A job interview is the third crucial step, after (step 1) networking/job searching and (step 2) resume and cover letter, that will make or break your chance at your target position. Preparation for an interview is essential to doing your best, and feeling your most confident!
Here are 10 of the most common interview questions and answers:
1. So, tell me a little about yourself.
Okay, not a question, but really it is. What the interviewer is really asking is, “What’s in your background that makes you fit in here?”
This is undoubtedly the most common opener question in any interview. The important thing to remember when answering this question is that the employer is only looking for information about your professional life, not your personal life. Keep age, marital status, religion, etc. out of your answer.
You want to illustrate 3 or 4 important things about your professional life that can show you in a positive light. Name a few of your best attributes or an accomplishment you’re proud of. This is a great time to utilize part or all of your elevator pitch.
2. Why are you interested in the position? (aka Why do you want to work for us?)
This is the perfect opportunity to show off what you know about the position and the company. Hopefully you’ve done your pre-interview research and you can speak genuinely about why you are interested in the position.
If you can find a way to show that you feel a personal connection to the company and what they stand for, that can be very helpful. Employers know that people who believe in the company they work for are hard-working and more loyal than people who are just there to collect a paycheck.
Take a cue from the company website, social media profiles or any other reliable source of information and use this as an opportunity to show what a good fit you are for the company.
3. What is your greatest strength/weakness?
Ugh. I know. This question always seems tricky for a lot of people.
Talking about our biggest strengths can sometimes make us feel like we’re being boastful, but the truth is there’s no better time to do so than in an interview.
The person interviewing you has never met you before, so if you don’t tell them what you’re good at, how will they ever know?
Pick a quality that is important to the position for which you are applying (which you should know from doing your research) and be sure to be able to give an example of a time that strength has benefitted you or an employer.
Discussing a weakness can be a bit trickier, but there are two basic ways you can handle it that generally lead to success.
You can either mention a weakness, and talk about how you’ve learned to use it to your benefit:
“Sometimes I can be shy in new situations, but I’ve learned to use that to my advantage by observing new situations and figuring out how I can best fit in and be effective right away”
Or, you can mention a weakness and then talk about how you work consistently to improve upon it:
“I’ve struggled in the past with my organizational skills, but over time I’ve learned what works best for me and implemented methods that help to keep me organized even in fast-paced and hectic environments”
This should go without saying at this point, but I should probably still mention it: trying to showcase a weakness as a strength is a rookie mistake. “I try too hard,” or, “I care too much,” will leave you dead in the water.
4. What are your short/long term goals?
Remember to keep things professional, and focus on how you plan to help the company and grow as a professional.
When answering this question, try to highlight your strengths and positive attributes as they relate to the position.
Emphasize your desire to create a stable environment in a position where you can contribute successfully while continuing to learn and grow in your field.
If you have a desire to continue taking on additional responsibilities or eventually move into management, be sure to say so in a way that is humble and doesn’t seem to say that you are looking to take over the job of your interviewer.
5. What is one of your biggest accomplishments (or failures)?
With this question, the interviewer is trying to gain an understanding of where your priorities lie and what you value.
It is important that you have prepared a few different anecdotes which provide examples of your accomplishments and your skills. You may even want to prepare a story which illustrates a time in your career when you failed at something, what you learned from that experience, and how you used that knowledge to improve upon yourself.
The important thing to remember is to tell a story which illustrates your true character as an employee, and do your best to make sure that character is aligned with the culture of that company.
6. Why do you want to leave your current position? (Or, why did you leave?)
This can be a tricky question, if you’re not prepared for it.
While the employer is probably genuinely interested in the answer to this question, they also want to see if you fall into the trap of “trash talking” your previous employer.
Don’t do it! If you speak negatively about your previous employer, the new prospective employer can safely assume you will do the same to them. Even if you are/were in a bad situation, keep your language positive. If you were fired or left the position on bad terms, it is important to plan out how you will handle this in an interview.
Every job seeker has a different history, so getting personal assistance from a career services, human resources, or recruiting professional is always best.
A safe answer here (if you don’t have a good one) is to speak about how you are looking for more growth opportunities, or a better company culture. Be sure to have examples, so they know you’ve done your homework.
7. Can you explain the gap in your employment?
This is another tough question for some people, and one that is often best handled in a one-on-one conversation with a professional.
As I mentioned earlier, each job seeker has a different history, so each answer needs to be different as well.
Just as with the last question, it is very important that you take the time to plan how you’re going to answer this question before you go into an interview.
If you’re struggling for an answer that won’t put you at a disadvantage, you can explain how you were taking time for personal reflection and growth, but you’ll need a few good examples of your findings.
8. What can you offer us that someone else can’t?
This is your time to shine! This is similar to the question about your strengths, but this one adds a bit of a competitive edge.
Remember that research you’re supposed to do on the company and the position?
That’s going to be the best way for you to be sure you’re answering this question correctly. Be sure that whatever answer you give matches what they say they are looking for in a candidate, as well as the company culture. And don’t just pick something generic.
Do some good reflective analysis on yourself as an employee and really try to explain what makes you unique.
9. How have you handled conflicts with a client, customer or coworker?
Most companies are interested to know how you will interact with their customers/clients, or at the very least with your coworkers.
When discussing how to handle conflict, it is important to remember that customer satisfaction is the ultimate goal, and that excellent listening and communication skills are usually the best tools to get you there.
If you can remember a specific time when you handled conflict well and were able to get a good outcome, then definitely prepare that story before going into an interview.
If you don’t have a specific story to tell, you can speak in general terms about how you would handle such a situation.
10. What would you like to accomplish in the first 30/60/90 days in this position?
Again, your research on the company, the position, and the industry will help you to best answer this question.
Share what you’ve been able to find out on your own, show your ambition when talking about what you’d like to accomplish, and don’t be afraid to ask for input from the employer to get a clear picture of the full breadth and scope of the position.
By making it a collaborative effort between yourself and the interviewer, you can start to plant the picture in their mind of you being the one they hire for the job. That can be a pretty powerful tool.
11. Do you have any questions for me?
I know, I said this would a 10-question guide, but I couldn’t leave this one off the list.
Prepare questions. If you don’t have questions to ask, it will look like you aren’t that interested in the position.
Be real with the interviewer and ask how they like working for the company.
You can also ask about company-wide goals too like, plans for growth and development.
Try to avoid questions about vacation time, raises, etc., and anything off-topic.
For more interview questions and answers, including illegal interview questions, check out our blog series, How to Answer 25 Top Interview Questions: Part 1.