A guide to common interview questions

While you can’t possibly think of every question you might be asked, there are lots of common interview questions.

Task: Read this article to find out about 50 questions to help you get ready for your job interview.

Questions about you

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. How would you describe yourself?
3. What achievement are you proudest of?
4. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
5. Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
6. What is important to you in a job?
7. What type of work environment suits you best?
8. Tell me about how you work in a team.
9. How do you like to be managed?
10. What motivates you?
11. How would your teammates and/or previous manager/supervisor describe you?
12. What do you like to do in your spare time/outside work?
13. Why do you have a gap in your employment history?
14. Why did you leave your last job/employer?
15. What did you like the most/least about your last job?
16. How do you manage your time or stay organised?
17. How do you handle change?
18. What are your goals for the next six months?

Questions about the organisation and the role

1. Why should we employ you?
2. What skills and qualities would you bring to this role?
3. Why are you interested in this job?
4. What is your understanding of this job?
5. What do you know about this organisation?
6. What would you like to achieve in this job?
7. Why are you the best person for this job?
8. Your current/previous job and this job are quite different from each other – what skills and experience can you bring to this role?
9. What sort of pay are you looking for?
10. What is a skill you want to learn or develop in this role?
11. What would you do in your first week/month/3 months in this role?

Questions where you are asked to give examples or discuss a scenario

1. Tell me about a time when you worked in a team to complete a project. What was your role in the team?
2. Describe a time you had to work effectively under pressure.
3. Tell me about a time when you overcame a challenge at work.
4. Have you ever had a problem or challenge with a teammate? How did you resolve that situation?
5. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond at work.
6. Tell me about a time you had to complete multiple tasks at once.
7. Describe a time that you demonstrated leadership skills.
8. Tell me about a time you benefited from feedback.
9. Tell me about a time you needed to learn on the job.
10. Describe a time you had to urgently solve a problem. How did you go about it?
11. Tell me about a time you failed/made a mistake at work – what did you do next?
12. Give me an example of a goal you achieved at work. How did you achieve it?
13. How would you deal with a problem or challenge with a teammate? How would you resolve the situation?
14. How would you build rapport with others?
15. How would you respond when you are asked to redo a task?
16. What would you do if you were asked to do a task you had never done before?
17. Tell me about a time you needed to collaborate with a team colleague to get a job done?
18. Tell me about a time you needed to change your communication style?
19. How would you respond if you were asked to do an urgent task but had other work to complete?
20. What would you do if you disagreed with your supervisor or manager?
21. Tell me about a workplace decision you have made that was difficult?