Wouldn't it be great if you knew exactly what a hiring manager would be asking you in your next interview?
While we unfortunately can't read minds, we'll give you the next best
thing: a list of the 31 most commonly asked interview questions and
answers.
While we don't recommend having a canned response for every interview
question (in fact, please don't), we do recommend spending some time
getting comfortable with what you might be asked, what hiring managers
are really looking for in your responses, and what it takes to show that
you're the right man or woman for the job.
Consider this your interview study guide.
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
This question seems simple, so many people fail to prepare for it,
but it's crucial. Here's the deal: Don't give your complete employment
(or personal) history. Instead give a pitch—one that’s concise and
compelling and that shows exactly why you’re the right fit for the job.
Start off with the 2-3 specific accomplishments or experiences that you
most want the interviewer to know about, then wrap up talking about how
that prior experience has positioned you for this specific role.
2. How did you hear about the position?
Another seemingly innocuous interview question, this is actually a
perfect opportunity to stand out and show your passion for and
connection to the company. For example, if you found out about the gig
through a friend or professional contact, name drop that person, then
share why you were so excited about it. If you discovered the company
through an event or article, share that. Even if you found the listing
through a random job board, share what, specifically, caught your eye
about the role.
3. What do you know about the company?
Any candidate can read and regurgitate the company’s “About” page.
So, when interviewers ask this, they aren't necessarily trying to gauge
whether you understand the mission—they want to know whether you care
about it. Start with one line that shows you understand the company's
goals, using a couple key words and phrases from the website, but then
go on to make it personal. Say, “I’m personally drawn to this mission
because…” or “I really believe in this approach because…” and share a
personal example or two.
4. Why do you want this job?
Again, companies want to hire people who are passionate about the
job, so you should have a great answer about why you want the position.
(And if you don't? You probably should apply elsewhere.) First, identify
a couple of key factors that make the role a great fit for you (e.g.,
“I love customer support because I love the constant human interaction
and the satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a problem"),
then share why you love the company (e.g., “I’ve always been passionate
about education, and I think you guys are doing great things, so I want
to be a part of it”).
5. Why should we hire you?
This interview question seems forward (not to mention intimidating!),
but if you're asked it, you're in luck: There's no better setup for you
to sell yourself and your skills to the hiring manager. Your job here
is to craft an answer that covers three things: that you can not only do
the work, you can deliver great results; that you'll really fit in with
the team and culture; and that you'd be a better hire than any of the
other candidates.
6. What are your greatest professional strengths?
When answering this question, interview coach Pamela Skillings
recommends being accurate (share your true strengths, not those you
think the interviewer wants to hear); relevant (choose your strengths
that are most targeted to this particular position); and specific (for
example, instead of “people skills,” choose “persuasive communication”
or “relationship building”). Then, follow up with an example of how
you've demonstrated these traits in a professional setting.
7. What do you consider to be your weaknesses?
What your interviewer is really trying to do with this
question—beyond identifying any major red flags—is to gauge your
self-awareness and honesty. So, “I can't meet a deadline to save my
life” is not an option—but neither is “Nothing! I'm perfect!” Strike a
balance by thinking of something that you struggle with but that you’re
working to improve. For example, maybe you’ve never been strong at
public speaking, but you've recently volunteered to run meetings to help
you be more comfortable when addressing a crowd.
8. What is your greatest professional achievement?
Nothing says “hire me” better than a track record of achieving
amazing results in past jobs, so don't be shy when answering this
interview question! A great way to do so is by using the S-T-A-R method:
Set up the situation and the task that you were required to complete to
provide the interviewer with background context (e.g., “In my last job
as a junior analyst, it was my role to manage the invoicing process”),
but spend the bulk of your time describing what you actually did (the
action) and what you achieved (the result). For example, “In one month, I
streamlined the process, which saved my group 10 man-hours each month
and reduced errors on invoices by 25%.”
9. Tell me about a challenge or conflict you've faced at work, and how you dealt with it.
In asking this interview question, “your interviewer wants to get a
sense of how you will respond to conflict. Anyone can seem nice and
pleasant in a job interview, but what will happen if you’re hired and
Gladys in Compliance starts getting in your face?” says Skillings.
Again, you'll want to use the S-T-A-R method, being sure to focus on how
you handled the situation professionally and productively, and ideally
closing with a happy ending, like how you came to a resolution or
compromise.
