[Interview - Final - Tips] Non- technical question: Bộ câu hỏi phỏng vấn cá nhân

Non-technical questions là các câu hỏi quen thuộc nhưng vẫn hoàn toàn có thể khiến bạn bối rối. Hãy cùng SAPP Academy khám phá bộ câu hỏi non-technical thường gặp nhé!

• • Starting out by sharing some personal interests which don't relate directly to your work:
• Examples might include a hobby which you are passionate about like quilting, astronomy, chess, choral singing, golf, skiing, tennis, or antiquing;
• Interests like long distance running or yoga which help to represent your healthy, energetic side are worth mentioning. Pursuits like being an avid reader or solving crossword puzzles or brain teasers will help to showcase your intellectual leaning. Interests like golf, tennis, and gourmet food might have some value if you would be entertaining clients in your new job;
• Volunteer work will demonstrate the seriousness of your character and commitment to the welfare of your communit
  • Transition to professional from personal:
• After sharing a few interesting personal aspects of your background, you can transition to sharing some key professional skills that would help you to add value if you were hired for your target job;
• Consider using phrases like "in addition to those interests and passions, my professional life is a huge part of who I am, so I'd like to talk a bit about some of the strengths which I would bring to this job."
  • Share your expertise:
• Make a list of your strengths before you go into the interview, so you know what you will share. Look at the job description and match it with your skills. Then share the top few skills which make you an ideal candidate for the job;
• At first, you should only mention the asset and allude only briefly to some proof of how you have tapped it to your advantage. For example, you might say that you love to give presentations and that has helped you to generate lots of leads at sales dinners for prospective clients;
• Later in the interview, you will want to be more specific and detailed in discussing situations, interventions and results flowing from your strength

• My name is Trung. Currently I am a 4th year student of national economic university, my major at school is auditing.
• I have a great interest in making new friends and joining social events. In the first 2 years in the university, I worked for a NGO named AIESECs Hanoi. We organized many camps for Vietnamese youngsters and international students to develop soft skills and discuss about global youth issues. These 2 years helped me build a lot of friendships, even with the international students from many different countries.
• Besides, working through lots of projects helped me develop some working skills such as effective communication, team-work and leadership. Moreover, the position that I took charged was finance executive, which also made me improve numerical skills like analyze numbers from data, build and manage budgets for projects. I believe that these working skills are really important. Specially, when I will become an auditor in the future.
• In order to become an outstanding auditor in the future, I worked really hard both inside and outside the university. Hence, with my effort and careful preparation, I believe that I am a potential candidate for the audit intern position of KPMG.

 2. What is your greatest strength?

• • Describe the skills and experience that you have which directly correlates with the job you are applying for:
• Be prepared to answer by making a list of the qualifications mentioned in the job posting;
• Then, make a list of your skills that match those listed. This list can include education or training, soft skills, hard skills, or past work experiences;
• Narrow your list of skills down to 3 - 5 particularly strong skills;
• Next to each skill, note an example of how you have used that strength in the past.
  • Sharing strengths that match the qualifications the company is seeking:
• Incorporate these power words that help make a good impression into your responses;
• Stay focused on a couple key strengths that relate directly to the position and the company;
• A focused, relevant answer with one or two examples will impress your interviewer.
  • Avoid being too humble:
• You should be comfortable articulating what makes you an ideal candidate;
• Creating a list of your strengths (as they relate to the job) will help you answer this question with confidence

• My first strength is the firm fundamental knowledge of auditing which I gained at school. Furthermore, I am also studying to get ACCA qualification and already passed some papers such as f2, f3 and f8. This foundation can be the good start for me to work in the accountancy firms.
• The second strong point that I want to mention is the ability of working under high pressure. Since I was in the second year of university, I joined in an NGO named AIESEC, the time of working here helped me break my original limitation. I and my teammates experienced many times of staying up late to work in order to reach the goals and deadlines. I believe that this point can help me adapt fast and easily with the working environment when I join the company.
• Besides technical knowledge and soft skills, I also build myself a bunch of useful hard skills such as working with excel and word. Specially, I can use excel in an advance level with hot keys (use excel without mouse) and some technical functions which can boost up my performance and save time when I work as an auditor in the future.

• • Discuss non-essential skills:
• Analyze the key skills and strengths required for the position you are interviewing for and then come up with an honest shortcoming which is not essential for success in that job.
  • Mention skills you have improved:
• Discuss skills that you have improved upon during your previous job, so you are showing the interviewer that you can make improvements when necessary;
• You can sketch for employers your initial level of functioning, discuss the steps you have taken to improve this area, and then reference your current, improved level of skill.
  • Turn a negative into a positive:
• Turn a negative into a positive. For example, a sense of urgency to get projects completed or wanting to triple-check every item in a spreadsheet can be turned into a strength.

• I used to like to work on one project to its completion before starting on another, but I've learned to work on many projects at the same time, and I think it allows me to be more creative and effective in each one.

