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4/19/2019 Common Job Interview Questions & Answers [Top 35 Samples for 2019]

Blog Job Interviews Common Job Inte…

Common Job Interview Questions &


Answers [Top 35 Samples for 2019]
Tom Gerencer
Career Writer
03/19/2019

Here are 35 common interview questions and answers. But—


 
Brick wall.
 
That interview stands between you and your dream job.
 
Take heart.
 
Each of the job interview questions below has a right and wrong answer.
 

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4/19/2019 Common Job Interview Questions & Answers [Top 35 Samples for 2019]

Give the right one and get hired.


 
Fail, and it’s back to job search sites and waking up at 3am.
 
This guide will show you:
 

The 35 most common interview questions.


Right and wrong answers to help you ace the interview.
Lists of top behavioral interview questions, phone interview questions,
questions to ask in an interview, and more.
How to answer job interview questions so they’ll call back.

 
Maybe your interview answers are fine, but your foundation has cracks.
 
Great answers to interview questions start with a great resume.
 
Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder.
It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you'll get tips and right vs. wrong examples while
writing your resume. See +20 resume templates and create your resume here.
 

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4/19/2019 Common Job Interview Questions & Answers [Top 35 Samples for 2019]

Sample resume made with our builder - See more templates and create your
resume here.

 
One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:
 

[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not
three. With the same stu .

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

 
Here’s the ultimate list of mock interview questions and sample answers.. Enjoy!
 

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4/19/2019 Common Job Interview Questions & Answers [Top 35 Samples for 2019]

Top 30+ Most Common Job


Interview Questions and Best
Answers
1. Tell me about yourself
2. Why are you applying for this position?
3. Why do you want to work here?
4. What motivates you?
5. Why are you a good fit for this position?
6. Why are you the best person for this job?
7. What are your weaknesses?
8. What interests you about this position?
9. Tell me about how you dealt with a tough challenge
10. What are your strengths?
11. Why should we hire you?
12. Describe what you do in your current position
13. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for work
14. Why did you leave your last job?
15. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
16. What is your management style?
17. Tell me about a time you reached a goal at work
18. What are your salary requirements?
19. What are you passionate about?
20. How did you hear about this job?
21. How do you deal with pressure?
22. What are you most proud of?
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4/19/2019 Common Job Interview Questions & Answers [Top 35 Samples for 2019]

23. What do you know about our company?


24. What’s your dream job?
25. Why is there a gap in your resume?
26. Why are you changing careers?
27. Are you open to relocating?
28. Tell me about a mistake you made
29. Walk us through your resume
30. Do you have any questions for me?
31. Common Phone Interview Questions
32. STAR Method for Acing Behavioral Interview Questions
33. Illegal Interview Questions Employers Cannot Ask
34. Bonus: What Makes You Unique?
35. Bonus: What Are Your Hobbies?
36. Bonus: What Is Your Management Style?
37. Bonus: 15 Best Informational Interview Questions to Ask
38. Bonus: 20 Situational Interview Questions and Answers
39. Bonus: 25 Teacher Interview Questions and Best Answers
40. Bonus: 25 Nursing Interview Questions and Best Answers

 
How to Answer Common
Interview Questions
 
Let’s be blunt.
 
It’s hard to answer job interview questions.

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4/19/2019 Common Job Interview Questions & Answers [Top 35 Samples for 2019]

 
You’re under mountains of pressure and you don’t know the right answers.
 
Well, now you do.
 
See the best answers to 35 common interview questions below.
 
They’ve all got one thing in common.
 
They make it clear you’re inevitable for the job.
 
How?
 
1. They start with a skill or quality the interviewer wants.
2. They tell how you used it.
3. They show how it helped your company.
 
Here’s a typical interview question example:
 

Q: Tell me about yourself.


 
Background: A software engineering job wants machine learning and big data skills.
 

RIGHT

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RIGHT
A: You want someone who can use machine learning to process big data. At
NinesCube we had data files of over a million customer transactions a day. I
wrote five machine learning algorithms to handle them. From the insights
gained, we improved our customer experience and increased repeat business
20%.

