Commonly Used Interview Questions
You can never be too prepared is a common expression fittingly for someone preparing for a job interview. There are many things to do prior to this evaluation, such as reviewing your resume, researching the company, preparing a professional outfit, and gathering a list of references, to name a few (Read 5 Must-Do’s To Prepare For A Job Interview). Naturally, however, the hardest one to prepare for is the actual interview.
Although you cannot know for certain how the conversation will go, you can (and should) review common interview questions that are often asked by a hiring manager. This will help you formulate the best possible answers ahead of time and without pressure. And even if you don’t get asked most of these questions, taking a few minutes to answer them will undoubtedly have you feeling more confident for the big day.
General Questions
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why do you want this job?
- How did you hear about this position?
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- What attracted you to this company?
- What do you know about this industry?
- What were the responsibilities of your last position?
- When were you most satisfied in your job?
- What did you like least about your last job?
- Are you willing to relocate?
- Are you willing to travel?
- Would you work holidays/weekends?
- What salary are you seeking?
- Why are you leaving your current job?
- Why is there a gap in your employment?
- What can you offer us that someone else cannot?
- Why should we hire you?
- Do you have any questions for me?
Personal Characteristic Questions
- How would you describe your work style?
- What would be your ideal working environment?
- What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?
- Tell me about your proudest achievement.
- What is your management style?
- Who was your favorite manager and why?
- Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?
- What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
- How do you handle working with someone you don’t get along with?
- What motivates you?
- What are you most proud of?
- What do you like to do on your spare time?
- What are your lifelong dreams?
- What is your dream job?
- What is your personal mission statement?
- What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
- What negative thing would your last boss say about you?
- How would your co-workers describe you?
- If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for?
- What is your greatest fear?
- What’s the most important thing you learned in school or training?
- Why did you choose your major/career?
- What will you miss about your present/last job?
- What is your greatest achievement outside of work?
- What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?
- How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
- How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?
- Who are your heroes?
- What do you like the most and least about working in this industry?
Scenario Questions
- Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work.
- What is your greatest professional achievement?
- Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?
- What was the last project you oversaw, and what was its outcome?
- If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?
- Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it?
- Tell me about a challenge or conflict you faced at work, and how you dealt with it.
- If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?
- What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue?
- Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.
Career Development Questions
- Where would you like to be in your career five years from now? Ten years?
- How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?
- What kind of goals would you have in mind if you got this job?
- How long will it take for you to make a significant contribution?
- What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60 days/90 days on the job?
- If I were to ask your last supervisor to provide you additional training or exposure, what would she suggest?
- What do you think we could do better or differently?
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Sources
100 Potential Interview Questions
How To Answer The 31 Most Common Interview Questions
50 Most Common Job Interview Questions
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[The Right Way To Follow Up After An Interview]
