11 Common Interview Questions for Freshers (and How to Answer Them)

Attending your first job interview is a new experience, and it will be easier if you prepare in advance. For a fresher who doesn't have work experience in your field, it's a necessary part of starting your career. One of the best things you can do to help build your confidence is to show up prepared. That might mean dressing in your formal clothing and reviewing your CV or resume one last time. But it also means practising your answers to some of the most common interview questions for freshers. 

11 interview questions for freshers

While you may not know exactly what a recruiter or hiring manager will ask, some basic job interview questions are universal, no matter the industry in which you work or the job you are applying for. Anyone about to start finding a job should spend some time practising answering these most common interview questions for freshers. 

1. Tell me about yourself. 

What they're really asking:  Why should I hire you for this role? 

Whether you're applying for an entry-level or managerial job position, almost every job interview starts with this broad and open-ended question. The interviewer asks this question to understand how you communicate and how much confidence you have rather than your history or personal details.  

Start by telling them one of your most recent accomplishments. Add something inspirational about your past, and then talk about your goals for the future. You can also share a personal fact at the end. For example, "My name is Prisha, and I just completed my Bachelor of Science in Biology. Growing up outside Kolkata, I lived near a farm and became fascinated with animals. That inspired me to volunteer at a local animal shelter and shadow a veterinarian in my community. I eventually decided that I would like a career as a veterinarian assistant. I'm passionate about animal health and have three dogs."  

Other forms this question might take: 

• Why are you interested in this job? 

• What qualifies you for this job?  

• Can you summarise the parts of your background that make you suitable for this job? 

2. What are your strengths and weaknesses? 

What they are really asking: Do you have what it takes to excel in this role?  

This is another question you'll hear at almost any interview, no matter the type of job or the industry. The interviewer wants to hear your answers to gauge whether you'd fit the company well. They also want to hear whether you're the type of person who knows where you excel and where you need to improve. 

Describing your strengths is usually easier. When choosing skills, try to think about the skills listed in the job advert and match those words. For example, if the ad says the company is looking for someone who is a problem-solver, mention problem-solving as one of your strengths and explain why you think so or mention a time when you used your problem-solving skills. 

When listing your weaknesses, be careful. You don't want to say something that makes you sound like a bad fit for the job, but you don't want to be cliche. Instead of lines like "I work too hard." Say something like, "I could be better at time management. Sometimes, I get so involved with a project that I lose track of time, so I'm currently working on that." Or "Sometimes, I forget that everyone learns differently, so I get impatient with my colleagues or classmates, but I'm learning to be more empathetic." Always include a line about how you're working to improve that weakness. 

Other forms this question might take:  

• What have been some of your greatest successes and failures?  

• Do you have the skills necessary to work in this environment?  

• What do you do when you have a skill that needs improving?  

3. How do you handle stress? 

What they're really asking: Will you work well under pressure?  

No matter where you work, you'll find yourself in stressful situations or under pressure, and the interviewer wants to make sure you can handle it. They want to ensure that when things get tough, you'll have the ability to continue working. Be honest with your answer, make eye contact while you talk, and incorporate an example of how you handled a stressful situation in the past. For example, you can say, "During my last year at university, I took two extra courses, and it was stressful, but I handled it by making sure I got plenty of rest when I wasn't studying and took some time for self-care at the end of each day."   

Other forms this question might take: 

• Tell me about your stressful situation and how you overcame it. 

• What has been your most stressful academic/work situation?   

4. What is your greatest achievement? 

What they're really asking: What sets you apart from other candidates?  

This is an excellent opportunity to talk about something you're proud of, something you want to showcase that you may not have space to go into detail about on your resume. If you have any work experience, it's best to stick with that, but if you don't, you can rely on experiences in school, during internships, or from volunteer work. For example, maybe you volunteered at a homeless shelter that didn't have enough money in the budget for a specific item, so you coordinated a campaign to raise extra funds. Talk about your hard work factually, and you will avoid sounding arrogant.

Other forms this question might take:  

• What are you most proud of? 

• What is your greatest professional or academic accomplishment? 

• Tell me about a time when you successfully demonstrated a particular skill. 

