Have a job interview coming up? Interview preparation is key. Before going, review the most common interview questions, plan your responses, and research the company so you can walk into that room prepared.
When you land an interview, you’re probably excited and wondering about the most common interview questions. To prepare for your interview and make a great first impression, you can explore this list of 10 common interview questions and plan your responses to them.
This warm-up question is your chance to make an impactful first impression. Be prepared regarding how to describe yourself in an interview with a few sentences. You can mention:
Your past experiences and how they relate to the current job
How your most recent job is tied to this new opportunity
Two of your strengths
One personal attribute, like a hobby or an interest
This response focuses primarily on your past work experience, with a small dash of your personal life added at the end. Keep your answer to two to four minutes.
It’s important to present a positive first impression to the person conducting your interview, so you might like to review the following tips when introducing yourself:
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• Put your phone away while waiting for the interviewer
• Smile and provide a firm handshake
• Say your full name with a confident tone
• Make regular eye contact
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Once the interviewer introduces themselves, you can respond with “It’s nice to meet you . . . , ” and then add the individual’s name at the end of the statement. Saying the name aloud will help you remember it. Finally, you can mention the title of the role for which you are applying during your initial greeting to confirm this with the interviewer.
The answer to this interview question should include specifics about the company, so you’ll need to do some pre-interview research. If, for example, the company is known for its collaborative culture, you could point out successes you’ve had while collaborating with a team.
Look for company-specific information on their website and social channels. Pay attention to the company’s mission statement, values, and the ‘About us’ section. Explore employee-specific posts on social media to learn about the company’s culture or outreach programs. Combine this information with relatable skills to show your preparedness and enthusiasm for the company.
When asked about leaving a previous job, be honest but positive. Even if you left a job under trying circumstances, keep your response short and upbeat. Take a look at some reasons for leaving a job:
I’m looking for a company that better aligns with my values.
I’m excited to find a company where I can grow my career.
I’ve decided to go down a different career path.
My position was downsized, but I look forward to a new opportunity.
I’m excited to explore a work culture in line with my personality.
I’m ready to take on a new challenge with an innovative company.
I’ve aspired to work for this company and seized the chance to apply.
When it comes to identifying weaknesses, think about some conflicts you’ve had to overcome. Maybe it’s difficult for you to take criticism, collaborate, or make public presentations. Take these challenges and frame them with a solution. For instance, you learned to take feedback to better a project, collaborate to elevate a product’s offerings, or use presentations to build your confidence.
Your greatest achievement should be something specific, like bringing a new video game to a saturated market despite a lack of resources. Discuss a work-related triumph as a way to humbly mention your achievements instead of listing awards or accolades. This achievement should also fall in line with the company’s mission, goals, or the position’s objectives.
This question really asks about your character during moments of stress. Think of a time when you faced an impossible deadline, had to choose sides, or navigated interoffice turmoil. Explain the problem and how you stayed calm, and focus on the solution that produced a resolution.
While you might be tempted to mention the extra hours you put in or the additional tasks you take on, it’s best to showcase your skills with a story. Talk about the innovative methods you deployed to revive a stalled project or roles you filled when your team was downsized.
Salary talks can be sensitive, but they’re necessary. Research a competitive salary before you go into your interview, so you don’t aim too high or low. You can use tools like a Salary Calculator or Salary Comparison and Estimator to get baseline compensation. Remember to mention years of experience or specific certifications that enhance your value.
Another common interview question looks at your five-year plan. You should promote your commitment to the company while looking toward growth opportunities.
More specifically, you can craft a response that explores your:
Position-related goals
Potential experiences within the company over the next five years
Possible certifications, skills, or achievements you might obtain
Aspirations for growth within the role
Typically, this is the last interview question, and it might be tempting to say, “No. I’m all set.” However, this question allows you to show your interest in the position. Some questions you could ask in an interview include:
What are the day-to-day tasks involved in this role?
How do you evaluate the progress of this role?
What ongoing educational or training opportunities could I pursue in this role?
Where do you see the company in five years?
How would you describe the company culture?
Before your interview, you should do a few things in preparation. To make a great first impression, you should research the company, practice your responses to common interview questions, and run through a practice interview. For more specific tips, take a look at this pre-interview checklist:
Start your research on the company website. Look over the company mission statement, values, and company history. Next, check Google News for any articles that include the company. Comb through the company’s social accounts, paying particular attention to the product- or employee-related posts. Also, read the LinkedIn profiles of the company’s key players and, if possible, the profile of your hiring manager.
Take some time to learn about the company culture by looking at employee photos on social media and checking out the company's news coverage. You might see team-building events on its Facebook Page or news coverage of a recent fundraiser, which can help you understand the culture. You can also check for employee testimonials on business rating platforms like Glassdoor.
Take some time to review the most common interview questions and practice your answers. You don’t want to sound rehearsed, so write down a few bullet points for each question and discuss them differently each time.
Ask a friend or family member to role-play with you. Go through the standard interview questions, and practice your greeting and exit. Wear the outfit and shoes you plan to wear during the practice to ensure you’re comfortable.
Ask your mock interviewer for feedback. Maybe you slouched in the chair, nervously bounced your knees, or got stuck on a particular interview question. The person helping you can give tips to improve your interview skills.
In addition to role-playing, you might consider taking an online class or two to improve your interview skills.
For step-by-step guidance throughout the interview research process, consider taking the University of Maryland's Interview Research and Preparation course. In just 19 hours, you can identify transferable skills, practice your communication skills, and learn to use efficient language to discuss your skills.
Strategize your resume writing, job search, and interviewing techniques with the Interviewing and Resume Writing in English Specialization from the University of Maryland. Over the course of three months, you can learn advanced interviewing techniques, write a winning resume and cover letter, and practice your interviewing skills with other job seekers from around the globe.
If you're preparing for a coding interview, get specialized practice with an industry leader by enrolling in Meta's Coding Interview Preparation course. In this intermediate-level program, you'll focus on technical interview topics for coders, such as algorithms, pseudocode, and data structure.
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