46 Common Interview Questions and Answers - The Muse
46 Common Interview Questions and Answers - The Muse
46 Common Interview Questions and Answers - The Muse
2020, 08(07
10'000 Hours/GettyImages
We canʼt read minds, unfortunately, but weʼll give you the next best thing:
a list of more than 40 of the most commonly asked interview questions,
along with advice for answering them all.
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Consider this list your interview question and answer study guide.
Classic Questions
These frequently asked questions touch on the essentials hiring
managers want to know about every candidate: who you are, why youʼre
a fit for the job, and what youʼre good at. You may not be asked exactly
these questions in exactly these words, but if you have answers in mind
for them, youʼll be prepared for just about anything the interviewer
throws your way.
This question seems simple, so many people fail to prepare for it, but itʼs
crucial. Here's the deal: Donʼt give your complete employment (or
personal) history. Instead give a pitch—one thatʼs concise and
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compelling and that shows exactly why youʼre the right fit for the job.
Muse writer and MIT career counselor Lily Zhang recommends using a
present, past, future formula. Talk a little bit about your current role
(including the scope and perhaps one big accomplishment), then give
some background as to how you got there and experience you have
thatʼs relevant. Finally, segue into why you want—and would be perfect
for—this role.
Read More: 3 Ways People Mess Up the (Simple) Answer to “How Did
You Come Across This Job Opportunity?”
Beware of generic answers! If what you say can apply to a whole slew of
other companies, or if your response makes you sound like every other
candidate, youʼre missing an opportunity to stand out. Zhang
recommends one of four strategies: Do your research and point to
something that makes the company unique that really appeals to you;
talk about how youʼve watched the company grow and change since you
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Read More: 4 Better Ways to Answer “Why Do You Want to Work at This
Company?”
Again, companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job,
so you should have a great answer about why you want the position. (And
if you donʼt? You probably should apply elsewhere.) First, identify a
couple of key factors that make the role a great fit for you (e.g., “I love
customer support because I love the constant human interaction and the
satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a problem”), then
share why you love the company (e.g., “Iʼve always been passionate
about education, and I think youʼre doing great things, so I want to be a
part of it”).
Read More: 3 Steps for Answering “Why Do You Want This Job?”
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and how you behaved in real time in actual work environments. If you
prep a few versatile stories to tell about your work history and practice
answering behavioral interview questions, youʼll be ready to go.
Nothing says “hire me” better than a track record of achieving amazing
results in past jobs, so donʼt be shy when answering this interview
question! A great way to do so is by using the STAR method: situation,
task, action, results. Set up the situation and the task that you were
required to complete to provide the interviewer with background context
(e.g., “In my last job as a junior analyst, it was my role to manage the
invoicing process”), then describe what you did (the action) and what
you achieved (the result): “In one month, I streamlined the process,
which saved my group 10 person-hours each month and reduced errors
on invoices by 25%.”
Read More: The Perfect Formula for Answering “What Is Your Greatest
Accomplishment” in an Interview
Youʼre probably not eager to talk about conflicts youʼve had at work
during a job interview. But if youʼre asked directly, donʼt pretend youʼve
never had one. Be honest about a difficult situation youʼve faced (but
without going into the kind of detail youʼd share venting to a friend).
“Most people who ask are only looking for evidence that youʼre willing to
face these kinds of issues head-on and make a sincere attempt at
coming to a resolution,” former recruiter Rich Moy says. Stay calm and
professional as you tell the story (and answer any follow-up questions),
spend more time talking about the resolution than the conflict, and
mention what youʼd do differently next time to show “youʼre open to
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Read More: 3 Ways Youʼre Messing Up the Answer to, “Tell Me About a
Conflict Youʼve Faced at Work”
You donʼt have to have a fancy title to act like a leader or demonstrate
leadership skills. Think about a time when you headed up a project, took
the initiative to propose an alternate process, or helped motivate your
team to get something done. Then use the STAR method to tell your
interviewer a story, giving enough detail to paint a picture (but not so
much that you start rambling) and making sure you spell out the result. In
other words, be clear about why youʼre telling this particular story and
connect all the dots for the interviewer.
