Top 10 Job Interview Questions and Best
Answers
Basic interview questions:
Tell me about yourself.
What are your strengths?: Completion, Developer, Ideation, Input and Positivity
What are your weaknesses?
Why do you want this job?
Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?
What's your ideal company?
What attracted you to this company?
Why should we hire you?
How to Answer the Most Common Interview Questions
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Table of Contents
Top 10 Interview Questions and Best Answers
Employer Follow-Up Questions
100+ More Interview Questions and Answers
Questions to Ask the Interviewer
What the Interviewer Shouldn't Ask
How to Prepare for a Job Interview
How to Make the Best Impression
BY
ALISON DOYLE
Updated on August 05, 2021
Are you ready to ace your upcoming job interview? One of the most important parts of
interview preparation is being ready to respond effectively to the questions that
employers typically ask.
Since these interview questions are so common, hiring managers will expect you to be
able to answer them smoothly and without hesitation.
You don't need to memorize your answers, but you should think about what you're
going to say so you're not put on the spot.
Your responses will be stronger if you know what to expect during the interview and
have a sense of what you want to focus on. Knowing that you are prepared will boost
your confidence and help you minimize interview stress and feel more at ease.
Here are the top 10 interview questions employers are likely to ask, plus 100+ more
common job interview questions, example responses, tips for giving the best answer,
and advice on how to ace the interview.
Top 10 Interview Questions and Best Answers
Review these most frequently asked interview questions and sample answers, and then
prepare your responses based on your experience, skills, and interests. Remember that
it’s less about providing the “right” answers and more about demonstrating that you’re
the best candidate for the job.
1. Tell Me About Yourself - Best Answers
This is one of the first questions you are likely to be asked. Be prepared to talk about
yourself, and why you're an ideal candidate for the position. The interviewer wants to
know why you're an excellent fit for the job.
Try to answer questions about yourself without giving too much, or too little, personal
information. You can start by sharing some of your personal interests and experiences
that don't relate directly to work, such as a favorite hobby or a brief account of where
you grew up, your education, and what motivates you.
You can even share some fun facts and showcase your personality to make the
interview a little more interesting.
2. Why Are You the Best Person for the Job? - Best Answers
Are you the best candidate for the job? The hiring manager wants to know whether you
have all the required qualifications. Be prepared to explain why you're the applicant who
should be hired.
Make your response a confident, concise, focused sales pitch that explains what you
have to offer and why you should get the job. This is a good time to review the
qualifications and the requirements in the job listing, so you can craft a response that
aligns with what the interviewer is looking for.
3. Why Do You Want This Job? - Best Answers
Why are you a good fit for the position? What would you accomplish if you were hired?
This interview question gives you an opportunity to show the interviewer what you know
about the job and the company, so take time beforehand to thoroughly research the
company, its products, services, culture, and mission.
Be specific about what makes you a good fit for this role, and mention aspects of the
company and position that appeal to you most.
4. How Has Your Experience Prepared You for This Role? - Best Answers
Hiring managers use this question to learn how your previous work experience and
educational background fit the job. To prepare to respond, make a list of the most
relevant qualifications you have and match them to the requirements listed in the job
description.
It's important to explain how your experience will help the employer if you were to be
hired. You can use the STAR interview method to prepare examples to share with the
interviewer. You don't need to memorize your answers, but do be ready to share what
you've accomplished in your previous roles.
5. Why Are You Leaving (or Have Left) Your Job? - Best Answers
Be prepared with a response to this question. You'll need to give an answer that’s
honest and reflects your specific circumstances but keeps it positive. Even if you quit
under challenging circumstances, now isn't the best time to share what could be
construed as too much information with the interviewer.
The interviewer wants to know why you left your job and why you want to work for their
company. When asked about why you are moving on from your current position, stick
with the facts, be direct, and focus your answer on the future, especially if your
departure wasn't under the best circumstances.
6. What Is Your Greatest Strength? - Best Answers
This is one of the questions that employers almost always ask to determine how well
you are qualified for the position. When you are asked about your greatest strengths, it's
important to discuss the attributes that qualify you for that specific job, and that will set
you apart from other candidates.
When you're answering this question, remember to “show” rather than “tell.” For
example, rather than stating that you are an excellent problem solver, instead tell a
story that demonstrates this, ideally drawing on an anecdote from your professional
experience.
7. What Is Your Greatest Weakness? - Best Answers
Another typical question that interviewers will ask is about your weaknesses. Do your
best to frame your answers around positive aspects of your skills and abilities as an
employee, turning seeming “weaknesses” into strengths.
This question is an opportunity to show the hiring manager that you're well qualified for
the job. In addition to learning whether you've got the right credentials, the hiring
manager wants to know whether you can take on challenges and learn new tasks.
You can share examples of skills you have improved, providing specific instances of
how you have recognized a weakness and taken steps to correct it.
8. How Do You Handle Stress and Pressure? - Best Answers
What do you do when things don’t go smoothly at work? How do you deal with difficult
situations? The employer wants to know how you handle workplace stress.
Do you work well in high-stress situations? Do you thrive on pressure, or would you
prefer a more low-key job? What do you do when something goes wrong?
The best way to respond to this question is to share an example of how you have
successfully handled stress in a previous position.
Avoid claiming that you never, or rarely, experience stress. Rather, formulate your
answer in a way that acknowledges workplace stress and explains how you’ve
overcome it, or even used it to your advantage.
9. What Are Your Salary Expectations? - Best Answers
What are you looking for in terms of salary? Questions about money are always tricky to
answer. You don't want to sell yourself short or price yourself out of a job offer. In some
locations, employers are legally prohibited from asking you about salary history—but
they can ask how much you expect to get paid.
Do your research before the meeting so that you’ll be prepared to name a salary
(or salary range) if you’re asked. There are several free online salary calculators that
can provide you with a reasonable range based on your job title, employer, experience,
skills, and location.
10. What Are Your Career Goals? - Best Answers
Are you a job hopper? Or do you plan on staying with the company, at least for a while?
Where do you envision your career going? Do your plans for the future match the career
path for someone typically hired for this position?
This question is designed to find out if you’re going to stick around or move on as soon
as you find a better opportunity. Keep your answer focused on the job and the
company, and reiterate to the interviewer that the position aligns with your long-term
goals.
