‘Why did you leave your last job?’ ‘What are your weaknesses?’ ‘If you were a type of fruit, what would you be, and why?’
OK, so some interview questions are easier to handle than others. But whilst you can’t predict exactly what you’ll be asked, any question has the potential to make you stumble – unless you’ve prepared in advance.
To help give you an idea of what could come up, here’s our list of common interview questions, and how to answer them.
“Preparation is key when it comes to tackling common interview questions. Take time to research the company, rehearse your responses, and think about how your skills align with what they’re looking for. When faced with tough questions, stay calm and lean on real examples to show how you’ve handled challenges and delivered results. Confidence comes from knowing your story and being ready to tell it well.”
Chris Ray, Business Manager | Reed
Common interview questions and answers
Here are some of the most typical interview questions, along with tips to help you prepare confident responses:
Tell me about yourself
A common opening question, partly because your interviewers want to know more about you, but mostly because they want to put you on the spot and see how you react.
They’ve given you complete control here, and you should take full advantage of it. They have not, however, asked for your life story.
Keep your answer pertinent, and try not to go off topic too much. You’re here to interview for a particular position, and you shouldn’t lose sight of this. Remember: the interviewer is not just making small talk.
Right answer: Should be about two or three minutes long and briefly cover your education, your interest in the field, work history and experience.
Wrong answer: ‘Well, where do I start? I was born in 1974. A precocious child…’
How to answer: Tell me about yourself…
What are your weaknesses?
The first part of this question is realising that you actually have some (no, being a perfectionist doesn’t count).
Everyone has weaknesses or things that they can improve about themselves. And being honest with yourself here will save you a lot of time in the long run.
The best answers to this question take one of your weaknesses, and then give practical examples of how you’re trying to address it. A good example of this type of answer would be:
‘I used to find it difficult to work on simultaneous projects, preferring to finish on one task before starting another. However, since taking a time management course recently, I’ve learnt how to manage my schedule more effectively, making it easier to multi-task when necessary’.
Right answer: Weakness + how you’ve tried/are trying to address it = (eventually) strength
Wrong answer: ‘Kryptonite’
How to answer: What are your weaknesses?
Why should you get this job?
This is unashamedly aimed at provoking a personal sales pitch.
As there will probably be a number of other candidates having interviews, this is your chance to demonstrate why you want the job, and why you would be a perfect fit for the company.
Essentially, the company is hiring for a reason (a brief summary of which can usually be found in the job description). You need to position yourself as the person to do this.
Right answer: ‘From what we’ve discussed so far, you’re looking to X (or, ‘having a problem with X’). In the past I have demonstrated X, Y and Z (experience and your main strengths), which have really helped my previous employer’
Wrong answer: ‘I just really need the money’
How to answer: Why do you want to work here?
What are your salary expectations?
When completing your preparations for the interview, always have this question in the back of your mind.
Have a look at the average salary for someone in this industry, area, and who possesses similar skills to yourself, and you should get a basic idea.
But remember: this is only the first interview. You haven’t been offered the job. There’s no need at this stage to try and begin negotiations. Giving a broad salary range will usually be enough to move on, but be prepared to back it up if you need to.
Just don’t be tempted to sell yourself short. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at our average salary checker.
Right answer: A broad (but realistic) answer e.g. ‘I’m looking for a starting salary somewhere between £25,000 and £30,000’
Wrong answer: ‘I’m not sure. How much are you on?’
Should I ask about salary at my interview?
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
The perennial job interview favourite.
What the interviewer really wants is to see that you’ve thought about your future, and gauge your ambition. They also want to verify that this isn’t just a stop gap position.
Although all of your answers should be tailored to the organisation and position you’ve applied for, this is especially the case with this question. If you’re going for an entry level position, for example, explain how you’d like your career to progress (e.g. ‘I’d like to progress to a Senior Software Engineer’ or ‘I see myself being a team leader…’).
If you’re going for a more senior position, explain how you’d be looking to move the company forward. Have a look at their business strategy or corporate objectives before the interview, and explain how you can help in achieving them.
Right answer: Be passionate about the industry. Fit your career goals around the organisation’s objectives, demonstrate ambition and exploit your strengths
Wrong answer: ‘On the other side of this desk’
Do you have any questions?
Right answer: ‘Yes’. No exceptions. To give you an idea of what questions you could ask, have a look at our list of best interview questions to ask.
Wrong answer: ‘No’
Other potential questions
Why did you leave your previous position?
Right answer: Avoid the temptation to criticise your employer. Stay positive, but try not to lie. Always avoid saying that you’re simply looking for a new challenge if you can’t back it up, because the recruiter will dig deeper. If all else fails, explaining that there were no opportunities for career progression sounds a lot better.
Five common job interview mistakes
Why is there a gap in your work history?
Right answer: Wherever possible, be honest. If it was for personal reasons, then say that. Otherwise, something along the lines of ‘taking a break whilst looking for a new career direction’ should be enough to move the interview along.
How to: Explain a gap in your CV
Why did you apply for this position?
Right answer: Very similar answer to why you want the job, but focus more heavily on why the position and company excite you, rather than why you should excite them. Demonstrate what you know about the company (and use the job description to back up why you’re the right person to do the job).
What’s your dream job?
Right answer: You can be relatively honest here, but use your common sense. Because it’s unlikely anyone grew up dreaming of the day they’d become a Transaction Banking Systems Migration Specialist.
