You made it (almost)! After networking and sending countless resumes, you\u2019ve finally landed a job interview. Of course, you want to be prepared, so you did what most candidates are recommended to do \u2014 you looked up \u201cmost common interview questions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The key to a successful interview is preparation, so it\u2019s important to look up interview questions<\/a> so that you can go to the interview with your answers already in mind. This will boost your confidence and increase your chances of a second interview, as well as help you get the job. To help you along, I\u2019ve put together a list of common interview questions and some tips to craft winning answers.<\/p>\n Want to jump to a specific question? I\u2019ve got them linked for you below:<\/p>\n “Tell me about yourself.”<\/a><\/p>\n “Why do you want to work for this company?”<\/a><\/p>\n “Why are you the best person for this position?”<\/a><\/p>\n “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”<\/a><\/p>\n “What\u2019s a professional achievement you are most proud of?”<\/a><\/p>\n “How do you handle stress and pressure?”<\/a><\/p>\n “Tell me about a time you had conflict with a coworker or colleague, and how did you overcome it?”<\/a><\/p>\n “Tell me about a time you failed at work and how did you handle it?”<\/a><\/p>\n “Why are you leaving your current job? \/ Why have you left your most recent position?”<\/a><\/p>\n “How do you stay organized?”<\/a><\/p>\n “Where do you see yourself in five years?”<\/a><\/p>\n “What are your salary expectations?”<\/a><\/p>\n “Do you have any questions for me?”<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n While every interview is different, most interview questions<\/a> will focus on:<\/p>\n The skills and experience you\u2019d bring to the company HubSpot\u2019s Senior Manager of Content Meg Prater<\/a> says she looks for empathy, coachability, and growth mindset when interviewing a candidate.<\/p>\n \u201cHas this person demonstrated that they’re a good colleague?\u201d she explained. \u201cHas this person demonstrated that they can constructively give and receive feedback? And does this person actively look for ways to expand their skills and deepen their understanding of their role or industry?\u201d<\/p>\n To prepare, research the company and, if possible, the person who is interviewing you. You\u2019ll also want to re-read the job posting so you can be sure your answers align with the job requirements. For additional information on how to stand out in the interview process, here are some tips from our former manager of campus recruiting Colleen Grant<\/a>.<\/p>\n The questions asked during an interview will vary depending on the role you\u2019re up for, however, the following questions are pretty common in interviews and should give you an idea of what to expect.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n My mind would always go blank when asked this question. What should I say? What do you need to know? Who am I? To avoid an existential crisis in the middle of your interview, think of the answer as your elevator pitch.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t want to speak at length about your personal hobbies and passions, but you also don\u2019t want to give a dry runthrough of what\u2019s on your resume. Instead give a pitch that is concise, persuasive, compelling, and explains why you\u2019re the perfect candidate for the job.<\/p>\n Start by speaking a little bit about your current role and include any experiences or wins that are relevant to the job you\u2019re applying for. Then provide some background as to how you got there, once again focusing on experiences that correlate to the interview. End the pitch by tying all that information together and explaining why you are perfect for the role.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n This question helps the interviewer determine if you\u2019ve actually done your research on the company. According to LinkedIn, 47% of candidates are rejected<\/a> because they only have a vague idea of their company and the job role.<\/p>\n To beat the statistics, do your research and find something unique about the company that really interests you. For example, during my interview with HubSpot, I pointed out the company\u2019s one-of-a-kind culture code<\/a> as a huge motivator for wanting to join.<\/p>\n My answer showed that I did my research beforehand and that I had a genuine interest in being a part of the team. When researching, look for items such as the company\u2019s mission statement or any news articles about recent accomplishments.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Every candidate thinks they\u2019re the best for the job, but what makes you <\/em>stand out above the rest? Be prepared to confidently state the experiences and accomplishments you have that prove why you\u2019re perfect for the position.<\/p>\n To prepare your answer, review the qualifications and requirements listed in the job description, and craft your answer so that it aligns with what the interviewer is looking for.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Focus on one or a few core strengths you possess that are relevant to the role. Back these strengths up with specific examples. For instance, if you\u2019re going to say that you\u2019re a great multi-tasker, bolster your answer by mentioning a time you successfully juggled multiple projects at once. If you\u2019re a self-starter, talk about a time you successfully took on a project or task without having to be asked.<\/p>\n Now, how can you mention a weakness without tarnishing your image as the perfect candidate? Start by choosing a weakness that will not prevent you from succeeding in the role. For example, if it\u2019s a writing job, don\u2019t say you struggle with spelling.<\/p>\n Be genuine with your answer and choose an actual weakness. This is the time to show your potential employer that you are self-aware and always looking to grow. Maybe you struggle with multi-tasking or asking for help when you need it.<\/p>\n After choosing a weakness, be prepared to explain how you\u2019ve worked to improve. Don\u2019t underestimate your capabilities, but don\u2019t come off as arrogant either.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n To prepare for this question, think back to a moment where you achieved amazing results at your previous job. Don\u2019t be shy about your accomplishments, because this is the perfect opportunity to show what the company gains from hiring you. A simple way to approach this question is to use the STAR method: situation, task, action, and results.<\/p>\n Give the interviewer background context by describing the situation and the task you had to complete. For example, \u201cAt my last job, I was an account manager and I was responsible for managing several high-profile clients.