Read More: The Best Way to Answer “Tell Me About a Time You
Demonstrated Leadership Skills” in a Job Interview
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for.
Read More: Hereʼs the Secret to Answering “Tell Me About a Time You
Had a Conflict With Your Boss” in an Interview
Youʼre probably not too eager to dig into past blunders when youʼre
trying to impress an interviewer and land a job. But talking about a
mistake and winning someone over arenʼt mutually exclusive, Moy says.
In fact, if you do it right, it can help you. The key is to be honest without
placing blame on other people, then explain what you learned from your
mistake and what actions you took to ensure it didnʼt happen again. At
the end of the day, employers are looking for folks who are self-aware,
can take feedback, and care about doing better.
Read More: 3 Rules That Guarantee You'll Nail the Answer to “Tell Me
About a Time You Made a Mistake”
This question is very similar to the one about making a mistake, and you
should approach your answer in much the same way. Make sure you pick
a real, actual failure you can speak honestly about. Start by making it
clear to the interviewer how you define failure. For example: “As a
manager, I consider it a failure whenever Iʼm caught by surprise. I strive
to know whatʼs going on with my team and their work.” Then situate the
example in relation to that definition and explain what happened. Finally,
donʼt forget to share what you learned. Itʼs OK to fail—everyone does
sometimes—but itʼs important to show that you took something from the
experience.
Read More: 4 Steps for Answering “Tell Me About a Time When You
Failed”
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This is a toughie, but one you can be sure youʼll be asked. Definitely keep
things positive—you have nothing to gain by being negative about your
current employer. Instead, frame things in a way that shows that youʼre
eager to take on new opportunities and that the role youʼre interviewing
for is a better fit for you. For example, “Iʼd really love to be part of product
development from beginning to end, and I know Iʼd have that opportunity
here.” And if you were let go from your most recent job? Keep it simple:
“Unfortunately, I was let go,” is a totally acceptable answer.
Read More: 4 Better Ways to Answer “Why Are You Leaving Your Job?”
Of course, they may ask the follow-up question: Why were you let go? If
you lost your job due to layoffs, you can simply say, “The company
[reorganized/merged/was acquired] and unfortunately my
[position/department] was eliminated.” But what if you were fired for
performance reasons? Your best bet is to be honest (the job-seeking
world is small, after all). But it doesnʼt have to be a deal breaker. Frame it
as a learning experience: Share how youʼve grown and how you approach
your job and life now as a result. And if you can portray your growth as an
advantage for this next job, even better.
Read More: Stop Cringing! How to Tell an Interviewer You've Been Fired
Maybe you were taking care of children or aging parents, dealing with
health issues, or traveling the world. Maybe it just took you a long time to
land the right job. Whatever the reason, you should be prepared to
discuss the gap (or gaps) on your resume. Seriously, practice saying your
answer out loud. The key is to be honest, though that doesnʼt mean you
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have to share more details than youʼre comfortable with. If there are skills
or qualities you honed or gained in your time away from the workforce—
whether through volunteer work, running a home, or responding to a
personal crisis—you can also talk about how those would help you excel
in this role.
Read More: How to Explain the Gap in Your Resume With Ease
Donʼt be thrown off by this question—just take a deep breath and explain
to the hiring manager why youʼve made the career decisions you have.
More importantly, give a few examples of how your past experience is
transferable to the new role. This doesnʼt have to be a direct connection;
in fact, itʼs often more impressive when a candidate can show how
seemingly irrelevant experience is very relevant to the role.
Itʼs now illegal for some or all employers to ask you about your salary
history in several cities and states, including New York City; Louisville,
North Carolina; California; and Massachusetts. But no matter where you
live, it can be stressful to hear this question. Donʼt panic—there are
several possible strategies you can turn to. For example, you can deflect
the question, Muse career coach Emily Liou says, with a response like:
“Before discussing any salary, Iʼd really like to learn more about what this
role entails. Iʼve done a lot of research on [Company] and I am certain if
itʼs the right fit, weʼll be able to agree on a number thatʼs fair and
competitive to both parties.” You can also reframe the question around
your salary expectations or requirements (see question 38) or choose to
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Read More: Here's How You Answer the Illegal “What's Your Current
Salary” Question
Tread carefully here! The last thing you want to do is let your answer
devolve into a rant about how terrible your current company is or how
much you hate your boss or that one coworker. The easiest way to handle
this question with poise is to focus on an opportunity the role youʼre
interviewing for offers that your current job doesnʼt. You can keep the
conversation positive and emphasize why youʼre so excited about the
job.
