Guide for English Communication for Interviews

1. “Tell me about yourself”:

To get to know the real you, not just the resume version
1. Background (where you are from and what you are studying)
2. Previous experiences
3. Professional interest
4. Personal interest (where you achieved something instead of just mentioning hobbies)

2.“Strengths”:

To know what you are good at/ what your skills are. Note to students: Do not say you
are hardworking, dedicated or sincere – please provide examples of other qualities.
1. Give 1 or 2 strengths
2. Provide an example for each

3.“Development areas”:

Also known as weakness. To see what skills need to be improved, and whether you
have demonstrated determination to not only identify the problem but figure out a
solution. Note to students: Please make sure that you have another development area
other than communication skills –because over 50% of the students we previously
mock-interviewed stated communication skills as their development area.
1. Give 1 development area
2. Provide an example and specify how you are trying to improve it

4.“Leadership skills”:

To see whether you can lead a team and deliver results. Ask students to use an
example that is preferably non-academic (i.e., not related to group projects) but related
to extracurricular activities.
1. Describe role, selectivity of position and few details about event
2. Describe the result using statistics
3. What skill did you learn and how will you apply it?

Alternatively, if you do not have any specific leadership experience where you had the
selectivity of position, even then you can mention any example where you were a team
player and your contribution, decision making or problem solving led the team to
success. Avoid saying “ No, I don’t have any such experience.”

5.“Challenge”:

To see how you coped with a difficult problem and figured out the solution. Ask students
to use an example that is preferably non-academic (i.e., not related to improving their
GPA) but related to extracurricular activities.
1. Describe role and few details about the event
2. Mention the challenge clearly - the key argument
3. Describe how you overcame the challenge - quantify where ever possible
4. What did you learn and how would you implement the lessons learned going forward
Stick only professional / academic examples. Strictly avoid any personal details
examples.
6.. Tell Me About a Complex Application You’ve Worked on or Supported.

This question gives employers insights on how you’ve navigated challenges, worked
under pressure, collaborated as part of a team, and creatively problem solved. Use this
opportunity to talk up any of your best talents and show that you’re confident in your
abilities.

How to Answer

When responding to this question, explain why you considered the application(s)
complex, then describe your role working on them. Were you involved in the front- or
back-end development, testing, design, or maintenance? Were you the sole developer
or part of a development team?

From there, focus on a specific example of something you worked on and take a few
minutes to summarise what you were tasked with, the actions you took to accomplish
those tasks, and how it fit into the overall project. Be sure to include what you learned
and how the experience shaped you as a professional. While you don’t want to drone on
and on, it’s important to include some specific details to keep your response from being
too general or generic.

7. Describe a Particularly Difficult Project You’ve Worked on and How You Dealt
With It.

Software projects are synonymous with roadblocks, obstacles, and endless facepalms.
Interviewers use this question to check your attitude and evaluate your overall level of
contribution to a project—including management skills and your ability to interface with
key stakeholders.

How to Answer

Think of a difficult project you’re particularly proud of—where you identified problems,
resolved issues, and satisfied the client or stakeholder. Make sure you put a positive
spin on the challenges you faced—no bad mouthing clients or coworkers!—and include
details of what you personally contributed to the outcome.

If you have a portfolio of your work, this would be a great time to pull a few samples to
present as visual aids as you tell your story. This will help demonstrate your passion,
enthusiasm, and subject matter knowledge, and bring a 3D element to the conversation.

8. What Programming Languages Have You Used? What Are Your Top Three
Programming Languages?

A software engineer interview (even a nontechnical one) wouldn’t be complete without

an overview of your programming languages and proficiency. The interviewer just wants
a sense of how many languages you know and if any align with the languages
commonly used for programming within the company.
How to Answer

There are no tricks to answering this question. Keep your response simple, concise,
and truthful—don’t answer just to fit the job description. The interviewer is asking about
your qualifications in order to get to know you.

This might sound like:

I’m proficient in Java, Ruby, Python, C++, and Rust. I have a knowledge base in Perl
and PHP and am currently learning Swift. But my favourite programming languages are
Java, Python, and C++.

9. What Interesting or Fun Projects/Tools Have You Created or Worked on?

As previously mentioned, employers want to know you’re passionate about your

work—both on and off the clock.

How to Answer

Use this opportunity to loosen up, show off your programmer personality, and let your
inner geek shine. Again, if you have samples of your work, this is a great time to
spotlight your crown jewel. And if you haven’t worked on anything you’d categorise as
“fun,” don’t sweat it. Simply talk up an app or tool you really admire and break down the
appeal.

For example say something like: “I haven’t created anything as fun as I’d like quite yet,
but am really interested in developing something like [insert app or tool]...“

The objective here is to show your genuine love for development in all its many forms.

10. How Would You Explain APIs to a Nontechnical Stakeholder?

This question is designed to gauge your ability to translate tech-speak for

non-tech-savvy audiences—an important skill for any developer.

How to Answer

While accuracy is important, you want to frame your response in a manner that
educates without overwhelming your audience. Use a concrete example that’s relatable
and demonstrates the practical application of whatever technology you’re being asked
to explain.

Here's one way this might sound:

“If I were explaining what APIs are to someone without a lot of technical background, I’d
probably say that at their core, APIs are a way for programs to communicate with each
other—usually with a limited set of possible inputs and responses like a menu at a
restaurant (where the inputs are menu items and the responses are food). But unlike a
menu, you have to use the exact keywords an API is coded for or it won’t understand
you. For example, if I use the correct inputs, Instagram’s API allows me to code a
website so that the company’s most recent Instagram posts are automatically displayed
on their site.”

