BY ALISON DOYLE

Updated March 15, 2019

Are you ready to ace your upcoming job interview? It's important to be prepared to
respond effectively to the questions that employers typically ask in an interview.
Since these job 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 all of your answers, but do think about what
you're going to say so you're not put on the spot during the job interview. Your
responses will be stronger if you prepare in advance, know what to expect during the
interview, and have a sense of what you want to focus on during your interview.
Even if you aren’t able to recall the specifics of the answers you planned, simply
knowing that you prepared will boost your confidence during the interview, help you
minimize interview stress, and help you feel more at ease.

Top Ten Interview Questions and Best Answers

Review the top ten questions you'll most likely be asked at a job interview, plus
examples of the best answers. Also, be sure to review the bonus questions at the
end of the article, so you’re prepared for some of the more challenging questions
that may come up during the interview.

1. Tell me about yourself.

This is one of the first questions you are likely to be asked. Be prepared to talk about
yourself, and why you're an excellent fit for the job. Try to answer questions about
yourself without giving out 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.

If it feels daunting to generate this information from scratch, you can rely on a simple
formula to construct your answer. The ‘present-past-future’ formula is a way to share
key background points while ending on a high note. Begin with a brief overview of
where you are now (which could include your current job along with a reference to a
personal hobby or passion), reference how you got to where you are (here you could
mention education, or an important experience such as a past job, internship or
volunteer experience) and then finish by touching on a goal for the future.
Bonus points if you’re able to identify how the position you’re applying for aligns with
how you envision your future.

No matter how you choose to respond, write out your answer in advance and then
read it aloud to ensure it sounds natural. Try to keep it short and sweet, as you don’t
want to come across as the type of person who endlessly drones on about
themselves.

Read More: Examples of the best answers

with an open-ended question like, "Tell me about yourself." The question is a

way to break the ice and make you feel more comfortable during the interview
process. It's also a way for the hiring manager to get insight into your
personality to help determine if you're a good fit for the job. This is one of
several interview questions about you that you might hear during your
interview.

Don't Share Too Much - or Too Little - Information

Sharing too much or too little information isn't a good idea. The interviewer
doesn't want to know everything about you, but disclosing too little can make
him or her wonder why you aren't more open.

Also, remember to be careful about what you include in your answer – avoid
potentially contentious subjects such as political or religious leanings, unless
you are absolutely positive that your opinions would be well-received by your
interviewer.

You should also avoid talking too much about family responsibilities or
hobbies that might make your interviewer wonder whether you could commit
yourself 100% to the job.

Read on for advice on how to respond to this question — and, perhaps more
importantly, what not to say in your answer.

How to Answer the “Tell Me About Yourself” Interview Question

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Although it might be tempting to share a list of your most compelling

qualifications for the job at hand, a more low-key approach will probably help
you to develop a personal rapport with your interviewer.
One option for your response is to share some of your personal interests
which don't relate directly to your career. Examples might include a hobby
which you are passionate about like quilting, astronomy, chess, choral singing,
golf, skiing, tennis, or antiquing.

Interests like long-distance running or yoga which help to represent your

healthy, energetic side are worth mentioning.

Pursuits, like being an avid reader or solving crossword puzzles or brain

teasers, will help to showcase your intellectual leaning. Interests like golf,
tennis, and gourmet food might have some value if you would be entertaining
clients in your new job.

Volunteer work will demonstrate the seriousness of your character and

commitment to the welfare of your community. Interactive roles like PTA
volunteer, museum tour guide, fundraiser, or chair of a social club will help
show your comfort with engaging others.

Remember, as with "tell me something about yourself that's not on your

resume," one of the goals of this question is to get to know you a little bit
beyond your career and on-the-job attitude and experience.

One note of caution, however – while you should regard this question as an
opportunity to build rapport with your interviewer and demonstrate that you are
well-rounded, be careful not to be so enthusiastic about a hobby that it raises
a red flag that it is more important to you than your career. No employer wants
to take a chance on hiring someone who will miss a lot of work or ask for
extensive vacation time to pursue a favorite hobby.

Transition to Professional From Personal

After sharing a few interesting personal aspects of your background, you can
pivot to mentioning some key professional skills that would help you to add
value if you were hired for your target job.

Consider using phrases like "In addition to those interests and passions, my
professional life is a huge part of who I am, so I'd like to talk a bit about some
of the strengths which I would bring to this job."

Share Your Expertise

Be ready to share three or four of the personal qualities, skills, and/or areas of
expertise which would help you to excel in the job for which you are
interviewing. Ultimately, you will want to mention several other strengths
before the interview is over.
Make a list of your strengths before you go into the interview, so you know
what you will share.

Look at the job description and match it with your skills. Then make sure you
talk about the top few skills which make you an ideal candidate for the job.

However, be careful not to overwhelm the interviewer with too much

information. After mentioning three or four strengths, you might mention that
you have several other assets that you would like to discuss as the interview
unfolds.

At first, you should only mention the asset and allude only briefly to some
proof of how you have tapped it to your advantage. For example, you might
say that you love to give presentations and that this has helped you to
generate lots of leads at sales dinners for prospective clients. Later in the
interview, you will want to be more specific and detailed in discussing
situations, interventions, or results flowing from your strengths.

Sample Answer

Here's an example of an effective answer that transitions from talking about

your personal interests to your professional expertise.

