Interviewing for a new job can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience You want to make the best possible impression on the hiring manager to land the role One of the keys to interview success is being well prepared to answer common questions thoughtfully and confidently,
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the top 20 most frequently asked interview questions based on data from Indeed, along with tips to craft winning answers Read on to learn how you can master the interview game, impress your interviewers, and get hired!
Why Do You Want This Job?
This question tests your motivations and desire for the role The interviewer wants to know why you want to work specifically for their company
Do:
- Demonstrate enthusiasm for the company and role.
- Highlight aspects of the role that appeal to you.
- Align your skills/experience with the job description.
Don’t:
- Give generic answers like “it seems interesting”.
- Bring up compensation or benefits only.
Sample Answer: I’m excited to apply for this [role] at [company] because I’ve always admired your mission to [help clients/produce innovative products, etc]. Getting to directly collaborate with talented teams attracted me to this opportunity. The job description matches my experience in [key skills], which I’m eager to leverage to [achieve company goals].
What Are Your Strengths?
This allows you to highlight your top strengths as they relate to the role. Focus on skills that align with the job description.
Do:
- Choose relevant strengths supported by examples.
- Tie strengths directly back to the role/company.
Don’t:
- Give generic strengths unrelated to the role.
- List too many strengths that can’t be explained.
Sample Answer: Some of my key strengths that would enable me to add value in this role include my excellent communication abilities, attention to detail, and capacity for working cooperatively in a team. In my past job as a [position], I leveraged these strengths to [achieve key metric aligned with company priorities].
Why Should We Hire You?
This question tests your ability to showcase why you are the best fit for the role. Demonstrate what sets you apart from other candidates.
Do:
- Align your experience and skills to the role.
- Quantify achievements that prove you can add value.
Don’t:
- Give generic, self-congratulatory answers.
- Speak negatively about other candidates.
Sample Answer: You should hire me because I have 7 years of experience successfully doing [key responsibility of role] for companies of your size, leading to [quantifiable results]. Additionally, I possess [technical skills/certifications] you require. My track record demonstrates that I can come in and [achieve critical goals] in this role with my expertise.
What Are Your Greatest Weaknesses?
This question is designed to gauge your self-awareness. Choose an honest weakness that you have worked to improve on.
Do:
- Share a real weakness that isn’t critical for the role.
- Demonstrate steps you’ve taken to improve.
Don’t:
- Give a humblebrag disguised as a weakness.
- Share a weakness that is dealbreaker for role.
Sample Answer: Public speaking used to be one of my weaknesses earlier in my career. I realized this held me back from voicing my ideas and perspectives in meetings. Over the past two years, I’ve taken multiple presentation skills courses and actively sought out opportunities to speak at industry conferences. This has boosted my confidence tremendously, and I’m no longer afraid to present and participate in meetings.
Why Do You Want to Leave Your Current Job?
This checks for red flags regarding your motives for leaving your current/past role. Focus your answer on seeking growth.
Do:
- Keep it positive – don’t criticize past employers.
- Share opportunities you’re seeking in a new role.
Don’t:
- Badmouth your previous job/manager.
- Complain about lack of compensation only.
Sample Answer: I’ve greatly appreciated my time at [company] which has given me extensive experience in [field]. However, I’m ready for a new challenge where I can utilize my expertise in [X] more directly to make broader impacts through strategic roles like this one. I was drawn to the increased responsibility I would be able to take on here in [target field].
How Would Your Boss and Coworkers Describe You?
This reveals your self-perception and ability to build strong work relationships. Share positive traits endorsed by others.
Do:
- Choose relatable qualities useful for the role.
- Back up claims with specific evidence.
Don’t:
- Describe yourself in isolation.
- Pick unlikable traits.
Sample Answer: My boss would describe me someone who takes initiative and proactively identifies solutions before problems escalate. For example, when our team was struggling with [issue], I independently [solved problem]. My coworkers have often said I’m extremely approachable, patient, and easy to collaborate with on projects. I make it a priority to maintain positive relationships.