11. How Do You Measure Success?

This question is often reserved for more senior level roles (such as program or project
managers or subject matter experts) but can be asked across skill levels. “Recruiters
who pose this question are seeking to learn about a candidate’s goals, values, [and]
work ethic. The response can tell me if he or she is goal oriented, and what they value,”
Martin says. What she looks for is “transparency and humility in their response.”

How to Answer

“The best responses I have received always have to do with how others play a role in
how the candidate defines or measures success,” Martin says. That’s because software
engineering is an inherently team-driven industry and no individual can be successful
on their own—everyone on a software development team has to succeed for a project
to work. And everyone contributes to success in different ways. Recruiters are looking
for software engineers who understand this and seek to utilise their team to its full
potential.

For example, Martin once had a candidate who was tasked with taking over a project.
For him, it was important to learn about his team’s skill sets, interests, goals, strengths,
and values, in order to move the project forward. He ultimately measured true success
by whether everyone on the team had been engaged, contributed to the ultimate
outcome, and learned from the process. This created a win for not only his project, but
all his team members.

If you’re an individual contributor, you should still talk about how important teamwork is to
your idea of success—but think about what you consider good collaboration. Focusing
on these elements in your answer will help you demonstrate that you’re resourceful,
you’re willing to help others, and you care about projects beyond just your individual
contributions.

12. How Did You Contribute Success to Your Last Project?

Since the previous question asked to define success, it’s only fair to ask how you’ve
made success happen. Here the interviewer is looking to evaluate your teamwork and
collaboration skills. They’re assessing your resourcefulness, active listening, and ability
to elevate a team or project.

How to Answer

Use examples that demonstrate what you did to make a project better and the steps
you took to make it happen. A response to this question could look like this:

I spent a lot of time doing API code review on my last project. While reviewing a
teammate’s code, I discovered some webviews were very resource heavy and not
designed as efficiently as they could be. I recommended using an alternate webview to
make it less dense and more optimal, and to potentially lower project costs.

13. What are Your Communication Strengths?

It’s likely that developers will, at some point, find themselves in a client-facing situation,
and they’ll definitely have to communicate with team members and other departments
within their company. Being able to communicate like a champ on paper—and in
person—is the holy grail for a software engineer candidate. A question like this shines a
light on a candidate’s awareness of their own strengths and how adept they are at
communicating under pressure.

How to Answer

How you communicate in the workplace likely falls on a broad spectrum. Your job in the
interview is to paint an accurate portrait of your communication style. Talk about how
you break down problems for yourself and then tell your interviewer how you would
articulate that to others. Think about your strengths: Are you a rock star at translating
information into visuals (sketches, doodles, charts, infographics)? Or are analogies and
metaphors your weapon of choice?

14. Walk me through your resume.

Like “Tell me about yourself,” this question is a common interview opener. But instead of
framing your answer around what qualities and skills make you best for the position,
your answer should group your qualifications by your past jobs and tell your career
story. You might choose to tell this story chronologically, especially if there’s a great
anecdote about what set you on this path. Or, as with “Tell me about yourself,” you can
begin with your present job then talk about what brought you here and where you’re
going next. But regardless, when you speak about your “past” and “present,” highlight
your most relevant experiences and accomplishments for this job and wrap up by
talking about the future, i.e. connect your past and present together to show why this
job should be the next one you add to your resume.

Possible answer to “Walk me through your resume.”

“Well, as you can see from my resume, I took a bit of a winding road to get to where I
am today. In college, I double majored in chemistry and communications. I found early
on that working in a lab all day wasn’t for me and at some point I realised I looked
forward to the lab class I TA’ed the most.

“So when I graduated, I found a job in sales for a consumer healthcare products
company, where I drew on my teaching experience and learned even more about
tailoring your message and explaining complex health concepts to people without a
science background. Then, I moved into a sales training role at a massive company
where I was responsible for teaching recent graduates the basics of selling. My trainees
on average had more deals closed in their first quarter than any of the other trainers’
cohorts. Plus, I got so much satisfaction from finding the right way to train each new hire
and watching them progress and succeed. It reminded me of my time as a TA in
college. That’s when I started taking night classes to earn my chemistry teaching
certificate.

“I left my full-time job last year to complete my student teaching at P.S. 118 in
Manhattan, and over the summer, I worked for a science camp, teaching kids from the
ages of 10 to 12 about basic chemistry concepts and best practices for safe
experiments. Now, I’m excited to find my first full-time teaching job, and your district is
my top choice. The low student-to-teacher ratio will let me take the time to teach each
student in the best way for them—which is my favourite part of the job.”

15. How did you hear about this position?

Another seemingly innocuous interview question, this is actually a perfect opportunity to

stand out and show your passion for and connection to the company. For example, if you
found out about the gig through a friend or professional contact, name-drop that person,
then share why you were so excited about the job. If you discovered the company
through an event or article, share that. Even if you found the listing through a random job
board, share what, specifically, caught your eye about the role.

Possible answer to “How did you hear about this position?”

“I heard about an opening on the product team through a friend of a friend, Akiko, and
since I’m a big fan of your work and have been following you for a while I decided it
would be a great role for me to apply for.”

16. Why do you want to work at this company?

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, you’re
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 you’ve watched the company grow and change since you first heard
of it; focus on the organisation’s opportunities for future growth and how you can
contribute to it; or share what’s gotten you excited from your interactions with employees
so far. Whichever route you choose, make sure to be specific. And if you can’t figure out
why you’d want to work at the company you’re interviewing with by the time you’re well
into the hiring process? It might be a red flag telling you that this position is not the right
fit.

Possible answer to “Why do you want to work at this company?”

“I saw on The Muse that you were also hiring for new positions on the West Coast to
support your new operations there. I did some more reading about the new data center
you’re building there and that excites me as I know this means there’ll be opportunities
to train new teammates. I also learned through a Wall Street Journal article that you’re
expanding in Mexico as well. I speak Spanish fluently and would be eager to step up
and help liaise whenever necessary.”

