We can’t read minds, but we’ll offer you 53 of the most popular interview questions and answers plus tips on how to answer them.
We don’t recommend having a canned response for every interview question (please don’t), but we do recommend getting comfortable with what you might be asked, what hiring managers want to see, and how to show you’re the right fit.
Use this collection to learn job interview answers and questions. (Don’t miss our extra list at the end with links to resources on particular interview questions—about emotional intelligence or diversity and inclusion—and interview questions by position, from accountant to project manager to teacher.)
1. Tell me about yourself.
Many folks fail to prepare for this basic yet critical question. Don’t reveal your whole job (or personal) background. Instead, offer a brief, convincing case that illustrates why you’re the ideal match for the position. The present, past, future formula is recommended by Muse writer and MIT career advisor Lily Zhang. Discuss your present job (including its scope and one major achievement), then explain how you got there and any relevant experience. Finally, explain why you desire and are ideal for this position.
Question: “Tell me about yourself.”
I’m a Smith account executive who manages our biggest customer. I worked on three large national healthcare brands at an agency before that. I loved my job, but I’d prefer to go deeper with one healthcare firm, therefore I’m enthusiastic about this possibility with Metro Health Center.”
2. Explain your resume.
Similar to “Tell me about yourself,” this question opens interviews. Instead of focusing on what makes you the top candidate, arrange your credentials by former employment and narrate your professional biography. You may tell this narrative chronologically if you have a terrific anecdote about how you got here. Like “Tell me about yourself,” you may start with your career and then discuss what got you here and your future. However, while discussing your “past” and “present,” emphasize your most relevant experiences and achievements for this position and conclude by discussing the future to demonstrate why this job should be next on your resume.
Possible response to “Walk me through your resume.”
As my résumé shows, I walked a roundabout path to where I am now. I studied communications and chemistry in college. I soon learned I didn’t like lab work and looked forward to the lab class I TA’d most.
I worked in sales for a consumer healthcare goods firm after graduating, drawing on my teaching expertise and learning more about personalizing your message and presenting complicated health ideas to non-scientists. I then taught young grads sales fundamentals at a large corporation. Compared to other trainers, my trainees closed more sales in their first quarter. Finding the appropriate technique to teach each new person and seeing them succeed was incredibly rewarding. It recalled my college TA days. I began night courses to acquire my chemistry teaching credential.
I quit my full-time job last year to study teaching at P.S. 118 in Manhattan, and I taught 10–12-year-olds about fundamental chemistry and safe experimentation at a science camp in the summer. I’m delighted to locate my first full-time teaching position, and your district is my #1 pick. The low student-to-teacher ratio will allow me to educate each kid individually, which is my favorite aspect of the job.”
3. How did you learn about this position?
Another apparently unimportant interview question, this is a great chance to demonstrate your enthusiasm and connection to the brand. Name-drop a friend or professional contact who told you about the opportunity and explain why you were so delighted. Share your event or article discovery about the firm. Even if you spotted the job posting on a random employment board, describe what interested you about it.
How did you hear about this job?”
Akiko, a friend of a friend, told me about a vacancy on the product team. Since I’m a huge admirer of your work and have been following you, I thought it would be a perfect job for me to apply for.
4. Why work for this company?
Avoid generic replies! If your answer applies to many firms or makes you seem like every other applicant, you’re losing a chance to stand apart. Zhang suggests one of four approaches: do your research and point to something unique that appeals to you; talk about how you’ve watched the company grow and change since you first heard of it; focus on the organization’s growth opportunities and how you can contribute; or share what’s excited you about your interactions with employees so far. Be precise whatsoever approach you take. How can you justify working for the business you’re interviewing for by the time you’re halfway through the process? It may be a sign that this job isn’t appropriate.
Possible “Why do you want to work at this company?””
“I saw on The Muse that you were hiring for West Coast positions to support your new operations. I read more about the new data center you’re developing there, which excites me since it implies additional coworkers can be trained. I also learnt from the Wall Street Journal that you’re growing in Mexico. I speak Spanish well and will gladly assist with communication.”
5. Why do you desire this job?
Again, firms prefer enthusiastic candidates, so have a good reason for applying. (And if you don’t, you should apply elsewhere.) First, say why you love the company (e.g., “I’ve always been passionate about education, and I think you’re doing great things, so I want to be a part of it”), then list a few reasons why you’re a good fit for the role.
