Answers to 30 Frequently Asked Questions in a Job Interview

If you want to go through a recruitment process, you need to be prepared. Luckily for you, I have prepared a list of the most common questions and answers in a job interview. If you study them and then answer normally when you do them, you will have achieved a significant advantage. It is not a 100% guarantee, but this way you have more options to achieve it.

Train the interview questions and answers

A job interview is a somewhat curious exercise. In theory, it is a selection test where an expert asks you a series of questions and assesses your profile based on your answers. To do this, value both the background, that is, what you say, and the form, that is, your way of expressing yourself.

We are going to put aside the fact that it is an extremely partial and incomplete filter since you can be bad in the interview and great in the workplace, and vice versa. The important thing here is that you keep an idea: training is the key. If you prepare yourself to know how to answer the questions that I am going to ask you, you will have done much of the way. Are you ready?

It is true that in some exceptional cases, you can meet a very original interviewer, who wants to test your reactions with rare and original questions. But, in most cases, the questions of a job interview are quite standard, since they want to define your profile and value you based on a series of criteria, which are what we are going to detail in the article.

#1. Tell me a little about yourself

Almost all interviews begin with this type of introduction. Sometimes the interviewer asks the question, other times he says nothing and waits for us to start talking. In any case, there it is necessary to explain in a few words who you are (professional profile, experience, training, and also the personal situation). It has to be a very fast presentation and thought based on the position (especially if you have varied experiences).

#2. What is the most important thing in your life?

If the most important thing for you is family, you don’t have to lie and say that work is everything. It is important to be honest, although some responses may demonstrate both sincerity, maturity, and interest in the position. For example, saying ” for me the important thing in life is trying to enjoy all aspects of existence, especially taking advantage of the family and having an intellectually stimulating job, because we spend more hours at the office than at home .” Of all the questions in a job interview, this is one with easy and honest answers.

#3. What is your family situation?

When they ask questions about the family situation during a job interview, they are not trying to intrude on your privacy. The objective is rather to know what type of person they have in front of, because the availability for work of a single person, or of a married person with children can be very different. You have to answer honestly and without going into personal details.

#4. Why are you looking for a job?

Sometimes the question is why did you leave your previous position? Here you don’t have to invent much, just talk about the need to progress in your professional career and have new experiences. Better not to talk about money at this point so as not to sound like a mercenary (although it really is what all workers are). In case you are unemployed, the important thing is to maintain a positive discourse, and not expand on the reasons for the dismissal. Instead, insist on your plan to move forward with a fulfilling and interesting career.

#5. What do you know about our company?

The answers to some interview questions require you to inform yourself before going to the appointment. As we explain in our resume writing tips, getting to know the company is something you have to do before you even apply for a position. Not knowing anything about the company shows disinterest and will greatly complicate your chances. Therefore, get into Google and learn everything you can, to be able to synthetically explain what you have understood about the company, without going overboard.

Sometimes you don’t have any information, because the hiring process doesn’t even mention the name. In this case, take the opportunity to ask about the company and show interest.

#6. Why do you want to work with us?

Obviously, you need to know the company to be able to respond. You have to prepare an answer that combines your professional development plan with what you have learned from the company thanks to your little previous research.

#7. What do you like about the position?

It is also a key question in a job interview. Again, you have to have prepared the answer, and explain how this position fits perfectly with your professional project.

#8. What relevant experience do you have?

One of two: either you have an experience profile perfectly suited to the position, or you don’t.

In the first case, you have to get all the points in your favor and show how you are the perfect candidate.

In case you are in one of those moments where you apply for other positions because you want to reorient your career, you have to reflect a lot beforehand and see which of your previous experiences and skills will be very useful for the position. For example, you may have a wide network of business contacts in the market, which would make up for your lack of knowledge of this particular product.

#9. What would your old colleagues say about you?

Obviously, this is not the time to recount the stresses of the past. Try to remember if a colleague of yours made a positive comment that could help you, and if not, look for favorable elements that match the image you want to present.

#10. Have you done anything to expand your experience?

It is a good time to show that regarding your professional career, you have been proactive and that for this reason you did such training or signed up for such another professional association. And not everything has to be directly related to work. Personal projects or even leisure activities (especially sports) can demonstrate positive and valuable skills for a company (leadership, organization, etc.). I insist that the answers you make in the interview must always be aimed at creating a positive and constructive image of your professional profile. That in particular is a good opportunity to show off.

#11. In which other companies are you interviewing?

No need to lie. If you are not in any other process at this time, you can say so. And if you’ve had more interviews recently, you don’t need to give names. Just saying the sector and the type of position is enough. Typically, an interviewer will appreciate your discretion.

#12. How does it perform under pressure?

It is another of the questions that usually like in a job interview. You can respond in a variety of ways, but only positively. Saying that you crash or collapse under pressure is hardly going to help you get the job. You can say that you have no problem with pressure, that it motivates you, or that you even love it, but you don’t have to go overboard either.

#13. What is it that motivates you to do a good job?

We all work for money, but better not to mention salary at this point. For this answer, you have to be a bit hypocritical and say that the real motivation is to improve things, have the personal satisfaction of having been able to help solve a problem or make life easier for the company’s clients.

#14. What is your greatest strength?

This sentence, along with the next one on the list, are two of the most feared interview questions by candidates, who are hesitant about possible answers. But, as you are going to see, they are not so bad.

