We have already discussed the three most frequently asked questions when applying for a job:
- Tell us a little about yourself.
- What are your good and bad qualities?
- Why do you want to work here?
Now it’s time to prepare for the more difficult questions in your job interview. We have put together 26 interview questions for you. Of course, there can always be other questions, but if you practice these 26 interview questions, you will have thought about the job carefully and you can also easily have unexpected questions.
26 frequently asked interview questions:
- How do you motivate others?
- Name a situation where you had a conflict with a coworker. How did you deal with that?
- Who has inspired you in your life, and why?
- Everyone makes mistakes. Tell us about a mistake you once made that had a significant impact on the company or your team – and what you did to right it.
- What role do you usually take on within a team?
- How do you deal with criticism?
- If you had a say in a decision made by top management, which you strongly oppose, what would you do?
- What do you think is the best thing a company can do for its employees to ensure that employees stay and don’t take an offer elsewhere?
- If I were to call your previous manager or supervisor, what area would he or she mention for you?
- What do you see yourself doing in a few years? What are your long-term ambitions?
- Tell me about that one time you made the right decision in your job, but no one noticed.
- What do you do when a customer says ‘no’?
- What are you worried about, and why?
- What is your definition of success and how do you feel you are doing so far?
- How would your friends describe you? And what about your colleagues?
- Give an example of something you’ve failed at. How did you react and how did you overcome this failure?
- What changes would you make if you started working with us?
- How do you deal with a high workload?
- Which would you rather have: that people like you or that they respect you? Why?
- Have you ever done something that went against all social norms, but you did it anyway because it was the right thing to do?
- If you were in my shoes, would you hire someone like you, and why?
- What were your first impressions when you walked in?
- Describe your ideal work environment.
- Do you have applications pending with other employers?
- Why do you want to leave your current employer?
- What do you add to our team?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to these questions! But here’s the deal: there are no right or wrong answers. Just be yourself! Honesty is always the way to go. You may want to brag that you “stay super cool under pressure” when you’re actually a ticking time bomb inside. But why would you do that? At the end of the day, you’re only being yourself with it when you find yourself in an intense situation and can’t maintain that cool attitude.
‘I don’t know’ is also an answer. For example, if you really can’t think of anything to answer question 20, you can honestly say so. Be sure to say why. Because the company seems ideal to you or because you don’t think that you as a newcomer, already have a good view of it.