10 Job Interview Questions and Answers to Know

Job interview questions can be daunting to answer, so be prepared for these common interview questions and how to answer them.

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Job interview questions and answers

Job interviews can be challenging at times. You have to impress a hiring manager, show that you work well within the company culture, explain your work experience and ace the interview questions to show that you’re the best candidate for the job. If you want to make sure you’re prepared for a job interview and the hiring process is as easy as possible, it’s a good idea to prepare for common interview questions. Here are the top 10 questions to prepare for so you can convince the recruiter to offer you the new job.

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The 10 most common job interview questions

1. Tell me about yourself.

“Tell me about yourself” is a general question that offers some insight into who you are. It’s one of the most common first questions you’ll experience in a job interview. A good answer to this question will typically include a few of your top skills, as well as previous work or activities that relate to the job you’re applying for.

2. Tell me about a challenge or conflict you faced at work and how you dealt with it.

This question helps an interviewer understand how you handle problem-solving needs. Have a few challenges and conflicts you’ve previously experienced and use the STAR method to discuss how you approached the problem.

3. What are your greatest strengths? What motivates you?

Showcasing your greatest strengths is all about indicating what you’ve done with those strengths. You don’t want to brag about a strength you don’t actually have. Talk about what you’ve done in past jobs and how you can use these strengths in your next job.

4. How did you hear about this job?

Recruiters typically just want to know what’s been working best for their job applications. Additionally, if you heard about this job offer through a friend who works there, you may have a work style that really fits with the company culture.

5. What are your greatest weaknesses?

Questions about your weaknesses show self-awareness and help an interviewer understand what work environment you’ll thrive in. Be honest about your shortcomings and explain what steps you’ve taken to improve on them. Avoid red-flag answers that indicate a weakness in a necessary skill or trying to present a strength as a weakness.

6. Tell me about an experience when you demonstrated leadership skills.

Even if you’re not applying for a leadership career path, your long-term goals may include leadership positions. Plus, a good team player should typically have leadership skills. Have a few of these questions tucked away to give a great answer about your leadership skills.

7. Why are you leaving your current job?

This question helps interviewers see how you talk about your last job, gives some insight into your career goals and explains what type of work you prefer. Don’t talk badly about your current employer. Instead, showcase how you’re hoping to move forward with a new employer, and what about the company or job inspires you.

8. Why should I hire you? Why do you want this job?

The wrong answer to this question is anything having to do with salary expectations. If this is your dream job, definitely mention that, but showcase more what makes you unique as a perfect fit for the company and less how the company can benefit you.

9. Where do you see yourself in five years?

A hiring manager wants to hire a long-term worker. They don’t want to have to go through this interview process again in two years. You should have a professional achievement in mind that you hope to achieve at this company to answer this question.

10. Is there anything else you want to ask us?

Follow-up questions are extremely important during an interview. Do your homework on the employer and have some questions ready about the company and job. This can help showcase that you want to be the perfect fit for the job and you’re genuinely interested.

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How to answer interview questions in general?

The best way to answer interview questions is with the STAR method. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Bring up a specific situation, indicate the task you needed to perform, talk about the action you took, then show how the result benefitted your previous job. Be as detail-oriented as possible, and always showcase what you did for a previous employer to help them. This approach will help you ace all your interview questions.

FAQ: job interview questions and answers

Q: Should I memorise answers to frequently asked job interview questions?

No. Memorised answers typically won’t come off as very natural, and you need to make sure your answers match your specific job search. Instead, prepare a few sample answers to the most common job interview questions, or have your CV and a few notes handy about your skills and the position. This way, you can adapt your answers to whatever questions an interviewer is asking.

Q: Are job interview questions and answers the same at every job?

They’re not typically the same, but they’re often very similar. If you’re applying for a job that prioritises project management, every hiring manager will probably ask questions about project management duties and challenges. Looking into sample answers for common job interview questions can help you prepare for most job interviews because most interviews are very similar, and so you’ll likely see the same question asked many different times.

Q: Should I reiterate my resume and cover letter information for job interview questions?

You don’t have to regurgitate every piece of information. You should assume the employer has seen your CV and cover letter. However, it is a good idea to talk about the strongest elements of your CV and cover letter. If teamwork and a strong work ethic are listed as two of your top skills, you need to showcase those skills through your interview.

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