Interview Questions

We often get asked for examples of typical interview questions that might be asked in a job interview. So here we’ve listed examples of interview questions you might be asked and also provided you with some typical interview questions you can also ask.

Don’t forget to read our other guides on ‘How to Job Interview‘ and ‘How to write a CV‘.

Interview Questions you might be asked about your career to date:

What have been your achievements to date?
Are you happy with your career to date?
What do you like about your present job?
What do you dislike about your current role?
Why do you want to leave your current employer?
When were you most satisfied with your job?
Who has had the greatest impact on your career to date? Why?
What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
What will you miss about your present/last job?
What’s the most difficult decision you’ve made in the last two years?
What is the biggest problem you have faced recently and how you resolved it?
What example can you give me of when you feel you have been out of your depth?
Tell me about a time you’ve had to deal with conflict in your job.
What negative thing would your last boss say about you?

Interview Questions you might be asked about yourself:

Tell me about yourself…
Tell me the most difficult situation you have had to face and how you tackled it?
What are your strengths? & what are your weaknesses?
What kind of pressures have you encountered at work?
How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?
Are you a self-starter? Give me examples to demonstrate this.
How would your colleagues describe you?
How would you describe your workstyle?
What would your referees say about you?
What changes in the workplace have caused you difficulty and why?
What area of your skills do you want to improve?
What five adjectives would you use that best describe you? (Both in and out of the workplace).
What are three positive character traits you don’t have?
What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
List five words that describe your character.

Interview Questions you might be asked relating to the new employer:

What attracted you to this company?
What can you bring to this organisation?
What are you looking for in a company?
Why do you think you would like this role?
Where would you like to be in five years?
Why should I give this position to you instead of the other people on the shortlist?
Which part of this role is least attractive to you?
How do you feel about working long hours and/or weekends?
What do you look for in terms of culture in a company?
How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly with the team?
What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days of this job?
If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for?

Not-so-Typical Interview Questions You Might be Asked:

If you were an animal, what would you be?
There isn’t a right answer to this but if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be? Why?
Sell me this pencil.
Tell me the difference between good and exceptional.
What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?
What is your greatest achievement outside of work?
What do you do in your spare time?
Tell me the difference between good and exceptional.
If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?

Interview Questions for you to ask:

What will my responsibilities be?
How has the position become vacant?
How will you assess my performance?
How does the role fit into the structure of the department?
How does the department fit into the organisation as a whole?
Who will I report to and are there persons reporting to me?
Where does my line manager fit into the structure?
What encouragement is given to undertake further training?
Who are your customers?
Where is the company going? Expansion plans?
Where is the specific location of the position? Are there any plans to change this?
Will the position entail travelling?
How soon will you decide on the appointment?
What is the next step?