45+ Interview Questions and Answers

1. Tell me about yourself.

Answer: Start with a brief regard of your professional background, your education and experience, and what excites you about this job. Keep it succinct and relevant to this position.

Sample Answer: “My name is (x), I am currently pursuing (course/education) from (university). I have previously worked as a (position), at (company name), where I gained experience in (mention a skill or responsibility). Apart from my career aspirations, I am also interested in (hobbies).”

Interview Tip: Bring out only important blocks from your job career, which matches the requirement description.

2. What Made You Interested in Working Here?

Answer: “As mentioned in my resume I'm from (specify the department you work in), and have been working as a (current job role) for X years or months. I believe I have learned (mentioned the skill set according to the current job need) during this time, and feel prepared to level up that will help me with achieving my career goal”. 

Interview Tip: Mention how the organization's mission pertains to aligning itself with your values.

3. What are your strengths?

Answer: “In (mention the field) I have learned and developed a different set of skills, but the (mention the specific skill or skills you are good at that also matches with the job requirement) that I believe is my biggest strength. Because in my previous company or (you could mention any project where you used that skill set) I resolved (mention the problem and how you tackled it), and it was because of my knowledge about (skill set). 

Interview Tip: Focus only on skills that will directly apply for that job. 

4. What are your weaknesses?

Answer: You could say “I used to struggle with (mention your weakness like multitasking) but eventually with practice in the corporate world and handling multiple tasks at one time made it easier for me to tackle. Though I still struggle, I don't miss deadlines like I used to.”

Interview Tip: Don't mention a thing that could basically make a difference in getting the job to your application.

5. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Answer: “I’m hoping to take more roles, lead teams and projects. I believe, here I will be guided professionally and will be mentored onto the right path and will hope to do the same to my teammates as a mentor’’.

Interview Tip: Be aspirational but not unrealistic; ensure it marries up with the company's growth.

6. What made you leave your last job?

Answer: “I believe I’m ready for the next level and am looking for new challenges. I was looking for such an opportunity when I happened to find a vacancy at your company, which completely aligned with my values and challenges I was looking for”.

Interview Tip: It is possible that you might leave your previous company for different reasons including bad environment or your contract was over or it could be something else. Make sure even if you were laid off or left because of a poor work environment you don't bad mouth your previous company because it will make you look desperate.

7. How do you handle stress or pressure?

Answer: ‘I believe stress is a part of our lifestyle in today's Era but we could always use different types of stress management techniques. In my case I usually keep things organized and create a to-do list when I feel under pressure. For instance in my previous company I was handling multiple projects at once so I created a to-do list from the most urgent task to the task I could delay. That made the prioritising easier also along with that good communication with the team and continuous update about work, helped me’.

Interview Tip: stress is a part of your lifestyle so don't try to hide it by saying you do not take stress or it is easy for you to handle stress because you won't have any valid reason to support it. highlight your problem-solving skills. 

8. What is your best achievement?

Answer: “Since college, I had interest in (mention skill) and had practiced since then. I would pick projects based on that and score well. During my internship period, I focused on building it better. I have even, won achievement certification in my previous company because of my advanced skill set in that area and have gotten feedbacks appreciating my work”.

Interview Tip: Justify the answer with some quantified measures. mention the skills that align with your job requirement skills.

9. What do you know about our company?

Answer: “I got to know about your company from a recent post on linkedin (or other sites like instagram, facebook, etc). I researched and was impressed by the achievement and values this company holds. While scrolling I came across the vacancy that was open therefore I decided to apply”.

Interview Tip: Mention any recent news or initiatives that the company undertakes to cement the argument that you know what you are talking about. 

10. What are your expectations as far as salary is concerned? 

Answer: “The value of this position in the market is X number and looking at my experience, skill set and education I expect my salary range from X-Y numbers. I am willing to discuss it further. 

Interview Tip: Do not state an exact number at the beginning; rather, relate how being worth to that role will drive conversations on salary.

The behavioral interview questions approach exists to figure out what action a candidate has undertaken in consecutive past situations. Given below are a few examples and techniques for answering them:

1. Describe a situation in which you managed to overcome a challenge.

Answer: “Yes there is no lie that in corporate everyone comes across some difficult situations. In my previous company I came across a situation where I had to learn a new software program in a limited time as I needed to present in front of my clients within a week using the same program but during that time I had the team to lead therefore I gave extra hours that week, took help from IT seniors and learned the program within a week. And by the end of the day I presented in front of the clients using the same program.”

2. Describe the occasions you have been a part of in a team.

Answer: “Working in a corporate earlier I wasn't familiar with teamwork but eventually I came across different projects where teamwork was needed. There was one time when our team had to pitch marketing ideas for a foreign client which was a big deal for our company (you could mention your projects that you lead in past) however our team worked day and night cooperatively and pitched the idea in front of the client at the end they loved the idea you could (mention how you tackled your situation and the end result you got out of it).”