Read More: What Interviewers Really Want When They Ask, “What Do
You Like Least About Your Job?”
Hint: Ideally the same things that this position has to offer. Be specific.
Read More: 4 Steps for Answering “What Are You Looking for in a New
Position?”
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Hint: Ideally one that's similar to the environment of the company you're
applying to. Be specific.
The best managers are strong but flexible, and thatʼs exactly what you
want to show off in your answer. (Think something like, “While every
situation and every team member requires a bit of a different strategy, I
tend to approach my employee relationships as a coach...”) Then share a
couple of your best managerial moments, like when you grew your team
from five to 15 or coached an underperforming employee to become the
companyʼs top salesperson.
First of all, be honest (remember, if you make it to the final round, the
hiring manager will be calling your former bosses and coworkers for
references!). Then try to pull out strengths and traits you havenʼt
discussed in other aspects of the interview, such as your strong work
ethic or your willingness to pitch in on other projects when needed.
Hereʼs another question you may feel the urge to sidestep in an effort to
prove youʼre the perfect candidate who can handle anything. But itʼs
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important not to dismiss this one (i.e. donʼt say “I just put my head down
and push through it” or “I donʼt get stressed out”). Instead, talk about
your go-to strategies for dealing with stress (whether itʼs meditating for
10 minutes every day or making sure you go for a run or keeping a super-
detailed to-do list) and how you communicate and otherwise proactively
try to mitigate pressure. If you can give a real example of a stressful
situation you navigated successfully, all the better.
Read More: 3 Ways Youʼre Messing Up the Answer to “How Do You Deal
With Stressful Situations?”
Questions about your family status, gender (“How would you handle
managing a team of all men?”), nationality (“Where were you born?”),
religion, or age are illegal—but they still get asked (and frequently). Of
course, not always with ill intent—the interviewer might just be trying to
make conversation and might not realize these are off-limits—but you
should definitely tie any questions about your personal life (or anything
else you think might be inappropriate) back to the job at hand. For this
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question, think: “You know, Iʼm not quite there yet. But I am very
interested in the career paths at your company. Can you tell me more
about that?”
Your interviewers want to know that you can manage your time, exercise
judgement, communicate, and shift gears when needed. Start by talking
about whatever system youʼve found works for you to plan your day or
week, whether itʼs a to-do list app you swear by or a color-coded
spreadsheet. This is one where youʼll definitely want to lean on a real-life
example. So go on to describe how youʼve reacted to a last-minute
request or another unexpected shift in priorities in the past, incorporating
how you evaluated and decided what to do and how you communicated
with your manager and/or teammates about it.
Youʼre not a robot programmed to do your work and then power down.
Youʼre a human, and if someone asks you this question in an interview,
itʼs probably because they want to get to know you better. The answer
can align directly with the type of work youʼd be doing in that role—like if,
for example, youʼre applying to be a graphic designer and spend all of
your free time creating illustrations and data visualizations to post on
Instagram.
But donʼt be afraid to talk about a hobby thatʼs different from your day-
to-day work. Bonus points if you can “take it one step further and
connect how your passion would make you an excellent candidate for the
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role you are applying for,” says Muse career coach Al Dea. Like if youʼre a
software developer who loves to bake, you might talk about how the
ability to be both creative and precise informs your approach to code.
Before you panic about answering what feels like a probing existential
question, consider that the interviewer wants to make sure youʼre excited
about this role at this company, and that youʼll be motivated to succeed if
they pick you. So think back to what has energized you in previous roles
and pinpoint what made your eyes light up when you read this job
description. Pick one thing, make sure itʼs relevant to the role and
company youʼre interviewing for, and try to weave in a story to help
illustrate your point. If youʼre honest, which you should be, your
enthusiasm will be palpable.
