Background Interview Questions 101
A background check is a process usually done by a company to verify that you are the individual you claim to be by checking your employment history & behaviour, criminal record, academic qualification, and more.
It may sound absurd to you on the reasons why companies do this and you may have questions such as “do they have trust issues? Is my private data safe? How much can a company know about me?”.
Even though your concerns are perfectly valid, put yourself in the employer’s shoes – it makes perfect sense to confirm the candidate’s information before hiring him/her in order to reduce the potential issues that may surface in the future.
As a job seeker, how do you answer these background interview questions when applying for jobs in Malaysia? Don’t worry as Job Majestic will reveal the best ways for you to reassure your hiring managers.
How To Answer Background Interview Questions
1. Why Should We Hire You?
This is a classic interview question that can potentially clarify two different things – it is a question about your skills, which can also act as a background interview question.
Skills refer to both hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills can be measured, and specific to the job and/ or industry that you are applying for. For example Languages, SEO/ SEM, App and Web Development, etc.
Soft skills are interpersonal skills that determine your work ethic and how you work with others. Examples of soft skills include Communication, Critical Thinking, Creativity, etc.
In short, your skills will easily determine whether you are truly the candidate that they are looking for. When pitching your skills and value proposition to the interviewer, only include skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Most importantly, do not mention skills that you do not possess – it’ll be awkward if you’re asked to demonstrate your expertise later on.
2. Why Did You Leave Your Previous Company?
Another common background interview question, it is crucial for the interviewer to understand your motivation in searching for a new job.
This question may also uncover the “hidden” reasons behind your job switch, such as unhappy incidents in the company, issues with work ethic, incompatibility in the management & leadership styles, etc.
It is important for you to understand that this question isn’t meant to be personal. All you need to do is provide relevant information and be honest when stating your reasons for leaving your previous company.
Think twice carefully before providing false information, as they may decide to call up your previous employer to confirm and clarify the facts.
3. What Are Your Greatest Strengths & Weaknesses?
This background interview question aims to verify the strengths and traits you’ve mentioned in your cover letter and resume, as well as to see if you have any weaknesses (everybody does) that they should be mindful of.
To answer this question, think about the strengths that are most relevant to the role that you’re applying for. Use the interview opportunity to elaborate further on those points, adding examples, achievements and metrics to convince them.
As for weaknesses, you may pick one small shortcoming you possess, and focus on the learnings and efforts to improve on the situation. Remember, learning from past mistakes could bring tremendous value to an organisation.
4. What Are Your Salary Expectations?
There are also two reasons why this is a background interview question. Aside from ensuring that your salary is within their budget, this question also relates to your previous salary and compensation packages.
Most often than not, interviewers will pop the “What’s your current basic salary” in order to calculate the percentage (%) increase in the salary that you are asking for. Be sure to answer accordingly as employers may require your payslips to cross-check the information.
Note that salary negotiations should be pushed to the last, after understanding the job description and assessing whether you are the right person for the role (both parties) – always leave a space for negotiation based on the overall culture and benefits.
Final Remarks
Now that you have a better idea of how to answer common candidate background interview questions for jobs in Malaysia, all you need to do is to reassure your hiring managers and future employers that the given information is accurate.
Honesty is the best policy. Ensure that you are honest when answering these background interview questions.
Do not purposely inflate numbers or twist facts about your background and work experience. Use the right attitude to land your dream jobs and live a majestic life!