3. Tell of a time in past employment that you needed to deal with a colleague who was very hard to work with.

Answer: “Yes sometimes working with certain coworkers could be challenging but when the time comes I always try to find some common ground where we could share our interest. For example some might like to read or some might like to listen to music discussing their interest helps lay a common ground. This technique has helped me make better connection with them”

4. Refer to a scenario in which you needed to meet a very tight deadline.

Answer: “During tight deadlines I make a to-do list and try to rank the task from most urgent to least urgent but yes sometimes that also fails to complete the task before deadline. In such situations I try to communicate well with the seniors explaining my situation or ask for help from my co-workers”.

5. Describe a conflict you dealt with in the office.

Answer:. You could say “yes in previous company I dealt with (mention the issue) but during that time if I couldn't deal or lead the problem myself I take it to the seniors and that's exactly what I did or (you could mention how you took the action) and eventually they dealt with it efficiently (mention the result you got)”.

Pro tip:

Use the star method here which means: 

S for a situation

T for a task you have to deal 

A for the action that you took 

R is the result that you got

6. Tell me about a process you led to make everything better.

Answer: “In my previous company, I was TL a team leader, and I  got mostly freshers in my team, who knew nothing about the corporate world, or how to use their skills. But they all were talented and skilled, just needed little mentoring to work. By the end of the month we got our first project and work on it as a team, and presented it in front of seniors”. 

7. Speak about a time you had short notice to gain a new set of skills.

Answer: “I did came across such time where I had to learn (mention the skill) in limited time period (mention the time period) because (mention the future situation like you needed to present in front of the clients or could be something else) but I dedicated hours for days to learn that skill and by the end of the moment where I needed to perform it I was able to do it smoothly”. 

8. Speak about a time you had to make an acceptable decision that was a hard one.

Answer: “There was a time, in my previous company when for my team I had to make a hard decision for my team’s better performance, where I had to let go of under performing team members. It was hard for me but I had to do it for the better outcome. During that I had a one-on-one chat with those teammates, shared their work graph and showed where they had to work on their skill. But, eventually handled it well”

9. Tell about a situation in which multiple responsibilities were scattered over each other.

Answer: “Yes, there was a time, when I had to lead two teams and their projects at once, due to sudden leave of the other team’s TL. And there was no extension of the deadline because the presentation needed to be presented in front of foreign clients. But fortunately, I got to know about it beforehand, so I scheduled my tasks, every meeting on the project updates, and a few hours of dedication by me and teammates helped me overcome the situation”.

10. Tell me how you dealt with an upset customer or client.

Answer: “During a complaint call it gets hard to make the client understand but before that we need to understand that the customer didn't get the result they were expecting and that could be a time for the employee or the company to learn, get the feedback and improve. I listen to the customer’s, what their believe with the company and also provide compensation and future promise of how the situation is going to be handled in future”.

1. What skills do you bring to this position? 

Answer: “Based on my experience and the learning I got from my previous company (mention the skill set that aligns with the job requirement in present company), these are the things I'm bringing to the table and always open to learn more from my mentors”.

2. How do you keep current with trends in this industry?

Answer: “I am a quite curious person therefore I always keep track with the current trends in the market related (mention the niche you are working in) from different websites, and instagram pages (mention those sites and pages)”.

3. Describe your [particular software/tool] experience. 

Answer: “Though I’m not from a technical background, I have practice (mention the software/tools). The tools that I use are helpful for my department of work, and I’m always to learn more if it helps in my respected field of work”

4. Which of the certifications are applicable to this position? 

Answer: “For the (mention job role) pursuing the (mention the degree) is must along with the (mention the certifications that is needed). Though I have already completed (mention the ones you have completed) and I'm always open to learning more skills.

5. How have you contributed to the success of your previous employers? 

Answer: “As I mentioned I've been working as (job role) at (company name) for (duration). I've increased the sales by X% within Y duration, which was double the previous month’s sales”.

Situational interview questions check the way you will deal with hypothetical situations. 

1. What would you do if you had to meet a lot of deadlines? 

Answer: “I believe with a to-do list, and right guidance we can achieve any deadlines, but yes during multiple deadlines, I cooperate with my teammates to come up with strong work plan and communicate clearly with seniors to explain the situation”

2. What will you do if you disagree with a decision made by the supervisor?

Answer: “It is possible that disagreements might occur, during such a period a polite approach is needed. I will put a polite invitation for discussion on the table, and then explain my pointers with a possible, profitable outcome that could come up with that”. 

