Business English Program

Getting ready for a job interview

Wouldn't it be great if you knew exactly what questions a hiring manager would be
asking you in your next job interview? While we unfortunately can't read minds, we'll give
you the next best thing: a list of the 31 most commonly asked interview questions and
answers. While we don't recommend having a canned response for every interview
question (in fact, please don't), we do recommend spending some time getting
comfortable with what you might be asked, what hiring managers are really looking for
in your responses, and what it takes to show that you're the right man or woman for the
job.Consider this list your interview question study guide.

Top 31 Interview Questions and Answers

N° de Questions N° de Questions N° de Questions

This question seems simple, so many people fail to prepare for it, but it's crucial. Here's the
deal: Don't give your complete employment (or personal) history. Instead give a pitch—one
that’s concise and compelling and that shows exactly why you’re the right fit for the job. Start
1 Can you tell me a little about yourself?
off with the 2-3 specific accomplishments or experiences that you most want the interviewer
to know about, then wrap up talking about how that prior experience has positioned you for
this specific role.

Another seemingly innocuous interview question, this is actually a perfect opportunity to

stand out and show your passion for and connection to the company. For example, if you
found out about the gig through a friend or professional contact, name drop that person, then
2 How did you hear about the position?
share why you were so excited about it. If you discovered the company through an event or
article, share that. Even if you found the listing through a random job board, share what,
specifically, caught your eye about the role.

Any candidate can read and regurgitate the company’s “About” page. So, when interviewers
ask this, they aren't necessarily trying to gauge whether you understand the mission—they
want to know whether you care about it. Start with one line that shows you understand the
3 What do you know about the company?
company's goals, using a couple key words and phrases from the website, but then go on to
make it personal. Say, “I’m personally drawn to this mission because…” or “I really believe in
this approach because…” and share a personal example or two.

Again, companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job, so you should have a
great answer about why you want the position. (And if you don't? You probably should apply
elsewhere.) First, identify a couple of key factors that make the role a great fit for you (e.g., “I
4 Why do you want this job? love customer support because I love the constant human interaction and the satisfaction
that comes from helping someone solve a problem"), then share why you love the company
(e.g., “I’ve always been passionate about education, and I think you guys are doing great
2 How did you hear about the position?
share why you were so excited about it. If you discovered the company through an event or
article, share that. Even if you found the listing through a random job board, share what,
specifically, caught your eye about the role.

Any candidate can read and regurgitate the company’s “About” page. So, when interviewers
ask this, they aren't necessarily trying to gauge whether you understand the mission—they
want to know whether you care about it. Start with one line that shows you understand the
3 What do you know about the company?
company's goals, using a couple key words and phrases from the website, but then go on to
make it personal. Say, “I’m personally drawn to this mission because…” or “I really believe in
this approach because…” and share a personal example or two.

Again, companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job, so you should have a
great answer about why you want the position. (And if you don't? You probably should apply
elsewhere.) First, identify a couple of key factors that make the role a great fit for you (e.g., “I
4 Why do you want this job? love customer support because I love the constant human interaction and the satisfaction
that comes from helping someone solve a problem"), then share why you love the company
(e.g., “I’ve always been passionate about education, and I think you guys are doing great
things, so I want to be a part of it”).

This interview question seems forward (not to mention intimidating!), but if you're asked it,
you're in luck: There's no better setup for you to sell yourself and your skills to the hiring
5 Why should we hire you? manager. Your job here is to craft an answer that covers three things: that you can not only do
the work, you can deliver great results; that you'll really fit in with the team and culture; and
that you'd be a better hire than any of the other candidates.

When answering this question, interview coach Pamela Skillings recommends being accurate
(share your true strengths, not those you think the interviewer wants to hear); relevant
What are your greatest professional (choose your strengths that are most targeted to this particular position); and specific (for
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strengths? example, instead of “people skills,” choose “persuasive communication” or “relationship
building”). Then, follow up with an example of how you've demonstrated these traits in a
professional setting.

What your interviewer is really trying to do with this question—beyond identifying any major
red flags—is to gauge your self-awareness and honesty. So, “I can't meet a deadline to save
What do you consider to be your my life” is not an option—but neither is “Nothing! I'm perfect!” Strike a balance by thinking of
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weaknesses? something that you struggle with but that you’re working to improve. For example, maybe
you’ve never been strong at public speaking, but you've recently volunteered to run
meetings to help you be more comfortable when addressing a crowd.

Nothing says “hire me” better than a track record of achieving amazing results in past jobs, so
don't be shy when answering this interview question! A great way to do so is by using the S-T-
A-R method: Set up the situation and the task that you were required to complete to provide
What is your greatest professional the interviewer with background context (e.g., “In my last job as a junior analyst, it was my
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achievement? role to manage the invoicing process”), but spend the bulk of your time describing what you
actually did (the action) and what you achieved (the result). For example, “In one month, I
streamlined the process, which saved my group 10 person-hours each month and reduced
errors on invoices by 25%.”

