There are no two work interviews that are the same. Every interviewer has its own form of getting to know applicants or have the methods and strategies to find out the individual qualities of each person. That is why it is so difficult to know what an interview will consist of and how to prepare it.
Nevertheless, our website can offer a small guide with the most commonly asked questions at a job interview, that will help you learn. Answering them will help you understand yourself better and take on the job interview with a better sense of security. Remember that its not about memorising but about understand and knowing what to answer.
Remember though, this is just a sample of the myriad of questions you could be asked. Depending on your sector you could be asked to go straight into the technical questions. Sometimes interviews can not follow a traditional format.
With our questions below though you will be able to prepare for the most frequent questions asked in a job interview.
Questions about personality in the job interview
The CV is important of course, but showing our personality is also vital to get a job. It is simply impossible to judge what kind of worker you are based on an A4 sheet of paper. The interview thus has a function of showing off how you are compatible with your potential workforce as a person.
Do you like working with other people or do you prefer working alone?
One of the things that a recruiter values the most is working as a team. Your ability of working side by side while taking in the feedback of others will be valued. That is why the best course of action tends to be to play both ends in that question. Make it clear that you can organise your own work and render on your own.
I adapt well to any situation. Throughout my career I have had to work side by side in in large teams but also self-manage and bunker down on delivering an individual task. Whatever the necessities of the company, I am able to work on my own or in a team.
Do you consider yourself a leader or a follower?
This is one of those trick questions in a work interview that you may come across. You can’t really opt for either of the two as you will then be seen as incapable of either being a good direct or unable to step up in charge of projects. The solution? Show the virtues of both roles.
Given for the last three years I have worked as head of a department, I would say the first. Nevertheless, when I started my career I did so as a subordinate, so I can also adapt to orders given from the very top. According to what are the requirements of the company, I am ready to adapt.
Do you tend to finish what you start?
What is clear here is that they are looking for you to be able to complete your tasks and be meticulous. But don’t simply answer this question with an affirmation. You need to elaborate a bit, for example with this :
Of course, before beginning a project I like to evaluate the pros and cons. If I see that it is feasible and there are possibilities of success, I will do everything I can until I achieve it. If I do not have the materials and education then it is not realistic for me to commit to this project. One would rather concentrate on something more achievable and do it well.
If all jobs were similarly remunerated and had the same social consideration, what would you genuinely like to do?
Be careful with this question. It can seem a very blue sky thinking sort of question where you can talk about your dreams and professional goals. But what you need to is reflect carefully so that you do not display what we call a red flag. Obviously it would be strange to reply you would like to work in a completely different job that is on offer :
I would be doing exactly the same job as I am doing no. I consider myself lucky, because from the moment I went to university to study what I studied I knew that this was the right path and that this is where I wanted to work.
What expectations do you have for this work?
This question has a more direct significance, that you can sum up with these other two questions : “Do you like this job position” and “Do you believe that you will be able to grow professionally here?” To answer this question well you will need to do a study in advance of the company to know their current situation and their way of working.
The reality is I would be delighted with the functions that I would be taking over. I think the post would allow me to grow professionally and personally. Additionally you strike me a a company that looks after its employees, that ensures there is a good feeling between them, and for me that’s a big plus.
Questions about education during the job interview
Work experience is naturally important when evaluating you, but thanks to your academic studies you are who you are today (whether it is at a professional level or a personal one). So don’t be shocked if the recruiter dedicates a few minutes to interest themselves in your studies.
What changes would you make to your curriculum of your Faculty or School, if you had the chance?
If you speak of possible changes, make sure they relate to an improvement of the training, an increase of the amount of practical work or the possibility to realise internships.
Offer the possibility to do internships to start my career. Having it throughout the entire study period where you put your skills to the test rather than at the end would have been a huge advantage.
What was the most gratifying experience during your life as a student?
If you have to answer the question, make sure you focus on the studies and professional development, not the social aspect
My Erasmus in Denmark. During the year I spent at Aarhus University I not only developed my professional skills, I advanced my level of English and learned how to explain myself in Danish; I also grew as a person, and I wouldn’t change that experience for anything as a result.