17. Why do you want this job?

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 don’t? 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., “I’ve always been passionate about education, and I think
you’re doing great things, so I want to be a part of it”).

Possible answer to “Why do you want this job?”

“I’ve always been a fan of X Co’s products and I’ve spent countless hours playing your
games. I know that your focus on unique stories is what drew me and other fans into
your games initially and keeps us coming back for more. I’ve followed X Co on social
media for a while, and I’ve always loved how you have people in different departments
interact with users. So I was psyched when I came across this posting for a social
media manager with TikTok experience. At my last job, I was responsible for launching
our TikTok account and growing it to 10,000 followers in six months. Between that
experience, my love of gaming, and my deep knowledge of your games and fanbase, I
know I could make this TikTok account something special and exciting.”

18. Why should we hire you?

This interview question seems forward (not to mention intimidating!), but if you’re asked
it, you’re in luck: There’s no better setup for you to sell yourself and your skills to the
hiring manager. Your job here is to craft an answer that covers three things: that you can
not only do the work, but also deliver great results; that you’ll really fit in with the team
and culture; and that you’d be a better hire than any of the other candidates.

Possible answer to “Why should we hire you?”

“I know it’s been an exciting time for General Tech—growing so much and acquiring
several startups—but I also know from experience that it can be challenging for the
sales team to understand how new products fit in with the existing ones. It’s always
easier to sell the product you know, so the newer stuff can get shortchanged, which can
have company-wide ramifications. I have over a decade of experience as a sales
trainer, but more importantly, most of those years were working with sales teams that
were in the exact same boat Gen Tech is in now. Growth is wonderful, but only if the
rest of the company can keep up. I’m confident I can make sure your sales team is
confident and enthusiastic about selling new products by implementing an ongoing
sales training curriculum that emphasises where they sit in a product lineup.”
19. What can you bring to the company?

When interviewers ask this question, they don’t just want to hear about your
background. They want to see that you understand what problems and challenges
they’re facing as a company or department as well as how you’ll fit into the existing
organisation. Read the job description closely, do your research on the company, and
make sure you pay attention in your early round interviews to understand any issues
you’re being hired to solve. Then, the key is to connect your skills and experiences to
what the company needs and share an example that shows how you’ve done similar or
transferable work in the past.

Possible answer to “What can you bring to the company?”

“As Jocelyn talked about in our interview earlier, PopCo is looking to expand its market
to small business owners with less than 25 employees, so I’d bring my expertise in this
area and my experience in guiding a sales team that’s selling to these customers for the
first time. In most of my past roles, this segment has been my focus and in my current
role, I also played a big part in creating our sales strategies when the business began
selling to these customers. I worked with my managers to develop the sales script. I
also listened in on a number of sales calls with other account execs who were selling to
these customers for the first time and gave them pointers and other feedback. In the
first quarter, our 10-person sales team closed 50 new bookings in this segment, and I
personally closed 10 of those deals. I helped guide my last company through the
expansion into small businesses, and I’m eager to do that again at PopCo. Plus, I
noticed you have a monthly karaoke night—so I’m eager to bring my rendition of ‘Call
Me Maybe’ to the team as well.”

20. What is your greatest professional achievement?

Nothing says “hire me” better than a track record of achieving amazing results in past
jobs, so don’t 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%.”

Possible answer to “What is your greatest professional achievement?”

“My greatest accomplishment was when I helped the street lighting company I worked
for convince the small town of Bend, Oregon to convert antiquated street lighting to
energy-efficient LED bulbs. My role was created to promote and sell the energy-efficient
bulbs, while touting the long-term advantage of reduced energy costs. I had to develop
a way to educate city light officials on the value of our energy-efficient bulbs—which
was a challenge since our products had an expensive up-front cost compared to less
efficient lighting options. I created an information packet and held local community
events aimed at city officials and the tax-paying public. There, I was able to demo the
company product, answer questions, and evangelise the value of LED bulbs for the long
term. It was crucial to have the public on board and I was able to reach a wide variety of
community members with these events. I not only reached my first-year sales goal of
$100,000, but I was also able to help us land another contract in a neighbouring city.
Plus, the community-focused strategy garnered attention from the national media. And
I’m proud to say I got a promotion within one year to senior sales representative.”

21. What’s a time you disagreed with a decision that was made at work?

The ideal anecdote here is one where you handled a disagreement professionally and
learned something from the experience. We recommend paying particular attention to
how you start and end your response. To open, make a short statement to frame the rest
of your answer, one that nods at the ultimate takeaway or the reason you’re telling this
story. For example: “I learned early on in my professional career that it’s fine to disagree
if you can back up your hunches with data.” And to close strong, you can either give a
one-sentence summary of your answer (“In short…”) or talk briefly about how what you
learned or gained from this experience would help you in the role you’re interviewing for.

Possible answer to “What’s a time you disagreed with a decision that was made
at work?”

“In my job as a finance assistant, I was in charge of putting together reports for potential
company investments. It was important to get the details and numbers right so that
leaders had the best information to make a decision. One time, my boss asked me to
generate a new report on a Wednesday morning and wanted it done by Thursday at 5
PM. Because I’m committed to high-quality work and I wasn’t sure my boss fully
understood what goes into each report, I knew I needed to speak up. At her next
available opening, I sat down with my boss and explained my concerns. She was firm
that the report would be completed by Thursday at 5 PM. So I decided to ask if there
was anyone who could help out. After thinking about it, my boss found another assistant
who could put in a few hours. While it was a tight timeline, we got the report done, and
the committee was really pleased to review it at the meeting. My boss appreciated my
extra efforts to make it happen and I felt good that I hadn’t let the quality of the report
slip. It was a good experience of being a team player but also knowing when and how to
ask for help. And once I explained how much time and work goes into each report, my
boss was careful to assign them further in advance.”

22. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.

You’re probably not too eager to dig into past blunders when you’re trying to impress an
interviewer and land a job. But talking about a mistake and winning someone over aren’t
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 didn’t 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.

Possible answer to “Tell me about a time you made a mistake.”

“Early in my career, I missed a deadline that ended up costing us a really big account.
There were a lot of factors that contributed to this, but ultimately, I was the one who
dropped the ball. From that experience, I went back and thought really hard about what
I could’ve controlled and what I would’ve changed. It turns out that I was not nearly as
organised as I thought I was. I sat down with my boss, asked for suggestions on how to
improve my organisational skills, and a few months later I was able to score an even
bigger account for the department.”

23. Tell me about a time you failed.

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 instance: “As a manager, I consider it a failure whenever I’m caught by
surprise. I strive to know what’s going on with my team and their work.” Then situate your
story in relation to that definition and explain what happened. Finally, don’t forget to share
what you learned. It’s OK to fail—everyone does sometimes—but it’s important to show
that you took something from the experience.

Possible answer to “Tell me about a time you failed.”

“As a team manager, I consider it a failure if I don’t know what’s going on with my staff
and their work—basically if a problem catches me by surprise then I’ve failed
somewhere along the way. Even if the outcome is ultimately fine, it means I’ve left a
team member unsupported at some point. A somewhat recent example would be this
training we do every year for new project managers. Because it’s an event that my team
has run so many times, I didn’t think to check in and had no idea a scheduling conflict
was brewing into a full-on turf war with another team. The resolution actually ended up
being a quick and easy conversation at the leadership team meeting, but had I just
asked about it sooner it would never have been a problem to begin with. I definitely
learned my lesson about setting reminders to check in about major projects or events
even if they’ve been done dozens of times before.”

24. Why are you leaving your current job? (If Applicable)

This is a toughie, but one you can be sure you’ll 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 you’re eager to take on new opportunities
and that the role you’re interviewing for is a better fit for you. For example, “I’d really love
to be part of product development from beginning to end, and I know I’d 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.

Possible answer to “Why are you leaving your current job?”

“I’m ready for the next challenge in my career. I loved the people I worked with and the
projects I worked on, but at some point I realised I wasn’t being challenged the way I
used to be. Rather than let myself get too comfortable, I decided to pursue a position
where I can continue to grow.”
25. Why were you fired? (If Applicable)

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 [reorganised/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 doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. Frame it as a learning experience: Share
how you’ve 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.

Possible answer to “Why were you fired?”

“After working for XYZ Inc. for four years, there were some changes made to the
amount of client calls we were expected to process per hour. I used the techniques we
were taught after the change took effect, but didn’t want our customer service to slip.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t consistently completing the required number of calls, and, as a
result, I was let go. I felt really bad about this and in retrospect I could have done better
sticking to the process that would have let me meet the per hour quota. But you’ve told
me about the customer service standards and the volume expectations here, and I
believe it won’t be a problem.”

26. Why was there a gap in your employment?

Maybe you were taking care of children or ageing parents, dealing with health issues, or
travelling 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 doesn’t mean
you have to share more details than you’re 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.

Possible answer to “Why was there a gap in your employment?”

“I spent a number of years working at a company in a very demanding job, in which—as

you’ll see from my references—I was very successful. But I’d reached a stage in my
career where I wanted to focus on my personal growth. The time I spent traveling taught
me a lot about how to get along with people of all ages and cultures. Now I feel more
than ready to jump back into my career with renewed energy and focus and I feel this
role is the ideal way to do that.”

27. Can you explain why you changed career paths?

Don’t be thrown off by this question—just take a deep breath and explain to the hiring
manager why you’ve made the career decisions you have. More importantly, give a few
examples of how your past experience is transferable to the new role. This doesn’t have
to be a direct connection; in fact, it’s often more impressive when a candidate can show
how seemingly irrelevant experience is very relevant to the role.
Possible answer to “Can you explain why you changed career paths?”

“Ever since my brother was diagnosed with a heart condition, I’ve been training and
running with him in your annual Heart Run to raise money for your organisation and
help support patients with expenses not covered by insurance. Each time, I’ve been
struck by how truly dedicated and happy to be there your employees have been. So
when I saw this posting for a fundraising role, it felt like it was meant to be. For the last
10 years of my career I’ve been an account executive for various SaaS companies, and
I’ve really honed my skills when it comes to convincing organisations to make regular
payments for something over the long-term. But I’ve been looking for a position in
fundraising where I can use these skills to really help people and I’m highly motivated to
do that with your organisation.”

28. What’s your current salary? (If Applicable)

It’s 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.
Don’t 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, I’d really like to learn more about what this role entails. I’ve done a
lot of research on [Company] and I am certain if it’s the right fit, we’ll be able to agree on
a number that’s fair and competitive to both parties.” You can also reframe the question
around your salary expectations or requirements (see question 38) or choose to share
the number if you think it will work in your favour.

Possible answer to “What’s your current salary?”

“Before discussing any salary, I’d really like to learn more about what this role entails.
I’ve done a lot of research on [Company] and I am certain if it’s the right fit, we’ll be able
to agree on a number that’s fair and competitive to both parties.”

29. What do you like least about your job?

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 for the role you’re interviewing for offers that your current job doesn’t. You
can keep the conversation positive and emphasise why you’re so excited about the job.

Possible answer to “What do you like least about your job?”

“In my current role, I’m responsible for drafting media lists to pitch. While I’ve developed
a knack for this and can do it when it is necessary, I’m looking forward to a job that
allows me to have a more hands-on role in working with media partners. That’s one of
the things that most excited me about your account supervisor position.”

