Common interview questions

Tell me about yourself.

Prepare 1-2 sentences about your work background. Present yourself positively, and express enthusiasm and genuine interest in the job.

Tell me about your education and skills.

Mention any degrees or certificates you’ve earned, and any classes or training you’ve taken or special skills you have related to the job.

What is your main weakness?

Be honest, but choose a weakness that won't significantly impact your job performance, or that has a positive side to it. Then, discuss the steps you're taking to overcome it, and how you’ve used previous feedback as a chance to grow.

What are your strengths?

Review the job description for keywords and choose 2-3 that are key strengths of yours. Prepare examples of times you used these strengths in a job. Some examples might be:

• Detail-oriented
• Collaborative or team player
• Creative
• Good leader or empathetic
• Passionate or positive
• Problem solver
• Flexible or able to pivot from one project to another
• Patient
• Honest
• Dedicated
• Specific career skills like writing, technology, or other relevant areas you’ve mastered

How do people usually describe you?

Although this question is about your personality, keep your answer professional. They might compare your answer to how your references describe you, to see how aware you are of how others view you. Share stories that highlight your interpersonal skills or dedication.

Describe your best and worst bosses.

When describing your best boss, emphasize recognized leadership qualities, such as: good communication, provided clear expectations, supported professional growth, encouraged collaboration, recognized achievements, and/or fostered a positive work environment.

When describing your worst boss, focus on poor leadership qualities, and not personal conflicts you may have had with them. Potential examples include that they were overly critical, rarely communicated expectations, lacked empathy, micromanaged, stifled creativity, and/or and made the workplace stressful.

Where do you see yourself in three years?

Show your eagerness to learn new skills and progress in your career. But avoid treating the job you're interviewing for as just a stepping stone. Express interest in growing in the job or company, without mentioning a specific job title.

What draws you to this company?

Do your research so you can describe what you value about the company, such as mission, culture, successful projects, or community reputation. 

If hired, what unique contributions could you bring to the job and our company?

Give a one sentence overview of your strongest qualifications. Then mention any specific skills or experiences that make you a great fit for this position.

Employers often ask about your past work experiences to predict your future performance and reliability. Review your work history for examples that show how you've handled difficult challenges and what you learned from them. If you're new to the workforce, consider examples from school, volunteering, or extracurricular activities. 

How have you managed deadlines or high-stress situations?

Talk about a time you effectively handled an intense project or major deadline pressure. Briefly describe how you came up with your plan, how others were involved, and what the result was.

How did you respond when something significant went wrong on a job or when you made a mistake?

They want to know you will be able to work through challenges and use critical thinking to solve a problem. Emphasize how you solved it successfully.

Talk about a time you set a goal and how you achieved it.

Emphasize how you organized your work and what helped you follow through to reach a goal.

Tell me about a time you had an unexpected problem and how you handled it.

Give examples such as a lost shipment, stalled project, a coworker suddenly quit, etc. Describe how you rolled with the unexpected and found a way to respond effectively.

What skill have you have learned recently? How did you learn it?

Talk about a work-related skill you learned and how it helped your performance. No recent learning? You can enroll in an online class or other training now and discuss it in your interview.

Describe a difficult customer and how you handled the situation.

It’s common in customer service jobs to encounter poor or frustrating behavior. Emphasize your empathy, keeping calm, patience, courtesy, and persistence.

How do you motivate your team?

Emphasize your communication skills, and how you have helped your team to achieve success.

Describe a career achievement you are proud of.

Talk about how you have worked to succeed in your career. Emphasize what you learned from your accomplishment, who else was involved, and why it was meaningful.

Describe a major failure at work, and how you dealt with it.

Your answer shows that you can take a failure and get back up and try again. Emphasize what you learned from the experience and what you’ve done to avoid a repeat.

How did you resolve a past conflict with a coworker or supervisor?

Focus on a positive result, and how you were part of a solution—not the problem. Did you compromise or negotiate a resolution? Describe that as well.

Most interviewers ask if you have any questions. Have some ready to show your interest in the role and company. Here are some questions to consider:

• What are the main responsibilities of this position?
• Can you describe a typical day in the job?
• What challenges does this position face?
• What qualities make someone successful here?
• Are there opportunities for advancement?
• How is performance evaluated?
• What are the company’s culture and goals?
• Who does this position interact with?
• What is the next step in your hiring process?

There are some questions that employers  cannot ask you during an interview. Most are related to personal health, marital status, or legal history. You're not required to answer these. Here are some examples of illegal questions:

• Have you ever filed a Workers' Compensation claim or been injured on the job?
• Do you have any physical conditions that would prevent you from performing the job?
• Have you ever been arrested?
• What is your hair/eye color or height and weight?
• Have you ever been hospitalized?
• Have you ever been treated by a psychiatrist or psychologist?
• How many days were you absent from work because of illness last year?
• Are you taking any prescribed drugs?
• Have you ever been treated for drug addiction or alcoholism?

• Note that it is legal for employers to ask for your age or birth date. It is illegal for them to not hire a candidate based only on their age. If you feel you were a victim of this type of age discrimination, consult an employment attorney.

  There is also no federal law preventing employers from asking about criminal convictions. If you have a criminal record, please visit Job Search Help for Ex-Offenders for more information.