Have your qualifications been a result of your effort or your intelligence?
I would say both, I wouldn’t be able to do one without the other. However intelligent you may be, if you do not force yourself day after day to be better, you will not be able to improve yourself.
Do you think you should pursue further studies in any way?
The continuous training of the worker is something highly valued by recruiters, since professionals who are committed to retraining and are always willing to learn are a very valuable asset for the company.
Of course. I think that the whole world can benefit from the possibility to further their education and acquire new skills. It is important to always keep learning and applying skills whenever possible.
Shutterstock | fizkes
Questions in the job interview about previous work
Did you take up any student jobs?
This question is not always relevant. Nevertheless, if you were able to combine your studies with work you will show your employer that you are a person with a great capacity to work, organise your time and that you have a long experience in the labour market enough to know the ropes. If for whatever motive you did not combine studies with work, just answer seriously saying what motives you had to concentrate exclusively on studies. Maybe you did other extracurricular activities that allowed you to complete your education? Maybe you were in a sports team?
How did you get that job, through what skills?
This is the moment you need to demonstrate your soft skills. That is to say, your social habits, your motivation and your sense of initiative. The key is to respond with your professional advancement in mind and take out from your experience the company where you were valued the most positively in your curriculum.
I have always thought that the best way of developing professionally is the professional internship. It is for that reason that, before I finished my studies I concentrated on the search for extracurricular activities. Via LinkedIn I was able to contact the department of human resources to send them my CV
What did you learn during your previous jobs? What were you tasked with?
This question has the objective of analysing to what extent your work experience is useful for the job you are applying to. For that reason it is more important that you concentrate on what allowed you to grow professionally and what is directly related with the job posting that you are applying to, rather than give detailed tasks that are completely irrelevant.
Until now I have worked as a researcher in marketing departments. I learned how the day to day operation of those departments works and I have perfected the use of design programs to the extent that I was in charge of editing images.
Do you need to supervise the work of someone?
The recruiter wants to find out how you relate to people you have to supervise and what kind of responsibilities were assigned to you. It is important that you explain what kind of supervision it was and above all, how you acted when you had to give feedback someone’s work.
If you never had to supervise someone’s work answer that you have never had this assigned to you as a responsibility.
I have never had to supervise the work of anybody but I am used to working as a team and giving and receiving feedback of the result and throughout the process. It seems fundamental to me in order to improve as a professional.
What was your salary in your last post?
This question tries to gauge what your salary expectations are as well as what level of responsibility you assumed (that is related to your salary). It is vital that you are sincere and that you are able to differentiate between gross and net salary. The easiest way to do this is telling your gross salary (your payroll without deductions) as this varies according to many variables.
If you are hoping to raise your salary in your next job, maybe the job interview itself is not the time to negotiate your salary. So just respond with the brute salary.
What are your salary expectations?
To respond to this question it is important that you understand the labour laws in your country as they may give an indication as to what your salary is. You can demand salary based on your experience and educational attainment level. It is always better to offer a range of expectations and that you are clear if the minimum of this range is negotiable or not. You need to also know that you can calculate your average salary to do a subsequent investigation of the average a worker usually receives, especially if you are switching countries.
I am willing to negotiate the working conditions and the salary that you can offer me. Taking into account the labour market for this sector, I hope the gross salary is in between 1000 and 1200 euros.
Which of your previous jobs did you like the most? Which did you like less?
It is important when you respond to this question that you justify your response well. It is not sufficient to say “I did not like my previous job because I was bored” which displays immaturity. When you get to answering this question it is important that centre yourself on which job postings have allowed you to distinguish yourself more and allowed you to grow professionally.
Remember never speak negatively of an employer, however bad it may have been.
I enjoyed my previous job a lot as I was faced with new challenges such as coordinating the customer service operation of the company. The one I least enjoyed was the first company I worked for because the tasks that I did were routine, even though this helped my work ethic.
What was your most creative project or solution?
