5 Most Common Interview Questions and Best Answers

When you get called to come in for an interview, you may feel a rush of anxiety and intimidation. This is natural since you don’t know what to expect and the results are important to you. Actually, some level of stress or nervousness is good because it motivates you to get ready and perform at your best. You don’t want to be so stressed out, however, that it interferes with your ability in explaining why you are the best candidate for the job.

Preparation is the best way to overcome excess nervousness and channel that healthy stress. Take some time, then, to learn what is most commonly asked in an interview, prepare answers, and practice them. You don’t have to memorize your answers word for word, but it can be helpful to practice them a couple times out loud with a friend, family member, or mentor.

1. What can you tell us about yourself?

One sure thing to have prepared in advance of an interview is a short, punchy statement about who you are, what you do, and why that fits with the company with which you are interviewing. Got that? Who, what, why. Refrain from talking about your personal lifestyle and opinions here. Instead, use this opportunity to give a memorable and easy-to-understand snapshot of why you’re qualified for the job and interested in the position based on your professional background.

2. What are your greatest strengths or achievements?

You need to offer more than a vague list of skills or the name of an award here. Be specific and target your answer to the particular job at hand. Always give a concrete example to illustrate. Before you go to the interview, try to figure out what will matter most to the employer by spending time researching the company, the job position, and the hiring manager. Will it be leadership, sales proficiency, time management, teamwork, product delivery, or motivational drive? Then, match this to a genuine strength you really do have, and give a specific example of a situation in which you were able to use it with great success. Similarly, when talking about an achievement that gives you pride, explain what you had to overcome and accomplish to get it and why it matters in terms of your value as a prospective employee.

3. Tell us about a weakness you have or a time that you made a mistake.

What employers are really looking for when they ask this type of question is for someone who is self-aware and open to growth. Be careful not to choose a weakness or mistake that would cast doubt on your ability to do the job at hand. Also, many hiring managers report that they are sick of hearing the typical and overused “I’m a perfectionist” or “I work too hard.” Try to be more creative and honest. Rather than sharing a character flaw, think about a skill that you’ve wanted to learn more about and explain how you are already on a path to gain proficiency in that area. Everyone makes mistakes; so don’t be afraid to admit you made one as long as it wasn’t catastrophic or uncorrectable. Emphasize what you learned and how you’ve changed moving forward.

4. Why do you want to work here?

You might be surprised at how often this question throws off interviewees. Perhaps jobseekers are so intent on proving themselves that they forget to consider what it is they want. Which is too bad because this is your ultimate chance to say straight out why you’re a good fit for the job. Also, this question is a great example of why it pays to do your research before interviewing. You should know enough about the organization ahead of time to offer three reasons as to why it attracts you. These reasons should match your suitability for the job, and you should say so.

5. What are your future goals, or where do you see yourself in 5 years?

The most important thing to say in answering this question is that you see yourself working at the interviewer’s organization. Whether that’s 100% true or not, you never want to give yourself the impression that you see this job as a stepping stone to something better. Offer some specifics as well. If you’re interviewing with a company that likes to promote from within, then talk about what promotion you might seek a couple years into the job. Alternatively, you might share your goals for proficiency or output, or you might communicate your enthusiasm for the opportunities you will have to collaborate with others or to develop your leadership abilities.

When approaching any and all interview questions, never forget that you are there to sell yourself. Treat every question as an opportunity to show why you are the best candidate for the job. In doing so, remember that the most qualified candidate is not always the one who is hired. More often, it is the candidate that demonstrates their fit with organizational or departmental culture as well as their aptitude to learn and grow in the position being advertised.