Most common job interview questions

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. Walk me through your resume.
3. How did you hear about this position?
4. Why do you want to work at this company?
5. Why do you want this job?
6. Why should we hire you?
7. What can you bring to the company?
8. What are your greatest strengths?
9. What do you consider to be your weaknesses?
10. What is your greatest professional achievement?
11. Tell me about a challenge or conflict you’ve faced at work, and how
you dealt with it.
12. Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership skills.
13. What’s a time you disagreed with a decision that was made at work?
14. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.
15. Tell me about a time you failed.
16. Why are you leaving your current job?
17. Why were you fired?
18. Why was there a gap in your employment?
19. Can you explain why you changed career paths?
20. What’s your current salary?
21. What do you like least about your job?
22. What are you looking for in a new position?
23. What type of work environment do you prefer?
24. What’s your work style?
25. What’s your management style?
26. How would your boss and coworkers describe you?
27. How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
28. What do you like to do outside of work?
29. Are you planning on having children?
30. How do you stay organized?
31. How do you prioritize your work?
32. What are you passionate about?
33. What motivates you?
34. What are your pet peeves?
35. How do you like to be managed?
36. Do you consider yourself successful?
37. Where do you see yourself in five years?
38. How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
39. What are your career aspirations?
40. What’s your dream job?
 41. What other companies are you interviewing with?
42. What makes you unique?
43. What should I know that’s not on your resume?
44. What would your first few months look like in this role?
45. What are your salary expectations?
46. What do you think we could do better or differently?
47. When can you start?
48. Are you willing to relocate?
49. How many tennis balls can you fit into a limousine?
50. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
51. Sell me this pen.
52. Is there anything else you’d like us to know?
53. Do you have any questions for us?

Terjemah

1. Ceritakan tentang diri Anda.

2. Pandu saya membaca resume Anda.
3. Bagaimana Anda mendengar tentang posisi ini?
4. Mengapa Anda ingin bekerja di perusahaan ini?
5. Mengapa Anda menginginkan pekerjaan ini?
6. Mengapa kami harus mempekerjakan Anda?
7. Apa yang dapat Anda bawa ke perusahaan?
8. Apa kekuatan terbesar Anda?
9. Apa yang Anda anggap sebagai kelemahan Anda?
10. Apa pencapaian profesional terbesar Anda?
11. Ceritakan tentang tantangan atau konflik yang Anda hadapi di tempat
kerja, dan bagaimana Anda mengatasinya.
12. Ceritakan pada saya saat Anda menunjukkan keterampilan
kepemimpinan.
13. Kapan Anda tidak setuju dengan keputusan yang dibuat di tempat
kerja?
14. Ceritakan pada saya saat Anda melakukan kesalahan.
15. Ceritakan pada saya saat Anda gagal.
16. Mengapa Anda meninggalkan pekerjaan Anda saat ini?
17. Mengapa Anda dipecat?
18. Mengapa ada kesenjangan dalam pekerjaan Anda?
19. Bisakah Anda menjelaskan mengapa Anda mengubah jalur karier?
20. Berapa gaji Anda saat ini?
21. Apa yang paling tidak Anda sukai dari pekerjaan Anda?
22. Apa yang Anda cari di posisi baru?
23. Jenis lingkungan kerja apa yang Anda sukai?
24. Apa gaya kerja Anda?
25. Apa gaya manajemen Anda?
26. Bagaimana atasan dan rekan kerja Anda menggambarkan Anda?
27. Bagaimana Anda menghadapi tekanan atau situasi stres?
28. Apa yang ingin Anda lakukan di luar pekerjaan?
29. Apakah Anda berencana mempunyai anak?
30. Bagaimana Anda tetap terorganisir?
31. Bagaimana Anda memprioritaskan pekerjaan Anda?
32. Apa yang Anda sukai?
33. Apa yang memotivasi Anda?
34. Apa yang membuat hewan peliharaanmu kesal?
35. Bagaimana Anda ingin dikelola?
36. Apakah Anda menganggap diri Anda sukses?
37. Di mana Anda melihat diri Anda dalam lima tahun ke depan?
38. Bagaimana Anda berencana untuk mencapai tujuan karir Anda?
39. Apa cita-cita karir Anda?
40. Apa pekerjaan impian Anda?
41. Perusahaan lain apa yang Anda wawancarai?
42. Apa yang membuat Anda unik?
43. Apa yang harus saya ketahui yang tidak ada dalam resume Anda?
44. Seperti apa bulan-bulan pertama Anda dalam peran ini?
45. Berapa ekspektasi gaji Anda?
46. Menurut Anda apa yang bisa kita lakukan dengan lebih baik atau
berbeda?
47. Kapan Anda bisa mulai?
48. Apakah Anda bersedia pindah?
49. Berapa banyak bola tenis yang dapat Anda masukkan ke dalam
limusin?
50. Jika kamu adalah seekor binatang, kamu ingin menjadi binatang
yang manakah?
51. Jual pena ini kepada saya.
52. Apakah ada hal lain yang Anda ingin kami ketahui?
53. Apakah Anda memiliki pertanyaan untuk kami?
1. Tell me about yourself

Arti: Ceritakan dirimu.

