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| Mastering the art of answering the interview question is the key to get the job |
Do you have a job interview coming up? Are you prepared? The best way to get ready for an interview is to take the time to review the most common interview questions you will most likely be asked. Knowing what you're going to say can eliminate a lot of interview stress.
Review examples of the best answers for the most frequently asked interview questions in several different categories, and advice on how to answer.
Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions
Interviewers will ask questions about you to gain insight into your personality, and to determine whether you're a fit for both the job and the company. These are open-ended questions which will give you the opportunity to show the employer that you're well-qualified for the position.
These are top ten most commonly asked interview questions, with examples of the best answers. Also review job-specific interview questions for many different positions to get ideas for framing your own interview responses.
You don't need to memorize an answer, but do take the time to consider how you'll respond. The more you prepare, the more confident you'll feel during a job interview. When you're not sure what to expect during an interview, also review this refresher on how job interviews work, and tips on how to prepare to ace a job interview.
Interview Questions About You
Tell me about yourself.
What is your greatest weakness?
What is your greatest strength?
How will your greatest strength help you perform?
Tell me about something that's not on your resume.
How do you handle failure?
Do you consider yourself successful? Why?
How do you handle success?
How would you describe yourself?
How do you handle stress and pressure?
Are you lucky?
Describe a typical work week.
Are you willing to fail?
Are you nice?
Do you work well with other people?
Describe your work style.
How are you different from the competition?
Do you take work home with you?
How would your co-workers describe your personality?
How many hours a week do you normally work?
How would you describe the pace at which you work?
How does this job fit in with your career plan?
How do you view yourself? Whom do you compare yourself to?
How would you adjust to working for a new company?
What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make?
Is there anything else we should know about you?
What has been the greatest disappointment in your life?
What motivates you?
Are you a self motivator?
What won’t you miss about your last job?
What are your hobbies?
What are you passionate about?
What is your dream job?
Why should I take a risk on you?
What will you miss most about your last job?
What are your pet peeves?
Would you rather be liked or respected?
If you could relive the last ten years of your life, what would you do differently?
Interview Questions About Salary
Why would you take a job for less money?
What are your salary expectations?
What are your salary requirements?
What were your starting and final levels of compensation?
Some of the hardest questions to answer during a job interview are about compensation. Here's what you will be asked and examples of the best answers.
Questions about salary can be tricky to answer, and, in some locations, employers aren't allowed to ask about your salary history.
Questions About Your Qualifications
What can you do better for us than the other candidates for the job?
Sell me this pen.
Are you overqualified for this job?
What philosophy guides your work?
Why are you interested in taking a lower level job?
What part of the job will be the least challenging for you?
Why are you interested in a non-management job?
What strength will help you the most to succeed?
Tell me about your educational background.
What applicable experience do you have?
Interview questions about your abilities.
How did you impact the bottom line?
Which parts of this job are the most challenging for you?
The most important thing for interviewers to determine is whether you're qualified for the job. Here's what they will ask to find out. When responding, be specific.
Interview Questions About Your Work History
Which was most / least rewarding?
How have you impacted worker safety?
What were your responsibilities?
Questions about your work history.
What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them?
What was the biggest accomplishment / failure in this position?
Describe the gap in your employment history.
Questions about job demotions.
Questions about your resume.
What have you learned from your mistakes?
What were your expectations for the job and to what extent were they met?
What did you like or dislike about your previous job?
Is your work history stable, has it prepared you for the job you're interviewing for, and do you have any gaps in your employment history that the company should be concerned about? If not, prepare to answer questions about what you were doing when you weren't in the workforce.
Questions About Management and Teamwork
Describe how you managed a problem employee.
More teamwork interview questions.
What do you expect from a supervisor?
Who was your best boss and who was the worst?
If you know your boss is 100% wrong about something how would you handle it?
How did you fit in with the company culture?
Give some examples of teamwork.
Describe your ideal boss.
Have you ever had difficulty working with a manager?
Are you a team player?
Do you work well with others?
Do you prefer to work in a solitary environment or as part of a team?
Your work style, and how you get along with others, including co-workers, managers, and customers or clients is important to all employers. Here are some of the questions employers ask about getting along at work.
Interview Questions About the New Job and the Company
Why do you want this job?
What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days on the job?
What is good customer service?
Is there anything I haven't told you about the job or company that you would like to know?
How is our company better than your current employer?
Why do you want to work here?
What can we expect from you in the first 60 days on the job?
What would be your ideal company culture?
What do you know about this company?
What interests you about this job?
What challenges are you looking for in a position?
Are you willing to travel?
When could you start work?
What do you know about the company, why do you want the job, and what would you do if you were to be hired, are just some of the questions you'll be asked about the position and employer. Take the time to research the employer prior to the interview, so that you can ask informed questions about the job and company.
The Final Question
Do you have any questions for me?
The last question you'll most likely be asked is whether you have any questions. Here's how to respond.
Interview Questions About the Future
Are you going to stick around if you're hired is something most employers want to know. All these questions will gauge your interest in making a commitment.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
What will you do if you don't get this position?
Tell me about the trends in your profession and industry.
What are your goals for the next five years / ten years?
What are you looking for in your next job? What is important to you?
Where else are you interviewing?
What is your professional development plan?
How do you plan to achieve your goals?
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Questions About Why You Should Be Hired
Why should we hire you instead of the other applicants for the job?
What can you contribute to this company?
Why should we hire you?
Why are you the best person for the job?
Why shouldn't we hire you?
Why should you be hired over the other applicants? What makes you best candidate for the job? Here's when you'll have the opportunity to make the case for getting a job offer, and the chance to sell yourself to the interviewer.
Questions About Job Performance
What would you be looking for in an applicant?
If the people who know you were asked why you should be hired, what would they say?
Describe a difficult work situation or project and how you overcame it.
What makes you angry?
What do people most often criticize about you?
What is the worst thing that you have ever gotten away with?
What strategies would you use to motivate your team?
Why weren't you promoted at your last job?
What type of work environment do you prefer?
Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it.
How do you evaluate success?
Tell me about something you would have done differently at work.
When was the last time you were angry? What happened?
What problems have you encountered at work?
What is the biggest criticism you received from your boss?
How you performed in previous roles can indicate how you will perform in the job for which you're applying. Be prepared to answer questions about what you did well - and what you didn't.
As with questions about qualifications, be sure to relate your performance to the employer's requirements.
Be careful how you to respond to negative questions. You can frame your responses in a positive manner, even when discussing a challenging situation.
Questions About Leaving Your Job
Why did you quit your job?
What have you been doing since your last job?
Why were you fired?
Why have you been out of work so long?
Why are you leaving your job?
Why were you laid-off?
Why do you want to change jobs?
Why did you resign?
Employers almost always ask about why you left, or are leaving, your job. Be prepared with an explanation for why you're moving on. Do make sure the reasons you give match what past employers will say about you if they are contacted for a reference.