The key to this answer is knowing how to improvise creative solutions to problems you find in a job and negotiate yourself out of complicated situations. Often the best ideas and the most simple, and once resolved, the solution is more obvious. So to explain this capacity, make sure you elaborate on the history of the company, explain the problem clearly and step by step how you solved it.
How do you you get on with your colleagues, your bosses and your directs?
No matter how bad you get on with a previous boss or how bad your relations with your peers or directs was, you must never speak poorly of them. If your relationship with someone was complicated, you need to concentrate on how, despite differences of opinion, you were capable of coordinating and working as a team recognising the professional value of your teammates and bosses. If you had a serious problem and were capable of solving it, you can demonstrate to the interviewer that you are capable of resolving conflict.
I am a sociable person and I manage to have cordial relations with colleagues and superiors. I think that the key is to know how to listen and recognise the professional value each one can bring to the organisation.
What has been the professional achievement you are most proud of?
Whether it was a problem you solved or a creative solution, this is an opportunity to talk about yourself with enthusiasm. Construct a story about how you related to a problem, and how you solved it. You should put into context the relevance of your contribution. Many times the best professional achievement has an important human dimension that allows you to excel as a candidate.
Shutterstock | Tatomirov
What was your worst professional mistake?
We all make mistakes, which is why the difference between one worker and another can be their ability to recognise mistakes as much as the amount of mistakes they make. What the recruiter is looking for with this question is how much you are able to recognise my own mistakes and your capacity to react in front of them. It is important that you construct the story so that you are not always the one at fault for the error you made but that you were able to recognise the error, and resolved it accordingly.
Once I emailed a person by mistake. Although it did not contain confidential information, the recipient found themselves in an awkward position. When I realised the mistake, I talked with my superior to explain to him the situation and proposed apologising personally. The recipient understood that there had been a human error.
What did you least like about your previous job?
Take advantage of this question to display your optimistic vision of the working world and remember never to descend into destructive criticism and never speak poorly of previous employers, colleagues or what not. Centre yourself on aspects of your job description that you found less stimulating and above all justify your response to avoid the recruiter forming a negative opinion of your personality.
If you example you were assigned any type of task that seemed routine, you can explain that you preferred tasks that develop your problem solving skills and you will learn how to organise yourself and be more meticulous.
Describe the best boss you have had and the worst
This can be one of the most dangerous of questions. When you reply do not forget that you must never criticise previous bosses. However bad your previous boss was, they also have probably had good characteristics that you may have missed. You can thus accompany any negative evaluation you have with a positive attribute to show you can see the balance in the person.
When describing the best boss you have had, try to display not just the personal relationship you had with them but also the professional.
I do not think I can speak of best or worst bosses like that. I have learned a lot from these managers and they were always demanding of me, and in return they valued my contribution.
How would you describe a typical day in your previous work day?
It is important that, with this reply, you display your organisational skills and your ability to prioritise tasks. If your current job is similar to the one you are applying for, you can use this question to show you already know which tasks you will receive.
If your previous work has nothing to do with the post you are applying to, try to show that you are an organised person with a sense of initiative and capable of prioritisation.
Why were you out of work for so long?
The periods of long inactivity are usually the points that attract the most attention when recruiters look at your CV. It is important that you justify it even if it was not because of factors relating to you (you needed to care for other people or there was a lack of opportunities) or if it had been a personal decision (sabbatical or evaluation of your options).
What is fundamental to explaining gaps in your CV is being capable of explaining how you were able to organise your day of unemployment. If in addition during this period you were training yourself but without external help, explain that.
I have been unemployed. But I always used that time to educate and train myself more using IT programs and improving my level of French. I also stayed up to date with what was going on in the sector.
Why have you changed jobs so often?
Changing work places often does not have to be negative. It can also be a way to show that you are always looking for new professional challenges. Take into account that what preoccupies the recruiter is that you could leave them very early. Explain your motivations for staying on board and make them understand that what worked before does not really apply to this position.
These past years I have received opportunities of professional growth that I did not want to reject. I think the experience of having worked in different environments has given me a broad vision of the sector that will make me a better long term employee at your organisation.
Why have you been so long at the same company?