WRONG
I’ve been a software engineer for seven years, working for several high-end
companies. I’m skilled in Python, PHP, Java, and JavaScript. I’ve won multiple
coding challenges and my managers always say I’m a hard worker.

 
Wow.
 
Which of those tell me about yourself sample answers would you rather give?
 

Pro Tip: You can’t give great answers to interview questions unless you know
the job requirements. So read the job description. But—research the company
before the interview process starts.

 
Not sure how to learn about the company to give great interview answers? Do some
interviewing of your own. See our guide: 15 Best Informational Interview Questions
to Ask (& Why They Matter)
 
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Tell me about yourself

 
About me questions are the most common interview questions on Earth.
 
They mean, “Why are you perfect for the job?” Is it in line with your career goals?
 
See these tell me about yourself sample answers. They fit a job that wants e ciency
and collaboration.
 

RIGHT
I worked at a small shop for two years doing 50 projects a year, meeting 100%
of my deadlines. Then I worked for a bigger firm with clients like Disney and
Netflix—with 99% client satisfaction. I collaborated with the team to win an A’
Design Award. I’m excited to step into a role like this that’s designed around
that kind of e ciency and collaboration.

WRONG

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4/19/2019 Common Job Interview Questions & Answers [Top 35 Samples for 2019]

WRONG
I was born in Central Maine and spent summers swimming on a lake. After
college, I worked bartending jobs. I knew I had graphic design talent, so I tried
it. I’ve worked for seven years now at two di erent firms. I’ve gotten really
good.

 
Which of those marketing interview questions answers will get the job?
 
“Tell me about yourself” tops the list of behavioral interview questions. Use specific
achievements and don’t ramble.
 
Read our complete guide to tell me about yourself answers.
 

Why are you applying for this position?

 
“What prompted you to apply for this job?” means, “Why are you so perfect for it?”
 
It’s one of the easiest job interview questions to answer if you research the company.
  

RIGHT
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RIGHT
You’re looking for someone experienced in pairs programming and Scrum. I’ve
been part of two programming pairs in six years. In the first we raised code
e ciency 45%. In the second we helped the team win a BOSSIE Award. In that
job I was on a Scrum team that delivered 15 projects 20% under budget.

WRONG
I’ve been applying to just about every job I see on LinkedIn. This looked like a
good fit, depending on the salary.

 
The first of those programming interview questions answers nails it.
 
The next of our common interview questions asks, “why do you want to work for this
company?”
 
Read our complete guide to the why are you applying for this position interview
question.
 

Why do you want to work here?

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“Why do I want to work here?” means: “Why will you be our best employee yet?”
 
Check out these answers:
 

RIGHT
This is a high-end o ce with a great team. Your employees voted you the best
place to work in New Hampshire. I know you’re looking for an administrative
assistant good at resolving customer complaints. At CRM Mineral, I did that
43% faster than the previous assistant by triaging complaints and quickly
escalating larger issues.

WRONG
I need work and I’ve applied to 200 jobs in the past month. I’m ready to work
hard and I’m a skilled admin assistant.

 
The second of those administrative assistant interview questions is from the gut. The
hiring manager will hate it.
 
The first is how to answer why this company.
 
Read our complete guide to the why do you want to work here interview question.
 
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What motivates you?

 
This is another of those tricky behavioral interview questions.
 
It means, “Will this job motivate you to be a great employee? Do the career paths
here excite you?”
 
Look at these answers:
 

RIGHT
I’m motivated by a student-guided learning environment with great co-workers
like you have here. I loved that at my last school. It drove me to double my
professional development hours. I learned a lot about test-taking strategies,
and my kids raised their averages by 20% in six months.

WRONG
I’m motivated by helping young minds grow. I think it’s so important for our
future to have engaged, happy kids. That’s why I got into teaching in the first
place.

 
That wrong example sounds nice, right?
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It shows passion, but it doesn’t show how passion translates to achievement. Read
our guide to the what motivates you interview question.
 

