Interview Questions: 15 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Are you due for an interview? Yes, you do. Every time you meet someone new, you get an interview. Every time you meet a long-lost family or friend, you’re doing an interview. However, if you’re interviewing for a new job-related position, you may feel nervous and nervous trying to make the right and strong impression. One way to relax and feel more confident is to carefully interview preparation. There is no better place to prepare than knowing how to answer the most common interview questions. I called these interview questions “common 15”.

Interview Questions and Answers

1. Can you tell us about yourself?

Interviewers often start with this question. However, some interviewers will not frame this as a question. Instead, it’s more of an invitation to a conversation, such as “Tell me about yourself.”

In any case, it seems like it should be simple and simple enough to answer easily and quickly. Unfortunately, if you’re not ready, you may end up sharing your entire personal and professional history. The interviewer doesn’t want long answers. What they are really looking for is a more concise answer where you highlight two or three of your accomplishments or experiences. The interviewer wants to know what makes you unique and why you are the right person for the job.

Example: “I am a graphic designer with five years of experience. I look forward to continuing a role where I can lead and coordinate a team and expand my current skill set. I also want to continue to learn, grow and contribute to a reputable organization that aligns with my values.”

2. How did you find out about the position?

This question may seem harmless. But what an interviewer is really looking for is if you actually took the time to research their company, position and if you have a real reason to apply. Since this is usually the case, don’t be afraid to compliment them by mentioning something specific about their company or statistics. It could be the product, their mission, or their reputation for how well they treat employees.

Example: “Your company was recommended to me by a previous colleague who only spoke highly of your company culture.” Or, “I saw a job posting on LinkedIn and it interested me personally and professionally.”

3. What do you know about our company?

Just to make sure you don’t just read and memorize their About Us page, most interviewers will ask this question to make sure you really care about their mission and understand their goals. However, they can also check if you have basic knowledge about the company. This includes knowing what they sell and when they were founded. You’ll want to know who the CEO is, how many employees he has, and what they are best known for.

While this question will require a bit more research to ensure you’re well-prepared, you also don’t want to exaggerate or overdo it with compliments.

Example: “You have been an important part of the community since 1991, but you also follow the latest trends to better meet the changing needs of your customers. It also feels like an organization where I can grow both personally and professionally.”

4. Why did you apply for this position?

Again, this question helps the interviewer assess whether you are passionate about the job. It also lets them know that you understand the role and its responsibilities and why you would be the ideal candidate.

Just remember not to sound desperate by saying things like, “Well, I just got fired and I need a job.”

Example: “I heard from colleagues about what a great working environment it is. When I saw this vacancy, it seemed to me that it corresponded to my skills. For example, I saw in the job description that you need an SMM manager. This is the same position that I previously held for five years. Although I consider myself an expert, I hope to find a position where I can continue to use and improve my skills.”

5. What are your strengths?

Definitely expect to be asked one of these questions during an interview. Cause? This tells the interviewer that you are competent and confident to handle the position, and it also shows that your strengths will be valuable for the position.

When answering this question, focus on what is true, not on what they want to hear and how it relates to their position. Also, be sure to provide specific examples.

Example: “I pride myself on my strong customer service skills and ability to quickly resolve difficult situations. With over six years of experience in the customer service industry, I have learned to effectively understand and solve any customer problem. I also have strong communication skills which I believe have helped me to work well with clients as well as collaborate with colleagues and supervisors.”

6. What are your weaknesses?

If you’ve been asked the question above, then expect this question to come as well.

Although it may seem uncomfortable to talk about your weaknesses, the interviewer asks this question to determine your honesty and self-awareness. They want to see that you want to constantly improve to become a better employee and person.

If you don’t want to fall into the trap, start by explaining the weakness and the steps you took to improve the situation.

Example: “There are times when I find it hard to say no to others. As a result, I am overloaded with my work. In fact, at the beginning of my career, I took on so many projects that I spent all evenings and weekends working. It was extremely stressful. I eventually realized that this was counterproductive and started using workload management tools, setting boundaries and setting realistic expectations.”

7. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Interviewers love to ask these questions for several reasons.