In asking this behavioral interview question, “your interviewer wants to get a sense of how
you will respond to conflict. Anyone can seem nice and pleasant in a job interview, but what
Tell me about a challenge or conflict you've will happen if you’re hired and Gladys in Compliance starts getting in your face?” says
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faced at work, and how you dealt with it. Skillings. Again, you'll want to use the S-T-A-R method, being sure to focus on how you
handled the situation professionally and productively, and ideally closing with a happy
ending, like how you came to a resolution or compromise.

If asked this question, be honest and specific about your future goals, but consider this: A
hiring manager wants to know a) if you've set realistic expectations for your career, b) if you
have ambition (a.k.a., this interview isn't the first time you're considering the question), and
c) if the position aligns with your goals and growth. Your best bet is to think realistically about
10 Where do you see yourself in five years?
where this position could take you and answer along those lines. And if the position isn’t
necessarily a one-way ticket to your aspirations? It’s OK to say that you’re not quite sure what
 Tell me about a challenge or conflict you've will happen if you’re hired and Gladys in Compliance starts getting in your face?” says
9
faced at work, and how you dealt with it. Skillings. Again, you'll want to use the S-T-A-R method, being sure to focus on how you
handled the situation professionally and productively, and ideally closing with a happy
ending, like how you came to a resolution or compromise.

If asked this question, be honest and specific about your future goals, but consider this: A
hiring manager wants to know a) if you've set realistic expectations for your career, b) if you
have ambition (a.k.a., this interview isn't the first time you're considering the question), and
c) if the position aligns with your goals and growth. Your best bet is to think realistically about
10 Where do you see yourself in five years?
where this position could take you and answer along those lines. And if the position isn’t
necessarily a one-way ticket to your aspirations? It’s OK to say that you’re not quite sure what
the future holds, but that you see this experience playing an important role in helping you
make that decision.

Along similar lines, the interviewer wants to uncover whether this position is really in line
11 What's your dream job? with your ultimate career goals. While “an NBA star” might get you a few laughs, a better bet
is to talk about your goals and ambitions—and why this job will get you closer to them.

Companies ask this for a number of reasons, from wanting to see what the competition is for
you to sniffing out whether you're serious about the industry. “Often the best approach is to
mention that you are exploring a number of other similar options in the company's industry,”
What other companies are you interviewing says job search expert Alison Doyle. “It can be helpful to mention that a common
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with? characteristic of all the jobs you are applying to is the opportunity to apply some critical
abilities and skills that you possess. For example, you might say 'I am applying for several
positions with IT consulting firms where I can analyze client needs and translate them to
development teams in order to find solutions to technology problems.'”

This is a toughie, but one you can be sure you'll be asked. Definitely keep things
positive—you have nothing to gain by being negative about your past employers. Instead,
frame things in a way that shows that you're eager to take on new opportunities and that the
13 Why are you leaving your current job? role you’re interviewing for is a better fit for you than your current or last position. For
example, “I’d really love to be part of product development from beginning to end, and I
know I’d have that opportunity here.” And if you were let go? Keep it simple: “Unfortunately,
I was let go,” is a totally OK answer.

OK, if you get the admittedly much tougher follow-up question as to why you were let go
(and the truth isn't exactly pretty), your best bet is to be honest (the job-seeking world is
14 Why were you fired? small, after all). But it doesn't have to be a deal-breaker. Share how you’ve grown and how
you approach your job and life now as a result. If you can position the learning experience as
an advantage for this next job, even better.

15 What are you looking for in a new position? Hint: Ideally the same things that this position has to offer. Be specific.

What type of work environment do you Hint: Ideally one that's similar to the environment of the company you're applying to. Be
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prefer? specific.

The best managers are strong but flexible, and that's exactly what you want to show off in
your answer. (Think something like, “While every situation and every team member requires
a bit of a different strategy, I tend to approach my employee relationships as a coach...”)
17 What's your management style?
Then, share a couple of your best managerial moments, like when you grew your team from
five to 15 or coached an underperforming employee to become the company's top
salesperson.

Depending on what's more important for the the role, you'll want to choose an example that
showcases your project management skills (spearheading a project from end to end, juggling
multiple moving parts) or one that shows your ability to confidently and effectively rally a
18 What's a time you exercised leadership?
team. And remember: “The best stories include enough detail to be believable and
memorable,” says Skillings. “Show how you were a leader in this situation and how it
represents your overall leadership experience and potential.”

Everyone disagrees with the boss from time to time, but in asking this interview question,
hiring managers want to know that you can do so in a productive, professional way. “You
don’t want to tell the story about the time when you disagreed but your boss was being a jerk
What's a time you disagreed with a decision
19 and you just gave in to keep the peace. And you don’t want to tell the one where you realized
that was made at work?
you were wrong,” says Peggy McKee of Career Confidential. “Tell the one where your actions
made a positive difference on the outcome of the situation, whether it was a work-related
outcome or a more effective and productive working relationship.”

First of all, be honest (remember, if you get this job, the hiring manager will be calling your
How would your boss and co-workers former bosses and co-workers!). Then, try to pull out strengths and traits you haven't
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describe you? discussed in other aspects of the interview, such as your strong work ethic or your willingness
to pitch in on other projects when needed.