Why are you a good fit for this position?

 
Why would you be a good fit for this position means: What have you done that
proves you’ll do a good job?
 
Reply like this:
 

RIGHT
I’m a good fit because you need an e cient nurse who is professional under
pressure. At Harrison Memorial, we had a full ward and fast-paced schedule.
The charge nurse commended me five times for e ciency and teamwork.

WRONG
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4/19/2019 Common Job Interview Questions & Answers [Top 35 Samples for 2019]

WRONG
I’m a great nurse and I’d work very hard to do the best job possible here. I’ve
always fit in very well with nursing teams I’ve worked with.

 
Why doesn’t that wrong example work? It says you fit, but it doesn’t o er proof.
 
Read our guide to the why are you a good fit for this position interview question here.
 
Want more nurse interview questions and answers? There’s a guide for that too: 25
Nursing Interview Questions and Best Answers
 

Why are you the best person for this job?

 
“What makes you a good candidate for this post” isn’t on the list of behavioral
interview questions.
 
But—
 
Answer it like a behavioral question, with a problem, solution, and how it helped.
 
See this Why are you the best candidate for this position sample answer:
 

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RIGHT
You need a business analyst who knows how to redesign customer
communication protocols and fulfillment processes. I did that at Hu man
Barco when outdated systems pushed our costs up. I was able to save the
company $2 million a year.

WRONG
I’m a top-notch business analyst, highly skilled in future state assessment,
business process re-engineering, and gap analysis. I’ve been on the job for nine
years. At Hu man Barco, I was responsible for all business analysis functions.

 
That second example looks fine. But it doesn’t show how you helped.
 
Read our guide to the why are you the best person for this job interview question
here.
 
Here’s the toughest of all common interview questions:
 

What are your weaknesses?

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How can you say what you’re not good at and still get the job? You don’t need a list
of weaknesses to say in an interview.
 
To nail typical interview questions like this, show how you’re working with your
greatest weakness.
 
There’s a massive di erence in these what are your weaknesses answers:
 

RIGHT
I haven’t traditionally been great at leadership. At Sintertron, the DevOps
manager wanted to put me in charge of two programming pairs, and it was
terrifying. I enrolled in three Dale Carnegie classes and learned a lot. It was a
challenge, but I ended up enjoying it. My teams outperformed the company
speed average by 5%.

WRONG
I’m not very good at teamwork. Every time my last boss put me with someone
else to work with, we never got along. I work better by myself.

 
 
The first of those DevOps interview questions answers tells a great story. It’s got a
problem and a solution that helped the company.
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4/19/2019 Common Job Interview Questions & Answers [Top 35 Samples for 2019]

 
Read our guide to the what are your weaknesses interview question.
 

What interests you about this position?

 
How to answer why are you interested in this position:
 
1. Learn the job’s key skills.
2. Show how you’ve used them.
3. Say how that helped.
 

RIGHT
The job o er jumped out at me. You need someone who knows about app
prioritization and network monitoring. At AccuRight Solutions, I used those
tools to boost network performance 38%.

WRONG
It looks like a good opening at a good company. The pay is right, and it’s local
to me and I need a job. I’m really interested in working here.

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4/19/2019 Common Job Interview Questions & Answers [Top 35 Samples for 2019]

 
Look at the first of those IT interview questions answers. It’s got exactly what the
interviewer wants.
 
See our guide to the what interests you about this position interview question.
 
Here’s another of the most common behavioral interview questions. Watch how we
link it to the job:
 

Tell me about how you dealt with a tough

challenge

 
This is one of the top interview questions for a reason—
 
It shows how you deal with adversity.
 

RIGHT

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RIGHT
We had a big last-minute order come in from a valued customer. I called a
meeting and laid out the problem. We found a way to get it done with zero
overtime. We made an extra $1.1 million in revenue that month.

WRONG
A crucial machine broke down right in the middle of a big run. I called in
maintenance and they fixed the issue.

 
That first example shows you had a major positive e ect. The second only shows you
know how to use a phone.
 
