After successfully crafting an impressive resume and getting past the first stage, it’s now time to tackle the challenge: the job interview.

While interviewers often attempt to put candidates at ease by stating that there are no right or wrong answers, the reality is that they usually have specific responses in mind.

This is where our guide comes in – we’ll be discussing the most commonly asked interview questions and providing answers that will transform you into a true interview pro by the time you finish reading.

So, let’s begin!

This comprehensive guide covers nearly every interview question you may encounter, making it a valuable resource for job seekers. Don’t worry if it seems overwhelming – you don’t have to read it from start to finish. Instead, we suggest focusing on the following:

• Familiarizing yourself with the most commonly asked interview questions
• Reviewing the situational interview questions section to understand how to respond to questions that pertain to your experience
• Understanding the purpose of behavioral interview questions, so you can confidently tackle any queries the HR manager may ask you.

Most Common Job Interview Questions:

1. Tell me something about yourself.
2. Why did you decide to apply for this position?
3. Why did you decide to leave your previous company?
4. What is your greatest strength?
5. What are your biggest weaknesses?

How to Answer Most Common Job Interview Questions [+ Sample Answers]

Whether you’re a seasoned professional with years of experience or an intern just starting out, the following questions are likely to be asked during your job interview.

They serve as a means for interviewers to gain insight into your character and professional background.

While it’s common to believe that there are no right or wrong answers to interview questions, there are certain guidelines you should keep in mind when responding to them.

By comprehending the interviewer’s intentions behind each question, you’ll be better equipped to provide the appropriate response – and excel during your interview!

1) Tell me something about yourself.

Talking about yourself may seem like a simple task – after all, we do it every day without much thought. However, it’s often the first question asked during an interview and serves as your introduction to the interviewer. It’s crucial to ensure that your response is tailored to the position you’re applying for and showcases why you’re the ideal candidate for the job.

To structure your answer effectively, consider the following guidelines:

• Briefly introduce yourself by sharing your name and how long you’ve worked in your profession.
• What do you love about your job?
• Highlight 2-3 relevant achievements that demonstrate your suitability for the role.

Now, let’s go through some examples:

2) Why did you decide to apply for this position?

Through this question, the interviewers want to assess how passionate you are about the position. And no, the answer isn’t: “I need the money”.

In reality, the interviewer is interested in learning about your level of excitement towards the job or the organization. As job satisfaction is directly linked to job performance, being passionate about your role can make you more productive, and the interviewer wants to gauge that.

Interestingly, during the interview, your passion for the job will be evident in your responses, making it a crucial aspect of your performance. When you’re talking to a person that’s passionate about something, you can pretty much feel them glow as they talk. And if you’re an HR manager who’s interviewed hundreds of people, this is a very good sign to hire the candidate.

Therefore, it’s essential to leverage this knowledge and answer the question appropriately. Ideally, your response should encompass two things:

• What motivated you to apply for this position, specifically.
• Why this company? Have you heard of them before?

Keep in mind, though, that if you don’t know much about the company or the position – that’s OK too. Just be honest and show your passion for the job. However, it’s always better to do your homework before going to an interview.

3) Why did you decide to leave your previous company?

When an interviewer poses the question about why you left your previous job, they are likely evaluating the level of risk associated with hiring you. Their goal is to gain an understanding of the circumstances surrounding your departure, such as whether it was for a valid reason and if you left on positive terms. Additionally, they may be interested in gauging your level of dedication to your work.

If your departure from your previous job was due to performance-related issues, a hiring manager might question your potential performance at their company. Similarly, if you have a history of frequently changing jobs, they may question your ability to remain committed to a single employer.

To answer this question, if you want to be truthful but not say anything that could reflect badly, don’t say:

“I hated my old boss”

“My old job was boring”

“I want more money”

Instead, keep it professional and focused on you. For example:

4) What are your biggest strengths?

It is important to bear in mind that when asked about your strengths, the interviewer is providing an opportunity for you to showcase your positive attributes.

Simply rattling off a long list of your strengths will not suffice. Rather, you should emphasize a select few key qualities and demonstrate how these are applicable to the prospective employer’s needs. As each company has unique requirements, it is crucial to conduct research and identify what the company is seeking in a candidate. There is no use professing what a great React developer you are if you are applying for a backend role. 

For this question, you would want to narrow your answer down to at most three strengths. Pick 1 or 2 skills that would help you really excel at the job and 1 or 2 personal (more or less unrelated) skills. 

Not sure which ones are your top strengths? Check out the list below to learn which one’s perfect for you:

Since this is a common interview question, it’s essential to prepare for it in advance. By practicing your response and having relevant examples ready, you’ll be able to impress the interviewer and increase your chances of landing the job.

5) What is your biggest weakness?

After all, you don’t want to mention your flaws during an interview, so it’s guaranteed to be a tough question. The trick to answering this one is realizing that the interviewers don’t expect you to be perfect. Everyone has flaws, weaknesses, and things to improve on.

When asking this question, the HR manager is actually seeking to learn:

• Whether you have the right skills for the job. If you’re applying for the position of a server in a busy restaurant, and you say your biggest weakness is performing under pressure, then you’re definitely not getting a callback.
• If you’re self-aware and really know what your sticking points are.

And NO: fake humble-brag weaknesses don’t count as weaknesses. You can’t just say that your biggest weakness is that you work too hard, or that you’re a perfectionist.

The key here is to mention a weakness that’s real, but not something that would get in the way of you doing your job. It’s also good practice to mention how you are working towards overcoming this weakness and realizing how it affects you negatively. If you can, just balance it with a positive side effect: treat it like two sides of the same coin.

And finally, good luck on the interview! You got this!