In this post, I’m going to show you the top common Interview Questions with answers that work
(Step-by-step)
In fact, these interview questions with answers have helped a lot of job seekers in their interview process.
Interview questions can be very tricky if you’ve not taken your time to prepare very well for it and also done proper research.
Here, we present frequently asked common interview questions with answers for entry-level or experienced candidates.
10 Frequently asked Interview Questions with Answers
Tell me about yourself
When it comes to getting interview questions one of the most likely interview questions you would ask is “Tell me about yourself”. Tell me about yourself is one of the easiest interview questions to be asked yet the trickiest if not answered properly.
Tell me about yourself is an open-ended question whereby you are allowing expressing yourself but don’t be carried away, the trick here is that the interviewer demands you to channel your expression specifically towards the intending job you are applying for instead of going into details about your existence from childbirth and so on.
How to answer tell me about yourself question
Just as said earlier on, interview questions are sometimes tricky and tell me about yourself is one of the trickiest interview questions you would ever come across when being interviewed.
The best way to answer this question is to be specific and also to be observant. Be specific in the sense that though tell me about yourself is an open-ended interview question, you should only give an expression of yourself regarding the job and say very little about your personal self though not really necessary.
Be observant in the sense that you should pay close attention to the interviewer at most times. Paying close attention to an interviewer is also one of the key things to keep in mind while answering interview questions. The interviewer’s mood should tell if you are in tune or not.
Example of how to answer tell me about yourself interview question
I am a graduate of Accounting from the University of Lagos. I have had two internships in two different banking industries, first at Guarantee Trust Bank where I work with the accounting team, and second with First Bank of Nigeria where I also work with the accounting team. I have spent over 5 years developing my skills as an Account and with my certificate and also my experience I strongly believe am ready to take up a more challenging responsibility in your bank as an Accountant.
Why did you choose this career?
Just like many other interview questions, the interviewer is trying to understand what prompted you in selecting this career. It is a good interview question for the interviewer to know how much effort and plan went into your career selection. Was it well planned or you selected it by random acts?
You should spend time considering this interview question as one of the interview questions that you might be asked. You need to think about all the factors which influenced you in selecting this career in advance so that you won’t be caught unaware when asked this interview question.
Example of how to answer why did you choose this career interview question
They were many factors that influenced me to choose this career. I have always been a tech enthusiast back in my high school days, doing very well in computer classes and also graduated with a high grade as a Computer Scientist. Since I already have a solid background in computer-related courses, selecting web development as a career is one of the best choices I have ever made. I have successfully done diverse personal web development projects and also work with three different companies as their remote web developer.
Tell me about your strengths
When asked to tell me about your strengths as part of interview questions you should calm down and don’t get too comfortable bragging a lot. You should try convening your answer to the interviewer in a communicative manner instead of a boastful one.
Besides, just like other interview questions, you should always ensure that whatever you are saying should have a link with the job you are looking for, so don’t go beating around the bush while answering interview questions.
Another thing to note, so many interviewees are fond of giving fake answers, don’t think interviewers aren’t smart, you might get a follow-up question like “Can you give me an example of how you have used this strength in your past job(s)?”. So only give answers to interview questions you know you can comfortably defend.
Example of how to answer tell me about yourself interview question
Good question, I have quite some strengths and I wouldn’t want to bore you listing them all but my strengths are good communication skills as I can easily communicate with staff and customers with ease, dedication and enthusiasm as I am always dedicated to whatever I do and enthusiastic as well, ability to learn from mistakes, etc.
Tell me about your weaknesses
You are applying for a job and then being asked to talk about your weaknesses sounds awkward right? The thing you should know is that the interviewer is trying to figure out three major things from these interview questions
- Whether you are aware of the weakness(es)
- Whether you are honest about it
- Whether you are improving or seek to improve
The confusing part of answering this interview question is how to actually answer it without making it such a big threat to the intending job you are applying for. Still, it is very advisable, to be honest, and avoid giving cliché answers to this interview question or any interview questions.
Example of how to answer tell me about your weaknesses interview question
Speaking with lots of crowds makes me really nervous most times, even though I do not have to do a lot of public speaking as an accountant, I still find it a weakness because it is very important. I once discussed this with my former manager and told him to make me address the accounting team whenever we have meetings which helped a lot and am still working on improving myself on this.
Why should we hire you?
