Congratulation, you have been called for an interview… Now, are you nervous to face interview? Don’t worry, allow yourself to feel nervous, because you will prepare and perform better. In general, be positive and never be negative. Think that you have more knowledge then interviewer that would boost your confidence.

Never memorize answers word for word. Use the answers shown here as a guide only, and include your own thoughts and views also in an interview. Rehearse your answers, and they will come naturally in interviews.

The Company representative would ask you several questions to understand if you are the best fit. Also, you have to gauge if the job is for you. We recommend you to prepare well.  

Here are 31 common interview questions answered for you:

1. Can you briefly tell me about yourself?

Do not mention your career or life history because interviewer has no time. Briefly means only highlight your career accomplishments. State how each one of them would contribute in your new position.

2. How did you know about the position?

Interviewer wants to know the details of source(s). If your friend informed you about the new position, mention his/her name. The interviewer may know your friend too and request a reference for you. If you discovered an advertisement of the position mention the name of newspaper with date, name of the journal and date or the Company Website.

3. What do you know about this Company?

Study the Company’s details such as Mission, Goal, Interest and others from the website. When you answer this question, say and quote what you actually believe in. Say, the Mission impresses you. Then give reasons why. You can also add the line it is because of the mission I strongly feel I am part of this Company.

4. Why do you want this job?

Mention you have acquired several skills and worked in various roles during your career life. You are presently working for the Company where you enjoy working. Yet, you wish to join the new position. Mention you would like to gain more experience and skills.

5. Why should we hire you?

This is a very common question and every employer asks this question in an interview. Mention only technical skills which you are good in. Never try to impress the interviewer by saying you do not know-how. (You may have to take a technical test.). Mention your working style. You work independently and get correct results. Also, you are an excellent team player. Tell about your positive qualities and how you can help in the growth of the company.

6. What are your greatest professional strengths?

Mention your technical skills and years of experience in each one of them. Thereafter, mention how each skill was used in real life. End up saying how each skill is applicable to the new position.

7. What do you consider to be your weaknesses?

This question is for seeing your honesty and sincerity. Do not be too honest and say you cannot meet deadlines – this goes against you. Do not say that you have no weakness because you are overconfident – trait is not desirable. For example: – Say, you are learning PowerPoint. Mention since you are not an expert and learning, that is your weakness.

8. What is your greatest professional achievement?

Give an example to support how in a month’s time, you used better strategies. This could be in management, sales, production anything related to your new position.

9. Tell me about a challenge or conflict you’ve faced at work and how you dealt with it?

Since challenges/conflicts are common in the workplace, an interviewer is interested how you dealt with the situation. Mention how positively and productively you resolved the issue by making suggestions to the manager. However, if there was a compromise mention what it is was.

10. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Mention your career goal. Discuss how you wish to achieve the same.

Keep in mind, while you answer this question, the interviewer measures several aspects. Do you have an ambition? Have you set enough time for achieving your goal? Are you the best fit? Tell a realistic goal of your life.

11. What’s your dream job?

Describe the position you are applying for as your dream job. Mention all the relevant skills you have already accomplished in your career. Relate them to the new position.

12. What other companies are you interviewing with?

You may be looking for the best position paying the highest. However, do not disclose anything; not even the names. Your interviewer need not know if you applied to the competitor. Mention you have applied to several similar positions.

13. Why are you leaving your current job?

Be absolutely honest while answering this question. Speak positively of the current/previous Company. If you had to leave or asked to leave, then mention it.  Add that you enjoyed working from very first day. Mention only positive things about your previous company and you are leaving for your career growth and learning.

14. Why were you fired?

When you mention you were asked to leave, you might be asked this question. Mention exactly what had happened and how that impacted your career. Your interviewer might call to verify from your current/previous Company.

15. What are you looking for in a new position?

Before the interview, know what is expected from you in the new position. Make a mental list of all technical skills and work experience. Mention all the required skills and experience. Give your interviewer the impression that you are looking only for this position. You are the best fit and qualified for the position.

16. What type of work environment do you prefer?

Before the interview, study the work culture and off-work culture of the Company. You will find enough information on the Company website. Your friend would inform you also. Mention you like the well balanced work-play environment of the Company. Describe the Company’s work environment.

