Job Interview FAQs: 17 Common Interview Questions and Answers

A candidate may face some Frequently Asked Questions, also known as job interview FAQs, in almost every job interview. Employers ask these kinds of questions to get an idea about the qualifications, skills and basic knowledge of the candidates. But, some candidates fail to satisfy the interviewers with their answers to these FAQs during their job interview. Therefore, they fail to get their dream job which is very unfortunate. This blog will provide a detailed idea about the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and answers that the employers may ask during the job interview.

1. Tell me about Yourself

Probably the most common question asked during the job interview is “Tell me about yourself”. To answer this question, many candidates spend much time highlighting their personal and family information. This is a wrong approach. Here, candidates should feature their skills and achievement more than their personal details.

Sample Answer

I’m Tom and I belong to California. I’ve completed my Master of Financial Engineering Program from the University of California. I am energetic & a great communicator. My previous experience in the same position helped me build confidence and develop advanced skills for this position. I am trustworthy and punctual, and I can always be depended on to finish what I start. I also consider myself hardworking, reliable, dependable, helpful, outgoing, organized, honest and cooperative.

2. How Did You Hear About This Position?

Employers ask this question to ensure that the candidate has applied for this job by following the proper channel. But many candidates find this question tricky to answer. Here is a sample answer for this question –

Sample Answer

I am actively searching for a job and have seen your job circular online and found it suitable for me. After reviewing the application, I realized that it is completely compatible with my career planning, and I felt fit for this position, so I applied here.

3. Why do you consider yourself suitable for this job?

Employers ask this question to make sure that the candidate has the necessary skills and experience required for this position. To answer this question, you can follow the following sample –

Sample Answer

I think now is the time to move on to greater responsibilities in the workplace. I believe that the opportunity to work in your organization will develop my personality as well as my skills. Also, your organization will give me the opportunity to work in the same team with experienced professionals so that I will be able to give my full potential. I am confident that the opportunity to join here will enable me to advance myself in my career as well as contribute to the overall growth of the organization.

4. Why should we hire you?

Many candidates can not give a satisfactory answer to this question. Well, if you are one of them, you can read the following sample and arrange it as your own –

Sample Answer

Well, I have all of the skills and experience that you’re looking for, and I’m confident that I would be appropriate for this position. From my previous experience in different organizations, I learned how to multitask and prioritize responsibilities. Besides, my communication skills from working directly with senior managers make me more deserving for this job. I’d love nothing more than to join your team here and grow this business unit.

5. What are your strengths?

The second most Commonly Asked Job Interview Question (FAQs) after “introduce yourself” is “What are your strengths?”. By asking this question, the interviewers want to know about the soft skills and technical skills of the candidates. Here is a sample answer below –

Sample Answer

One of my strengths is my strong work ethic. When I commit to a deadline, I do whatever it takes to deliver. I am also a problem solver. In addition, I am a problem solver. I have the capacity to judge a situation from different aspects and can complete my task even when faced with difficulties. Also, I feel that my communication skills are top-notch. I feel just as comfortable presenting to senior executives to mediate a conflict between junior team members.

6. Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job?

Many candidates hesitated to answer this question as they don’t know what to say to answer the question. One this you should remember is that you do not scold your current employer in front of your potential employer. Hopefully, the following example will help you –

Read similar article – What makes employees happy and productive at work

Sample Answer

To be honest, my current job has taught me so many things. But I’ve found that this opportunity at your company is a better fit for where I want to take my career – specifically, collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop innovative products for your users.

7. What can you do for us that other candidates can’t?

Employers ask this question to know the confidence and interpersonal skills of a candidate. You should highlight your soft skills and leadership qualifications to make your interviewers satisfied with your answer to this question.

Sample Answer

I’m not sure what the other applicants you’re considering are capable of. I’m assuming you’re on the lookout for top talent for this role. Please allow me to explain what I can do for you. My qualifications and expertise are exactly what you’re looking for in this position. I am confident that with my professional experience and hard effort, I will be an excellent candidate for this position. Read more about the answer to this question here.

8. How Do You Deal With Pressure or Stressful Situations?

Another most Frequently Asked Job Interview Question (FAQs) is “how do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?”. This is the question where you can present your leadership skills. Here is a sample answer for you –

Sample Answer

Rather than reacting to stress, I attempt to respond to a situation. That way, I will deal with the problem without being too anxious. When I am dealing with a displeased client, for example, I concentrate on the work at hand instead of focusing on how anxious I am. During these times, I feel that my ability to communicate effectively with consumers aids in reducing my own stress. I believe it also relieves any stress that the consumer may be experiencing.

