The most common interview questions are the ones that you’ll see again and again.
The best way to prepare for a job interview is to understand the types of questions you are likely to be asked.
Below is a list of common interview questions, as well as tips on how to answer them effectively.
Some of the most common questions in an interview are open-ended. They involve stating your opinion and can be answered in many ways.
The interviewer wants to see how you respond to a question, so he or she may ask it again in different words or from another perspective.
The following is a list of the most common interview questions that employers ask in the initial stages of the hiring process.
Common Interview Questions
What Are Common Interview Questions
The most common interviews are the first round of interviews for entry-level positions. These interviews may be conducted by the employer,
another member of management, or a third party. Common interview questions are those that are asked of all candidates, but in different ways. You should prepare for any question that you’re likely to hear by reviewing prior job ads and interviewing other candidates.
Common interview questions often begin with a standard introduction: “Tell me about yourself.” This can be followed by questions about your experience and education, as well as what you hope to gain from the experience of working at this company. The interviewer wants to know if you’re qualified for the position and if they would enjoy having you on their team.
The following is a list of some common interview questions that employers ask during the hiring process:
Common Interview Questions – Introduction
To start us off, here are a few common questions that you might be asked.
Here are the top ten:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What interests you about this position?
- Why should we hire you?
- What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
- What do you consider your greatest achievement?
- How would your boss/co-workers describe you as a worker/team player?
- What is your greatest professional accomplishment? Why was it important to you personally?
- Why did you choose to major in that field of study at college?
- What kinds of responsibilities did you have while working in this position previously (or during high school)? How did those responsibilities compare with those of other people in similar positions or jobs within the company?
What Are the Most Common Interview Questions?
The job interview process can be nerve-wracking and stressful, but don’t let it get the best of you. You’ve already passed the first hurdle: You got a call back for an interview. Now it’s time to prepare for what could be one of the toughest conversations of your life.
Answering interview questions can feel like a game of 20 questions, but there are some common ones that employers ask over and over again. A few key words can help you prepare for these common questions before you walk into the interview room.
Here are some examples of common questions that employers ask during interviews:
“What is your biggest weakness?”
“What do you know about this company?” “Tell me about a time when…”
1. Common Interview Questions – Tell me about yourself
Tell me about yourself
This is the most common question asked in an interview. Your answer provides a great opportunity to show off your personality, skills, and experience in a succinct way.
Think about what makes you unique, not just what you’ve done but also how you did it. If there are any industry trends or hot topics that might be relevant to the job at hand, be sure to mention them as well.
What accomplishments/achievements are you most proud of?
Discussing your accomplishments shows an interviewer that you are confident and have a good understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.
When providing examples of your accomplishments, be sure to include details such as why the project was important, what made it challenging, how long it took, etc.
This will help paint a picture for the interviewer so they can better understand what makes you stand out from other candidates.
What would your previous employer say about your work ethic?
When answering this question, focus on describing what kind of employee you were and how your behavior impacted others around you (positively or negatively). For example: “I always go above and beyond what is expected of me at work because I believe in giving back to my community and making an impact.
2. Common Interview Questions – What does customer service mean to you?
Customer service is about providing excellent customer service. I feel it’s important to go above and beyond for each and every customer, no matter what the situation may be.
I believe that if you treat people well, they will do the same, which will lead to loyal customers.
I have always worked in customer service jobs so I know how important it is to treat customers with respect and kindness. It’s a lot easier to help someone with an issue when they’re smiling than when they’re frowning!
I am extremely friendly and outgoing, so interacting with people comes naturally to me. I love helping others and making them happy!
3. Common Interview Questions – Describe your ideal work environment
What is your ideal work environment?
There are many elements that go into a good workplace, including management style, co-workers, location and salary. When you’re asked about your ideal work environment, you need to be prepared to answer this question.
Take time to think about what you want in a job and then describe it as honestly as possible.
Describe your ideal work environment?
I enjoy working in a team environment where people are collaborative and supportive of each other’s ideas. I also like it when my boss is open to suggestions and listens to suggestions from their employees.
A flexible schedule is important so that I can meet my family obligations but also have time for myself on the weekends.
How would you describe your ideal work environment?
I like being in an office where people are collaborative and supportive of each other’s ideas; however, at times it’s important for people to take initiative on their own without asking permission from their bosses first.