17. What’s your management style?

Mention you have observed that good managers are powerful and flexible. They use several strategies to train team members to get best results. Mention your experience how you extended your team from a handful to more. You can mention how you trained your colleague to excel. Mention you have handle challenge position with pleasure.

18. When did you exercise leadership?

There are several examples which you can provide from your career. Mention you led a team, compiled the work before a deadline. You worked on projects from start to finish.

19. When did you disagree with a decision made at work place?

Mention you had a disagreement with the manager who assigned you the work. Here your interviewer wants to know how you resolved the disagreement. Mention how you suggested to your manager and explained what steps to take for improving production.

20. How would your boss and co-workers describe you?

Be careful and honest while answering this question. These days it is very easy because the World of Business is very small. Your interviewer might call your colleagues and managers to cross check what you say. Best answer for this question is that you mention your work ethics. If you work for other teams in addition to your own you can add that too.

21. Why was there a gap in your employment?

There was a gap in employment because you were busy utilizing the time in a positive way. Mention you upgraded your technical skills. You have been trying and using new skills like writing. You even spent time teaching as a volunteer. These new skills are relevant to the new position you are applying. For example, writing skills would help in correspondence and documentation. Upgraded skills are excellent if applying for a position in IT development using modern technologies. Even volunteer teaching help in training a colleague or public speaking in office environment

22. Can you explain why you changed career paths?

In today’s constantly changing world, changing career paths is nothing out of the ordinary. During gaps, you utilize the time to acquire latest technical skills and other soft skills. Hence you apply to a different Company where you work and excel. You give your 100% everywhere you go. You work for different Companies having a different environment. As a result, you adjust well in every flexible place.

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

Your interviewer is curious to learn how you work under pressure or stressful situations. Hence, you share with the interviewer your stress-free-strategies. Explain what you do in order to manage and get a beneficial outcome.

24. What would your first 30, 60, or 90 days look like in this role?

Your first three months are known as your probation period. These days are crucial as to how you spend your time in the Company. This is your chance to mention all that you need. Explain that you have to understand production, manufacturing, and Company details. How the Company functions those are strictly confidential and not present in the website. Highlight how you can contribute to the Company right away.

25. What is your salary expectation?

Interestingly, while answering if you quote a small figure you are stuck with it. However, if you say a high figure you may not get a chance to work. Hence, go through the internet and study Pay scale and Glassdoor sites. These websites help you with what should be your pay range based on education, skills, and experience. Always quote your worth and be realistic.

If you wish you may give your interviewer the impression that you wish to negotiate.

26. What do you like to do outside of work?

This question is asked to find out if you would actually fit in the culture of the Company. Hence, it is important that you are aware of all the games, team builder’s use. Also, extracurricular activities the colleagues engage in. Answer the question based on your specific interests in outdoor activities.

27. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?

Select an animal and discuss in detail how the skills would help in a new position. For example, if you select an elephant mention how the elephant has an excellent memory. Your memory would help during public speaking or salesperson work.

28. How many tennis balls can you fit into a limousine?

Usually, this is asked when you have applied for a quantitative position. There is no right or wrong answer. Hence, the interviewer would see your logical and analytical skills.

29. Are you planning on having children?

Understand it is not legal to ask personal questions. However, very cleverly mention you are not thinking about it for the moment. You mention that you are very much interested in working for the Company. Hence, which part of the Company the interviewer likes best.

30. What do you think we could do better or differently?

Study the Company website in details. Go through the Annual Report of the previous year. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Company. Begin your answer by praising the Company for its strengths. Then mention only those weaknesses you would be able to change and how.

31. Do you have any questions for us?

This question is for you to understand if you want to work in this new position. Ask questions on how the Company is planning to expand and where. What are the job prospects? What is the expected growth of Company products?

We have tried our best to cover all common interview questions and answers. If you have any feedback then kindly comment so that we can add on our blog. Our main motive is to provide informative content to the future interviewee. Kindly share so that everyone get benefit. 

                                                      Good Luck & Good Job Hunting