Interview “Formality”
11 Common Final Round Job Interview Questions and Answers
Even if you’ve been asked this already in the interview process, you can expect to hear it again in the last round… especially if it’s a final round interview with the CEO or other Executive.
So this is your chance to impress them with a clear, concise answer that shows off your background but also your communication skills.
I’d recommend keeping your answer to around 60 seconds and focusing on your recent career story: moves you’ve made, key accomplishments, and ideally, end with why you applied for this job or what you’re hoping to do next!
Read more about this interview question here.
This is another final round interview question designed to dig deeper into who you are as a person and what type of worker you’ll be if hired.
There isn’t one “right” answer here, but you do want to be ready to talk about something specific.
When I recruited software engineers, some would say they were passionate about making a difference in the world or joining companies that were mission-oriented (usually some type of social mission).
But others just said they want to tackle complex technical challenges and advance their skills. They loved facing tough problems as a programmer.
One of these answers isn’t “better” than the other. The key is to share something that’s true so the interviewer can see the passion in you and believe your answer!
Don’t fake it, but do take time to think about how you’ll respond so that you’re not caught without something to say!
Read more about this interview question here.
This question is similar to the one above. Essentially, the employer wants to know that you’re motivated by something other than money.
We all work for a paycheck. They know this. However, workers who also enjoy the work for other reasons are going to be more resilient, more likely to overcome struggles at work rather than quitting, etc.
So this is something a hiring manager will look for and ask questions about… especially in a final job interview.
As with the question above, there isn’t one best answer.
You can give a variety of reasons you come to work each day — from wanting to make a difference/impact in the world to simply liking the challenges that work provides. You can name many other things too. For example, you could say you enjoy being part of a team and contributing to a team’s effort.
Read more about this interview question with example answers here.
You’re likely to hear this as a first interview or phone interview question, but you may also be asked about this in your final round interview… especially if it’s with a new person!
So to succeed in the final interview, go back and review what caught your interest initially and why the role and company excite you.
If you can explain this to an Executive or CEO in detail and with excitement, it could set you apart from other candidates and be the difference that gets you hired.
Read more about this interview question here.
This might not be what you first think of when brainstorming final interview questions to prepare for, but it is something that you could be asked!
If it’s a good interviewer, they won’t ask quite this bluntly, but they’re still likely to ask in some form or another. For example, they may ask, “What have you learned about our company so far, and what do you think of what we do?”
So you absolutely should be ready to talk about what you’ve learned from researching the company and from hearing about the company in previous interviews.
(And what you’ve learned from asking questions, which you should be doing in every single job interview. If you need help, then here are 26 unique questions to ask employers.
Any employer or hiring manager will want to make sure their position fits your general long-term career goals before hiring you. (Even after they’ve established that you can do the job!)
Why? Because they want someone who is going to stay with the company long-term and be a good “investment” (it costs them money to hire and train new people, and it takes a while for you to start producing at a high level).
So, “where do you see yourself in five years” is among the most common final job interview questions asked by CEOs and other Executives.
They may also ask, “What are your career goals?”
You’ll notice a common theme among many final-round interview questions with CEOs or other high-level managers — they want to determine a cultural fit before signing off on hiring you.
For this particular question, give an answer that is realistic but also slightly ambitious. You don’t want to say, “I see myself in the exact same position in five years.”
And most importantly, name a goal that is consistent with the job you’re interviewing for! You want to be able to show how this job fits your long-term goals in your career so that they’ll feel confident that you’ll enjoy the job and stay for a few years!
This will help you get the job.
Read more about answering “Where do you see yourself in five years?” here.
As with the question above, employers also ask this to determine if you’ll enjoy their job and company, and stay long-term.
This is a common theme in terms of what you should expect in a final interview.
You may have already proven that you can handle the job, so now they’re going to be looking for proof that you want the job, which is different!
So be ready to give an assessment of what you enjoyed and didn’t enjoy in your last organization, and make sure that you’re providing them with clear evidence that suggests you’d enjoy this company!
Read more about this interview question here.
The interviewer may also ask if there’s anything unique about you or anything that sets you apart.
So think ahead of time — what do you bring to this position that others can’t?