I also like it when my boss is open to suggestions and listens to suggestions from their employees since that shows they have confidence in their team members’ abilities. A flexible schedule is important so that I can meet my family obligations but
4. Common Interview Questions – Tell me about when you made a mistake but resolved it?
1.Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult co-worker or boss and how did you handle it?
2.Describe the most useful training course you have ever attended?
3.What would your previous supervisor say is your biggest strength?
4.What would your previous co-workers say is your biggest weakness?
5.What do you feel is the most important quality in an ideal boss and why?
6.How would you describe your ideal job and working environment?
7.What do you think are the most important qualities of a good team player? You should be able to describe them with examples from either professional or personal experience, if applicable.*
5. Common Interview Questions – How do you think your coworkers would describe you?
The answer to this question is one that you need to be prepared for, as it’s one of the most common interview questions.
While the interviewer may want to hear that you’re professional, they are also looking for a sense of what type of person you are.
Here are some tips on how to answer this question:
Think about how your coworkers would describe you and write down what they would say. Then, think about why they might say those things and how they relate to the job.
For example, if someone says that you work well with others, it could mean that they enjoy working with you because it makes their jobs easier or more enjoyable. This type of response shows that you’ve thought about the question and not just memorized an answer from a book or website.
6. Common Interview Questions – Why did you choose this line of work? How long do you plan on continuing it?
What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness?
What are your career goals? What do you want to be doing in five years or ten years from now?
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an angry customer or coworker. What did you do?
Tell me about a time when you had a conflict at work, and how you handled it.
What have been the most significant changes in your field in the last five years? What will they be like in five more years?
How would your coworkers describe you? What personal habits of yours would they find annoying? Who is the best person on our team at what they do, and why are they so good at it?
7. Common Interview Questions – What makes you the best candidate for this job?
It’s a common interview question, and it’s hard to know what to say. The best answer is to show that you understand the job, why you’re qualified and how your skills align with the company’s needs.
Here are some tips:
What Makes You the Best Candidate?
- Research the company ahead of time so you can speak intelligently about what the company does and why it matters in its industry.
- Be confident, but not cocky.
- Show enthusiasm and passion for what they do even if it’s not exactly what you want to do with your life! (This will help show that you’re a good cultural fit.)
How to Come Up with Questions to Ask in an Interview
The key to any successful interview is to ask questions. Not only will this show that you’re interested in the job, but it will also give you valuable insight into how the company operates and what exactly your potential position would entail.
While you want to come up with questions for the interviewer, it’s important to remember that your goal isn’t to ask every question that pops into your head.
The ones you choose should be relevant and thought-provoking. You should also practice them beforehand so that they sound natural and make sense when spoken aloud.
Here are some tips for coming up with questions:
- Review the job listing thoroughly before the interview so that you know what qualifications are needed for the position and what skillset you’ll need for success in it. This way, when your potential boss asks if there’s anything else you’d like to discuss or any questions that are on your mind, you’ll have plenty of topics at hand.
- Look at other companies’ job listings as well so that you can get an idea of what questions might be asked during an interview at different types of organizations large corporations versus small businesses, government agencies versus nonprofits, etc.). Knowing these kinds of things can help guide your own questioning strategy and make it more
Common Interview Questions – Frequently Asked Questions
The most common interview questions are:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What is the best way to answer this question
- What are your strengths
- What are your weaknesses?
- Why do you want to work here?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? 30 years? 40 years?
- What are your career goals or aspirations?
- What is your greatest failure and what did you learn from it? How do you handle mistakes or failures in general?
- How do you define success for yourself and/or for others in this position/company/industry/etc.? (Or, how would you define success in this position?)
Common Interview Questions – Wrap Up
Wrapping up, here are some of the most common interview questions you’ll be asked in a job interview.
What is your greatest weakness?
This is one of the most common questions in an interview. The interviewer wants to know if you can be honest about your weaknesses.
If you choose to answer this question, keep it short and sweet. Don’t spend too much time on this question because it’s not important for the interviewer to know about your weaknesses.
They want to know if you can admit that you have them and if you can overcome them.
What is your greatest strength?
This is another very common question that you will probably be asked during an interview.
Your answer should be prepared beforehand so that you are ready with an answer when it comes up during the interview.
You want to give an example of how this specific strength has helped you in the past, but don’t brag about yourself too much or else it may come across as arrogant. Keep it professional and positive!
Why did you leave your last job?
This question is often used by companies who have concerns about hiring someone who has left a job before because they don’t want someone who gets bored easily and quits easily as well.