Job Interviews are the most important interactions of the entire hiring process for a specific job opening.
During the interview, the interviewer tries to learn whether the interviewee is a good match for the job, with the help of several common questions, aimed at finding out the professional as well as personal make up of the candidate.
The article reviews 15 common job interview questions and best answers.
After reading this article, you may be interested in reading more interview frequently asked questions and answers. Refer to the index page: Job interview questions and best answers.
Most common job interview questions and answers
Here are some of the questions that can be asked during a job interview, and how to answer them.
These questions are commonly asked interview questions, and they are asked for any job title, whether you are applying for a managerial job or a sale’s job:
1. Tell me about yourself question
Provide a brief summary of your personal details, educational qualifications and your professional experience/skills.
Further reading – Tell me about yourself questions & answers.
2. Your exact job responsibilities and experience in the previous jobs
Tell about your job titles and responsibilities.
Read more – Your Work Experience – Interview Questions and Answers.
3. Education & knowledge base
Provide additional information regarding courses/programs/lessons you took.
4. What are your future plans?
You want to progress in terms of – interest, duties, position and financials matters. Be practical and describe a career curve planning.
Further reading – Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
5. What are your added values to the company?
Make a short list of all your strengths and added value and create a paragraph comparing the job requirement to your advantages.
Refer to – Why should we hire you? Interview question and answer.
6. What do you know about this company?
Make your homework before the interview and give general details about the company products/services, future goals and organization structure.
7. Why are you leaving your current job?
Provide an honest answer. There are many reasons why a person would want to leave his or her current job.
You may find further r information reading – Why Do you want to Leave Your Job?
8. What are your weaknesses and strengths?
Be honest about your strengths as well as your weaknesses.
In general, employers are looking for people with the best leaning agility (quick learners) and those who can better adjust to changes and new jobs.
Provide one professional weakness and one of your strengths. Explain your professional strength and how it contribute to your work performance. Provide examples on how did you handle/overcome your weakness.
Refer to – Examples of Strengths and Weaknesses question in an interview.
9. How about taking more responsibilities?
Positive.
See – Responsibility at Work: Responsibilities to Take for Getting Promoted
10. Your ability to work in a team or to run a team work
Speak about your past good experiences working in a team with good examples of project implementation.
If you led a team in the past or were a key member that has a potential of leading a team, then talk about that.
See – Are you a team player? And Team leader interview questions with answers.
11. Your initiative to solve problems
Talk about the methods you utilize for solving problems with some good past examples.
Refer – Problem Solving Interview Questions and Answers.
12. Your career achievements so far
Tell about those career achievements that reflect back to the job you are applying for.
Read more – What is your Greatest Achievement?
13. How do you handle difficulties and stress?
Provide short interesting success stories from your background. Explain the way you manage your work-time to cope with high work load. You can also tell about the techniques you use to overcome stressful situations and difficulties.
Read – How did you handle the most challenging experience in your previous job?
14. Your availability
Provide a basic timeframe. The preferred answer is as soon as possible.
15. Your salary expectations
Give general details about your salary expectation. Remember that a job interview is not the right place for negotiating salary. Leave this issue after a job offer is made.
Further reading – What Are Your Salary Expectations?
