Let’s face it: job interviews can be intimidating. When you want to impress a total stranger, it can feel like a single misworded answer can doom you. But the thing about job interviews is, they’re often quite similar to each other. Certain questions are guaranteed to pop up in most interviews, making it easier to rehearse your answers beforehand. Proper preparation and research are half the battle at the interview phase of your job hunt!
Of course, some of these common interview questions can feel like a trick or be easily misunderstood. Here’s how to answer the most-asked interview questions.
“Tell me about yourself.”
When answering this question, remember to keep it brief. The interviewer isn’t expecting you to review every line of your resume because they already have that document anyway. Instead, practice a one- or two-minute elevator pitch before your interview that highlights your most relevant experience, accomplishments, skills and passion for the role. An interview is a chance to sell yourself, and that’s best done with simple, clear, and strong messaging.
“Why do you want to work here?”
Unfortunately, many people skip the research phase of interview prep and end up flubbing this question. Try to learn as much about the company as you can beforehand, including its workplace reputation and culture. That way you can easily list what inspires you about the company with specific examples. This shows employers you’re truly passionate about the role — and that you do your homework.
“What is your greatest strength/weakness?”
Sometimes this can feel like a trick question. On one hand, you don’t want to appear arrogant, but you may also feel reluctant to highlight past failures in a high-stakes job interview. But remember, a job interview is a chance to sell yourself, so you should confidently state what you’re good at. Just make sure to select a strength that you actually have and that is relevant to the job.
As for your greatest weakness, you don’t need to name your actual worst trait. Instead, describe something you sometimes struggle with professionally, but also explain how you’ve worked on improving it. For example, if you struggle with time management, mention how you’ve turned to time blocking your calendar and using trackers to keep on top of your work. This demonstrates self-awareness while showing you are always aiming to better yourself.
“Tell me about a time you encountered a problem at work and how you solved it.”
It’s inevitable that challenges will pop up in the workplace, so employers will ask this to ensure you know how to handle adversity. You don’t have to pick the most dramatic story in your arsenal — even a situation where you handled a minor setback can be a good answer if you’re able to detail how you came up with a smart, creative solution.
“What kind of work environment do you prefer?”
This question illustrates why research is so important before an interview. If an organization is renowned for its fast-paced startup culture, they’re likely not going to love you telling them how much you appreciate a slower, more stable workplace. While you shouldn’t lie — if you want a more corporate environment, for example, you probably wouldn’t be happy at a startup anyway — try to align your answer with the company’s culture. Most importantly, you can offer examples that demonstrate that you’re adaptable to a variety of situations.
“When you’re balancing multiple projects and facing deadlines, how do you keep yourself organized?”
This question is all about your time management skills and your ability to work under pressure. Give concrete examples of what you do to stay on task. For example, name the software you use to stay organized. Explain how you structure your day and prioritize tasks. When preparing to answer this question, think about how you’ve handled busy seasons at past jobs and what you did to make sure your projects were on time. All of this will give the interviewer insight into how you can handle your duties when it’s crunch time.
“Tell me about a time you failed at something. What would you do differently?”
Nobody’s perfect, and employers know that. This question isn’t meant to be negative or tricky — it’s just meant to show you’re able to reflect on the past and learn from it. Make sure to share an anecdote that demonstrates your ability to take responsibility and action to grow.
“How do you manage others/like to be managed?”
Most employers are looking for someone who at least has leadership potential — and knows how to work well with others. When it comes to discussing your own management style, be sure to back it up with concrete examples so they can understand your point of view. When discussing how you like to be managed, be as honest as you can when explaining your work style, but indicate your flexibility so they know you can match a variety of environments. Above all, keep it positive and professional.
“What are your interests outside of work?”
Yes, it’s most important that you can carry out the actual job duties. But managers do care about what kind of person they’re bringing onto the team since even just one employee can drastically affect the environment. This is your chance to show your personality! Discuss your interests and your hobbies. Who knows? You may end up bonding with your interviewer over something unexpected.
“Why did you leave your last job?”
It can be awkward to discuss why you left your last position, but it doesn’t have to be. You should be as honest as you can without disparaging your past workplace. Industries can be small and you don’t know who knows who. Besides, if you’re overly critical, it may reflect poorly on you. That’s why tact is key here. There’s nothing wrong with saying you wanted more opportunities or were looking for a change of pace, or acknowledging a layoff, but bashing your managers is a step too far.
“Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”
This is an opportunity to expand on your passion for the role and show how excited you are to grow with the company. Your vision for the future should involve natural development in the industry to show you’re intent on pursuing this line of work. Also, be realistic about what you can achieve — it’s probably not the right time to joke about becoming their CEO, for example — to show you’re grounded and serious about these goals.
“Do you have any questions for me?”
Sometimes people can get nervous about asking questions, but it’s a good opportunity to show how much you care about the role. This is also a great time to learn more about the job and organization from someone who works there. An interview isn’t just for an employer to decide if they want to hire you. It’s also for you to decide if a company or role is the right fit. Take the time to ask about day-to-day work, company culture and your interviewer’s impressions of the job. It’s also a good idea to ask about the hiring timeline now, so you can prepare for any next steps and ease your anxiety while waiting to hear back.
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