This question is not necessarily an indication of negativity towards you staying at an organisation for so long. What is important though is to show that you are not stagnating at your current employer. Instead you need to show you have grown professionally.
I like to commit myself to a professional project and not do it halfheartedly. The company also allowed me to be promoted and take on more responsibilities and more learning opportunities to increase my learning of the overall sector.
Why do you want a change of employment?
If you are currently active it is very probable that the recruiter wants to know your motivation to change work. Remember that you need to avoid at all times talking negatively about your current employer. It is important that you focus on the possibility of growing as a professional from this new opportunity. So the best response would be “I think that this company offers me opportunities to develop in the area of marketing” or “I want to take up more responsibilities”.
If you want to better your salary, you need to be sure that the company you are applying to is ready to pay you what you want. If you are looking for a better professional environment, you have to explain why the current employer you have is not the ideal environment for you in diplomatic language.
After some time at my current employer, I need to assume new professional responsibilities and I think I can develop and contribute more here with my previous experience.
Are you looking for jobs elsewhere than our company?
Although you do not have to reveal anything, nor should you give too much information about other selection procedures that you are going through. To make this question more comfortable for you you can answer that you are actively looking for a job but you don’t have any offers so far. If you do not find yourself in any selection procedures, emphasise you have special interest in the company and that is why you sent them your CV.
Currently I am in an active search for employment but I have not received any firm offers from another company.
What languages to you speak?
It is tempted to put “intermediate level of x language”. But you need to know that if you tell them that you have an intermediate level be prepared to be evaluated on that level of language. Sometimes you may even be asked spontaneously questions in said language.
In what company would you like to work?
It would be unfortunate to say that the company that is interviewing you is the dream company and then not be able to justify this. Also saying that you want to work for the competition is an inadequate response. It is important that you describe the characteristics of a company that you feel is ideal, without conveying which one that is. You can take this opportunity to describe the positive characteristics of the company interviewing you without citing them directly.
Have you ever been fired from any job?
Finding this out is extremely easy for any recruiter so, if you have been fired, its important to answer with sincerity. Prepare the response you will have to that revelation. Explain the causes of your firing. And, above all, as unfair as the firing was do not talk badly about your employers.
After a brief period of time at a company, the leadership considered that my profile was not adequate for the requirements of the job. It was a difficult moment for me but it helped me to not discourage myself and learn from my errors.
Shutterstock | racorn
Questions on the job posting you are applying to
You really have to demonstrate your knowledge about the company you are applying to and the job posting itself. Here are some potential questions that could come up about those two subjects :
What do you know about our company?
This question evaluates, amongst other things, your real interest in the company. This question cannot be answered through improvisation. You must find out what type of company it is, not only in terms of its activities but also its working culture. To prepare this response, you should not only read their web pages, but an extensive internet search around what is said about them and if they have social media presence. Follow them on the relevant social media to maintain yourself up to date with their activities and if they have a newsletter, subscribe yourself.
Explain to me your professional trajectory
This question is one of the most common and is, although seemingly simple, also needs great deal of preparation. The recruiter does not want you to tell, in a chronological order, where you have worked – your CV should already display that. What is really expected if you is that you highlight the posts that were the most relevant to your professional development, and how they have changed from one job to another.
At the end of my course, I had the opportunity to do 3 months of internship in a consultancy. Thanks to this I was able to start work in a department where I grew professionally thanks to the standards of my colleagues. In addition I took advantage of doing a specialisation Master to look for new professional orientations.
What kind of work environment do you prefer?
If you have prepared the last question well, asnwering this one should be easy. For example, if it is a company that has fixed timetables that are not flexible, don’t say that you prefer flexi-working.
What makes you the ideal candidate for this position?
Having studied the characteristics of the position, you need to reply explaining that your skills and previous experience give you a head start on the opposition. It is important that you back up each characteristic you say you fulfil for doing the job with examples, based on professional experience.
I consider myself to be an amiable person, something quite fundamental for a sales job. Furthermore, in my previous post I had amongst my responsibilities attention to the client and I am used to interacting with a lot of people.
Do you know anybody who works with us?