30. What are you looking for in a new position?

Hint: Ideally the same things that this position has to offer. Be specific.

Possible answer to “What are you looking for in a new position?”

“I’ve been honing my data analysis skills for a few years now and, first and foremost, I’m
looking for a position where I can continue to exercise those skills. Another thing that’s
important to me is the chance to present my findings and suggestions directly to clients.
I’m always very motivated by being able to see the impact of my work on other people.
And I’m definitely looking for a position where I can grow since I hope to take on
managerial responsibilities in the future. To sum it up, I’d love a position where I can use
my skills to make an impact that I can see with my own eyes. Of course, the position is
only part of the equation. Being at a company where I can grow and work toward
something I care about matters, too. DNF’s goal of being at the intersection between
data and education inspires me, and I’m really excited about this opportunity.”

31. What type of work environment do you prefer?

Hint: Ideally one that's similar to the environment of the company you're applying to. Be
specific.

Possible answer to “What type of work environment do you prefer?”

“I really like the environment in my current position. My manager is a great resource and
always willing to help out when I run into an issue, but they trust me to get my work
done so I have a lot of freedom in how I schedule and prioritize, which is very important
to me. Everyone has their own cubicle, so it’s often pretty quiet to get our work done,
but we all get lunch together and our team has a lot of check-in meetings and
communicates frequently via Slack so we still get a lot of opportunities to bounce ideas
off each other. So I like both individual and more collaborative work. How would you
describe the mix here?”

32. What’s your work style?

When an interviewer asks you about your work style, they’re probably trying to imagine
you in the role. How will you approach your work? What will it be like to work with you?
Will you mesh well with the existing team? You can help them along by choosing to
focus on something that’s important to you and aligns with everything you’ve learned
about the role, team, and company so far. The question is broad, which means you
have a lot of flexibility in how you answer: You might talk about how you communicate
and collaborate on cross-functional projects, what kind of remote work setup allows you
to be most productive, or how you approach leading a team and managing direct
reports. Just try to keep it positive. And remember, telling a story will almost always
make your answer more memorable.

Possible answer to “What’s your work style?”

“I tend to do my best work when I’m collaborating with colleagues and we’re working
together toward a common goal. I was that rare student who loved group projects and
now I still get a rush of excitement when I’m planning marketing campaigns with a team
and bringing new and different voices into the fold. When I was working at XYZ Agency,
I made it a habit to extend invitations to folks in different departments to join certain
brainstorming and feedback sessions. Some of our most successful campaigns grew
out of the ideas we generated together with coworkers in IT, HR, product, and customer
success. That’s why I was so excited to learn that this role would have me working
closely with the product and sales teams as well as with a talented marketing team. The
other thing I find is crucial to making these collaborations successful is organisation and
documentation, so I’m also really big on creating one central home for all materials
related to a project, including meeting notes, action items, drafts of campaign copy and
visuals, and timelines.”

33. What’s your management style?

The best managers are strong but flexible, and that’s 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
company’s top salesperson.

Possible answer to “What’s your management style?”

“Management style is so hard to put your finger on, but I think in general a good
manager gives clear directions and actually stays pretty hands-off, but is ready and
available to jump in to offer guidance, expertise, and help when needed. I try my best to
make that my management style. I also go out of my way to make sure I know when my
team needs help. That means plenty of informal check-ins, both on the work they’re
doing and on their general job satisfaction and mental well-being. I remember one
project in particular at my most recent position that involved everyone working on a
separate aspect of the product. This meant a lot of independent work for my team of
seven people, but rather than bog everyone down with repetitive meetings to update me
and everyone else on progress made, I created a project wiki that allowed us to
communicate new information when necessary without disrupting another team
member’s work. I then made it my job to make sure no one was ever stuck on a
problem too long without a sounding board. Ultimately, despite the disparate project
responsibilities, we ended up with a very cohesive product and, more importantly, a
team that wasn’t burnt out.”

34. How would your boss and coworkers describe you?

First, 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 haven’t discussed in other aspects of the interview, such as your strong
work ethic or your willingness to pitch in on other projects when needed.

Possible answer to “How would your boss and coworkers describe you?”

“Actually, in my most recent performance review in April, my direct supervisor described

me as someone who takes initiative and doesn’t shy away from hard problems. My role
involves a lot of on-site implementation, and when things go wrong, it’s usually up to me
to fix it. Rather than punting the problem back to the team, I always try to do what I can
first. I know she appreciates that about me.”

35. How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?

Here’s another question you may feel the urge to sidestep in an effort to prove you’re the
perfect candidate who can handle anything. But it’s important not to dismiss this one (i.e.
don’t say, “I just put my head down and push through it,” or, “I don’t get stressed out”).
Instead, talk about your go-to strategies for dealing with stress (whether it’s 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.

Possible answer to “How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?”

“I stay motivated by thinking about the end result. I’ve found that even in the midst of a
challenging situation, reminding myself of my goals helps me take a step back and stay
positive.”

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

Interviewers will sometimes ask about your hobbies or interests outside of work in order
to get to know you a little better—to find out what you’re passionate about and devote
time to during your off-hours. It’s another chance to let your personality shine. Be honest,
but keep it professional and be mindful of answers that might make it sound like you’re
going to spend all your time focusing on something other than the job you’re applying for.

Possible answer to “What do you like to do outside of work?”

“I’m a huge foodie. My friends and I love trying new restaurants in town as soon as they
open—the more unusual the better! I love discovering new foods and cuisines, and it’s
also a great activity to share with friends. I try to go out with the same group at least
once a week and it’s a fun way to make sure we keep in touch and share experiences
even when we’re busy with other things. We even took a trip to New York City and spent
each day in a different neighbourhood, buying something to share from a few
restaurants.”