5. What are your salary expectations? 

What they're really asking: Are your salary expectations realistic and affordable?  

Prepare for this question by researching how much freshers in similar roles make across India. Get a range and provide it to the interviewer. Consider your skills, experience, certifications, and education to quote a fair price you will be happy with and can support your needs. It is appropriate to professionally assert your expectations based on your research, qualifications, and requirements and it can set a precedent for future salary and benefit negotiations.  

Other forms this question might take: 

• What do you expect to earn?

• What is the minimum salary you will accept for this job?

• Are you open to accepting a compensation package instead of a lower salary?

6. Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years? 

What they're really asking: How long do you plan to work for this organisation? 

The interviewer wants to know if you are confident in your plans for the future, but they also want to know how long you plan to stay with the company. Talk broadly about your industry if you move on to another job. Say something like, "I hope to advance my career in finance." If your joining the company is a good fit, tell them you hope to be there or plan to work up to a higher role. 

Other forms this question might take: 

• What are your ultimate career goals? 

• Can you see yourself working here in five or ten years?  

7. Why should I hire you? 

What they're really asking:  Why are you the best person for this job? 

When an interviewer asks this, they want to say, "Why should I hire you and not the other person I just interviewed?" They want to know what makes you unique. They may also wonder why they should hire a fresher rather than someone with more experience. However, it would help if you did not compare yourself to other candidates. This is similar to listing your strengths —talk about your strengths again and try to match your wording with the job advertisement. But instead of just talking about yourself, mention how this can benefit the organisation. 

Other forms this question might take:  

• What sets you apart from other candidates? 

• What do you have to offer this organisation?   

• Why are you the best person for this job?  

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

What they're really asking: Who are you, and what are you passionate about?   

This question helps to learn who you are and whether you're a good fit for the company. Feel free to discuss your volunteer work, pets, or hobbies. Just keep it concise. If you talk more about your hobbies than the job, the interviewer may think you are not passionate about work. 

Other forms this question might take:  

• What are your hobbies? 

• What are your passions besides work?  

• What are your interests?  

9. Why did you choose to apply to this company? 

What they're really asking: Why do you want to work here and not elsewhere?

Preparing for a job interview means researching the company you are applying to. It may impress the interviewer if you throw in a tidbit of information you learned. Otherwise, be honest about why you want to work at the company, but clarify what you can add to the organisation. You could say something like, "I read that XX company won an award for customer service last year, and as a people-oriented person, I wanted to work somewhere that values its customers and help continue to make this a customer-friendly organisation."  

Other forms this question might take:  

• Why do you want to work here? 

• Why do you want this job? 

• What can you bring to this company?  

10. Describe yourself in one word. 

What they're really asking: What would make you successful in this role?  

This question might be the easiest part of the job interview. You have dozens of adjectives to choose from, though you'll want to pick something that makes you a good fit for the role. You'll also want to have a story to back it up. For example, suppose you're interviewing for a job at a marketing agency, and you describe yourself as "creative." In that case, the interviewer will most likely follow up by asking you to tell them about a time when you were creative. Be prepared with a positive experience from your background. 

Other forms this question might take:  

• Describe yourself in three words. 

• What is your best quality? 

• What is your greatest skill? 

11. Do you have any questions for us? 

What they're really asking:  A company usually wants to ensure you are comfortable with them and understand the role.  

This might be the last question the interviewer asks. It may sound like a way to wrap up the interview, and you might be tempted to say, "No, I think we covered everything." However, try to come up with at least one question that you can ask to show that you are genuinely interested in the job. Some good ideas include the following:

• "What has been your favourite thing about working at this company?"

• "Can you tell me more about my tasks if I get the job?"

• "Does the company offer employee training programmes?"

• "Can you talk more about the company culture here?"

Other forms this question might take:  

• Would you like to know more about the job? 

• Would you like to know more about the company?   

Next steps 

Consider taking a course to prepare for your fresher job interview. On Coursera, you'll find several online classes that will provide you with the skills you'll need to get your first job and every one after that for the rest of your career. Try Advanced Interviewing Techniques offered by Aptly to get started.