10. Where do you see yourself in five years?
If asked this question, be honest and specific about your future
goals, but consider this: A hiring manager wants to know a) if you've
set realistic expectations for your career, b) if you have ambition
(a.k.a., this interview isn't the first time you're considering the
question), and c) if the position aligns with your goals and growth.
Your best bet is to think realistically about where this position could
take you and answer along those lines. And if the position isn’t
necessarily a one-way ticket to your aspirations? It’s OK to say that
you’re not quite sure what the future holds, but that you see this
experience playing an important role in helping you make that decision.
11. What's your dream job?
Along similar lines, the interviewer wants to uncover whether this
position is really in line with your ultimate career goals. While “an
NBA star” might get you a few laughs, a better bet is to talk about your
goals and ambitions—and why this job will get you closer to them.
12. What other companies are you interviewing with?
Companies ask this for a number of reasons, from wanting to see what
the competition is for you to sniffing out whether you're serious about
the industry. “Often the best approach is to mention that you are
exploring a number of other similar options in the company's industry,”
says job search expert Alison Doyle. “It can be helpful to mention that a
common characteristic of all the jobs you are applying to is the
opportunity to apply some critical abilities and skills that you
possess. For example, you might say 'I am applying for several positions
with IT consulting firms where I can analyze client needs and translate
them to development teams in order to find solutions to technology
problems.'”
13. Why are you leaving your current job?
This is a toughie, but one you can be sure you'll be asked.
Definitely keep things positive—you have nothing to gain by being
negative about your past employers. Instead, frame things in a way that
shows that you're eager to take on new opportunities and that the role
you’re interviewing for is a better fit for you than your current or
last position. For example, “I’d really love to be part of product
development from beginning to end, and I know I’d have that opportunity
here.” And if you were let go? Keep it simple: “Unfortunately, I was let
go,” is a totally OK answer.
14. Why were you fired?
OK, if you get the admittedly much tougher follow-up question as to
why
you were let go (and the truth isn't exactly pretty), your best bet is
to be honest (the job-seeking world is small, after all). But it doesn't
have to be a deal-breaker. Share how you’ve grown and how you approach
your job and life now as a result. If you can position the learning
experience as an advantage for this next job, even better.
15. What are you looking for in a new position?
Hint: Ideally the same things that this position has to offer. Be specific.
16. What type of work environment do you prefer?
Hint: Ideally one that's similar to the environment of the company you're applying to. Be specific.
17. What's your management style?
The best managers are strong but flexible, and that's exactly what
you want to show off in your answer. (Think something like, “While every
situation and every team member requires a bit of a different strategy,
I tend to approach my employee relationships as a coach...”) Then,
share a couple of your best managerial moments, like when you grew your
team from five to 15 or coached an underperforming employee to become
the company's top salesperson.
18. What's a time you exercised leadership?
Depending on what's more important for the the role, you'll want to
choose an example that showcases your project management skills
(spearheading a project from end to end, juggling multiple moving parts)
or one that shows your ability to confidently and effectively rally a
team. And remember: “The best stories include enough detail to be
believable and memorable,” says Skillings. “Show how you were a leader
in this situation and how it represents your overall leadership
experience and potential.”
19. What's a time you disagreed with a decision that was made at work?
Everyone disagrees with the boss from time to time, but in asking
this interview question, hiring managers want to know that you can do so
in a productive, professional way. “You don’t want to tell the story
about the time when you disagreed but your boss was being a jerk and you
just gave in to keep the peace. And you don’t want to tell the one
where you realized you were wrong,” says Peggy McKee of Career
Confidential. “Tell the one where your actions made a positive
difference on the outcome of the situation, whether it was a
work-related outcome or a more effective and productive working
relationship.”
20. How would your boss and co-workers describe you?
First of all, be honest (remember, if you get this job, the hiring
manager will be calling your former bosses and co-workers!). Then, try
to pull out strengths and traits you haven't discussed in other aspects
of the interview, such as your strong work ethic or your willingness to
pitch in on other projects when needed.
21. Why was there a gap in your employment?
If you were unemployed for a period of time, be direct and to the
point about what you’ve been up to (and hopefully, that’s a litany of
impressive volunteer and other mind-enriching activities, like blogging
or taking classes). Then, steer the conversation toward how you will do
the job and contribute to the organization: “I decided to take a break
at the time, but today I’m ready to contribute to this organization in
the following ways.”