Ini adalah pertanyaan interview bahasa Inggris yang paling sering

ditanyakan.

Pastikan kamu tidak memberikan informasi yang terlalu detail dan terlalu
singkat tentang dirimu ketika menjawab pertanyaan ini, seperti ditulis The
Balance Careers.

Contoh jawaban:

My name is Fatia Sahrah. I am twenty five years old.

I’ve been working as a software engineer in two tech companies in Jakarta.

There, I learned a lot about software.

After office hours, I used to join some software engineer classes to

upgrade my skill. I’ve been loving things related to technology since I was
in high school.

2. Tell me about your work experience

Arti: Ceritakan tentang pengalaman kerjamu.

Pengalaman kerja adalah pertanyaan wajib ditanyakan oleh rekruter di
setiap wawancara guna untuk mengenal secara detail pekerjaanmu
sebelum-sebelumnya.

Namun, mungkin banyak yang masih bingung bagaimana merangkai kata-

kata yang baik saat menjawab hal ini.

Nah, mengutip Jacqueline, saat kita sebenarnya mengerti pertanyaan yang

diberikan, tapi tidak tahu cara mengungkapkannya, kita bisa cari padanan
kata yang mirip.

Contoh jawaban:

I have 4 years of experience in advertising. Previously, I worked at an

agency and handled more than 50 clients.

As an advertising specialist, I made advertising concepts with the clients

and helped them to achieve their goals.

One of my biggest clients was a top FMCG company in Indonesia. At that

time, I finished a big project with a limited budget.

3. Tell me about your education

Arti: Ceritakan tentang pendidikanmu.

Contoh jawaban:

I graduated from the Faculty of Business and Economics University of Maju

Pendidikan, majoring in Management. There, I learned a lot about
marketing, finance, human resources, and operations management.

I also participated in some clubs to improve my soft skills and

competitions.

4. Why do you want this job?

Arti: Mengapa kamu menginginkan pekerjaan ini?

Contoh jawaban:

Graphic design is in my blood. I have loved to visualize things around me

since elementary school. Then, I joined some courses to improve my
design skill.

Until now, I have worked with some companies to help them with my
design. They all are satisfied with my design.

Now, I hope I can also help your company to visualize your needs. This
company has the same vision as me: education. I want to visualize our
vision together.

5. What do you know about this company?

Arti: Apa yang kamu ketahui tentang perusahaan ini?

Contoh jawaban:

Your company is a fast-growing startup that focuses on e-wallet for

millennials. Since its establishment, your company has gained several
achievements, awards, and milestones.

I also like the way you market your services and approach your target
market.

6. What is your greatest strength?

Arti: Apa kelebihan terbesarmu?

Contoh jawaban:

I’m a natural problem-solver. I find it rewarding to dig deep and uncover

solutions to challenges—it’s like solving a puzzle. It’s something I’ve always
excelled at and something I enjoy.
Much of product development is about finding innovative solutions to
challenging issues, which is what drew me to this career path in the first
place.

7. What is your greatest weakness?

Arti: Apa kekurangan terbesarmu?

Pertanyaan interview bahasa Inggris yang satu ini cukup menjebak.

Dikutip dari The Muse, kamu harus menjawabnya dengan jujur. Namun,
kamu perlu menambahkan caramu dalam mengatasi kekurangan tersebut.

Contoh jawaban:

My greatest weakness is I often lose focus when I am occupied with so

many tasks. To overcome this, I came up with a to-do list and time-
management system that allows me to organize all my tasks.

8. Who has impacted you most in your career?

Arti: Siapa yang paling berpengaruh dalam kariermu?

Contoh jawaban:

My father. He was a senior journalist for a national mass media company.

When he was a journalist, I saw him trying hard to get the information as
clear as possible, so people might know the truth. He is my inspiration to
be a dedicated journalist.