11 dream jobs that actually exist
Industry specific interview questions
While it’s important to prepare for the common interview questions listed above, you may also be asked questions specific to your industry and/or job role.
Here are a few frequently asked questions, depending on the role you’re interviewing for:
Product manager interview questions
Product manager roles require demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work across teams. Here are some typical interview questions for product management positions:
- How would you prioritise features for a new product launch?
- Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult product decision
- How do you gather and analyse customer feedback?
- Describe your approach to working with engineering teams
- How would you measure the success of a product?
Top tip: Focus your answers on specific examples that showcase your analytical skills, leadership abilities, and customer-centric approach.
Project manager interview questions
Project management interviews typically focus on your ability to coordinate resources, manage timelines, and deliver results. Common questions include:
- Walk me through how you would manage a project from start to finish
- How do you handle competing priorities and tight deadlines?
- Describe a time when a project went off track – how did you handle it?
- How do you manage stakeholder expectations?
- What project management methodologies are you familiar with?
Top tip: Demonstrate your organisational skills, problem-solving abilities, and experience with project management tools and frameworks.
How to: Get a job in project management (without any experience)
Customer service interview questions
Customer service roles require excellent communication skills, patience, and problem-solving abilities. Typical questions include:
- Tell me about a time you’ve dealt with a difficult person
- Describe a time when you went above and beyond for a customer
- How do you prioritise multiple customer requests?
- What does excellent customer service mean to you?
- How would you handle a situation where you don’t know the answer to a customer’s question?
Top tip: Focus on good customer service examples that show your empathy, communication skills, and commitment to customer satisfaction.
View all customer service jobs
Customer service interview questions
Teacher interview questions
Teaching interviews assess your educational philosophy, classroom management skills, and ability to engage students. Common questions include:
- What is your teaching philosophy?
- How do you handle different learning styles in your classroom?
- Describe your approach to classroom management
- How do you assess student progress?
- Tell me about a challenging student situation and how you resolved it
Top tip: Emphasise your passion for education, adaptability, and commitment to student success.
Three quick and easy ways to get into teaching
Nursing interview questions
Nursing interviews focus on clinical competence, patient care, and ability to work under pressure. Typical questions include:
- Why did you choose nursing as a career?
- How do you prioritise patient care when you have multiple patients?
- Describe a challenging patient situation you’ve handled
- How do you stay current with medical knowledge and best practices?
- Tell me about a time when you had to advocate for a patient
Top tip: Highlight your clinical skills, compassion, and commitment to patient care and safety.
Eight challenges facing the NHS and social care (and how to overcome them)
Program manager interview questions
Program management roles require strategic oversight and coordination of multiple projects. Common questions include:
- How do you manage multiple projects simultaneously?
- Describe your approach to risk management across a program
- How do you ensure alignment between different project teams?
- Tell me about a time when you had to make trade-offs between competing program goals
- How do you measure program success?
Top tip: Focus on your strategic thinking, leadership abilities, and experience managing complex initiatives.
Interview questions for managers
Management interviews assess leadership skills, team development abilities, and strategic thinking. Typical manager or team leader questions include:
- What is your management style?
- How do you motivate underperforming team members?
- Describe a difficult management decision you’ve had to make
- How do you handle conflict within your team?
- Tell me about a time when you had to implement unpopular changes
Top tip: Demonstrate your leadership philosophy, people management skills, and ability to drive results through others.
Manager interview questions and answers
STAR interview questions
Many interviewers use behavioural or competency questions that are best answered using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). These questions often begin with phrases like:
- ‘Tell me about a time when…’
- ‘Describe a situation where…’
- ‘Give me an example of…’
When answering STAR questions:
- Situation: Set the context for your story
- Task: Explain what needed to be accomplished
- Action: Describe the specific steps you took
- Result: Share the outcomes and what you learned
This structured approach helps you provide complete, compelling answers that demonstrate your capabilities.
STAR method: What you need to know
How to answer interview questions
Whatever your answers are, don’t be tempted to improvise or answer on the spur of the moment. It’ll never come out as well as you’d hoped.
It doesn’t need to be scripted, but knowing why you want the job and what your strengths and weaknesses are should be a standard part of your preparation process and just as important as your pre-interview research.
It’s also essential to consider that you’ll not just be judged on your CV. Getting across your personality is of equal importance. In other words, don’t just think about your answers, but think about what they say about you.
Ultimately, you need to be likeable and display the parts of your personality that will make you attractive to prospective employers (engaging, dedicated, hard working etc). Entering a competitive interview with the right mindset can really set you apart.
Finally, to avoid any awkward interview moments, never assume that the hiring manager has a sense of humour.
Just in case…
Four things to take to a job interview
Final thoughts
Unfortunately, we can’t help you predict exactly which interview questions will come up on the big day. However, we can help you prepare for every eventuality and avoid any interview nightmares.
Remember, preparation is key to interview success. Practice your answers, research the company, and approach each interview as an opportunity to showcase your skills and personality.
For more comprehensive preparation, consider James Reed’s book: Why You? 101 Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again.
How to deal with job interview stress
Still searching for your perfect position? View all of our current vacancies now
TODAY ALL THIS TRICKS DOESN’T WORK ALMOST ALWAYS ….
Completely agree! What needed is just be yourself, they don’t hire robots.
very good helpful article
thank you for share post