Before you get your first paycheck at any job, you have to land an interview - and rock it. Teaming up with a friend or family member to practice interviewing is always a suggested idea. Another great practice is learning as much as you can about the job and company. Here are a list of common interview questions to better prepare yourself.
- Tell me about yourself.
- How did you hear about this job?
- What do you know about our company?
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- Why should you get this job?
- Where do you see yourself in x amount of years?
- Why do you want to work for us?
- What can you expect from you in the first month of working for us? The first three months? The first six?
- Why are you leaving your current position?
- Tell me about a time you were faced with a work conflict. How did you handle it?
- Tell me about the most difficult work decision (or non-work decision) you’ve had in the last six months. How did you handle it?
- Have you ever disagreed with a major company decision in a past role? What did you do?
- Do you prefer to work independently or in a team?
- How do you work with others?
- How do you deal with disagreeable co-workers?
- What is your biggest professional achievement?
- What is your personal dream job?
- What is your ideal work environment?
- How would your past co-workers describe you?
- How would your friends or family describe you?
- What do you do for fun outside of work?
- If applicable, why were you fired?
- Tell me about a time you exercised leadership.
- What is your leadership style?
- What is your preferred management style?
- If applicable, why is there a gap in between jobs on your resume?
- If applicable, why are you applying for a job in a different career field?
- How do you deal with stressful situations?
- Based on your research for on our company, what do you think we could be doing better?
- What was your salary at your last job?
- What are your salary requirements for this job?
- What questions do you have for me?*
*Typically, most interviews end with this question. The best approach is to be ready to ask some questions. Here is a short list of common questions to ask your interviewer.
- What is the current company atmosphere like?
- What is a typical day like in this office?
- What would be the first challenges this role would face?
- How long have you worked here?
- What is your favorite part of working here?
- What is the key to success for this role?
- Where do you see this role going?
- Why is this position open or why was it created?
- How do people grow in this company?
- Can you tell me something about the role that wasn’t included in the description?
While you’ll never know exactly what a hiring manager has in store during an interview, getting ahead by learning the most common interview questions may help you land the job you want.
These free resources should not be taken as tax or legal advice. Content provided is intended as general information. Tax regulations and laws change and the impact of laws can vary. Consult a tax advisor, CPA or lawyer for guidance on your specific situation.