Baca Juga: Jawaban Tepat Pertanyaan Interview Kegagalan Terbesar

dalam Hidup

9. Tell me how you think other people would describe you

Arti: Ceritakan bagaimana menurutmu orang lain akan mendeskripsikan

dirimu.
Contoh jawaban:

I think people would say that what I see is what I get. If I say I will do
something, I do it. If I say I will help, I help.

I’m not sure that everyone likes me, but they all know they can count on
what I say and how hard I work.

10. Do you find it difficult to adapt to new situations?

Arti: Apakah kamu kesulitan untuk beradaptasi di situasi yang baru?

Contoh jawaban:

Adaptation is not easy. Of course I will find it difficult to adapt at the

beginning.

Based on previous experience, I feel like I’m starting to adapt after working
for 1 week.

11. How do you manage stress and pressure?

Arti: Bagaimana kamu mengatur stres dan tekanan?

Contoh jawaban:

My first step in managing stress is to try to circumvent it by keeping my

work processes very organized, and my attitude professional.

I also break down my projects into smaller tasks. I make a list of action
items with reasonable deadlines.

12. How do you prioritize work?

Arti: Bagaimana kamu memprioritaskan pekerjaan?

Contoh jawaban:
I always see work from two things: urgency and importance. From those
consideration, I will always start doing work that is urgent and important,
then urgent, important, and work that is not in both.

I also equip my phone with the Trello app which has been helping me work
for a while.

13. What is your greatest accomplishment?

Arti: Apa pencapaian terbesarmu?

Contoh jawaban:

In my last role, I managed all social media content. I noticed other brands
were experimenting with videos and getting great engagement.

So, I asked my boss if we could do a low-budget test. She agreed and I

produced a video.

Then, we found that the conversions increased by 40%, which is a large

number.

14. When were you most satisfied in your work?

Arti: Kapan kamu merasa paling puas dalam bekerja?

Contoh jawaban:

It’s when I completed my job properly, on time, and hit the target. When I
see my boss, clients, or company satisfied with my work, I’m also satisfied.

15. Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Arti: Bagaimana kamu melihat dirimu lima tahun ke depan?

Pastikan pertanyaan interview bahasa Inggris yang satu ini dan

jawabannya relevan dengan pekerjaan yang kamu lamar.

Contoh jawaban:
I’m really excited by this position at ABC Company because in five years,
I’d like to be seen as someone with deep expertise in product
development, and I know that’s something that I’ll have an opportunity to
do here.

I’m also really excited to take on more managerial responsibilities in the

next few years and potentially even take the lead on some projects.

16. What is your dream job?

Arti: Apa pekerjaan impianmu?

Contoh jawaban:

I’ve been interested in the content industry. That, combined with my

interest in traveling and foods, is my dream job to be a travel writer that
takes readers around the world with me.

17. Why did you leave your previous job?

Arti: Mengapa kamu meninggalkan pekerjaan sebelumnya?

Kamu harus berhati-hati pada pertanyaan interview bahasa Inggris yang

satu ini dan jawabannya.

Meski kamu memiliki alasan negatif tertentu yang berkaitan dengan

perusahaan, berusahalah menjawab senetral mungkin.

Jangan sampai kamu justru menjelek-jelekkan perusahaan sebelumnya, ya.

Contoh jawaban:

I was very fortunate to be hired by ABC Company. They taught me a lot

about digital marketing, and it’s been stimulating to work as a contributor
to their creative teams.
However, I’m ready for the next step. Meanwhile, they already have a
good digital marketing manager. Then, I see myself can hit the ground
running as your next digital marketing manager.

18. What kind of work environment do you like best?

Arti: Lingkungan kerja seperti apa yang paling kamu sukai?

Contoh jawaban:

I’ve really thrived in more collaborative environments.

I prefer a setting where everyone’s input is taken into consideration

because I believe approaching any project with a range of perspectives is
better in the long run.

19. What do you like to do outside of work?

Arti: Apa yang suka kamu lakukan di luar bekerja?

Contoh jawaban:

I’m raising a family, so a lot of my time is focused on that.

I’m also using my commute time to learn foreign languages. Now, I’m
learning Japanese.

20. How do you handle conflict at work?

Arti: Bagaimana kamu mengatasi konflik dalam pekerjaan?

Contoh jawaban:

Conflict is inevitable when a company works hard to get things done.

When it happens, I try to listen and understand others’ point of view. I try
to make a discussion and not be defensive.

I’m sure that we will find the best solution if we have the same purpose.
21. Tell me about a time you failed

Arti: Ceritakan tentang peristiwa kegagalanmu.

Dalam pertanyaan interview bahasa Inggris yang satu ini, kamu bisa
menceritakan pengalamanmu gagal.