9. What Are Your Salary Expectations?

If you are an experienced professional, you should tell your expectation directly by adding 20% to 35% to your current salary. But if you are a fresher then you should go with their company policy. But, it is better to get an idea about their compensation package before going for the viva. You can learn about their compensation policy from the internet or anyone inside the company if you know him or her personally.

10. What Makes You Unique?

To answer this question, you should tell about your skills, experience and qualifications to the interviewers in an organized manner. Here is a sample answer to help you.

Sample Answer

I have excellent communication skills. For me, it is easy to relate to other people. I enjoy learning new things and am constantly seeking out new learning opportunities. I apply both logic and emotional aspects in equal proportion when solving problems. My prior experience in this field allowed me to understand the ins and outs of the industry and has provided me with unique technical skills that I can apply to this role.

11. Do You Consider Yourself Successful?

Many applicants are unable to provide an adequate response to this question. If you’re one of them, you may read the sample below and put it together as your own –

Sample Answer

Yes, I think of myself as a successful professional. I believe that my desire to take on new challenges and work hard will help me succeed. I was considered as one of the best performers in my previous office due to my hard work. However, my previous success has not made me arrogant. I am committed to working hard and taking on more challenges in future.

12. What’s Your Dream Job?

When the interviewer asks you about your dream job you should explain how you are planning to grow yourself aligning with their company. Here’s an example of a response to this question.

Sample Answer

I respect collaboration and communication. Therefore, I want to work in an environment where everyone is accountable and works well together. Also, I would love to work for a company like yours that makes time-saving and life-enriching products/services for society. Furthermore, I have always tried to be an optimistic person who believes in motivating people around him so that everyone will give their best every day. So, I dream of being a team leader someday, under which a whole team of responsible workers to deliver big projects maintain high-quality standards within the stipulated time duration.

13. What are your career goals?

This is pretty much similar to the above question. To answer this question, you should explain your long term and short term career goal as an employee of their company. Here is a sample answer you can see-

Sample Answer

My initial goal is to obtain a job in an organization like this one, where I can continue developing personally and professionally. I prefer taking on new challenges and am looking forward to situations where I may take on greater responsibility. In the end, I’d like to work my way up into management, focusing on strategy and development, and eventually into a long-term role where I can create a strong career. Ultimately, I’d like to build and manage larger teams and continue advancing as a leader.

14. What is your greatest strength?

The interviewers aim to know about the candidates’ soft skills and technical skills by asking this question. Below is an example of your answer to this question –

Sample Answer

I have extremely strong communication skills. I’ve worked as a counselor for five years in several industries. I’ve had to learn how to find the perfect balance between that creativity and analytics. I like to communicate with people. It is not too hard for me to give a speech as well. Perhaps, my confidence sterns from my strengths as a communicator.

15. What do you know about our company?

Job-seekers often face this question during job interviews. The employers ask this question to know if the candidate has any knowledge about the company and the job he or she has applied for. Therefore, before the interview, you must learn some basic information about the company and the job. You should search their website and social media sites to get the necessary information. If you are asked to say something about the company, you should highlight their product/service line, work culture, business process, reputation, legacy etc.

16. Where do you want to be in 5 years?

When an interviewer asks you about your professional ambitions for the next five years, they’re trying to figure out if you’ll stay with the firm for at least five years, if your goals align with what the employer can give, and so on. In order to respond to this interview question, you should be clear about your professional objectives, look for links between your goals and the job description, and consider if the firm can help you achieve your goals.

Sample Answer

My long-term goal for the next five years is to master my job and progress to a management position within my department. I was intrigued by your company’s tailored training strategy, which your website describes, and I am confident that this approach to training will help me to gain new skills and advance in this role. Over the following five years, I envision myself working on new and exciting initiatives at your firm, preparing me for a managerial position.

17. Do you have any questions?

This is a great opportunity to learn more about what you’ll do if it hasn’t already been thoroughly covered in the earlier part of the interview. Questions could include:

1. Can you share more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this role? How would you describe the pace of a typical day?
2. If I were hired for this role, what would you want me to achieve in my first two months?
3. What mechanisms are in place for performance reviews and when would I receive my first formal evaluation?
4. In your opinion, what is the single most important indicator of success in this role?

Summary of Job Interview FAQs

Interviewers ask some common questions (FAQs) during a job interview. By asking these questions they gain a sense of a candidate’s skills, abilities, and fundamental knowledge. While answering these questions, a candidate should consider the position and the company she or he applied for. The aim of this article is to give a general idea about the commonly asked interview questions. Candidates should not just memorize it and repeat it in their job interview.