Job Interview Tips: 55 Common Interview Questions and How to Prepare for Them

Over the years, recruiting cycles have evolved from posing common interview questions to focusing on behavioral assessments and personal aspirations. HR managers are interested in candidates who are:

• Self-aware of personal strengths and weakness
• Self-motivated and committed to giving their 100% to the job

Your answers offer them an insight into how you think, perform under pressure, and why you applied for a specific position. Each response has the potential to either make or break your career in the organization.

Therefore it’s important to do your homework and list tentative answers to prepare yourself for the big day.

Follow my top interview tips to get a head start:

PREPARING FOR YOUR JOB INTERVIEW: 5 IMPORTANT INTERVIEW QUESTIONS & HOW TO ANSWER THEM

One of the top job interview tips recommends candidates prepare answers for the most common interview questions. Use my checklist to have a better understanding of what to expect from recruiters. Job Interview Tips: 55 Common Interview Questions and How to Prepare for Them?

Then request family, friends, or career counselors to conduct a mock interview session. That way, you will be ready to answer confidently during the real meeting.

Here are top questions to prepare for:

1. WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?

Even though this interview question sounds intimidating, it’s a great opportunity to express why you’re the ideal fit for the company. There are two things to do here. Explain how your academic/professional background would prove advantageous for the company. Tell them how your background adds diversity to the team.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“As an (Insert Designation), I have the expertise required to lead teams and supervise multiple projects without compromising on quality. I leverage my interpersonal skills to convey ideas and facilitate growth in this area. These traits are easily transferable to the new position and will benefit the bottom line. I’m confident that they will enable me to become a valuable asset of your organization.”

2. WHAT MADE YOU APPLY FOR THIS JOB?

This question is the opposite of the previous one.

Eliminate the ‘me, me, and me’ factor. Look for personal attributes that align with business goals. Use company job descriptions as reference points to relate these qualities with the role their offering.

After that, tell them how you plan to contribute to the team or what you liked about their recent campaign.

As a result, recruiters will know that you put some thought and effort into the application instead of applying on a whim.

SAMPLE ANSWER: (A PROSPECTIVE MARKETER WOULD TELL AN ADVERTISING AGENCY)

“This position offers lots of growth opportunities that can help me develop my craft. I also look forward to learning from your training program and interacting with the diverse audience you cater to across the state.

Apart from this, I found your latest campaign on sustainable packaging impressive. Working in a company that gives back to the environment is a bonus.”  

3. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR COMPANY?

One of the top interview tips recommends detailed research on the company before the interview day. Learn how everything you can to show that you do your research and are genuinely interested in their corporate culture.

Candidates who fail to respond coherently can come across as disinterested in what the job offers, leaving a negative impression. Avoid this by making a list of facts that make this company stand out.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“I admire the fact that this company began as a small firm and has now expanded to over 100+ employees. Your progress and steady growth show that hard work, dedication, and transparency pay off in the long run. I possess a similar career strategy when it comes to personal development.

These characteristics motivated me to send an application.”

4. HOW DO YOU LIKE TO BE MANAGED?

If you have extensive work experience, this question could potentially put you in trouble if you begin listing managers you did not like. Instead of ranting about negatives, list positive personality traits that have worked well for you in the past. Fresh graduates answer this question by creating a realistic image of what you look like in your ideal employee/boss.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“I work best with managers that offer clear instructions and set attainable goals. I work well independently but do not mind working cross-functionally whenever required. A boss that recognizes this and facilitates growth through collaborative and solo opportunities would be beneficial for my growth…”

5. HOW DO YOU HANDLE A CRISIS? DESCRIBE ONE YOU HANDLED WELL.

This question has the potential to make or break your career. Interviewers use this question to identify your weaknesses and breaking point. The way you deal with stress will determine whether you are capable of handling rigorous routines. Always share an example to prove your point.

If not, you will most likely be pushed down the candidate list.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“When there are multiple deadlines set for the day, I try to take things one task at a time to stay focused. Breaking down projects according to priority ensures that I do not lose momentum. This tactic helps me achieve significant progress and lessens the load from one project to another.

For instance, one of my co-workers was absent right before the Easter holidays. I had to take over while simultaneously working on my project. Handling both projects was not easy, especially when I had to go over one mid-way through its production process. Yet, I was determined to succeed.

