St.

Dominic College of Asia

Language Studies Center

Basic Interview Questions and

Answers
 Basic Interview Questions and Answers

1. Could you tell me about yourself and describe your background in

brief?
• Interviewers like to hear stories about candidates.

• Make sure your story has a great beginning, a riveting middle, and an end
that makes the interviewer root for you to win the job.

Example: “I come from a small town, where opportunities were limited. Since
good schools were a rarity, I started using online learning to stay up to date
with the best. That’s where I learned to code and then I went on to get my
certification as a computer programmer. After I got my first job as a front-end
coder, I continued to invest time in mastering both front- and back-end
languages, tools, and frameworks.”
 How to write a cover letter?

2. How did you hear about this position?

• Employers want to know whether you are actively seeking out their
company, heard of the role from a recruiter, or were recommended to
the position by a current employee.

Example: “I learned about the position through LinkedIn as I’ve been

following your company’s page for a while now. I’m really passionate about
the work you’re doing in X, Y, and Z areas, so I was excited to apply. The
required skills match well with the skills I have, and it seems like a great
opportunity for me to contribute to your mission, as well as a great next
move for my career.”
 How to write a cover letter?

3. What type of work environment do you prefer?

• Be sure to do your homework on the organization and its culture

before the interview.

Example: “That sounds great to me. I like fast-paced work environments

because they make me feel like I’m always learning and growing, but I
really thrive when I’m collaborating with team members and helping
people reach a collective goal as opposed to competing. My last
internship was at an organization with a similar culture, and I really
enjoyed that balance.”
 How to write a cover letter?

4. How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?

• They want to make sure that you won’t have a meltdown when the pressure
becomes intense and deadlines are looming.
• You could indicate that you’ve started a mindfulness practice to help you
better deal with stress.

Example: “I realize stressful situation are always going to come up, and I definitely have had to
learn how to navigate them throughout my career. I think I get better at it with every new
experience. While working on a new product launch at my last company, for example, things
were not going according to plan with my team. Instead of pointing fingers, my first reaction
was to take a step back and figure out some strategies around how we could we solve the
problem at hand. Previously, I may have defaulted to panicking in that situation, so being calm
and collected was definitely a step forward and helped me approach the situation with more
clarity.”
 Basic Interview Questions and Answers

5. Do you prefer working independently or on a team?

• When you answer this question, highlight the best traits of your personality
and how they fit the job requirements.
• It could also be in your interest to answer this question by highlighting the
advantages and disadvantages of both situations.

Example: “I enjoy a blend of the two. I like having a team to strategize with,
get diverse opinions from, and reach out to for feedback. But I am also
comfortable taking on assignments that require me to work independently. I
find I do some of my best work when I can focus alone in a quiet space, but I
really value collaborating with my teammates to come up with the best ideas.”
 Basic Interview Questions and Answers

6. When you’re balancing multiple projects, how do you keep

yourself organized?
• Employers want to understand how you use your time and energy to stay
productive and efficient.
• Be sure to emphasize that you adhere to deadlines and take them
seriously.
Example: “I’m used to juggling projects at my current job where I’m often
moving between coding one software program to another. I use the time
boxing technique to make sure they’re all on track, allocating time on my
calendar for certain tasks. I’ve found it really helps me prioritize what needs to
get done first, and it holds me accountable for the more repetitive day-to-day
tasks I’m responsible for.”
 Basic Interview Questions and Answers

7. What did you do in the last year to improve your knowledge?

• This question may come up as a result of the pandemic.

• Employers want to know how people used their time differently.

Example: “The extra time on my plate really allowed me to get introspective

around where I want to take my career. I read a lot of journals to keep abreast
of the latest ideas in my field, and sharpened my skills by taking some online
courses, such as…” (and then be specific).
 Basic Interview Questions and Answers

8. What are your salary expectations?

• Before you walk in for your first interview, you should already know what
the salary is for the position you’re applying to.
• Remember that it’s often better to discuss a salary range rather than a
specific number during the interview and leaving room for negotiation.

Example: “Based on my skills and experience and on the current industry

rates, I’m looking at a salary around Php ____” (then fill in with your desired
salary range and rationale).
 Basic Interview Questions and Answers

9. Are you applying for other jobs?

• Interviewers want to know if you’re genuinely interested in this position or
if it’s just one of your many options.
• Honesty is the best policy. If you’re applying for other jobs, say so.
• You can also mention that you’re actively looking for offers if your
interviewer asks.

Example: “I’ve applied to a couple of other firms, but this role is really the one
I’m most excited about right now because…”
 Basic Interview Questions and Answers

10. From your resume it seems you took a gap year. Would you like
to tell us why that was?
• In some professions, gap years may have a negative connotation (the
industry moves too fast and you’re not up to date).
• Let your interviewer know that your gap year wasn’t about procrastinating
over your transition from childhood to adulthood, but that it added value
to the confident professional you have become.
Example: “During my last year of high school, I didn’t feel ready to choose my
educational path, so I took a wilderness course for a few months to sort out my life
goals. It may seem a little random, but the time I spent actually helped my develop so
many new skills — in the areas of leadership, communication, (etc…). During that
time, I realized that I wanted to earn a degree in (state your degree) to align with my
passion (say what that is).”