Interview Questions About You

Interviewers will ask questions about you to gain insight into your personality, and to determine whether
you're a fit for both the job and the company.
• Tell me about yourself.
• What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness?
• Tell me about something that's not on your resume.
• How will your greatest strength help you perform?
• How do you handle failure? How do you handle success?
• Do you consider yourself successful? Why?
• How do you handle stress and pressure?
• How would you describe yourself?
• Are you willing to fail?
• Describe your work style.
• Do you work well with other people?
• How do you view yourself? Whom do you compare yourself to?
• How does this job fit in with your career plan?
• How would your co-workers describe your personality?
• Is there anything else we should know about you?
• What motivates you?
• What are you passionate about?
• What are your hobbies?
• What are your pet peeves?
Questions About Leaving Your Job
Employers almost always ask about why you left, or are leaving, your job. Be prepared with an
explanation for why you're moving on.
Questions About Qualifications
The most important thing for interviewers to determine is whether you're qualified for the job. Here's
what they will ask to find out.
• What applicable experience do you have?
• What strength will help you the most to succeed?
Questions About Job Performance
How you performed in previous roles can indicate how you will perform in the job for which you're
applying. Be prepared to answer questions about what you did well - and what you didn't.
• What do people most often criticize about you?
• What is the biggest criticism you received from your boss?
• What problems have you encountered at work?
• What strategies would you use to motivate your team?
• What would you be looking for in an applicant?
• Tell me about something you would have done differently at work.
• If the people who know you were asked why you should be hired, what would they say?
• What type of work environment do you prefer?
• How do you evaluate success?
• Describe a difficult work situation or project and how you overcame it.
• Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it.
Interview Questions About Your Work History
Is your work history stable, has it prepared you for the job you're interviewing for, and do you have any
gaps in your employment history that the company should be concerned about? Here's what you'll be
asked about.
• Questions about your work history.
• Questions about your resume.
• What were your expectations for the job and to what extent were they met?
• What were your responsibilities?
• What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them?
• What have you learned from your mistakes?
• What did you like or dislike about your previous job?
• Which was most / least rewarding?
• What was the biggest accomplishment / failure in this position?
Questions About Why You Should Be Hired
Why should you be hired over the other candidates? Here's when you'll have the opportunity to make the
case for getting a job offer.
• Why should we hire you?
• Why should we hire you instead of the other applicants for the job?
• Why are you the best person for the job?
• What can you contribute to this company?
Interview Questions About the New Job and the Company
What do you know about the company, why do you want the job, and what would you do if you were to
be hired, are just some of the questions you'll be asked about the position and employer.
• What interests you about this job?
• What do you know about this company?
• Why do you want to work here?
• What challenges are you looking for in a position?
• Are you willing to travel?
• When could you start work?
• Is there anything I haven't told you about the job or company that you would like to know?
Interview Questions About the Future
Are you going to stick around if you're hired is something most employers want to know. All these
questions will gauge your interest in making a commitment.
• What are you looking for in your next job? What is important to you?
• What is your professional development plan?
• Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
• Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
• What are your goals for the next five years / ten years?
• How do you plan to achieve your goals?
• What will you do if you don't get this position?
• Where else are you interviewing?
The Final Question
The last question you'll most likely be asked is whether you have any questions.
The last job interview question you may be asked is "What can I answer for you?" Have an interview
question or two of your own ready to ask. You aren't simply trying to get this job - you are also
interviewing the employer to assess whether this company and the position are a good fit for you.

This handout has been adapted from The Balance’s tips for job interviews
([Link] and is not my intellectual
property.