When it comes to common interview questions and answers, always add a benefit.
 
Read our guide to the tell me about a time you faced a tough challenge interview
question here.
 

10 

What are your strengths?

 
One of these what are your strengths examples answers soars. The other flops.
 

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Both are for a job that needs a Python programmer good at collaboration
 

RIGHT
I’m a strong Python programmer and I excel at collaboration. In my last job I
worked closely with a team of five software engineers that turned out 10
Python projects in two years, end-to-end. We raised customer retention by
20%.

WRONG
I’m an excellent Java programmer and I’ve got great communication skills. In
my last job I worked with six software engineers. Our team created 11 software
solutions in Java in two years. We boosted customer retention by 22%.

 
Those job interview questions answers are almost identical. The first wins because
the greatest strengths fit the job skills.
 
See our guide to the what are your strengths interview question.
 

11

Why should we hire you?

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Typical interview questions are easy for the interviewer—hard for the applicant.
 
This one makes you prove yourself.
 

RIGHT
You need an accountant who can support general accounting functions in the
monthly close process for a high-volume firm. I did that at Amex for five years.
I spotted a hidden issue that saved $3 million. I also redesigned our cloud
computing policies and saved $300,000 a year in labor hours spent on security.

WRONG
I’m an experienced accountant skilled in financial statements, asset
management, and account analysis. I worked for five years at American
Express as an accountant. During that time I worked on cross-functional teams
and improved our account analysis policies. I think I’d be a great fit.

 
That first example shows how you helped the company, with details. The second is
generic. It tells your function, but were you good or bad at it?
 
This is one of the best interview questions. Only applicants who “get it” answer well.
 

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Pro Tip: You’ll need lots of job-fitting accomplishments for a great interview.
So—make a list. Before you go, rehearse your answers to these basic interview
questions.

 
Read our guide to the why should we hire you interview question.
 

12

Describe what you do in your current position

 
Here are two Scrum Master interview questions and answers examples.
 
The job wants automation, Kanban, and velocity.
 

RIGHT
I’m a Scrum Master in a team of nine SaaS employees. In my daily work, I
shield the team and improve process e ciency. When I first took the job the
team wasn’t hitting deadlines. I implemented an automation drive and Kanban
system that raised velocity 23%.

WRONG

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WRONG
I’m a Scrum Master. I focus on forecasting, removing impediments, and daily
standup facilitation. I initiated our new idea collection system. I also used unit
testing and pair programming to raise quality measures by 20%.

 
Why does the first of those common interview questions answers work? It proves a
skill set central to the job.
 

13

Tell me about a time you went above and beyond

for work

 
Behavioral interview questions like this hunt for a diamond in the rough.
 
These answers are for a job that needs business storytelling skills:
 

RIGHT
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RIGHT
We needed star power for a big marketing campaign. We got a minor star
involved but we couldn’t a ord the one we really wanted. I got her on the
phone and used business storytelling skills to get her engaged at half her
normal rate. The campaign’s ROI exceeded targets by 39%.

WRONG
We had a big email campaign going on and our agency was behind. I worked
overtime for two weeks and got everything done, but it was hard.

 
That first example answer shows exactly how you helped. In the second you made an
e ort, but did it help in some way?
 
See our guide to the tell me about a time you went above and beyond for
work interview question.
 

14 

Why did you leave your last job?

 
Or—why are you leaving your current job?
 
Standard interview questions like this are booby-trapped.

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Don’t answer negatively. That’s a red flag. Use it as a chance to show a skill they
want.
 

RIGHT
My last job as an account manager was great. I got to do a side project in
process improvement that saved $20,000 a month. Now that I’m trained as a
Six Sigma Black Belt, I’m ready to make that the center of my career.

WRONG
It just wasn’t a good fit. Management made some poor decisions that made it
hard to get any traction. Plus I’m always looking for the next new thing.

 
 
Read our guide to the why did you leave your last job interview question here.
 

15

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

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This job interview question means: “Will you ditch us next year?”
 