Could answer “Why do you want this job?””
I’ve always liked X Co.’s goods and played your games for hours. I know that your unique narrative first hooked myself and other fans to your games and keep us coming back. After following X Co on social media, I’ve always liked how various departments connect with users. I was excited to see this TikTok-experienced social media manager blogging. At my previous employment, I launched and grew our TikTok account to 10,000 followers in six months. With that background, my passion of gaming, and my understanding of your games and fans, I could make this TikTok account distinctive and exciting.”
6. Why employ you?
This interview question is daunting, but if you’re asked it, there’s no better way to sell yourself and your talents to the hiring manager. You must demonstrate that you can perform the task and create exceptional outcomes, that you’ll fit in with the team and culture, and that you’re the best candidate.
Why should we employ you?”
It’s been an exciting moment for General Tech—growing so much and acquiring multiple startups—but I’ve also seen that the sales staff may struggle to comprehend how new products connect with current ones. It’s simpler to market what you know, so newer products may be overlooked, which might affect the firm. I’ve trained sales teams for over a decade, but most of them were in Gen Tech’s position. Growth is great if the firm can keep up. I’m convinced I can make your sales staff confident and excited about selling new items by establishing an ongoing sales training program that highlights their product lineup position.”
7. What can you offer the company?
Interviewers seek more than your background when they ask this question. They want to know you understand their firm or department’s issues and how you’ll fit in. You should read the job description, investigate the organization, and pay attention in early round interviews to grasp the problems you’re being recruited to address. Next, relate your abilities and expertise to the company’s requirements and provide an example of how you’ve done comparable or transferable work.
What can you add to the company?”
As Jocelyn said in our interview, PopCo wants to grow to small company owners with less than 25 workers, so I’d offer my knowledge and experience leading a sales team that’s selling to these clients for the first time. I have focused on this area for much of my career, and I helped create our sales strategy when we started selling to these consumers. I created the sales script with my bosses. I also listened in on sales conversations with other account executives selling to these clients for the first time and provided them advice. My 10-person sales team completed 50 new bookings in this category in the first quarter, and I closed 10. I’m excited to assist PopCo expand into small companies like I did my prior firm. I saw you have a monthly karaoke night, so I want to sing ‘Call Me Maybe’ for the team.”
8. Your best strengths?
Discuss what makes you excellent and a good match for this position. Consider quality, not number, while answering this question. Avoid listing adjectives. Instead, choose one or more (depending on the question) appropriate characteristics for this role and provide examples. Storytelling always outlasts generalizations. If you haven’t had a chance to discuss anything that makes you a wonderful candidate, now is the moment.
Possible response to “What are your greatest strengths?””
“Organizing chaotic environments and implementing processes to make everyone’s lives easier is one of my strengths. As a CEO’s executive assistant, I built new procedures for scheduling meetings, creating monthly all-hands agendas, and preparing for events. Structures reduced stress and established expectations for everyone in the firm, who understood how things operated and how long they would take. I’d want to apply that technique to an operations management job at a startup, where everything is fresh and expanding and needs exactly the proper framework to function smoothly.”
9. What are your weaknesses?
Beyond recognizing red flags, your interviewer wants to assess your self-awareness and honesty. I can’t fulfill a deadline to save my life isn’t an option, but neither is “Nothing!” I’m perfect!Think about something you struggle with yet are improving. You may have never been good at public speaking, but you’ve volunteered to organize meetings to practice.
Possible response to “What are your weaknesses?””
I struggle to tell whether coworkers are overburdened or unsatisfied with their responsibilities. We meet regularly to make sure I’m not demanding too much or too little from my staff. I like to ask whether they’re on top of their task, how I can help them, if they’d want to add or remove anything, and if they’re engaged. Even if the response is ‘all excellent,’ these encounters build trust and a healthy relationship.”
10. What is your biggest professional achievement?
The best way to say “hire me” is to show prior success, therefore don’t be hesitant while answering this interview question! A good technique is the STAR method: circumstance, task, action, results. Establish the situation and task to give the interviewer context (e.g., “In my last job as a junior analyst, it was my role to manage the invoicing process”), then describe what you did (the action) and what you achieved (the result): “In one month, I streamlined the process, which saved my group 10 person-hours each month and reduced invoice errors by 25%.”