37. How do you stay organised?

Would you want to work with a hot mess? Yeah, we didn’t think so. Neither does anyone
else. A disorganised worker doesn’t just struggle in their own role, they can also create
chaos for peers, managers, direct reports, clients, customers, and anyone else they
interact with. So interviewers will often ask about how you keep yourself organised to
make sure you’d be able to handle the workload and gauge what you’d be like to work
with. In your answer, you’ll want to reassure them you’d have things under control (both
in what you say and how you say it), describe a specific system or method you’ve used
(bonus points if you can tie it to the role you’re interviewing for), and explain how it
benefited you and your team. Just make sure your answer is succinct and, well,
organised.

Possible answer to “How do you stay organised?”

“I take pride in my ability to stay organised, and it’s really come in handy in my past
roles and especially the social media assistant job I’m in now. First, I keep a really
meticulous calendar for each of the platforms I’m responsible for using
Hootsuite—which I noticed you use here as well—and I try to block off time twice a
week to get ahead on creating and slotting in posts.

“Second, I’m a big fan of Trello, where I have one personal board I use as a to-do list
colour-coded by type of task and marked with priority level and one shared marketing
team board that we use to coordinate campaigns launching across social, email, and
other channels. We pay very close attention to the news in case we need to pause a
campaign. If needed, I’d tag all the relevant stakeholders on Trello, immediately
suspend all scheduled content in Hootsuite, and start a discussion on Slack or suggest
a meeting to reassess strategy.

“Finally, I created a shared folder on Google Drive with subfolders by campaign that I
update with one-pagers on goals and strategies, assets, a record of the actual posts
deployed, performance analyses, and retros. That way, there’s a go-to place for anyone
on the team to refer back to past projects, which I’ve found really helps us learn from
every campaign and incorporate those learnings into what we’re working on next.”

38. How do you prioritise your work?

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
you’ve found works for you to plan your day or week, whether it’s a to-do list app you
swear by or a colour-coded spreadsheet. This is one where you’ll definitely want to lean
on a real-life example. So go on to describe how you’ve 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.

Possible answer to “How do you prioritise your work?”

“I’d be lost without my daily to-do list! At the beginning of each workday, I write out tasks
to complete, and list them from highest to lowest priority to help keep me on track. But I
also realise priorities change unexpectedly. On one particular day recently, I had
planned to spend most of my time making phone calls to advertising agencies to get
price quotes for an upcoming campaign. Then I did a quick check-in with my manager.
She mentioned she needed help putting together a presentation ASAP for a major
potential client. I moved the more flexible task to the end of the week and spent the next
few hours updating the time-sensitive presentation. I make it a point to keep lines of
communication open with my manager and coworkers. If I’m working on a task that will
take a while to complete, I try to give a heads-up to my team as soon as possible. If my
workload becomes unmanageable, I check in with my boss about which items can drop
to the bottom of the priority list, and then I try to reset expectations about different
deadlines.”

39. What are you passionate about?

You’re not a robot programmed to do your work and then power down. You’re a human,
and if someone asks you this question in an interview, it’s probably because they want
to get to know you better. The answer can align directly with the type of work you’d be
doing in that role—like if, for example, you’re applying to be a graphic designer and
spend all of your free time creating illustrations and data visualisations to post on
Instagram.

But don’t be afraid to talk about a hobby that’s 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 role you are applying for,” says Muse career
coach Al Dea. Like if you’re 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.

Possible answer to “What are you passionate about?”

“One of my favourite pastimes is knitting—I love being able to create something

beautiful from nothing. Of course, knitting also requires a keen attention to detail and a
lot of patience. Luckily, as an accountant I have cultivated both of those qualities!”

40. What motivates you?

Before you panic about answering what feels like a probing existential question, consider
that the interviewer wants to make sure you’re excited about this role at this company,
and that you’ll be motivated to succeed if they pick you. So think back to what has
energised you in previous roles and pinpoint what made your eyes light up when you
read this job description. Pick one thing, make sure it’s relevant to the role and company
you’re interviewing for, and try to weave in a story to help illustrate your point. If you’re
honest, which you should be, your enthusiasm will be palpable.

Possible answer to “What motivates you?”

“I’m driven primarily by my desire to learn new things—big or small—and take on new
responsibilities so that I’m constantly growing as an employee and contributing more to
my team and organisation. I spent several summers working as a camp counsellor and
felt most fulfilled when I volunteered to lead planning for a talent show, jumped in to
help with scheduling logistics, and learned how to run pickups efficiently. All of that
experience helped immensely when I took a step up to become the lead counsellor last
year focused on operations, and that’s what excites me so much about the opportunity
to take on this managerial role for the after-school program.”

41. What are your pet peeves?

Here’s another one that feels like a minefield. But it’ll be easier to navigate if you know
why an interviewer is asking it. Most likely, they want to make sure you’ll thrive at their
company—and get a glimpse of how you deal with conflict. So be certain you pick
something that doesn’t contradict the culture and environment at this organisation while
still being honest. Then explain why and what you’ve done to address it in the past, doing
your best to stay calm and composed. Since there’s no need to dwell on something that
annoys you, you can keep this response short and sweet.

Possible answer to “What are your pet peeves?”

“It bothers me when an office’s schedule is really disorganised, because in my

experience, disorganisation can cause confusion, which can hurt the motivation of the
team. As a person who likes things to be orderly, I try to help keep my team on task
while also allowing for flexibility.”

42. How do you like to be managed?

This is another one of those questions that’s about finding the right fit—both from the
company’s perspective and your own. Think back on what worked well for you in the past
and what didn’t. 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, it’ll make your answer even stronger.

Possible answer to “How do you like to be managed?”