• They want to make sure you are a good long term investment.
• This lets them know that the position is in line with your goals.
• That you are seriously thinking about your professional future.
• This lets them know that you are ambitious, motivated and hardworking.

When answering this question, it is important to remember that you must focus on the work-related goal. Not say something general, such as “I see myself in the same situation at your company in five years.”

Example: “Currently, my goal is to find a position in the company where I can grow and take on new challenges. Ultimately, I would like to take on more management responsibilities, become part of the product strategy and work in an organization where I have the opportunity to build a career.”

8. Why do you want to leave your current company?

Wondering why interviewers usually ask this question? Because it might signal some red flags. If you complain about your boss, colleagues or compensation, then the interviewer may think that you will end up saying something negative about them or that your position is lower.

While these are legitimate reasons, a more appropriate response would be that you are looking for a new career or training opportunity. That the open position provides greater career advancement or matches your skills and goals. Or that you have recently moved or are looking for a job that will allow you to spend more time with your family, and this job will provide what you need.

Example: “Honestly, I wasn’t looking for a new job until I saw this ad. I felt like this was a better match for my skills and experience, which I don’t think are used in my current company.”

9. What motivates you?

This may seem like a simple question. But this is what often confuses some people during interviews.

There is no single correct answer to this question, as everyone has different things that keep them motivated, inspired and energized. The interviewer wants you to fit in well with the culture. It also gives them some idea of ​​what kind of employee you will be.

Example: “What motivates me the most is making clients happy and believing that I have changed their lives.”

10. Can you tell me about a problem or conflict you had at work and how you dealt with it?

This is one of the interview questions used to evaluate your problem-solving skills and how well you can work under stress. Just remember to tell the story and not just throw away a bunch of facts and figures, as they are more memorable. Also, be sure to describe the steps you took to positively resolve a particular problem or conflict. That was the situation, that was the task. Then explain the action you took and what happened.

Example: “An angry customer called, threatening never to do business with us again. I immediately asked what the problem was and she explained that the item she had ordered arrived damaged. I apologized for the inconvenience, wrote down her details, and promised to get back to her as soon as I discussed the matter with my boss. Within an hour, I contacted the buyer and promised to send a new product and a discount on a future purchase. Not only has she remained a customer of ours, she has left reviews online praising our customer service.”

11. Why should we hire you?

Interviewers ask this question in interviews because they give you another important chance to let them know why you are the absolute best candidate for the position.

Example: “Not only do I have the skills and experience you need, but I am also passionate about this industry. I want to do everything in my power to ensure that your company remains a leader in its field.”

12. What are your salary expectations?

You will be asked this question to ensure that your expectations are in line with what was budgeted for the position. In addition, if your answer is below or above the market value, then this indicates that you do not know what you are worth. So, make sure you do your homework and know the average compensation range. Sites like Glassdoor and Payscale can help you with this assessment before you go to an interview.

Example: “My salary expectation is between XX, XXX and XX, XXX dollars as this is the average salary of a candidate with my experience in this place. However, I am flexible and willing to negotiate.”

13. What are you most passionate about?

Similar to interview questions about what motivates you, interviewers use this question to better understand what drives you and what excites you the most. It is also another way to check if you are a good fit for the company.

Example: “I love surfing. For me, it’s a great way to relax and unwind. However, sitting on the board and waiting for the wave also gives me a chance to clear my head and think about the bigger picture. I actually had some of my best ideas when I was swimming in the ocean.”

14. How do people describe you?

This is another chance to stand out from other candidates. Be honest, as they will most likely follow up with your recommendations. Focus on the skills and qualities you have already discussed, such as work ethic and the ability to meet deadlines.

Example: “During my last review, my supervisor described me as a reliable and driven person who can always be relied upon to meet deadlines.”

15. Do you have questions for us?

No matter how well the whole conversation goes, if you say that you have no questions, or, even worse, that you have some kind of meaningless or inappropriate request, you may be left with an unpleasant impression.

To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, get ready to impress your interviewers with these timely and well-executed power interview questions.

Related Post: 5 Questions to Ask Your Interviewer