4. Why should we hire you?

• • Make a list of the requirements for the position, including personality traits, skills, and qualifications. Then, make a list of the qualities you have that fit these requirements:
• For each quality, think of a specific time that you used that trait to achieve something at work;
• For example, if you list that you are a “team player,” think of a time in which your ability to work well on a team resulted in a successfully completed project;
• Don’t forget to think beyond the job description and consider which of your skills and accomplishments make you a better candidate than the competition.
  • Keep it concise:
• Select one or two specific qualities from the list you created to emphasize in your “sales pitch”;
• Begin by explaining what you believe the employer is looking for, and how you fulfill that need;
• Be prepared to adapt to new information, if the interviewer indicates that another quality or skill is more valuable to the organization.
  • Focus on your uniqueness:
• Focus on one or two qualities you possess that are different from what other interviewees might offer, or are more difficult to find in candidates generally;
• For example, if you are very experienced with a certain skill that the job requires, say so. This is your chance to tell the interviewer why you would be an invaluable employee.

• Firstly, I have a consistent orientation with auditing career. Since both of my academic background and personal background support fully for me to become a future auditor. Furthermore, I also proactively research how a life of an auditor would be by joining workshops by big 4 firms and talk to many audit seniors in accountancy firms. Hence, I can ensure that I am really determined to become an auditor.
• Secondly, I believe my technical knowledge and working skills are adequate to fulfill this position. Since I had 2 years working in an international organization and 1 year collaborating with a multiple national company (Unilever), my skills was improved a lot. I can use English language fluently, even give presentation or public speaking. Besides, working through a lot of projects help me build an analytical mindset, which means I have a habit of finding the reason behind numbers and evaluate them.
• Finally, as I mentioned before that I had experience of working for international organization and business, I found that your company and those institute I joined both share the same culture and values. Hence, I am confident to say that I can fit with your company not only professional but also personally aspect.

5.  What other companies are you interviewing with?”

5.1 Answering method

• • Tell the truth:
• Either you do or do not have other interviews with other companies, tell the truth;
• If you have other interviews with the competitors, give some reasons why you apply for more than one company;
• After that, you can give a priority method you want to use to choose where to work in case you received offers from more than one firms.

• Besides KPMG, I also apply for several firms such as EY, PwC and Deloitte because I want to maximize my chance to get in big 4. However, I did research about all the firms in big 4 before applying and found that KPMG is the most suitable company to me since the culture and values here fit me the most. Hence, in case I get offers from KPMG and other firms, I still choose KPMG as the first choice.

6. Why do you want this job?

6.1 Answering method

• • Research the company ahead of time:
• Interviewers will be listening for a response that shows you've done research on the company;
• Make sure you know some basic information about both the company and the job;
• You might want to read some recent articles on the company to get a sense of their current goals and projects. Also be sure to reread the job posting;
• You can mention specific aspects of the company and position that appeal to you.
  • Be specific about why you are a good fit:
• Be specific about what makes you a good fit for this role;
• Make a list of the requirements of the job (as explained in the job listing).
• Note which requirements fit your skills and experience;
• Highlight a few of your abilities that qualify you for the job.
  • Emphasize what you can contribute:
• Your answer should also emphasize what you can contribute;
• Mention any skills or work experience that makes you a unique, strong candidate for the job;
• If possible, use numbers to express how you can add value to the company.
  • Avoid reasons that focus on you:
• Even if it's true, do not mention salary, hours, or commute as the primary reasons you want the job;
• Remember that you want to focus on how you can benefit the company, not how the company or job can benefit you.

• As I researched about EY. I know that your company recently has engaged more Chinese clients. I find that this opportunity fits me a lot since I have spent more than 5 years to study Chinese. I can use Chinese fluently in writing and speaking. Furthermore, I also have experience as a tour guide for Chinese tourists when I was a student. I believe that with my technical knowledge about auditing and ability of using Chinese, I can contribute well to your company’s projects with Chinese clients.

7. Tell me about your career goals

7.1 Answering method

• • Start with short term goals, then move to the long term:
• You probably have a good sense of your short term goals, such as getting a job with an employer like the one you are interviewing for;
• Start by describing these goals, then move to more long term plans.
  • Start with short term goals, then move to the long term:
• Listing goals is not going to make a strong answer;
• You also want to (briefly) explain steps you will take to achieve those goals.
• For example, if you want to take on a management role, explain the steps you have taken, or will take, to become a manager;
• Perhaps you are developing your leadership skills through running group projects, or you plan to attend a series of leadership conferences.
  • Focus on the employer:
• Even though this question is about you, you want to convey that you won’t abandon the employer anytime soon;
• Focus on how you will add value to the company through the achievement of your own goals.
  • Don’t get too specific:
• While you want to present clear goals, do not get into too many details.
• For example, if you know you want to work for a particular company in a particular position (not the company or position you’re interviewing for), don’t share this with an employer;
• Emphasize more general goals, such as taking one particular responsibilities. This allows you to balance clear aims with a flexible attitude.

