inspectorate or the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights if necessary. The role of the Inspectorate is to check compliance with labour legislation. The National Centre on the other side provides legal assistance for employees who have experienced discriminatory behaviour. It also issues expert opinions on the subject.

Workplace bullying – manifestations

Workplace bullying manifests itself in different ways. Accordingly, it can be divided into several basic types, including:

• mobbing,
• bossing,
• staffing

We’ll talk a bit more about each type.

Mobbing meaning

Mobbing is one of the most common forms of bullying. Swedish sociologist Dr. Heinz Leymann describes it as systematic and intense attacks and bullying by multiple workers against an individual. We can talk about mobbing at work when it happens at least once a week for half a year.

The victim of mobbing is regularly subjected to psychological pressure. His human dignity suffers, which can result in various psychological, sometimes even physical, problems.

Mobbing usually takes several forms, such as:

• disrespectful remarks about work and private life,
• assigning meaningless tasks,
• disrespectful opinions,
• complete disregard for the victim,
• constant criticism of the victim,
• spreading rumors and gossip,
• making unreasonable demands,
• gesture intimidation.

Mobbing behaviour in the workplace – how to defend yourself?

If you too are wondering how to deal with workplace bullying, the first thing to do is to acknowledge the problem. Many staff regularly face disrespectful comments and remarks, but they don’t take it to the heart. They refer to them as “witty comments”, not as insults.

In the next step, it is important to go to your supervisor and start addressing the mobbing with them. If they refuse, you have the option of contacting the Labour Inspectorate or the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights.

Bossing meaning

Wondering what does bossing mean? The answer is quite simple. Bossing is a type of bullying in which the perpetrator, i.e. the person doing the bullying, is in a superior position to the victim. This is a form of mobbing.

Bossing employees can manifest itself in a number of ways. Sometimes the signs are more visible and can be noticed even by a person who is not being bullied by a supervisor. At other times, the manifestations are less noticeable and it is very difficult for the victim to show any evidence if necessary.

To give you a better idea of what this form of bullying looks like, here are some examples of bossing:

• regular remuneration of the same employees,
• unrealistic performance requirements of the victim or victims,
• appropriation of achievements by superiors,
• increased time demands on the victim,
• insulting the victim,
• psychological pressure on the victim.

How to deal with bossing?

The fight against bossing is difficult and even more complicated compared to mobbing. The reason is that in the event of mobbing, you have option to ask for help your supervisor. In the case of bossing, however, it is the supervisor who bullies. If there is no one else above them in the corporate hierarchy, the only solution is the Labour Inspectorate or the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights.

So if you notice any signs of bossing in your work, don’t wait too long. Bullying tends to progress quickly and leave deep wounds.

Staffing meaning

The third type of bullying you may encounter in the workplace is staffing. This form is characterized by subordinates abusing their superior. It can manifest itself in a variety of ways, for example:

• with mocking insults,
• by spreading gossip and false information,
• whispering behind their back,
• psychological pressure.

The staffing problem is most often encountered by new or younger supervisors whom the existing team does not accept. Prolonged bullying by subordinates can lead to loss of authority and dignity. But these are not the only consequences. Over time, victims may also suffer from various psychological problems, such as depression.

How to deal with staffing?

Try to develop a friendly relationship with your subordinates. Think about different team-building activities or breakfasts together. If the employees are not interested and the bullying continues to increase, you have the Labour Inspectorate or the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights at your disposal.

Bullying in the workplace

Bullying is nothing new in collectives. You can meet with it at school or in groups of friends at a younger age. Later, it may also manifest itself directly in the workplace.

Bullying is a general term that includes mobbing, bossing and staffing. This is a situation where one or more people bully usually one, but sometimes more, victims, regardless of status, age, gender or anything else.

How to fight bullying?

The fight against bullying depends on its form. If a person is being bullied by a colleague, they can go to a supervisor. However, if the victim is being bullied by a supervisor or the supervisor is being bullied by subordinates, it is advisable to take the matter up with a third party, such as the Labour Inspectorate.

However, within the bullying itself, the bystanders who see what is happening are also very important. If you are one of them, don’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd and call out inappropriate behaviour. The sooner you do so, the better.

Mobbing bossing differences

Mobbing and bossing are two distinct types of bullying that have several differences between them. We will mention the most common ones below.

• Victim – mobbing is characterized by the victim being bullied by people who are in the same position as the victim. These are usually colleagues. On the contrary, bossing is bullying coming from a superior. Their victims are usually the people who work for them.
• Number of victims – in mobbing, usually more than one person bullies one victim. In bossing, the number of victims varies. Sometimes a supervisor will focus on just one subordinate, other times they may focus on a group of several people.
• Problem solving – you can see the big differences between the two types of bullying in their solutions. When mobbing occurs, the victim may turn to a supervisor. However, in the case of bossing, the supervisor can only turn to the Labour Inspectorate or the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights.

Mobbing and bossing in the workplace share a number of common characteristics in addition to their differences. They are:

• Consequences – all types and forms of bullying usually have a very similar impact on a person. By regularly oppressing them, they cause psychological problems that can result in irritation, bad mood or depression.
• The manifestations – mobbing and bossing are often very similar. The perpetrator or perpetrators, exert psychological pressure on the victim, insult, ridicule, spread false information about the victim, or make increased demands on the victim.

A pleasant working environment is essential

Many people focus on salary conditions or job requirements when looking for a job and viewing job offers. However, not everyone thinks about what kind of working environment awaits for them when they start to work. The key to peace and good mood are a pleasant company culture and employee benefits which are influenced by many, often even the smallest details. These include interesting team building, breakfasts together and much more. This is one of the reasons why we organize similar activities on a regular basis.

However, apart from the benefits, how can you find out if the company is really good and bullying is not prevalent in the company? One option is to find out the opinions of the people who work for that company. We at msg life regularly feature interviews with our team. You can use them to find out what it’s like to work for us and what to expect if you were considering working for us.

In case you don’t feel like reading too much, there is also a msg life photo gallery. Photographs often show much more than text and give you a glimpse into our premises.