The interviewer wants to hear, “No way! If you hire me, I’ll work hard for you for
life.”
 

RIGHT
I’d like to be a key player in a cutting edge agency like this. At Flexor I
prototyped 30 product features a year. One of my sites received the 2017
Webby. That’s great, but there’s so much more I can do. A job like this would
challenge me to be my best.

WRONG
I’d like to be making six figures and have a wife and a couple kids. I want to live
somewhere like Tibet and maybe write a novel. Plus I’d like to be working 20
hours a week and take two months o a year.

 
 
Ouch! That second of those common interview questions answers is a flight risk.
 
The first says, “This is the perfect work environment for me.”
 
Read our guide to the where do you see yourself in 5 years interview question here.
 

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16

What is your management style?

 
The management style interview question means, “Would you be a good manager?”
 
For non-management jobs, it means, “Could we promote you later?”
 

RIGHT
I support the team, and let them do their jobs. They put me in charge of five
analysts once at Marper Hills. I laid out our goals and got us access to a data
analyst for a month. We found 35 low-margin projects and saved $2.9 million
for the company.

WRONG
I’ve never really had a managerial job before, but I guess I’d want to be sort of
hands o . I think you should hire smart people and then let them do good
work, not tell them what to do.

 
That first answer gives details. The second is a guess about what might happen.
 
See our guide to the what’s your management style interview question.
 
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Here’s another of those tough behavioral interview questions:


 

17

Tell me about a time you reached a goal at work

 
Behavioral or situational interview questions are a great way to prove yourself.
 
Talk about a problem, a solution, and how you helped.
 

RIGHT
My boss wanted me to triple our video sales. I coached our videographers to
focus on making customers look beautiful in every shot. In one season sales
quadrupled. We were able to hire additional sta for the next season.

WRONG
Management wanted to double sales. I put together a new plan based on solid
research. We hit the target.

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The second of those typical interview questions answers is generic. To sell yourself,
you need details.
 
Read our guide to the tell me about a time you reached a goal at work interview
question.
 

18

What are your salary requirements?

 
This top interview question means: “Are you good AND can we a ord you?”
 
Answer too low and you look cheap. Too high and you could scare them o .
 
So—be expensive, but with wiggle room. You’ll look like a deal.
 
For this interview questions example, the average salary is $26,000.
 

RIGHT
I’d like to make $30,000, but that’s negotiable. I talked with three of your
current CNAs and they love working here. That’s worth a lot.

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WRONG
Anything is fine. I need the money.

 
Not sure about their price range? Check Glassdoor for a ballpark figure.
 
The next of our common interview questions seems personal. It’s not.
 
See our guide to the what are you salary requirements interview question.
 

19

What are you passionate about?

 
Interview questions like this sound like an invitation to ramble. But—stay focused on
accomplishments.
 
This answer is for a customer service job that needs product knowledge skills.
 

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RIGHT
I love putting customers together with products that enrich their lives. At
Chiller Outfitters we were tasked with maintaining thorough product
knowledge. I got 98% positive customer satisfaction scores for that. As a result,
my sales figures were 10% higher than the store average.

WRONG
I’m very passionate about animal rights. I’m on the board for our local animal
shelter and I go to meetings once a month. I walk dogs there every week
because it makes them more adoptable.

 
The first of those interview questions answers bolts you to the job. The second is
really nice, but it won’t get you hired.
 
Read our guide to the what are you passionate about interview question here.
 

20 

How did you hear about this job?

 
You can answer typical interview questions like this with, “I saw it on LinkedIn.”
 
That’s fine, but why not use it to sell?

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RIGHT
I saw it on LinkedIn. It was the perfect match because you need a UX designer
skilled in gathering project requirements and working with Adobe Suite. In my
last job, I designed 90% of our customer jobs with Adobe. I gathered all the
project requirements myself and managed to keep customer satisfaction
scores at 98%.

WRONG
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet

 
Next on the list of common interview questions, prove they can’t hire anyone but
you.
 

21

How do you deal with pressure?