What is your biggest professional accomplishment?”
I was most proud when I helped my street lighting firm persuade Bend, Oregon to switch to energy-efficient LED lights. I was hired to market energy-efficient lights and claim their long-term savings. Since our energy-saving bulbs were more costly than less efficient ones, I had to find a means to convince municipal light authorities of their merits. I prepared an information package and hosted community gatherings for municipal leaders and taxpayers. I demonstrated the company’s product, answered questions, and promoted long-term LED bulb use. It was vital to get public support, and these activities reached a broad range of community people. After reaching my $100,000 first-year sales target, I helped us acquire another contract in a nearby city. The community-focused initiative also attracted national media notice. I was promoted to senior sales representative within a year, something I’m proud of.
11. Share a work difficulty or dispute you overcame.
You generally don’t want to discuss work difficulties in a job interview. Don’t lie about never having one if questioned. Tell me about a challenging scenario without going into depth as you would with a buddy. “Most people who ask are only looking for evidence that you’re willing to face these kinds of issues head-on and make a sincere attempt at a resolution,” says former recruiter Richard Moy. Stay cool and professional when you recount the tale (and answer any follow-up questions), focus more on the resolution than the disagreement, and say what you would do differently next time to demonstrate “you’re open to learning from tough experiences.”
Possible response to “Tell me about a work challenge or conflict you’ve faced, and how you dealt with it.”
“Funnily enough, last year I was on a group that put together a workplace conflict mediation program, and the opposition we received for demanding attendance truly tested our training. One senior official appeared adamant. It required some patient listening to realize he thought it wasn’t the greatest use of his time given his responsibilities. I noted his worry. I then addressed his immediate complaint by explaining how the training was supposed to enhance the company’s culture and productivity and make everyone’s task lighter. He ultimately attended and was present when I lectured to the full team about finding the main cause of a problem and treating it directly without bringing in additional concerns, which is how I approach every workplace disagreement.”
12. Describe a leadership moment.
A fancy title doesn’t make you a leader. Think of a moment you led a project, proposed an alternative method, or inspired your team. Use the STAR approach to tell your interviewer a tale, offering enough information to build a picture (but not so much that you ramble) and spelling out the outcome. Thus, explain why you’re sharing this narrative and connect the connections for the interviewer.
Possible response to “Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership skills.”
I believe a good leader can make judgments, listen to others, and confess and remedy mistakes. My team and I gave a huge client presentation at my former job. I rapidly allocated duties to my staff, but the project never moved forward. After asking everyone for feedback, it emerged out they were suffering in their responsibilities. I switched some folks. The employee I assigned to make the presentation was scared but wanted to try. I helped them prepare and even arranged a practice session so they could practice in comfort. They got it right when it counted! We won the customer, and the firm still has it. This individual became the go-to for major customer presentations. I’m pleased I listened to everyone’s comments so I could rethink my strategy and assist my team succeed.”
13. When did you disagree with a job decision?
The perfect tale is one where you resolved a dispute professionally and learnt from it. Zhang suggests paying attention to your response’s beginning and conclusion. Start with a brief remark that hints at the main point or reason you’re presenting this tale. For instance, “I learned early in my career that it’s fine to disagree if you can back up your hunches with data.” For a strong conclusion, provide a one-sentence summary (“In short…”) or briefly discuss how the experience will benefit you in the chosen role.
Possible response to “When did you disagree with a work decision?””
As a financial assistant, I prepared reports for corporate investments. Leaders needed accurate facts and figures to make decisions. My supervisor once requested me to create a report on Wednesday AM and submit it by 5 PM on Thursday. I felt I had to speak out since I value great work and wasn’t sure my employer comprehended each report. I met with my supervisor at her next opening to discuss my concerns. She promised to finish the report by 5 PM Thursday. I asked if anybody could assist. After considering it, my supervisor got another assistant to work a few hours. On a tight deadline, we completed the report, which the committee enjoyed reviewing during the meeting. I was proud that I didn’t compromise the report’s quality and that my supervisor acknowledged my additional efforts. Being a team player and understanding when to ask for assistance was beneficial. After I demonstrated how much time and labor went into each report, my employer was mindful to assign them earlier.”
