Job interviews can feel stressful—but they don’t have to be. The secret is preparation. Most interviewers use a familiar set of questions, and if you know them ahead of time, you can prepare strong answers that leave a great impression.
Here are 15 of the most common interview questions, along with examples of how you can answer them confidently.
1. Tell us about yourself.
This is usually the icebreaker. Keep it short and professional—focus on your background, skills, and career goals.
Good Response Example:
“I have over four years of experience in customer service, where I’ve developed strong communication and problem-solving skills. Currently, I lead a small team that handles high-volume support requests, and I enjoy finding efficient ways to improve the customer experience. I’m excited about this opportunity because I see it as a chance to use my skills in a larger organization and contribute to customer success at a bigger scale.”
2. Why do you want to work here?
Show that you’ve done your research and connect your goals with the company’s mission.
Good Response Example:
“I admire how your company is innovating in sustainable technology. I’m passionate about creating solutions that have a positive environmental impact, and I believe my background in product development fits well with your ongoing projects. This role is a great opportunity to align my personal values with meaningful work.”
3. What are your strengths?
Highlight strengths that match the role and back them up with evidence.
Good Response Example:
“I’d say one of my biggest strengths is adaptability. In my last role, when our team switched to a new project management system, I quickly learned it and then trained others, which reduced transition time. Another strength is clear communication—I make sure stakeholders are always updated, which helps prevent misunderstandings.”
4. What are your weaknesses?
Choose something real but not critical to the job. Then show how you’re improving.
Good Response Example:
“I tend to over-prepare for presentations because I want everything to be perfect. I’ve been working on balancing preparation with confidence by setting time limits for practice and focusing on key points instead of every small detail.”
5. Why should we hire you?
This is your sales pitch—show how you’ll add value.
Good Response Example:
“You should hire me because I bring both the technical skills and the ability to work well with teams. For example, at my last job, I not only improved system efficiency by 20% but also mentored junior staff, which helped boost overall productivity. I’m confident I can deliver results here and also support the team’s growth.”
6. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Show ambition, but keep it realistic and aligned with the role.
Good Response Example:
“In five years, I’d like to be leading a team where I can combine my technical expertise with leadership responsibilities. I see this role as the right step toward that, since it allows me to deepen my skills and contribute to larger projects.”
7. Tell me about a challenge you’ve faced at work and how you handled it.
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Good Response Example:
“At my previous job, we had a project that fell behind schedule due to unexpected delays. I stepped in to reorganize the workflow, redistributed tasks, and set up daily check-ins. As a result, we completed the project just one week late instead of a month, and the client was still very satisfied.”
8. Why did you leave your last job?
Stay positive. Focus on growth and avoid negativity about past employers.
Good Response Example:
“I really enjoyed my previous role and learned a lot, but I reached a point where there was little room for growth. I’m looking for new challenges and opportunities to expand my skills, which is why this position excites me.”
9. Tell me about a time you worked in a team.
Show collaboration and communication.
Good Response Example:
“In my last role, I was part of a cross-functional team that developed a new product feature. I coordinated between the design and engineering teams to ensure deadlines were met. We launched on time, and the feature increased user engagement by 25%.”
10. What motivates you?
Connect your motivation to what the job offers.
Good Response Example:
“I’m motivated by solving problems that have a real impact. For example, when I helped redesign our onboarding process, it reduced customer drop-offs by 30%. Seeing results like that motivates me to keep improving and contributing.”
11. How do you handle stress or pressure?
Demonstrate self-control and practical strategies.
Good Response Example:
“When I feel under pressure, I focus on prioritizing tasks and breaking them into smaller steps. For instance, during last year’s holiday rush, I organized my team’s workload into daily goals, which kept us on track and reduced stress for everyone.”
12. Do you prefer to work independently or in a team?
Most roles require both—show balance.
Good Response Example:
“I’m comfortable working independently when needed, especially for tasks that require deep focus. But I also value teamwork, since collaboration often leads to the best ideas. In my current role, I spend about 60% of my time in independent work and 40% collaborating, and I enjoy that balance.”
13. What are your salary expectations?
Be prepared with research and give a range.
Good Response Example:
“Based on my research and the responsibilities of this role, I’d expect a salary in the range of $55,000 to $65,000. Of course, I’m open to discussing it further based on the full compensation package.”
14. Do you have any questions for us?
Always ask something—it shows interest and initiative.
Good Response Example:
“Yes, thank you. I’d love to know more about how success is measured in this role during the first six months. Also, could you tell me a bit about the team I’d be working with?”
15. Why should we not hire you?
This is a tricky one. Choose something minor and spin it positively.
Good Response Example:
“You probably shouldn’t hire me if you’re looking for someone with decades of experience in international operations, since that’s an area I’m still growing in. However, I learn quickly and I’m already taking online courses to build my knowledge, so I see it as an opportunity to grow with the company.”
Final Thoughts
Interviews don’t have to feel like an exam. With preparation, you can answer confidently and leave a lasting impression. The 15 questions above are almost guaranteed to come up, so practice your answers and tailor them to your own experience.
Remember: employers aren’t just looking for the “perfect” answer. They want to see who you are, how you think, and how you’ll add value. Be prepared, be authentic, and you’ll stand out as the candidate they want to hire.