<\/em>\u201d Then you would describe what you did (the action) and the result: \u201cIn one quarter, I used my SEO knowledge to boost my clients\u2019 web traffic by an average of 25%.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Deadline pressures, frustrated clients, and an uptick in responsibilities are common occurrences at most workplaces, so it\u2019s important to show the interviewer you can keep a level head in any situation.<\/p>\n Avoid saying you\u2019ve never or rarely experienced workplace stress. Instead, relate the question to a time you were stressed on the job, then explain how you overcame it or used it to your advantage.<\/p>\n For example, I\u2019m very candid about telling employers that I keep stress balls on hand and that I always take a moment to do deep breathing exercises when I\u2019m feeling overwhelmed. I also approach deadline pressures as a challenge to complete projects faster \u2014 and I love a challenge. There\u2019s no shame in experiencing stress, it\u2019s all about how you respond to it.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n This question helps to determine your communication, people skills, and self-awareness. When answering this question, avoid bad mouthing the coworker you were in conflict with, instead focus on the heart of the problem and how you resolved it.<\/p>\n Prater told me this is actually her favorite question to ask during interviews:<\/p>\n \u201cThe answers to this question tell me a lot about the candidate’s ability to problem solve and their self-awareness. Most of us have worked with someone we didn’t quite get along with,\u201d she said. \u201cI love to hear how folks navigated those situations and identified ways to better understand the other person and better themselves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Rather than saying, \u201cI had this incredibly rude coworker at my old office,<\/em>\u201d say \u201cI worked with someone whose communication style was different from mine.<\/em>\u201d Then, explain how you both reached common ground: \u201cI realized that face-to-face communication was more helpful to us than email communication, since tone can be lost or misconstrued in texts. So, I decided to schedule weekly coffee meetings to ensure we were on the same page about the project.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Yes, you want to convince the interviewer that you\u2019re the best person for the job, but no one is perfect. Your answer should highlight that you can take responsibility for your mistakes and that you won\u2019t put the blame on others.<\/p>\n Perhaps you missed an important deadline at your previous job. You can use that situation as an opportunity to share how you accepted feedback, learned from the issue, and developed a system of organization that keeps you on track with deadlines.<\/p>\n For this question, it\u2019s important to demonstrate self-awareness.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen all answers focus on outside factors rather than how the candidate handled situations, I get concerned,\u201d Prater said. \u201cThings often happen outside of our control \u2014 but tell me what you learned from that situation and how it has informed your actions\/work moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n The most important thing to remember when answering this question is to be honest while avoiding a negative spiral about your current or previous employer. Focus on your excitement for new experiences and the professional goals you\u2019re working toward. Saying you want to face new challenges, be closer to family, or apply your skills to a new field, are all acceptable answers.<\/p>\n If you were laid off from your current job, you can be honest and say your position was eliminated due to a merger, budget cuts, or restructuring. If you were fired, responding with \u201cUnfortunately, I was let go,<\/em>\u201d is also fine. Of course, the latter will result in the interviewer asking why you were fired. Tell the truth, because you never want to get caught in a lie, and be sure to frame it as a learning experience.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Employers want to know you can be trusted to stay on top of all of your responsibilities, especially if the role is in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Explain your method. Do you use calendars, sticky notes, digital folders, spreadsheets, or organization tools like Trello or Hootsuite?<\/p>\n Prepare a clear and concise answer that shows you\u2019re dependable and will have your new tasks under control.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n It\u2019s important to be honest and specific in your answer. When crafting your answer, make sure you:<\/p>\n Keep your expectations realistic for your career And if you\u2019re not sure what the future holds \u2014 that\u2019s okay too. You can tell the hiring manager that you\u2019re still figuring things out, but express that you are confident the position will play an important role in building your future.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n This question definitely requires research ahead of time. Use sites like PayScale or Glassdoor to find out what similar roles pay, then factor in your experience, skills, education, and cost-of-living. If you choose to answer with a number, give a salary range that is somewhere in the mid-to-high point of what you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n You can also flip the question back to the interviewer by saying, \u201cThat\u2019s an excellent question \u2014 if possible, it would be helpful to learn the range for this role.<\/em>\u201d You can also delay the salary conversation by saying you\u2019d like to learn more about the role or the rest of the compensation package before discussing pay.<\/p>\nWhat are common interview questions?<\/h2>\n
\n Your work ethic and whether you have a growth mindset
\n How you deal with difficult situations
\n How well you\u2019ll fit within the company <\/p>\nCommon Interview Questions and Answers<\/h2>\n
1. “Tell me about yourself.”<\/h3>\n
2. “Why do you want to work for this company?”<\/h3>\n
3. “Why are you the best person for this position?”<\/h3>\n
4. “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”<\/h3>\n
5. “What\u2019s a professional achievement you are most proud of?”<\/h3>\n
6. “How do you handle stress and pressure?”<\/h3>\n
7. “Tell me about a time you had conflict with a coworker or colleague, and how did you overcome it?”<\/h3>\n
8. “Tell me about a time you failed at work and how did you handle it?”<\/h3>\n
9. “Why are you leaving your current job? \/ Why have you left your most recent position?”<\/h3>\n
10. “How do you stay organized?”<\/h3>\n
11. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”<\/h3>\n
\n Show that you are an ambitious person and that you\u2019ve given a lot of thought to your career path
\n Highlight how the new position aligns with your ambitions <\/p>\n12. “What are your salary expectations?”<\/h3>\n