Interview Questions and Answers

A. Tell me about yourself.

1. Choose the Right Starting Point for Your Story (IMPORTANT)
My name is Rafia Riaz, and I hail from the city of Saints, Multan. I completed my
post-graduation with distinction in biotechnology from Bahauddin Zakariya
University, Multan, in November 2021. I got my graduation degree in biotechnology
from the same university as well. Previously, I had been to Army Public College,
Malir Cantt, Karachi, where I completed my intermediate education.
2. Highlight Impressive Experiences and Accomplishments
Although life brings new challenges every day, certain challenges are critical and
help you learn new skills. I remember one such challenge during my research days
for my M. Phil. degree. I was working on bacteriophages and trying to isolate and
grow them in the lab. The challenge I faced was that after growing them on Petri
plates, I was unable to identify the plaques (colonies of bacteriophages) to perform
further isolation procedures. I needed a dye to highlight those plaques, which I was
lacking. To overcome this, I searched for it in almost all the labs in the city but failed
to find it. After careful research, I came to know that, as an alternative, I can also use
a small amount of food coloring. This highlights that during the process I learned
problem-solving and project management skills, and I believe these skills will be
valuable for any organization where problem-solving and project management skills
are prioritized.
3. Conclude by Explaining Your Current Situation
Currently, I am honing my communication, leadership, problem-solving, teamwork,
and project management skills at Amal Academy. Additionally, I am actively
participating in different volunteer activities, including fundraising for the Edhi
Foundation. Also, I am actively seeking job opportunities, and due to this reason, I
wanted to interview with your firm. This position seems like a great opportunity to
advance those skills I just talked about and continue building my career and
challenging myself.
B. What is your top strength?
One of my top strengths is undoubtedly my proficiency in time management. I have
had to juggle multiple responsibilities in various instances, but I distinctly recall a
challenging period during my M. Phil. research work while also freelancing. It was
daunting to balance the demands of my research project while simultaneously
fulfilling my daily writing obligations. However, I overcame this obstacle by
developing a detailed schedule, employing the Eisenhower matrix technique, and
prioritizing my tasks.
I meticulously organized my time to ensure that I could complete all my lab work,
including thesis writing, while still delivering on my freelancing commitments. I also
made a point of communicating my availability to my clients and arranging for flexible
scheduling when necessary. As a result of my time management skills, I successfully
maintained a high GPA while simultaneously advancing to Level 2 as a freelancer.
This accomplishment not only illustrates my ability to manage time effectively but
also highlights my planning, organization, and adaptability skills. I believe that my
expertise in time management is an invaluable asset to any organization that
prioritizes productivity and meeting deadlines.
C. What is your top weakness?
One area that I have identified for improvement is public speaking. I have always
been nervous about speaking in front of large groups, and I tend to get flustered and
forget my key points. One specific example of this was during a presentation for my
synopsis at the university. I was so nervous that I stumbled over my words and lost
my place in the presentation. While I did manage to deliver the presentation, I felt
that I could have done a better job. This experience highlighted the importance of
effective public speaking skills and motivated me to take steps to improve.
To address this weakness, I have been practicing with my friends and family
members to build my confidence and improve my delivery. I have also joined the
Amal Career Prep Fellowship, where I have been volunteering my thoughts and
opinions whenever possible to gain more experience and build confidence.
Through these efforts, I have seen a gradual improvement in my public speaking
skills, and I am continuing to work on this weakness. I believe improving my ability to
communicate effectively will benefit any organization I work for.