22. Can you explain why you changed career paths?
Don't be thrown off by this question—just take a deep breath and
explain to the hiring manager why you've made the career decisions you
have. More importantly, give a few examples of how your past experience
is transferrable to the new role. This doesn't have to be a direct
connection; in fact, it's often more impressive when a candidate can
make seemingly irrelevant experience seem very relevant to the role.
23. How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
"Choose an answer that shows that you can meet a stressful situation
head-on in a productive, positive manner and let nothing stop you from
accomplishing your goals," says McKee. A great approach is to talk
through your go-to stress-reduction tactics (making the world's greatest
to-do list, stopping to take 10 deep breaths), and then share an
example of a stressful situation you navigated with ease.
24. What would your first 30, 60, or 90 days look like in this role?
Start by explaining what you'd need to do to get ramped up. What
information would you need? What parts of the company would you need to
familiarize yourself with? What other employees would you want to sit
down with? Next, choose a couple of areas where you think you can make
meaningful contributions right away. (e.g., “I think a great starter
project would be diving into your email marketing campaigns and setting
up a tracking system for them.”) Sure, if you get the job, you (or your
new employer) might decide there’s a better starting place, but having
an answer prepared will show the interviewer where you can add immediate
impact—and that you’re excited to get started.
25. What are your salary requirements?
The #1 rule of answering this question is doing your research on what
you should be paid by using sites like Payscale and Glassdoor. You’ll
likely come up with a range, and we recommend stating the highest number
in that range that applies, based on your experience, education, and
skills. Then, make sure the hiring manager knows that you're flexible.
You're communicating that you know your skills are valuable, but that
you want the job and are willing to negotiate.
26. What do you like to do outside of work?
Interviewers ask personal questions in an interview to “see if
candidates will fit in with the culture [and] give them the opportunity
to open up and display their personality, too,” says longtime hiring
manager Mitch Fortner. “In other words, if someone asks about your
hobbies outside of work, it’s totally OK to open up and share what
really makes you tick. (Do keep it semi-professional, though: Saying you
like to have a few beers at the local hot spot on Saturday night is
fine. Telling them that Monday is usually a rough day for you because
you’re always hungover is not.)”
27. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
Seemingly random personality-test type questions like these come up
in interviews generally because hiring managers want to see how you can
think on your feet. There's no wrong answer here, but you'll immediately
gain bonus points if your answer helps you share your strengths or
personality or connect with the hiring manager. Pro tip: Come up with a
stalling tactic to buy yourself some thinking time, such as saying,
“Now, that is a great question. I think I would have to say… ”
28. How many tennis balls can you fit into a limousine?
1,000? 10,000? 100,000? Seriously?
Well, seriously, you might get asked brainteaser questions like
these, especially in quantitative jobs. But remember that the
interviewer doesn’t necessarily want an exact number—he wants to make
sure that you understand what’s being asked of you, and that you can set
into motion a systematic and logical way to respond. So, just take a
deep breath, and start thinking through the math. (Yes, it’s OK to ask
for a pen and paper!)
29. Are you planning on having children?
Questions about your family status, gender (“How would you handle
managing a team of all men?”), nationality (“Where were you born?”),
religion, or age, are illegal—but they still get asked (and frequently).
Of course, not always with ill intent—the interviewer might just be
trying to make conversation—but you should definitely tie any questions
about your personal life (or anything else you think might be
inappropriate) back to the job at hand. For this question, think: “You
know, I’m not quite there yet. But I am very interested in the career
paths at your company. Can you tell me more about that?”
30. What do you think we could do better or differently?
This is a common one at startups (and one of our personal favorites
here at The Muse). Hiring managers want to know that you not only have
some background on the company, but that you're able to think critically
about it and come to the table with new ideas. So, come with new ideas!
What new features would you love to see? How could the company increase
conversions? How could customer service be improved? You don’t need to
have the company’s four-year strategy figured out, but do share your
thoughts, and more importantly, show how your interests and expertise
would lend themselves to the job.
31. Do you have any questions for us?
You probably already know that an interview isn't just a chance for a
hiring manager to grill you—it's your opportunity to sniff out whether a
job is the right fit for you. What do you want to know about the
position? The company? The department? The team?
You'll cover a lot of this in the actual interview, so have a few
less-common questions ready to go. We especially like questions targeted
to the interviewer (“What's your favorite part about working here?") or
the company's growth (“What can you tell me about your new products or
plans for growth?")
By the Daily Muse Editor
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