Interviewees are always confused whenever they are asked this interview question. The best thing to do is to answer the interview question as simple as possible. All you need do is to convince the interviewer why you are the right candidate for the job. Don’t be too in haste to throw the answer back at the interviewer, you seriously need to calm down and find a way to describe yourself to be distinct and a special fit for the job compared to others that would also pass through some interview questions.
Remember to stay away from answers that will remind the interviewer of your lack of experience and probably not the best fit for the job
Examples of how to answer why should we hire you interview question
I believe that my experience as a graphics designer for about 5 years makes me the best fit for this job. At my previous company, I was able to increase the company sales rate by 25% from quality designs used for our product marketing, and I believe I will bring that same initiative into this company too if I am given the opportunity.
Why did you leave your former job?
This interview question could be very tempting especially when you are applying for the same position in a new company as that of your former company.
In as much as you might be tempted to be open to say so many bad things about your former company, you should try as much as possible to disregard those as they are not really necessary while answering interview questions.
You shouldn’t bad-mouth your former company, insult your former employer, or say harsh words about your former company because the interviewer would think that you might be a not-so-good worker as well.
Example of how to answer why did you leave your former job interview question
My company was facing heavy financial issues then that made it lose so many big clients at the time of the financial issues. Some positions were dissolved for the company to recuperate and my position happened to be one of those dissolved. I was happy at my former company and believe I will also be happy with this one too.
What do you like least about your former job?
This interview question is also similar to the previously mentioned interview question “Why did you leave your former job”. This type of question can be something of a trap when it comes to interviewing questions because the interviewer is trying to make you say negative things about your former job but don’t be too open to accidentally talk yourself out of a job.
The reason why you are asked this interview question is to know if you are going to be satisfied with the job for which you are being interviewed. If you were not satisfied before there is a tendency that you might not be satisfied as well if the circumstances are similar.
Example of how to answer what do you like least about your former job interview question
I love challenges a lot and they tend to bring the best out of me but I kept on getting repetitive jobs which got me bored over and over again.
How would your boss describe you?
In as much as there are so many interview questions out there, there is a big possibility that you might be asked this “How would your last boss describe you?”.
Whenever you are asked that interview question the interviewer indirectly wants to know how good and fit you are at your former job. So, feel free to give a story about your recommendation(s) with your former boss, how you enjoyed working with him, how he sees your performance and how well you would also fit in this new job you are applying for.
Keep in mind that while expressing yourself when answering interview questions, avoid bragging too much, and also avoid bad-mouthing your former boss or company, which will reduce your chances of getting the job.
Example of how to answer how would your last boss describe you interview question
My last boss would describe me as a problem solver because I love and accept challenges. Whenever there is a new project we are working on and probably what the company is not fond of doing, I do take that up as a challenge to ensure it becomes a success.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
This is another tricky interview question. One thing you should have in mind whenever you are asked this question is that interviewers don’t ask this interview question because they are really interested in what you want to achieve with your life in the next five years.
Also Read: How to Get a Job Without Experience (4 Proven Strategies)
Indirectly, he/she wants to know if your vision aligns with that of the company and how long you intend to stay and grow with the company.
Example of how to answer where do you see yourself in 5 years interview question
“In 5 years, I would like to get to the point of mastery in my position at this company, which should then, in turn, propel me for either expanded responsibilities or possible future promotion.
What is your salary expectation?
This interview question needs to be answered with caution. Don’t be too in hurry to just mention any salary range of your choice.
You should know that the company has a budget for that particular position so it is best you make inquires about the company’s budget regarding your position to avoid giving a budget that weighs above what the company intends to pay. Also, try keeping the budget in a range if you are unaware of what the company is paying for that position.
Example of how to what is your salary expectation interview question
While I am certainly flexible for proper negotiation, I am looking forward to receiving between #100,000 – #150,000 monthly. Based on my experience and skills, I believe the range is a comfortable and appropriate one for my position.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed my guide on Interview Questions with Answers.
Now I’d like to hear what you have to say:
Which tip from today’s guide do you want to try first?
Are you going to apply for more jobs?
Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.
92 Comments
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But in some interview questions that I have seen, they said it’s adviceable not to mention any amount based on the salary question. What is your take on that please?
First, you should have an idea of what the company pays for the job, or the average salary for the job. After that make a range of what you desire as salary.
Read this post for clarity – Best Way to Answer “What is Your Desired Salary?”
You should also avoid giving a value if you don’t have an idea of what is being paid for the job.
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