10 Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Practicing interview questions before you meet with a potential employer can boost your confidence, allowing you to answer articulately and highlight your skills. By anticipating common questions, you can prepare clear, concise examples that showcase your abilities and impress the interviewer. Explore this list of 10 common interview questions, with tips on how to respond and helpful interview preparation tips.

1. Tell me about yourself. 

This warm-up is one of the most common job interview questions. It's your chance to make an impactful first impression. Be prepared to describe yourself in a few sentences. You can mention: 

• Your past experiences and how they relate to the current job

• How your most recent job is tied to this new opportunity

• Two of your strengths

• One personal attribute, like a hobby or an interest

This response focuses primarily on your past work experience, with a small dash of your personal life added at the end. Keep your answer to two to four minutes.

2. Why do you want to work for this company?

The answer to this interview question should include specifics about the company, so you’ll need to do some pre-interview research. If, for example, the company is known for its collaborative culture, you could point out successes you’ve had whilst collaborating with a team. 

Look for company-specific information on its website and social channels. Pay attention to the company’s mission statement, values, and the "About us" section. Explore employee-specific posts on social media to learn about the company’s culture or outreach programmes. Combine this information with relatable skills to show your preparedness and enthusiasm for the company. 

3. Why are you leaving your current role?

When asked about leaving a previous job, be honest but positive. Even if you left a job under trying circumstances, keep your response short and upbeat. Here are some suggestions:

• I’m looking for a company that better aligns with my values. 

• I’m excited to find a company where I can grow my career. 

• I’ve decided to go down a different career path.

• My position was downsized, but I’m looking forward to a new opportunity. 

• I’m excited to explore a company culture in line with my personality. 

• I’m ready to take on a new challenge with an innovative company. 

• I’ve aspired to work for this company and seized the chance to apply.

4. What is your biggest weakness?

When it comes to identifying weaknesses, think about some conflicts you’ve had to overcome. Maybe it’s difficult for you to take criticism, collaborate, or make public presentations. Take these challenges and frame them with a solution. For instance, you learned to take feedback to better a project, collaborate to elevate a product’s offerings, or use presentations as a way to build your confidence. 

What is a weakness to say in an interview?

The key is to acknowledge a weakness but also show how you're actively working to improve it or how it can be a strength in certain situations. Here are some specific examples you can adapt:

Delegation: "I enjoy taking ownership of tasks, but I'm working on delegating more effectively as my workload grows. This allows me to focus on strategic initiatives while ensuring my team is empowered."

Overcommitment: "I tend to overcommit myself because I want to help as much as possible. This sometimes leads to taking on too many tasks at once. I've been working on setting realistic boundaries and learning to say no when necessary to maintain a healthy work-life balance."

Learning new software: "I'm comfortable learning new technologies, but I can prioritize familiar tools over exploring new ones. To address this, I've set a goal to dedicate time each week to exploring new software relevant to my field."

Read more: What to Wear to an Interview: 2024 Guide

5. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Your greatest achievement should be something specific, like bringing a new video game to a saturated market despite a lack of resources. Discuss a work-related triumph as a way to humbly mention your achievements instead of listing awards or accolades. This achievement should also fall in line with the company’s mission, goals, or the position’s objectives.

6. Tell me about a difficult situation you’ve faced and how you handled it. 

This question really asks about your character during moments of stress. Think of a time when you faced an impossible deadline, had to choose sides, or navigated interoffice turmoil. Explain the problem, how you stayed calm, and focus on the solution that produced a resolution. 

7. Give an example of how you’ve exceeded your role requirements. 

While you might be tempted to mention the extra hours you put in or the additional tasks you take on, it’s best to showcase your skills with a story. Talk about the innovative methods you deployed to revive a stalled project or roles you filled when your team was downsized.   

Read more: How to Write an Interview Follow-Up Email: Guide and Samples

8. What are your salary expectations?

Salary talks can be sensitive, but they’re necessary. Research a competitive salary before you go into your interview so you don’t aim too high or low. You can use tools like a Salary Calculator or Salary Comparison and Estimator to get baseline compensation. Remember to mention years of experience or specific certifications that enhance your value.   

9. Where do you see yourself five years from now? 

Another common interview question concerns your five-year plan. You should promote your commitment to the company while looking for growth opportunities.  

More specifically, you can craft a response that explores your:

• Position-related goals

• Potential experiences within the company over the next five years

• Possible certifications, skills, or achievements you might obtain

• Aspirations for growth within the role 

10. Do you have any questions for us? 

Typically, this is the last question of the interview, and it might be tempting to say, 'No. I’m all set.' However, this question allows you to show your interest in the position and help you decide if it's the right fit for you. Some questions you could ask include:

• What are the day-to-day tasks involved in this role?

• How do you evaluate the progress of this role? 

• What ongoing educational or training opportunities could I pursue in this role?

• Where do you see the company in five years?

• How would you describe the company culture?

Read more: Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview

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How to prepare for an interview

Before your interview, do a few things in preparation. To make a great first impression, research the company, practise your responses to common interview questions, and run through a practice interview. For more specific tips, take a look at this pre-interview checklist:  

Research the company.

Start your research on the company website. Look over the company mission statement, values, and company history. Next, check Google News for any articles that include the company. Comb through the company’s social accounts, paying particular attention to the product- or employee-related posts. Also, read the LinkedIn profiles of the company’s key players and, if possible, the profile of your hiring manager. 

Understand company work culture.

Take some time to learn about the company culture by looking at employee photos on social media and checking out the company's news coverage. You might see team-building events on its Facebook Page or news coverage of a recent fundraiser, which can help you understand the culture. You can also check for employee testimonials on business rating platforms like Glassdoor.

Prepare your answers.

Take some time to review the most common interview questions and practise your answers. You don’t want to sound rehearsed, so write down a few bullet points for each question and talk through them a little differently each time. 

Practise the interview.

Ask a friend or family member to role-play with you. Go through the standard interview questions, and practise your greeting and exit. Wear the outfit and shoes you plan to wear during the practice to ensure you’re comfortable.

Ask for feedback. 

Ask your mock interviewer to give you feedback. Maybe you slouched in the chair, nervously bounced your knees, or got stuck on a particular interview question. The person helping you can give you some tips to improve your interview skills.  

Read more: How to Prepare for an Interview

Getting started

Prepare for success in your next interview by researching the company, practicing answers to common questions, and having your own questions ready for the interviewer. As you prepare, learn How to Answer STAR Interview Questions to showcase your best skills, experience, and attributes.

In addition to role-playing, you might consider taking an online class or two to improve your interview skills. Prepare for a successful job search with the Interviewing and Resume Writing in English Specialisation from the University of Maryland. Learn at your own pace and practise your interviewing skills with other job seekers from around the globe.