Hereʼs another one that feels like a minefield. But itʼll be easier to
navigate if you know why an interviewer is asking it. Most likely, they want
to make sure youʼll thrive at their company—and get a glimpse of how
you deal with conflict. So be certain you pick something that doesnʼt
contradict the culture and environment at this organization while still
being honest. Then explain why and what youʼve done to address it in the
past, doing your best to stay calm and composed. Since thereʼs no need
to dwell on something that annoys you, you can keep this response short
and sweet.
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Read More: 6 Tips for Answering “What Are Your Pet Peeves?” in an
Interview
This is another one of those questions thatʼs about finding the right fit—
both from the companyʼs perspective and your own. Think back on what
worked well for you in the past and what didnʼt. What did previous
bosses do that motivated you and helped you succeed and grow? Pick
one or two things to focus on and always articulate them with a positive
framing (even if your preference comes from an experience where your
manager behaved in the opposite way, phrase it as what you would want
a manager to do). If you can give a positive example from a great boss,
itʼll make your answer even stronger.
If asked this question, be honest and specific about your future goals,
but consider this: A hiring manager wants to know a) if you've set realistic
expectations for your career, b) if you have ambition (a.k.a., this interview
isn't the first time youʼre considering the question), and c) if the position
aligns with your goals and growth. Your best bet is to think realistically
about where this position could take you and answer along those lines.
And if the position isnʼt necessarily a one-way ticket to your aspirations?
Itʼs OK to say that youʼre not quite sure what the future holds, but that
you see this experience playing an important role in helping you make
that decision.
Along similar lines, the interviewer wants to uncover whether this position
is really in line with your ultimate career goals. While “an NBA star” might
get you a few laughs, a better bet is to talk about your goals and
ambitions—and why this job will get you closer to them.
Companies might ask you who else youʼre interviewing with for a few
reasons. Maybe they want to see how serious you are about this role and
team (or even this field) or theyʼre trying to find out who theyʼre
competing with to hire you. On one hand, you want to express your
enthusiasm for this job, but at the same time, you donʼt want to give the
company any more leverage than it already has by telling them thereʼs no
one else in the running. Depending on where you are in your search, you
can talk about applying to or interviewing for a few roles that have XYZ in
common—then mention how and why this role seems like a particularly
good fit.
“They genuinely want to know the answer,” Dea promises. Give them a
reason to pick you over other similar candidates. The key is to keep your
answer relevant to the role youʼre applying to. So the fact that you can
run a six-minute mile or crush a trivia challenge might not help you get
the job (but hey, it depends on the job!). Use this opportunity to tell them
something that would give you an edge over your competition for this
position. To figure out what that is, you can ask some former colleagues,
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think back to patterns youʼve seen in feedback you get, or try to distill
why people tend to turn to you. Focus on one or two things and donʼt
forget to back up whatever you say with evidence.
Read More: A Simple Way to Answer “What Makes You Unique?” in Your
Job Search (Plus, Examples!)
Read More: The Right Way to Answer “What Should I Know Thatʼs Not
on Your Resume?”
37. What Would Your First 30, 60, or 90 Days Look Like
in This Role?
Your potential future boss (or whoever else has asked you this question)
wants to know that youʼve done your research, given some thought to
how youʼd get started, and would be able to take initiative if hired. So
think about what information and aspects of the company and team
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youʼd need to familiarize yourself with and which colleagues youʼd want
to sit down and talk to. You can also suggest one possible starter project
to show youʼd be ready to hit the ground running and contribute early on.
This wonʼt necessarily be the thing you do first if you do get the job, but a
good answer shows that youʼre thoughtful and that you care.
Read More: The 30-60-90 Day Plan: Your Secret Weapon for New Job
Success
The #1 rule of answering this question is doing your research on what you
should be paid by using sites like Payscale and reaching out to your
network. Youʼll likely come up with a range, and we recommend stating
the highest number in that range that applies, based on your experience,
education, and skills. Then make sure the hiring manager knows that
you're flexible. You're communicating that you know your skills are
valuable, but that you want the job and are willing to negotiate.