• In the short term, I hope to work as an assistant auditor for a company such as yours; working as an assistant auditor I believe in will prepare me to hopefully take on expanded responsibilities in the future, as these become available.
• In the long future, my goal is to complete CPA Vietnam qualification and become a specialist in auditing field. Besides, I also want to develop my managerial skills to become a manager in auditing field. In order to achieve these goal, I will prepare myself for this goal by taking on leadership positions in team projects, and developing my professional career through attending leadership conferences, such as the one put on annually by your company. I also have a plan for studying ACCA qualification, and then I will transfer it into CPA Vietnam qualification.

• • Focus on the job:
• In your answer, you should be cognizant of the type of job you're applying for;
• Do your research before the interview: browse the company's website, research their presence in the news and media, and see if you can find any information about their mission statement;
• This is the easiest and quickest way of learning how they themselves evaluate success.
• Your goal should be to mirror their definition of success with your own statement. Here's how to research a company;
• If there's an area where your values overlap with the company's, then make sure to emphasize that in the interview.

• For me, success is about doing my job well. I want to be recognized as someone who always does their best and tries their hardest to make my goals.
• I evaluate success based on not only my work, but the work of my team. In order for me to be considered successful, the team needs to achieve both our individual and our team goals.
• I evaluate success based on outcomes. It's not always the path you take to achieve success that matters. Rather, it's quantifiable results.
• I tend to view success incrementally. As someone who is invigorated by new, complex challenges, I never want to find myself in a situation where I feel like there is nothing left to learn or achieve. If, over the course of my employment, I can leave work each evening satisfied that I’ve learned something new or useful, then this counts as success to me.
• For me, success comes from knowing that I’ve contributed in a significant way to finishing a challenging team project within established deadlines and quality standards.

9. What are you passionate about?

9.1 Answering method

• Your response doesn't need to be focused on work, but it should demonstrate your ability to devote yourself to a particular task or hobby about which you are passionate;
• You don't have an obligation to share it with an employer. Instead, you could share something else that you're interested in doing and give a simple response about that;
• Provide some examples of how you have dedicated yourself to that interest or activity:
• You can also mention goals (such as training for a race, if running is your passion), which gives interviewers a sense of your long-term thinking and perseverance.
• Be sure that what you share isn't something that could potentially cut into your working hours.

• I'm passionate about painting. I take an evening art class once a week and try to find time each weekend to paint. Painting is a good way for me to relax after a busy week.
• I'm passionate about making a difference. When I'm involved with a project at work, I want to do my best to achieve success. I feel the same way about what I do in my personal life.
• I'm passionate about baking: I love the process of researching new recipes, and testing them out. I've been writing up my experiences baking for the past three years, and every year, I host a massive cookie swap around the holiday time with friends.

10. Do you have any questions for me?

10.1 Answering method

• • Clarify your uncertainties:
• Your first step should be to ask anything about the position that hasn’t been covered in the interview.
  • Remove their doubts:
• Next, ask questions that will allow you to talk about any strengths or accomplishments you didn’t cover in the interview, or to make sure that you are sharing with the interviewer the same types of qualities they are looking for.
  • Uncover red flags:
• This can be tricky to do tactfully, but asking questions about turnover, culture, and growth opportunities during the interview process can prevent unpleasant surprises down the road.
  • Get a view of the future:
• Asking questions about the growth of the company and its employees is a good idea for two reasons;
• Ask what a company's goals are for the next five to ten years. It gives a good perspective on what their values are and how you may or may not fit with a company.
  • Build a relationship:
• When in doubt, ask the interviewer about himself or herself;
• Ask interviewers about their journey in their career, such as what field they were in before and how it led to where they are now;
• People love talking about themselves… Plus, if you have similarities, it creates a bond between you and them;
• Be careful to not get too personal, and pay attention to how the interviewer reacts.
  • Wrap up:
• At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask about next steps;
• First, reiterate that you’re interested in the position;
• Then ask the following non-presumptuous questions about what’s next in the hiring process.

• What does a typical day look like?
• How will I be trained? How will my performance be reviewed?
• What are the skills and experiences you’re looking for in an ideal candidate?
• What attributes does someone need to have in order to be really successful in this position?
• What types of skills is the team missing that you're looking to fill with a new hire?
• What is the company culture like?
• Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?
• Where is the last person who held this job moving on to?
• Where do you see this company in the next few years?
• What can you tell me about your new product or plans for growth?
• What training programs are available to your employees?
• How long have you been with the company?
• Why did you come to this company?
• Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful?

Lời kết

Vừa rồi là tất tần tật các câu hỏi non-technical có thể sử dụng trong quá trình chuẩn bị cho vòng phỏng vấn cá nhân. Chúc các bạn sẽ có sự chuẩn bị thật tốt và chinh phục được nhà tuyển dụng.