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Interviewers need to know you won’t fold when the going gets tough. That’s why they
ask typical interview questions like this.
 

RIGHT
I meditate a half hour a day and go to the gym. It helps all the time. Once at
Pizza Palace we were short-sta ed. The cut-and-cash guy was behind and
started complaining. I stayed calm and took a break to help. He came over
later and thanked me. The next time we got slammed, he stayed calm too.

WRONG
I go to the gym and meditate. It helps me stay calm in stressful situations.

 
That second answer doesn’t show how your strategy has helped.
 
To answer behavioral interview questions like this next one, think hard before the
interview.
 

22

What are you most proud of?

 
Job interview questions like this mean: “Convince us you can do the job.”

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These answers are for a job that needs time-saving and communication skills.
 

RIGHT
When I was an executive assistant at Kallas, our top execs were spending too
much time on customer misunderstandings. I created a call system that
eliminated 95% of those and saved 10 executive hours a week.

WRONG
I’m very good at collaboration. I worked with my team at Kallas to redo our
scheduling system. We saved $20,000 in travel costs.

 
That second answer shows you helped the company. But—it doesn’t show the time-
saving and communication skills the employer needs.
 
The next of our basic interview questions checks if you’re paying attention.
 

23

What do you know about our company?

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Learn about the job before you apply. Typical interview questions like this will catch
you if you don’t.
 

RIGHT
I know you make the finest golf products in the world. I also know you’re
looking to raise your market share, which is why I’m so excited about this job.
At Phair Sports, I grew business 60% in two years and consistently exceeded
sales goals.

WRONG
You make golf balls, clubs, and hats, and sell them to major retailers like
Walmart. I really like your products and in fact I use them exclusively when I
play myself. I know you’ve got two plants—one here in Massachusetts and the
other on the West Coast.

 
 
That second example isn’t bad. But the first one lets you crow about a job-matching
accomplishment.
 
Some common interview questions need prep work. Here’s one:
 

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24

What’s your dream job?

 
Job interview questions about pie in the sky aren’t just for fun. The interviewers
want to know if you’ll stick around.
 

RIGHT
A job like this where I can do end-to-end project management for multiple
projects in a Lean business environment. At Raytheon we had to cut costs
drastically or lose $70 million in contracts. I managed our Lean training project
that improved quality by 30% while cutting costs 45%. We kept the contracts
and the client ordered $50 million in new work. I’d love to have that kind of
impact full time.

WRONG
I’d like a job with flexible hours, great pay, lots of vacation time, and a nice fat
401k.

 
Some common interview questions get at choices you’ve made. Here’s one:
 

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25

Why is there a gap in your resume?

 
For typical interview questions like this, show how your resume gap creates value.
 

RIGHT
My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I took time o to help my father
care for her. I learned a lot about stress management during that time. I also
took continuing ed classes to keep my license up to date.

WRONG
My mom was sick and I stopped work to help take care of her.

 
Want more help for resume gap interview questions? See our guide: How to Explain
Gaps in Employment
 

26
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Why are you changing careers?

 
Career-changers need good explanations. Valid reasons are:
 

More learning
More job satisfaction
Relocation
More responsibility
Less responsibility

RIGHT
I’ve always been interested in tech. I loved my job as an o ce manager, but my
favorite part was the system administrator duties. Saving the company
$20,000 a year by automating our system monitoring and relocating our
hardware was a real high point for me. I want to make that more central to my
job.

WRONG
I’m really tired of being an o ce manager. I’ve got solid tech skills and I want
to use them. I think I’d really do well as a system administrator.

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27

Are you open to relocating?

 
Some common interview questions look for yes or no answers. They’re actually a
new opportunity to sell:
 

RIGHT
For this job, yes. I’m excited about it because it uses the multidisciplinary
design process. At Doane & Daviau, I used that to develop two multi-million
dollar projects with 15% less rework than my colleagues. I would definitely
relocate to do that full time.

WRONG
For the right position, yes.

 
 
Why does that first answer win? It shares a job-fitting achievement.
 
