10 Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Author: Vicky Oliver
Interviewing for a new job can be nerve-racking, especially because you don’t know what the hiring manager will ask you. Luckily, some questions tend to come up often, which means you can practice and hone your answers ahead of time. Below is a list of 10 common job interview questions, along with answering techniques that will help you dazzle your prospects and, hopefully, secure the role you want.
Could you tell me about yourself and describe your background in brief?
Interviewers like to hear stories about candidates. Make sure your story has a great beginning, a riveting middle, and an end that makes the interviewer root for you to win the job.
Talk about a relevant incident that made you keen on the profession you are pursuing, and follow up by discussing your education. In the story, weave together how your academic training and your passion for the subject or industry the company specializes in, combined with your work experience, make you a great fit for the job. If you’ve managed a complex project or worked on an exciting, offbeat design, mention it.
Example: “I come from a small town where opportunities were limited. Since good schools were a rarity, I started using online learning to stay up-to-date with the best. That’s where I learned to code, and then I went on to get my certification as a computer programmer. After I got my first job as a front-end coder, I continued to invest time in mastering both front-and back-end languages, tools, and frameworks.”
How did you hear about this position?
Employers want to know whether you are actively seeking out their company, heard of the role from a recruiter, or were recommended to the position by a current employee. In short, they want to know how you got to them.
If someone recommended you for the position, be sure to say their name. Don’t assume that the interviewer already knows about the referral. You’ll probably also want to follow up with how you know the person who referred you. For example, if you and Steve (who recommended you) worked together previously, or if you met him over coffee at a networking event, mention it to give yourself a little more credibility. If Steve works at the company and suggested that you apply for the job, explain why he thought you’d be the perfect fit.
If you sought out the role yourself, be clear about what caught your eye—bonus points if you can align your values with the company and its mission. You want to convince the hiring manager that you chose this company, over all other companies, for a few specific reasons.
Finally, if you were recruited, explain why you took the bait. Did this role sound like a good fit? Does it align with the direction you want to take your career? Even if you weren’t familiar with the organization before being recruited, be enthusiastic about what you’ve learned and be honest about why you’re interested in moving forward with the process.
Example: “I learned about the position through LinkedIn, as I’ve been following your company’s page for a while now. I’m really passionate about the work you’re doing in X, Y, and Z areas, so I was excited to apply. The required skills match well with the skills I have, and it seems like a great opportunity for me to contribute to your mission, as well as a great next move for my career.”
What type of work environment do you prefer?
Be sure to do your homework on the organization and its culture before the interview. Your research will save you here. Your preferred environment should closely align with the company’s workplace culture (and if it doesn’t, it may not be the right fit for you). For example, the company’s website may say that it has a flat organizational structure or that it prioritizes collaboration and autonomy. Those are keywords you can mention in your answer to this question.
Maybe the interviewer will tell you something about the company that you didn’t uncover in your research, like, “Our culture appears buttoned-up from the outside, but in reality, it’s a really laid-back community with little competition among employees.” Try to describe an experience you’ve had that dovetails with that observation. Your goal is to share how your work ethic matches that of the organization.
Example: “That sounds great to me. I like fast-paced work environments because they make me feel like I’m always learning and growing, but I really thrive when I’m collaborating with team members and helping people reach a collective goal as opposed to competing. My last internship was at an organization with a similar culture, and I really enjoyed that balance.”
How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
The employer wants to know, Do you hold down the fort or crumble under pressure? They want to make sure that you won’t have a meltdown when the pressure becomes intense and deadlines are looming. The ability to stay calm under pressure is a highly prized talent.
Share an instance when you remained calm despite the turmoil. If it’s a skill you’re developing, acknowledge that and include the steps you’re taking to respond better to pressure in the future. For example, you could indicate that you’ve started a mindfulness practice to help you better deal with stress.