14. Name a mistake you made.
You generally don’t want to discuss prior mistakes while attempting to impress an interviewer and get a job. Moy argues talking about a mistake and winning someone over aren’t mutually incompatible. If done appropriately, it may assist. Be honest without blaming others, then describe what you learnt from your mistake and how you prevented it. Employers want self-aware, feedback-taking, and improvement-focused candidates.
Possible response to “Tell me about a time you made a mistake.”
Early in my career, I missed a deadline that lost us a significant client. There were several causes, yet I dropped the ball. I thought hard about what I could have managed and altered after that incident. I was far less organized than I expected. I spoke with my manager and asked for organizational tips, and a few months later I won a larger account for the department.”
15. Describe a failure.
Answer this question as you would the one about committing a mistake. Choose a genuine failure you can discuss. Explain your definition of failure to the interviewer. I consider it a failure as a manager when I’m surprised. I want to know what my team is doing.” Link your story to that definition and explain what happened. Last, share your knowledge. Failure is OK—everyone does—but you must demonstrate that you learned from it.
Possible response to “Tell me about a time you failed.”
As a team manager, I consider it a failure if I don’t know what’s going on with my workers and their work—if an issue surprises me, I failed. Even if the result is good, I left a team member unsupported. Our annual project manager training is a recent example. I didn’t check in since my team had ran it so many times and didn’t realize a schedule problem was turning into a turf war. It was a brief and straightforward chat during the leadership team meeting, but I should have asked sooner. Even though I’ve done it hundreds of times, I learned to make reminders to check in on big projects and events.
16. Why are you quitting your job?
This is difficult, but you’ll be asked. Stay positive—you have nothing to gain by criticizing your employer. Instead, convey that you’re willing to try new things and that the job you’re applying for is better for you. “I’d really love to be part of product development from beginning to end, and I know I’d have that opportunity here.” What if you lost your last job? Simply saying, “Unfortunately, I was let go,” is OK.
Why are you quitting your job?”
“I’m ready for my next career challenge. I enjoyed my coworkers and tasks, but I found I wasn’t challenged anymore. I chose a place where I could progress rather than feel comfortable.
17. Why were you fired?
Your dismissal may be followed by: Why? If you were laid off, you may explain, “The company [reorganized/merged/was acquired] and unfortunately my [position/department] was eliminated.” But what if you were fired for performance? Being honest is preferable (the job-seeking world is limited). It need not be a deal-breaker. As a learning experience, share how you’ve changed and how you approach work and life. Using your progress as an advantage for your future career is even better.
Possible “Why were you fired?” response”
The number of customer calls we were required to handle each hour changed after four years at XYZ Inc. I employed the tactics we were taught following the transition, but I didn’t want customer service to suffer. I was fired because I wasn’t making enough calls. I felt terrible about this and should have stuck to the approach that would have met the per-hour requirement. But you informed me about the customer service standards and volume expectations, so I think it will be fine.”
18. Why was your employment gap?
Possibly you were raising children or elderly parents, coping with health difficulties, or traveling. Maybe you took a while to find the ideal employment. Discuss your resume gaps, regardless of the cause. Seriously, practice answering aloud. Truthfulness is vital, but don’t reveal more than you’re comfortable with. You might also discuss how your volunteer work, homemaking, or personal crisis response abilities would help you succeed in this capacity.
Possible response to “Why was your employment gap?””
As my references show, I was successful in a challenging position for many years at a corporation. However, I wanted to concentrate on personal improvement at this point in my profession. Traveling taught me how to get along with various ages and cultures. I’m eager to restart my career with newfound enthusiasm and concentration, and this job is perfect.”
19. Why did you switch careers?
This question shouldn’t bother you—just breathe and tell the recruiting manager why you chose your profession. More crucial, demonstrate how your former experience applies to the current job. Rather than a clear relationship, a candidate who can demonstrate how apparently unrelated experience is relevant to the task is typically more striking.
Can you explain why you changed careers?”
Since my brother was diagnosed with a cardiac ailment, I’ve trained and run with him in your annual cardiac Run to raise money for your charity and aid uninsured people. Your personnel have always impressed me with their dedication and happiness. When I spotted this fundraising job offering, it seemed right. I’ve been an account executive for SaaS firms for 10 years, and I’ve developed my talents at getting clients to make long-term payments. But I’ve been seeking for a fundraising job where I can apply my abilities to benefit others, and I’m excited to achieve that with your organization.”
