Top 27 job interview questions and their answers to crack any Interview...
Practice and get comfortable with these common job questions and answer samples before your
interview and you'll feel more confident while giving much better answers.
We recommend spending some time getting comfortable with what we might be asked, what
hiring managers are really looking for in our responses, and what it takes to show that we're the
right man or woman for the job.
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
To answer, walk them through our background, starting with how we began our career or our
the current line of work.
Take them through key accomplishments, and key career moves we've made, and end by sharing
what we're looking to do next in our career and why we're job hunting.
Good answer sample:
Ans: "I started my career in Marketing after graduating with a Business degree in 2011. I've spent
my entire career at Google, receiving 3 promotions and 4 awards for outstanding performance.
I'm looking to join a smaller company and take on more leadership and project
management. "
2. How did you hear about the position?
This is one of the simplest question-and-answer scenarios in any interview, but that doesn't mean
it can't ruin our chances at the job if we answer incorrectly.
Good answer sample:
Ans: "I saw the job posted on a website, and the position seemed interesting I wanted to learn
more"
"I found the position while looking for jobs online"
"Your company was recommended to me by somebody I worked with in a previous job and had
heard good things about your organization"
"I heard about it from a friend."
3. What do you know about our company?
Our primary goal is to show we've done our research or knew about their company before
applying. If we do this, we'll be fine.
If we don't seem like we know anything about them, we'll come across as desperate - somebody
who will take any job they can find. And that's going to make us unattractive to any good
employers out there.
Good answer sample:
Ans: "From what I read, your company is one of the leaders in providing security software to other
businesses. I read the list of clients on your website. Do you mostly serve Fortune 500 clients? I
saw a couple of big Fortune 500 companies mentioned on the list, including ABC and XYZ"
"You're one of the largest investment banks in the US. Your headquarters is in Raleigh, NC, and
you have 25,000 employees worldwide based on what I read on your website."
4. Why did you apply for this position?
We need to sound like we want the RIGHT job and that we're being picky. Companies want the
best performers and the best performers are picky in their job hunt.
Stay away from negatives and complaints too. Do not bad-mouth our current company or boss.
Please focus on the positives of the company we're interviewing with.
Good answer sample:
Ans: "I've heard great things about the work environment here from a few colleagues.
And when I saw this job posting, it seemed to match my skills very closely. For example, I saw in
the job description that you need somebody who's an expert in MySQL programming.
This is what I focused on in both of my previous positions, and was even the focus of my
academic work before graduating from university. I consider myself an expert in MySQL and it's a
skill I hope to continue specializing in."
"Since beginning my career, I've wanted to work for a larger organization in this industry, and I
know you're one of the leaders in this space.
I'm very interested in your services, especially the mobile applications you're building recently,
so I'd be excited to come here and grow my skills with an organization like yours."
5. Why are you interested in our company?
Hiring managers ask this question to see if you've done some research before your interview. You want to share several things you admire about their company when answering this question. Before your interview, look through the company's website and social media pages. You may even find online reviews or news articles that can help you learn more.
Good answer sample:
Ans: "I'm interested in working for your company because of how innovative it is. I recently saw that your engineering team is working with the government to develop a more eco-friendly way to recycle plastic. As someone who cares a lot about the environment, I would love to work on a team that's creating more sustainable practices."
6. Can you share a little about yourself?
This question helps to hire managers to learn more about your personality. Along with giving them an overview of your career, talk about some of your other interests or hobbies outside of work. Show that you're a well-rounded person, by discussing some of your passions.
Good answer sample:
Example: "Of course. I grew up on a horse farm in Montana, helping my family tend to over 20 horses at a time. Growing up with animals around me is what inspired me to become a vet technician. I've been in this career for the past five years, treating mostly cats and dogs, though I have experience with other pets. When I'm not caring for animals, I enjoy playing hockey with some of my old teammates. We meet up once a week at our local gym to play. Some of my other interests include hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife photography."
