After working for years as a recruiter, I’m going to share the top 20 job interview questions and answer examples, plus do’s and don’ts to get you ready to ace your interview.
I’m also including a printable interview questions and answers PDF at the bottom of this article, so make sure you read until the end.
15 Job Interview Questions And Their Best Possible Answers.
Question no. 1: Can you tell me something about yourself?
Hint: This is often the very first question. It helps the HR managers to get a basic idea of your communication skills, motivation, and interests. It is also an ice breaker, and a good answer will help you to feel more relaxed in the room. The interviewers do not ask about your education, experience, personal life, or anything else in particular—you can choose the way to introduce yourself.
However, your choice reflects what matters to you. In a job interview, you should talk about your education, working experience, career goals, skills and abilities. You should talk about things that are relevant for the employer. On the other hand, you can mention one or two hobbies, or tell them something from your personal life. This shows that you have a life outside of work. Check one sample answer below.
Question no. 2: Why did you apply for this job?
Hint: Motivation is one of the deciding factors in every single job interview. Do you apply for a job just because you want to earn money, or graduated from the field? Do you apply only because you need a job, or do you really want to have this particular position? Your goal is to convince the employer that you genuinely want to work for them, and that you have a good reason for choosing their offer (and not an offer of one of their competitors).
Pre-interview research should help you to find a good answer. You should learn something about the working environment, their vision and goals, the value they bring to their customers and business partners. Try to look for something that goes beyond your personal role in the company, something you can praise, something that resonates with you.
Special Tip: You can download all 30 questions (screening and behavioral) in a simple, one page long .PDF, print it, and practice your interview answers anytime later, with a friend, or alone:
Question no. 3: Why did you leave your last job? / Why are you planning to leave your present job?
Hint: Changing a job, or even a career, is completely normal. Nevertheless, employers want to understand why you plan to make a change, or why you were forced to make your move. They try to understand whether they can count with you in a long run, and how it will feel to work with you. Do you look for good things, or for bad things in a job? Do you demand a lot from your colleagues, or do you demand a lot from yourself?
Regardless of your past experience, you should focus on good things. Even if they fired you in your last job (for no real reason), try to speak nicely about your former colleagues and employers. Nobody wants to hire an employee who will complain about everything, a person who always looks for the worst…
20 Interview Questions and Answer Examples
This is one of the most common interview questions, and it trips a lot of job seekers up because of how open-ended it is.
Here’s what the best answers include, and how to impress when the interviewer asks this question:
First, keep your answer work-related when answering, “Tell me about yourself.” While technically they’ve left it open to include personal details, it’s not what the typical interviewer is looking for.
And to keep your answer clear and easy to understand, tell your story in chronological order.
Walk them through your background, starting with how you began your career or your current line of work.
If you’re a recent graduate or entry-level candidate, you can discuss your academic work. Why did you choose this field of study? What projects have you done and what have you worked on?
If you have prior work experience, walk the interviewer through your key accomplishments, key career moves you’ve made and why, and end by sharing what you’re looking to do next in your career and why you’re job hunting.
Do:
Don’t:
Interview answer example:
FAQ
What are 15 good interview questions?
- Tell me about yourself.
- Walk me through your resume.
- How did you hear about this position?
- Why do you want to work at this company?
- Why do you want this job?
- Why should we hire you?
- What can you bring to the company?
- What are your greatest strengths?
What are the 10 most common interview questions PDF?
- What Are Your Weaknesses? …
- Why Should We Hire You? …
- Why Do You Want to Work Here? …
- What Are Your Goals? …
- Why Did You Leave (or Why Are You Leaving) Your Job? …
- When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job? …
- What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can’t?
What are the top 20 interview questions and answers?
- Why are you interested in working for us?
- What made you apply for this position?
- How did you find out about this position?
- Why are you looking for a new job?
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- Describe yourself.
What are the top 25 interview questions with answers?
- Why are you interested in working for us?
- What made you apply for this position?
- How did you find out about this position?
- Why are you looking for a new job?
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- Describe yourself.
