Job interviews often include a set of common questions that help employers understand who you are, how you work, and whether you fit the role and company. These questions may look simple, but each one has a clear purpose and gives you a chance to highlight your skills, experience, and career goals in a focused way.
1) Tell me about yourself?
This question is often the first one in an interview. Interviewers want to get to know you and learn about your background. Start by briefly describing your current job or activities. Then mention the most important parts of your experience that make you a good fit for this role. You can also include a little personal information like hobbies or family to sound friendly and memorable.
Example: “Right now, I’m an assistant to three of the company’s top executives, including the CEO. During my time here, I’ve been praised for my time management, writing skills, and dedication to doing quality work. With 12 years as an executive assistant, I’ve learned to anticipate problems and come up with solutions on my own. This lets the executives focus more on business needs while I handle the rest.”
2) How would you describe yourself?
When interviewers ask this, they want to know if your qualities match the skills needed for the job. Talk about your key traits and how they help you do your work well. If possible, give examples with numbers or results to show how you use your strengths at work.
Example: “I am a careful and proactive Security Officer who works to keep places safe and orderly. I always look for the newest security tools and methods to do my job better. I also document incidents thoroughly and suggest ways to improve security to my managers.”
3) What makes you unique?
Employers ask this to see why you are better suited than other candidates. Since you don’t know the others, focus on what makes you a good fit for the job. Talk about your special skills, experience, or qualities that help you succeed and add value.
Example: “What makes me unique is my four years of retail experience. I have direct experience answering customers’ questions, hearing their feedback, and solving complaints. This helps me understand what customers want and how to create a great buying experience through marketing.”
4) Why do you want to work here?
Interviewers ask this to see if you have researched the company and if you think you will fit in well. Before the interview, learn about the company’s products, services, mission, history, and culture. In your answer, mention the parts of the company that you like and that match your career goals. Explain why those things are important to you in an employer.
Example: “I like that this company helps college graduates pay off their student loans because I’ve been in that situation myself. I want to work somewhere that makes a positive difference. I’ve also been looking for a place with good values and a supportive work environment, and this company ranks at the top of my list.”
5) What interests you about this role?
Hiring managers ask this to make sure you understand the job and to give you a chance to show your relevant skills. Read the job description carefully, then think about which parts of the role you enjoy most or do well. Talk about those in your answer.
Example: “I have loved working in user experience design for most of my career. I was happy to see this company uses Adobe products because I know them well. Also, I believe in using agile workflows in design because they help manage big projects better. In my last job as a UX manager, I set up an agile process and it greatly improved how fast we finished projects.”
6) What motivates you?
Employers ask this to see if you understand what drives you and if it matches with the job. Be clear and give real examples from your life. Connect your motivation to the role you want.
Example: “What motivates me is making a real difference in the lives of my patients and their families. I love seeing their happy reactions when treatments work and change their lives. That’s why I became a nurse and why I want to work in pediatrics.”
7) What are you passionate about?
Employers ask this to learn what drives you and what you care about most. Pick something you truly enjoy, explain why it’s important to you, and give examples of how you follow this passion. Connect it back to the job you want.
Example: “I have over ten years of experience working in boutique salons, where I love creating a welcoming place for all clients and giving great skincare services. My training and people skills helped me build long-term trust with clients. These relationships make me excited to go to work every day.”
8) Why are you leaving your current job?
Many people have different reasons for leaving a job. Give an answer that shows you have thought carefully about this change. Instead of talking about problems in your current job, focus on what you want to achieve in your next one.
Example: “I want a job where I can build long-term relationships with clients. In my current job, the sales cycles are too short, so I don’t get to connect deeply with customers. Building relationships is why I chose sales, and I’m excited to find a company that values this.”
9) What are your greatest strengths?
This is your chance to talk about your best skills and qualities. Share things you do well, both technical and personal, and explain how they relate to the job you want.
Example: “I’m a natural problem solver. I enjoy digging deep to find solutions to challenges, like solving a puzzle. I’ve always been good at this, and I find it rewarding. Since product development often means finding smart solutions to tough problems, this strength fits well with my career path.”
10) What are your greatest weaknesses?
Talking about weaknesses can be hard, but if done right, it shows you know yourself and want to get better. Start by naming a real weakness, then talk about how you are working to improve it. This way, your answer ends positively.
Example: “I sometimes struggle to say ‘no’ and take on too much work. Early in my career, this meant working late and feeling stressed. I realized this wasn’t good, so now I use tools to manage my workload and communicate better with my team about what I can do.”
11) What are your goals for the future?
Employers ask this to see if you plan to stay long-term and if you have realistic career ambitions. Think about where you want your career to go and explain how this job fits into those plans.
Example: “I want to keep growing my marketing skills and my leadership abilities over the next few years. I’m interested in this fast-growing startup because I’ll get to do many different tasks and work with many teams. This experience will help me reach my goal of leading a marketing department someday.”
12) Where do you see yourself in five years?
Employers ask this to understand if your goals match the company’s path and if you plan to grow with them. Share general ideas about skills you want to gain, roles you want to try, and important accomplishments you aim for.
Example: “In five years, I want to be an expert in my field who can train and mentor new designers. I also want to learn more about user experience so I can work well with design and marketing teams on big projects that help the company and make a positive impact globally.”
13) Can you tell me about a difficult work situation and how you overcame it?
This question looks at how you handle pressure and solve problems. Use a story to show what you did, how you helped, and how you went beyond what was expected.
Example: “On the first day my boss was on vacation, our biggest client was unhappy and thinking of leaving. I used my lunch break to talk with him and listen to his concerns. We came up with new ideas for his next campaign. He appreciated the personal attention so much that he signed a six-month contract before my boss even came back.”
14) Why should we hire you?
This question gives you a chance to explain why you are the best person for the job. Talk about your skills, experience, and how you fit well with the company culture. Show that you understand what the company needs and how you can help meet those needs.
Example: “I’m passionate about application development, and this has grown stronger during my five-year career. Your company’s mission matches my personal values, and from my time here, I can see the positive culture where I’d thrive. I want to work for a company that is shaping the industry, and I believe you’re doing exactly that.”
15) Do you have any questions?
This might be the most important question in the interview because it shows your interest and gives you a chance to learn more. By now, you’ve probably covered most job and company basics. Use this time to ask about the interviewer’s experiences, the team, or tips to succeed.
Example: “What do you enjoy most about working here? What does success look like in this role? What are common challenges people face in this position?”
