The Top 3 New Common Interview Questions and Answers in Kenya

New Common Interview Questions and Answers

Getting a job interview is usually the first step towards becoming employed in Kenya. It is also the first glimpse of hope in a job seeker’s eye. And given the current job market where open positions are next to scarce and recruiters are more selective, being invited to an interview has become a celebration in itself.

But before you start singing kumbaya and planning on how you will use the salary, let’s talk about passing the job interview. Since there will be many other qualified candidates interviewing for the same role, you will need to be well prepared, confident and understand your capabilities than anyone else. It is the only way to impress the interviewer and guarantee you the job.

So, how do you ensure you’re well-prepared for the interview? By understanding the job description of the role, conducting thorough research on the company, rehearsing interview questions and answers to expect, and practicing your answers to a second party. 

Here are 3 New Common Interview Questions and Answers

1. What Motivated You to Apply for this Job?

This is one of the interview questions gaining preference among recruiters in Kenya today. With the numerous numbers of qualified job candidates, this question helps to ease the decision process by singling out those who are truly committed to the role.

Related interview questions to this one include;

  • Why did you apply for this job?
  • Why are you interested in this position?
  • Why do you want this job?

Sample Answer: When reading through the responsibilities provided for this job, I realised that the role was a direct match to what I was looking for in my career journey. It provides a perfect opportunity for growth and advancement in the procurement profession.

This answer demonstrates career growth as your top motivator, which always works well among recruiters. And if you are interviewing at the company premises, you can tweak your answer to show how you have always wanted to work for them.

2. How Does Your Past Experience Add Value to this Position?

When going through this particular question, seek to first understand the intentions of the interviewer. They want to know why you believe you are qualified and why they should hire you instead of the other equally qualified persons. So your main task here is to convince them why you are the best candidate.

This interview question can also be asked in these ways;

  • Why should we hire you?
  • Do you feel that your skills and qualifications match this job?
  • Why do you think you are the right fit for this position?

Sample Answer: In this position, you are looking to hire a professional with 3 years of Procurement experience and great negotiation skills. I have been working in the procurement field for 4 years 5 months now, and I have successfully mastered the art of negotiation.

This is especially so in my most recent position as a Procurement Assistant at ABC Company, where I was able to convince a long term supplier to reduce their prices of business with us. This later helped in minimizing costs. I believe this expertise, coupled with my desire to succeed and passion in the procurement profession makes me a great asset for this role.

3. Behavioural Interview Questions: How do You Handle ABC? Give an Example

In the current job market in Kenya, you will not walk out of an interview before the interviewer asks you a behavioural question. This is usually the question that seeks to uncover your past experience in more detail than is available on your CV.

It digs into the premise that a person’s past will almost always determine how they handle similar situations in the future. While this is a debatable statement, interviewers are using it more often than ever to know how you would handle a situation on the ground.

Here’s an example of a behavioural interview question:

  • When was a time you handled a challenging situation in your job?

Sample Answer: There was this time when my direct supervisor was taken ill in the middle of an important project that involved getting a new supplier on-board. He wasn’t in a position to perform any of his duties and I had to come up with a presentation from the little we had discussed. I found it a challenge as it was my first time, but I did my research, consulted the manager on the areas I felt stuck, and put together a successful presentation.

Other behavioural interview questions include;

  • Describe an example of a goal you accomplished and how you achieved it
  • Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how you handled it
  • How do you deal with difficult customers?
  • How do you handle stress in your job? Give an example

Interview questions can be tricky when you do not do your due diligence. Avoid making assumptions about how an interview will turn out. Instead, carry out a thorough interview preparation session by going through common interview questions and answers in your specific profession.

Have an interview question you’d like assistance with? Leave a comment below.

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The writer is a Communications Officer at Corporate Staffing Services. Write to her with your queries through selipha@corporatestaffing.co.ke 

11 Comments

  1. The question about why I left my former job? It’s really stressing especially if one was sacked or suspended indefinitely

  2. Thank you for your help. This can really help someone to tackle interview questions with confidence. God bless you.

  3. Thank you so much for your constant assistance on career related issues. I find these questions very common in all the interviews I have ever gone through. It is true one can give unsatisfying answers and walk out thinking he/she has past the interview. With this kind of guide one can improve a lot in tackling interview questions. God bless you and keep it up.

  4. Thank you once again. My last interview was in 2014, in Nairobi. It wasn’t harsh because I was kind of poached by someone I used to work for in Mombasa.

  5. God bless you may God increase and expand your boundaries thank you for this information

  6. I like this. It reducing s great deal of interview worries. I would request to know if there is a link to follow in answering how to handle stress at work, and an incident of handling a mistake. Lots of thanks.

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