9 Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Last Updated on November 14, 2023 by Career Reload Team

In a job interview, you may face some hardball questions. These might be ones that are commonly asked at interviews by employers, but they stump a lot of people. Let’s review some common, but tough job interview questions that might come up during an interview.

1. Tell Me About Yourself

What The Interviewer Wants To Know: The interviewer is looking to figure out why of all the candidates you are the best fit for the job. When you’re answering the “Tell me about yourself” question in an interview, it’s important to find a balance between talking about your job skills and sharing a bit about yourself. The person interviewing you wants to know what makes you different from other people applying for the job and if you’ll fit in with the company.

When you’re thinking about what to say, try to include some stories that show who you are without giving away too much private information. Talking about things you enjoy outside of work, like your favorite hobby, can make you seem more like a real person and not just a list of job qualifications. For example, talking about a hobby can also show that you’re committed, organized, or creative in your personal life.

So, as you answer, think about how to show that you’re a good fit for the job but also a well-rounded person. Sharing a bit about yourself can make you stand out and leave a positive impression on the person interviewing you.

2. Why Should We Hire You?

What The Interviewer Wants To Know: Are you a candidate who qualifies for the position you are interviewing for is what the interviewer is really probing for. If you feel you are the best candidate for the job, your reasons for thinking so should already be in your mind. Knowing what you will say ahead of time will mean that you can answer in a concise, focused, confident way.

You are making a sales pitch of yourself and your goal is to convince the hiring manager that you are the best fit for the job based on your knowledge, work ethic, and experience.

3. What Is Your Greatest Strength?

What The Interviewer Wants To Know: This is almost always asked to determine your level of qualification for the position. It is important to discuss the qualities and attributes that make you the ideal candidate specifically for the job in question.

4. What Is Your Greatest Weakness?

What The Interviewer Wants To Know: This is another very common question brought up in interviews to assess your understanding of your need to improve in certain areas. This might be the toughest question for most candidates to answer because no one wants to volunteer weaknesses when trying to make a good impression. However, recognizing that no one is perfect and everyone has an area they can improve in, shows that you are willing to work hard to grow as a worker and a person.

When answering this question you should frame your ‘weakness’ positively, turning it into more of a strength. You can illustrate it by providing specific examples of how you have been able to recognize a weakness in the past and what you did to overcome it.

5. What Are Your Salary Expectations?

What The Interviewer Wants To Know: The hiring manager is looking to get an idea of what you expect to earn with the company when starting out. It is important to do your research ahead of time and keep your expectations reasonable. If you overprice yourself, you may be out of the running for the job, but if you underprice yourself, you might get a lower offer than what you deserve.

6. Why Do You Want To Leave (Or Have Left) Your Current Job?

What The Interviewer Wants To Know: This question intends to find out your reasons for wanting to work for the company. Some former employment departures do not happen under the best circumstances, so it is important to gear your answers as seeing your old employment as an experience and your current position as a step into your employment future.

7. Why Do You Want This Job?

What The Interviewer Wants To Know: The interviewer wants to gauge what about the company it is that appeals to you and why you feel you would be a good fit. It is important to do some research beforehand on the organization you are interviewing with to learn about the services and products they offer, their mission, and the company culture.

You can then apply those aspects to yourself and explain how you would be a good fit for the role because of your attributes and personality.

8. How Do You Handle Pressure And Stress?

What The Interviewer Wants To Know: The employer wants to make sure that any hires are capable of dealing with the eventual stress and pressure of any job in a healthy, adult manner. So when things don’t go smoothly, how do you respond to stress in the workplace?

Rather than claiming that the stress does not affect you, you should acknowledge that workplace stress is real and how you are prepared to deal with it, overcome it, or even turn it advantageous to yourself.

9. How Have You Overcome Difficult Projects Or Work Situations?

What The Interviewer Wants To Know: The interviewer will want to assess how you would respond to dealing with difficult situations. Much like the question that deals with workplace stress, this is another question where sharing a specific example of how you handled a tough situation would be important. Make sure the example of the story you tell is both engaging and believable.

Have you been asked some tough job interview questions? Share them with us in the comments below.

Career Reload Team

We’re a team of writers dedicated to providing insights and tips for navigating the professional world. With a collective wealth of experience across various industries and roles, our team understands the challenges and opportunities that come with seeking meaningful work and advancing your career. We help job seekers to better their careers by offering career advice & free resources. Download free Word resume templates and resume templates for Google Docs.