Example: “I realize stressful situations are always going to come up, and I definitely have had to learn how to navigate them throughout my career. I think I get better at it with every new experience. While I was working on a new product launch at my last company, for example, things were not going according to plan with my team. Instead of pointing fingers, my first reaction was to take a step back and figure out some strategies around how we could solve the problem at hand. Previously, I may have defaulted to panicking in that situation, so being calm and collected was definitely a step forward and helped me approach the situation with more clarity.”
ANSWERING “WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS?”
by Joel Schwartzberg
Telling a potential employer what you’re not good at isn’t exactly fun. But resist the urge to put a spin on your answer. Doing so can come across as trite and unoriginal, even scheming. (My weaknesses? Perfectionism! I work too hard! I care too much!) The key is to be authentic but not self-sabotaging. An interviewer may remember your answer and hold it against you—even subconsciously—so you need to limit and mitigate any potentially harmful impressions.
These tips can help you respond both responsibly and protectively:
Reimagine weakness as a challenge. Even consider replacing the word weakness with challenge in your answer. This change in vocabulary removes some of the sting of weakness and makes shortcomings seem more fixable, because a weakness implies more permanence than a challenge.
Choose skills that are easily correctable through training or commitment. Work skills like data analysis, presentation skills, or software expertise are typically learnable, and interviewers understand that. But behavior challenges like impatience, disorganization, or insecurity may seem like personality flaws that are harder to overcome.
Avoid clichés. Stay away from overdone examples like “perfectionism” and “being a workaholic” as well as weaknesses that are just strengths in disguise (“Sometimes, I work too hard/research too much/consider too many ideas”).
Choose a challenge that is not core to the job’s responsibilities. While your strengths should match the skills highlighted in the job description, your challenges should steer clear of those skills. Simply put, you don’t want to be weak where the job needs you to be strong.
Once you pick a challenge, practice expressing it. Do so in three parts: the weakness, the minor consequences of the weakness, and your eagerness to address the weakness. Try to incorporate all these elements into your answer, but this time, keep the consequences short, simple, and minor so that you can focus on overcoming the challenge more than on the challenge itself. When you put all these tips together, your response should sound like this:
One of my challenges is learning new workplace technologies, like cloud filing platforms, database tools, and content management systems. It just takes me longer to learn complicated technology tools. But once I do, I enjoy using them, and I like to help new colleagues learn them as well. I really appreciate it when a company offers classes and resources to help people become confident using the tools.
Joel Schwartzberg oversees executive communications for a major national nonprofit, is a professional presentation coach, and is the author of Get to the Point! and The Language of Leadership. You can find him on LinkedIn and on X/Twitter @TheJoelTruth.
Adapted from the article “How to Answer ‘What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?”.
Do you prefer working independently or on a team?
Your answer should be informed by the research you’ve done on the company culture and the job in question. Nevertheless, you should expect that most work environments will have some team aspect.
Many positions require you to work collaboratively with other people on a daily basis, while some roles require you to work on your own. When you answer this question, highlight the best traits of your personality and how they fit the job requirements. It could also be in your interest to answer this question by highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of both situations.
Example: “I enjoy a blend of the two. I like having a team to strategize with, get diverse opinions from, and reach out to for feedback. But I am also comfortable taking on assignments that require me to work independently. I find I do some of my best work when I can focus alone in a quiet space, but I really value collaborating with my teammates to come up with the best ideas.”
When you’re balancing multiple projects, how do you keep yourself organized?
Employers want to understand how you use your time and energy to stay productive and efficient. They’re also looking to understand if you have your own system for staying on track with the work, beyond the company’s schedules and workflow plans. Be sure to emphasize that you adhere to deadlines and take them seriously.
Discuss a specific instance when you stayed on track. Talk about the importance and urgency of the projects you were working on and how you allocated your time accordingly. Explain how you remain organized and focused on the job in front of you.
