Knowing what kind of questions you’ll be asked at your interview can be a real help.
You won’t be able to predict every question, but there are some common ones that most interviewers ask over and over again.
We have put together a list of the most frequently asked questions at job interviews.
The most popular interview questions
Openers:
1. Tell me about yourself. What is your background?
2. What do you know about our company?
3. Why did you decide to seek a position with this company? What interests you about our company?
The interviewer is asking you to tell them about yourself as a person, not merely about your job skills.
Work Experience/Job Performance:
4. Why should we hire you? Why do you think you’re the right person for this job?
5. What unique qualities or abilities would you bring to this job? Could you give me an example of how you displayed each of these qualities in your current job? In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?
6. What aspects of your previous experience do you think will be most helpful to you in this role? Is there any unique experience that would be likely to be of benefit to you in this position. Please outline this.
7. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
8. Tell me about a time that you failed at something, and what you did afterwards. What major problems have you encountered and how did you deal with them?
9. Are you a team player? Describe a time when you worked on a team project. What was your relative position on the team? Were you satisfied with your contribution? How could it have been better?
10. How do you work under pressure? Give an example of how you dealt with it? How do you typically behave when a deadline is approaching?
11. How do you react to criticism?
12. What has been the biggest disappointment in your career to date?
13. What is your greatest achievement to date?
14. Describe your first week in the job if you are successful.
15. Why do you wish to leave your current position?
16. If you had a magic wand what one thing would you change about your present job circumstances?
17. What was the last thing/person that made you very annoyed?
18. How would your fellow workers describe you?
The interviewer is trying to determine if you’re qualified for the job.
Education/Training/Future Goals:
19. What would you hope to achieve in the first 12 months?
20. Where do you see yourself in five years?
21. What do you see as the next step in your career?
22. Why did you choose your college and course of study?
23. What other types of jobs or companies are you considering?
The interviewer wants to know if you are serious about staying with the company and to determine whether you’ve given some thought to your future.
Company Research:
24. Why have you applied for this particular position? Why do you want to work here?
25. What do you know about this job?
What do you understand to be the main objectives of this position?
26. What salary are you expecting?
The interviewer wants to learn what you know about the company and the job for which you are being interviewed.
Personal:
27. When are you available for work?
28. What do you do in your spare time?
29. How would you describe yourself?
Closures:
30. Have you any questions for us?
The goal is to persuade the employer that you have the skills, background and ability to do the job and can comfortably fit into the organization. So, be prepared to ASK questions such as
- What would I be expected to accomplish in this position?
- What are the greatest challenges in this position?
- How do you think I fit the position?
The interview is not the time to ask questions about salary, benefits, hours or holidays. And remember lack of questions may be mistaken as lack of interest.