If you know anybody you can reply safely but keep in mind that they will probably ask this person about you. So make sure you cite someone who is well regarded in the company and that they will give good references to you. The most reasonable thing to do is to already speak with said person about it, and of course, ask them about what the interview process is like.
An old colleague works with you at the department of I+D+i since several years.
Do you prefer a predictable job or one that is ever changing?
To respond to this question you need to know the position and whether it involves having to change significantly over the course of time. If it is a position with a routine work programme, and you say you prefer a changing working environment they may consider your answer to be inconsistent.
Would you be available to move to another city or another country or travelling frequently?
Here you need to answer truthfully. Your reply, if false, could compromise you the moment they call upon you to move. If they are asking you this it is likely because travel is going to be a major part of the job. Just answer what you feel, including if you don’t know. The worst thing to do is to lie and then have to turn a job down because you really didn’t want to commit to travelling in the first place.
Do you have any geographical preference?
In the same way as the last question, your answer is key and should be honest. If you just have preferences but that you are flexible, indicate that. If you can’t move to another city, make that clear and concise from the word go.
What department (marketing, finance, production, sales…) attracts you most?
This question is more often used in an interview for a spontaneous application or if it is major company with a graduate programme. Whatever your preference, you need to justify it on the basis that you fit in the department given your professional experience, skillets and previous education. If you reply in an enthusiastic manner it is very probable that even if they don’t take you onboard this time they keep your CV for another time.
Shutterstock | djile
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
This is a question that will inevitably come up and that you need to prepare. The recruiter will want to know up to what point you know the tasks at hand and, in addition, what your professional profile looks like.
If you want to give off the impression of an authentic reply, try to back up your strengths with examples in previous work environments. For example, if you want to explain that you are a person with a lot of initiative, it is best to say :
“I am person with a sense of initiative, for example in the last company I frequented”.
Similarly, the question about your weaknesses does not intend to judge you negatively. It instead looks towards how you address these faults on a day to day basis and if you make the first steps towards solving them. For example you can say :
“I am a bit of a chaotic person with tasks but I have addressed this with a list based system for each week and I prioritise and break down tasks much more effectively as a result”.
Remember that the question relates only to your professional portfolio, not your personal problems. If you have a not very punctual lifestyle with your significant other, that doesn’t mean you have to list it as a weakness here.
Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
This question has the objective of knowing your professional aspirations over the long term. Saying “I don’t know” denotes poor initiative. The recruiter knows that it is difficult to predict where you will be professionally speaking in the next few years. But you should still try to design a rough idea of what you want to do. Nevertheless, if you have too high aspirations or they are not realistic, it can rule you out because you are perceived to be too fantastical in your plans. Underline your personal commitment to the company and your motivation to succeed in it.
You can still define large objectives when answering this question provided that you always explain how you are going to achieve them. This question will also allow you to demonstrate your ability to commit to a company, and that you have ambitions for it to succeed with you inside of it.
I would like to continue to develop professionally. I hope to specialise in international trade and lead projects that have an international scale. For this I would like in the coming years to follow certain training courses to complement my professional advancement, whilst continuing to help improve this company.
What are your long term objectives? How do you think you can fulfil them?
With this question, you can extend your objectives in a more abstract or ambitious way. But you must continue to explain how you get there. This question also serves to show your personal commitment to the company. Emphasise that you think you can advance professionally under them.
How did you find this job posting?
The key to this is not to lie. The company knows where they posted it and where it didn’t. It is better to say you sent your CV to various enterprises and that’s why you do not remember where you saw the job offer rather than invent a platform you saw it on. If it is an offer that was not published in any place and instead comes from a personal contact (except your mother or father), you should say that. If it was an ex-colleague, it is even more important.
When can you be incorporated?
If you are working, you need to remember that normally it is necessary to advise with x days notice that you will be leaving. This is subject to your notice period. All HR professionals know about notice periods so don’t reply immediately if you are in a job. If you are not working it is best to reply as soon as possible.
Are you able to work extra hours?
Just answer clearly without showing reluctance or hesitation. In some countries you are more than entitled to refuse extra hours. In others it is highly expected for you to add additional hours.