Example: “I’m used to juggling projects at my current job, where I’m often moving from one software program to another. I use the timeboxing technique to make sure they’re all on track, allocating time on my calendar for certain tasks. I’ve found that timeboxing really helps me prioritize what needs to get done first, and it holds me accountable for the more repetitive day-to-day tasks I’m responsible for.”
What did you do in the last year to improve your knowledge?
Employers want to know how people take initiative to keep learning. You don’t have to feel scared about answering this question if you didn’t spend your time brushing up on skills or taking courses. We learn from any experience we have.
If you spent time honing your professional skills, you might say the following:
Example: “Lately I’ve been getting introspective around where I want to take my career. I’ve read a lot of journals to keep abreast of the latest ideas in my field and sharpened my skills by taking some online courses, such as . . .” (and then be specific).
If you chose to work on your personal development, you could say something like the following:
Example: “A few months ago I decided to spend more time on things I love. So I got back to learning how to play the guitar and journaling. I feel this personal development has brought me closer to myself and has been really great for my mental health and productivity.”
What are your salary expectations?
Before you walk into, or log on to, your first interview, you should already know what the salary is for the position you’re applying for. Check out websites such as Glassdoor, Fishbowl, or Vault for salary information. You could also ask people in the field by reaching out to your community on LinkedIn.
Employers will always ask this question because every position is budgeted, and they want to ensure that your expectations are consistent with their budget before moving forward.
Remember that it’s often better to discuss a salary range rather than a specific number during the interview and to leave room for negotiation. It’s also better to err on the side of caution and quote a slightly higher number, as it’s easier to negotiate downward than upward. As a general rule, I advise not bringing up questions about salary until your interviewer does or not bringing it up too early in the process.
Example: “In light of my skills, my experience, and the current industry rates, I’m looking at a salary around $X to $Y” (fill in your desired salary range, and give your rationale).
Are you applying for other jobs?
Interviewers want to know if you’re genuinely interested in this position or if it’s just one of many options you’re considering. They simply want to know if you’re their top choice. Honesty is the best policy. If you’re applying for other jobs, say so. You don’t have to necessarily say where you’re applying unless you have another offer. But employers might want to know where in the hiring process you are with other companies. You can also mention that you’re actively looking for offers if your interviewer asks.
Example: “I’ve applied to a couple of other firms, but this role is really the one I’m most excited about right now because . . .”
From your résumé, it seems you took a gap year. Would you like to tell us why that was?
Gap years are more popular in some cultures than others. In some professions, gap years may have a negative connotation—the industry moves too fast and you’re not up-to-date.
Let your interviewer know that your gap year wasn’t about procrastinating over your transition into the working world but that it added value to the confident professional you have become. Depending on what part of the world you’re in and how common these breaks are, employers are likely looking to hear stories of what you did and how your experiences have benefited you professionally and prepared you for this role. (For advice on explaining other kinds of gaps in your work history, see the article “Write a Résumé That Stands Out”.)
Briefly explain why you decided to pursue a gap year, and then focus on what came out of it and how that made a positive difference for your future.
Example: “During my last year of high school, I didn’t feel ready to choose my educational path, so I took a wilderness course for a few months to sort out my life goals. It may seem a little random, but the time I spent actually helped me develop so many new skills—in the areas of leadership, communication, and [whatever seems appropriate to this position]. During that time, I realized that I wanted to earn a degree in [state your degree] to align with my passion [say what that is].”
To make a winning impression, you’ll need to answer each question with poise and passion. But practicing first really helps. Meticulous preparation will allow you to appear confident and in control and will help position you as the ideal candidate when the competition is tough.
Vicky Oliver is a leading career development expert, the author of five bestselling books, including 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions, and a nonfiction editor at LIT, the journal of the New School master’s in fine arts in creative writing program. She’s a sought-after speaker and seminar presenter and a popular media source, having made more than 900 appearances in broadcast, print, and online outlets.
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