Consider past experiences, degrees and certifications, key accomplishments, and more.
You could even use this to turn a possible weakness into a strength. For example, maybe you’re coming from a different industry than most candidates.
You could say, “Well, coming from the ___ industry, I think I have a deeper understanding of ___ than some other candidates, and I’m confident I could use this to help the company do ___.”
Some employers LOVE the idea of getting a fresh perspective or a fresh set of eyes on the work they’re doing. So if you have a slightly different background than the “normal” candidate, don’t assume it’s a weakness. And this job interview question is a chance to show it off.
You don’t have to answer in this way, though. You could mention a particular reason you’re passionate about this field of work, too.
Read more, including sample answers to this question, here.
Next up in your late-stage or final-stage interview, they may ask questions about your job search overall. They may ask where else you’re interviewing, whether you’re expecting other job offers, etc.
If you’re interested in this company and do expect other offers, it’s okay to tell them. This gives them the chance to move through their interview process faster so they don’t lose you!
However, if you’re not expecting other offers, don’t lie. It’s not worth it — lies lead to more lies and can get you into trouble! So it’s always better to answer interview questions truthfully when you can.
And in this case, you certainly can just say, “I’m speaking to a few companies, and things are moving well so far, but I’m not expecting any other offers at this point.”
That may be a bit of a white lie, depending on what else you have going on, but that’s alright. Just don’t say you have job offers if you don’t! That’s rarely the best idea.
You may also hear variations of this question, like, “Are you expecting other job offers?” That’s usually a very positive sign that your interview went well.
Read more about this interview question here.
If this is asked in a first interview, I usually tell candidates to be careful about revealing a number too soon! (And I explain why in this article).
However, if a hiring manager or other member of senior management asks this in a final interview, it’s time to name your number!
Do your research before the interview, and then confidently tell them what you are hoping to earn! Also, end your response by flipping the question on them and say, “Does that fit what you were hoping to pay? And what type of general budget have you set for the position?”
This is certainly an appropriate question to ask after responding to any interview questions about salary expectations.
Read more about this interview question here.
Finally, as a final-round candidate, you can expect the interviewers to give you a chance to share anything else you wanted to mention.
And if not, you can still conclude any of your interviews by saying, “If it’s alright with you, there’s one more idea that came to mind, that I was hoping to share.”
So you should NEVER be afraid to speak up if there’s something you wish you had mentioned in your interview.
It could be something they misunderstood on your resume, something you already talked about but could have explained better, etc.
You can also follow up later if you forgot to mention something or forgot to ask a question in the interview.
The bottom line here is: You don’t need to share more here. If you think you already showed the hiring team why you’re a great candidate for the role and don’t want to add more, then simply say, “I think we’ve covered the important topics! Thank you for asking, though.”
Read more about this interview question here.
Getting Prepared: What to Expect in a Final Interview
In your final interview, you should expect broader, higher-level questions about your career history, your interests, what motivates you, and why you are interested in this particular job and company. It’s likely that the hiring team established that you can perform the job in a previous interview, so this final stage job interview is more about seeing whether you’re a cultural fit and someone they want to work with!
And a final interview is usually with a member of senior management such as a Director, an Executive, or the CEO.
You’re more likely to talk to the CEO in a smaller company, whereas in a larger company, you can expect your final interview to be with a Director, Executive, etc.
If you’re interviewing for a lower-level position (for example, an entry-level role), your final interview may just be with the hiring manager — e.g. the person who would be your direct boss if you’re hired.
Is a Final Interview Just a Formality?
A final round interview is not just a formality. Employers often have multiple final-round candidates they are considering for the job, and your answers in the final interview may determine who gets the position.
You should take your final interview seriously and assume that the job offer is at stake, whether you’re talking to the CEO, another Executive, or the hiring manager.
You’ve submitted your job application, resume, and cover letter, and you’ve gone through a phone interview and met with HR.
Now, you’re being called in for a final interview.
You may be wondering what they could possibly still want to know about you, and why this is different from your other two interviews.
In this article, you’ll learn the purpose of these interviews and how to prepare for them.
Key Takeaways:
FAQ
What are formal interview questions?
Is final interview a formality?
- 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?
Is HR interview a formality?