What Motivates You Professionally?
This provides insight into what drives you as an employee. Align factors that energize you with the company culture/values.
Do:
- Discuss intrinsic motivations like growth, impact, or creativity.
- Connect motivations directly to role where possible.
Don’t:
- Focus solely on extrinsic motivators like compensation.
- Choose unsuitable motivators for the role.
Sample Answer: I find that I’m most motivated when I’m able to tackle complex problems and engineer innovative solutions that create significant value for customers. In this role, the opportunity to [work on challenging project/take on problem-solving responsibilities] gets me excited to learn new skills and leverage my existing knowledge to drive outstanding results.
What Are Your Salary Expectations?
This helps determine if expectations align with company standards. Deflect or provide a reasonable range based on market data.
Do:
- Say you want a fair, competitive salary aligned with the role and your experience.
- Provide a reasonable range based on research of average pay.
Don’t:
- Give an ultimatum or extreme high/low range.
- Refuse to discuss salary expectations at all.
Sample Answer: Based on my experience delivering exceptional results in [target field], I would hope for a salary that is fair and competitive within the current market rate for this role. I’m flexible on specific compensation packages, but from my research would expect a salary around $XX,000 to $XX,000 along with [standard benefits]. What is the typical salary range for this type of position at your company?
Why Do You Want to Work Here?
This reveals whether you have researched the company and are excited by their mission. Show your enthusiasm for specific aspects of the role and company.
Do:
- Demonstrate understanding of company goals.
- Share aspects of culture/values that resonate with you.
Don’t:
- Give generic answers that could apply anywhere.
- Focus on benefits, location, size only.
Sample Answer: After learning about the amazing [work/products] that [company] has been doing, I was extremely excited by the prospect of joining your mission. Not only does your commitment to [social impact/values] deeply resonate with me, but I have also been impressed by [specific achievements]. I’m drawn by opportunities to [contribute/develop] in my role alongside such talented teams.
Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?
This tests whether you are looking to stick around and grow your career with the company long-term. Demonstrate your ambition and fit.
Do:
- Present a few possible career trajectories at the company.
- Balance ambitious growth with loyalty and commitment.
Don’t:
- Contradict your interest in the current role.
- Show no plans for growth.
Sample Answer: My goal is to establish myself as an expert in [field] here at [company] and become an indispensable contributor. As I build my capabilities, I hope to move into more specialized roles with increased responsibility. I’m committed to growing my skills, tackling new challenges, and delivering exceptional work that propels the company forward. I see multiple possible paths here that I would be thrilled to pursue with dedication.
What Are Your Pet Peeves?
This reveals your personality, values and work style. Choose universally disliked behaviors over controversial pet peeves.
Do:
- Pick a pet peeve almost everyone can agree on.
- Present it humorously/positively where possible.
Don’t:
- Share controversial or highly political stances.
- Complain about peeves all relating to a certain group.
Sample Answer: My biggest pet peeve is when people don’t punctuate their work emails properly. Just taking an extra second to include proper greetings, punctuation, and sign-offs shows respect for colleagues
Top 6 Common Interview Questions and Answers | Indeed Career Tips
How many questions do you ask during an interview?
Nearly half of employers ask 5-10 questions during an average in-person interview to get to know candidates. Review our list of top interview questions and answers. What experiences and skills make you a great candidate for this position?
How should I answer a job interview question?
According to Jennifer, the best answer focuses on your specific qualifications. You should describe the skills, tasks, and even work environment that you enjoy and make the connection to the role you’re interviewing for by highlighting how this role would allow you to focus on that kind of work. Example answer: 1.
Why should you use indeed interview?
Indeed Interview can help you streamline the interview process with its variety of tools. It offers the ability to schedule and conduct video interviews, share candidate profiles with other team members, and invite team members to join the interview.
What are some basic interview questions?
Basic interview questions help hiring managers learn more about their candidates and reveal a lot about an employee’s personality and work ethic while being relatively simple to answer. Here are some basic interview questions you can ask: Tell me about yourself.
