Although it isn’t possible to anticipate every question you will be asked in an interview, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the most common questions often used in interviews. Below are some of the most typical questions that hiring managers use to select the most qualified candidates.

1. Tell us something about yourself.

Don’t be fooled; this question isn’t as simple as it sounds. When someone asks you this question at a cocktail party, they are looking for your life story. When you are asked this question in an interview, however, the hiring manager is really asking for an overview of your education and career. It is neither necessary nor appropriate to reveal personal details in response to this question.

The good thing about this question is the fact that it is so open-ended that you can include a great deal of useful information in your answer. This includes your skill set, why you would be a good fit for the employer and what you have to offer. Keep your response brief, however; thirty seconds to a minute is sufficient.

2. What is your greatest weakness?

Back when I was interviewing for legal positions, my favorite response to this question was that I tended to have a hard time leaving work at work. I took work home, worked evenings and weekends when it wasn’t required, and tried to puzzle out solutions to work problems while at home. I liked this response because this “weakness” on the part of an employee can translate into a strength from the employer’s point of view. It was also completely true, and I knew that my references would verify this if questioned.

Another solution is to explain what new skills you have developed to compensate for a weakness. For instance, if you were once a supervisor who tended to take over your subordinates’ projects to make sure they were done correctly, you could use the question as an opportunity to describe the efforts you have taken to learn to be an inspiring manager and to delegate work efficiently.

3. Why are you looking for a new job?

Avoid talking about money in response to this question, even if you were grossly underpaid in your previous position. Also resist the urge to speak derogatively of your last employer. Instead, focus on your positive desire to advance your career.

Of course, if you were fired from your last position or laid off, you will need to provide a bit more explanation here. However, make sure you frame your response in a positive way, and explain what you have learned from negative experiences that will help you in future positions.

4. Why do you want to work here?

This is one question that will let the hiring manager know which applicants bothered to find out about the employer, and which ones simply replied blindly to their job posting or sent out a mass mailing. Even if you didn’t know much about the employer before sending out your resume, it is vital that you know about them before your interview.

To prepare for this question, you should not only visit the company’s website, but check to see if the company has made news recently, and use this information to explain why you feel that you and the employer are a good fit for each other, based on your skills and interests. Be sure that you explain what you can offer the company, not just what the company could do for you.

5. Where do you plan to be in five years?

Don’t be coy and say “In your chair.” Very few hiring managers will find this funny, and a few might think you truly are vying for their job. Also avoid giving any answer that suggests you may be moving to a different employer within a short time. If you don’t have any idea what position you’d like to occupy in five years, you can still provide a genuine answer about the types of skills you hope to acquire and put to use in that time.

6. Tell me about a difficult situation you handled at your last job and how you handled it.

This question can vary depending on the kind of job you are applying for, but usually the hiring manager is looking for a specific example of how you handled a difficult customer, a difficult co-worker, a challenging problem, or a situation requiring you to think creatively. This can be difficult to think of on the spot, so in your interview preparation, try to anticipate the kinds of situations an interviewer may ask about, and come up with specific examples from you prior work experience that would be responsive. Even if you are not asked this question, such specific examples can help you answer general questions as well, such as, “Are you a good problem solver?” Providing a concrete example can be much more convincing that responding with a simple yes or no.

The most important thing to bear in mind when answering questions in an interview is that your responses may come up in later discussions with your references, so be certain that you do not embellish or provide untrue responses. Answer positively and genuinely, remembering to phrase your answers in a way that highlights what you can offer the employer. Practicing your responses ahead of time to the most commonly-asked questions can give you an advantage by allowing you to determine the best responses when you aren’t under pressure, and increase your chances of receiving a job offer.


If you found this article helpful, why not sign up for the Job Search newsletter to be notified when new articles are added? The box is to the right!