Tak hanya itu, kamu bisa melengkapinya dengan pemahamanmu soal

kegagalan dan bagaimana caramu bangkit.

Contoh jawaban:

I once handled a startup company’s campaign project. I poured all my

heart to the project.

But, there was a miscommunication between us. When I presented my

draft, they didn’t like it.

They asked me to make a new draft. After we had a long discussion, I

could finally make a project that they liked a lot.”

22. What are your salary expectations?

Arti: Berapa gaji yang diharapkan?

Pertanyaan ini pasti ada dalam interview bahasa Inggris dan Indonesia.
Kamu membutuhkan strategi khusus dalam menjawabnya.

Contoh jawaban:

My salary expectation is between RpX – RpY, which is the average salary

for a candidate with my level of experience in this city.

However, we can discuss more about this.

23. Why should we hire you?

Arti: Mengapa kami harus merekrutmu?

 Contoh jawaban:

My experience is almost perfectly aligned with the requirements you asked

for in your job listing.

I have five years’ progressive experience in the accounting industry,

advancing from my initial role as a junior accountant to my previous
position as a senior accountant.

I pride myself on my ability to prepare financial reports, perform account

reconciliations, and also build a reliable team. So, I will also do it in your
company.

24. What makes you unique?

Arti: Apa yang membuatmu unik/berbeda?

Beri mereka alasan untuk memilihmu dibandingkan kandidat lainnya.

Kuncinya adalah menjaga jawabanmu tetap relevan dengan posisi yang
kamu lamar.

Contoh jawaban:

 I’m incredibly organized and live for my planner. As a result my old boss
never had a missed message or mistake in their schedule.
 I started a career in editorial after transitioning from the health industry.
Because I was in their shoes, I know what career advice readers need.

25. What should I know that’s not on your resume?

Arti: Apa yang perlu saya (rekruter) ketahui di luar apa yang tertulis
di resume-mu?

Contoh jawaban:

I’d like you to know [strength/anecdote]. This is important because

[explanation of what it shows about you]. I believe this will help me with
 [aspect of the job] because [something that connects your answer back to
the position].

26. Are you willing to relocate?

Arti: Apakah kamu bersedia untuk pindah (kota)?

Contoh jawaban:

 I do love living in [current location] and would prefer to stay here. However,
for the right opportunity I’d be willing to consider relocating if necessary.
 I’m very excited about this opportunity, however, due to [obligation] I am
unable to relocate at this time.

27. How do you plan to achieve your career goals?

Arti: Bagaimana caramu untuk mencapai tujuan kariermu?

Contoh jawaban:

My current goal is to earn the CPA license so that I’m fully certified and
prepared to contribute in a junior staff accounting job. My undergraduate
degree is in finance and I completed an accounting internship with XYZ
Company last summer.

While I was there, I decided that each week I’d ask one person from a
different team to coffee to learn about their job and career path.

Not only did those conversations impress upon me the importance of

getting my CPA as soon as possible, they also helped me realize I was
eager to pursue forensic accounting, which is why I’m so excited about the
opportunity to join this team.

In order to ensure I earn my CPA this year, I’ve enrolled in NASBA

workshops, have created a study schedule to keep myself on track, and will
be taking my first trial test in three weeks. I plan on taking the actual test
within the next three to six months.
 28. How do you like to be managed?

Arti: Tipe dan cara kerja manajer seperti apa yang kamu sukai?

Contoh jawaban:

The bosses I’ve worked best with in the past have set clear, concise, and
realistic goals and expectations.

I’m highly motivated by deadlines and being a part of not just my team’s
success but the whole company’s, so working with someone who takes
both of these things seriously and ties them back to everything they do
allows me to perform at my best.

29. When can you start?

Arti: Kapan kamu bisa mulai bekerja?

Contoh jawaban:

 While my ideal start date is [date], I do have some flexibility, and I’d be
happy to figure out a date that works with your timeline.
 I have several projects to wrap up in my current role at [Company]. I plan to
give them [number of weeks] notice to make a smooth transition for my co-
workers and will be happy to come onboard with the team here after that
time.

30. Do you have any questions?

Arti: Apa ada pertanyaan?

Jangan sepelekan pertanyaan interview bahasa Inggris yang satu ini.

Meski terlihat sepele, sebenarnya bertanya bisa menjadi tanda bahwa

kamu benar-benar memperhatikan dan tertarik dengan pekerjaan yang
kamu lamar.

Contoh jawaban:
What would success look like in this role?

What are some of the challenges people typically face in this position?