Common interview questions and answers

Interviewers often ask similar questions to all candidates. These questions are meant to assess a candidate’s skills,
experience, and fit for the role. Here are some common interview questions and their simplified answers.

1. Tell me about yourself.

This type of starting question allows you to quickly go over the most important parts of your CV. Tell me about your past jobs and what you accomplished. Also, explain why you are at this interview.

Example: I have been a personal assistant for eight years. I have worked for different executives and department heads. I really enjoy my job, especially when I can use my skills for planning and being effective. I want to advance to a harder level and become the CEO’s executive assistant.

2. How would you describe yourself?

This question wants to know your good qualities and areas where you need to improve as a worker. It’s also about knowing yourself, so it’s good to provide proof for your statements.

Example: ‘I would say that I’m a natural leader. In my last job, I took over a team that had issues meeting their targets. I held meetings with each team member, learned about their concerns and problems, and then explained to them my vision for the team. We launched some new initiatives to encourage everyone, and within six months, we were consistently beating targets.

3. What makes you unique?

Employers want to understand why you are the top candidate compared to everyone else. A simple way to be unique is to have a mix of different abilities and experiences, like being good with people and having technical know-how.

Example: ‘What makes me unique is my combination of sales and customer service experience. I understand the needs and frustrations of customers from experience addressing their concerns. This insight helps me better guide them through sales conversations.

4. Why do you want to work here?

This question is asking if you have looked into the company before the interview. Get ready for this response by learning about what the company aims to achieve, its past, and its way of doing things. If you can prove that your personal goals align with the company’s objectives, you can appear as a strong candidate for the job.

Example: ‘I’m passionate about your company’s mission of helping families better manage their money. I grew up in a household that experienced this issue, and I would love to help others with a background like mine.

5. What motivates you?

Employers want to hire people who will be excited and committed to their job every day, so they need to know if they will be motivated by the work. To show how excited you are, give specific examples of times when you felt motivated at work in real-life situations.

Example: ‘I love talking to people, especially when I get to help them. As a customer service representative, I’ve helped many customers troubleshoot issues with their services. One time, I guided a brand-new customer through her online portal, showing her how to make payments and view her transaction history. I enjoyed talking to her and helping her learn the ins and outs of my company’s service. She was so grateful for my help that she reached out to my supervisor to share her praise’.

6. How do you handle stress?

Work-related stress can happen because of problems, upcoming deadlines, and other difficult situations. That’s why employers look for someone who can stay focused and get things done, even when they’re under pressure. Show how you handle stress well by explaining how you dealt with those situations in a positive way.

Example: ‘I was once given a project with a short deadline. At first, I was overwhelmed, but I calmed down and broke the project down into individual tasks. I asked some colleagues to help with some of these tasks, which took a little pressure off, and I made an achievable plan to tackle the others. In the end, I successfully reached the deadline with high-quality work’.

7. Why are you leaving your current job?

Employers ask this question to find out what you want in a new job and company. No matter what situation you left in, always have a positive attitude toward your past employers. Think about what you want to achieve in your career and why you believe this company is a good match for your objectives.

Example: ‘I’m looking for a job that allows me to focus on building long-term client relationships. In my current role, we work a tight sales cycle, which means that I don’t get to spend that much time with individual clients. Relationship-building is my favorite part of sales, and I think I’m good at it, which is why I think I’d be a good fit for this role.

8. What are your goals for the future?

Employers want to understand if you plan on sticking around for a while or if this job is just a temporary step in your career. Even if you don’t want to make this job your long-term career, discuss how your goals match the company’s mission.

Example: ‘I would like to keep growing my marketing skills and learn more about management over the next several years. I’m interested in working for a startup because I’ll be exposed to new challenges and have the opportunity to collaborate with a lot of different departments. With the right mentoring, I think I could become a marketing department manager’.

9. Can you tell me about a time you overcame a difficult work situation?

Questions like these are often asked to see how good you are at thinking, talking, and solving problems quickly. Respond to the questions using the STAR method. Talk about the situation you faced, the task you had to do, the actions you took, and the outcomes you achieved.

Example: ‘I was filling in for my manager when our biggest client was very dissatisfied with the team’s performance. I couldn’t reach my manager to meet with the client, so I personally reached out to them and went through their expectations step by step and identified where we were experiencing a disconnect. I put together an action plan and asked if we could review it again when my manager got back. Upon her return, she was able to show proof that progress had been made on the action plan. The client then doubled their next order.

10. What are your salary expectations?

This question helps employers determine if you are worth the salary they want to offer. Examine the information about how much people in similar jobs, industries, with the same level of education and experience, and in the same location are getting paid. Then, request a fair salary that matches what others are earning. You can also tell the person hiring you if you are willing to discuss the salary you will be paid in return for benefits like being able to choose your working hours.

Example: ‘My salary expectation is between £25,750 and £27,100, which is typical for a candidate with my level of experience. However, I would be flexible if there were an opportunity to work from home.

11. Do you have any questions for me?

This is an opportunity to demonstrate your interest by asking the interviewer questions. If you ask smart, important questions, the person interviewing you will know that you have prepared well and thoroughly studied the company. It’s also an opportunity to learn everything you need to know about the job.

Examples:

• ‘The company did well last year, according to reports. Are you planning to expand’?
• ‘Do you have any employee health schemes, such as gym membership’?
• ‘What kind of career path is available to an employee coming into this position’?

Career development questions

Here are some career development questions you may be asked:

• What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
• What kind of job responsibilities can help you reach your goals?
• What do you want a typical day to look like in the future?
• What new knowledge and skills do you want to gain at work?

Other general interview questions to prepare for

Here are other questions about your personality and background you may encounter as well:

• What interests you about this role?
• What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
• What is your dream job?
• What qualities do you think make a good leader?
• What qualities do you think are needed in this role?
• Why do you feel you are the right person for this position?
• Where do you see yourself in five years? 10 years?
• How do handle shifting deadlines?
• What do you want to accomplish in the first 30 days in this role?
• When was your last peer evaluation? How did your team describe you?
• What’s your Myers-Briggs personality type?
• What is your favorite part about coming to work? What is your least favorite?
• How do you keep yourself organized at work?
• What qualities do you want in your next workplace?
• Who are your role models, and why?
• What are your hobbies and interests?
• What did you go to university for? Why did you choose that subject?
• What was the last book you read? What did you think of it?
• Describe your leadership style.
• What is your proudest professional achievement?