My methodical plan enabled me to deliver the projects on time and ensure that the quality was not compromised.”

That’s it! Use these answers as a tentative example for your interview.

Nevertheless, don’t memorize your responses. The trick is to get a gist of what you want to say and share. Having this knowledge makes it easier for you to respond and relate professional/personal experience whenever required. Otherwise, you’d be stuck wondering what to say.

THE CHECKLIST: 55 COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

With over 25 years of HR and career counseling experience, I have asked hundreds of interview questions. Despite the changing styles and methodologies, some questions remain the same.

Here are the frequently asked job interview questions:

1.     Tell me about a time when you were a member of a great team. What role did you play in making the team great?

2.     Tell me about a time when you were given a task to accomplish without any direction.

3.     Tell me about a time when you had to work with someone you did not get along with.

4.     Tell me about a time when you felt that a decision was unfair. How did you handle it?

5.     Tell me about a time when someone asked you for assistance outside the parameters of your job. What did you do?

6.     Tell me about a time you had to multitask.

7.     Tell me about a time when you were creative in solving a problem.

8.     Tell me about a time when you were the leader of a team and the team disagreed with your decision. How did you handle it?

9.     Tell me about a time when you were a team leader and had to mediate with members who disagreed with each other.

10.  Tell me about a project that did not go well.

11.  Tell me about a time that you worked hard to accomplish something but didn’t.

12.  Tell me about a time when you suggested a better way to do something.

13.  Tell me about a time when you had to handle conflict within your group.

14.  You are a team member and you disagree with an important decision that you believe will have a negative impact on the project. How will you proceed?

15.  Tell me about a time when someone told you that you had made an error. Describe how you would react and what you would say in your defence.

16.  You are a new employee at our firm and I have asked you to speak to a group of 10 employees. What would you talk about and what would you say?

17.  You are part of a team working on a project with a one-week deadline. The team leader does not seem to be on top of things and you are worried about reaching the deadline. What do you do?

18.  Describe one that you didn’t handle well and what you would have done differently.

19.  It’s five o’clock on Friday and your supervisor gives you an assignment that needs to be finished by 8:00 am Monday morning. You have plans to be away for the weekend. What do you do?

20.  Describe a situation that was a great learning experience.

21.  Describe a challenge you faced in school and how you handled it.

22.  Describe an experience that you felt was rewarding.

23.  Describe a situation where you were mentored.

24.  Describe a situation where you were given feedback on your performance that wasn’t what you had hoped for.

25.  Describe a situation where you resolved a problem.

26.  What would your last boss/manager say about you?

27.  How would your co-workers describe you?

28.  What do you think is the best part of working in teams?

29.  What do you think is the worst part of working in a team?

30.  How do you define “work ethic”? How would you describe yours?

31.  How do you make decisions?

32.  What type of people do you like to work with?

33.  What motivates you?

34.  Give me 10 adjectives to describe yourself.

35.  Tell me about your best manager. Why do you consider them the “best”?

36.  Tell me about your worst manager. Why do you consider them the “worst”?

37.  What book are you reading now?

38.  What books have you read about leadership?

39.  Describe your ideal job.

40.  What was the most creative thing you have ever done?

41.  What are you most proud of?

42.  How do you handle stress at work?

43.  What would you have done more of in your last internship?

44.  What would you like to have done less of in your last internship?

45.  Why did you choose your last job/internship?

46.  Why did you choose your school?

47.  If you could have done anything differently during your college career, what would it have been?

48.  What are your short- and long-term career goals?

49.  In what areas would you like to develop further?

50.  What skills did it take to succeed in your internships?

51.  What makes you the best candidate?

52.  Where else are you interviewing?

53.  How would you describe client satisfaction?

54.  What do you think is most important in great customer service?

55.  What will you do if you don’t get this job?

 THE BOTTOM LINE

In a nutshell, candidates who are prepared and perceptive have a higher chance of getting hired than their peers. That’s why I advise you to jot tentative answers for common interview questions. Remember to practice verbal and non-verbal cues to appear presentable.

Everything from what you say to and do gets judged in an interview. Don’t miss out by going unprepared.

Best of luck!