Frequently Asked Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

While every interview is different, certain questions come up in almost every one. Thinking through and preparing for these questions in advance lets you express yourself more comfortably during the interview. For the general preparation process, also see How to Prepare for a Job Interview.

"Tell Me About Yourself"

This question isn't a request to read your resume out loud — it's a brief introduction. You can use a present-past-future structure: what you're doing now, briefly how you got here, and why you're interested in this position. An answer under 60-90 seconds is ideal.

Sample approach: "I'm currently in [current role/situation]. Before that, I worked on [brief background summary], which gave me [relevant skill]. Now I'm here because [why you're interested in this position]."

"What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?"

When choosing your strength, pick a trait relevant to the position that you can back up with a concrete example. For the weakness question, avoid clichéd answers ("I'm too much of a perfectionist") — describe a real area you're working on, along with what you're doing to improve it.

Example: "In the past, I sometimes struggled with prioritization. Once I noticed this, I started planning my weekly task lists using an importance/urgency matrix, and it's made a noticeable difference."

"Why Did You Apply for This Position/Company?"

Instead of a generic answer ("because it's a good company"), mention something concrete you researched about the company and connect it to your own goals.

"Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job?"

Avoid speaking negatively about your current employer. Instead, frame it in a forward-looking way: growing into a new area, wanting different responsibility, or pursuing an opportunity that aligns with your career goals.

"Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?"

This question is meant to gauge how well your goals align with the position. Rather than naming a very specific title, describing the direction you want to grow in (e.g., more responsibility, going deeper in a certain specialty) is a safer approach.

"Why Should We Hire You?"

This question is an opportunity to summarize the 2-3 strongest points from your resume. Draw the clearest connection between the qualifications sought in the posting and your own experience (see How to Use Keywords in Your Resume — the same logic applies to your verbal answers).

Behavioral Questions Need Separate Preparation

For questions based on past experience, like "how did you handle a difficult customer?", using the STAR technique is the most effective method — we cover this in detail in What Is the STAR Technique?.

Conclusion

Preparing thoughtful, concrete, and honest answers to common questions in advance helps you feel more comfortable and prepared during the interview. For general interview preparation, see How to Prepare for a Job Interview.