“I enjoy having my hands in a lot of different projects, so I like working with managers
who allow their employees to experiment, be independent, and work cross-functionally
with other teams. At the same time, I really welcome it when a boss provides me with
support, guidance, and coaching. No one can do anything alone, and I believe when
managers and employees collaborate together and learn from one another everyone
comes out on top.”

43. Do you consider yourself successful?

This question might make you uncomfortable. But you can think of it as an opportunity
to allow the interviewer to get to know you better and to position yourself as an excellent
choice for this job. First off, make sure you say yes! Then pick one specific professional
achievement you’re proud of that can be tied back to the role you’re interviewing
for—one that demonstrates a quality, skill, or experience that would help you excel in
this position. You’ll want to explain why you consider it a success, talk about the
process in addition to the outcome, and highlight your own accomplishment without
forgetting your team. Zooming in on one story will help if you feel awkward tooting your
own horn!

Possible answer to “Do you consider yourself successful?”

“I do consider myself successful, even though I’m early in my professional career. I took
a full load of classes in my junior year of college because I wanted to take that summer
to volunteer for a human rights organisation overseas. I knew that I needed to make
sure I was on track with my major, minor, and graduation requirements. It was difficult to
juggle it all with my part-time job, which I kept to help account for the fact that I wouldn’t
be earning money over the summer, and there were a few sleepless nights. But it was
worth the hard work: I ended the year with a 3.9 GPA and the opportunity to volunteer
for the agency in Ghana without falling behind my graduation timeline. For me success
is about setting a goal and sticking with it, no matter how hard it is, and this experience
was proof that I could be successful even when there’s a lot to balance, which I know
there always is at a nonprofit like this one.”

44. Where do you see yourself in five years?

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 you’re 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 isn’t necessarily a one-way ticket to your aspirations? It’s OK to say
that you’re not quite sure what the future holds, but that you see this experience playing
an important role in helping you make that decision.

Possible answer to “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

“In five years, I’d like to be in a position where I know more about my longer-term career
aspirations as a designer. I will have gotten experience working for a design agency and
know more about the industry overall. I’ll have grown my technical skills and learned
how to take feedback from clients and incorporate it. And the way your agency is set up,
I’ll also have gotten the opportunity to design different kinds of deliverables—including
websites, branding, and ad campaigns—for different kinds of clients to see where I
really feel at home before settling on a focus.”

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

Having goals shows interviewers you care, are ambitious, and can think ahead. Having
a plan for how you’ll achieve your goals demonstrates your self-motivation as well as
organisational and time management skills. Finally, the fact that you’ve accomplished
past goals you’ve set for yourself is proof of your ability to follow through. All together,
these are indications that you can not only set and achieve goals of your own, but also
help your prospective boss, team, and company do the same. To craft your answer,
make sure you focus on one or two goals in detail, explain why the goals are
meaningful, communicate what milestones are coming up, highlight past successes,
and connect back to this job.

Possible answer to “How do you plan to achieve your career goals?”

“My current goal is to earn the CPA licence 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 enrolled in NASBA
workshops, 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.”

46. What are your career aspirations?

Career aspirations are bigger and loftier than career goals. With this question,
interviewers are asking: What kind of career would make you happiest (while also being
realistic)? Your aspirations might revolve around what kind of company you’d like to
work for, what tasks you’d like to do, who you’d like to help, or how you’d like to be seen
by your colleagues. So to answer this question, talk about what would energise and fulfil
you and connect it to the position you’re interviewing for. Be specific about how this job
will help you achieve your career aspirations.

Possible answer to “What are your career aspirations?”

“After growing up in a food desert, my biggest professional aspiration is to help make

healthy food more widely available and accessible regardless of where you live. I also
love solving complex problems. Currently, as a project manager, I specialise in strategic
planning and combine it with a natural ability to engage critical stakeholders—resulting
in on-time and under-budget delivery. This role would help me use those skills to work
on a mission I’m passionate about. I am determined to use these skills to help your
organisation guarantee our community has access to affordable, nutritious food and
information to make healthy decisions. In the next five or so years, I would love to take
on additional responsibility and be in a decision-making role to drive the mission beyond
our community and support even more families in gaining access to nutritious food
options.”

47. What’s your dream job?

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.

48. What other companies are you interviewing with?

Companies might ask you who else you’re 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
they’re trying to find out who they’re competing with to hire you. On one hand, you want
to express your enthusiasm for this job, but at the same time, you don’t want to give the
company any more leverage than it already has by telling them there’s 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.

Possible answer to “What other companies are you interviewing with?”

“I’m interviewing with a few companies for a range of positions, but they all come down
to delivering an excellent customer experience. I wanted to keep an open mind about
how to best achieve that goal, but so far it seems that this role will really allow me to
focus all of my energy on customer experience and retention, which I find very
appealing.”

49. What makes you unique?

“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
you’re 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, think back
to patterns you’ve seen in feedback you get, or try to distill why people tend to turn to
you. Focus on one or two things and don’t forget to back up whatever you say with
evidence.

Possible answer to “What makes you unique?”

“I basically taught myself animation from scratch. I was immediately drawn to it in

college, and with the limited resources available to me, I decided to take matters into
my own hands—and that’s the approach I take in all aspects of my work as a video
editor. I don’t just wait around for things to happen, and when I can, I’m always eager to
step in and take on new projects, pick up new skills, or brainstorm new ideas.”

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

It’s a good sign if a recruiter or hiring manager is interested in more than just what’s on
your resume. It probably means they looked at your resume, think you might be a good
fit for the role, and want to know more about you. To make this wide-open question a
little more manageable, try talking about a positive trait, a story or detail that reveals a
little more about you and your experience, or a mission or goal that makes you excited
about this role or company.

Possible answer to “What should I know that’s not on your resume?”

