- Can you tell me a little about yourself?
- Why do you want this position?
- What do you know about our company?
- Why should we hire you?
- What are you learning in your classes that will help you succeed in this position?
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
So, you’ve found the perfect job, applied and scored an interview. Congrats! You’re well on your way to #adulting.
Think of your teen years as a test-run for being a full-fledged adult. Now’s the time to get some work experience under your belt and start earning some sweet paychecks.
But you’ve got to ace an interview to get a job, and interviews are pretty nerve-wracking.
Don’t worry! Calm the butterflies in your stomach with these five interview tips for starters. Then use our 5 practice job interview questions to go into your interview feeling confident.
Job Interview Prep
10 Interview Questions for Teens With Example Answers
I’ve been cooking since I was a child. I’m hoping to gain relevant restaurant experience so that I can decide if I want to be a chef and go to culinary school in a few years.
I want to work for Sample Company because of the services you offer. I am very interested in marketing, and Sample Company is the leader of digital marketing in the technology industry. I’d like to learn from the best, get hands-on experience, and understand more about digital marketing so that I can become a full-time digital marketer in the future.
I believe I am the best person for this job because I am motivated, a hard worker, and I am dedicated to anything I apply myself to. I have always loved serving others and working in a fast-paced environment. Although I have never had a job, I believe I have an excellent work ethic cultivated by my good grades in school. I am reliable and don’t ever leave something unfinished.
I know that hostesses must be cheerful and attentive to customer needs. Additionally, I think they need to be level-headed and accommodating to resolve complaints and deal with unruly customers so that our servers don’t need to. I’m extroverted and love interacting with people, which is why I am the President of my school’s Journalism Club. I deal with complaints regularly, and developing good rapport and relationships is my duty.
I’m currently a high school student at Lakeview High. In my spare time, I am the president of the Journalism club, which compliments my interest in writing and reading. I also conduct a book club on the weekends with a few friends where we read a new book each month.
My biggest strength is my ability to build relationships with others. I consider myself to be a good team player and relate to others effortlessly. This makes it easier for me to provide efficient and effective service to customers since I’m always looking to please. My biggest weakness, on the other hand, is sometimes not knowing when to say no. I am balancing the pros and cons of certain situations to understand better how to build appropriate boundaries for myself.
I don’t have any previous official working experience, but I have volunteered for the local soup kitchen almost every month this past year. This experience has taught me many things but mainly how to have an effective conversation with someone, negotiation, and empathy, all of which are skills I believe would translate well to this job.
In five years, I hope to be on my way to graduating college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. My dream is to become a teacher. I feel working at Sample Daycare can provide me the necessary skills and hands-on training required to be successful in my field of choice.
I’m an active member of my high school drama club and was chosen to work with two other students to choose the play we’d perform and provide input on key roles. We were tasked with a difficult decision, but we worked together and chose a play we felt could resonate with many different people and offer diverse casting. Although we had some disagreements, we always came to the table with our honest thoughts and worked to come to a solution.
I’d be happy to negotiate my pay level since the most important thing I’m looking for from this kind of job is hands-on experience and building valuable relationships with my colleagues. What did you pay the last entry-level person who had this job?
10 More Common Interview Questions for Teens
Reread the Job Description, Then Do It Again
You may have skimmed the job description initially and decided it was perfect for you. But taking time to reread it and truly understand what each component and responsibility might entail is important to check that the job is really a good fit for you—and that you can prove it in an interview.
“This ensures you are ready to speak to each and every job duty listed. For each requirement in the job posting, write out in detail how you meet the qualification. Then, for each job duty, [think of] an example of when you previously did the same or similar duty,” says Kyle Elliott, a career and interview coach who spent several years working with teens on college campuses.
For your first job, this might mean referring to a role or responsibility you had in a school club or sport. You can highlight these experiences, skills, and accomplishments on your resume and integrate them into your interview question responses. For instance, if the job description says you need “strong leadership skills,” you might list on your resume that you were the president of your high school’s debate club or captain of the volleyball team and be ready to talk about times you really excelled in those roles at your interview. Or if the description says you should have “excellent customer service skills,” you might plan to bring up the time you worked the ticket booth at the school play and had to deal with a mixup.
Prepare for Common, Specific, and Quirky Interview Questions
The interview questions you get will vary based on the field and other factors, but your future boss is looking to ensure you are responsible and respectful, and that you’re able to fulfill each of the job requirements. So as you answer each question, try to convey those abilities and values. Here are a few questions you may be asked—and some advice for how to answer them.
This seems like some informal small talk. But it’s actually your opportunity for a grand opening, where you can humbly brag about everything you want them to know. “This question will likely come up at the beginning of your interview and can be thought of like the trailer for a movie,” Elliott says. “Keep your response to 60 to 90 seconds in length. Focus on your relevant experience, transferable skills, and the reason you want to work for this specific company.”
Your answer could include:
This question might take the most practice to ensure you integrate this info in a natural but confident way.
FAQ
What are the 10 most common interview questions for students?
- Tell Me About Yourself. …
- Why Are You the Best Person for the Job? …
- Why Do You Want This Job? …
- How Has Your Experience Prepared You for This Role? …
- Why Are You Leaving (or Have Left) Your Job? …
- What Is Your Greatest Strength? …
- What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
What should a 14 year old wear to a job interview?
What should a 14 year old girl wear to interview?
- Do Your Research. …
- Reread the Job Description, Then Do It Again. …
- Prepare for Common, Specific, and Quirky Interview Questions. …
- Prepare Stories to Tell. …
- Don’t Forget to Practice. …
- Dress the Part. …
- Manage Nerves by Expecting Them. …
- Write a Thank You Note.