3. How would you handle an unproductive team member?

Answer: “While leading the team you could come across few and productive members but during that time a good counselling and interaction with productive team members. You could always take an energetic approach while interacting with those team members so that they could see a different approach towards work at the office.

4. What would you do if there was a slip in the project schedule on which you were the manager? 

Answer: “In such situation the first thing I will do that I'll have a meeting with my teammates to evaluate the situation then I look how the delay will impact the overall task and its result the third and the most important thing is to inform the clients, then will analyse how longer it will take and will inform accordingly to the clients”.

5. How would you react if given a task that was outside of your normal duties? 

Answer: “If I am not expert in a specific task then I am sure I will not get a superior position. I will clear my queries and doubts related to the specific task. And will work along with other employees in the team to cooperate and communicate clearly about the problem”. 

1. What do you think your most pronounced strength is?

Answer: “I believe my biggest strength is (mention the skill) as my experience in this field for (mention the duration)”.

2. How do your colleagues view your strengths?

Answer: “Based on the feedback that I have received from my homeworkers and colleagues, I believe my biggest strength as people perceive is (mention the strength, skills like website developing, solving marketing problem, etc)”.

3. Name a weakness you have. How are you working on that? 

Answer: “I believe my biggest weakness in terms of work that impacts my career could be (mention the weakness, like over analyzing, panicking quickly about small issues, etc) but everyday I am working towards it by (mention the action you're taking)”.

4. What is the most difficult part of your job now? 

Answer: “In earlier days in my corporate world I was dealing with (mention the struggle like learning new software, working in an offline environment, etc) but I managed to overcome that obstacle by (mention the action you took)”. 

1. To what extent do you conform with our company values? 

Answer: “I have radio company values which completely align with my values and goals regarding my future careers. I not only align but committed to the value that we both hold together”. 

2. Why would you like to have a career in this company? 

Answer: “The level up I am looking for regarding my next job opportunities and the set of challenges, this company  is giving me the exact same thing. I am hoping to learn and grow more  in experience regarding my professional goals”. 

3. What makes you suit our team? 

Answer: “I keep my working style Open, I believe I have a dynamic working style that merges with different team working styles and how they work, therefore it is easier for me to work in different settings”. 

4. How would you contribute to our company culture? 

Answer: “I believe my vibe or aura is soothing and calm, I handle any minor to major issues with a cool mind. Therefore, I believe I’ll be bringing the same, gentle tone in to the company”

5. What gets you really jacked up about this opportunity? 

Answer: “I am expecting different challenges regarding my new work. I'm looking forward to making new connections and building and contributing positively in the company’.

1. How do you motivate a team? 

Answer: ‘I believe motivation is an important factor towards a positive result in work now motivation could be driven by reward or power. I put an open dynamic in front of the team where both things are available in front of them if they put positivity and hard work in the project’.

2. Describe when you had to lead a project.

Answer: “There was one time I was head of a (mention the project) at my previous company I had (mention the number of teammates) to lead and I (mention how you tackled the project from beginning to end)”.

3. How do you deal with conflict in a team?

Answer: “When there are more than two people in a team there will be conflict but handling with maturity and with politeness is the key factor when dealing with two peoples in your team having conflicts I have one on one chat with each of them then make a fair judgement”.

4. How do you think a successful team is made?

Answer: “cooperation is the key. Even a team with few skills could grow higher than people with high skill but also high ego.”

1. Where do you view yourself in five years?

Answer: “My career is my first priority here I look forward to be in a higher position handling my team and juniors how I will be right now if I join the company with the right mentorship and how I will learn to grow in the company I will be projecting the same value to the company and the employees”.

2. What are your long-term career goals for you? 

Answer: “My long term goals for my career is to grow in my reputed field of interest and in the field I am working in right now besides that I am always open to the opportunities that will fall my way”.

3. What professional development plan do you have? 

Answer: “I have been taking (mention the courses or the skill set you've been learning) to grow my skill in my interested Niche”.

4. What skills do you want to enhance in this position? 

Answer: “I recently came across this (mention skill) that is going quite trendy in the market. It wasn’t a needed skill till last year, but is in demand now. Though I have researched and have seen youtube videos, but would love to learn it professionally”.

1. What are currently the big challenges facing the team? 

2. How do you define success in this position? 

3. Can you describe the team dynamics?  

4. What opportunities for professional development does the company provide? 

5. What do you believe is the most important skill set for this position?

6. What challenges one might could face in his position?

7. Can you let me know about the team I’ll be working with?

Preparation For an Interview

Being prepared for an interview makes an individual standout. From basic interview questions to behavioral scenario type interview questions up to more specific inquiries about skills and experience, preparation of answers will help you to confidently sail through the interview process. Adopt the tips for job interviews throughout this article to ensure your relevance in hiring the next opportunity.