“Well, one thing you won’t find on my resume: the time I had to administer emergency
CPR. Last year, I was at the lake when I saw a young girl who looked like she was
drowning. I was a lifeguard in high school, so I swam out, brought her to shore, and
gave her CPR. Although this was—hopefully—a one-time event, I’ve always been able
to stay calm during stressful situations, figure out a solution, and then act. As your
account manager, I’d use this trait to quickly and effectively resolve issues both within
the team and externally. After all, obstacles are inevitable, especially in a startup
environment. And if anyone needs CPR at the office beach party, well, I’m your woman.”

51. What would your first few months look like in this role?

Your potential future boss (or whoever else has asked you this question) wants to know
that you’ve done your research, given some thought to how you’d get started, and would
be able to take initiative if hired. (In some interviews, you might even get the more
specific, “What would your first 30, 60, or 90 days look like in this role?”) So think about
what information and aspects of the company and team you’d need to familiarise yourself
with and which colleagues you’d want to sit down and talk to. You can also suggest one
possible starter project to show you’d be ready to hit the ground running and contribute
early on. This won’t necessarily be the thing you do first if you do get the job, but a good
answer shows that you’re thoughtful and that you care.

Possible answer to “What would your first few months look like in this role?”

“It’s been exciting to hear about some of the new initiatives the company has started in
our previous conversations—like the database project and the company-wide sync, but
I know there’s still a lot for me to learn. The first thing I’d do is line up meetings with the
stakeholders involved in the projects I’d be tackling to help me figure out what I don’t
know and then go from there. Hopping into a database project halfway through can be
tricky, but I’m confident that once I know what all the stakeholders are looking for, I’ll be
able to efficiently plot out our next steps and set appropriate deadlines. From there, I’ll
be focused on hitting the milestones that I’ve set for the team.”

52. What are your salary expectations?

The number one rule of answering this question is: Figure out your salary requirements
ahead of time. Do your research on what similar roles pay by using sites like PayScale
and reaching out to your network. Be sure to take your experience, education, skills, and
personal needs into account, too! From there, Career Coaches suggest choosing from
one of three strategies:

■ Give a salary range: But keep the bottom of your stated range toward the
mid-to-high point of what you’re actually hoping for, Fink says.
■ Flip the question: Try something like “That's a great question—it would be helpful
if you could share what the range is for this role,” Fink says.
■ Delay answering: Tell your interviewer that you’d like to learn more about the role
or the rest of the compensation package before discussing pay.

Possible answer to “What are your salary expectations?”

“Taking into account my experience and Excel certifications, which you mentioned
earlier would be very helpful to the team, I’m looking for somewhere between 42,000
and 46,000 annually for this role. But for me, benefits definitely matter as well. Your free
on-site gym, the commuter benefits, and other perks could definitely allow me to be a bit
flexible with salary.”

53. What do you think we could do better or differently?

This question can really do a number on you. How do you give a meaty answer without
insulting the company or, worse, the person you’re speaking with? Well first, take a deep
breath. Then start your response with something positive about the company or specific
product you’ve been asked to discuss. When you’re ready to give your constructive
feedback, give some background on the perspective you’re bringing to the table and
explain why you’d make the change you’re suggesting (ideally based on some past
experience or other evidence). And if you end with a question, you can show them you’re
curious about the company or product and open to other points of view. Try: “Did you
consider that approach here? I’d love to know more about your process.”

54. When can you start?

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 you’re
ready to start immediately—if you’re unemployed, for example—you could offer to start
within the week. But if you need to give notice to your current employer, don’t be afraid to
say so; people will understand and respect that you plan to wrap things up right. It’s 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.

Possible answer to “When can you start?”

“I am excited for the opportunity to join your team. I have several projects to wrap up in
my current role at [Company]. I plan to give them two weeks’ notice to make a smooth
transition for my coworkers and will be happy to come onboard with the team here after
that time.”

55. Are you willing to relocate?

While this may sound like a simple yes-or-no question, it’s often a little bit more
complicated than that. The simplest scenario is one where you’re 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 enthusiasm for the role, briefly explain why you can’t
move at this time, and offer an alternative, like working remotely or out of a local office.
Sometimes it’s not as clear-cut, and that’s OK. You can say you prefer to stay put for
xyz reasons, but would be willing to consider relocating for the right opportunity.

Possible answer to “Are you willing to relocate?”

“I do love living in chennai and would prefer to stay here. However, for the right
opportunity I’d be willing to consider relocating if necessary.”
56. 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
doesn’t necessarily want an exact number—they want to make sure that you understand
what’s 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 maths. (Yes, it’s OK to
ask for a pen and paper!)

57. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?

Seemingly random personality-test type questions like these come up in interviews

because hiring managers want to see how you can think on your feet. There’s no wrong
answer here, but you’ll 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…”

58. Sell me this pen.

If you’re 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 they’re 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 “customer’s” needs, get specific about the item’s features and benefits,
and end strong—as though you were truly closing a deal.

59. Is there anything else you’d like us to know?

Just when you thought you were done, your interviewer asks you this open-ended
doozy. Don’t panic—it’s not a trick question! You can use this as an opportunity to close
out the meeting on a high note in one of two ways, Zhang says. First, if there really is
something relevant that you haven’t had a chance to mention, do it now. Otherwise, you
can briefly summarise your qualifications. For example, Zhang says, you could say: “I
think we’ve covered most of it, but just to summarise, it sounds like you’re looking for
someone who can really hit the ground running. And with my previous experience
[enumerate experience here], I think I’d be a great fit.”

60. Do you have any questions for us?

You probably already know that an interview isn’t just a chance for a hiring manager to
grill you—it’s 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? You’ll 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 favourite part about working here?”) or the company’s growth
(“What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?”) or “ Are there any
hesitations at your end in terms of my ability to fulfil this position/ role ?”

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