Here’s another of those tricky behavioral interview questions:
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28

Tell me about a mistake you made

 
This is similar to What are your weaknesses. You need to be very careful to show a
benefit and not just a loss.
 

RIGHT
I plugged in our rechargeable pallet jack to the wrong outlet and fried a $3,500
battery. I showed the manager the outlets look identical. We put a fixture on
the outlet and plug so nobody can make that mistake again.

WRONG
I plugged in a rechargeable pallet jack the wrong way and destroyed a $3,500
battery. I was pretty mortified, but my boss told me it could’ve happened to
anyone.

 
The next of our typical interview questions takes a longer answer.
 

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29

Walk us through your resume

 
The interviewer wants to know if you understand the job. Don’t explain your entire
career path.
 
This answer is for a nursing job that needs critical care experience and patient
education skills.
 

RIGHT
Well, at Northwest Medical Center, I worked in the ICU for three years. I
received five commendations for e ciency from the charge nurse. Before that I
was at Cornerstone Hospital for two years, where I helped raise HCAHPS
scores 20%. Most of that was thanks to diligent patient education.xs

WRONG

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WRONG
It’s got my summary at the top, which starts by saying I’m a Registered Nurse
obviously. Then it talks about my last three jobs. In the most recent, I worked
at Cornerstone Hospital, where I was responsible for handling all ward nurse
duties and responsibilities...

 
Here’s one of the hardest common interview questions. It can trip you up if you’re
not ready:
 

30

Do you have any questions for me?

 
The interviewer can learn a lot from what you ask.
 
Ask questions that show your interest and understanding.
 

Top 5 questions to ask in an interview:


 
1. What’s the next step?
2. How long does your hiring process take?
3. What would you expect me to accomplish in my first six months?
4. What would my day-to-day routine be?
5. What’s the key to succeeding at this role?

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Pro Tip: Did you just blow it? Didn’t give answers to common interview
questions like this? Learn from it. Research the company before your next job
interview.

 
Need more questions to ask the interviewer? See our guide: 65+ Best Questions to
Ask an Interviewer & Land Top Jobs
 

Common Phone Interview


Questions
 
Typical phone interview questions are the same as the common interview questions
above.
 
The di erence?
 
You don’t have to memorize answers to telephone interview questions. You can read
them—as long as you don’t sound like you’re reading.
 
Want some examples? See our guide: 20 Common Phone Interview Questions and
Answers
 

STAR Method for Acing Behavioral


Interview Questions
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The STAR method of answering interview questions has four steps:
 

Situation. Start with a situation you faced.


Task. Tell about a task you had to perform.
Action. Say the action you took.
Result. Explain how it helped your organization.

  
It works because it proves key skills in a convincing way.
 
The STAR method works best for situational interview questions. For instance, “Tell
me about yourself.”
 
For a full list of STAR interview questions and answers, see our guides: STAR Method
for Acing Behavioral Interview Questions and 20 Situational Interview Questions
and Answers
 

Illegal Interview Questions


Employers Cannot Ask
 
Some of the most common interview questions are illegal.
 
Which interview questions are o limits?
 
Generally, the interviewer can’t ask about:
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4/19/2019 Common Job Interview Questions & Answers [Top 35 Samples for 2019]

Age
Religion
Birthplace
Race
Disability
Marital status
Pregnancy
Gender

 
Most of the time interview questions about those things are illegal. To see when
they’re not, check our guide: Illegal Interview Questions Employers Cannot Ask
 

Key Takeaway
Summary: How to answer common interview questions:
 

Research the company and the job o er. Know the skills they want.
Show how you used those skills in past jobs.
Say how your actions helped the company.
Have questions to ask the interviewer that prove your interest in the job.

 
Did we miss a common interview question? Not sure how to answer behavioral
interview questions? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

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Rate my article
Average: 3.94 (605 votes)

Tom Gerencer
Tom Gerencer is a career expert who has published over 200 in-depth articles on Zety. Since
2016, he has been sharing advice on all things recruitment from writing winning resumes and
cover letters to getting a promotion.

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