TOP 20 COMMON
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS & ANSWERS!

Q1. TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF.

TIP #1 – This is the first question you will need to answer at your interview. Keep it positive, focused on the skills and qualities you have, and don’t forget to demonstrate good manners in your response.

TIP #2 – A great structure to use is S.E.A.T.

S stands for the SKILLS you have.

E is the EXPERIENCE you can bring to the role.

A is any significant ACHIEVEMENTS you have gained in your life to date.

T is the TYPE of person you are and what you will do for their company in the position.

Q2. WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB?

TIP #1 – You are being asked this question because the hiring manager wants to hear you have researched their company and you plan to stay there long term.

TIP #2 – Use positive words and phrases in your answer and reference that you want to work in a productive, supportive, and inclusive environment.

Q3. WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?

TIP #1 – The easiest and most effective way to answer this common interview question is to align your strengths with those listed on the job description. The JD is the blueprint for the role that has been created by the employer, so it makes sense to read it before your interview.

TIP #2 – The most appealing strengths in the workplace are communication and interpersonal skills, problem solving capabilities, teamwork and collaborative working, and taking responsibility for your ongoing professional development.

Q4. WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS?

TIP #1 – This is one of the hardest interview questions to answer. Do not give a weakness that is a match for any of the essential criteria listed in the job description.

TIP #2 – In your answer, give an honest weakness but tell the hiring manager you are aware of it, and you are taking steps moving forward to improve.

Q5. WHY DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE YOUR JOB?

TIP #1 – Do not be negative about your former employer. If you are negative, you won’t get hired.

TIP #2 – Good reasons to leave a job include wanting a change of career, and seeking a new and fresh challenge with a forward-thinking company where your skills and qualities will be put to good use.

Q6. WHAT ARE YOUR SHORT AND LONG-TERM GOALS?

TIP #1 – One of your short-term goals could be to land a job with their company, and then quickly learn everything you need to know about the role, how your team operates, and the company’s policies and procedures.

TIP #2 – One of your long-term goals could be to either gain promotion with their company or gain qualifications or skills in a niche area which means you will be the GO-TO EXPERT for an area of specialism within their company.

Q7. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS!

TIP #1 – Choose three words that make you unique and stand out from the competition. Most candidates will use the words professional, reliable, and a great team worker. These are not stand-out words!

TIP #2 – Once you have given your 3 words, explain to the interviewer why they will be of benefit to their company.

Q8. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS?

TIP #1 – If you say in your answer to this common interview question that you plan to have moved on to a new company in five years’ time, you probably won’t get hired. It takes time, effort, and resources to hire someone for a job, so they want to be sure they will see a long-term return on their investment if they hire you.

TIP #2 – A great thing to include in your answer is to say you will still be working for their company, but that you will be the ‘GO TO EXPERT’ in an area of specialism.

Q9. WHAT CAN YOU BRING TO THE COMPANY?

TIP #1 – Write down a list of four things you can bring to their company. Think about the industry they operate in, and if you can help them improve, grow, or develop in any way, mention this in your answer. 

TIP #2 – Remember this: it costs an employer money each month to hire you, so if you can demonstrate they will see a positive return on their investment, you are more likely to get hired.

Q10. HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS POSITION?

TIP #1 – This question is being asked because the interviewer wants to be sure you are not just seeking a job with any company. If you are, you may not stay working there for long.

TIP #2 – In your answer, talk about how you have been waiting for a position to be advertised because you are genuinely attracted to their company.

Q11. WHAT’S YOUR IDEAL WORK ENVIRONMENT?

TIP #1 – Most people have no idea what type of environment they want to work in. This common interview question is being asked because the interviewer wants to make sure you are aware of the type of culture they have.

TIP #2 – I recommend researching their organization to find out their company values and what they do to support their staff in the workplace. This can usually be found on their website ABOUT US page.

Q12. WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?

TIP #1 – This common interview question is your opportunity to SELL YOURSELF! Be confident in your abilities and go all out to really show the interviewer that you want this position. Remember: positivity attracts positivity! 

TIP #2 – Again, if you can think of ways to help their organization improve or grow, this will work to your advantage!

Q13. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH PRESSURE OR STRESSFUL SITUATIONS?

TIP #1 – This is a common but very difficult interview question to respond to. You should always have a plan in place of how you deal with stress and pressure.

TIP #2 – In your answer, talk about prioritizing your work effectively, minimizing distractions, and trying to foresee any potential problems or challenges before they occur.

Q14. HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH CONFLICT IN THE WORKPLACE?

TIP #1 – This is another extremely common interview question that most candidates fail to answer correctly. They end up saying they would ask their manager to deal with the conflict. If you say that, you will probably fail your job interview!

TIP #2 – Talk about assessing the conflict to see why it is occurring and then taking positive steps to deal with it in a professional manner that gets the team back to full working capacity quickly.

Q15. HOW DO YOU PRIORITIZE YOUR WORK?

TIP #1 – This a very common time management interview question that comes up during most interviews. Make sure you prepare a strong and confident answer to it.

 TIP #2 – In your response, talk about using a COLOR SCHEME or LIST to prioritize urgent and non-urgent tasks.

Q16. WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES AND INTERESTS?

TIP #1 – This question comes up often during job interviews, and the interviewer is asking it for several reasons. They want to get to know the real you and also potentially assess if your personal life might affect your ability to perform well at work.

 TIP #2 – Be careful which hobbies and interests you disclose. Put yourself across as a happy, fit, and active person who enjoys self-development.

Q17. WHAT ARE YOUR SALARY EXPECTATIONS?

TIP #1 – Go to the website PAYSCALE.COM and search for the salary range of your job and industry before you attend the interview. This will give you a rough indication as to the going salary and something to refer to in your answer. 

TIP #2 – If you can include details of previous strong workplace performance, especially how you helped a company either grow, win a lucrative contract, or even save money, you are more likely to get a higher salary.

Q18. TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU WORKED AS PART OF A TEAM.

TIP #1 – This is called a behavioural interview question, and you must give a specific situation you have previously been in where you worked with other people as part of a team.

TIP #2 – In your answer, talk about what you did as part of a team to achieve a common goal. I recommend talking about how you listened to each other in the team, and how everyone was encouraged to contribute.,

Q19. ARE YOU APPLYING FOR OTHER JOBS?

TIP #1 – Whilst it is important to be truthful in your answer, bear in mind that if you are applying for other jobs, the hiring manager may be put off by this because it could indicate that you don’t really care which company you work for.

TIP #2 – The best answer is where the candidate is totally focused on getting a job with their company, and they have put all of their efforts into the selection and application process.

Q20. THAT’S THE END OF THE INTERVIEW. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

TIP #1 – Do not say, like many candidates do, that you have no questions because they covered everything in the interview. 

TIP #2 – Ask just 3 smart questions that put you across as an ambitious, considerate, and keen person who wants to do a great job for them in the position.