7. What got you into this career?
Hiring managers might ask this question if they're curious about your background. Learning about a candidate's reason for getting into their career gives hiring managers more insight into their passions and personality. In your answer, give an overview of what inspired you to pursue your career. Try to reflect on some positive experiences as you were getting started.
Good answer sample:
Example: "Ever since I was a child, I have been interested in science. My dad used to buy me chemistry kits to play with because I had little interest in conventional toys. As I got older, I took advanced chemistry and biology classes in high school. It was an easy choice for me to major in chemistry when I got to college. As I explored the field, I knew research was the right career path for me."
8. What are your strengths?
Learning your strengths can help a hiring manager envision what kind of value you might bring to their team. When deciding what strengths to share, read through the job description to see what skills the company wants to see in a candidate. Tailoring your answer to the role can help you stand out among other candidates.
Good answer sample:
Example: "One of my strengths is my communication skills. Along with being able to convey my own ideas, I am a skilled listener. I show others I value what they have to say and add to the conversation. Another strength of mine is my organizational skills. I am good at keeping all my tasks in order, and I enjoy developing streamlined systems to prioritize my work."
9. What are your weaknesses?
Hiring managers might ask this question to learn what skills you need to improve. When sharing your weakness, choose a skill or trait that won't affect your ability to do your job. Show hiring managers that you already have the plan to work on your weakness.
Good answer sample:
Example: "One of my weaknesses is managing a work-life balance. I am someone who leaves my work notifications on after work, making myself available during my personal time. It's my goal to create some boundaries between my personal and work life so that I can feel more recharged when I start my workday. Another weakness is taking on too much work. It's my goal to make sure I prioritize my tasks before offering to help my colleagues."
10. Tell me about a challenge you experienced in your previous role.
This interview question helps to hire managers to assess your problem-solving skills. Use the STAR method to help you explain a time you overcame a challenge. This means that you explain the situation, what tasks you needed to complete, the actions you took, and the results of those actions.
Good answer sample:
Example: "When I was a team leader, one of my engineering interns was finding it challenging to get all of his work done on time. My manager told me that I needed to help my intern better manage his work. I had a performance review with my intern, helping him identify his strengths and weaknesses. We set up some goals for him, along with a performance plan. After two weeks, his performance was where it needed to be."
11. Do you have leadership experience?
When applying for managerial or supervisor roles, a hiring manager may ask you this question. In your answer, outline your top leadership experiences. Even if you haven't had a leadership role, you can discuss times you acted as a leader.
Good answer sample:
Example: "Yes. At my last company, I was in charge of training all the new interns. I was responsible for setting up their training program and developing materials to help them understand their roles. Helping them feel welcome was a big part of my role, which is why I created a mentorship program. This helped the interns get to know full-time employees and get valuable advice."
12. How do you stay organized?
This question helps to hire managers to learn about any processes or tools you use to stay organized. In your answer, give them an overview of what strategies help you keep your work in order. Whether it be a digital planner or sticky notes, show your process works.
Good answer sample:
Example: "My digital planner helps me stay organized. Each morning, I look through my planner, updating it based on my priorities for the day. It has all kinds of helpful features, such as event reminders and color-coding. I can also sync my work calendars to it, helping me stay organized wherever I am."
13. How do you keep up with industry trends?
Staying up to date with industry trends is important for many roles. Hiring managers want to ensure you are helping their company stay current with the market. In your answer, discuss which industry publications or forums you follow.
Good answer sample:
Example: "Every morning, I read Marketing Buzz to learn about the latest news in the industry. I enjoy seeing what other brands are doing and what tools they are using. I also follow several marketing forums to see what people in the industry are saying. For instance, I recently learned that more brands are using guerilla marketing to reach their audience."
14. Why is effective communication important?
Many roles require you to communicate with team members or clients. This interview question gives you the opportunity to show you're an effective communicator. Explain that communication is an essential part of teamwork and collaboration.
Good answer sample:
Example: "Effective communication is important because it helps teams collaborate with one another. With communication, everyone can have a mutual understanding of their expectations and roles within a project. By regularly communicating with one another, the team can ensure they're on task and able to deliver on time."
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