Sometimes they speak of one, two, and even three strengths. The ideal is to choose among your many qualities the ones that best suit the position you want. If you have a great leadership capacity, it will be ideal to draw this strong point for the position of head of the department. If you pay close attention to detail, it can be good to highlight it for a very technical feature. They are just examples, and you know yourself better than anyone.

#15. What is your biggest flaw?

It is a somewhat complicated question to answer honestly. You can’t get a real flaw, because you would jeopardize your chances of getting the job. You also can’t use the trick of using a flaw that is a strong point ( I’m too much of a perfectionist ), because it sounds so fake. The best thing is to choose a minor inconvenience that you have and explain how you are aware of it and work to improve.

#16. What remuneration do you want?

If you go to a job interview without having any idea of the salary range to which you can aim then you have not prepared yourself correctly. It is a question that they will always ask you. It has its complication because you cannot go overboard and you cannot lower yourself too much. If you know the market well, you may be able to give an approximate range that is acceptable to both you and the company. But don’t forget that it is much more difficult to get a climb once inside, so don’t aim too low.

#17.One of the classic interview questions: Do you work well as a team?

Of course, you love working as a team. Even if you apply for a highly specialized position from an expert who works almost alone, you cannot afford to answer no. Take the opportunity to highlight some things you like about teamwork, or your position in the group (for example, if you are a natural leader).

# 18Tell me a suggestion of yours that was implemented

Depending on the positions you have previously held, it may be more or less difficult to find examples of your proposals that were launched and gave good results. An example could be a change in the organization that saved time and money (and if it is measurable, much better, so you can give concrete data to the interviewer).

#19.Anything that has irritated you about other people with whom you worked?

Again you have to stay positive. You can say that some tensions can appear in a team at times of great stress, but that they are isolated events and that you do not give them importance because for you the important thing is that the work is carried out. Therefore you do not remember anything that has particularly irritated you.

#20. Is there some type of person with whom you would not work?

It is a question similar to the previous one. We remain in the category of cheat questions in the interview, with fortunately relatively straightforward answers. Of course, in a job interview, you cannot begin to say that you do not like this or that type of person. You are a team player, and you know how to play with everyone because everyone has something positive to contribute to winning.

#21. What types of professional situations cost you the most?

It is a bit like the question about the weak points but this time it is directly focused on the difficulties at work. The way to answer is similar. It is about choosing a problem that is not very serious and showing that you want to improve (usual thanks to training or other measures you are taking). For example, it may be difficult for you to speak in public but lately, you are taking drama classes and you no longer feel so shy.

#22. What position do you see yourself in 5 years?

Sometimes they talk to you for about ten years. The objective of the question is to know how you project yourself and if you have a vision of your professional career. You don’t have to be too precise, because nobody knows what awaits us in the future. The answers you give to these types of interview questions can mention your wishes for more responsibilities, orient yourself to such types of functions, etc. In any case, you have to show that you have a minimum of ambition and prospects.

#23. What is your greatest professional achievement?

Sometimes the interviewer will ask you what (professional) achievement you have been most proud of. Like the answer about how your initiative has been launched, the ideal is to look for something that has given good results. It is a time to show your emotional side a bit and give a very positive image.

#24. Tell me about any problem you have had with a previous boss

It is a classic trick question, which tries to see if the company can trust the candidate. Of course, you have had problems with a previous boss, but it would be a very bad idea to tell about it during a job interview. Perhaps the most elegant way to answer is to say that problems can arise in a professional career, but that you have always tried to solve them directly with people. Right now you do not remember any but if it were the case, I would keep it for you.

#25. Would you prefer to work for money or job satisfaction?

If you answer the money, you sound like a mercenary who has only come to the interview to try to get a better salary. If you answer job satisfaction, it may sound a bit bogus, but you don’t have many alternatives. Try to convey the message that you seek to develop as a professional in a job that you like, as long as the salary allows you to live normally because we all know that we work to live.

#26. What do you do in your free time?

Take advantage of the question to show that in your personal life you also apply all those strong points that you mentioned before. You have renovated the house yourself because you know how to organize a project. You play soccer with your friends because you love working together to achieve a goal. You travel the world because you are fascinated by knowing new cultures and receiving different points of view that make you a more complete person.

#27. Do you prefer to be liked or to be feared?

It is supposed to refer to employees and co-workers. Fear is obviously something very bad, and not very motivating in the medium term, so it does not seem like a very adequate response. Being liked is not very productive in a company either. We do not come to make friends but to work together. Perhaps the word most adapted to the situation is respect. I prefer to be respected as a professional.

#28. Explain to me why I would have to hire you

When this question comes up, it is usually towards the end of the interview. At this point, we must remember how both our experience and our personal skills or our training fit perfectly with the job description. Simply make a shortlist of these good points and tell (or repeat) the interviewer.

#29. Do you have languages?

If you have lied on your resume and exaggerated your knowledge of languages, you risk having a very bad time in an interview, since it is usual that they will put you to the test. But even if they don’t speak to you in English, French, German, or any of the languages ​​you’ve mentioned, you’ll make a good impression if you respond precisely using that language. If you see in the eyes of the person interviewing you that he has not understood anything, leave it.

#30. Finally, is there any question you want to ask me?

When you go to inform yourself about the company, try to think of two or three interesting questions that you could ask when the end of the interview comes. If they haven’t answered it before (usually the interviewer introduces the company), choose one and do it at the end of the interview. Even if they don’t ask you if you have a question, ask one. That shows interest in the position.

I think that by knowing the answers to those 30 common job interview questions, you have the material to do a good job. Did I forget any? You can comment in the messages section.