If you were unemployed for a period of time, be direct and to the point about what you’ve
 to pitch in on other projects when needed.

If you were unemployed for a period of time, be direct and to the point about what you’ve
been up to (and hopefully, that’s a litany of impressive volunteer and other mind-enriching
21 Why was there a gap in your employment? activities, like blogging or taking classes). Then, steer the conversation toward how you will
do the job and contribute to the organization: “I decided to take a break at the time, but today
I’m ready to contribute to this organization in the following ways.”

Don't be thrown off by this question—just take a deep breath and explain to the hiring
manager why you've made the career decisions you have. More importantly, give a few
Can you explain why you changed career
22 examples of how your past experience is transferrable to the new role. This doesn't have to
paths?
be a direct connection; in fact, it's often more impressive when a candidate can make
seemingly irrelevant experience seem very relevant to the role.

"Choose an answer that shows that you can meet a stressful situation head-on in a
productive, positive manner and let nothing stop you from accomplishing your goals," says
How do you deal with pressure or stressful
23 McKee. A great approach is to talk through your go-to stress-reduction tactics (making the
situations?
world's greatest to-do list, stopping to take 10 deep breaths), and then share an example of a
stressful situation you navigated with ease.

Start by explaining what you'd need to do to get ramped up. What information would you
need? What parts of the company would you need to familiarize yourself with? What other
employees would you want to sit down with? Next, choose a couple of areas where you think
What would your first 30, 60, or 90 days look you can make meaningful contributions right away. (e.g., “I think a great starter project would
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like in this role? be diving into your email marketing campaigns and setting up a tracking system for them.”)
Sure, if you get the job, you (or your new employer) might decide there’s a better starting
place, but having an answer prepared will show the interviewer where you can add
immediate impact—and that you’re excited to get started.

The #1 rule of answering this question is doing your research on what you should be paid by
using sites like Payscale and Glassdoor. You’ll likely come up with a range, and we
recommend stating the highest number in that range that applies, based on your experience,
25 What are your salary requirements?
education, and skills. Then, make sure the hiring manager knows that you're flexible. You're
communicating that you know your skills are valuable, but that you want the job and are
willing to negotiate.

Interviewers ask personal questions in an interview to “see if candidates will fit in with the
culture [and] give them the opportunity to open up and display their personality, too,” says
longtime hiring manager Mitch Fortner. “In other words, if someone asks about your hobbies
26 What do you like to do outside of work? outside of work, it’s totally OK to open up and share what really makes you tick. (Do keep it
semi-professional, though: Saying you like to have a few beers at the local hot spot on
Saturday night is fine. Telling them that Monday is usually a rough day for you because you’re
always hungover is not.)”

Seemingly random personality-test type questions like these come up in interviews generally
because hiring managers want to see how you can think on your feet. There's no wrong
If you were an animal, which one would you answer here, but you'll immediately gain bonus points if your answer helps you share your
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want to be? strengths or personality or connect with the hiring manager. Pro tip: Come up with a stalling
tactic to buy yourself some thinking time, such as saying, “Now, that is a great question. I
think I would have to say… ”

1,000? 10,000? 100,000? Seriously?

Well, seriously, you might get asked brainteaser questions like these, especially in
How many tennis balls can you fit into a
28 quantitative jobs. But remember that the interviewer doesn’t necessarily want an exact
limousine?
number—he wants to make sure that you understand what’s being asked of you, and that you
can set into motion a systematic and logical way to respond. So, just take a deep breath, and
start thinking through the math. (Yes, it’s OK to ask for a pen and paper!)

Questions about your family status, gender (“How would you handle managing a team of all
men?”), nationality (“Where were you born?”), religion, or age, are illegal—but they still get
asked (and frequently). Of course, not always with ill intent—the interviewer might just be
29 Are you planning on having children? trying to make conversation—but you should definitely tie any questions about your personal
life (or anything else you think might be inappropriate) back to the job at hand. For this
question, think: “You know, I’m not quite there yet. But I am very interested in the career
paths at your company. Can you tell me more about that?”

This is a common one at startups (and one of our personal favorites here at The Muse). Hiring
managers want to know that you not only have some background on the company, but that
you're able to think critically about it and come to the table with new ideas. So, come with
What do you think we could do better or
30 new ideas! What new features would you love to see? How could the company increase
differently?
conversions? How could customer service be improved? You don’t need to have the
company’s four-year strategy figured out, but do share your thoughts, and more importantly,
show how your interests and expertise would lend themselves to the job.

You probably already know that an interview isn't just a chance for a hiring manager to grill
you—it's your opportunity to sniff out whether a job is the right fit for you. What do you want
to know about the position? The company? The department? The team?

31 Do you have any questions for us?

You'll cover a lot of this in the actual interview, so have a few less-common questions ready
to go. We especially like questions targeted to the interviewer (“What's your favorite part
about working here?") or the company's growth (“What can you tell me about your new
products or plans for growth?")