You can also try to deflect or delay giving a number, especially if you get
this question very early in the process, by saying something like, “I was
hoping to get a sense of what range/band you had in mind for this role”
or, as Liou suggests, “Before discussing any salary, Iʼd really like to learn
more about what this role entails.”
This question can really do a number on you. How do you give a meaty
answer without insulting the company or, worse, the person youʼre
speaking with? Well first, take a deep breath. Then start your response
with something positive about the company or specific product youʼve
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Read More: How to Answer the "How Would You Improve Our
Company?" Interview Question Without Bashing Anyone
Your goal here should be to set realistic expectations that will work for
both you and the company. What exactly that sounds like will depend on
your specific situation. If youʼre ready to start immediately—if youʼre
unemployed, for example—you could offer to start within the week. But if
you need to give notice to your current employer, donʼt be afraid to say
so; people will understand and respect that you plan to wrap things up
right. Itʼs also legitimate to want to take a break between jobs, though
you might want to say you have “previously scheduled commitments to
attend to” and try to be flexible if they really need someone to start a bit
sooner.
Read More: 4 Ways to Answer the Interview Question “When Can You
Start?”
While this may sound like a simple yes-or-no question, itʼs often a little bit
more complicated than that. The simplest scenario is one where youʼre
totally open to moving and would be willing to do so for this opportunity.
But if the answer is no, or at least not right now, you can reiterate your
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enthusiasm for the role, briefly explain why you canʼt move at this time,
and offer an alternative, like working remotely or out of a local office.
Sometimes itʼs not as clear-cut, and thatʼs OK. You can say you prefer to
stay put for xyz reasons, but would be willing to consider relocating for
the right opportunity.
42. How Many Tennis Balls Can You Fit Into a Limousine?
1,000? 10,000? 100,000? Seriously? Well, seriously, you might get asked
brain-teaser questions like these, especially in quantitative jobs. But
remember that the interviewer doesnʼt necessarily want an exact number
—they want to make sure that you understand whatʼs being asked of you,
and that you can set into motion a systematic and logical way to respond.
So take a deep breath and start thinking through the math. (Yes, itʼs OK
to ask for a pen and paper!)
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your feet. Thereʼs no wrong answer here, but youʼll immediately gain
bonus points if your answer helps you share your strengths or personality
or connect with the hiring manager. Pro tip: Come up with a stalling tactic
to buy yourself some thinking time, such as saying, “Now, that is a great
question. I think I would have to say…”
If youʼre interviewing for a sales job, your interviewer might put you on
the spot to sell them a pen sitting on the table, or a legal pad, or a water
bottle, or just something. The main thing theyʼre testing you for? How you
handle a high-pressure situation. So try to stay calm and confident and
use your body language—making eye contact, sitting up straight, and
more—to convey that you can handle this. Make sure you listen,
understand your “customerʼs” needs, get specific about the itemʼs
features and benefits, and end strong—as though you were truly closing
a deal.
Wrapping-Up Questions
When it comes time for the interview to wind down, you might have a
chance to add any last thoughts and youʼll almost certainly have time to
ask the questions that will help you decide if this company and role might
be great for you. In fact, if they donʼt leave time for you to ask any
questions at any of your interviews, that might be a red flag in itself.
Just when you thought you were done, your interviewer asks you this
open-ended doozy. Donʼt panic—itʼs not a trick question! You can use
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Read More: How to Answer “Is There Anything Else Youʼd Like Us to
Know?”
You probably already know that an interview isnʼt just a chance for a
hiring manager to grill you—itʼs an opportunity to sniff out whether a job
is the right fit from your perspective. What do you want to know about
the position? The company? The department? The team? Youʼll cover a
lot of this in the actual interview, so have a few less-common questions
ready to go. We especially like questions targeted to the interviewer
(“What's your favorite part about working here?") or the company's
growth (“What can you tell me about your new products or plans for
growth?")
Bonus Questions
Looking for more interview questions? Check out these lists of questions
(and example answers!) for different types of interviews.
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