 When I’m not working, I like to spend time exploring with my dogs. I
take them hiking, visiting historical sites, or even just walking around
town. A surprising number of people are drawn to dogs, and I always
enjoy talking with who I meet. I feel that communication is one of the
most important aspects of my professional life as well. When talking
with people, being able to guide the conversation in a particular
direction is one of the ways I’ve been successful in different situations at
the office.

Avoid Politics and Controversy

Typically, you would steer clear of controversial topics like politics or religion.
It's important to avoid any references to topics that would cause concern
about your ethics, character, productivity, or work ethic.

Answers to Avoid

It's best not to mention your involvement in politics unless you are interviewing
for a political job where you know your views would be welcomed.

 Don't say this: When I’m not working, one of the things I spend time on
is voter registration and canvassing for the Democratic party. I belong to
a group that goes into schools and low-income communities to explain
the importance of voting and the process of registration.
A Better Option for Responding

Here's a way to mention your community involvement without getting into a

potentially controversial discussion.

 When I’m not working, I volunteer at the community center. We offer a

variety of civic and sports programs, and I really enjoy working with
teenagers.

What Not to Say When You Respond

You also don't need to share personal information about your family. There is
no need to discuss spouses, partners, children, or any other strictly personal
information

2. Why should we hire you?

Are you the best candidate for the job? Be prepared to say why you're the applicant
who should be hired. This is not the time to be modest (although neither should you
be conceited). Make your response a confident, concise, focused sales pitch that
explains what you have to offer the employer, and why you should get the job. This
is another 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.

Read More: Examples of the best answers

3. What is your greatest strength?

This is one of the questions that employers almost always ask. When you are asked
about your greatest strengths, it's important to discuss the attributes that will qualify
you for the specific job and set you apart from the other candidates. Take the time
before the job interview to make matches between your qualifications and the
requirements as stated in the job announcement. This way, you will have examples
ready at hand to demonstrate your suitability for the job.

It can be helpful to remember the tip “show, don't 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.
Read More: Examples of the best answers

4. What is your greatest weakness?

Another typical question 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. For example, you might say
something like, “I’ve always struggled with perfectionism – I truly want to do the job
correctly the first time, but this sometimes means that I devote more time to a project
than is necessary. I’ve learned to balance this drive with the equally important
responsibility of meeting deadlines.”

You can also share examples of skills you have improved, providing specific
instances of how you have recognized a weakness and taken steps to improve
yourself.

 Examples of the best answers

5. Why are you leaving or why have you left your job?

When asked about why you are moving on from your current position, stick with the
facts, be direct, and focus your interview answer on the future, especially if your
leaving wasn't under the best of circumstances. Always try to put a positive slant on
your response; it’s better to give the impression that you’re more motivated by the
possibility of new opportunities than by trying to escape a bad situation. In addition,
it’s important to avoid bashing your current organization, colleagues or supervisor.

An employer is not likely to want to bring on someone who talks negatively about a
company.

Read More: Examples of the best answers

6. What are your salary expectations?

What are you looking for in terms of salary? It seems like a simple question, but your
answer can knock you out of the contest for the job if you overprice yourself. If you
underprice yourself, you may get shortchanged with a lower offer. Review the best
way to answer questions about salary so you get the fair pay that you deserve.

Read More: Examples of the best answers

7. Why do you want this job?

This question gives you an opportunity to show the interviewer what you know about
the job and the company, so take the time before the interview to
thoroughly research the company and its products or services, company 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 the most.

Read More: Examples of the best answers

8. How do you handle stress and pressure?

What do you do when things don’t go smoothly at work? How do you deal with
difficult situations? What do you do when something goes wrong? The best way to
respond to this question is to give an example of how you have successfully handled
stress in a previous job.

Avoid claiming that you never, or rarely, experience stress. Not only is this difficult to
believe, but it could also lead the interviewer to conclude that you’ve only worked in
low-pressure environments and therefore aren’t equipped to handle a difficult
situation. 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.

Read More: Examples of the best answers

9. Describe a difficult work situation or project and how

you overcame it.

The interviewer wants to know what you do when you face a difficult decision. As
with the question about stress, be prepared to share an example of what you did in a
tough situation. It’s important to share details around this example in order to make
the story believable and engaging. That being said, avoid talking negatively, or
extensively, about other people. This can detract from what the interviewer really
wants to know about, which is how you can successfully perform in a challenging
situation.

Read More: Examples of the best answers

10. What are your goals for the future?

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 you’re interviewing with, and reiterate to the interviewer that the position
aligns with your long-term goals.
Read More: Examples of the best answers

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

At the close of the interview, most interviewers ask whether you have any
questionsabout the job or company. If you don’t have any questions, this can make it
seem like you are apathetic about the opportunity. So, it's always a good idea to
have a list of questions ready to ask and to be prepared to discuss them.

Bonus Questions

Here are some related questions you may be asked during a job interview that will
require some thought to answer. Consider how you'd respond, so you're as prepared
as possible to answer the hiring manager's questions.

 How do you handle success?

 How do you handle failure?
 Do you work well with other people?
 What can you do better for us than the other applicants?

What else will the hiring manager ask? Review more common job interview
questions, plus see sample answers you can use to practice for a job interview. You
can also expect to be asked about how you would respond to a specific work-related
situation. Here's a list of examples of these behavioral interview questions you may
be asked.

What shouldn't the interviewer ask? There are some interview questions that hiring
managers should not ask during a job interview for legal reasons. Here are questions
that shouldn't be asked, with advice on how to diplomatically respond.

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