The ability to respond effectively to the questions that employers typically ask is one of the most important components of consideration for a job.
While you want to come off as confident, you should be prepared to be asked certain basic interview questions. It’s not a bad idea to run through the responses ahead of time so that you do not appear blindsided or confused.
You want to put your best self forward. The interview process is stressful for everyone, and being able to respond effectively to interview questions will highlight your personality and abilities — and improve your overall presentation.
8 Types of Interview Questions
Let’s have a look at some basic interview questions. Any one of these is fair game for an interview, regardless of role, seniority, company or industry.
1. Tell Me About Yourself
This vague, open-ended question can trap candidates by having them discuss aspects of their background which might not necessarily have to do with the job.
Simply discuss your professional background — briefly — and why you’re the perfect candidate for the position. The interviewer wants to know why you're an excellent fit for the job; highlight your qualifications or career milestones if appropriate.
This question is really a thinly disguised version of the question, Why Are You the Best Person for the Job?
Depending on the time allotted and the rapport with the interviewer, you can discuss a favorite hobby or a brief account of where you grew up, your education and what motivates you.
2. Why Do You Want This Job?
Why are you convinced that you are a good fit for the position and for the company? What would you accomplish if you were hired? This interview question gives you an opportunity to demonstrate what you know about the job and the company, so take time beforehand to thoroughly research the company, its products, services, culture and mission.
Be specific about what makes you a good fit for this role, and mention aspects of the company and position that appeal to you most.
3. How Has Your Experience Prepared You for This Role?
Hiring managers use this question to learn how your previous work experience and educational background fit the job.
To prepare to respond, make a list of the most relevant qualifications you have and match them to the requirements listed in the job description. You might also wish to have anecdotal evidence on hand — ”stories” that demonstrate how particular situations in the past have prepared you not only for the position you are seeking but also as a professional in general.
4. Why Are You Leaving (or Have You Left) Your Job?
This question can cause a lot of anxiety and embarrassment but your answer must be honest and reflect the specific circumstances. Err on the side of a few details, and keep the response positive.
Keep in mind that the interviewer will already know whether you are currently employed or you have left a previous position — this is a common occurrence in the world of recruiting and interviewing.
5. What Is Your Greatest Strength?
This answer to this question should demonstrate your qualifications without you coming off as cocky or overconfident. Discuss your unique attributes or accomplishments that qualify you for that specific job and set you apart from other candidates.
Try to “show” rather than “tell.” For example, rather than stating that you are an excellent problem solver, instead tell a story that demonstrates this, ideally drawing on an anecdote from your professional experience.
6. What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
This might seem like a trick question: after all, who would reveal a weakness to a stranger, especially when that stranger is in a position to offer you a job?
However, this question has been around for decades and the idea is to explain the positive aspects of your “weak” skills that are in reality strengths in particular contexts.
For example, a weakness might be that you are a perfectionist, and you can explain how you have had to wrestle with this in several professional environments.
Responses to this question can also include examples of skills you have improved, providing specific instances of how you have recognized a weakness and then taken steps to correct it, perhaps by learning a new skill.
7. What Are Your Career Goals? / Where Do You See Yourself in 10 Years?
Are you a job hopper? Or do you plan on staying with the company, at least for a while? Where do you envision your career going? Do your plans for the future match the career path for someone typically hired for this position?
This question is really trying to determine whether you are going to stick around or move on as soon as you find a better opportunity. Keep your answer focused on the job and the company, and reiterate to the interviewer that the position aligns with your long-term goals.
8. Tell Me About a Recent Accomplishment or Challenge.
Yes, they want a story. They may ask specifically about a challenge you faced on your last job, but that doesn't have to be hard-and-fast. What is important is to choose a story that highlights skills or traits that will be relevant to this job and to show the action you took to get a particular result.
Use the STAR technique — Situation, Task, Action, Result — to help you frame your answer in a way that highlights what you did and the positive result it had.
Interview Questions about Skills, Qualifications and Knowledge
While the questions above will give your interviewer a perspective of you as a person and of your professional background at a high level, keep in mind that an interview can very quickly pivot to the nitty-gritty: what you know, how you would bring it to the company and what problems you can solve right now.
For such competency-focused questions, it’s best to employ the STAR strategy. Using this method is particularly helpful in response to questions such as, "Describe a time when..." and "Share an example of a situation where...."
The STAR interview response method is also a way of answering behavioral interview questions. Behavioral interview questions are questions about how you have behaved in the past, including how you have handled certain work situations. These types of interview questions look at your problem solving skills, teamwork and creativity.
Examples of behavioral interview questions include the following:
- Tell me about an occasion when you had to complete a task under a tight or even unreasonable deadline.
- Have you ever gone above and beyond the task at hand?
- What do you do when a team member refuses to complete his or her portion of the work?
Preparation for Interview Questions
Now that you have a better idea of the types of interview questions you should be prepared to answer, your next step is to spend some time practicing your answers out loud to someone or to yourself. Practice makes perfect! For extra learning on interviewing and careers, check out our blog.
Sources: TheBalance Careers - Top 10 Interview Questions and Best Answers The University of Alabama - S.T.A.R. Examples TheBalance Careers - How to Use the STAR Interview Response Method Indeed.com - Types of Interview Questions and How to Answer Them